the lens 695 - wordpress.com · 2013-11-24 · the lens published bi-monthly by the australian...

THE LENSPublished bi-monthly by the

AUSTRALIAN PORTFOLIO PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

Vol. 69 No. 5 September/October, 2013

Misty Trees by Wolfram Borgis - Circle 21, Folio 544Agave With Dewdrops by Wayne Taylor - C 14, F 151

Door to History by Martin Finzel - Circle 26, Folio 313Old Lantern by Wolfram Borgis - Circle 7, Folio 631

The Lens - September/October, 2013

President’s PenSpring has well and truly come, in NSW warmer

weather, though here in Victoria we are having a cold spell.Unfortunately the NSW hot spell has brought around

early bush fires, with many houses lost already. We remember the upheaval for members who lost a

house or were threatened by fires in the Coonabarabranarea earlier in the year, and our sympathy goes out to thosethreatened and suffering this time.

There are still so many months to come with the heatand associated threats.

Happily my wrist is well recovered by now, though Ihave been told it can take up to 12 month for full recovery.

I was able to go on the Flinders Ranges trip, and hada wonderful time, taking nearly 900 pictures. This wasfollowed a few weeks later by a trip flying to Broken Hillstopping overnight, then on to Birdsville the following dayfor a lunch and concert in aid of the RFDS by JamesMorrison, then flying back later in the day.

Again another 300 pictures were taken over 2 days.So I should have a few pictures for folios in comingmonths.

I understand that the concert was a gift from thegroup, and there were 3 plane loads, 2 from Melbourne andthe other from Brisbane, plus some locals and a fewtravellers, totalling around 200 attendees.

It is wonderful how some performers give freely oftheir time to help such worthy causes. I understand that heflies his own plane, and flew to Birdsville.

With the coming fine weather, now is the time to getthe cameras out and cleaned up, then plan some photoactivities.

Remember we always think the best pictures are offar away places, yet when visitors come to our area theyoften come up with stunning pictures.

So no need to plan long trips to notable places(though of course there is nothing wrong with that, after allI have recently been on two such trips), but make it anexercise to explore our locality, our garden, interestingbuildings and street features nearby, or local activities.

I remember a few years ago reporting on severalwalks I took along the local beach, stopping every twominutes to survey the area and find something of interestto photograph.

Or the shot I keep missing, two small dogs curled upin a flower pot outside a coffee shop, see themoccasionally on a Saturday morning while going out forour coffee, but I usually forget to take the camera.

It does not matter how good a photographer you are,it is impossible to get a picture when you see anopportunity if you do not have the camera.

Until next time, keep the lens clear and fresh thoughtsin your mind, and keep shooting.

Jim Thyer

Lone Tree by Jenny Davidson - Circle 9, Folio 107

CONGRATULATIONS JENNY DAVIDSON !

Jenny, I noticed in the latest APS newsletter that youhave been awarded EFIAP and send my sincerecongratulations, and on behalf of APPS members also. Iknow that you have worked long and hard to achieve thisstandard, and will be very proud of your award.

Photography is a wonderful hobby and if you havehad as much enjoyment as I have had during my life youwould be very happy. For me it was a hobby, a job and Imet many lovely people when I was teaching for adulteducation.

As you might have read in our folio letters I am nowin my 80’s I still love taking photographs and get muchpleasure passing on some of the things that I have learnedto members of Lismore Camera Club and the NorthernRivers U3A Photography Group.

Again well done!Peter Hunter OAM, ARPS, AFIAP

WANTED24 x 36 mm and 4 x 4 cm super slides mounts -

prefer Gepe and other thicker ones.

Contact:-WOLFRAM BORGIS,

2 Vrouka Place. HADSPEN, 7290Phone 03 6393 7960


Members Gallery . . .

Stony Creek by Tony Lockerbie - Circle 2, Folio 721 Scrolls by Helen Mackenzie -

Circle 26, Folio 305

Curry Lighthouse by Martin Finzel - Circle 9, Folio 109


Circle 2 -10” X 8” B & W PrintSecretary - Keith Smith-

No report - last Folio 736

Circle 7 - General Colour SlidesSecretary - Judy Heath-

Folio 6461st John North Trees and Shadow2nd Ian Bock Crystal Dancers3rd Wolfram Borgis Tunnelvision

Folio 6471st Judy Heath From Hunt’s Mesa2nd Ian Bock Ancient Bridge3rd Rita England Like This

Judy

Circle 9 - Any type of printSecretary: John Pratt-

Folio 1261st Jenny Davidson Butterfly Feeding

Pat Murray Ripe for Harvest3rd John Pratt Bouncing Sisters

Folio 1271st Jenny Davidson Big Mouth2nd Heater Boulton Sunset Halong Bay3rd Martin Finzel Street Dance

Folio 128 Set subject - Patterns1st Heather Boulton Decked Chairs *2nd Martin Finzel Pattern3rd Jenny Davidson The Red Rail

Folio 1291st Peter Hunter Tawny Frogmouth2nd Jenny Davidson Waiting3rd Pat Murray Thinking *

