Member, Photographic Society of America
Winner of the 2008, 2011, and 2012 PSA Henricks Award for best newsletter!
Dennis Freeman & Sherm Edwards, Editors, Cable Release, at cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org.
Contents
KEY EVENTS
- Feb 6 – Speaker Night (7:30 p.m.)
- Feb 9 – Field Trip to Antique Center at Historic Savage Mill (10:00 a.m.)
- Feb 13 – Competition Night: Shadows (7:30 p.m.)
- Feb 20 – A Closer Focus Meeting (7:30 p.m.)
- Feb 27 – Board Meeting (7:30 p.m.)
If Montgomery County Schools close due to inclement weather, Silver Spring Camera Club meetings and outings will be cancelled. 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’.
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: 2019-2020 Member Handbook
SSCC member submissions for the Cable Release should be directed to cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org.
© 2020 Silver Spring Camera Club and its contributors. Copyright Notice & Disclaimer Policy
PLEASE CONSIDER PROVIDING MATERIALS FOR THE MARCH CABLE RELEASE:
E.G. ARTICLES, AWARDS, EXHIBITIONS, LINKS, REVIEWS, …
DEADLINE: BY FEB 24th TO cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org.
MEETINGS AND FIELD TRIPS
MEETING LOCATION
Silver Spring United Methodist Church
8900 Georgia Ave.
Silver Spring, MD
Click for details
SPEAKER NIGHT – FEBRUARY 6TH WITH EARL DOTTER
LIFE’S WORK. A Fifty Year Photographic Chronicle of Working in the U.S.A
Please join us as we welcome Earl Dotter, an occupational photojournalist whose career is dedicated to putting a human face on those who labor, often in dangerous and environmentally unhealthy conditions. His work follows in the steps of the famous social documentarians Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine and his commitment to documenting workers’ stories has made him the American workers’ “Poet Laureate.” ( Read More )
COMPETITION COLUMN
For the competitions season, please refer to the website link for the definition of each topic.
Here’s the schedule for the rest of the season:
- February – Shadows
- March – Open
- April – Open
- May – Monochrome Photography
- June – End of Year Competition (special rules apply)
Our February 13th topic is Shadows:
The topic “Shadows” encompasses images that depict an area that is darkened by an object that comes between a light source and a surface that lies beyond the obstructing object. The shadow may comprise the entire image or be just a part of it; but, regardless of its size, the shadow should be discernible as a shadow and be the feature of the image that makes it noteworthy in the eyes of the viewer.
Please be mindful that electronic submissions for projected images must be received no later than 11:59 pm, Speaker Night, February 6th. The images should be emailed to: competition@ssccphotography.org (One important detail – In order to participate in the competition, you must pay the club’s annual dues before the start of the competition.)
To learn the nitty gritty about the competitions, please refer to the Competition Rules and the Members Handbook, both of which are accessible from the SSCC website. Of course, if you have any questions about the competitions, please feel free to contact me at competition@ssccphotography.org
MARY BRAMAN – JUDGE, FEBRUARY 13 – SHADOWS COMPETITION
Mary Braman will be the judge for our “Shadows” themed competition on February 13.
Mary is a Baltimore-based photographer who shoots for her sanity. Her photographic style is simple, and her post-production work is minimal – she follows the National Geographic mantra: Get it right in the camera. (Read More)
A CLOSER FOCUS – FEBRUARY 20
– by David W. Powell
An opportunity to share ideas, images, questions, and inspirations
Half an hour will be an open forum discussing issues at hand. A half hour is devoted to presentations by members (but this time a breakout session instead) . And a half hour is set aside for member image reviews.
This is always a great evening of sharing and learning. What topics would you like to explore? Topics are very wide ranging, such as photo book reviews, an aspect of your own photography that you’d like to share, reviews or discussion of gallery shows, photo gear, software, etc. Or bring a gadget to share.
- Breakout Session: Image Optimization & Problem Solving with Lightroom or Photoshop. Preferably, bring in your own laptop with Lightroom or Photoshop and some digital images that you want to fix. If you can’t bring in a laptop with Lightroom or Photoshop, just bring in a thumbdrive with your images and we’ll use one of the other laptops there. Several experts will assist you in making adjustments and corrections so that you can learn how to do this yourself!
