We started the new year with a very good attendance for the Macro
Competition being judged by George Todd.

There were 42 entries from 14 members for this competition. Most of the
subject matter included flora and fauna, but there were a couple of
unusual items from imaginative photographers.

George started out by talking about the various definitions for Macro
Photography, but settled on the subject being photographed at Life size
or greater magnification.

The scoring was close and the the top scores were acheived by…

1st place – Gordon Davidson with 54 points

2nd place – Jennifer Davidson with 53 points

3rd place – Malcolm Roberts with 52 points

and joint 4th place – Elaine Gilroy, Mike Clark and Derek Muller, each
with 51 points.

While George was going through the images he pointed out a couple of
recurring issues. The first was that removing distractions should
absolutely be done, but that it should be done carefully. There were a
couple of instances of less than perfect cloning that spoiled otherwise
strong images. Distractions around the edges should also be taken
removed. The other recurring comment was about cropping choices, where
the photographer had cropped ends of insect legs off, or otherwise
chopped bits of the subject and that can look awkward. On the other
extreme, there were a few images that had a subject that was quite a
small part of the whole image and these could perhaps have been cropped
harder. Artificial light sources are often used for Macro shots to
provide enough light, but that can give rise to other issues on wet or
very reflective surfaces – consider diffusing the light source or,
perhaps use a polarizing filter.

Regards

Ed

The annual quiz was held during last Thursday’s session. Stephen Williamson had prepared eight rounds of questions on a variety of subjects covering Science, Literature, Geography, Sport, Arts & Entertainment, General Knowledge and two rounds on Photography. Astonishingly, I won, but that may have been down to others applying a sneeky strategy to avoid having to set the questions for next year’s quiz! The quiz was followed by time for a coffee and chat, including some information on where various wildlife might be seen.

I have received an email enquiry offering an “unwanted” Photographic Enlarger along with various accessories for producing mono prints. If you are interested, I can give you the contact details.

There are currently three photography exhibitions running at the City Arts Centre (on Market Street behind the Waverley Station) that may be of interest. They have a Mimi’s Bakehouse on the ground floor, in case you need further inducement.

1) Glean: Early 20th Century women filmmakers and photographers in Scotland

2) Paul Duke: No Ruined Stone

3) Ron O’Donnell     Edinburgh: A Lost World

Next Thursday (8^th Dec) we have a presentation (with Beeslack and Earlston Camera Clubs) from Julian Elliot. Please Note this is due to start at 7.15pm.

Ed Robertson

This week we were joined at Fisherrow for a fine, in-person presentation, this time given by Jean Manson ( www.jeanmanson.gallery ).  The room was busy with only a few folks joining by Zoom.

Jean invited us to dive right in with dramatic shots of Sharks in the waters off South Africa along with some of the aquatic life from local waters, with a particular interest in obtaining dynamic photos of seals in their natural habitat.

Travels in exotic locations such as Botswana provided ample variety along with the relative ease of photography above the water surface and so led to an interest in photographing wild animals on land as well.

Now preferring a mirrorless camera, due to their near silent operation and using mostly only a 300mm lens to keep equipment weight in check, we were treated to photos of a wide variety of animals from Jean’s travels with her camera.

Through Arctic Svalbard and onto Kaktovic in the very north of Alaska capturing Polar Bears, with as many as 39 individuals counted in one evening. Climate change and it’s effects on the bears was raised, but the issue of “sport” hunting by tourists was highlighted as perhaps a more serious and imminent danger for these iconic creatures.

The importance of guides with local knowledge and years of experience around wild animals was shown to provide excellent opportunities to capture many fine images of Brown Bear in Katmai National Park, with one wide-angle shot taken from just 10 inches away from a bear’s head. Fortunately, the bears were more interested in catching Salmon running the river, or in teaching their cubs how to fish, than worrying about a photographer.

We then raced across various African countries and into India seeing a great variety of birds and animal life, from Elephant’s outside the hotel window to big cats such as Leopard and Cheetah along with Gorillas, Deer, Wild Dogs, Owls and many more.

Covid restrictions may have hampered travel but Jean concentrated on the local wildlife and provided many excellent shots of Hares along with deer, badgers and hedghogs.  Jean talked about carrying your camera every day and getting used to capturing photos so regularly that you hardly need to look at the settings. Birds, particularly Gannets are a favourite and highlighted the fact that you should not take things for granted, Avian Flu has already decimated numbers on Bass Rock and recovery may take years.

Some take-home messages…
1) Carry your camera to capture photographs wherever you are – take a picture every day!

2) Some field craft goes a long way, getting to know your subjects improves your chances.
3) Scotland’s fine dusk and dawn light is less fleeting than in exotic locations, use it.

Next week is “Sets of Six”. Please bring along up to 6 images (or one video) on any subject to show other members. Alternately, if you have a special technique you think will help other members (like the printing tips which Charlie gave before) you can use this evening to tell us about it.

date will be July 8th cost approx £60-70. Please can you e mail this around club for notes of interest. Divers will be on board too.

Mike Clark

Elaine Gilroy  has send us a link to her community choir’s virtual performance of Something Told The Wild Geese. Most of the photographs used came from Musselburgh Camera Club. Thank you to all members who responded to the original request. Click on the link below and enjoy the performance:

P.S. Don’t forget we are meeting half an hour earlier than usual this Thursday evening.

The votes are in, and it looks like Thursday, 25th June is the most popular date by just one vote (10 votes for that date and 9 for the others). So our final set subject competition (Old Faces) will take place by Zoom on Thursday, 25th June 2020 at 19:30.

I will send you all a meeting invitation nearer the time. In the meantime, I hope you are all continuing to stay safe.