Member, Photographic Society of America
Winner of the 2008, 2011, and 2012 PSA Henricks Award for best newsletter!
Tanya Riseman and Sherm Edwards, Editors, Cable Release, at cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org.
Contents
- 1 KEY EVENTS
- 2 MEETINGS AND FIELD TRIPS
- 2.1 MEETING LOCATION
- 2.2 SPEAKER NIGHT — JOHN PEDERSEN — 15 Tips to Improve Your Photography
- 2.3 COMPETITION COLUMN
- 2.4 JUDGE JAMES CORBETT – ABANDONED
- 2.5 PHOTO FORUM
- 2.6 APRIL 26 FIELD TRIP — HUNTLEY MEADOWS
- 2.7 LAST CHANCE: RSVP FOR MAY FIELD TRIP – Birds of Prey
- 2.8 SPRING AND SUMMER FIELD TRIPS – Tentative Schedule, Plan Ahead
- 3 CLUB NEWS
- 4 FEATURES
- 5 CONFERENCES AND EXPOS
- 6 MEMBER ARTICLES
- 7 COMPETITION RESULTS
- 8 COURSES, CALLS FOR ENTRY, AND EXHIBITS
KEY EVENTS
The following scheduled events will be conducted online as Zoom teleconferences, except for the Competition and Field Trip. Look for announcements and invitations by e-mail, Meetup, and on the club’s Website.
- April 3 – Speaker Night: (7:30 on Zoom)
- April 10 – Competition: Abandoned (7:30 p.m. at Northwood Presbyterian Church)
- April 17 – Photo Forum (7:30 on Zoom)
- April 24 – Board Meeting (7:30 on Zoom)
- April 26 – Huntley Meadows Park (9 a.m.)
- June 12 – End of Year Celebration and Competition
2024-2025 Calendar
See here for this season’s calendar, which will be updated as information becomes available. It includes Speaker Night, Competition Night, Photo Forum, Board Meetings, and Field Trips.
If Montgomery County Schools close due to inclement weather, Silver Spring Camera Club meetings and outings will be canceled. See montgomeryschoolsmd.org for closure information during the work week. For Mon-Fri AFTER 5:00 pm & on the weekends, call 240-777-2710 or 311 from within Montgomery County. Sign up for text alerts: AlertMontgomery and choose both a local MCPS school and ‘Community Use of Public Facilities Alerts’. Note that this policy does not apply to online meetings!
For general information about the club, contact us at: info@ssccphotography.org
A list of the club officers and committee chairs, and their emails, is located here:
Officers and Committee Chairs
More information is available in the Silver Spring Camera Club (SSCC) Member Handbook: SSCC-Member-Handbook-2024-2025.
PLEASE CONSIDER PROVIDING MATERIALS FOR THE NEXT CABLE RELEASE:
If you’d like to share an article, announcement, or Letter to the Editor about anything photographic please email them by April 24. Email items or questions to Sherm Edwards and Tanya Riseman at cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org.
DEADLINE: BY APRIL 24th TO cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org.
MEETINGS AND FIELD TRIPS
MEETING LOCATION
For the 2024-2025 club year, the second Thursday meeting of each month will be in person, at Northwood Presbyterian Church (https://www.northwoodchurch.com/). The address is 1200 University Blvd., West, Silver Spring, Other meetings will be on Zoom. The in-person meeting will be Competition Night if the judge agrees, otherwise it will be Photo Forum and Competition Night will move to the third Thursday on Zoom.
SPEAKER NIGHT — JOHN PEDERSEN — 15 Tips to Improve Your Photography
Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Abstract
Creating art is a journey of discovery and constant learning, and no matter where you are on your journey, whether a beginner or a seasoned expert, there is always something new to learn, or to be reminded of, to help us craft better photographs. Based upon years of experience behind the camera and teaching others, John Pedersen will present 15 highly valuable insights to help you improve your creative vision and create more impactful photographic compositions.
