IMAGE READY PAGE 4 Derek Buick What is your role within <strong>Welshot</strong>? I am responsible for image management within <strong>Welshot</strong>. We are trying to build up an image bank of member’s work taken at academy evenings and events for use in books, on the website and for publicising <strong>Welshot</strong>ters work. It is very much an ongoing process, so expect to see me requesting images at regular intervals throughout the year. There is of course no obligation for you to supply images if you do not wish to do so, but for those that do, it opens a number of avenues for getting your images seen. What’s in your camera bag right now? It is a bit of a mixed bag at the moment. I have a Canon 5D MkII with a 35mm f1.4 Sigma Art lens and a Canon nifty fifty f1.8 both of which I use mostly for studio work. Then there is my trusty old Canon 7D with a Canon 70-200mm f4 that I use for wildlife and sports. I have also recently bought a Fuji X-T1 with a 23mm f2 lens for street photography, but it tends to go with me most places so is very rarely sitting in the camera bag. What do you enjoy taking photos of the most? Now that’s a difficult one, as I enjoy shooting a wide range of genres. If I was pushed however, I would say street, portrait and wildlife photography. The conceptual photography events Sadie has organised recently have also made me want to experiment further in that area, as it appeals to the artistic side of my nature. What do you use to edit your images? I tend to use Photoshop CC to edit my images, as it is a programme I have used for years and am very comfortable with. It is also great for advanced editing and allows you to develop your own style, rather than relying on pre-sets. I also use Lightroom, mainly for very basic editing, keywording and cataloguing. As a graphic designer and someone who uses images all the time – what is the best bit of advice you can give to a photographer? Make sure that your images are large enough and the correct format for their intended usage, whether it be print, web, large format printing or stock libraries. If you aren’t sure, always check first. What <strong>Welshot</strong> project are you currently working on? I am currently working on a new <strong>Welshot</strong> Yearbook, like the one we did last year and a photobook for Paula Cain of Chester Costume House which showcases all of her costumes that have been used in <strong>Welshot</strong> events. You would be surprised just how many there are. What are you looking for and how can <strong>Welshot</strong>ters get involved? I will be looking for images from <strong>Welshot</strong> events primarily for photo books and for the <strong>Focus</strong> newsletter. These need to be large enough for print at 300dpi. For example, the yearbook we did last year was A3 in size, so an image that would fill a whole page would need to be larger than A3 (420mm x 297mm) to allow for trimming. For <strong>Welshot</strong> <strong>Focus</strong> it would be larger than A4 (210mm x 297mm) at 300dpi. All images in jpeg format please and remember, if you aren’t sure please ask. Why do you think it is important for a <strong>Welshot</strong> Member to have a SmugMug Gallery on the <strong>Welshot</strong> Website? I think it is really important, as at the very least it gives you a place to showcase and safely store all of your best images at high resolution in one place. You can also if you wish use it as somewhere to sell your work in a hassle-free way. Once someone buys a print from a selected range of options, SmugMug organise the printing and delivery directly to your client all at very reasonable rates of commission. What has been the biggest benefit to your photography by being involved with <strong>Welshot</strong>? There are too many to mention. Photographically, learning my camera inside out is right up there. Using it has become second nature, freeing me up to concentrate on being creative with my photography without constantly fiddling with buttons and settings. At the end of the day it is only a tool that is a means to an end. The other huge benefit to my photography aside from the expertise of the <strong>Welshot</strong> team, are the <strong>Welshot</strong>ters themselves. You cannot underestimate the value of being surrounded by a great bunch of likeminded people, who you can share a laugh with, who happily give advice and share knowledge with you and encourage you to get the best out of your photography. Now that is priceless! PAGE 5
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