POSTPONED: Field Trip to Yellow Dog Village and Carrie Furnace

POSTPONED: Field Trip to Yellow Dog Village and Carrie Furnace

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Sherm Edwards and Tanya Riseman, Editors, Cable Release, at cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org.

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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.

• March 6 – Speaker Night: (7:30 on Zoom)
• March 13 – Competition: Open (7:30 p.m. at Northwood Presbyterian Church)
• March 15 – Field Trip: Worm Full Moon and DC Night Sky (6:30 p.m. at Netherlands Pavilion)
• March 20 – Photo Forum (7:30 on Zoom)
• POSTPONED – Field Trip: Yellow Dog Village and Carrie Blast Furnace (near Pittsburgh PA)
• March 27 – Board Meeting (7:30 on Zoom)

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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 March 24. Email items or questions to Sherm Edwards and Tanya Riseman at  cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org.    

DEADLINE: BY March 24th TO  cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org.

 

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MEETINGS AND FIELD TRIPS

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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.

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SPEAKER NIGHT — Michael Horsley — Photography: Of vs. About

Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.

Is photography a hobby, a passion, a pastime, a fine art? What makes a good photograph? How do you know if you are a photographer? Michael Horsley will explore the questions by describing his path with photography by looking at photographs and discussing with participants these topics.

Michael Horsley is a Washington DC based visual artist  working primarily in photography, as well as filmmaking, theater/performance art, graphic design and music. He has been a member of I am Eye filmmaking collective, RicnMikenBill performance group, Theater du Jour, curator of KinoRama film series, and Fraudulent Productions. His work has been broadcast on BBC America, MSNBC, and WETA, and exhibited in the Library of Congress, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian Institution, as well as numerous art spaces. His work has been published in the New York Times, International Herald Tribune, and the Washington Post, and reviewed in ARTnews, WETA’s Around Town, Washington Post, and the Washington City Paper. He has studied, performed, and collaborated with: musicians Robert Fripp, Bert Lams, and Tony Geballe; artists Michael Platt, Mark Power, Kerik Kouklis, and Frank Diperna; and performing artists  Silvana Straw, B. Stanley, and George Kaperonis.

Check out his photo projects, especially “The District: Streets of Washington, 1984-1994” at https://www.michaelhorsley.com.

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COMPETITION COLUMN

Our March topic is Open::

In open competitions, free rein is given to the choices the photographer makes in the creation of the submitted image. Images of any and all subjects or themes, created using any photographic or post- processing methods or techniques, are acceptable. The images are evaluated based upon the judge’s general assessment of their creativity, emotional and/or intellectual impact, aesthetic beauty, uniqueness of subject, and technical skill. The judge need not assign any specific weight to any single attribute of the image.

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:

• April – Abandoned
• May – Monochrome
• June – End of Year Competition (special rules apply) 

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JUDGE MICHAEL BROWN – OPEN

 I am a self-taught photographer. I started with a 35mm camera in 1964 and later moved to medium format, large format, and now digital. My photographs have been displayed in the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown’s Engine Room Art Space, Baltimore County Arts Guild, Gaithersburg’s Activity Center at Bohrer Park and the Arts Barn at Kentlands, as well as several locations around the state. 

To me, photography is an expression of mindfulness – a respect for what I see and the tools I work with. The present moment captures my full attention so that I may explore the subject of my interest. My intent is to create an image that can transport me back to this moment later. It doesn’t matter to me if thousands of others took photos from the same perspective because the perspective is new to me, the exploration and visualization are new to me. 

I assess photographs the same way I assess any art, if it grabs my attention, I get closer. If it holds my attention, I explore. During exploration, I critique. What do I like or don’t like? Why? How can it be improved, or what would make it better? As with all art, assessments are subjective, therefore prone to error and bias, and valuable only to those interested. 

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PHOTO FORUM

Thursday, March 20, 2024, from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

March’s planned discussions and presentations:

• Your Ideas for Next Year’s Competitions
• Your Ideas for Next Year’s Field Trips
• What’s on your mind, photographically?  
• “Monochrome – Why, When, & How” – Pete Morton
• “The Library of Congress Field Trip” – the participants
• We are soliciting presenters.  Contact Dennis ( dennisfreeman4510@msn.com ) if you’d like to present something!

You may send up to 2 images you would like get feedback on or just share. This month’s theme will be “Open.”

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MARCH FIELD TRIP #1 — Worm Full Moon and DC Night Sky –- Netherlands Carillon

Leader: Gerry Woods, 202-494-2131

When: Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Netherlands Carillon, Arlington, VA. (Near the Iwo Jima Memorial) 

Photograph: Night Photography of the “Worm Full Moon” & the DC Skyline 

Meet Up: Meet at the Netherlands Carillon (Bell Tower) 

Transportation: There is a free parking at the Iwo Jima Memorial parking lot, and lots of on-the-street parking nearby on North Meade Street. Contact Gerry if you need help with transportation. The closest Metro Stop is Rosslyn which is about one mile away. 

