​At our May session, we viewed a photo from David Hall taken at the Benalla Art Festival. As David didn’t check the image after taking it, he wasn’t aware of the tape and bollard visible in the shot.  (It's always helpful to check what's in the frame when deciding whether to take a photo.) It was a colourful and vibrant image, and we were glad he captured it.

We then explored some editing techniques in Photoshop to remove those unwanted elements from the photo. ​

We then explored some editing techniques in Photoshop to remove those unwanted elements from the photo. I also demonstrated a few steps on how to add AI-generated elements into an image—such as placing a whale into Benalla Lake. It looked great, though of course, not very believable!

Next, we discussed some of the processes I follow when working with HDR images in Photoshop, including the use of the Nik Collection.

I also introduced Topaz Photo AI, which can help fix issues in photos such as noise and blurring.

That wraps up the first half of the year. See you all in September!
​
Rene Martens

We started off our April session by viewing a photo from Kerri (an apology for the class today) of a sunrise (well I assume it was a sunrise) at a beach. I then went through a couple of quick things I have learned in regards to distortion in photos, explaining how Photoshop (PS) and Lightroom have options to fix this and providing a quick session with PS to show what it does.  We also briefly discussed Nightscape and Star Trails.  

We then moved on to a free Photo editing application for PC's called RawTherapee. I haven't really had a lot of time to work with it, so I couldn't really advise as to how effective it is, but it does allow us to open most RAW files to edit which is a bonus. I then started to show a video that went through some basics of use.  The video is over an hour - you can watch the video below - it's also in Session Resources.

We had a great turnout for our first session of the year! We talked about this page on the U3A website, where everyone can see what we’ve done over the past couple of years. Hopefully, it will be helpful for improving your photos.

We also discussed all the photos that were sent in—including one from me for a change! I wanted to show that you don’t need a fancy camera to do well in a photo competition.

There were some interesting comments about the images. I also gave a quick demo of some basic menu options in GIMP, a free photo editing app for PC. I recently learned it’s also available for smartphones!

Apologies for running slightly over time today—I hope everyone learned something useful.
​
Just a reminder: I’ve had to cancel the March session due to personal commitments, but I’ll see you all in April. I’ll send out an email reminder before then.

Rene

Well, it was a great session today, wrapping up the year (even with a small group present – yes, a few apologies were ). We didn’t have any member photos to review at the start, so I shared a few pictures I took on my way to the session. I had an idea of what I wanted to capture before arriving, which is something I emphasize in every session: think about your shot, don’t just take it.

We also discussed whether anything in a photo could indicate it had been manipulated or altered. As shown, not really. While there are ethical guidelines in some media, I’m not sure how strictly they’re enforced.

Next, we watched a couple of videos (links below) and talked more about photo manipulation and entering competitions. I also shared the story behind my recent Top 30 award in black-and-white photography. Personally, I still prefer color, as I tend to see and think in color.

That’s a wrap for this year’s Photography sessions. We’ll see how things go next year. Have a great Christmas with family and friends, and best wishes for a prosperous and safe start to 2025!

Rene Martens

​It was great to see a few familiar faces at our October session. We had some interesting discussions about night photography and the use of mobile phones. While I’m not an expert on Android, I did talk about how to use the default camera app to capture nightscape photos and how easy it can be. That made me want to look up more tips on night photography with smartphones, so by next month, I hope to share some additional insights.

We also watched a couple of videos about settings and explored some ideas for using focus and exposure when taking photos on a smartphone.

Next month (the last session of the year), we’ll discuss more about nightscapes and smartphones, and I hope to demonstrate a few features as well. Until then, remember to keep your camera (whatever kind it may be) handy, and send in a photo before our next class in November.

​Rene Martens

Well, we had a few attendees when we resumed on Thursday 26 September after a winter break and were able to go through two photos from Rina and two from Peter.  Thank you for submitting them, Rina and Peter!

Rina gave us information on the web of the orb spider which we did not know. Look up the strength of the orb spider's web.

Both photos from Peter were great--it's pleasing to see someone else going out at night to capture the night sky, as Peter did with the milky way photo taken at his property behind the dam.

A new 'taster' attendee joined us, so I went through a few of the things we have done and answered her questions.

I showed a video on 12 Tips and Tricks for Better Smartphone Photos, stopping in places to discuss the different points the presenter was making.  We didn't reach the end, so please feel free to watch it again to the end. It is on the resources section of the Photography page on the website,  or you can go to this link -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWZ1LqZNrp4.

Thank you to those who attended - I hope to see you in October and look forward to receiving  a few photos before or at the October session.

Rene Martens

​Hello from the Photography group.  Yes, we are back in September at 10:00 on 26th September. I hope you all had a good break, took some photos and used some of the things we have talked about in our sessions.  

