Wednesday, Jan. 13th, 7:30 p.m.
McLeanCommunity Center
Steve Passman will present “Creativity in Photography”.
Steve has been photographing since he was eleven years old. (He’s now over 40.) His first “good” camera was an Agfa Isolette, probably brought back from Germany by a GI after WW2 and still in pretty decent working condition. Steve’s not a specialist in the sense of subject material, and seldom uses special techniques to produce or modify photographs; indeed, he most often carries but one camera and two prime lenses. He does believe in personal vision: for the most part photographs are not "taken", rather, photographs "make themselves known to me". When he’s not photographing or writing, he’s a university professor of mathematics and a enthusiastic cook.
“Creativity in Photography”:
Modern cameras and processing techniques are such that anyone can take a photograph that is good in the sense that exposure and focus are correct. Despite assertions to the contrary, it’s perfectly possible to “process” digital photographs competently using free software, and some commercial prints are quite fine. That does not mean that the photographer should not have control of her equipment. It does mean that photographers are free of the chemistry and other magic that in the past made them need to be alchemists.
When photography was born, it seemed at first that the classical fine arts could go out of business. Indeed, why should one pay a painter a large amount of money to do a realistic family portrait when, by 150 years ago, perfectly accurate portraits could be had for a relatively low price. Likewise, the environment, natural and built, could be reproduced with great accuracy and considerable beauty. The classical fine arts, painting and sculpture for example, reacted quickly, because now the best artists had the freedom to express themselves, their feelings, their emotions, how they saw things personally, rather than to reproduce with exactitudethe things they saw. Photography, though, was largely stuck where painting left it, and that is, doing exact reproductions. Photographers did and for the most part still do, pictures of things.
It did not take long for some people to realize that photography, aside from its significant role as a graphic medium, also could be an artistic medium. The key then, and “then” meant approximately fifty years after photography became practical and relatively cheap, was to recognize that photography was its own medium, not an extension of or an improvement of other art forms done on flat media. / President’s Message:
As I write this, we’re right in the middle of the holiday season. I hope everyone is enjoying, relaxing, and spending time with loved ones.
Competition last month. Judge Wayne Wolfersberger . Results on p. 2.
Thanks to Wayne for great comments on our photographs (and having to make two trips to the Center because of the holiday closing mix-up).
See details on “Upcoming exhibitions, workshops, events” section later in the newsletter and be sure to check out the list (includes more clubs) of theNorthern Virginia Association of Camera Clubs (NOVACC) events, field trips, and workshops listed on p. 3-4. The NOVACC Web site is at:
(Steve Passman and “Creativity in Photography” cont.)
It’s reasonable to ask why we, people who belong to camera clubs, do photography. For many of us the answer is that at first we wanted memories of our families or the places we visited. Then perhaps we realized that we were good at making such images, and decided that we wanted to be better and to talk to others who had the same interest. That’s fine. Those are memories, those are valuable, and I enjoy looking at them, yes, even yours. I must say, though, that the thousandth beautiful and beautifully crafted scenic photograph doesn’t do anything more for me than the third one, and after having seen thirty or forty in the same club competition in the same evening makes me wonder if I could spend my time better elsewhere.
Every person, well, almost every person, has something to say because she is unique, because she is herself, because she is different from every other person. If she uses photography as her medium for expression, then she ought to say in that medium what she has to say. It’s fine for her to have studied photographs by Ansel Adams, photographs by Martin Munkacsi, photographs by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, and I hope, paintings by Canaletto, but really, she’s not Adams or Munkacsi or Dahl-Wolfe or Canaletto and I truly hope that she has more in her life and in her mind than to emulate the photographs of Adams or Munkacsi or Dahl-Wolfe or Canaletto.
I can’t give you lessons on how to be yourself and I don’t intend to give you a quasi-religious lecture on “how to be creative”. What I can do is show you some of my own photographs and tell you what I was thinking when I made them. I propose, then, that you have a discussion with yourself about who you really are and what you want to say in your images. I hope you’ll enjoy mine, and I hope you’ll then do some of your very own that don’t look at all like mine.
