Silver Spring Camera Club

Winner of the 2008, 2011, and 2012 PSA Henricks Award for best newsletter!

Key Events

December   1 – Speaker night (7:30 p.m.)
December   3 – Help Portraits (9:00 a.m.)
December   8 – Competition night: Street Photography (7:30 p.m.)
December 11 – Field trip  to Torpedo Factory Arts Center
December 15 – Seminar night (7:30 p.m.)
December 22 – Board meeting (7:30 p.m.)

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http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/

“Dodging and burning are steps to take care of mistakes God made in establishing tonal relationships.” – Ansel Adams

 

KERNELS OF KOREN

  “The expert at anything was once a beginner” – A Fortune Cookiefortune-cookie

Keep this ancient fortune cookie wisdom in mind as you look at images that astound you.  

This month, Michael applies this concept to our photography and club involvement.  (read more)

 

 

LYNFORD MORTON IS OUR SPEAKER IN DECEMBER

Lynford Morton

Lynford Morton will spend our first December meeting with us, and share his unique photographic experiences.  He runs a photography coaching business, is the founder of Shutterbug Life, a weekly photography lifestyle podcast and blog, and more.  (read more)

 

COMPETITION COLUMN

The topic for this month’s competition on December 8th is Street Photography:

The term “Street Photography” contemplates images that show un-posed, unmediated, chance encounters and random incidents within public places. Street photography does not require the presence of a street or even an urban environment. Though people usually feature directly, street photography might be void of people and can be of an object or environment where the image projects a decidedly human character in facsimile or aesthetic.

Please be mindful that electronic submissions for projected images must be received no later than 11:59 pm, December 1.  The images should be emailed to SSCCphotography@yahoo.com. (One important detail – Only members who have paid their annual dues may participate in the competition.)

As a refresher, here is the list of competition topics for the remainder of the year (definitions are located here – read more):

  • December – Street Photography
  • January – Open
  • February – Macro (not floral) Photography
  • March – Open
  • April – Event Photography
  • May – Monochrome Photography
  • June – 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.

 

 JON GOELL WILL BE OUR DECEMBER JUDGE

jon-goell-jpg

 

Jon Goell is returning after a several year absence to be our December judge.  Jon has been a publications photographer since his college days, shooting for magazines, corporations, ad agencies, architects, and the education community, and has contributed to multiple television documentaries.  (read more)

 

SEMINAR NIGHT (DECEMBER 15)

Portraits will be the theme on Seminar Night.  This is the time of year portraits of family and friends are given and received as gifts.  There are specialized techniques a photographer uses to capture a good portrait including lighting and subject rapport that brings out a sense of personality in the final image.  The assignment is to bring a few images of recently shot portraits of people.  We’ll discuss lighting, conditions of the shot and effectiveness of the image. We’ll also have a small studio lighting set up to illustrate concepts that arise during the discussion.  Bring your camera if you want to try out some test shots.

We will have the usual book reports, gallery reviews, equipment and software discussions, or any photo related topic on your mind. Anyone who wishes to give a 5 to 10-minute presentation should get in touch with Dave.  Dave@davidwpowell.com

 

DECEMBER FIELD TRIP

Torpedo Factory Arts Center, Andrew Rein
Torpedo Factory Arts Center, Andrew Rein

This month we will go to the Torpedo Factory Arts Center in Alexandria on December 11, a venue that quite literally has beat swords# into plowshares* !   (read more).

 

 

 

 

# Swords = Naval torpedo factory.

* Plowshares = the cutting edge of a plow, here metaphorically used to perhaps suggest “cutting edge” art – sorry.

 

♦ CLUB NEWS ♦

GIVING BACK

As we celebrate the holiday season with family, friends or significant others, this is the time to reflect on things that you’re thankful for, and appreciate the good things in life.  At the same time, we also look outward to others in order to share some of our surplus.  In fact, the commercial nature of the holiday drives our thoughts to gift giving and spending as much surplus as possible.

