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
- 1 KEY EVENTS
- 2 MEETINGS AND FIELD TRIPS
- 3 CLUB NEWS
- 4 FEATURES
- 5 ‘Pictures On The Radio’: David Gilkey Created Visual Driveway Moments
- 6 CONFERENCES AND EXPOS
- 7 MEMBER ARTICLES
- 8 CALL FOR ENTRIES: ELEVENTH ANNIVERSARY JOSEPH MILLER ABSTRACT PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT
- 9 COMPETITION RESULTS
- 10 COURSES, CALLS FOR ENTRY, AND EXHIBITS
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.
- Feb 4 – Speaker Night (7:30 p.m.)
- Feb 11 – Competition – Abstracts (7:30 p.m.)
- Feb 18 – Closer Focus (7:30 p.m.)
- Mar 6 – Field Trip – Gambrill State Park (10:00 a.m. meetup)
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 MARCH CABLE RELEASE:
E.G. ARTICLES, AWARDS, EXHIBITIONS, LINKS, REVIEWS, …
DEADLINE: BY FEBRUARY 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 Janet Little Jeffers – Abstract Photography
Please join us as we welcome back Janet Little Jeffers. Last year, Janet judged our “reflection” competition; now we are excited to have her share her passion for abstract photography. Janet states, “Abstraction in its simplest sense means taking subjects out of their context by removing what gives them context . . . But, it’s not as simple as it may seem: a compelling abstract engages the viewer because it is not about the object itself, but about graphic qualities like line, texture, color, shape, pattern, and rhythm, and about the more intangible qualities like mood, harmony, and mystery.
COMPETITION COLUMN
Our February topic is Abstract:
The term “Abstract Photography” encompasses images that do not have an immediate association with the object world, and that have been created using photographic equipment, processes or materials. An abstract photograph may isolate a fragment of a natural scene in order to remove its inherent context from the viewer; it may be purposely staged to create a seemingly unreal appearance from real objects; or, it may involve the use of color, light, shadow, texture, shape and/or form to convey a feeling, sensation or impression. By avoiding and going beyond the usual representations of an object, scene, or any particular element, an abstract image reveals details that are often ignored and triggers the viewer’s imagination.
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, February 4. (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:
- 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.
CYNTHIA L. KEITH – JUDGE – FEBRUARY ABSTRACT COMPETITION
Cynthia L. Keith is a native Washingtonian. Her love of photography started in a journalism class at Walt Whitman High School and over the years has led her to scenic locations from Alaska to Maine in search of landscape images. Her specialty is garden landscape photography, a marriage of her vision for the grand landscape and intimate flower portraits. Read more.
A CLOSER FOCUS – February 21, 2021
– by David W. Powell
An opportunity to share ideas, images, questions, and inspirations. The February 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 February will include:
- Personal takeaways from the Speaker Night (Abstract Photography)
- What do we as photographers bring to the March competition topic “Decay.”
- Generally, what makes a good competition topic?
A half hour is devoted to presentations by members in breakout sessions. February’s presentations (if we can make the technology work) include:
- New capabilities in Photoshop 2021 (continued) — Pete Morton
- Tripods and general photo gear — David Blass
- Basic file management — Dave Powell
And a half hour is set aside for member image sharing. The topic for February is “Open,” so anything you want. Send your images to Dave Powell before the meeting (davidwesleypowell@gmail.com). There will also be a portfolio review by Catherine Honigsberg.
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
FEBRUARY FIELD TRIP: Nature in Winter – Gambrill State Park – Frederick MD
Date & Time: Saturday March 6; be there about 10.00 AM. We will meet at the High Knob Parking Lot. The park is separated into two areas, Rock Run and High Knob. High Knob is the one higher up with no campground.
Location: Gambrill State Park, 8602 Gambrill Park Road, Frederick MD 21702
No Carpool due to COVID
Directions to site: Use GPS, OR Per Google,
- 495 W to I-270 N to US-40 ALT E/Old National Pike {exit 49 from I-70 W} for 0.7 mi
- Turn left onto Blentlinger Rd for 0.2 mi
- Turn left onto US-40 W/Baltimore National Pike/W Patrick St for 2.4 mi
- Turn right onto 5 Forks Rd/Gambrill Park Rd for 0.6 mi
COVID: Masks required; participants will be required to sign Waiver
Overview: Gambrill State Park is a beautiful mountain park, located on the ridge of the Catoctin Mountains in Frederick County. It includes 16 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding. From the 1600-foot High Knob, three stone overlooks offer breathtaking views of the Frederick and Middletown Valleys.
