Fauresmith Uithouvyf (ingeskryf by Julie Klubaand)

Ons was Fauresmith toe begin Julie om die 200km. perdeuithouwedren te gaan beleef en natuurlik was my hoofdoel soos altyd as ek iewers gaan om fotos te neem. Ek het voorheen fotos gesien wat deur ‘n onervare fotograaf geneem was in die mis waar die perde hardloop en dit het my so geïnspireer dat ek van mening was dat ek wenfotos kan neem in sulke omstandighede. Nodeloos om te sê dat daar hierdie keer geen teken van mis was nie. Dit was nie koud genoeg nie en die voggehalte was laag. Ek was ook vertel dat die perde soms vroegoggend wasem by hulle neuse uitblaas. Dit het ook nie gebeur nie.

Die alternatief was dus om maar ander fotos te soek. Na elke 25km. is daar ‘n “Grooming point” waar die perde stop, voer en water kry, skoon gewas word en deur Veeartse ondersoek word of hulle verder kan hardloop. Daar is honderde voertuie wat heen en weer ry deur die ruiters se helpers en baie stof word hierdeur gemaak waar die perde langs die pad hardloop. Ek het hierdie geleentheid raakgesien en omtrent so 50 fotos geneem teen 7 raampies per sek. met ‘n skuins hoek teen die son om die stof te beklemtoon. Dit was reeds 09h30 en die stof het veroorsaak dat die lig sag was. Wanneer ‘n foto teen die son geneem word moet jy altyd sorg dat die sonlig nie direk op die lens val nie anders kry jy “lensflare” wat jou foto heeltemaal bederf. Hierdie foto is na my mening die beste een van die klomp.

Kamera	Pentax K5
Lens	Pentax 18-250mm
Sluiter	1/1000s
Aperture	f/6.7
ISO	ISO-560

Die Pentax K5 het ‘n funksie waar jy die lensopening en sluiterspoed kies en dan kies die kamera die ISO vir die regte beligting.

In Photoshop: “Levels” gestel, “Saturarion” so 10, donker gedeeltes ligter gemaak met “dodge tool”, ligte gedeeltes donkerder gemaak met “burn tool” en ge”sharpen”

Maartin Coetser (Meester Silver, APSSA)

This train has left the station

I am always looking at opportunities to do things I haven’t’ experienced before, and if these include a photographic opportunity, so much better!

With that in mind you can imagine my excitement when I received a circular from the club secretary in May 2012 about a Steam Train Photography trip planned for 8-10 June 2012.  I am not sure whether I asked my wife if she wanted to go or whether I just told her I booked us for the trip.  In any case, I’m sure I was the first person booked and paid.

So came the 8^th of June and I attended a briefing session @ 19:00 at the Hermanstad station, it was freezing.  We had the get together in one of the passenger coaches.  No air-conditioner, no heater, just like in the olden days, and even the door and the windows did not seal as well as one would expect.  In any case, I’m digressing,  but the writing was on the wall, it was going to be a COLD weekend.  PERFECT for steam train photography!

In short the trip was going to start at the Rovos rail sheds in Capital Park @ 5:45 on Saturday morning with some serious photography from just before sunrise where after we would leave for Cullinan around 11:00 from Hermanstad.  There would be various opportunities along the way where we would be dropped off, the train reversed and prepared and then the photographers would wait for the train to come along.   We eventually arrived in Cullinan just after sunset, and after booking into our accommodation it was back to the station for night shots.  Although the evening was cold, it was nothing compared what waited on us for early Sunday morning.  After the evening session we enjoyed dinner with Friends at our accommodation and then had a warm bath and went to bed, well my wife did I first did a bit of photo downloads…….

On Sunday morning we boarded the train well before sunrise as our “sunrise spot” was a few kilometres from Cullinan.  It was FREEZING!  The coldest I had ever experienced.  A family blog like this does not allow me to use superlatives to describe how cold I was.  Back to the photography.  The photo opportunity at sunrise was spectacular though and worth the suffering.  The rest of the morning was spent on opportunities making our way back to Cullinan.  Once we arrived at Cullinan again there was some “train-in-station” opportunities before we went to Harrie’s Pancakes for a milk tart filled pancake for breakfast.  Njammies.  After this we collected our baggage from our accommodation and boarded the train where we left just after noon for Hermanstad.  There were some more opportunities on the way back.  We arrived late afternoon at Hermanstad and after greeting some new friends we were homeward bound.  Diesel propelled Hilux, such a low after all the steam.

