Neutral Density Filter Tutorials

Here are some videos on neutral density (ND) filters to go with Phil Tughan’s presentation at the September 1st meeting.

The first is by Joshua Cripps of Joshua Cripps Photography:

Larry Becker put together a very comprehensive 3 part series on ND Filters for B&H Photo – Video in association with Kelby One:

Can’t forget a video from my favourite instructor Mike Browne:

There are iPhone apps and Android apps available for free download to help you calculate what shutter speeds to use with the ND filters.
You can do a search for one the works best for you.

These are fun tools to have available.
Experiment and have fun with it.

by Phil Tughan

Dr. P.T. (Pete) Dang, Ph.D

The featured presenter at our meeting on September 1st will be Dr. P.T. (Pete) Dang, Ph.D

  • President and Founder of Biodiversity Conservancy International
  • Director, National Capital Sand Dune Conservation Project
  • Founder of the internationally renowned quarterly scientific journal “Biodiversity”
  • Research Scientist (Entomologist), specializing in Microlepidoptera specifically the leafrollers, budworms and budmoths, mosquitoes and other biting flies, and ladybird beetles
  • Former scientific staff of the Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
  • Former Chair of the Curatorial Committee for the Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes (AAFC)

Monthly Meeting September 1st

We hope you all had a great summer and really enjoyed all the Canada 150 activities and other opportunities to take lots of photos.

Join us for our next Camera Club meeting which with be held on Friday, September 1st at 9:15 AM.

Our meeting will include:

  • Slide show of Member Images from the Canada 150th Assignment
  • Phil’s Tip of the Day on Lens Filters
  • Presentation on Insect Photography by Dr. Dang
  • Review of Chosen Photos
  • Announcements and Closing Remarks

The Mentors will be available before the meeting to help you with any technical or creative questions you have about photography.

Your images for the assignment must be emailed by noon on Friday, August 25th to be included in the slide show. For details on how to submit photos including formats and titles go to our Galleries page.

The next assignment is:

  • It’s a Small World
  • For the meeting on October 6th
  • Submit by noon on September 29th
  • Macro or small-scale photography of any subject.

See you on September 1st.

Your Camera Club Executive

Photowalk / Editing Master Class

Land ahead by Marg Jackman.
Land Ahead by Marg Jackman

Henry’s is putting on a two-session course that challenges students to think outside of the class room and put all their knowledge to use in this travel/street photography based event. Three hours of dedicated shooting will be followed later with a 3-hour session to edit, review, and print photos. People can bring their own laptops, or Henry’s can provide computers with the software. As of Thursday August 17th there are only seven of the twelve seats remaining so, if you’re interested, act fast! The $150 fee covers both sessions.

Contact Henry’s 613-836-1016 or by email for more details and to enroll.

Level – Intermediate/Advanced

Two-session time & date:

  • Photowalk
    • MosaïCanada
    • Jacques Cartier Park,
    • September 27th, 4pm-7pm (rain date TBD)
    • 4 Henry’s Instructors
    • map here
  • Editing session
    • Henry’s Kanata, 501 Hazeldean Rd, Kanata, ON K2L 1V6
    • October 1st, 9am-12pm
    • 7 Henry’s Instructors
    • map here

Course Outline, Photowalk:

  • Seeing composition in changing environments
  • Custom white balance
  • Exposure compensation ( + bracketing)
  • Close up & macro photography ( + focus stacking)
  • Techniques to shoot water (use of ND filters, flash)
  • Long exposures
  • Choosing the right lens/creative techniques when limited to one focal length
  • Dealing with shadows and harsh light (Flash photography, bending natural light with reflectors

Course Outline, Editing:

  • Simplifying composition
  • Converting to black and white
  • HDR
  • Smoothing blemishes, removing distracting elements
  • Stitching panoramas
  • Stitching focus stacked and/or bracketed images
  • Lightroom organization
  • Colour correction
  • Optimizing for printing
  • All students leave with one 13×19 print of a photo taken and edited on this course

Who should attend:

Individuals who would like to take their photography to the next level with the guidance of several instructors while learning how to not only think and shoot creatively, but also learn how to optimize their work flow and editing habits.

What to bring to class:

  • Your camera, and lens(es)
  • Fully charged battery + extra batteries
  • Memory card
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Weather appropriate attire
  • Notebook + pen (editing session)

More Macro Photo Ops at the Pinhey Dunes

Ghost Tiger Beetle 5
Ghost Tiger Beetle by Amy Lo

If you missed the July 16th event at Pinhey Dunes and would like a chance to take some spectacular macro images like Amy Lo shot, here is a list of the remaining 2017 public tours of the Pinhey Sand Dunes put on by Biodiversity Conservancy International:

  • August 06
    Sand Wasps & Macro Photography
    Watch the super sand diggers
  • August 20
    Giant Robber Fly & Macro Photography
    Observe the 4-5 cm voracious hunters catching prey in flight
  • September 03
    Antlions, Doodle Bugs & Macro Photography
    Observe sand swimmers leaving wiggly trails, building pitfall traps and capturing prey
  • September 10
    Antlions and Giant Robber Fly & Macro Photography
    Last glimpse of 2017 dune biodiversity
  • October (date to be determined)
    Ottawa-Gatineau Geo-Heritage
    Pinhey Sand Dunes System is one of Ottawa Gatineau Geoheritage sites
  • November 05
    Dune Walk (6 km) & Season End Dune Maintenance
    Meet the Pinhey Dunes Watch Group at work

All events start at 10:00. For more information email Biodiversity Conservancy International.

Ferocious Looking Bugs!

Amy Lo and Marg Jackman went on the guided tour and came back with some great pictures of Ghost Tiger Beetles and Dune Spiders

Amy said:

It was quite an experience to shoot these critters. First we could hardly see them unless they were pointed out to us by the entomologist, second you had to approach them with caution. We were on our knees most of the time as we couldn’t let the critters see our shadow.

Here are her pictures:

(click to enlarge).

Macro Photography Opportunity

On Saturday July 15th the camera club found out about this event:

Beetles

to be held on Sunday July 16th. Because of the short notice, an email was sent to all club members.

You can see google maps driving directions from the Seniors Centre here.