Page 3 - Cape-Camera-July-2023

Cape Camera July 2023

On The Cover

This month's cover image, Sky high by David Barnes was one of the winning images
in our July competition. David wrote "So many pictures to take, so little time, so many
ideas, so many deadlines … aarrrgh!
Most of the time I am busy with a composition or something with the month’s set
subject in the back of my mind, the deadline somewhere in my foggy memory.
Oh dear, its the last weekend before the deadline, again. Yes, I do suffer from “last-
minuteitis”
“Sport.” Where can I find a school rugby match at the last minute? Its too cold for
swimming. Should I drive all the way to Kommetjie for a surfing photo, hoping the
conditions are favourable?
I was pondering all this while driving from the Morningstar airfield on the last Satur-
day morning and Bingo! A motorbike jumped into the sky right in front of my eyes at
Zone 7, next to the airfield. OMG, this is a sport!
I immediately turn into the gate, park and fumble in my car boot for the right lens.
I chose the 70 to 200 to get the rider and bike in the frame. I’ve used a wide angle
before to get the ground etc. for context, but this time I wanted to concentrate on the
rider instead. I positioned myself so the sun would be on his face and where I could
get him jumping into the air with a clean background.
Lots of test shots juggling the aperture, ISO and speed to get the pic sharp, but also
with some wheel spin. Luckily there are lots of riders, so you can keep adjusting.
Funny thing is that when you sit on the side of the track with a camera in hand and a big fat lens, suddenly there are a bunch more
riders jumping higher and doing more tricks than before. Two riders came to ask me to send them their pics, which I happily did.
The pic I submitted got an average score, which is fine, but the riders absolutely loved them, which is so rewarding. Isn’t that why
we do photography?

Change of the Competition year - July to June

Council has decided to implement a change to the CTPS com- theirs by September as is the case now. Those who have already
petition year to run the same as the PSSA year, i.e., July to June achieved Master status this year, and potential new Master pho-
the following year. Currently our year runs from October to tographers, would begin to accumulate credits from July this
September. This would make life easier for selection of images year.
for the PSSA Interclub competitions, and for updating our own For the End of Year Awards, we would take images from July
rankings to align with the PSSA salon calendar. 2022 to June this year. This also means that we could hold our
Master Photographer: For the first year we would have an annual awards dinner earlier than November each year, which
overlap and allow those working towards Master to complete is always a busy time.

Set themes for 2023

The themes for the remainder of the year are listed below. We hope that these will continue to inspire you to
explore new perspectives and techniques in your photography, and to capture unique and memorable images.
We look forward seeing all the competition entries. Happy shooting!

Month Subject Upload to Competition Date
Photovault by
September In the footsteps of a famous painter. Create an image inspired by 30 August 6 September
a famous painter. Colour or monochrome.
October Signs of spring. All aspects of the Spring season can be entered. 27 September 4 October
Macro and close-up images are included here. Colour only.

November Shadows. Shadows can bring focus to the light in an image. Use 25 October 1 November
shadows to tell your story. Colour or monochrome.

December Capture the night. Everything changes at night and familiar day- 29 November 6 December
time scenes look very different without sunlight. Capture an image
anytime after sundown. Colour or monochrome.

Cape Town Photographic Society 3