- Picture assignment subjects: Shadows theme, or anything else you’d like to share. Bring in prints or laptop/tablet digital images for display on our table in back. We will share, discuss, and critique.
- Discussion: Any topics that you’d like to explore.
- Book/Gear Reviews: David Blass will review the book “Light: Science and Magic” (5th ed.). What book/gear/software have you experienced that you’d like to review?
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Future topics of A Closer Focus might include: compositional strength, HDR, or anything else photographic you want to bring to the table. This is an opportunity for you to provide input to the SSCC experience.
If you would like to be on the agenda, please email me at:
davidwesleypowell@gmail.com
FEBRUARY 9 FIELD TRIP TO THE ANTIQUE CENTER IN HISTORIC SAVAGE MILL
On Sunday, February 9, we will go to the Antique Center in Historic Savage Mill, MD.
Located within Historic Savage Mill, a 19th Century cotton mill beautifully restored and home to the region’s most unique antique center. It also includes 50 other merchants including home design shops, artists, crafts, fashions and restaurants. Just outside is the Bollman Iron Truss Bridge, the sole surviving example of a revolutionary all-metal design in the history of American bridge engineering. This bridge, in turn, crosses the Little Patuxent River to the Savage Mill Trail along the river. (Read More)
CLUB NEWS
FIELD TRIP TO THE B&O RAILROAD MUSEUM – BY DAVID TERAO
On January 12th, seven members of the SSCC visited the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore. The museum houses many historic railroad equipment outside and in two large buildings. It has the largest collection of 19th century locomotives in the United States. Many interesting areas are dimly lit, so it’s always a good idea to bring a tripod and supplemental portable lighting like electronic flashes or even flashlights for light painting. That day, the museum also offered a short ride on one of their operating diesel-engine trains. Every time I’ve visited the museum, I find something new to photograph or a different way to photograph the same subjects.
David Terao, Doug Finstad, Sherm Edwards, Ilona Linnoila, and Lisa and Marc Auerbach share photos from that trip:
FIELD TRIP TO THE UDVAR-HAZY CENTER ON JANUARY 19
On January 19, SSCC went to the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA, the second Air & Space Museum location where hundreds of aircraft and spacecraft are on display in two massive hangars, including a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay, and the Space Shuttle Discovery. Lisa Auerbach and Sherm Edwards provide several photographs:
BOARD MEETINGS
The SSCC Board met on January 23rd – the minutes will follow in the next Cable Release.
FEATURES
CALL FOR ENTRIES: SPECIAL TENTH ANNIVERSARY JOSEPH MILLER ABSTRACT PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT
The Joseph Miller Center for the Photographic Arts is announcing its tenth annual juried abstract exhibit. All interested photographers are invited to submit entries for this much anticipated spring event. The exhibition will occur May 2 – May 25, 2020.
SSCC photographers have done well in past Joseph Miller abstract exhibits – see prior year’s galleries here: Joseph Miller Abstract Photography Exhibit galleries
The deadline for submissions will be Saturday, February 22, 2020.
A detailed prospectus containing all relevant information regarding the exhibit can be found on the Northern Virginia Alliance of Camera Clubs nvacc.org/home/abstract-exhibit/
6TH ANNUAL ALLEGANY NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION AND EXHIBITION – APRIL 4 – MAY 2, 2020
November 2018’s SSCC judge, Martin Heavener, told us about the nearby Allegany National Photography Competition & Exhibition and it’s fabulous prizes: $$$. The April exhibition will be in Cumberland, Maryland. The entry deadline is February 10, 2020. For further details, click the link above or read the following announcement:
MARYLAND PHOTOGRAPHY ALLIANCE NEWS
See what other regional camera clubs are up to in February/March in news from the Maryland Photography Alliance: (Read More)
CONFERENCES AND EXPOS
2020 PSA ANNUAL CONFERENCE – AKA 2020 PSA PHOTO FESTIVAL
The Photographic Society of America is planning next year’s annual conference for Sept. 29 – Oct. 3, 2020 in Colorado Springs. It will include daily tours and informal morning/evening photo walks, workshops, exhibitions, vendors, keynote speakers, and lots of presentations. Past tours were terrific, and the ones from the 2020 Colorado Springs Photo Festival will be no exception.