Biography
John Pedersen is a full time photographer, workshop leader and creative educator based in the Pacific Northwest. He has been leading photo workshops on location for over 10 years now across the U.S. and Globally, as well as teaching students in person during group workshops, in private one-on-one workshops, and virtually via computer on various aspects of photography from pre-capture through post-processing. His passion is focused on helping others unlock their own creative vision to be able to create compelling and rewarding images in the field and the digital darkroom. As such, much of his teaching is focused on the art of composition and seeing beyond the subject and focusing creative energy on the nuances of creating artful expressions
COMPETITION COLUMN
Our April topic is Abandoned::
Abandoned photography captures images of man-made structures or other man-made objects (e,g, vehicles, machinery) no longer serving their original purpose, and that show the effects of long neglect. The abandoned structure or object should be the primary focus of the image; for example, an image of a human model in an abandoned building would not be allowed.
Projected Portion of Competition
Members may submit up to two images meeting this definition for the Projected competition. Look here for details on Projected submissions. Projected images should be emailed to: competition@ssccphotography.org by midnight (11:59 p.m.) on the day of the month’s Speaker Night.
Remember:
- Send projected image submissions to competition@ssccphotography.org
- Format: JPEG, 1000 KB (max)
- File Name: Level~Maker’s Name~Image Title.jpg Example: Advanced~Tom Jones~Washington Landscape.jpg . The tilde “~” character separates the 3 subfields of the file name
- Level: Novice, Intermediate, or Advanced (see below); capitalization not required.
- Maker’s Name: spaces allowed. Please use the same name throughout the year to aid record keeping.
Print Portion of Competition
Members may also submit up to two images meeting the definition for the Print competition. Look here (Section IV) for details on submissions. A label template for Print submissions may be found here.
One important detail – In order to participate in either competition, you must pay the club’s annual dues before the start of the competition.
As you may have heard, the Club has changed the competition levels starting in September 2024. The new levels are Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced. To see a list of all 2023-2024 Club members with their tentative competition level assignments, separately for Projected and Print, click here. For details on what this change means for you, click here.
Here’s the schedule for the remainder of the year:
- May – Monochrome
- June – End of Year Competition (special rules apply)
JUDGE JAMES CORBETT – ABANDONED
Thursday,April 10, 2025, from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
James is recognized by the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) as a Master Photographer, Photographic Craftsman, and Certified Professional Photographer, as well as an Associate and Photographic Fellow of the Maryland Professional Photographers Association (MDPPA). He has participated in photographic competitions at the local, state, district, and international levels every year since 2014. He is an active trip and workshop leader in the North Bethesda Camera Club (NBCC) and recipient of numerous awards in Maryland Photography Alliance contests. His works are regularly on display in gallery shows in the Washington, DC metro area and he sells his work at select art festivals. James has been published in several magazines including a feature page in the January 2023 issue of Professional Photographer. He serves as vice president of NBCC, president of the MDPPA, represents Maryland on PPA’s governing Council, and is a member of the American Society of Photographers and Photographic Society of America.
PHOTO FORUM
Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
We are starting with image sharing: You may send up to 2 images you would like get feedback on or just share. This month’s theme will be “Open.”
April’s planned presentation and discussions:
- “A Trip to India” – Renee and Bruce Schaefer
- “Svelte file sizes, deeper colors, faster, plus more: the new JPEG-XL is here!” – Tanya Riseman
- What’s on your mind, photographically?
- We are soliciting presenters. Contact Dennis ( dennisfreeman4510@msn.com ) if you’d like to present something!
APRIL 26 FIELD TRIP — HUNTLEY MEADOWS
Leader: Phil Boyer — 301-204-5549
When: Saturday April 26, 2025, 9 a.m.
Where: Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria
To Photograph: Nature and birds. I think we saw osprey when we went a few years ago. It has a 40-acre wetlands, accessible by a boardwalk. The club is not liable if you drop your camera in the water.
Per the Park Service:
“Park provides one of the best wildlife viewing areas in the Northern Virginia area. The park features a 40-acre wetland, forests, and meadows. Huntley Meadows Park is managed for its natural and cultural resources.”
From the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park, a list of birds:
http://www.friendsofhuntleymeadows.org/bird%20list.html
Meet Up: 09:00 [when it opens] Visitor Center.
Directions: From I-495 and US-1 in Alexandria, head south on US-1/Richmond Hwy, turn right onto Fordson Rd, turn right onto Lockheed Blvd, and the entrance to the park will be on the left in approximately 0.5 miles.