Bring: Your camera, tripod and a shutter release cable. A lens which extends to 300mm or 400mm is great. 

About: Take sunset photos of the Iwo Jima Memorial and then take some “postcard quality” photos of the iconic D.C. Skyline with the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol Building from the vantage point of the Netherlands Carillon. 

This is an excellent opportunity to practice “multiple exposure” photography. If your camera has multiple exposure capabilities, you can take a photo of the full moon, and a second photo of the DC Skyline and position the full moon in your image above the DC skyline. If your camera does not have “multiple exposure” capabilities, you can take one photo of the full moon and a second photo of the DC skyline and combine the two images in post processing. 

RSVP: To gerrywoodsdc@gmail.com if you plan to attend this event.

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.

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POSTPONED: MARCH FIELD TRIP #2 — Abandoned Pennsylvania: Yellow Dog Village and Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historical Landmark

Date & Time: Saturday, March 22^nd. We are scheduled for 1 PM at the Village. It’s 238 miles, about 4 hours [depending on speed] .  We drive on Sunday to the Blast Furnace, which is towards Washington. It’s about an hour’s drive from Kittanning, and we should try and be there early, although I’ll take care of the administrative stuff.  I scheduled the shoot for 11. 

Location: Worthington PA and Pittsburg/Rankin PA  

To do: Photograph an abandoned village with 16 buildings still standing [mostly houses] and the occasional ghost. https://yellowdogvillage.com

Then: Night with friends, food, and liquid refreshment; and on Sunday  we visit an abandoned blast furnace at the Homewood Steel Works. The furnace is about an hour’s drive [towards home]. https://riversofsteel.com/attractions/carrie-furnaces/

Fees and arrangements: I have arranged a private visit for both locations—only Club members, no tourists, but it’s not cheap: $50 per person at Yellow Dog Village. At the Blast Furnace, there is a complicated sliding fee for the group. It is roughly $30-40 per person, depending on the number of people. For example, 5 people would be $40, 8 people $30, etc.   

Yellow Dog Village is pay on arrival [cash is best].  Carrie Blast Furnace is a group fee; once we have a firm number, I’ll pay and be reimbursed.       

The Carrie photo application may be found here. Please provide me with the required personal info and be sure to include your car. I’ll submit for the group.  If possible, please submit the application to me by March 15.  My email is philboyer60@gmail.com. 

Liability: Carrie Blast Furnace noted that there is an assumption of the risk for visitors; that’s why there is required guide at $55 per hour for group. There is also a flat group fee, depending on size of group].  I will post a waiver of Club liability to be signed and given/sent to Leader. 

Overnight suggestion: It’s about a 4-hour drive to Yellow Dog village [hence the 1 p.m. start]. Plan to stay overnight. We will drive on Sunday to Carrie Blast Furnace which is on the way home. Carpools suggested. I recommend Wingate by Wyndham [$139] but there is also a Quality Inn Royal [$96]; both are in Kittanning, about 7 miles from Yellow Dog Village. Wyndam has much better reviews. Note: The Quality Inn is not listed on Expedia, and don’t confuse it with the 20 other Quality Inns in the area.    

Contact me at philboyer60@gmail.com or 301-204-5549 if you wish to coordinate.    

Bring: Tripod, Telephoto Lens, flashlight [Furnace is dark] appropriate shoes/clothing for the Blast Furnace [e.g., no flip flops or shorts. ]. 

Leader: Phil Boyer –301-204-5549, philboyer60@gmail.com 

Directions to site: Use GPS, OR Per MapQuest.

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RSVP NOW FOR MAY FIELD TRIP – Birds of Prey

Gerry Woods is organizing a “Birds of Prey” photo opportunity on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 1-3 PM.

Note: The date has been changed to May 17th. Gerry will contact you if you have already signed up.

RSVP to gerrywoodsdc@gmail.com if you plan to attend this event. Please provide both your email address and cell phone number if you wish to receive text messages regarding any last minute updates. Tickets are $30 per person.  Please make your check out to “Silver Spring Camera Club” and write “Birds of Prey” in the memo line.  We will need to receive your payment by April 26, 2025. Checks can be mailed to

SSCC Treasurer, Bruce Schaefer
P.O. Box 2375
Silver Spring, MD   20915.

We will meet at: 1212 North Poes Road, Flint Hill, VA. 22627.

We will photograph close-ups, one at a time, of the birds of prey (condor, falcon, hawk, owl and vulture); then, we will photograph the birds in flight one at a time.

Please contact Gerry Woods if you need transportation, and we will attempt to arrange a carpool.