Other than the photography the trip itself was amazing with some good conversation on and off the train.  The whole trip was organised and run by volunteers from Friends of the Rail.  Truly amazing people with a passion for their hobby and many interesting stories about steam trains.  A highlight for me was when I was invited by one of the fireman(stoker) to board the locomotive to see how he prepared boerewers in the firebox using the stoking shovel! 

I suppose the only thing more to say is that the image “This train has left the station” was taken on the morning of 9 June 2012 @ 07:08.  On this morning the sunrise was @ 6:50, so the colours produced by the sun was just amazing twenty minutes later when this shot was taken.  The timing of the shot, showing the steam blowing off to the left and the angle at which the sunrays were hitting the billowing smoke from the locomotive were more awesome than this photo shows……..

Camera	Canon EOS 7D
Aperture	f/5.6
Exposure	1/250 s
ISO	ISO-200
Focal Length	70 mm
Lens	EF70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM
Club	Best Photo: July 2012

Regards

Andre Norris (4*)

July competition theme explained

Recording Salon results online

Introduction

We are now in a position where our members can capture their salon results online and much easier than before.  This new method has the advantage that it reduces the admin burden associated with salon administration of club members and will also provide club members with a detailed record of their salon results.

This document will show step by step instructions how to capture salon results once they were emailed to the member.  It is important to note that although this is an online process, it must still be authorized by a third party before the points will be allocated and the data will be recorded in the member totals.

There are a number of benefits and technical aspects associated with the processing of salons, which members are welcome to explore, but this instruction document aims to keep it simple in an attempt to make members comfortable with the online registration procedure.

To assist us, please do not register salon awards that were submitted by the older spread sheet method as this may result in duplicates on the system.  Members can however register all their photos that did not get any awards.  This will allow members to keep track of all the salon history even if a photo was not accepted, this is up to each member to decide for himself.

Quick Start

Members familiar with the web site will be able to enter their salon photos very quickly online.  Consider to even include the photos that were not accepted to build a detailed history of each photo.  Open the web site and follow the following steps:

1. Log on to the “Member Area” from the “Member Login” button.
2. Open the “Photo History” page on the top menu.
3. Select “Edit Salon Photos” that will open the window with all the salon options.
4. Select the Salon from the drop down box and press “Salon Maintenance”
5. You can now add the photos one by one for this Salon, check that you enter all the required fields.
6. If you make a mistake, select the delete button next to the photo and enter it again.

For more detail instructions read below.

Step by Step

This is the ideal opportunity for members that never logged on to their personal data on our web site. It is a very simple process and all you need to know is your Emma registration number.

Step 1: Log on to your personal data.

Open our web site: http://www.centurioncameraclub.co.za or Click here.  You will see the window below and must now select the “Member Login” Button which will open the login page.  Enter the Emma number.  This number starts with “0402” and you must enter the first “0”.  If you never changed your password, the default “cccpassword”

You can also request that a password must be sent to you by entering your Emma number in the space provided below the login field.  Your password will be emailed to you, using the email address provided in Emma.  Emails sent from the web, might sometimes end up in your junk mail folder or spam folder.  Remember to check these folders for the emails.  If this happens, please mark emails from centurioncameraclub as safe to avoid you missing other important emails.

Step 2: Open the history

When you have sucessfully logged on, the web page will open with a summary of the member information.  While you are here, please check what is available and update your information.  Did you notice your club ranking?  This is a fun calculation, using your year total points to rate your position in the club.

The next step is to move to the Photo History page from where you can start loading salon photos.

Select Photo History button shown above.  You can take a look at the history available on this page.  You can view photos entered in the club competitions as well as the salon photos already on the system.

To add or maintain photos in your database, select the “Edit Salon Photos” button as displayed on the top right of the page.

Step 3: Select the Salon

This will open the salon selection page.  You must select the salon that you want to work with followed by the “Salon Maintenance” button.  By default the salons of the last year will be displayed in the dropdown list, but you can change this by changing the “Salon Year Filter”.

