Member, Photographic Society of America
Winner of the 2008, 2011, and 2012 PSA Henricks Award for best newsletter!
Sherm Edwards, Editor, Cable Release, at cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org.
Contents
KEY EVENTS
The following scheduled events will be conducted online as Zoom teleconferences, except for the Field Trip. Look for announcements and invitations by e-mail, Meetup, and on the club’s Website.
- Jan 7 – Speaker Night (7:30 p.m.)
- Jan 14 – Competition – Open (7:30 p.m.)
- Jan 21 – Closer Focus (7:30 p.m.)
Note that this policy does not apply to online meetings! 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: 2020-2021 Member Handbook
© 2020 Silver Spring Camera Club and its contributors. Copyright Notice & Disclaimer Policy
PLEASE CONSIDER PROVIDING MATERIALS FOR THE JANUARY CABLE RELEASE:
E.G. ARTICLES, AWARDS, EXHIBITIONS, LINKS, REVIEWS, …
DEADLINE: BY JANUARY 24th TO cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org.
MEETINGS AND FIELD TRIPS
MEETING LOCATION
All meetings will be online by Zoom teleconference until further notice.
Speaker Night with Doug Johnson January 7 – Exploring Your Subject
Doug Johnson is a highly respected professional photographer and educator, always sharing the art of photography with his students and colleagues. Doug will take us beyond the edicts of composition to help us understand the historical meaning and importance of the “rule of thirds.” Imparting a workflow for fully exploring one’s subject, Doug will help the photographer discover the qualities which make an image so attractive. By incorporating these techniques, we can begin to communicate more personally with any subject matter to create a richer, more expressive narrative for our photography. (Read more)
COMPETITION COLUMN
Our December 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.
Members may submit up to two projected images meeting this definition, in one of 3 categories: Beginner, Novice, and Advanced. The images should be emailed to: competition@ssccphotography.org by midnight on Thursday, January 7. (One important detail – In order to participate in the competition, you must have paid the club’s annual dues before the start of the competition.)
Here’s the schedule for the remainder of the year:
- February – Abstract
- March – Open
- April – Decay
- May – Monochrome Photography
- June – End of Year Competition (special rules apply)
Please refer to the website link for the definition of each topic.
SHARON PRISLIPSKY – JUDGE – JANUARY OPEN COMPETITION
Sharon Prislipsky has had a lifelong interest in photography and art. Her first images as a child were captured with a Brownie Starflash camera which she used throughout her school years. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Liberal Arts Degree taking every art course she could fit into her program of studies. After earning a Master’s Degree in Education she pursued a career as a school administrator, where she found she could use photography for staff training purposes and for producing interesting newsletters for the community and for families of her students. Read more.
A CLOSER FOCUS – January 21, 2021
– by David W. Powell
An opportunity to share ideas, images, questions, and inspirations. The January meeting will be by Zoom videoconference. Look for an invitation in an e-mail from the Club or a Meetup announcement.
Half an hour will be an open forum discussing issues at hand; the topic(s) will be announced in a Club e-mail before the meeting. A half hour is devoted to presentations by members in breakout sessions. And a half hour is set aside for member image sharing. Send your images to Dave Powell before the meeting (davidwesleypowell@gmail.com).
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.
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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
NO JANUARY FIELD TRIP!
Here is the schedule for 2021 COVID-safe Field Trips — all outdoors, until we get our vaccines!
- February 27: Nature in Winter — Gambrills State Park, Frederick, MD
- March 20: Street Photography — Eastern Market
- April 18: Spring in the Mountains –- Washington Monument Park, Boonsboro MD (1500 foot altitude, includes part of the Appalachian Trail—bring your hiking boots!)
- May 16: Birds of Spring & the Chesapeake Bay — Sassafras Natural Resource Management Area, Kennedyville MD. (Wildlife Sanctuary on the Eastern Shore)
- June (date TBD) and/or an alternate for any of the above: Antietam Battlefield and Cemetery.
For SSCC’s rules for safe field tripping during the pandemic click here.
CLUB NEWS
FIELD TRIP TO FREDERICK MD FOR “COLOR ON THE CREEK”
On Saturday, December 5, 5 hardy Club members took in the decorated boats on Carroll Creek in downtown Frederick MD, an annual event called Color on the Creek. Below are some photos from the field trip.
BOARD MEETINGS
The SSCC Board did not meet in November because of Thanksgiving. The next scheduled meeting is December 30. Minutes will appear in the January Cable Release.
FEATURES
CONFERENCES AND EXPOS
MEMBER ARTICLES
CALL FOR ENTRIES: ELEVENTH ANNIVERSARY JOSEPH MILLER ABSTRACT PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT
by Dennis Freeman
The Joseph Miller Center for the Photographic Arts is announcing its eleventh annual juried abstract exhibit. All interested photographers are invited to submit entries for this much anticipated spring event. The exhibition will occur May 1 – May 31, 2021.
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 27, 2021.
For more information, and to sign up on the mailing list: http://nvacc.org/home/
MPA NEWS
by Michael Koren
Donate to the MD Food Bank and Be Eligible to Win a $1,500 Original Print
Professional photographer Mitch Dobrowner, who presented during MPA’s last “Artist Spotlight”, has generously donated two original, signed and numbered prints to help raise money for the Maryland Food Bank. Each of these prints have a value of $1,500 each. Any size donation made through MPA’s MD Food Bank fund raising page, between December 19, 2020 and January 3, 2021 makes you eligible to win one of the two prints. Please consider making a donation to help the too many Marylanders in need. For more information and to make a donation go to: https://www.mdphotoalliance.org/md-food-bank
Artist Spotlight
The next “Artist Spotlight” will take place on Tuesday, January 5, at 2:00 PM, with internationally known Street Photographer Valerie Jardin. All “Artist Spotlight” webinars are FREE! You’ll learn “How to Get Over the Fear of Photographing Strangers.” For more information and to register go to: https://www.mdphotoalliance.org/artistspotlight.
COMPETITION RESULTS
SELECTIVE FOCUS COMPETITION — DECEMBER 3, 2020
December’s competition was was for projected images only. Ed Palaszynski was our judge. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the competition was held remotely over Zoom.
There were three categories: Advanced Projected, Novice Projected, and Beginner Projected. Print competitions are suspended until we start in-person meetings again. Awards for Advanced and Novice 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. For the Beginner category, only Honorable Mentions were awarded.
ADVANCED PROJECTED
- 1st: Beth Koller ~ Abronia graminea
- 2nd: Sherm Edwards ~ What might have been
- 3rd: Doug Finstad ~ Magnolia Bloom
- HM: Larry Gold ~ Calla Lilly
- HM: David Blass ~ Pollinating
Beth Koller ~ Abronia graminea
This is an image of an alligator lizard (Abronia graminea) that is found in Mexico. It is arboreal and eats insects--hence no teeth. The color of the lizard is variable depending on the amount and type of UV light received. UVB enhances the teal color (vs the yellow green color). Because these reptiles can move quickly, it is helpful to have a flash. I used the Nikon 2-flash system that permits one to change the positions of the two flashes and to control the power to each. The flash also permitted me to use a lower ISO, generally 200. I mounted the flash system on a Nikon 105 macro lens. The macro lens would permit magnification, but one would need to be selective with the focus and the focal plane. The double reflection introduced intrigue, but directs the viewer onto the lizard's very sharp head and torso. Glossy plexiglass is a highly reflective surface, but scratches easily. Glass over black paper is also reflective and more durable. The type of reflection will depend on the thickness of the glass and the color and reflectivity of the paper.
NOVICE PROJECTED
- 1st: Diane Sanders ~ Salsify
- 2nd: Dennis Freeman ~ Dahlia
- 3rd: Kim Keller ~ Gemini
- HM: James Ragucci ~ Snowy Mountain in Glass
- HM: Dan Gottlieb ~ Lotus Pod
Dennis Freeman ~ Dahlia
I saw this beautiful dahlia during the PSA 2019 Annual Conference in Spokane, WA at Manito Park with its 90 acres of botanical gardens. Canon 5D IV, 100mm f/2.8 macro lens, tripod, 1/100 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200. I used Lightroom's Adjustment Brush to reduce the saturation and exposure of a green stem in the background.
BEGINNER PROJECTED
- HM: Scott Casavant ~ First Snowfall of the Year 02
- HM: Scott Casavant ~ Morning Fog
Scott Casavant ~ First Snowfall of the Year
I took this photo a number of years ago when my girls were enjoying a snow day. After some experimentation, I decided I liked shooting from down low and into the dark background of some bamboo in the neighbor's yard. Post processing consisted of some cropping, saturation tweaking and a slight vignette. Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, 1/500 second, f/4.5, 150mm and ISO 400.
COURSES, CALLS FOR ENTRY, AND EXHIBITS
PHOTOGRAPHY COURSES AND WORKSHOPS
Needed: Someone to author the Classes and Workshop List for the 2020-2021 Cable Release club year. Please let Catherine [ president@ssccphotography.org ] know if you might be interested. This is an opportunity to inspire the learning of club members. In the meantime, we will show some online sources.
One vendor typically included in the Photography Courses/Class List has announced a few online classes: See Capital Photography Center: https://online.capitalphotographycenter.com/collections?category=courses . The rest either have suspended courses or are communicating to registrants by email.
The online course providers typically listed in The Cable Release are obviously still operating—
New member Diane Sanders points out that Nikon is offering free online classes through the holidays: https://www.nikonevents.com/us/live/nikon-school-online/
Please let us know of other online opportunities you discover by emailing us at cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org.
CALLS FOR ENTRY
by Dennis Freeman
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)
7th Annual Allegany National Photography Competition and Exhibition Scheduled April 2021; $5,000 in Cash Prizes Available
The Allegany Arts Council will sponsor the 7th annual Allegany National Photography Competition and Exhibition (ANPCE) April 2 – 24, 2021.
The juried show offers $5,000 in prize money, including $1,500 for Best of Show. It also offers the opportunity for photographers to exhibit their work in the show’s digital gallery and – COVID rules permitting – at the Arts Council’s Saville Gallery, located in the heart of historic downtown Cumberland.The deadline for entries (using the CAFÉ online system) is Friday, February 12, 2021. Photographers may submit a maximum of six (6) entries in three (3) categories. (Read more.)
EXHIBITS AND EVENTS
by Bruce Schaefer
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! This month, given continued restrictions on gatherings, it features some selected sites for the armchair adventurer!
See the full column here: (Read More)
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
