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 [at] 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.
- May 6 – Speaker Night (7:30 p.m.)
- May 13 – Competition – Monochrome (7:30 p.m.)
- May 20 – A Closer Focus (7:30 p.m.)
- May 23 – Field Trip – Sassafras Natural Resource Management Area, Kennedyville MD (meet there at 10:00 a.m.)
- May 27 – Board Meeting (7:30 p.m.)
- June 10 – End of Year Competition Results (7:30 p.m.)
- Sept 2 – Speaker Night (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 [at] 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
© 2021 Silver Spring Camera Club and its contributors. Copyright Notice & Disclaimer Policy
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MEETINGS AND FIELD TRIPS
MEETING LOCATION
All meetings will be online by Zoom teleconference until further notice.
SPEAKER NIGHT WITH CHARLES BOWERS – MAY 6 – DIGITAL PAINTING, TEXTURING, AND COLLAGING
Our program speaker for May is Charles Bowers, a former Silver Spring Camera Club member who was with the club for over 40 years before recently retiring. As a professional landscape architect specializing in residential gardens, Charles’ interest in photography and alternative image processes grew from a desire to create art beyond designing and building extraordinary gardens. Charles’ interest in design and natural colors, patterns, shapes and textures has always influenced his art and photography. His gravitation towards alternative processes is primarily influenced by asking himself, “where else can I take this image?” His photography and art work are a melding of both passions.
COMPETITION COLUMN
Our May topic is Monochrome:
The term “Monochrome Photography” encompasses images that use only a single color, including the full array of shades of that color. So, for example, black and white photos, with black as the single color and its multiple shades of gray, are monochrome. Other single colors and their shades are equally acceptable. Under this definition, a sepia tone photo is acceptable, but a sepia tone photo containing a red umbrella would not qualify as a monochrome. Any subject matter is acceptable. In addition, a photo is acceptable if was originally taken as a color image, as long as the image presented for the competition has been rendered into monochrome.
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 [at] ssccphotography.org by midnight on Thursday, May 6.
(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.)
>> Please read the following request for submitting your images – Make Competition Night Easier
MARY LOUISE RAVESE – JUDGE – MAY 13 MONOCHROME COMPETITION
Mary Louise is founder and owner of Bella Vista Photography in Raleigh, North Carolina. For over 25 years, Mary Louise has specialized in photography from locations across the U.S. and throughout the world. Her favorite subjects include country landscapes, nature close-ups, architectural details, and abstracts. She draws inspiration from a variety of visual arts to produce photographs often described as “painterly.” Her photographs are about intriguing juxtapositions of vibrant colors, contrasting tones, distinctive shapes, and unique textures. Her ambition is to incorporate the beauty of painting in the clarity of photography. (Read more)
YEAR-END COMPETITION
by Larry Gold
Here is what you need to know about the upcoming Year-End Competition. Remember, this competition is not about selecting the best entries for a single month, but rather selecting the best entries from the monthly competitions for the entire club year (September 2020 through May 2021). Due to the Covid pandemic, for the second year, we have had to change our usual protocols and procedures for the competition so, particularly for those of you who have participated in prior competitions, please pay close attention to the modifications for this year.
In a nutshell, the competition will be conducted, as follows:
A) The Year-End competition for Beginner, Novice and Advanced Projected images will proceed as usual in early June — each club member may identify up to 5 images that s/he previously entered in a Projected competition during the season. See below for detailed procedures and requirements.
B) Since there were no Print competitions this club season, there is no Year End competition for Print images.
C) Judging for the Len Tuchin Best-in-Show award for the Year-End competition will be conducted for Beginner, Novice and Advanced Projected images only.
Requirements for the Beginner, Novice and Advanced Projected Competition:
- Each member may identify up to 5 projected images from
those that s/he entered in monthly club competitions this 2020-2021 season. - Eligible submissions need not have won an award in the monthly competition(s) in which they were submitted.
- If a member has moved from the Novice to Advanced Projected category during the season, s/he may submit images for the Year-End competition in either the Novice or Projected categories, but not both – And, if you choose to enter the Novice Year-End competition, you may only submit those images you entered in the Novice category during the season; if, on the other hand, you choose to enter the Advanced category in the Year-End competition, you may enter both the Novice and Advanced images you entered in both categories during the season.