Over the break I have been busy with taking photos for an exhibition in Albury  (as well as the walks I do around Lake Benalla to see the birdlife and of course the few platypus that are around the lake). 

I am looking forward to seeing you all again and discussing what we can do with our photography, whatever device we have.  I hope you can all come in with a photo to discuss at the first session in September.


​Rene Martens

​A reminder that Photography is on a scheduled winter break until late September.  The Session Resources page on the Photography page of U3A website can be drawn upon by those want to refresh themselves on themes covered in class.  Sessions resume on the 4th Thursday in September at 10 am.

While we didn't have a great turn out in May, I hope those who came went away with some useful information.

We began by discussing images submitted by participants as well as some of mine. 

We moved on to talk about the recent Aurora sightings and how good it was to see this with our eyes rather than just with the cameras. The sighting on 11/5/2024 was the first for quite some years (I think 1932 was the last time it was seen with the eyes this far north in Victoria). I discussed settings and then also talked about time lapse photos. I spoke about some of my Time lapse videos and the settings I used (Shutter 20 secs, Ap smallest hole in lens which is the highest number on the lens and the ISO 1600 as a starting point). I also showed the Aurora time lapse I’d taken from our backyard in Benalla.

A couple of videos followed – the first 'The Best 5 Free Editing Apps'.  Most were for PC but a couple were also from iPad/iPhone/Smartphone. The second video was ‘A beginners guide to GIMP’, a PC based editing software similar to Photoshop but free. 

​The session ended with a review a few of some of my photos. I explained what I was looking for and why I took them.

This session was the last before a scheduled winter break.  Our  sessions will resume on the 4th Thursday in September at 10am.

​Rene Martens

We did not have a class in April as the date fell on the Anzac Day holiday.  Our next session, on Thursday 23 May, is our final session for the first half of the year and the last chance for members to send in photographs for discussion until September.   I’m looking forward to receiving photographs in my inbox over the coming weeks and to seeing you all on May 23rd.
​
Rene Martens

​I began our March session with information about our recent Cruise to NZ -  it should be on every ones to-do-list!  Milford Sound is an amazing place, leaving you feeling so small. I showed a photo that if you zoomed in you could see a large sloop at the base of the mountain!

Another photo had a helicopter in the clouds - again you had to zoom in to see what the black dot was in the photo. Anyway - if you get the chance, go and enjoy a wonder of our earth.

We then discussed a number of interesting images that were sent in by class members. I missed one from Paul, so will have to hang on that one until our next class in May.  Click on this link to see the March 'Photo Submissions'.

After discussing how to use Histograms on our camera devices, we had a short break. We went through a couple of videos about mistakes - well not really mistakes, just things to look out for when taking photos.  The last video was on iPhone Landscape photography by  Emil Pakarklis and his iPhone Photography School - if you want some great tips and learning, then Emil's paid online learning website is well worthwhile.  

We will not be having a class in April as the date falls on the Anzac Day holiday, so the last session for the first half of the year is in May - hope to see you all then.

As always - look at the U3A Benalla Website under 'Session Resources' to see all the videos we have watched over the course.
​
Rene Martens

I then showed the group this page and the links to Session Resources and Photo Submissions, explaining they are a great way to look through what we have done and revise (or look up) new information as per the video links at the site. I do hope they stay up from last year’s classes.  (Editor’s note – they will!)

We then previewed three videos which class members can watch in full on the ‘Session Resources’ page..  The first video ‘Photographers Who Got Caught Cheating’ was about 'fake' photography and how it affects competitions.   Photos submitted for any publication, as well as for TV, need to be 'real' photos.  Even the small changes described in the video cannot be sent to papers/TV/Magazines etc.

The next video –‘Using Your iPhone As Your Second Camera for Travel Photography’ - was again quite long and is to be continued at home.  iPhones, indeed, any smart phone that has a camera, should really be thought of as a second camera, as we carry them around with us most of the time.

Last in the videos ‘Getting Better Photographs from your Phone Camera (including for large prints)’ provided some information about making better phone photos.  While we can use our phones to create some lovely photos, we also need to consider their limitations at the same time.

​Anyway, hoping to see you all at the next class next month.

Rene Martens
June 22, 2024

​At the beginning of our last session of U3A Photography for 2023 we talked about images supplied by some members of the group.  Thank you for sending them in.

I then went over a few things that we had discussed over the year, but especially two things:  1) look around and don't just grab a photo and 2) that a photo is only the capture of light being reflected by things that we see.  Also, we do need to think about what we want to get out of a photo, not just take a photo.

