Author Archives: Dan Sisken

October Speaker: Len DePas Speaks on a Favorite Topic

Our speaker this month is known for numerous specialties – weddings, portraits, bar mitzvahs, and other commercial subjects. But we’ve invited Len DePas to talk to us about photographing food. It’s definitely not as easy as you might imagine! For the past 20 years, Len has photographed the chefs and restaurants of Washington. On October 1, you’ll see some of his exemplary images and hear what goes into creating them.

Len DePas started his career under the tutelage of some of the most celebrated photographers in New York City. He studied portraiture with the legendary Philippe Halsman and advertising with Josef Schneider. Since those early days, his photographs have been commissioned all over the world, and he has received numerous awards and honors for his work. A true artist, Len is continually evolving as he refines the innovative techniques he took years to develop.

Website

PSA Congratulates Silver Spring Camera Club on its PSA Membership Milestone

The following letter and certificate were received by the club’s PSA representative, Loretta Argrett

Dear Silver Spring Camera Club,

The Photographic Society of America (PSA) would like to salute you for reaching a PSA Membership Milestone. Enclosed is a commemorative certificate to recognize your longtime PSA membership and commitment.

Membership Milestone Certificates were unfortunately suspended for a long time as the new Membership Database and support systems were completed. The webpage which will honor the names of PSA Membership Milestone achievers will soon be installed and members will be notified when it can be viewed.

Congratulations on your PSA Membership Milestone. PSA appreciates your continued membership and looks forward to our joint explorations in the world of Photography.

Sincerely,

Christine Wilkins
Director, Membership Milestones

September 17: Education Night

This season we will have a slightly different format than years
before. Rather than single session education nights we will have
short series of instruction on a topic. The aim is to explore a
little more in-depth topics so not everything is an “introduction
to…” The series will span about three meetings.

Our first series topic will naturally be about photography as we start a new
year. We’ll cover the history of photography, basic photography
techniques, and advanced techniques. So, bring your notebooks,
pen, an open mind, and enthusiasm to the first Education Night
of the year as we explore the History of Photography. No
number 2 pencils required, but we’ll have short quizzes and a
certificate of completion once the series is over.

Josh Taylor: First Judge for 2015-2016

It’s always fun when Josh Taylor comes to judge an SSCC competition. And we learn a lot, too! To kick off our new season, Josh has again agreed to judge our first open-topic competition. Many of us know Josh not only because he’s judged for the club before but also because we’ve taken workshops with him. In fact, his workshops around Brookside Gardens and especially of Brookside’s butterfly exhibit are now established institutions. His in-the-field guidance, followed by critiques at the computer indoors, have proven to be a popular education experience.

Besides Brookside, Josh has presented photography workshops at the Smithsonian National Orchid Show, US National Arboretum, US Botanic Garden, Sarah P. Duke Gardens, American Horticultural Society Garden School, Adkins Arboretum, and Longwood Gardens.

In addition to being a Canon Camera instructor, Josh speaks at camera and garden clubs, judges photographic competitions, and exhibits his photographs in gallery shows. He is a member of Garden Writers Association, National Association of Photoshop Professionals, and member and past president of the Northern Virginia Photographic Society. Josh was voted best garden club speaker in 2005.

He was also a judge for the 2009 Garden Writers Association National Media Awards and the 2010 Mid-Atlantic Nature Photography Expo. Longwood Gardens chose Josh as its Instructor of the Month (October 2010), and he was a selected photographer to assist the public at Longwood in photographing Bruce Munro’s Light: Installations (2012).

Visit Josh’s web site to see more of
his work: www.joshuataylorphotography.com.

Schedule Change for SSCC Speaker’s Night (Sept. 3)

Bob Catlett will give his earlier scheduled presentation later this season. The SSCC guest speaker on September 3 will be Irene Hinke-Sacilotto, and she will give a presentation about “A Passion for Wildlife Photography: The Stories Behind the Images.”

Based on Irene’s more than 30 years’ experience photographing birds and other animals, this program covers the strategies, techniques, and equipment you need to capture professional wildlife images. Her talk will include locating, attracting, and approaching animals along with prime locations for wildlife photography, the use of photographic blinds, and stalking techniques. She also includes images and experiences from her time on Tangier Island.

Since 1979, Irene has shared her photographic experiences and love of nature with thousands of individuals through more than 200 photo classes, workshops, lectures, and tours in both the U.S. and abroad. Sponsors have included zoos, nature centers, camera clubs, and conservation organizations such as National Wildlife Federation.

For more than 19 years, she has taught photography classes at Johns Hopkins University and other educational institutions and has written “How To” articles on nature photography for national publications such as Outdoor Photographer and Birding. Her images have appeared in magazines, calendars, and books published by National Wildlife Federation, Natural History Society, National Geographic, Audubon, and Sierra Club. Her book, “Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, an Ecological Treasure,” is sold in bookstores nationwide.

Irene’s Osprey Photo Workshops and Tours website

Jim Turner featured in the PSA Journal

Congratulations to Jim Turner whose image, “Brookside Water Lily,” appears on the inside back cover of the August issue of the PSA Journal.

Here’s Jim’s description of the shot.

I found this water lily in a small pond at Brookside Gardens. The water drops are rain, it was raining when I took the picture. Nikon D5100 with Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G lens at 165mm, f/11, 1/400 s, ISO 400. This image also won a Merit Award at the Glennies in 2014 and an HM in the 2015 PSA International Exhibition (Nature). It’s my most successful picture – and shot with a kit lens that was included with my camera.