- Please email your list of up to 5 projected entries to competition@ssccphotography.org. To identify them, please furnish in the body of the email your name, the title of each image and the month of the competition for which the image was submitted. Please do not resend any Projected electronic files; the electronic files that you previously submitted will be used.
- The list of Projected entries must be submitted by midnight May 15th.
- As in other competitions, the judge will select first, second, and third place winners, and as many honorable mentions as the number of entries requires. The winners will be announced at the end-of-year celebration. The judging is “closed”; it is not held at a regular club meeting, nor are ribbons or points awarded.
- If you have any questions, feel free to contact Larry Gold, the Competition Chair, at competition@ssccphotography.org.
DOUG JOHNSON – JUDGE – END OF YEAR COMPETITION
Doug Johnson is a highly respected professional photographer and educator, always sharing the art of photography with his students and colleagues. He has conducted over 150 workshops in some of our world’s most beautiful locations: in the flower fields of Namaqualand, South Africa, the vibrant city of Havana, Cuba, and our country’s world class national parks.
For more than twenty years Doug has educated hundreds of students, from all over the world in the technical and aesthetics of photography through Rocky Mountain School of Photography programs.
He has taught alongside some of the most respected educators in the field including Alison Shaw and Freeman Patterson, as well as good friends, Neil Chaput de Saintonge, Eileen Rafferty, Elizabeth Stone, Tony Rizutto and Tim Cooper. He believes education and truth are the “means to the end” and that good old-fashioned love and fun are the vehicle we use to navigate through our journey.
Doug’s lifelong passion for teaching the technical and aesthetics in the art of photography is a direct reflection of the long term relationships he shares with his students and peers.
A CLOSER FOCUS – MAY 18
– by David W. Powell
An opportunity to share ideas, images, questions, and inspirations. The 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. Topics for April will include:
- Personal takeaways from the Speaker Night (Charles Bowers – Digital Painting, Texturing & Collaging).
- Other topic(s) TBD.
The breakout session planned at press time is Dave Powell on when he uses autofocus versus manual focus. Other session(s) may be added.
And a half hour is set aside for member image sharing. The theme for the May meeting is “Pictures that tell a story.” You can also share anything else you want (e.g., images after May’s “Monochrome” theme), or for which you would like to have post-camera processing (predominantly Lightroom) suggestions.
APRIL FIELD TRIP: Spring in the Mountains — Washington Monument Park, Boonsboro MD
Name of Trip: Birds of Spring & the Chesapeake Bay—Sassafras Natural Resource Management Area, Kennedyville MD. (Wildlife Sanctuary on the Eastern Shore)
Date & Time: Sunday May 23rd. Be there about 10.00 a.m. It is a 90-mile, two-hour trip. BONUS: Due to distance, the Trip Leader is going out the night before. Contact him at philboyer60@gmail.com for more information, or if you wish to join him.
Location: Sassafras Natural Resource Management Area, 13761 Turners Creek Road Kennedyville MD 21645. This is on the Eastern Shore Meet at Knock’s Folly Visitor Center (it’s a big place), and bring leader’s phone number—301-204-5549
https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/eastern/sassafras.aspx
The Club is not arranging carpools due to COVID. Masks are required; participants will be required to sign Waiver.
Overview: Sassafras Natural Resources Management Area is located along the scenic banks of the Sassafras River and Turner’s Creek in Kent County. The area is noted for spectacular views of the Sassafras River and Chesapeake Bay from the high banks that face toward the South. Birding photography includes mix of songbirds, waterfowl and raptors.
Bring: Tripod, Telephoto Lens, picnic blanket, extra shoes and socks (it may be wet). mask & warm clothing!
Leader: Phil Boyer –301-204-5549, philboyer60@gmail.com
Ideas on food: Bring a picnic lunch.
MapQuest: After you cross the Bridge:
- Merge onto US-301 N via the exit on the left toward Wilmington.
- Then 22.70 miles
- Take the exit toward Crumpton/Pondtown.
- Then 0.20 miles
- Turn right onto Dudley Corners Rd/MD-290. Continue to follow MD-290.
- Then 4.73 miles
- Turn left onto River Rd/MD-291.
- Then 0.99 miles
- Take the 1st right onto Cherry Ln/MD-298.
- Then 1.19 miles
- Turn left onto Morgnec Rd/MD-298.
