Eastern Maine Camera Club

January’s competition will ‘force the issue’ of High Dynamic Range or HDR. You can resist all you care, but the forces of technology and digital manipulation are poised to wear us down to their will……..I suppose I shouldn’t be so dramatic, but I couldn’t resist!

High Dynamic Range is the capture, and merging of two or more images for the purpose of portraying scenes as it appeared to the eye at the time of capture. At least that’s the way I’m telling it, and I’m writing the blog!!

This doesn’t have to be especially difficult. It is possible to take advantage of “layering” images and ‘erasing’ portions of upper layers to expose portions below that have the correct tone and exposure at one extreme of the visible range while leaving portions of the upper layers that have the correct exposure for mid tones and the ’other’ extreme of the visible range.

That can be a tedious, but effective way to achieve HDR. Luckily, there are millions of people with not much else to do but write software. Watch out! There everywhere you turn! Some of them have an interest in digital imagery, and have resolved the tedium of layering and erasing to achieve HDR. Bless them. Now, if they’d stop writing ’apps’ for the dopes too thoroughly preoccupied with their Iphones!

Adobe Photoshop CS$$$ and Corel Paintshop Pro have HDR functionality built in. Photoshop is quite expensive. Paintshop Pro is much less expensive, and their HDR functionality is not overly well developed. There are options.

Picturenaut is a freeware (or ‘donation ware’) package that’s been favorably reviewed. Jump onto the link below and look over the developers presentation.

http://www.hdrlabs.com/picturenaut/index.html


Another product is FDR Tools (http://www.fdrtools.com/fdrtools_basic_e.php). FDR is not as robust as Picturenaut. It also happens to be the one I bothered to download and use. Since I move slowly is the Ethernet World I’ve not bothered to test Picturenaut. So, what I’m about to demonstrate is what you can do with number two….I mean the second best of the freeware stuff, not the other ‘number two’.

The first thing you need is two or more images of the same subject. One image should be exposed to capture shadow detail and the other highlight detail. It’s a good idea to have a third image exposed for the mid tones of the scene.


I have three images from our 2007 Campobello trip. One image was underexposed by one stop (should have been 1.5) to grab the highlights. A second image was overexposed by one stop (should have been 1.5) to get shadow detail. The third was exposed for the mid tones on the boats hull.


My first step is to boot up the FDR software. I’m greeted by three windows. The larger of the three is the one of interest at this point, because here I can tell FDR to fire Harry Truman…..oh, dear! I’ve wandered off again…..





I can click on the Projects menu option and select Create New Project. I then navigate to the folder where my subject images reside, select them and click ‘Open’. FDR does not have a progress bar. So, you do not know if anything is happening for a while, but the software does work behind the scenes.

Much like the kitchen help in my future mansion after Cyndi hits Powerball. That assumes Cyndi won’t toss me into the kitchen to BE among the kitchen help.

Photographing moose from a boat gives a photographer a unique perspective and can allow you to get original
photographs of these often photographed subjects. I have a few stages of moose photography.

1. Brain dead! A Moose - get a shot! These never come out but you have the shot for a record.
2. Where is the light and what is the background? In a boat I can move the boat for both questions.
3. How close or far away do I want to be? My goal used to be only to get close. Now the goal is to show the moose in her environment. This is difficult when shooting a moose in the road. A boat allows you to have a good background.

Some types of watercraft are better suited for photography than others, but just about any boat can work. My favorite boat for on the water photography is a 8 foot kayak. Kayaks ride low in the water and have a low center of gravity, making them ideal for photographing a moose and using heavy, somewhat awkward telephoto lenses. Since they are self propelled, they allow you to sneak up on shy and skittish wildlife slowly and quietly, as well as adjust your
position in the water for the best angle. Canoes are also good for photography, but are larger and are hard to hold steady. They don’t allow low angles but if a moose is on a bank they do allow a higher angle. They also have more room. I keep thinking I need an electric motor. I will let you know how it works when Santa gives it to me.

Your camera will also need some protection as well. If traveling in a smaller boat that can possibly tip or flood,you will definitely want a waterproof case for all your gear. I usually keep my photo gear in a roll top dry bag from Beans. I leave the dry bag open when photographing on calm water, but seal the top whenever I am getting in or out of my boat, or when the splash from the paddle might get on the cameras.

Often I wear my fishing waders so I can get out of the boat. I bring my tripod. I always use the tripod in a canoe. Sometimes in the kayak. Often if the bottom is not too mucky I take record shots in stage 1 and then get out of the boat with my tripod for stage 2. I have sat on the outside of my kayak in shallow water with the tripod in the pond and blood suckers swimming at my feet. (Why I now use fishing waders) Moose are skittish but when they are feeding they watch and continue to feed. Move easy and you will get your shot.

With our first competition a few days away, and fall coming, what better time to think about capturing images! A while back Sally donated some rolls (that's right - film) of Velvia 50 and a roll or two of Sensia. The plan I have is for folks who never used slide film to 'have a shot at it' for the experience. I still have 5 rolls of slide film, and fall color ofteh produces "Velvia" moments.

So, how many of you still have a film camera? How many of you with film cameras have not shot slide film before (or just once)? How many of you would like a group photo outing to capture fall color with a 'fading' media?

I'm thinking of Leonard's Mills during Living History Day's October 2nd or 3rd; or maybe a hike to Little Wilson Falls or Borestone Mountain.

Please let me know if you are interested. Penobdon28@aol.com.

Speaking of trips.....are any of you interested in going to Quebec City during Winter Carnival???

Let me know about that too!

Don't forget to register your images for this Thursday's competition.

Regards, Vaguely

The Bangor Fair holds a photo contest each year which is run by the volunteers from our club. Although we run the event the judging is done by paid professionals that have no affiation with the club.

Planning and a history of successful events are the key to pulling this off. There are several months before the event that are spent in meetings, planning, and gathering the resources needed.

The actual event takes three or four nights of hard work.
We used to do it in four separate steps (nights) but we have now combined two steps into one long evening.

• Accept entries and fees, check entries for compliance with rules, log entries, sort into categories, assign tracking sequence numbers, prepare for judging.
• Judge the entries, display a category at a time allowing the judging panel to pick the 10 best for scoring. One by one score the prints that made the first cut. Two score keepers are used one using a computer the second recording the scores on paper as a back up to the computer. The winners are calculated by the computer. If prints have duplicate scores they are reviewed by the judging panel and the final determination for ribbons is done. Winning prints are taken to a station where volunteers record the prize, make up the ribbon for the print.
• Hang the prints for display during the up coming Fair. While the judging is being done prints that have been judged are brought to the display area of the convention center and a team of volunteers arrange and hang the prints.
• Once the Fair has opened volunteers periodically check the display and keep it maintained. The Monday after the Fair closes volunteers take down the display and distribute prints, ribbons, and prize money to the contestants.

After a sigh of relief we have a wrap up meeting to discuss what went well and what may not have gone so well. All this is documented for the next year's contest.

Well it is the end of a year for the Eastern Maine Camera Club. We start up again with regular meetings in September. I am taking over as president for the coming year so I will be attempting to expand our use of social media for communications. This will include more updates to this blog, expanding the facebook group members, and trying to get a better handle on our email list and how it is used by the members.

Over the summer we have one major project which is the Photo Contest for the Bangor State Fair. We run this contest for the Bangor Fair. Things are pretty well ready, we have posted the rules and regulations, we have hired judges, and we have the work crews ready to accept, judge, display, handle awards, and return the images that will be part of the contest. We are expecting about 800 entries this year so it is a lot of work but very rewarding as it furthers our interest in helping others with their photography.

I'm looking at a print I submitted to a recent club competition. It received a modest score. I expect the score was deserved, but I really should learn how to stuff ballot boxes. Any of you from Chicago?

Anyway, I can see a number of failings in the composition. It seemed like a nice idea at the time, but you can't spend several months at a shooting location to decide if a shot is worth the effort.

Two years and some months removed from the capture of this particular image I can see some compositional improvements. "Move the camera to the right a bit, and up a little." Yes, there is a nice diagonal there, and some color, but I cut the diagonal off too early and left some drab vegetation on the left side of the frame.

Now, why am I bringing this up? Well, it's been weeks since I've blogged anything......not a good enough reason for you? Would you believe I believe in the moment?

I can recall a photographer saying the image has to 'grab you'. Well, I startle easily. So, being grabbed is not high on my list of experiences, but waiting for the calendar to change before shooting is beyond my patience. So, my compromise is to look things over for a few minutes and to capture it whether it grabs me or not. I've accumulated a number of slides and image files that are pretty shakey compositionally. I've spent a few hours recently going over slides taken a few years ago and weeding out some highly doubtful shots. This far removed from 'the moment' makes the 'circular file' a more inviting target. I don't feel that bad about throwing away several dollars worth of film processing. My recent Marden's purchases have eclipsed the film expenditures. Those shots just don't stand up to my perception of what makes an interesting scene in 2009.

Luckily, the scene I'm looking at can he captured again later. Maybe it will be better the second time around!

Speaking of scenes, I'm open to some ideas for day trip suggestions. I've brought up an idea for a big weekend trip to the Philidelphia area in the spring, and there are some Clydesdales in Lewiston too, but it would be good to get out a shoot something other than the empty sardine cans piled up in the back of my truck. If you sense some desperation, you are fairly close. So, drop me a note if you have an idea or two.