A few years ago the Board of SSCC initiated the idea of a Commemorative Fund.  Finally, last year solid rules, procedures and a committee were established that morphed the idea into the Honor Fund with the purpose of funding a photography project that advances a community related cause.  The Honor Fund continues to grow as donations are received.  You can make a donation at any time with a check made out to SSCC or make an online donation from the main page of the SSCC Meetup page.   Just click the green “Chip in” button at http://www.meetup.com/Silver-Spring-Camera-Club/  

This is an ongoing SSCC initiative that will strive to fund a worthy project.  More details about the Honor Fund and the application needed to submit for funding a project can be found on our website, http://www.ssccphotography.org/activities/honor-fund/

I am pleased to announce that SSCC has identified a good community related cause that can be fulfilled using our photography skills.  While the Honor Fund will not be used to fund this project, it does not diminish the importance or worthiness of this cause.  Thank you to Dave Mullen for spearheading and organizing everything.  His dedication to the community and SSCC is very much appreciated.  I hope many of you can find the time to assist.

I’ll see you there,

Michael Koren
President, SSCC

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR HELP PORTRAITS, DECEMBER 3

The Silver Spring Camera Club in conjunction with The Nora School will be participating in Help-Portrait on Dec. 3 at A Wider Circle (9159 Brookville Rd # C, Silver Spring, MD 20910) in Montgomery County.  Help-Portrait is an international organization that offers free family portraits to families that would otherwise be unable to afford a professionally produced photograph.  We will be working from 9 a.m. (setup) until about 1 p.m..

We need volunteers to provide two photo studio setups (lighting and backdrop), to help with hair and posing, and to manage traffic flow.  Photoshop retouching will be needed after the shoot.  Nora School students will be assisting SSCC members as well as run a Photo Booth for the kids.  Portraits will be delivered to the clients by A Wider Circle staff prior to the holidays.

Please send an email to Dave Mullen at dave@nora-school.org if you are interested in helping.

Best,
Dave

 

 

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MEMBER SNAPSHOTS

sue-green-head-shotSue Green is one of our most recent new members, and has hit the ground running.  She presented images from her meditative dance events at November’s Seminar Night that struck everyone there as unique.  Her  photographs reflect very personal expressions of participants’ emotions though meditative dance.   (read more).

 

SUMMARY – OCTOBER 27 BOARD MEETING

The Board met on October 27.  To see a summary of the discussions and actions,  (read more).

 

SOLICITING FOR MEMBER TO JOIN NOMINATIONS AND SELECTION COMMITTEE

Last Chance:  The Board of Directors is assembling a committee to nominate and select candidates for the Board.  This committee will consist of two Board members and one individual from among the club membership.  The Board is seeking a volunteer, not currently on the Board, to assist David Powell and Stephanie Banks.  If you are interested, please contact Dave at dave@davidwpowell.com or Stephanie at banks.stephanie49@gmail.com.  More details will be provided once the committee is formed.

 

 

NOVEMBER 4 FIELD TRIP TO BLAIR HIGH SCHOOL

On November 4, several SSCC members went to Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring as the Blazers took on the Damascus Hornets in a night football game.  This was a real challenge, with no flashes or tripods allowed!

Blair Blazers vs Damascus Hornets

Image 1 of 4

Phil Boyer

 

♦ FEATURES ♦

PORTRAITS OF FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS WITH THEIR ICONIC PHOTOGRAPHS

SSCC member Bob Catlett directed me to the following article.  I really enjoyed it, and thought that you would too!

http://www.thinkstuff.net/portraits-of-famous-photographers-with-their-iconic-photographs/

 

ART AND ACTIVISM

flashes-3_mezz-1366x8002xOn December 3, SSCC volunteers will make family portraits for disadvantaged families that otherwise would not be able to have them. 