- Then 0.36 miles
- Take the 1st right onto Browntown Rd/MD-298. Continue to follow MD-298.
- If you reach Kennedyville Rd you’ve gone about 1.3 miles too far
- Then 4.92 miles
- Turn right onto Turners Creek Rd.
- If you are on Lambs Meadow Rd and reach Bloomfield Rd you’ve gone about 1.2 miles too far
- Then 2.32 miles
- Sassafras Environmental Center, 13761 TURNERS CREEK RD, is on the right.
Official Directions on the Website:
From the North: Travel south on Rt. 301. Turn right on Rt. 313 toward Galena. In Galena, turn left on Rt. 213 and travel for approximately 2 miles and turn right on Rt. 298. Travel approximately one mile and turn on Turner’s Creek Road. Go approximately one mile to Sassafras, Knock’s Folly and Turner’s Creek County Park.
From the South: Travel north from Chestertown on Rt. 213. When you reach Kennedyville, turn left on Kennedyville Road. Cross Rt. 298 and go approximately one mile to Sassafras, Knock’s Folly and Turner’s Creek County Park.
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Here is the schedule for the rest of 2021’s COVID-safe Field Trips!
- June (date TBD): Antietam Battlefield and Cemetery.
For SSCC’s rules for safe field tripping during the pandemic click here.
CLUB NEWS
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON MAY 6
We will vote to fill the open Executive Council positions at our Speaker Night meeting on May 6. Each of these positions is vital to the functioning of the Club and provides the opportunity to guide the club in the activities we enjoy. These key positions are as follows:
- President: leads club meeting and guides club activities through the chair leaders.
- Vice President: leads meetings in the absence of the President and takes on other duties as the President directs.
- Secretary: takes notes at monthly board meetings and publishes the minutes.
- Treasurer: maintains the financial records of the club, chairs the Finance Committee, and maintains the roster of members.
- Directors (3): advise on club activities, coordinate committees, and approve expenditures.
Going into May’s publication of the Cable Release we have the following slate of candidates interested in filling three of the four open Executive Council positions plus three Directors:
- President – Catherine Honigsberg
- Vice President – Dennis Freeman
- Secretary – Open
- Treasurer – Bruce Schaefer
- Directors – Bob Catlett, Michael Koren, Pete Morton
We do not yet have a candidate for Secretary. According to the Constitution and By-Laws, “[the] Secretary shall record minutes of Board meetings and process Club correspondence as required by the President and/or Vice President.” The person filling this role will have training/help from the President and other board members. If you are interested in filling any role, or especially the role as Secretary, please contact any member of the board before the election to be added to the slate for the May 6 election. Face-to-face, phone, or email [president@ssccphotography.org ] are all good. A set of SSCC email addresses for the various officers and committee chairs can be found in the following link: SSCC Officers and Chairs.
SSCC BOARD MEETINGS
The SSCC Board met on March 25 and was to meet on April 29. Minutes of the March meeting may be found here.
Minutes of the April meeting will appear in the September Cable Release. The next scheduled meeting is May 27, to be conducted on Zoom. Any members are free to attend.
SSCC MEMBERS’ IMAGES ACCEPTED INTO THE JOSEPH MILLER ABSTRACT EXHIBIT
by David Blass
The Joseph Miller Abstract Photography Exhibit is well known as the premier abstract photography exhibit in the DC Metro area, and has been gaining a national and international reputation as well. This year is its 11th anniversary, and several SSCC members had their work juried into the exhibit. Candidates were allowed to submit up to 6 images; out of 411 submissions, approximately 120 were accepted.
Due to COVID-19-imposed restrictions, the exhibit will be virtual this year, available online on May 1. Go to https://nvacc.org/home/abstract-exhibit/
Here are the SSCC photos that were accepted, with comments by the photographer. Note that there may be others who were juried in but not included here; those presented are the ones who responded to the email requesting photos and a writeup.
COMPETITION RESULTS
OPEN COMPETITION — MARCH 11, 2021
March’s competition was for projected images only. Roy Sewell was our judge. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the competition was held remotely over Zoom.
There were three categories: Beginner Projected, Novice Projected, and Advanced 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. In the Beginner category, only Honorable Mentions are awarded.