Step 4: Adding a photo

You will now be on the window where the salon photos can be added. Take care when entering the title, as this is the only key we have to identify duplicates and show you how many times a photo was used.

Once all the fields are correctly entered, select the “Add Photo” button.  This will load the photo, awaiting authorization. The next sample below shows how to enter a photo which was not accepted on the salon, but is only recorded for your own records. 
As photos are added to a salon, they will be displayed on the web page.
Note the entry has a “Del” or delete button to delete the photo and add it again if you have made a mistake.  All the information provided will be displayed as well as the number of times this photo has been used and the number of awards received.

To select another salon for maintenance select the “Edit Salon Photos” button on the top right and you will be able to select another salon and repeat the steps above.

 

Step 6: Viewing the data

Return to the “Photo History” page as shown above.
Select the Salon radio button and then “Refresh List”  This will display a comprehensive list with all the information available in the database.

Note that this photo is not yet authorized and therefore the club points as shown in brackets, is zero.  Once this has been authorized, the zero will change to (3).

The End

Please use the system to improve your own records as well.  Load you data and verify the information, as there might be errors on the conversion between the systems.  Please use the form on the “Contact Us” web page and send any comments for the attention of “Points” .

I trust it will make your life easier and give you more time to take photos.

Bernard Richard

By soek kos

Ek het ‘n jong kapokboom in my tuin wat vir die eerste jaar regtig geblom het. Die oggend wat ek besluit het om die bye af te neem was hulle vreeslik bedrywig. Ek wou graag een in vlug afneem. Dis egter baie uitdagend aangesien hulle vir ‘n baie kort oomblik voor die blom wat hulle gekies het “stil” hang. Ek het my macro lens gebruik sodat ek lekker naby kan kom. Aangesien die bye so bedrywig was het ek die kamera op “Action/Sport” gestel sodat hy so vinnig moontlik fokus – daar is geen manier wat ek met die hand so vinnig kan fokus nie. Al die bye vlieg nie noodwendig van voor af in ‘n blom in nie en hulle kies verskillende plekke om te land. Hierdie betrokke een het buite op die blom geland en ek het hom per ongeluk gevang. Ek het eers na die tyd toe ek deur die fotos op die rekenaar gaan gesien dat dit ‘n treffende foto is. Moes so bietjie “crop”.

• Tegnies:
• f/stop :  4
• spoed:  1/2000
• lens :  100 mm makro
• “action/sport preset”
• Kamera: Sony Alpha 77

Groete, Alwyn van der Merwe

Kenmo Lake

Helouise het my gevra om bietjie meer inligting te gee oor my foto "Kenmo Lake" wat Mei maand 'n COM sertifikaat gekry het. 

Wel eerstens: so bietjie meer oor my: My naam is Fransien Schutte en ek behoort vanaf Februarie 2012 aan die klub.  Ek het 'n een ster gradering.

Kenmo Lake het 'n besonderse plek in my hart.  Ek is bietjie meer as 3 jaar gelede getroud in die klein dorpie genaamd Himeville en ons het ons piekniek onthaal by Kenmo Lake gehou.  Die grond is tot die beskikking gestel van die gemeenskap deur 'n boer wat dit op sy plaas gevestig het. Dit is net buite Himeville na Sani Pas se kant. Die plek het 'n besonderse bekoring omdat dit die pragtige meer soos op die foto het en dan is daar 'n woud van bome reg rondom die meer.  Die bome wat in daardie omgewing aangeplant is, is bome soos die "pin oaks", plataanbome en populiere, omdat dit van die min bome is wat die sneeu en koue kan weerstaan.  In die herfs is hierdie omgewing prentjie-mooi met al die herfs kleure wat afwissel van oranje tot rooi en geel.