Others in the larger photography community also try to make a difference using their skills as photographers.  One, in particular, stands out, and affects many lives.  BP Miller is featured in an Adorama Learning Center article, reproduced here with his permission  (read more).

 

 ANOTHER  SUPERMOON, DECEMBER 13

Supermoon, Nov 13: 550 mm, 1/80 sec, f/11, ISO 100
Supermoon, Nov 13, Dennis Freeman: 550 mm, 1/80 sec, f/11, ISO 100

Last month we had a Supermoon on November 13-14.  If you missed out, this month we will have another!  The Supermoon will rise at 4:48 p.m. on December 13, and will set on December 14 at 7:38 a.m..  Nautical twilight (when most stars become visible) ends at 5:50 p.m. on the 13th, and begins at 6:16 a.m. on the 14th.   The light and moon position  change very quickly, so you want to be ready beforehand. 

For tips on photographing the moon,  (read more).

 

 

 

ENTRIES FROM LAST MONTH’S PHOTO CHALLENGE: “WAITING”

Last month we asked for your pictures on the theme “Waiting”, with no further explanation.  So let’s see what you came up with!  Thank you to all of the contributors – many subjects were caught cooling their heels!

 

Waiting ~ Kate Woodward ~ A Historical Spot to Wait

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I took this photograph of my husband sitting in one of the Southern Gardens of the Prague Castle. He is quietly waiting on a bench, surrounded by dramatic architecture. He is looking at his watch; perhaps he is thinking about how we will spend the rest of our day.

 

NEXT MONTH’S PHOTO CHALLENGE:  “WORDS AND IMAGES”

In past years, the January Cable Release has had the recurring theme “Words and Images”, where club members send in a pairing of words and images.  We again ask you for your “Words and Images” for January 2017!   

The idea is to use the text and the image together to create an artistic composite that is greater than the sum of the parts.  The text does not have to be long, and can range from a longer poem or prose, to a Haiku (http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Haiku-Poem), or to a one line phrase.  The intent is for you to be creative in using both the text and the image together.  Please contact me if you have any questions. 

Examples are worth a thousand words.  See previous January Cable Release entries:

Please send me your jpeg entry(s) and paired text for each one, and follow a naming convention as follows:

“Words and Images~FirstName LastName~Title.jpg”

Please submit these to cablereleaseeditor@ssccphotography.org by December 24 (Christmas Eve). 

 

 

♦ MEMBER ARTICLES ♦

THE WESTERN ANTIQUE AEROPLANE AND AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM – BY DAVID BLASS

waaam1-jpegIn May and June this year, my wife and I went on a hiking trip to the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon.  We were disappointed to wake up one day to see a driving rain outside.  We decided to take a trip to Hood River and the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum—what a find! (read more)

 

 

 

♦ COMPETITION WINNERS ♦

COMPETITION: NOVEMBER 10, 2016 – OPEN TOPIC

November’s competition was for the Open topic.  Joshua Taylor returned as our judge that evening.

There were four main categories: Novice Prints, Novice Projected (i.e. digital images), Advanced Prints, and Advanced Projected.  Awards were given for first, second and third place.  The number of honorable mentions depended on the total number of entries in the category. 

NOVICE PRINTS

Novice Print ~ 1st Place ~ Laura Koren – And They’re Off

Novice Print ~ 1st Place ~ Laura Koren - And They're Off
Image 1 of 3

This photograph was taken during the Club field trip to Laurel Race Track. The first moments of a horse race include the jockeys’ positioning of their horses to what is hoped to be a winning spot along the rail. I laid on my stomach at ground level to get an interesting perspective. That jockeying moment is reflected in this photograph. Shot with Nikon D60, 55-200mm lens at 120mm, ISO 800 1/1250 sec @ f/9