Folio 1301st Jenny Davidson Reaching for the Stars2nd Graeme Collins Struggling Bush3rd Martin Finzel St Diem, France

* Monochrome digital, all other prints digital colour.John

Circle Reports

Circle 20 - 35mm Colour Slides - GeneralSecretary - Stephen Straube-

Folio 5911st Stephen Straub Witby Abby Ruins2nd John Pratt Rusty Tank3rd Pat Murray Sunset at Pangakor Laut

Folio 5921st Dorothy Deverell Yellow Rose2nd David Watts Entrance to Bryce Canyon3rd John Pratt Under Threat

Stephen Straub Grab ShotStephen

Circle 6 - General Colour SlidesSecretary - Don Estell-


Circle 21 - 35mm Nature Colour Slides/PrintsSecretary - Dorothy Deverell- Folio 566

1st Peter Robinson Hungry Bear2nd Wolfram Borgis Covrea reflexa

Judy Heath The Rock Pool3rd Rita Ward Day Lily

Folio 5671st Judy Heath Tree Spirit2nd Wolfram Borgis Red & Yellow Dahlia3rd Peter Robinson Nesting Plover

Folio 5681st Peter Robinson Aftermath2nd Wolfram Borgis Autumn in Francoria3rd Judy Heath The Pink Patch

Folios moving smoothly. Dorothy

Circle 24 - Circle SecretariesSecretary - Rita England-


Circle 14 - Any Type of PrintSecretary - Margaret Gilet-

Folio 1721st Una Brown Tawny Frogmouth2nd Margaret Gilet Comic Opera3rd Jean Trollope Bryan

Martin Finzel Calcified ForestFolio 173

1st Wayne Taylor As New - 28 WillysMargaret Gilet The Pebble Tree

2nd Una Brown Rotunda in the Park3rd Jean Trollope Pink Champagne

It is always interesting to see the diversity of subjectssubmitted by our members. Folios are eagerly welcomed.

Aggregate results for the year were: Top score: UnaBrown; runner-up: Margaret Gilet; third place: Wal Phelps.

Margaret

Circle 26 - Commercial/Home Processed Small Colour Prints

Secretary - Helen Mackenzie-

Folio 3281st Colin Barnes Golden Light Menindee

Helen Mackenzie Old Stockyard ‘2’2nd George Phelps Degrees of Decay

Elaine Stokman Interesting3rd Ingrid Taylor Electrified

Folio 329 “Challenge’ What is it?1st Colin Barnes All That Glitters is Not Gold2nd Elaine Stokman The Short Straws3rd Martin Finzel What is It?

The above Challenge round, was most interestingwith members challenging themselves as well as the circleas a whole, some very ingenious thoughts and subjects.Well done to all for participating wholeheartedly!! Thestandard of entries are high, which is reflected by theresults in Folio 329. Keep up the good work!

Good to have Martin back in the Circle after hismomentous move, glad to hear both he and Eva are settlingin to their new surroundings. Colin is on leave, with hiscomings and goings, until February.

Helen


A.P.P.S. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:PRESIDENT: Jim Thyer,6 Beach Close, Point Lonsdale, Vic., 3225 03 5258 3213

e-mail: [email protected]

GENERAL SECRETARY: Jenny Davidson,6 Yackerboon Place, Orange, NSW, 2800 02 6361 2792


TREASURER: Don Estell,9 Noel Street, Wollongong, NSW, 2500 02 4229 4419


DIVISIONAL SECRETARY: Rita England,East Street, Ulamambri, NSW, 2357 02 6842 7846

EDITOR - “THE LENS”: Graeme Collins,24 Church Street, Quirindi, NSW, 2343 02 6746 1147


STATIONERY OFFICER & CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS:Keith Smith,10 Owl Place, Ingleburn, NSW, 2565 02 9605 1164

e-mail: [email protected] SECRETARY: Don Estell,9 Noel Street, Wollongong, NSW, 2500 02 4229 4419

e-mail: [email protected]: John Pratt,16 Oakfield Ave., Clarence Park, SA, 5034 08 8371 1934

e-mail: [email protected] OFFICER:

One wanted.

WEBMASTER: Wal Phelps, PO Box 2A, Fairfield Heights, NSW, 2165 02 9604 3542www.australianpps.wordpress.com

General Secretary’s ReportHi Everyone, How quickly the year has passed - this is our second

last Lens before Christmas, time to wish you all a MerryChristmas and a Happy New Year.

Not a lot has changed for our organisation during theyear, we have had a few new members but we have alsolost some members.

Our membership is aging but this is a trend with mostorganisations, younger people aren't interested in joiningclubs and organisations or perhaps they are too busy withthe pace of modern living.

For photographers there are now so many optionswith so much available on the internet, everything isinstant.

Anyone with a smart phone has a camera with themwherever they go and these cameras are improving all thetime. Whole groups have been set up just for phoneimages, there is new terminology like hash tagging yourimages, I haven't quite worked out how this works yet butI think it goes with Instagram uploads.

I haven't got around to working out how Instagramswork either, something else to put on my to do list.