Registration ~April 1, 2020. You will need to be a member to register. (Read More)
MEMBER ARTICLES
DRAMATIC PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB – BY MICHAEL PUCCIARELLI
I am the organizer of the Dramatic Product Photography Club.
This club is about photographing small products with dramatic lighting. The products can be anything small. Examples of small objects include: jewelry, watches, any type of food, perfume, and new beer/wine bottles. Head shots are very welcome in this group. Some events will be at various studios in the DC Metro Area, and some events will be outside. Light painting of objects is also included.
Who should join?
- Anybody is who is interested in photographing products as described above or head shots.
- Anyone who is interested in experimenting with natural or artificial lighting.
- Anybody who is interested in product photography lighting as well as portrait facial lighting is more than welcome to join.
- Anybody who likes to experiment with light painting, which can be done with one exposure or multiple exposures.
I currently have a number of meetups scheduled for February and March, listed in the following link to my Meetup Group. There is no fee to attend.
The Dramatic Product Photography Group
Upcoming Meetups:
- Feb 8: Natural Lighting with Non-flash Workshop
- Feb 22: Natural Lighting with Flash Workshop
- Mar 4 / 16: Flash Lighting Workshops
Michael Pucciarelli
[Editor: Michael’s Meetups will also listed in the “Photography Courses and Workshops” column as they are this month, below]
CITYSCAPE COMMENTARY – BY ILONA LINNOILA
The following image is a non-competition cityscape commentary on the life in the Nation’s Capital. I actually shot it in 2019 on the day of ‘The State of the Union’ address by President Trump. As I was walking around the Mall I noticed yellow buses parked in the front of the National Gallery, actually between the East and West Wings, waiting for students. Please, check out their school district emblem ‘Unimpeachable, LLC’ which actually is a transportation business working out of Laurel, MD.
PORTRAIT LIGHTING PRESENTATION – BY NORM BERNACHE
In last month’s A Closer Focus meeting members were provided a presentation on Portrait Lighting from Norm Bernache. He is providing his presentation as a PDF, with annotations, here for you:
If you would like to participate in a relaxed workshop on Portrait Lighting at Norm’s house, with his lighting and modifier gear, please write him at his email: normbernache [at] comcast.net
KERNELS OF KOREN
Life’s river, flowing through time
Photos are moments
Frozen, forever after
KODACHROME, THE MOVIE AND WHAT IT EXPOSED – BY KAREN FINKELMAN
“People are taking more pictures now than ever before. Billions of ‘em. But, there’s no slides, no prints. They’re just data, electronic dust. Years from now, when they dig us up, there won’t be any pictures to find. No record of who we were, how we lived.” So prophesizes Ben Ryder, a famous photojournalist, in the 2017 film Kodachrome. (Read more)
COMPETITION RESULTS
CITYSCAPES COMPETITION – JANUARY 9
January’s competition was in the Cityscapes theme. John Hoover was our judge that evening.
There were four main categories: Advanced Prints, Novice Prints, Advanced Projected (i.e. digital images), and Novice Projected. Awards are given for first, second, and third place, and multiple honorable mentions (HM) – the number of awards depends on the total number of entries in the category.