BEGINNER PROJECTED
- HM: Cathy Faughnan ~ decaybuild2
- HM: Diana Martin ~ Ladle
NOVICE PROJECTED
- 1st: Maude Svensson ~ Vildand Shipwreck
- 2nd: Diane Sanders ~ Clematis Seeds
- 3rd: Kim Keller ~ Nature Reclaims Stone
- HM: Scott Casavant ~ Forgotten Radiator
- HM: Charlie Farmer ~ Decay-Final-1
- HM: Catherine Honigsberg ~ Flotsam
Maude Svensson ~ Vildand Shipwreck
As the sun set, about 2PM in the winter, I visited the shipwreck of "Vildand" - Wild Duck - an old wooden whale trawler which sank some years ago while anchored at Almvik Dock, Blidö, in Sweden. I had many nice memories of Vildand, as she spent her last few years as a small intimate restaurant on the island where we have our summer house. Not much could beat enjoying a beer or a glass of wine on the portside while watching the sun slowly set in the summer. She was a beautiful old lady in all seasons, and I had wanted to photograph her in her winter dress for some time. I was lucky, a few weeks after the shot, she had been cut into pieces and left this world forever.
ADVANCED PROJECTED
- 1st: Doug Finstad ~ Model A
- 2nd: Larry Gold ~ Decayed Lotus Bloom
- 3rd: Frank Gallagher ~ Abandoned
- HM: Wendy Kates ~ Milkweed in Autumn
- HM: Beth Koller ~ Love Thy Neighbor
Doug Finstad ~ Model A
I captured this image this image a few years ago in the Elkhorn Mountains of Montana. The old truck is at the Golden Age Mine and is a relic of the once bustling mill there. It is about ten miles on a snowmobile to reach this location and it was hovering at 0 degrees with overcast skies. Nikon D700 24-70 2.8 at 24mm. 1/250 at f8 and ISO 540.
FEATURES
2021 PSA Annual Conference in Rapid City, SD
by Dennis Freeman
The 2021 Photographic Society of America Photo Festival (Annual Conference) will take place in Rapid City, South Dakota between October 6 – 9, 2021, with tours that include the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, an 1880 Train ride, Spearfish Canyon Waterfalls, and Reptile Gardens! Tours and galleries begin October 4.
The conference includes three featured evening speakers (Art Wolfe, Bob Krist, and Lisa Langell), seven daytime speakers, six different tours offered over 21 day/time opportunities, many talks and workshops, exhibition galleries, and a conference vendor area with conference prices. The tours are a big part of the conference and the highlight is the Badlands – both sunrise and sunset tours are offered. Past conferences have had early morning and evening informal photography walking tours from the conference hotel. You can literally have things to do all day every day if you have the energy!
I created an Excel spreadsheet of the schedule to help you pick which meetings and tours you’d like to do here.
Registration is ongoing. Join PSA and save $60 before May 31. Early bird pricing for non-members also extends until May 31. Registration closes on September 10. Any pandemic-related concerns will allow you to cancel at any time for a full refund. The best tours sell out fast. Also, if you want to get special conference hotel convenience and pricing, sign up for that early, as well. (read more)
MARYLAND PHOTOGRAPHY ALLIANCE (MPA)
MPA’s “EXCUSIVE” 5th ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
by Lisa Auerbach
If you are new to SSCC, then you might have heard us speak of MPA, Maryland Photography Alliance. This excellent group consists of photo clubs in our area. It is yet another way to learn about photography and find new experiences to help you grow. The 5th annual MPA contest deadline will be on October 3. An announcement from MPA is below. Do You Know the Categories for MPA’s 5th Annual Contest? The date for submitting is still months away and that gives you plenty of time to go through your library of images and to photograph new ones. There will be plenty of competition this year from photographers in the Maryland Photography Alliance’s (MPA) 26 clubs! Plan ahead and submit your best images!
Do you know the categories? The contest is FREE to enter and you will be able to submit two (2) images in one or two of the following categories:
- People in Action
- Maryland Highways and Byways
- Animal Life
- Elegant Imperfection
For a definition of the categories, or to learn more about the contest, please go to https://www.mdphotoalliance.org/2021-photo-contest.
Questions should be sent to mpa@mdphotoalliance.org
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 [at] 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.
The online course providers typically listed in The Cable Release are obviously still operating—
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)
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