November Competition Results
Judge: Wayne Wolfersberger
Novice Monochrome
1. Herb Walter Leaf
Novice Color Prints
1. Mona Smith Butterfly on Apple Slices
2. Herb Walter Nandina Berries
Advanced Monochrome
1. Ursy Potter Shadows
2. Minnie Gallman Going for a Ride
3. Jan Ponder Cloud Burst
Advanced Color Prints
1. Will Haubert Mesa Arch Sunrise
2. Tom Mangan Inside Out
3. Jan Ponder Stem
HM Will Haubert Up, Up and Away
HM Minnie Gallman Sand and Surf
HM Bruce Copping Tidal Basin
HM Carole Ratner Backward Glance
Northern VirginiaAlliance of Camera Clubs (NOVACC)
January 2010 programs of the affiliated clubs
(As a member of the McLean Photography Club you may attend any of the listed activities
Charlottesville Camera Club
Contact:Judy Edwards: or 434-295-9257
Website:
Meetings: Held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the SeniorCenter
Fredericksburg Photography Club
Contact: Norma Woodward ator 540-371-9470
Website:
Meetings: Held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the FredericksburgUnitedMethodistChurch on Hanover Street (see web site for directions)
Program: Assignment/Critique - "A River Runs Through It"
Field Trip: None planned
Loudoun Photography Club
Contact: Michelle Moomey or Denise Silva ator 703-853-3296
Website:
Meetings: Held on the 2nd and 4th Thur. at 7 p.m., The George Washington University Virginia Campus, Ashburn (see website for directions)
Manassas Warrenton Camera Club
Contact: Gene Wells (703) 330-5835 or
Website: .
Meetings: Held on the 1st and 3rd Thur. at 7:30 pm, ManassasCity Hall, Old Town Manassas, or as indicated.
Program: January 7th – Macro Photography presented by Joyce Harmon
Competition: January 17th – Open, judged by Corey Hilz
Field Trip: Sunday, January 17th—Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA: Meet at the Manassas City Hall Parking lot at 12:30 to commute to the Torpedo Factory. This is planned as an inspirational trip for winter. Camera club members will see some of the best arts and crafts in the area, including wonderful photography
McLean Photography Club
Contact: Bruce Copping at (703) 725-9331 or
Website: .
Meetings:Held on the 2nd Wed. at 7:30 pm (meet & greet at 7:15 pm), at the McLeanCommunity Center, or as indicated.
Program: Steve Passman will present “Creativity in Photography”, using his photos to explain what he was thinking when he made them.
Competition: Feb. 10
Northern Virginia Photographic Society
Contact: Sandi Croan, , 703-631-4181
Website:
Meetings: Held on Tuesdays at 7:30 pm at Dunn Loring Fire Station, 2148 Gallows Rd., Dunn Loring, Va.
Program: Jan. 5.Speaker, Ian Plant
Competition: Jan 19. Theme: Flash. Judge, Mary Ann Setton.
Forum and Members Gallery: Jan 26. Forum, John Neenan, "Taking your Polarizer Out For a Spin." Members Gallery: Print Presentation, John Dexter. Digital Presentation, Tuan Pham.
Workshops, Education and Training: Jan 12. Critique Session. Critiquers, Tom Brett and Sandi Croan.
Field Trip: Jan. 9-20, New Mexico Trip to Bosque del Apache, WhiteSandsNational Monument and Albuquerque. For further info contact .
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Contact: Dan Feighery at or 703-250-1491
Website: (Click OTHER then Photography Club Members Photos)
Meetings: Usually held on the 9:30am on the 4th Friday of the month at George Mason University Tallwood Annex on Roberts RoadFairfax. Guests contact Dan for Meeting Room Info.
Program: January program, 9:30am on Friday 22, Jan will be a presentation by Lou Mazzatenta, discussing the great Terracotta Army of China.
Reston Photographic Society
Contact: Ellis Rosenberg at 703-855-4008 or
Website:
Meetings: Held the 3rd Monday of the month 7:30-9:30 pm at the Reston Community Center – Lake Anne
Program: On Jan 18th 2010 we will have Gary Silverstein giving a presentation on Night photography.
Expos: Reston Chamber of Commerce expo. Submissions due 12-28-2009.