ADVANCED PRINTS
- 1st: Sherm Edwards – NOMA Sisters
- 2nd: Wendy Kates – Burano Streets
- 3rd: David Terao – City Shapes
- HM: Matt Hnatov – Reflections in Amsterdam
- HM: Sherm Edwards – Carefree
Advanced Print ~ Sherm Edwards ~ NOMA Sisters
NOVICE PRINTS
- 1st: Renee Schaefer – Tire on a Wire
- 2nd: Ilona Linnoila – Up and Coming Cityscape of Bethesda
Novice Print ~ Renee Schaefer ~ Tire on the Wire
In May we visited San Francisco for our grand-daughter's college graduation. Having family in Northern California takes us out there a few times a year, but having family in Northern California often prevents us from seeing San Francisco as tourists. We decided to get away from family for a few days and stay in San Francisco. We had heard about the decline of the city, but decided to brave it anyway. We stayed in a cute hotel outside of Chinatown and felt very safe. We walked around with our cameras hung from our necks unafraid, but then Bruce said, "let's explore the Mission District". Naively, I agreed to it. As we passed the murals on the buildings, I knew this could be an interesting adventure, but did I feel safe...NO! I left my camera within the confines of the trunk of our car and ventured out with cell phone in hand. I was not disappointed with the images that I returned with. Maybe there is something to this cell phone photography thing.
ADVANCED PROJECTED
- 1st: Kate Woodward – Window World
- 2nd: Doug Finstad – Pennsylvania Avenue
- 3rd: Matt Hnatov – N-Space
- HM: Wendy Kates – Urban Color
- HM: Doug Finstad – Key Bridge Sunrise
Advanced Projected ~ Doug Finstad ~ Key Bridge Sunrise
This is a stitched panorama of the Key Bridge and Rosslyn. It was captured at sunrise from the Georgetown Waterfront and is composed of 6 vertical images @35mm with about 30% overlap on each. They were then blended and processed in Lightroom. Settings for the individual images: Nikon D800E, 24-70 f /2.8 @ 35mm, ISO 400, 2 sec @ f/16. Really Right Stuff 3 series tripod, MR2 pano bar set the Nodal Point and remote release. The relatively high ISO was used to minimize cloud movement during the total time of the 6 exposures, yet each exposure is still long enough to smooth out the water.
NOVICE PROJECTED
- 1st: Renee Schaefer – View from the Vessel
- 2nd: Cheryle Galloway – Dawn
- 3rd: James Ragucci – Bacharach in Fall
- HM: Manuel Nunez – City Competition 1
- HM: Bill Byrd – Finestrini Posteriori Viennesi
Novice Projected ~ Renee Schaefer ~ View from the Vessel
While in NYC for PhotoExpo Plus, we decided to walk over to Hudson Yards. We tried to get timed tickets to climb the structure, but that didn't work. Another issue was that Sony was offering to clean sensors at no charge, but you had to leave your camera at their exhibit for about two hours. I had been to the vessel before so I was sure that I was not going to miss that money shot. As we sat on a bench watching others climb the vessel, I saw the image I wanted to capture. The sun was low. There were fewer people than usual on the structure, but I had no camera. But wait...I pulled out my cell phone and captured this image. Thus once again proving that your best camera is the one you have with you.
COURSES, CALLS FOR ENTRY, AND EXHIBITS
PHOTOGRAPHY COURSES AND WORKSHOPS
The Photography Courses and Workshops list includes sample photography courses and workshops from a variety of providers in three categories:
- Courses and workshops in the D.C. area
- Online courses
- Multi-day photography trips to places within and beyond the United States.
Several of these are offered by online course providers like Kelby One and Lynda.com.
This month’s multi-day photography trips includes photo trips from our excellent January speaker, Joseph Rossbach.
Some of these begin or require registration early in the month. Please provide reviews of courses that you have taken! (Read More)
CALLS FOR ENTRY
The following offers a number of competitions for your consideration this month. Some of these sources having 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. (Read More)
EXHIBITS AND EVENTS
The following link is a column that lists a number of photography-related exhibits and events occurring now, or soon, in the extended Washington D.C. area. These include gallery exhibits, museum exhibits, college exhibits, special events, and sometimes exhibits or events to photograph yourself! And some selected sites for the armchair adventurer!
See the full column here: (Read More )
PSA PID DIGITAL DIALOG STUDY GROUP #93
A Found Comment:
Dear Ansel:
You’re making such progress! I really like the simplicity of this composition, but there’s so much “detail” missing from the finished image. Have you considered HDR? I’ve taken the liberty of fixing your photo to show you what I mean.
Keep snapping,
Bill
(Featured Comment by William Sawalich, The_Online_Photographer)
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