Bring: Tripod, Telephoto Lens, picnic blanket, mask & warm clothing!
Leader: Phil Boyer –301-204-5549, philboyer60@gmail.com
Ideas on food: Bring picnic lunch.
Here is the schedule for the rest of 2021’s COVID-safe Field Trips — all outdoors, until we get our vaccines!
- 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
SSCC MEMBER’S PHOTO IN GLEN ECHO EXHIBIT
Kim Keller writes, “I was surprised and really pleased to have one of my photos accepted for the Glen Echo Photoworks Hindsight is 2020 show (https://glenechophotoworks.org/index.php/2020/12/15/hindsight-is-2020-street-photography-in-a-tumultuous-year/). It’s focused on street photography in this very bizarre year. I heard about the show through Exposed DC, which sends a weekly update.” Congratulations Kim!
BOARD MEETINGS
The SSCC Board met on December 30 and on January 28. Minutes of the December meeting may be found here. Minutes of the January meeting will appear in the March Cable Release. The next scheduled meeting is February 25.
FEATURES
‘Pictures On The Radio’: David Gilkey Created Visual Driveway Moments
submitted by James Ragucci
from NPR.org: NPR’s Rachel Martin talks to ex-Morning Edition host David Greene and NPR’s Julie McCarthy about NPR photographer David Gilkey’s work which is in a new book. He was killed in Afghanistan in 2016.
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/
COMPETITION RESULTS
OPEN COMPETITION — JANUARY 14, 2021
January’’s competition was was for projected images only. Sharon Prislipsky 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 ~ Peek A Boo
- 2nd: Doug Finstad ~ Shooting Star
- 3rd: Wendy Kates ~ Forks in Reflection
- HM: Kate Woodward ~ Solitary Moment
- HM: Sherm Edwards ~ I Saw Three Ships
Beth Koller ~ Peek-A-Boo
The red-eyed tree frog is native to the humid tropical forests of southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. (There is an Australian version belonging to a different genus.) The adults tend to live in the tree canopy, but can be found anywhere around trees. They do like be around bromeliads (pineapple-family plants). They are carnivorous and feed on insects--so there is the need for good vision as well as quickness! Because of that speed and their nocturnal lifestyle, a flash is a must if you want an ISO of 100 or 200. I used a prime macro lens and the Nikon version of a ring-flash in which there are two lights that can be rotated around the ring and powered to different levels. The ring can be taken off the camera as well. Taking the ring off the camera and carefully positioning the two lights can help reduce harsh background shadows and open up undersides of the animal. One does need a willing partner to assist, but that makes it fun.
NOVICE PROJECTED
- 1st: Kim Keller ~ Fall
- 2nd: Andrew Rein ~ Sadie at Rest
- 3rd: Renee Schaefer ~ Isolation
- HM: Renee Schaefer ~ Stonehouse
- HM: Catherine Honigsberg ~ Marine Reflection
- HM: Jenifer Anglin ~ Bathroom Beauties
Kim Keller ~ Fall
I found these goldfinches eating seeds at Brookside Garden in September. I took several shots and was happy to get this one of the two birds. If I was doing it again, I'd have used a smaller aperture, because at f. 6.3, I was lucky to get them both in focus. I was on full zoom (400mm), trying to keep the shutter relatively fast (1/800) and the ISO low to reduce noise. I could have sacrificed the ISO for greater depth of field. I did use Photoshop to take out some random bits of fluff from the plants, which makes this version of the photo feel more polished than the original. I like shooting big birds like herons and hawks, but love it when I can get a sharp shot of small, fast songbirds.
BEGINNER PROJECTED
- HM: Diana Martin ~ Notice Me 2
- HM: Diana Martin ~ Winter Bud
Diana Martin ~ Notice Me 2
The composition depicts how people can sometimes feel like they don't make a difference in the world or like nobody realizes that they exist. It was taken with a Sony Cyber-shot, 25 mm wide-angle lens. I brightened the white begonia to highlight its presence. I found it interesting that amongst all the other begonias, there was only one white one.
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—
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