Ek en my man en vriende was einde April hierdie jaar in Himeville.  Ek het natuurlik my kamera oral saamgedra en honderde foto's geneem.  Maar my foto's wat ek by Kenmo Lake gaan afneem het, het ek fyn beplan.  Ek het die oggend 6:30 al by Kenmo Lake aangekom met die doel om die mis op die water te vang asook die stil refleksies van die bome op die water.  Wat vir my vreemd was, is toe ek daar aankom, was daar reeds twee ander fotograwe.  Toe ons begin gesels oor wat ons gaan afneem het die man met die groot kamera gemeen dat hy eers die bome en blomme gaan afneem tot die mis gelig het.  Ek het vir 'n oomblik gehuiwer of ek my driepoot moet opstel om die beplande foto's te neem, maar besluit toe dat ek dit wel gaan doen en nie my gaan steur aan ander mense se opinies nie. 

Ek het 3 foto's op 'n slag geneem...onderbelig, presies die regte beligting en oor belig met die doel dat ek die HDR ding gaan probeer.  Nie dat ek al 'n program gehad het om dit in te doen nie, maar ek was van plan om te gaan soek.  Die foto wat ek ingeskryf het, het ek geneem na so 20 min se rondspeel met verskillende komposisies.  Toe ek my foto inskryf het ek steeds nie 'n HDR programmetjie gehad nie.  Die foto is dus net die een met die regte beligting.  My kamera was op 'n driepoot en ek het die timer gestel sodat my kamera nie sal skud nie. 

Hier volg my kamera settings:

• Kamera: Canon 500D
• ISO: 200
• F-stop: F/11
• Shutterspeed: 1/10sec
• Lens: 18mm
• White balance: Ek dink dit was op Sonskyn

Nou ja, daar het julle dit.  Indien julle ooit in die omgewing van Himeville is, vra asb in die dorp waar Kenmo Lake is.  Al die "locals" ken die plek en sal jou beduie hoe om te ry.  Dis die mees fotogeniese plek waar ek nog ooit was en jy sal verseker, soos ek sien hoe die Here die mees asemrowende prentjies daar skilder om vir ons 'n kans te bied om dit deur die lens van 'n kamera vas te vang, sodat ander ook Sy skepping kan waardeer.

Kamera groete,

Fransien (1*)

Can’t touch this: Certificate of Merit

By Zoë van der Spuy, 4*

This picture is of Francis. I met Francis through a young friend of mine, they were at school together. When I started taking my photography seriously I quickly realised that the area that I was most passionate about was studio work, I love working with people. I went to the shops one day and bought myself a small set of studio lights and a backdrop. From there it was really just a question of spreading the word that I needed models to practice on.

Francis is one of my favourite models. She has a big personality, a kind heart and a sunny disposition. These attributes, together with the fact that she is very photogenic, make her easy to take great pictures of (never underestimate the power your models personality in in your pictures). As I hadn’t taken photographs of Francis in a while, I was delighted when she let me know that she could join me in my studio.

I should also note that when I have people in the studio I don’t worry too much about taking pictures that will be submissable for Club. My main focus is making sure that I get material that is going to send my model home with a great big smile and the memory of some super fun times.

Francis loves quirky photographs and as a result I am always challenged to come up with poses and ideas that are a bit different. One of my philosophies on life is that we are the sum of our parts, the details are as important as the overall picture. I love to take pictures of these details – some of you may remember the photograph of the little hands at the tap – “Save Water”? So the idea for this picture was really born from my love for details. For this picture, my lights were set up for a low key photoshoot. I used one light on the right hand side, placed at 45 degrees to my model. I was lucky enough to have an assistant to hold a gold reflector up on the left hand side of my model. The reflector was to make sure that I got a bit of light and detail on the left of the picture. I took one picture and was happy with the result. I always shoot in RAW and used my 18 – 55mm Canon lens.

My camera settings were as follows:

• F-Stop: F7.1
• Exposure: 1/100 sec (Depending on my setup I also sometimes use 1/125sec in a studio environment)
• ISO Speed: ISO 100
• Focal length: 24mm

I did limited post processing on this photograph. I converted the picture to black and white, checked the contrast and shadows and sharpness - all in the raw converter. I used photoshop to put a border on the image and to resize it for EMMA.

Shooting in a studio setting can be a challenge, as you constantly need to come up with new ideas. This is really an environment where you “create” a photograph. The most important lesson that I have learned is to persevere as once you have learnt all the technical stuff, at the end of the day the photographer creates the picture. Be bold and try new things – you will surprise yourself with the things that you are able to create with that small box that you hold in front of your eye.