Vienna Photographic Society
Contact: Martin Fish at (703) 281-9743 or or Mike Stevens at 703-619-1605 or
Website:
Meetings:Held on the 1st and 3rd Wed. at 7:30 pm in the main lecture hall of the Thoreau Middle School, 2505 Cedar Lane, Vienna, VA.
Program: Wed (1/6) @ 7:30 PM… Steve Uzzell presenting “The Nature of Transition”
Competition: Wed (1/20) @ 7:30 PM… open (unthemed) competition with Josh Taylor as judge
Forum: Wed (1/26) @ 7:30 PM… Joseph Miller presenting “Judging Well-Known Paintings Using Camera Club Criteria”
Upcoming exhibitions, workshops, events:
Location Photography Workshops with Corey Hilz
Join Corey Hilz to photograph in a great location at a beautiful time of year, receive personal attention in the field and learn how you can make your photographs even better. Location workshops allow Corey to spend more time assisting participants and answering questions while out photographing. The workshops also include critiques and presentations on composition, creative techniques, image editing, software and more.
You can find details about Corey’s workshops and other learning opportunities at
Feel free to contact Corey Hilz with any questions: or 703.473.4618
Bill Folsom workshops at Meadowlark
Goto to see Bill Folsom classes dealing with the key elements of photography. Introductory classes are offered aimed at beginners; those classes provide a very gentle overview of all aspects of photography in a 1 to 2 hour lecture. Intermediate classes help beginners to understand the basics of photography (lighting, equipment, composition) and are also helpful to those who wish to become better photographers. Some of the advanced classes can also be taken by beginners once they have some experience in photography. Advanced techniques, such as understanding aperture, shutter speed, and exposure are useful for those who wish to advance beyond the "point-and-shoot" style of photography. If the weather cooperates, classes frequently head outside to photograph in the Gardens for an hour or so after each class.
William B. Folsom Photography, Inc.
7600 Tremayne Place, #104
McLean, VA22102
cell: 571-213-8696
Joseph Rossbach Photography Workshops
-- Web site
443-603-2384
-- samples of Joe's photos
-- schedule of workshops
and introducing Mountain Trail Photo - a brand new website for photographers
Joe is part of a new website, Mountain Trail Photo ( Mountain Trail Photo is your one-stop source for nature photography inspiration, education, and exploration. There you will find image galleries from the Mountain Trail Photo Team (which is made up of some of the nation's most talented nature photographers); how-to articles and trip reports; information on nature photography workshops; and links to purchase team members' books and calendars. Also, Mountain Trail Photo holds regular nature photography contests, giving participants the opportunity to win prizes and discounts on workshops, and to have their images displayed on the site. With regular updates -- including recent images, blog entries, and new articles every month -- there's always something new to discover at Mountain Trail Photo. Whether you are an avid nature photographer looking to sharpen your skills, or just someone who likes looking at beautiful photographs, this is the site for you!
Christine Kent Bowles:
Please visit the Specialty Workshop area of Christine’swebsite at: or e-mail Christine at
DMV (District, Maryland, Virginia) Photo Outings:
KenilworthPark & AquaticGardens
McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management
National Zoo - Washington, D.C.
Union Station - Washington, D.C.
Smithsonian classes:
The Smithsonian has many photography and digital media classes and events going on:
An example of one of the classes:
Working with Digital Cameras:
This hands-on workshop covers topics such as obtaining a good exposure using various shooting modes; making exposure adjustments on an image that is too light or dark; controlling color and tone as files are captured; understanding resolution, picture quality, and file formats such as JPEG and RAW; transferring files to the computer; and organizing files with a browser.
Meli Mathis
The Smithsonian Associates
Public Affairs Intern
202-633-8671
WashingtonSchool of Photography
4850 Rugby Ave., Bethesda, MD20814
301-654-1998
WSP has workshops and professional programs in nature photography, digital specialties (like Photoshop), film
photography, studio lighting, fine art photography, gallery events, and more.