This morning a few of our club members went down to the By Design Gallery to see Rod Rodrique's latest exhibit. We were treated to something quite different from the customary photography exhibit. Rod went through a detailed description of of his thinking behind the exhibit.

It's not common for painters to create an image from a photograph unless THEY took the photograph. Rod convinced 33 painters to select images from his work and to create a reproduction of his image using their impressions and style.

For me, it was a hit. The artists are very talented, and I didn't see anything that was a disappointment. Excellent idea!

I was disappointed to be reminded how Rod captures his images in the first place. He uses a point and shoot camera (fixed focal length and fixed aperture) to capture his images on film. I say I am disappointed because he does such excellent work without the aid of high technology. Yep! My new camera ain't goin' to hep me dat much. IT'S COMPOSITION BABY!!!

This is on the heels of Liz Grandmaison's talk on "Still Life" photography Thursday evening. I say "on the heels" because Liz uses a modest digital camera, much on the same vein as Rod. The manufacturer markets the camera she uses for people migrating to their first digital camera. Liz uses it very expertly to capture terrific images. On top of that she tells a fine story photographically. Her work is a treat to see and hear.

Much of Liz's talk referenced her lack of gadgetry. She uses natural light, and occasionally a home made diffuser or homemade diffusion tent. Liz and Rod are the kind of people camera manufacturers and photography marketers view with suspicion. I suspect if they both prosper too much some ultra-highly paid lobbiest in Washington will pester a congressperson to to write a law against their frugally creative efforts. [Editors note: the preceding was meant to be humorous. If any ultra-highly paid lobbiest reads the proceeding paragraph there is no reason to get upset............I've got to run to the necessary room.................]

We went from Rod's gallery to the University of Maine Art Museum. Their photographic exhibit is very interesting. The photographer likes to have much of his images out of focus. In addition, he makes good use of high contrast in his subjects. His efforts work, and the results are very interesting. A worthwhile visit.

Before getting done for the morning Karen and myself went to 6 State Street to check out the exhibit space we have for the November 20 Art Walk. It looks like we have some room to work with. Karen has a good idea for how we can approach the exhibit, but I'm not saying anything until clearance is given from PrezMary.

We have a meeting this Thursday. Mike Leonard will talk about shooting "After Dark". I'm guessing it has nothing to do with jackin' deer since we are a camera club! Mike may venture out after the meeting for a shooting effort. So, you may want to have a tripod and a camera with you. Oh! It may be good to have a lens for the camera and a memory card, but I'll leave that decision up to you.

I've got to go through some old slides......maybe I can find something to show!

BlogDon

A couple weeks ago a modest band of club members headed out on a
trek to Little Wilson Falls. Heck of an idea from one of our members.
The weather was very much like today, though warmer. This was
an exercise in: good information; reasoned decision making; determined
effort; over preparation and plausible adventure.



First, good information. Truthfully, much improvement could be had on the information front. Somehow I reasoned the hike to the falls would be more of a lengthy stroll. This was failed reasoning. Little Wilson Falls is on the Appalachian Trail. In fact, it's part of the 100 mile wilderness. So, why I envisioned a stroll in the woods will remain an unanswered question. As a consequence some of our trekkers didn't have especially good footwear.

The weather was rainy in the morning. Some of the members knew what they were doing and brought along water resistant outerwear including pants. Wicked good idea! Wished I thunk uve it!!!



Now, reasoned decision making. My guide mentioned the hike to the falls was a bit over a mile. Ha! "Short walk that should be" I said to myself! So, I packed most of my camera gear into a pack and struck out with 35 pounds (plus or minus) of stuff. I thought about discarding an especially heavy lens, but my guide said "take it, you may need it!"




How gullible I be, and how he enjoyed exploiting my gullibility.
So, the heavy lens stayed in the pack. Everyone else had very
reasonable loads. I guess that showed where I stood in the Good
Judgement Section of the club.



Off we went down a modestly marked trail. Drizzly weather at first, but what's a little wet when great images await! Though much slipping and sliding was to be had, no broken bones or spirits were to be had [a little over the top on prose...]



Little Wilson Falls has tripod holes. There are few views to be had of this impressive cascade. The best views are to be had from a vantage not easily accessed. At least not by me. The sight is excellent. There are shots from above the falls, but you need to get in line for a shot at the falls from below! I expect an intrepid shooter could get across to the other side of the gorge for a full view, or do the 'salmon struggle' right up the stream (not recommended by me).


We had the company of hikers passing through. A couple of fellows who looked older than myself basically blew by me without sign of any exertion......don't I hate that!


The walk out proved to be the highlight. Apparently there are parallel trails. One is higher up from the Appalachian Trail, which is the one we took on the way in. The Appalachian Trail stayed near the flowage. The stretch from Little Wilson Falls down to the parking lot has many rips and small falls. The foliage wasn't at peak, but it was colorful.