ADVANCED PRINTS

Advanced Print ~ 1st Place ~ Michael Koren ~ Spruce Lake

Advanced Print ~ 1st Place ~ Michael Koren ~ Spruce Lake
Image 1 of 4

I was waiting for nightfall to shoot pictures of the Milky Way at the top of Spruce Knob, the highest point in WV. A thunderstorm had formed on the horizon as the sun was setting. I hiked a mile around the lake to this point to make sure the sunset and storm where part of the background while keeping in the foreground the beautiful sky as a reflection in the lake. I got off four pictures before the sun set and the light changed for the worse. Shot with a Nikon D7000 and 24mm lens. Three exposures: ¼ sec, 1/10 sec, 1.6 sec @ f/22. Processed with Nik HDR Efex Pro and Photoshop.

 

NOVICE PROJECTED

 

Novice Projected ~ 1st Place ~ Kate Woodward ~ Prague Facades

Novice Projected ~ 1st Place ~ Kate Woodward ~ Prague Facades
Image 1 of 5

I was attracted to this scene because of the clear, flat shapes of the colored stone façades against the blue sky. I cropped the image in post processing to create the emphasis I wanted.

 

ADVANCED PROJECTED

Advanced Projected ~ 1st Place ~ David Terao ~ Gorilla

Advanced Projected ~ 1st Place ~ David Terao ~ Gorilla
Image 1 of 5

Taken at the National Zoo on an overcast morning when the apes were eating and playing outside. I shot this through a chain-link fence with an Olympus PEN-F and 300mm f/4 lens. Exposure was 1/320 sec @ f/4 and ISO 1600.

 

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS

The following describes sample photography courses and workshops from a variety of providers.  This month’s list has some added and removed content from last month. (read more)

 

 

CALLS FOR ENTRY

A club favorite competition is requesting entries beginning this month, and is highlighted here:

SEVENTH ANNUAL JOSEPH MILLER ABSTRACT PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

The Joseph Miller Center will begin accepting entries for the upcoming Seventh Annual Exhibit on Saturday, December 24, 2016.  (read more)

 

 

OTHER LINKS

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 article here. (read more)

 

EXHIBITS AND EVENTS

WASHINGTON POST LIST

Here is the link to Washington Post’s lists of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia photography-related exhibits and museums.  This link allows you to further refine the results by location, type, and other factors:

Washington Post List of Photography Exhibits and Museums

If this doesn’t have the desired content (as it sometimes doesn’t), try the following search:

washingtonpost.com newssearch photography museum

DEEP DIVE INTO THE ARCHIVES

This month, we provide the December, 1965 issue of the Cable Release for a view of our club’s past.   You can see what categories of photographs the Club judged in 1965 (not our current ones), some thoughts on the Ektachrome process, and the activities that members looked forward to!  Notice the “cable release” pattern in the header.

                 51 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH

 cable-release-dec-1965

                                                          (OPEN HERE)                                                         

 And what else was going on in 1965?

Earlier, in January, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced the plan for his “Great Society” programs which sought to vastly expand the American welfare state and the role of the Federal government in virtually all aspects of American society, including education, the arts, medicine, the environment, and more.  A notable development was the signing of the 1965 Civil Rights Act.  In March of 1965, President Johnson ordered 3,500 U.S. Marines to Vietnam.  These were the first official American combat troops deployed to Vietnam.

In popular culture, The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews, premiered in New York City. The Beatles performed the first stadium concert in music history, playing at Shea Stadium in New York City.  In December, the U.S. was listening to Turn, Turn, Turn by the Byrds, while in the UK, the Rolling Stones’ Get Off of My Cloud was in the top five.  Get Smart was on the TV. 

The American space program hit a major milestone this year with the successful launch of Gemini 3, which was the first two-man crew into Earth’s orbit for the United States.  In December, Gemini 7 launched astronauts Borman and Lovell into orbit.

 

 

 

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.

http://www.nihcameraclub.com

NIH Camera Club

 

happy-holidays

 

 

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Member, Photographic Society of America