The first digital camera

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In the winter of 1975, Steven Sasson, a young engineer working in the Applied Research Lab at Kodak, tested a new device for the first time. Now known as the first true digital camera, it was cobbled together using left over parts he found in the lab. Thirty five years later President Obama awarded Sasson the National Medal of Technology and Innovation for his invention.

The first digital still camera constructed at Kodak Labs in 1975

The first digital still camera constructed at Kodak Labs in 1975

The camera was about the size of a breadbox and took 23 seconds to take a single black and white image, which was then stored on a cassette tape (see below). While the invention was far from the digital cameras we now use, it sparked a sea change in the way images are captured. Some argue that Sasson's invention was where digital photography begins. But to say that would be to neglect the most important part of Sasson' rudimentary camera, buried deep inside its scrap parts: the Charge Coupled-Device.

A cassette tape stored 30 images

A cassette tape stored 30 images

This is an extract from "Business Insider".  Click here to read the whole article and to see the first commercial digital camera, the "Mavica" by Minolta and the first DSLR, a Kodak-Nikon F3 hybrid. In 1991 it cost $30,000 and the storage device was a hard drive carried on the photographer's shoulder.

9 Compositional tips

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Remember Steve McCurry, famous for the National Geographic cover photo of "The Afghan Girl"?

In this short video Steve illustrates nine "rules" of composition. It is interesting to observe that many of the examples given to illustrate a rule ignore most or all of the other rules. But then, when a couple of rules "layer", the impact is greater. Always remember his parting comment, "rules are made to be broken".


ESCC wins SAPF Annual Club Sets 2nd time in a row

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ESCC results in the SAPF Annual Club Sets 2015 on Monday, 4 May 2015 were:

"Bald Eagle" by John Hodgson scored 12
"St Andrews Stairway" by Aldo Trissi scored 11
"Got My Eye on You" by Pam Barnett scored 10
"Granite Sunrise" by Ross Pollock scored 10
"Tranquility" by Robert Dettman scored 9
"Poppy" by Corliss Gustavson scored 9
"Giant Corkscrew Variation" by Bill Versteegh scored 9
"Alone" by Terry Gooley scored 8
"The Sculptor" by Jan Pudney scored 8
"The Red Lead" by Barbara Seidel scored 8

Congratulations to all concerned!  Click here to see the images.

SAPF Exhibition 2015

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Business as Usual – Chris Woods adelaide camera club - 2014

Business as Usual – Chris Woods adelaide camera club - 2014

The SAPF Annual Exhibition is now open for entries. Entry for both print and projected images is via the photocomp upload system, the same that we use, so you will be familiar with the process. The SAPF version will recognise your email address so you go straight in. The closing date is 3:00pm 29th March and it is a sudden death cut off with no possibility of late entries, so get in early.

Click HERE to go to the SAPF web page were you will find all the necessary information including a link to the rules and a link to the upload site.

Please note that we will be entering a club set and if an image of yours is selected you can't use that image in your personal entry, either print or digital. Within 10 days we will advise which images have been selected for the club set.

Committee recipe 02

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EASY FLORENTINES

INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup sultanas
2 cups crushed Cornflakes
3/4 cup raw peanuts
1/2 cup chopped cherries
1/2 can sweet condensed milk
3 oz. dark chocolate

METHOD
Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix well.
Grease flat baking trays and line with baking paper.
Place desert spoon fulls, or more, in small heaps.
Bake at 180 C for 15-20 minutes.
Leave to cool before lifting off.

Melt chopped chocolate over hot water, remove from heat and stir till thickened slightly.
Spread chocolate over the flat bottom side of biscuit. 
If feeling creative, mark a design with a fork.
Allow to set.

Committee recipe 01

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The bus driver's mother-inlaw's almond honey slice

One of the benefits of serving on the committee is the treats that may be served. This recipe originated form someone who took a bus trip up the Hume Highway. A certain bus driver on the Euroa line likes to share with the passengers the slices her mother-in law makes.

INGREDIENTS
Base:
90g melted butter
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup plain flour
1/2 cup packaged ground almonds
For the almond topping:
125 g butter chopped
1/4 cup honey
1 1/2 cups slivered almonds

METHOD
Preheat oven to 180 C
Combine base ingredients and mix well. If base seems floury, add extra melted butter. Press into a greased 9" square pan.
Bake for 15 minutes or until until lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool slightly.
Make topping: Combine butter and honey in a small saucepan and stir over heat until the butter is melted. Simmer uncovered for about 3 minutes or until light caramel colour. Stir in the nuts.
Spred base with hot topping and bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool in tray.
Slice to serve.

Competing without scoring

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In discussing how to make the club more “user friendly” the committee have decided to offer members the option of asking for their photographs to be assessed by the judge without being scored.

We suspect our newer members in particular may find it daunting to have their work scored against the very strong pictures the more experienced members submit. Also, visitors, who are potential members, may be put off by the competitive element.

All you need do is submit your images as usual and let the record keeper, usually Renee Holmes, know prior to the start of the meeting that you don’t want your work scored. She will mark the score sheet and advise the judge when your pictures are presented. Even the judges might relax more when they don’t have to rank an image!

Another option to keep in mind ...

All members are assigned a mentor when they join. The mentors are there to help, so we urge you to approach your mentor for a personal review of your images or for that matter, anything to do with your photography. You and your mentor can decide when and where to meet.