We would have made a sight from above with members jagging off the trail looking for shooting opportunities then clamoring back up.


Despite the wet footing I took but one substantial "bottom bouncer". Much of the punishment was absorbed by my heavy backpack. Only seemed fair to me....


It was a very worth while effort. We now know of an excellent shooting location, and have a better sense of how to prepare. The upshot for me is you can never get enough experience. It would be better still if can remember what not to do the next time around.


By the way, our guide brought up a winter snowshoe adventure. How about a trek into Daicy Pond this February????


As an aside, I brought along my F5 (speaking of weight) and my lone roll of Kodachrome 25. The last lab processing Kodachromes will cease that effort in 2010. I saw no reason to wait exposing 36+ frames of this film. It came back earlier this week, and I think photographers (and Kodak) gave up on this film too early.







To quote Monty Python: "And now for something completely different."

Some of you are having trouble getting to our 2009-2010 website. Webmaster Joel has the following advice:

September 18 to the 20th was quite an experience. Mary's two and a half hour travel estimate to the bridge at Chamberlain Lake proved quite accurate. I was riding with Dave Hacker and AJ Whitney when we shot across a substantial bridge. I thought I caught sight of a sign on the Ranger Station that said Chamberlain. So, I suggested we turn around. Good thing, because we were in the right place. We pulled out the Gazetteer anyway, and must have looked a little pitiful to the ranger. He came over and straightened us out as to our location. We were quite early. Could have stopped along the way, but did not. Ruth York beat us there, and was in the parking lot.

The wind was very fresh down the flowage. Whitecaps, in fact. I have to admit I was quite nervous about a boat ride to the camps. Chamberlain is a big lake. If there are whitecaps in a relatively sheltered flowage, what would the lake hold for us. I took a few minutes to assess what amongst my posessions would float. I had a nice dry bag with my clothes inside. I figured that would float and was big enough for me to ride for a time. If I could muckle on to a paddle, maybe I could paddle my way to shore in a pinch!

The caretaker from Nugent's arrived in a modest boat. He had a bit of trouble getting onto the dock. Not a good sign. He looked a wee bit pale to boot. He got out and asked me how I felt about getting to camp via solid ground. "Wicked good idea!" I replied. I felt much better.

The rest of the goup arrived shortly. Several of us piled into Nugent's Suburban, and I jumped in with Chuck Rohn. It was a short drive to the vehicle parking area, and a modest walk and ATV ride to the camps.

Our accommodations were excellent, even without running water. I don't think anyone was especially unhappy. The main lodge was very clean, and more importlantly, the food was plentiful and excellent!


The cabins were comfortable. In fact, my cabinmates were quite
reluctant to get up at 5:30. One wanted a fire before getting out
of the covers.

Friday night and Saturday were blustery to say the least. The
wind whistled around our cabin all night. At the lake in front of the camp was a lovely pattern of white frothy ribbons from shore to shore. I was thinnking about more coffee, and maybe a good book. We had the coffee, but all I had to read was my D90 manual. I didn't see much intrigue in the manual. So, out we went. The wisdom was to stay on dry ground. I was all for that! We drove to a location where moose were rumored to hang out.

Many tracks and other sign, but no moose. That led me to figure the moose were either smarter than ourselves, or their presence was local folklore. I'd like to think we are smarter than the moose, but let's not rush to judgement.




One of our members set up a photographic ambush along the road.
No lack of ambition in our group!

Mary brought along some help. I think

she figured Waldo could point a moose
or two. No such luck.






Some of us made it to an abandoned logging camp. I expect this location was
last used when logs were rafted down the lake during the days of log drives on the Penobscot watershed. Lots of debris. Many adult beverage bottles. I wonder what they did in their spare time?

Determined eyes watched for moose, but.....................................................

Things got better on Sunday. Two boats were rented and we struck out down the lake for a look at abandoned locomotives and an abandoned log tram. Chuck Rohn and Kerry Woodberry took the tillers on our boats. We discovered a treacherous landing on the other end. Lots of water too shallow to make it to shore in the boats, or too many rocks and boulders for our vessels. We had a couple desperate men to boot. Funny sight to see several of us wade ashore on our bare feet carrying our boots. Some things can't wait. No names mentioned, you guess.



The locomotives brought back childhood dreams for some. This one was caught by an alert club member. I wonder what all the fuss was about.......................

I have many more images to share, but I'm about to scream at this blogging software. Maybe I need coaching at the blogging thing!!!!

The upshot is, great time despite the weather. Nugent's took great care of us. I'll be happy to eat Stella's food anytime, and Rob and Stella are good hosts. Thanks, very much, to them!!

BlogDon