29th August 2020

Competition Closing Date Looming.

The deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday 6th September. See the full detail later in the Newsletter.

Shoot With Me.

Congrats and thanks to all for making the Virtual SWM last Monday night such a success.  Lots of hard work done behind the scenes combined with original and inspiring work by teams and their respective leaders.  It was heartening to see the event so well supported and just shows what can be achieved with such a good team spirit.

Next Monday Night.

Keven Grace will make a presentation  “Julian Alps - Slovenia & Italy” followed by a second presentation titled "Lock Down Photography".

Barry Dillon will present  'My Journey into Architectural Photography'.  It is mostly Valencia but will include images from Lisbon, Berlin, Washington & Dublin to show the evolution towards Valencia. The presentation will include the use of Black Sky and Wispy Clouds in fine art architectural images. The Photoshop process will be explained as well as the equipment used.

Weekly Flickr Theme: Bottles/Glass

This theme we're looking for a still life image or abstract shape image.

Bottles / Glass present a challenge due to reflections. I found this website very helpful on the subject: www.instructables.com/id/Photographing-Glassware/

In brief, you have 2 options - photograph your subject on white with black on either side or photograph your subject on black with white on either side. The white is more effective when backlit. If you've got studio lights or speedlights, this is a great opportunity to use them. However, a good alternative is to put the glass on a windowsill in front of a plain white blind (not a blackout blind) and shoot while the sun is shining through the blind.

Water in glasses can be used to refract light from something behind the glass.

Backlighting coloured liquid in glass can be fun and interesting. Food colouring in water is perfect.

Here are some examples that I took over the last week:

www.flickr.com/photos/bellabluestar/albums/72157715596407951

If you're trying something similar and having difficulty, just message me and I'll try to help.

Alternatively, you may wish to photograph dusty/musty bottles/glass in a complementary setting, in which case you may not really need to worry about reflections.

I look forward to seeing your creative efforts. 

See more about how the OffShoot Weekly Flickr Theme works at: https://tinyurl.com/flickrthem.

Upcoming themes will include the following:

04/09/2020      Sport / Action

Speakers and Outings

Here are the next scheduled meetings and events for the Society:

Members will be able to attend our outings by registering for specific outings. Keep up to date with the latest events at https://www.offshoot.ie/whats-on/.

Just a note for new members – if you want any of your pictures considered for the photo of the week, you just have to post them to the OffShoot Flickr group at:

https://www.flickr.com/groups/offshoot_society.

There’s also the latest images published on Flickr that are displayed on the OffShoot home page.

[Note. To join the Offshoot Flickr group, you must first be a Flickr member. Then send the email address used to join Flickr to webmaster@offshoot.ie. You will get an email when you have been added to the group. Please be patient as this is a manual process.]

Theme: Animals/Birds: Bateauler Eagle by Robert Hackett

Unthemed:  Convention Centre by Mike Smith

If you come across one you want to share let us know at newsletter@offshoot.ie.

Thomas Heaton: How I Focus Stack

Fstoppers: How to photograph ink in water

For this one, there is no theme for Levels 1, 2 and 3; please enter up to three of your favourite images.

There is also an Open section for everybody to enter. The Open section has the theme of Journeys and calls for members to enter a themed set of 3, 4 or 5 images. While feedback will be given on individual images, the competition judging will be of the set as a whole.

Feel free interpret the theme Journeys as broadly as you wish. These last few months have certainly seen some of us undertake journeys in how we view and interact with the world around us; some have become philosophical, some whimsical, some completely discombobulated. Some have embarked on journeys of discovery of new techniques or subject matters, some revisit memories of distant lands..... Let us see what journey you have been on.

Please upload your entries to

https://www.dropbox.com/request/gZl99Up3dp0kmSvk3bHU

How to name your entries:

either Level-Member Number-Image Title.jpg  (for example L1-999-TopTrumps.jpg)

or

Open-Member Number-Set Title- Image Title.jpg (for example Open-999-Home thoughts from abroad-My Old man.jpg)

Jpg quality is good enough for this competition, no need for Tifs.

Closing date is midnight Sunday 6th September so you have plenty of time to prepare a last-minute entry!

Remember, competitions are a great way to get constructive feedback and positive advice on your photography.

And maybe, just maybe, there will be a unique prize for some of our lucky (not to mention talented) winners! More on this later.

Irish Photographic Federation Web Site:

https://irishphoto.ie/

IPF Shield to take place in November. Details to follow.

Possible Distinctions Event before the end of the year.

Most recent news and articles posted:

https://irishphoto.ie/news/

Distinction Sittings and Availability:

https://irishphoto.ie/distinctions/assessment-dates/