Lunch: Sea Ball, 7305 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA (expensive)
or Mama Kitchen (Italian/Pizza) 7601 Fordson Rd. (cheaper). Both are close to the Park.
Bring: Tripod/Monopod, binoculars.
Share your images from the trip: With the SSCC Facebook Group, on Meetup, and/or send to cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org for inclusion in the next month’s Cable Release.
LAST CHANCE: RSVP FOR MAY FIELD TRIP – Birds of Prey
FIELD TRIP – BIRDS OF PREY
THIS EVENT IS LIMITED TO EIGHTEEN PEOPLE
Leader: Gerry Woods – (202) 494-2131
When: Saturday, May 17, 2025. 1-3 PM.
Where: 1212 North Poes Road, Flint Hill, VA. 22627.
Meet: In the parking lot in front of the farm house.
To Photograph: Photograph various Birds of Prey such as a Condor, Falcon, Hawk, Owl and Vulture. Includes close-up photos with a natural looking background, and the birds in flight.
Tickets: We will need to receive your payment of $30 by April 26th. Please make your check out to “Silver Spring Camera Club” and write “Birds of Prey” in the memo line. Checks should be mailed to SSCC Treasurer, Bruce Schaefer, at P.O. Box 2375, Silver Spring, MD. 20915.
More information: Visit https://rawlingsconservatory.org
Lunch: Followed by lunch at the Dark Horse Irish Pub 67569 Zachery Taylor Highway, Flint Hill, VA. 22627.
RSVP: Please RSVP to gerrywoodsdc@gmail.com if you wish to attend the lunch.
SPRING AND SUMMER FIELD TRIPS – Tentative Schedule, Plan Ahead
- May 17 – Birds of Prey. Must RSVP – see announcement above. (change of date) [1-3PM]
- May 31 – Jun 1 – Ghost town near Pittsburgh
- Jun 7 – Rawlings Observatory, Baltimore [10 AM]
- Jul 12 – Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens [10 AM]
- Jul TBD – Burnside Farms Sunflowers
CLUB NEWS
END OF YEAR CELEBRATION June 12, 2025
YEAR END COMPETITION ENTRY DATES AND RULES
The Year End Competition is not about selecting the best entries for a single month, but rather selecting the best entries from the monthly competitions for the entire club year (September 2024 through May 2025). The results are announced at the Year End Celebration on June 12.
Send an email to SSCC Historian, Norm Bernache, at normbernache@comcast.net if you would like a list of all of your print and projected images submitted from September 2024 to April 2025.
As in other competitions, the judge will select first, second, and third place winners, and as many honorable mentions as the number of entries requires. There are no ribbons or points awarded; however, a Best in Show award will be presented, known as the Len Tuchin Award.
Be aware of the submission deadlines in May:
End of Year Competition Entry Schedule
- Print Deadline: Thursday, May 8 – drop off at Competition meeting at Northwood Presbyterian Church.
- Projected Deadline: Friday, May 9 (midnight) – send titles (not images) to Competition@ssccphotography.org via email.
Each member may submit up to 5 projected and 5 print images from those that s/he entered in monthly club competitions this 2024-2025 season. Eligible submissions need not have won an award in the monthly competition(s) in which they were submitted. But please remember — images submitted for the year-end competition must be identical to those submitted in the regular season competitions and entries must be submitted in the same categories (Print or Projected) in which they were originally submitted.
Complete Details on the Rules and the Submission Forms are Found Here.
If you have any questions about the Year End Competition, please ask Dennis Freeman at dennisfreeman4510@msn.com . I’ll get the right person to answer your question.
SELECTION OF NEXT YEAR’S COMPETITION TOPICS
Keep an eye out for an email soliciting your top three votes for next year’s topics. We have a lot of great suggestions to narrow down. The final selection will be by the board.
BOARD MEETING
The SSCC Board last meet on March 27, 2025. The next meeting is April 24th via Zoom. Minutes from all meetings can be found in the board meeting minutes archives when they have been finalized.
