This week the Isle of Wight Digital Imaging Group had a mixed bag of tasks to get through, but thanks to Francis who proposed we ‘Get Stoned at Dimbola’ we discovered news of a photography competition on our doorstep.

We had a sneak preview of efforts and were impressed by the psychedelic look Walter gave to the Pebble People in Freshwater Bay.  ‘Get Stoned at Dimbola’ images from all of our members will be reviewed soon…

The sculpture will be there for the next six weeks, during which time a Pebble People Photography Competition to capture the essence and flavour of the sculpture and the surrounding area has been launched. Continue Reading »

One of our tasks, or should I say continuing mission at the Isle of Wight Digital Imaging Group, is to invite our members to choose a photographer (famous or not) for a show and tell presentation.

This task was quite an eye opener as rarely when we look at a photograph do we question who was on the other side of the lens. The emphasis on how these artists and their photography influenced our love of the art and brought photography into our lives can be quite an emotive quest. Continue Reading »

Counter-terrorism minister David Hanson has issued a statement following a meeting with Amateur Photographer magazine and other representatives of the photographic community.

The meeting was set up by Austin Mitchell MP, a keen photographer and rights campaigner, following growing concerns that photographers are targeted by police officers using their anti-terrorism powers.

• ‘No intention’ to stop ordinary people taking photos.’
• ‘I have committed to follow-up on the representations made to me’

David Hanson, Minister for Policing and Crime, said in the statement:

 ’I recently met with Austin Mitchell [chairman of the Parliamentary All Party Photography Group] and representatives of the photographic press to discuss the issue of counter terrorism powers and offences in relation to photography.

‘I welcomed the opportunity to reassure all those concerned with this issue that we have no intention of Section 44 or Section 58a [of the Terrorism Act] being used to stop ordinary people taking photos or to curtail legitimate journalistic activity.’

‘Guidance has been provided to all police forces advising that these powers and offences should not be used to stop innocent members of the public, tourists or responsible journalists from taking photographs.

During the meeting Austin Mitchell called for a ‘strengthening’ of the ACPO and Home Office guidelines on photography that were issued last year.

Source: Amateur Photographer Magazine has all the details online: to read click here:

Calling all photographers on the Isle of Wight the Digital Economy Bill affects you!

As Isle of Wight Digital Imaging Group photographers were recently made aware, the Digital Economy Bill (DEB) is currently grinding its way through Parliament. It will reach report stage early next month, and the Government are determined to see the DEB passed without further amendment before the May 6th election.

The UK’s photographic community from the professional, to the amateur, are to be impacted by the new Digital Economy Bill. Various groups are coming together in an attempt to rouse the British public from its slumbers on this hugely-important issue.

We have urged our members to write or email our Island MP Andrew Turner  here: mail@IslandMP.com about the orphan licensing provisions of the Digital Economy Bill.

Britain’s Digital Economy Bill is based largely on a report by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) entitled “© the way ahead“. The report and its recommendations are a bid to reduce the complexity of the system, and should remove the need to seek permission and make payment for personal use of individual copyright works’. Continue Reading »

As this week marks Adobe Photoshop’s 20th Anniversary photographers on the Isle of Wight are having a Lightroom celebration of their own and members of the IWDIG would like to hear your questions on the popular photo software too!

Photoshop has come a long way and is one of the most incredible stories in the history of personal computing. 20 years ago today it debuted as a basic – but still pretty amazing – image editor. It’s now pretty much impossible to find an image that hasn’t benefited from its magic touch. With events around the world fans are celebrating the impact one of their favourite software packages has had across photography, art, design, publishing and commerce.

On the Isle of Wight we are having a small Adobe Photoshop Lightroom celebration of our own! as this coming weekend we see the launch of the first of many Lightroom Courses on the Island.

The courses are courtesy of Wight Photo Breaks professionally run in association with IWDIG and Dimbola. If you’re not booked up for this special photographic event don’t worry more courses, tutorials and workshops are coming soon.

In addition to mark Adobe Photoshop’s 20th Birthday, if you have any burning questions on any section of Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom as a one off this weekend, feel free to send in your questions via email and our experts will be on hand to answer them for you. Continue Reading »

Photographers across the globe are expected to celebrate World Pinhole Day 2010 - due to take place on Sunday 25th April 2010. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the event and everyone is being encouraged to take a photograph using a simple pinhole camera and upload the resulting images to www.pinholeday.org.

Last year as in previous years Isle of Wight Digital Imaging Group  pinhole enthusiasts took part in Eric Mitchells Pinhole Day at Dimbola.  Pinhole expert Eric celebrates World Pinhole Day by running a special course at Dimbola Lodge every April. Quite a few IWDIG photographers try to put down their DSLRs for a few hours to experience the origins and art of Pinhole photography.

‘The purpose of the event is to show that from a device as simple as a cardboard box you can discover the wonder achieved through the simple act of capturing an image through a small hole.’

Eric get’s creative with Pinhole Photography and is more than willing to help anyone that has an interest, to experiment with cake tins, baked bean cans and his own preferred medium beer cans. Continue Reading »

Equestrian photographers are raising thousands of pounds in a 20/20 Auction for the Disasters Emergency Committee Haiti Earthquake Appeal.

Bids are being made on images donated by 20 photographers in an Ebay auction.  All cash raised from the equine pictures is to go to the Disasters Emergency Committee Haiti Earthquake Appeal.

‘The auction provides a rare chance for members of the public to get their hands on some amazing original images taken by a plethora of award-winning photographers,’

If you want to donate or do something for the Haiti Earthquake Appeal visit Island Pulse for news of the Isle of Wight Haiti Appeal Concert here: For details of the ongoing auction visit 2020 Auction or visit Twitter  here: