Cover: Water Wheel – Bob Catlett
Member, Photographic Society of America
Winner of the 2008, 2011, and 2012 PSA Henricks Award for best newsletter!
Dennis Freeman, Editor, Cable Release, at cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org.
Contents
KEY EVENTS
- Mar 7 – Speaker Night (7:30 p.m.)
- Mar 14 – Competition Night: Open (7:30 p.m. in the Chapel)
- Mar 17 – Sunday Field Trip to Annmarie Sculpture Garden (12 p.m.)
- Mar 21 – A Closer Focus meeting (7:30 p.m.)
- Mar 28 – 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: 2018-2019 Member Handbook
SSCC member submissions for the Cable Release should be directed to cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org.
© 2019 Silver Spring Camera Club and its contributors. Copyright Notice & Disclaimer Policy
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PLEASE CONSIDER PROVIDING MATERIALS FOR THE APRIL CABLE RELEASE
ARTICLES, AWARDS, EXHIBITIONS, LINKS, REVIEWS, …
DEADLINE: BY MAR 24th TO cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org.
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MEETINGS AND FIELD TRIPS
MEETING LOCATION
Silver Spring United Methodist Church
8900 Georgia Ave.
Silver Spring, MD
Click for details
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ROY SEWELL TO SPEAK ON “HOW TO TAKE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY TO THE NEXT LEVEL” ON MARCH 7
On March 7, Roy Sewall will speak on “How to Take Your Photography to the Next Level”. Roy is a full-time photographer based in Bethesda, Maryland.
Roy has done extensive work for private and commercial clients, as well as Potomac River and C&O Canal-related government and non-profit organizations. He has exhibited in numerous D.C.-area group and one-person shows, as well as in his own studio. (read more)
COMPETITION COLUMN
The competition on March 14 will be the Open topic. The competition has been moved to the Chapel:
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.
Please be mindful that electronic submissions for projected images must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on March 7, Speaker Night, at the new email address: competition@ssccphotography.org ( read more here ).
>>> Be sure to follow file naming and file size requirements as outlined and solved for you in this article by David Terao:
CHANGING THE FILE SIZE AND FILE NAME FOR SSCC COMPETITIONS
(One important detail – In order to participate in the competition, you must have paid the club’s annual dues before the competition.)
To learn the nitty gritty about the competitions, and for the definition of each of the competition topics, please refer to the Member Handbook or the main SSCC website menu (under Competitions).
Here is the schedule for the rest of the season:
- March – Open
- April – Action/Motion Photography
- May – Monochrome Photography
- June 13 – End of Year Competition (special rules apply)
As always, if you have any questions about the competitions, please feel free to contact Larry Gold at competition@ssccphotography.org.
LYNN SILVERMAN TO JUDGE OPEN COMPETITION – MARCH 14
Lynn Silverman will judge our Open competition on March 14. The competition has been moved to the Chapel.
Lynn has participated in many solo and group exhibitions in Europe, Australia, and the United States. She has published four books. Lynn’s most recent exhibitions include Outlook-Insight: Windows in the Arts at the Museum Sinclair-Haus in Bad Homberg, Germany, and a solo show, Still Light, at Goya Contemporary in Baltimore.
Lynn currently teaches at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. (read more)
A CLOSER FOCUS – MARCH 21
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. 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.
For March we will focus on sequences of photos that you bring in and hear a presentation on Photoshop Layers. We will also have discussion topics, photo sharing, and at least one gear review:
- Bring in a sequence of photographs. The photos should “hang together” in some manner so that they represent a set of photos that you would notionally like to present as a portfolio or an exhibit of some sort. On the order of 5 – 10 photos should do it. You can bring them as prints or on a tablet. We will share and discuss how they work as a set, and how you have chosen to sequence them for best effect. See David Powell’s Let’s Get Started article from the January Cable Release for a discussion about this.
- David Blass will share with us some of the ways he uses Layers in Photoshop.
- Picture assignment: Bring anything you would like to discuss. These can be photos for feedback, discussion of your post-processing, your compositions, examples of new ideas you have, etc.
- Book/Gear Reviews: What book/gear/software have you experienced that you’d like to review?
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Future topics of A Closer Focus 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
MARCH 17 FIELD TRIP TO ANNMARIE SCULPTURE GARDEN & ARTS CENTER
On Sunday, March 17 SSCC will go to the Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center in in scenic Solomons, Maryland, where the Patuxent River meets the Chesapeake Bay. Intriguing art and a beautiful outdoor setting make this a great place to practice your shooting skills. (read more)
CLUB NEWS
CABLE RELEASE ASSISTANT EDITOR WANTED!
The Cable Release Editor, Dennis Freeman, would like to work with one of you as a Cable Release Assistant Editor. No webpage or editing experience needed! Comfort in working with word processing software (Microsoft Word) and other computer apps is useful. An interest in learning something about webpage development and in doing something creative and rewarding is essential!
As editors we start by building a main webpage for the newsletter (using the previous month’s as a template), and update it with the upcoming month’s information. We receive articles and regular columns from members, usually in Microsoft Word – but sometimes in an email, and we transfer these into web pages that we build using our web editing software, WordPress, a top-notch website development tool. We sometimes prompt folks for entries. We ask for write ups of winning photos for the competition galleries and field trips or other events.
We build photo galleries and also upload individual images for illustration in member articles. We organize the materials into logical areas within the Cable Release. We proofread it and test the links we’ve included, then pass it along to our webmaster, Mark Paster, to be put up on the club’s website. Finally, we send out an eBlast to everyone that it is ready.
I usually start the process right after the current month’s competition is done (when the projected images arrive and I ask for image write ups and digital files of winning prints). As these come in I just squirrel them away for the end of the month. I receive write ups for the speaker and judge, field trips, classes and workshops, exhibits and events, and other regular columns from their authors by the 24th of the month. I like to publish early on the weekend before our first meeting of the month, Speaker Night. So, I usually get started putting the monthly template together on the Sunday of the week before that. You can help with any of this to the degree desired.
Once you’re comfortable, there are lots of creative opportunities if you want – WordPress is used to build all kinds of webpages, and there are tons of ready-made plug-in apps to do almost anything you can think of!
If you are interested, please either see me at a meeting or email me at cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org
FEBRUARY 9 FIELD TRIP TO MONTPELIER MANSION IN LAUREL, MD
On February 9 SSCC went to Montpelier Mansion in Laurel, MD for a guided tour. This is a 1780 historic mansion with great Georgian architecture, plus 70 acres of gardens and grounds.
Sherm Edwards, Maude Svensson, and Renee Schaefer provided the following pictures from the trip:
FEBRUARY 21 A CLOSER FOCUS BREAKOUT SESSIONS
In the February A Closer Focus meeting we had multiple breakout sessions, each with their own table, laptop computer, and member expert/facilitator. Members brought images that they wanted to work on on thumb drives. We worked with Photoshop and Lightroom to see how these powerful post-processing tools could modify the images to achieve the results we wanted. It seemed to have been quite a success!
Andrew Rein documented the activities in the following gallery:
BOARD MEETING
The SSCC Board met on January 24. The following are the minutes: Jan 24 Board Meeting
FEATURES
MEETUP TO EMMITSBURG ANTIQUE MALL ON MARCH 10
The Photographers of the Washington/Baltimore Area are hosting a Meetup trip to the Emmitsburg Antique Mall in Emmitsburg, MD at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 10.
Emmitsburg Antique Mall is the 34,000 square foot home of over 120 booths filled with all kinds of antiques from furniture, figurines, pottery, toys, tools, books and much more. We have special permission to photograph all the unique merchandise from years ago.
This antique mall was chosen because it’s one of the largest in the area and generally has nice even lighting throughout the building. There will be no shortage of things to take pictures of!
For more information and to sign up for this: Photographers-of-the-Washington-Baltimore-Metro-Area/Emmitsburg Antique Mall
MARYLAND PHOTOGRAPHY ALLIANCE MARCH/APRIL MEMBER CLUB NEWS
See what other regional camera clubs are up to in news from the Maryland Photography Alliance: ( read more )
MARYLAND PHOTOGRAPHY ALLIANCE GALLERY SHOW
Following in the footsteps of the successful 2nd Annual Maryland Photography Alliance (MPA) Photo Competition, MPA’s newest gallery show is open to the public through April 8. The entire show of 62 images is located in the lounge area of the State of Maryland House of Delegates building. ( read more )
MARCH 10TH IS NORTH BETHESDA CAMERA CLUB’S PHOTO ESSAY SHOW
Joanne and Larry Mars
Are you interested in great photography? Beautiful music? Entertaining and educational stories? Travel to exotic places? Then you will enjoy North Bethesda Camera Club’s annual Photo Essay Show on March 10. ( read more )
ODYSSEY OF LIGHT SEMINAR
The 2nd Annual “Odyssey of Light” Seminar is coming to Baltimore on Saturday April 27, and tickets are now on sale!
Ken Sklute, a 45-year award winning professional, and Essdras Suarez, a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer, are the presenters.
The topics are Landscape/Night Photography and Street Photography.
Nations Photo Lab (NPL), Service Photo, PSA, and Road Runner Photography Tours are sponsors.
The public will pay $99, however, because the Silver Spring Camera Club is a member of the Maryland Photography Alliance, your price is only $79 by using the discount code SSCC during checkout.
In addition to great presentations, you will receive a $50 NPL Gift Card and Free Lunch. For more information and to register go to: MDPhotoAlliance.org/odyssey.
There is limited seating, so register today!
MEMBER ARTICLES
TALKING PICTURES – A BOOK REVIEW BY DENNIS FREEMAN
Ransom Riggs has had an odd hobby for a long time – collecting old snapshots from garage sales, antique shops and flea markets. Eventually, he had thousands in his collection. He selected the best ones with original captions and assembled them into Talking Pictures. Some are funny enough to make you laugh and others are tragically sad. They are haunting glimpses into anonymous and increasingly forgotten past lives… ( read more )
KERNELS OF KOREN
I have a new toy. Before I tell you about the toy let me tell you the background of why I got it and how this new toy makes my photographic life better.
I am a firm believer in keywording pictures, so I use Lightroom as the database that catalogs my pictures. Keywords allow a search of a database, or catalog of pictures in this case, to be more efficient by filtering on those specific keyword(s) … ( read more )
LET’S GET STARTED – BY DAVID W. POWELL
In the beginning there is the memory card. We all have that in common. From here the stream diverges and the flow we follow is important and can make a difference, especially years later. Come climb in my canoe with me and I’ll show you the flow I follow. I will try to explain the whys and the wherefores. It has held me in good stead…. ( read more )
LYNDA.COM – BY LISA AUERBACH
Some new members have indicated they would like to improve their photo processing skills. I highly suggest that members old and new refer to the Cable Release from time to learn new tips for photography.
I would like to share that Montgomery County citizens have free access to Lynda.com, a strong resource for learning Photoshop. When I first looked for it, I needed help in locating the tutorials. It is quite simple now that I have figured it out. If you do not have an account, create one before you begin. It is also free and easy to do.
- Login to Montgomery County Libraries
- Choose the bold heading, Research
- Choose All Electronic Resources
- Choose the letter, L, in the list of the alphabet
- Scroll down to Lynda.com
I began at the beginning and was reminded of things I once used but have forgotten. I learned new topics and realized that while I’ll have to go back again for help to use some of these tools with specific images, it is nice to know they are there. Each time I use them, I learn them a bit more.
COMPETITION WINNERS
RED PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION – FEBRUARY 14
The topic for the February competition was Red Photography. Jerry Taylor was our judge that evening.
There are 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 – the number of awards depends on the total number of entries in the category.
ADVANCED PRINTS
- 1st Place: Sherm Edwards – North Pierhead Light
- 2nd Place: Karen Carkhuff – Work in Progress
- 3rd Place: David Terao – Red Flange
- Honorable Mention: David Blass – Ancient Wall, Athens
- Honorable Mention: Sherm Edwards – Suspended in Red
Advanced Print ~ Sherm Edwards ~ North Pierhead Light
NOVICE PRINTS
- 1st Place: Lisa Auerbach – Red Rage
Novice Print ~ Lisa Auerbach ~ Red Rage
For me, red has always seemed to be the color for a super automobile. I remember when my friend’s father surprised her family with a red Mustang the first year they were produced. We felt so cool riding around town in that car. So when I attended an antique car show and saw this wonderful hot rod, I knew I wanted to capture the image.
ADVANCED PROJECTED
- 1st Place: David Terao – Rose, Lips and Nails
- 2nd Place: Sherm Edwards – Black Tea
- 3rd Place: Wendy Kates – Leafy
- Honorable Mention: Larry Gold – Capitol Steps Snow Shoveler
- Honorable Mention: Bob Catlett – Water Wheel
- Honorable Mention: Michael Tran – Red Canoe
Advanced Projected ~ David Terao ~ Rose, Lips and Nails
I took this image at Don Becker's Lighting Techniques for Portraiture workshop. The original image included the model's entire face, but I cropped out the upper part to emphasize the red lips, nails and the rose. I de-saturated everything not red. Taken with a Canon 5D Mk III camera and 85mm f/1.4 lens using electronic strobes.
NOVICE PROJECTED
- 1st Place: Renee Schaefer – Gypsy Woman
- 2nd Place: Karen Finkelman – Daisy May
- 3rd Place: Karen Finkelman – Handsome Turkey
- Honorable Mention: James Ragucci – Red Train
- Honorable Mention: Lisa Auerbach – Red Sphere
Novice Projected ~ Renee Schaefer ~ Gypsy Woman
CLASSES, CALLS FOR ENTRY, AND EXHIBITS
CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
The Classes/Workshops list includes sample photography courses and workshops from a variety of providers in three categories:
- Classes and workshops in the D.C. area
- Online courses
- Multi-day photography trips to places within and beyond the United States.
This month’s course list includes several courses on action/motion photography, which is April’s competition theme, and black and white photography, which is May’s competition theme. Also, the list includes a one-day workshop on street photography, offered through Washington Photo Safari, that is taught by Essdras M. Suarez, a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer who spoke to our club last year and will be speaking to us again this year. (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
Jessie Tarbox Beals Self Portrait / 1904: National Portrait Gallery
The following column 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!
There are several online photo “exhibit” links provided at the bottom of the column for the armchair adventurer.
See the full column here: ( read more )
ICONIC IMAGE OF THE MONTH
Alfred Eisenstaedt – V-J Day, Times Square, New York City, 1945
George Mendonsa, the sailor, died on Feb 18.
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
