Beth Koller

My first foray into photography was the purchase of the high-end Instamatic camera with a glass lens that was used on a scouting archeological dig in Ten Sleep, Wyoming. This was followed by the use of an Olympus 35RC rangefinder on a whitewater kayak trip down the Grand Canyon. It was carried on the raft in an ammo box. The new ISO 400 film was useful for the low light in the canyon depths. The wide-angle lens encouraged one to flop down on the ground during hikes to have a strong foreground element for landscapes. Later, the robust Action Touch, tucked into a lifejacket or under a down coat, facilitated shots on the river and Telemark ski slopes. The TG 6 currently takes on this role and was used to take my Celestial Tapestry image (Columbia Show) as I passed through an airport while everyone else was headed for baggage claim. (A TSA agent even directed me to some other interesting areas!)

After moving from Wisconsin to Maryland for additional medical training, I saved my pennies for an N90 Single Lens Reflex camera. Shooting film, and especially slide film, helped hone my skills in getting the composition and lighting correct at the time the shutter was clicked. The SLR camera with the various lenses expanded the types of images that could be taken.

Although I primarily did nature and macro photography, I became very interested in infrared photography. In a trial run, I used a red filter on an early Olympus point-and-shoot with an electronic viewfinder at Blackwater Falls in the winter. I was hooked. A converted Fuji S3 Pro resulted in beautiful digital infrared pictures that could be taken at a variety of distances. I used it in unconventional ways, capturing western skies and geologic features.

I joined the SSCC because was going to have a very big work project that would reduce my paddling time. I knew that I would need the fraternity of a club. SSCC, at its old meeting location, was right on my route home, US 29. Being in a club with competition topics involving various techniques and various themes pushes one outside of his/her comfort zone. The first competition I entered was “architecture”, in which I had no experience. I shot abstract architectural images with that Olympus point-and-shoot and printed them up on my $100 printer-scanner-fax machine and walked away with three ribbons and direction for two new areas of photography. Soon I was a regular entrant in the Joe Miller Abstract Competition. More recently I answered the call for “intentional camera movement”—something I had never done ever. Scoping out possible shots before dark and then returning at dusk with SSCC members Bob and Catherine resulted in a plethora of images as we compared notes and egged each other on.  

I love taking pictures of fellow paddlers—because I can anticipate what they are likely to do. I love to travel and see new places with Mono Lake and surrounds being a recent destination. But traveling is not always required. Learning to use flash has enabled studio photography, close-up small critter shots, and stop-action images.  As my Bryce Tree image (Columbia Show) shows, it is most important to be there and have a camera in hand—even if it is snowing, windy, and below zero.