We then went into AI 'photography', which is becoming more prevalent in our society both professionally and from a social point of view. I went through my thoughts on this as I am only just 'dabbling' with it.  An AI photograph can be difficult to distinguish from a photo that has been taken with a device and is, therefore, quite the talking point with professional photographers and even magazines like Australian Geographic.

Anyway, we will see what the New Year brings, with photography sessions being offered again next year at U3A.
​

Rene Martens

​​It was good to see the class again in late October and to discuss photos sent to me by Anna and Heather.  Their photographs were very good. I did mention though, that when we photograph artwork, we should credit the artist if we intend to use it on social or other media.

​We then had a look at three videos which seemed to be helpful.  The 'Depth Of Field' video appeared to be of particular interest to those who attended, so have a look at it as well as the other two.  The Android Camera Apps were also interesting - there seems to be quite a difference in how you can use the phone Camera as opposed to a Camera itself.

After these videos, we discussed a couple of AI apps in Nightcafe and Adobe Firefly.  I demonstrated some examples, then added an Elephant to a photo I had taken at the Benalla Botanical Gardens.

​It seems that photography AI Applications, as well as ChatGP applications, will need to be embraced as they become more widely used in our society.  It will, however, be more difficult to know if a photograph was made by a person or by AI.

We ended the session with a screening of some photos from my recent camping trip to Stringybark Creek.

​It was good to start up again in September for the second half of the course (well for me lol) and to see the turn out to the Photography class on Thursday. 

We talked about the photos that were sent to me before starting discussions and sitting back to watch the videos. I hope the lollies I brought helped those in the class to stay awake.

We discussed the use of soft boxes and also the framing in the photos. Hopefully this has helped you to look further into how you want to take some photos. 

​I'd like to emphasize again the importance of really 'seeing' what you want to grab and not just grabbing a photo.

The videos watched during the session stimulated further thought about photography, with notes from our discussion included below in Session 5 resources:

1. 'Forget the Rule of Thirds '  Link - Forget the Rule of Thirds, do this instead
2. 'iPhone Settings'    Link - Use Your iPhone Like A Professional Photographer (Full Camera Guide)
3. 'Smartphone Photography'   Link - 13 Smartphone Photography tips & tricks

We had some issues with some of the speech speeds of the presenters, so I am glad these are on video so they can be watched again and again so that you can hear what the presenter has to say.  (It can also be helpful to go into Settings at the bottom of the YouTube screen and change 'Playback Speed' to .75).

I​ had another video which didn't work on the day - so will look at this another session in the future.

Great to see everyone and hope you all will come to the next session in October.

​Rene

​Hi all,

I do hope to see you all on Thursday with all those smiles and questions as well.

Now that the weather seems to be warming up a tad, hope that you have been able to get out and enjoy the weather and possibly grab a few photos.

I haven't received many photos as yet (not that it really matters as I can show heaps of mine lol) and hope I can get a few more before Thursday.


Regards

Rene Martens
​0414 779 548
[email protected]

A reminder that Photography classes with recommence on the 28th of September from 10 to 12 in U3A Room 1.  I will be sending out an email to class members in a week or so with further information.
​
Rene Martens

Our Photography class is now on a break, resuming in late September.  Click on Rina Caddy's atmospheric photo below to see our photo submissions to date. ​

​Our May 25 session was my last class for Semester 1 - I advised those who attended that it was my last one before a break, however that I would be  returning in September.

We went through the photo submissions that were sent in by some of the class this month. It was interesting to see the progress they have made and observe the way they were thinking through the processes involved.

​We then watched three Youtube videos - 'Better Photos from any Camera', 'Take Amazing Photos' and 'Take Better Photos with your Smartphone' and discussed some of the apects presented in each of them.

I stressed again the importance of 'thinking' about their photography rather than just taking a photo.

We also talked about the Photography pages on the U3A website - Home / Session Resources / Photo Submissions -  where they can review each of the sessions held so far this year and jog their memories about the things we discussed.

I also reiterated what we had seen so far, as well as advised the class that I would still go through the basics again when I get back in September.

Our next session will be on Thursday 28th September from 10 to 12 in Classroom 1.

Rene Martens

​Well, another month has passed by. We had a great session in April which went slightly over time - sorry about that!  We went through all the photos that were sent in with those that were there.  I missed two by Terry Dillon, so will discuss them at next class

We then watched two videos on Photo Editing Applications (iPhone and Android) before breaking for coffee.

The break was followed by a video about 5 common 'mistakes' some people need to avoid. This was interesting as I could relate to all these! We stopped the video a number of times to discuss different aspects shown in the video. I didn't have time to go through the last link I wanted to discuss with the group about Landscape tips from Canon Australia - it is in the 'Session Resources' link on the website for group members to follow up.  

​All in all, we seemed to enjoy the session. Until next month.

​Rene Martens