Earth Quest (https://www.earthquest.org/) is doing this event. Click below to see some sample “Birds of Prey” photos that I took on my Flickr page:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dcgerry/albums/72177720323207334

Let me know if you have any questions.
Gerry Woods
202-494-2131

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SPRING FIELD TRIPS – Plan Ahead

• Apr 5 – Dunbarton Oaks – Georgetown
• Apr 22 – Huntley Meadows Park
• May 17 – Birds of Prey. Must RSVP – see announcement above. (change of date)
• May 22 – Fort McHenry
• Jun 7 – US Botanic Garden Conservatory
• Jul 12 – Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
• Jul TBD – Burnside Farms Sunflowers

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CLUB NEWS

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CONGRATULATIONS TO KAREN COMSTOCK!

The Washington Gardener Magazine has chosen one of Karen’s photographs, “Out of Darkness,” for publication in their February on-line magazine (p. 17). “Out of Darkness” will be on view this June at Meadowlark Botanic Gardens in Vienna, VA. The Garden Photo Exhibit will be June 6 – July 3.  The opening reception will be June 22, 2:00-3:30 pm.  

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FEBRUARY FIELD TRIP TO LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

On February 22, 14 Club members gathered to visit and photograph the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. Afterwards, they walked to the Hawk and Dove for lunch in a longtime DC politicos’ haunt.

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JANUARY FIELD TRIP TO ELLIS ISLAND: MORE PICS ADDED!

Eight Club members traveled to New York City the weekend of January 25-26, with the primary goal of touring Ellis Island. The weather was relatively mild, and all attendees survived their struggles with the reservation system. Three of us did the 3-hour Photography Tour of the old hospital buildings, providing many opportunities to capture “Abandoned” images. The others took the 1.5-hour Hard Hat Tour and had more time to explore the museum. Trip organizers Lisa and Sherm arranged group dinners on Saturday and Sunday.

From Lisa Auerbach: We had a grand time in NYC.  Ellis Island reminded me that we are a nation with a history that needs to be remembered and honored. Dinner conversations were lively and being in a group helped navigation of the city. Thanks to Scott and Miriam, I finally understand the subway system. I look forward to more trips and good fun.

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ADDITIONAL NEWSLETTER EDITOR WANTED

Consider being a Cable Release editor. Contact Tanya or Sherm at cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org.

* Collecting projected and print images and captions and putting them in photo galleries. These galleries appear in both the newsletter and on the club’s web homepage.
* Lightly editing items provided by others, like club event announcements and articles.
* Summarizing some items.
* Some writing for items that editors add themselves.

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CLUB POSITIONS AVAILABLE – JOIN THE FUN

Please email membership at membership@ssccphotography.org.

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BOARD MEETING

The SSCC Board last meet on February 27, 2025. The next meeting is March 27th via Zoom. Minutes from all meetings can be found in the board meeting minutes archives when they have been finalized.

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FEATURES

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JOSEPH MILLER Abstract Photography Competition

LAST CHANCE TO SUBMIT

• 14th Annual Joseph Miller Abstract Photography Competition (Virtual), Deadline Mar 24:  nvacc.org/home/ (Northern Virginia Alliance of Camera Clubs (Gainesville, VA))

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CONFERENCES AND EXPOS

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PSA PHOTO FESTIVAL

Enjoy photographic opportunities, seminars, workshops, and meeting members from around the world. Portland OR, September 24-27, 2025. https://psa-photo.org/page/photo-festival

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MEMBER ARTICLES

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COMPETITION RESULTS

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FOUND ABSTRACT COMPETITION – February 13, 2024

February’s competition was Found Abstracts for projected and print images. Joel Hoffman 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 ~ Icy Bubbles
2nd Place: David Blass ~ Point of Impact
3rd Place: Sherm Edwards ~Generations
HM: Bob Catlett ~ Waves
HM: Wendy Kates ~ Waves of Blue and Green

INTERMEDIATE PROJECTED

1st Place: Diane Sanders ~ Frost
2nd Place: Kay Carkhuff ~ Mold on Squash
3rd Place: Ilona Linnoila ~ Sculpture in Blue

NOVICE PROJECTED

1st Place: Gerry Woods ~ Be Bold
2nd Place: Maurice Belanger ~ Harpa
3rd Place: Jim Riley ~Stripes

NOVICE, INTERMEDIATE, AND ADVANCED PRINTS (COMBINED)

1st Place: Beth Koller ~ Airborne Jaws
2nd Place: Kay Carkhuff ~ Spot on the Basement Wall
3rd Place: Tanya Riseman ~ I Love to Travel
HM: Sherm Edwards ~ Fractal Broccoli
HM: Elise Shore ~ Blue Designs

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COURSES, CALLS FOR ENTRY, AND EXHIBITS

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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.

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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.

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EXHIBITS AND EVENTS

By Karen Finkelman.

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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

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