Biotrek Adventure Travels
Sunny Reynolds, Director
81 Main Street, Warrenton, VA20186USA * (540) 349-0040
E-mail:
Bella Vista Photography Workshops
Mary Louise Ravese
(540) 882-9354
Ace Photo classes
Ace Photo
44710 Cape Ct.
Suite 122
Ashburn , VA , 20147United States
703-430-3333
Red Room Studios
Charles Neenan
Photoshop class – Butterflies and Flowers
October
703.216.0148
Judy Rolfe Photography:
Call Rolfe Photography at 703-801-6834
Horizon Creativity Workshops:
previous topics:
------
Travel - CecilCounty
Nature: Blackwater Wildlife Refuge
The Canon ExperienceCamera Basics
Creative Vision
Documentary
Weddings
Flash Magic
Editing Your Images
Steve Gottlieb
Director, Horizon Workshops
98 Bohemia Ave. PO Box 9
Chesapeake City, MD21915
410 885-2433
Virginia Photo Safaris
Search for art opportunities, such as Jurored Shows, Online Jurored Shows, Calls For Work, etc, by the type of media allowed. Now photographers can find shows to enter that consider photography appropriate art, rather than wading through disappointing listings and wasting their time. It’s free.
e-mail:
Paid panorama shooting job:
If anyone is interested in a paying photo job, designer Wayne Adams would like to update panorama photos of Washington, DC. These are panoramas that Tony Hathaway started 30 years ago and Mr. Adams would like to update the series.
If you or anyone you know is interested in doing this project call Tony first at (703) 281-9127, thenWayne at 202-664-3585. He's looking for a photographer.
For sale items:
1) Epson Stylus Pro 9880 44” wide printer. Printer uses EpsonUltrachrome K3 inks with Vivid Magenta Technology. Used for 6 monthsin giclée printing business. Recently had yearly maintenance. Epson
list price is $4,995. Price for the printer with a full set of 220 mlink cartridges (a $900 value) is $3750. Please call Carolyn Koslow:
703-217-4808 or email: .
2) vintage camera for sale:
Argus Super Seventy Five in its original leather case. Can't speak toits working condition. but the body is in very good shape as is thecase. If you know any one who is interested, please contact Sandra
Troup. It might be of interest to collectors. Sandra Troup
Exhibiting opportunities for MPC members:
Arlington Library:
Their art staff (under auspices of Friends of the Public Library) is always on the lookout for artists and photographers especially given additional new branches with lots of walls. They are more disposed to individuals or to group shows that have a theme. Shirlington Branch displayed about 15 of Gloria Freund’s photos in mid-Dec through Feb. They also asked if Gloria would hang several at the central branch in June. They are interested in hearing from more prospective artists. Individuals should apply for this great opportunity. Photographers must prepare & frame their work for a gallery-hanging format. If accepted, photographers also are invited to offer works for sale; the library keeps 20% for anything that sells. Submission are juried on a quarterly basis through the year. Here is the web site, there is a pdf download with instructions for applying:
The SonaBank:
Themanager of the Sonabank at 6830 Old Dominion Drive (corner of Old Dominion and Beverly Road)would like us to exhibit some of our pictures at the bank. There are approximately28 linear feet of wall space spread throughout the lobby available for display. We can also make use of another 32 linear feet in an open office and behindthe teller stations (which we might or might not want to utilize.)
Requirements: Any print accepted into Meadowlark as well as any print which has received a 1st, 2nd 3rd, or honorable mention in any MPC competition (or any other NVACC competition.)
Pictures must be framed and matted with wire on the backs. (Norestrictions on mats or frames as to type or color.)
Subject Matter: Open
Installation: Easy, no fishline! We can hammer into the walls small picture hangers.Each exhibitor must hang his/her own pictures. I hope there will be enough interest so that we can have a rotating exhibit within the club.
Sale: Pictures can be for sale. I will prepare labels and price sheets. We will need to sign a waiver releasing the bank from liability in case a picture is stolen or damaged.
If you are interested please get back to Tony Hathawayfor a first come first serve for this first exhibit.
He will get back to those who are interested with more details. If you can give me a rough idea of how many images you would like to show that would be helpful.
Anthony Hathaway --
Other venues to exhibit:
UnitarianChurch in Reston, VA -- Check with Bill, Gloria, Tony Hathaway, or call Bruce Copping at 703-725-9331.