A challenge for Murph

[David Kilpatrick]

Paul Murphy gave an excellent show of his work at the Edinburgh Photoworld day last Sunday. Now here's a contest specially aimed at Paul:

PORT OF TYNE REFLECT PHOTO COMPETITION LAUNCHED

VISIT: http://www.reflect-tyne.com

David

[aster]

Congratulations Paul!

But of course no less would be expected of you. A real pity that I and many others could not be there on Sunday to witness the unique presentation...
Maybe someday soon a small coverage of your presentation along with some of the others' works can be viewed here too.

How was the event in general? Apparently David Kilpatrick thinks it was worth each moment spent there....

Yildiz

[paulmurphy]

Thanks for the vote of confidence David, and thanks for the link, nice to have a local competition.

Also thanks to Yildiz, the day was really worthwhile - in addition to my ramblings, Alan Thomson presented some wonderful animal pictures from Edinburgh zoo, DK did amazing things with a Playstation and Duncan McEwan showed some of his wonderful landscape images(check out his website), there was also a digital image critique session and some chat with a bunch of fellow photographers.

Next years meeting is planned for February and will be well worth the trip.

Best wishes

Murph

[caporip]

Playstation? I'm intrigued as I have one. What were you doing David?

[David Kilpatrick]

Playstation 3. Load your pix (it is VERY difficult to get the naming convention and folder structure correct!) on a USB flash memory stick, or a CompactFlash or MemoryStick if you have a 60GB model with card slots. They must be JPEGs, sRGB, normal camera-type file structure (image folder inside DCIM folder on root level of device) with DOS-type filenaming. You can then 'fly' through a large image, zooming and panning smoothly using the joysticks on the wireless controller. Images saved on to a CD/DVD/BluRay are less picky about file structure.

I demonstrated directly playback using the Alpha 900 and HDMI connection with remote control, and Playstation 3 playback. The best thing about PS3 playback is that with an Alpha 900 file you can zoom right in, as smoothly as the fastest zoom function on any computer (or more so). I showed images from a scan of a 1969 b/w print (40 years of getting into print with pix!) through 1970s-80s slide scans to early digital Dimage 7 and then to the latest A700/A900 shots, but also plenty of comparisons showing that the A100, A350 etc are all pretty good matches for the A700/900 at pixel level.

I probably offended a few people by saying how awful the Canon 400D was, maybe rather hasty words (plenty of Canon owners in the room!). But it is true. Give an ordinary user an A350/300/200 and a similar level of Canon, let them take a stack of pix, and they will pick the Sony. I was blackmailed into swapping a brand new A350 for Ailsa's 400D. After using my A350, she didn't want to use the Canon again, and it was not because of live view, it was because of the amazing sharpness, colour and accurate exposure 'hit rate'. She did much better with the original Canon 300D she had before the 400D (one of her orchid close-ups has just earned a few pounds today on Alamy).

Alamy also got a bit of coverage, mainly to show what sort of image actually sells versus what you think might sell!

David

[aster]

Thank you for the insider's look on the event Paul and David.
I'm rather surprised that noone photographed the event while it was in full action...

And I am curious to learn what sort of images sell on Alamy as opposed to the assumptions. Lately I had to e-malis from the CEO of Alamy explaining their new sale policies which they hope will compete with the subscription system adopted by other stock agencies online. Seems the UK newspaper market narrowed its purchases or the purchasing preferences.

Could someone give a small summary of what was discussed about Alamy and the photos that sell please?

Thanks

Yildiz

[David Kilpatrick]

It was only a short talk, and my reference to Alamy consisted of showing two images which I took where people/landscape combined to make an unusually 'good' stock pic - but which have never sold - and then to show the photo from the same trip which has sold. That photo is the last shot I took in one week in Gran Canaria, and shows the full tray of cigarette ends on the terrace for smokers at the airport - a huge pile of cigarette butts. None of my scenic views of Gran Canaria has sold yet. I also showed the picture I took showing the 'UK Border' and 'Passports' signs with people queueing. Photography is not allowed. The Government has bought the picture for the cover of an annual report.

And I did take three quick snaps during Alan Thomson's talk at the end of his show, when Duncan was thanking him and questions were being taken:



Alpha 900, ISO 800, natural light, extreme adjustment for the room (actual original looks dark orange in colour) and for the projected image, combination of two raw exports plus layer fading to balance.

David

[aster]

Thank you for the 'in-speed-of-light' response David,

A room full of savvy photographers is exciting to see, I'm much envious!
UK Government must be of the opinion which is 'If you're bold and daring enough to take photos against our laws and rules in act, then we're only too willing to meet you in the eye and purchase it'. Courage pays off! Congatulations and I might try this myself when entering England at the airport...and dare the consequences too. Airport police of many countries always were good to me but I haven't yet photographed a passport queue to see the response.

And that projected photo is an exceptional one for its zebra's angle and awkard move! Nice.

Thanks
Yildiz

[David Kilpatrick]

And that projected photo is an exceptional one for its zebra's angle and awkard move! Nice.
Yildiz

That was Alan's parting shot. His main pix were much better, this was just a joke to end his show.

David

[aster]

That was Alan's parting shot. His main pix were much better, this was just a joke to end his show.

David

Yes, I did think that the presenter, Alan, had the intention of putting a big smile on everyone's faces and wake them back to reality after his catchy stream of images which probably had a drifting hypnotic effect ..


Yildiz

[braeside]

A belated thank you to David, Murph and all the others that made last Sunday such an excellent day. As usual it was a good social gathering as well as educational and entertaining.

I'm not sure if I gave DK permission to publish a photo of the back of my head, but it is probably safer than the front.

[David Kilpatrick]

Well, you look slimmer than your avatar. It may be a good social gathering if you can disappear to the library with your sandwiches, but you know what happens to me - I get lobbied in the lobby trying to eat mine and answer questions simultaneously! I always feel I have had no time to say hello to anyone, even if I know they are there. I didn't even manage a chat with Murph, but having listened to his talk, I reckon you need to get up at 6am to manage that, and it helps if you are canine...

David

[braeside]

That's always the problem at these meetings, not enough time to chat with everyone.
Suggestion - a question and answer session after lunch for DK, so that you can get some time to grab a sandwich at lunchtime.

[Dr. Harout]

How about a diet, guys?

[David Kilpatrick]

I nearly did. I decided just to have some biscuits and coffee. Then, after I got my projector set up, I realised I was hungry and walked to the corner news shop nearby to get a ham and cheese with the smallest amount of ham in it I have ever encountered. But then, what do you expect for £1.05...

David