There is a great enhancement to the SSCC website! Now, all past issues of the Cable Release from 1961 to present are available as PDF files for viewing and download. Just go to the “NEWSLETTERS” menu header at the top of any web page. From there select the year then month of the issue. http://www.ssccphotography.org/cable-release-archive-2016-and-before/ This is a fascinating peek into the rich history of the club.
The archive is possible because of the dedication of Norm Bernache, our club Historian and longtime member. Norm has served many different roles over the years, from President to most other positions on the board. He collected virtually every CR issue and meticulously scanned each page of each issue then copied it all to a CD for Mark Paster to upload to the website. Thank you to Norm and Mark for working together to get this done. The results add a dimension to the website that links our past with the great things we are doing today and in the future.
The October 1969 issue of the Cable Release mentions renowned Baltimore Sun photographer A. Aubrey Bodine serving as PSA exhibition judge. The articles author wrote, “Mr. Bodine is a photographer of well-established reputation, and his influence in the selection process should result in the display of photographs of solid merit whose appeal rests on tried photographic principles rather than unusual tricks or gimmicks.” Ironically Mr. Bodine was not without his darkroom tricks and gimmicks. He added clouds to a landscape or seascape from files of sky negatives he kept for that sole purpose. Or, he would add specks, possibly with sand, during the printing process to simulate rain and/or snow. The real trick is not the process of enhancing an image but in pulling it off so that it looks natural. Today we face the same challenges in our photography with the powerful tools of Photoshop. Used the right way we can enhance an image with Photoshop to make an image look better in a natural manner, rather than ratchet sliders to extreme levels that make an image look gimmicky.
This one snippet of the clubs past proves the point that history repeats itself. In 1969 the criticism of tricks and gimmicks was darkroom based, in 2017 its software based. The criticism is the same, just the method of enhancement has changed.
Another example of history repeating is the fact we have many of the same types of people that volunteer their time and energy for the betterment of the club. The SSCC member experience remains very unchanged over the years due to the helping hands of members within the club. We still have a monthly Cable Release, competitions with qualified judges, interesting programs, membership outreach, PSA membership, workshops and seminars lead by knowledgeable members, fieldtrips and many many behind the scenes folks working for the club. All are members, all are volunteers, all with the purpose of helping others. Sometimes it’s even passed down in the family. In the same issue as the PSA exhibition announcement, October 1969, David Blass’s father, Bernard Blass is welcomed to the club as a new member. The elder Mr. Blass wasted no time volunteering his service to the club! He immediately volunteered to run a workshop demonstrating the advantages of Kodacolor X color negative film. Today David serves as a Director and formerly as VP.
The continuity and positive experience of membership in the club rests in your hands. Any effort of volunteering time towards the club, no matter how little is appreciated and helps all other members. There will be no better time than March’s upcoming monthly meeting of the Board of Directors to assess what you can do for the club next year. This meeting is very important because we face Constitutional deadlines in April and May to choose and select the officers that will serve on the board next season. The process of selecting officers is mandated by the clubs Constitution but other positions on the board will need to be filled too. The officers are yearly terms of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Directors (if there is an opening or if a two year term is expiring). All other non-officer positions, for example, CR editor, membership, etc. are willing volunteers selected by the President and confirmed by the Board at a meeting after July. I am in no way suggesting all officer or non-officer positions will need to be filled! Certainly an incumbent that wishes to continue in a position will continue. But, anyone can volunteer to help that person with their responsibilities. For example, it’s not uncommon to have several people help the Competition Chair. And, it would be helpful to have others help officers with their duties, there are no limits to the help that can be provided.
So again, I can’t express enough the importance of this meeting on the 4th Thursday in March. Rather than a Board meeting it’s really an All Hands Meeting for all members. Everyone should make every effort to attend to see what you can do for the club. All members depend on each other to make SSCC membership as rich and rewarding as it has been since our founding in 1950.