We have just experienced some horrific bush fireshere in New South Wales, hopefully none of our membershave been effected, unfortunately the fires earlier in theyear did destroy the property of one of our members -Rhonda has now re-settled in Glen Innes and is starting allover again. It's hard to imagine how you cope with losingall your possessions including all your photographs.

We should all have backup plans with disks savedaway from our homes, I do back up to an external drivethat I take to my daughters when I go away but I don't doin regularly enough and wouldn't be ready for a disasterlike the fires.

Again this year I attended APSCON, it wasinteresting to learn that the APS is also experiencing a dropin membership, some of this is possibly due to the changein communicating with members where if you don't havean internet connection you can't access the publicationsfrom the organisation.

The internet is a great inexpensive way tocommunicate but I feel we have to keep other lines ofcommunication open, to give those without internet a wayof accessing information. I am sure if we discontinuedmailing The Lens to members we would lose a great manymembers.

COPY DEADLINEArticles are copyright by the contributors but can be reproducedin other Camera Club newsletters provided that acknowledgment

is made both to the author and to “The Lens”.If the words “Copyright by” followed by the author’s name is

printed after the article, the author should be asked for permissionif reproduction is desired.

All submissions for the next issue of THE LENSNovember/December should be forwarded toThe Editor, Graeme Collins, no later than

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13 24 Church Street, Quirindi, NSW, 2343

OR e-mail: [email protected]

The number of new cameras coming on the market isever increasing with compact models, mirror less models,entry level DSLR, high end DSLR, translucent mirrormodels (Sony) and an ever increasing number of point andshoot models. These smaller cameras now offer some verylong optical zoom features and I am told the image qualityis very good.

With all this new gear about, what are you going toask 'Santa' for? I have decided I can't carry around the stuffI already have so no new gear for me this Christmas.

I am going to India at the end of this month and wecan only take 15kg on the internal flights so this trip I willtake even less camera gear, or perhaps less clothes and doa bit more washing while I am away.

It is always an issue trying to decide what cameragear you will need and of course you never make the rightdecision, you always leave something you need at home.

Our mailing team of Peter and Helen Mackenzie haveasked us to see if any other members would be able to takeon the job of mailing out The Lens.

Peter has had a serious motor bike accident and whilehe is recovering, the process is very slow and he would likeit if someone could volunteer to take on the job.

The mailing list is set up in a word documents to printthe labels. The printed copies of The Lens arrive from theprinters every two months and they require folding,labelling and posting, all out of pocket expenses are met,so if you feel you would be able to handle this task pleaseget in touch with me and I will get the necessaryinformation to you.

I will finish up now once again wishing you all thebest for the festive season and a healthy and happy 2014.

Jenny


Members Gallery . . .

River Serenity by Martin Finzel - Circle 26, Folio 307

Mono Lake Morning by Judy Heath - Circle 21, Folio 541


“The Lens” Tutorial by Jenny Davidson

Tips for using the Layers PaletteIf you use the Layer>New Layer command then you are instantly asked if

you would like to name the layer. But using the New Layer icon from the palette,or dragging layers onto the icon to make new ones, doesn't present the sameoptions.

There are two easy ways to name your layers. One is to double-click on thelayer's existing name to bring up a selection box. Now just type in the name youwant to give it.

Alternatively, Ctrl/Cmd-click on a layer to call up a menu. The top option isto Rename Layer. Select this and type in a new name.

Another tip with two options for achieving the same effect revolves aroundselecting layers from the document you are working on.

Rather than clicking through each and every layer in a big compositiontrying to find which is which, select the Move tool and Ctrl/Cmd-click on partof your image.

A menu will appear with the layer highlighted. Simply click to select it fromthe Layers palette. Didn't work on CS6 for me, but the one below does.

Another way is to pick the Move tool and make sure the Auto Select layericon is checked in the Options bar. Click on something in the document and thelayer will be highlighted from the palette.

Did you know that if you hold down the Alt/Opt key on your keyboard andthen click an eye icon, you will turn the visibility of all the layers off, apart fromthe one you have clicked?

How about the fact that if you keep the Alt/Opt key held down and then usethe left and right square bracket keys, you can move up and down the Layerspalette, making each layer the only one that is visible?

The right bracket will take you up, while the left one will take you down thelist.

Projects that possess a bewildering amount of layers might need a bit morehelp than just naming or even grouping layers.

It's possible to colour-code layers as well, so you can visualise layers of onetype really easily. Simply Ctrl/right-click on the eye icon of a layer and thenselect a colour from the menu that appears.

In addition to being able to organise layers, you can also tweak how theyappear in your palette.

Go to the options icon in the Layers palette (top right) and click on it. Scootdown to Palette Options (or Panel Options in Elements).

A menu will appear that enables you to alter the size of thumbnails used inthe palette. You can even turn the thumbnails off, although we really wouldn'trecommend this!

TIP 01

TIP 02

TIP 03

TIP 04

TIP 05

Embellishment by Colin Barnes - Circle 26, Folio 305

Museum Graphics by Judy Heath - Circle 16, Folio 273

the lens 695 - wordpress.com · 2013-11-24 · the lens published bi-monthly by the australian...

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