2022-06-21 Fine Art Photography SIG meeting notes

We met online using ZOOM 6:00pm-8:00pm

The goal of our Fine Art Photography SIG is to help each other to create fine art from our photography.

ATTENDEES
Mike Barry
Judy Cannon
Heather Coe
Rich Ernst
Michael Hohol
David Johnson
Jim Limburg
Jack Lipscomb
Ed Ogle
Richard Roberts
Albert Wang

OUR MAIN DISCUSSION TOPIC WAS "AI Selection Techniques"
Mike Barry presented how he uses "Select Subject" to make a rough selection, and then the "Object Selection Tool" in the addition and subtraction modes to refine the selection. Most people had never seen selections done that way and preferred the "Select Subject" followed by "Select and Mask" and then "Refine Hair" method. Mike Hohol even showed an example selection technique by Dave Cross. This led to a discussion of which technique is better and the assignment for July.

We also discussed "The Artist's Way" book/course by Julia Cameron. Heather has completed the course years ago, Judy is on week 8, Mike is on week 2, and Jim and Rich started the book/course and decided that it was not for them. I think that our group can still gain some value from her book/course and I will try to bring up any interesting and appropriate topics that I learn.

Judy found that the Lincoln Center Art Gallery is having a show Wednesday and Friday from noon to 6pm called "Slopes, Shapes, and Landscapes". You might check this show out to gain inspiration.

RESOURCES
Photoshop Virtual Summit 2022
- AI selection tools
- extracting hair by painting and using hair from other subjects
Kelby One selection classes
Rich mentioned Steve Perry - Sign up for his newsletter here https://backcountrygallery.com/
Rich also mentioned 2 locations near Walden for possible side trips after the rodeo outing:
- 1. Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge with a Visitors Center
- 2. Moose Goose Nature Trail - a well maintained boardwalk trail quite near 1 above
You can sign up for David duChemin's newsletter here - https://craftandvision.com/
Here are a few good sources for images: Google images, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Adobe Behance

SIG Project - FINISH-IT-PHOTO
I prefer to use "Finish It Photo" instead of "Fix It Photo" for these exercises because we aren't actually fixing any problems, we are just adding our artistic vision to these images.
We didn't discuss the finish-it-photo because there was confusion about where to find the image.
We will have to use Jack's image in the future for our finish-it-photo.
I post "Meeting Notes" and the "Finish It Photo" for the next month on the Fine Art SIG page of the FCDCC website: https://fcdcc.com/fine-art.html

We have the assignment for July to select Brenna from this test image,"brenna-in-the-rain.tif", using any method that you think appropriate. The goal is to select the person from the test image for use on a black background and a white background. It has to work on both, so you will have to remove background contamination from the hair.

Constructive Critiques/What Project Are You Working On?
Pick as many as 3 images that you would like critiqued, and be prepared to show them by sharing your screen during the ZOOM meeting. Mike Barry showed some of the projects that he has been working on. Mike Hohol also showed an image of his granddaughter that he improved greatly by removing extra stuff. I would like to see more members discussing what they are doing on their current projects. We are all here to support and inspire each other. Don't be reluctant to show what you have been working on. Most of us are our own worst critics and you might be suprised how many other people appreciate your work, and sometimes they can offer suggestions that you weren't thinking of.

AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY SIG MEETING - Tue 07/19/2022 @6:00pm
1. The main topic will be "What makes great images great?" and we will be discussing the 10 images that you really really like.
2. We will discuss how we selected Brenna from the image and how those techniques worked.
3. We will hold constructive critiques (optional) Pick as many as 3 images that you would like critiqued, and be prepared to show them by sharing your screen during the ZOOM meeting.
4. We will pick a topic for the next meeting

If you don't have time to research the topic, or you don't have any images that you want to have critiqued, that is OK, you can just attend the meeting and participate when you want.

I would like to see more pictures from our Fine Art SIG in the regular club meeting slideshows.

Jim Limburg will send out the Meeting ID, passcode, and meeting link when we have scheduled the meeting, which will be about a week before the meeting date.

Please email Mike, info@fcdcc.com, when you find mistakes, missing information or if you have suggestions for the Fine Art Photography SIG and I will try to address the issues.