FEATURES
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT – Kent Morris
Read about Kent’s photographic adventures in the Middle East and other places. Some of his photos can be seen at: www.morrisx2.com
CONFERENCES AND EXPOS
2025 PSA PHOTO FESTIVAL REGISTRATION HAS OPENED
See https://www.ssccphotography.org/2025-psa-photo-festival-in-portland-oregon/ for images and lots of links for the schedule and hotels.
MEMBER ARTICLES
ECLIPSE OF THE BLOOD MOON by Ilona Linnoila
CHERRY BLOSSOMS AT THE TIDAL BASIN
COMPETITION RESULTS
OPEN COMPETITION – March 13, 2025
March’s competition was Found Abstracts for projected and print images. Michael Brown was our judge.
Awards are generally given for first, second, and third place, with the number of honorable mentions (HM) dependent on the total number of entries in the respective Advanced, Intermediate, and Novice levels.
ADVANCED PROJECTED
1st Place: Larry Gold ~ Wet Mushroom
2nd Place: Beth Koller ~ Claw Shadow
3rd Place: Beth Koller ~Hallway
HM: Maude Svensson ~ The Road Home
INTERMEDIATE PROJECTED
1st Place: Ilona Linnoila ~ The Hand that Decorates Millennium Bridge in London
2nd Place: Ilona Linnoila ~ Winter Afternoon in the Woods\
3rd Place: Jim Riley ~ Plugs and Holes
Ilona Linnoila ~ The Hand that Decorates Millennium Bridge in London
On my visit to London in October I was walking on the pedestrian bridge over the Thames river when I noticed a man laying down on the bridge. Closer examination revealed that he was actually painting tiny, barely noticeable figurines on the rough surface of the bridge. He was the only artist and very well equipped. Sony a6300 with Tamron 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD lens, ISO 800, 70mm, f/14, 1/125sec
NOVICE PROJECTED
1st Place: Gerry Woods ~ Pointy
2nd Place: Gerry Woods ~ Heart of Glass
3rd Place: Kent Morris ~Man of the Sahara
Gerry Woods ~ Pointy
This close-up photo of a cactus plant was taken at the Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Garden in Baltimore on 3/1/25. The Rawlings Conservatory is very similar to the U.S. Botanic Gardens in Southwest DC, except it is a little smaller. The historic Rawlings Conservatory opened in 1888. It is located in the Druid Park area of Baltimore, and features lots of free parking. I took this photo with my Nikkor Z Macro 135mm Lens. The ISO was 160, shutter speed was 1/1,000 and the aperture was f/9.
INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED PRINTS (COMBINED)
1st Place: Jim Riley ~ Teton Cabin
2nd Place: Sherm Edwards ~ Brookside Mirage
3rd Place: Will Rabinovich ~ The Real Golden Dome
Sherm Edwards ~ Brookside Mirage
NOVICE PRINTS
1st Place: Valerie Brissett ~ Fire Starters
COURSES, CALLS FOR ENTRY, AND EXHIBITS
PHOTOGRAPHY COURSES AND WORKSHOPS
by Karen Finkelman
The following list describes various photography classes and workshops in the Maryland, Northern Virginia, Washington DC area. Specific workshop offerings may be held in the classroom, in-field, online or via Zoom. Please see individual classes for the instruction format.
The list is organized into three categories:
- Classes and Workshops in the Washington DC area
- Online Courses
- Multi-Day Photography Workshops Within & Beyond the DMV
Please feel free to recommend any classes or workshops you have taken. Email the Cable Release Editors at cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org and we will forward the recommendations.
Note: Inclusion in this list is not an endorsement of the provider or a particular course/workshop.
CALLS FOR ENTRY
by Dennis Freeman
The following offers a number of competitions for your consideration this month. Some of these sources have standing calls for entry, and others are one-time calls. Some offer cash and prizes, and others don’t.
See the full Calls for Entry article here.
EXHIBITS AND EVENTS
By Karen Finkelman.
Take a look at what our sister camera club, the NIH Camera Club, has going on. Here is a link to their site. There you can find their newsletter, the Cameraderie: nihcameraclub.com
© 2025 Silver Spring Camera Club and its contributors.
Copyright Notice, Disclaimer, Privacy Policy and External Link Disclaimer