Programs
Loren Fisher, from Woodstock, VT will give us a new twist in Travel Photography. “One of the biggest problems of traveling is knowing what to shoot when you get there, especially when you want to get away from crowded tourist locations. I’ll show you how I do research and the tools I use to find well known and hidden photo locations. Plus I’ll show you how to find cheap airfares. We’ll talk about all the issues we face when traveling, like how much equipment to bring, how to pack it, airline regulations and thwarting thieves. (I had my passport stolen in Guatemala. Getting a new one is not fun, especially when you need to be able to speak Spanish just to get into the U.S. embassy!)”
Greg Holden is a photographer from Longmont, CO, who uses his photography to share with others how he sees the world. Greg’s presentation will focus on high-key photos, although some examples of low-key photos will be shown to emphasize the difference.
High-key and low-key photos add impact by creating a strong contrast between lights and darks. Typically, high-key photos have large amounts of pure white with no shadows, while low-key is the opposite, with lots of dark space occupying your frame. Great photos of this type are achieved intentionally through camera settings during image capture, although you can further emphasize the effect in post-processing. This is one of the times where “breaking the rules” and blowing out highlights or clipping shadows is expected! Greg will provide some examples of both B&W and color images utilizing this technique and explain what camera settings he used.
You can see Greg’s work on his website. Greg enjoys creative photos of little scenes often overlooked by others rather than postcard landscapes. Although he won’t pass by a chance to photograph a beautiful landscape or a tranquil sunset, he’d rather be exploring abandoned places and capturing the details of the layers of paint and rust on a discarded automobile. Greg enjoys searching used bookstores for photo collections and has over 170 books (as of May 2023) on and about photography. He finds inspiration from master photographers and a wide range of subjects, such as: the close-up beach studies by Minor White, the early portraiture of Steichen and Stieglitz, and street scenes by Andre Kertesz. He enjoys teaching others and sharing his passion for photography and speaks at camera clubs near his home in the greater Denver area, but also speaks and judges virtually to clubs across the US.
Our final Program of the season, all COPS members are invited to share their photography with fellow members in the form of mini-shows, short slideshows usually set to music, but music is optional. We would love to see your work! We will be presenting the mini shows in person at the First Baptist Church West Hartford.
The limit is up to two mini shows per presenter. No time to create a mini show? We’ve had some great mini shows over the years. How about dusting off your older (older than 2 years) mini shows to share with our new members?
What is a mini show? The short slideshows generally have a unifying theme — which can be as simple as a trip, a particular subject (e.g., horses), or a compositional motif (e.g., curving lines), or it can be as complex as a narrative. People often pair the images with music, but that is not mandatory. The shows tend to be about five to seven minutes long; ten minutes is a bit too long.
How do I build a mini show? On a PC: In the past, PC users have usually built their slideshows in ProShow Gold. Unfortunately, that software’s maker, Photodex Corp. closed down on January 31, 2020. To replace ProShow Gold, Photodex recommends Photopia, either Photopia Creator (the basic version) or Photopia Director (the professional version). Access a free trial here. Macintosh users can use iMovie.
If you have questions about putting a show together or using the software, feel free to ask fellow members. If you are not sure whom to ask, contact Gretchen Hein and she will put you in touch with someone who can help.
How do I register my mini show? (1) Please send Gretchen Hein an email by May 6th that you plan to present a mini-show(s), and please provide the title(s) of your show. (2) Once your email is received, Gretchen Hein will then reply back to you with the details on how the mini show will be run.
Is there anything else I need to prepare? On Program night, you and your slideshow will be introduced by name, at which point you will have a chance to say a few words about your presentation.
Floral Photography with passion and “joie de vivre” by Padma Inguva. Padma will share information about some of her techniques in creating stunning flower portraits. Techniques include photographing flowers on Lightbox, multiple exposures both in Camera and via Photoshop, applying textures to floral images, selective focus, blurred backgrounds, compositional elements, backlighting, and bokeh! The program also includes tips on processing colors which are considered difficult to photograph, like red and purple. In her own words “My goal as a photographer is to get people to slow down, unite with the natural world and absorb the beauty of flowers, create an oasis in this rapid, constantly demanding stressful daily life. There is no better way to escape this running around than spending time looking through a lens. I want to set people on a path of inspiration, hope, joy, and love that comes from an appreciation of these tiny treasures all around us. It gives me immense joy in taking you down a beautiful journey into flowers through my lens where you admire and observe flowers with a whole new perspective and create art that lasts far longer than the flower itself.”
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82718777431?pwd=a1lPTDJCc2JpbnYrVEJBWFJ0QzBaQT09
Details from Padma Inguva’s Program:
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens – Lotus gardens in the Washington, DC area. Best times to visit: 2nd & 3rd weeks of July.
“Exposure Software,” which has 600+ presets to replicate the look of various films, and several Bokeh presets.
The Sandstorm Photoshop Action for the “Visual Blast” of flowers.
The video of the solarization / liquid mercury creative floral technique. Instructions appear at about minute 44.
Lightbox Recommendations:
24″ x 36″ Lightbox from Engineer Supply.
Kaiser Lightboxes of various sizes from B&H.
Lightbox built by Padma’s fiancé, Al. As good as the ones at Engineer Supply, but $150 cheaper.
Build your own lightbox.
Padma can also be reached at: pinguva@gmail.com
This presentation by Mark Bowie features still images, time-lapse sequences, and video, accompanied by inspired narration. It’s an in-depth exploration of a largely-disregarded facet of night photography — shooting under all phases of the moon. Learn the technical details of calculating exposure, achieving critical focus, shooting time intervals, and much more. And learn to see the creative possibilities of photographing the moonlit landscape.
Mark Bowie is a professional nature photographer, writer and much sought-after public speaker. He has done three coffee table books on his native Adirondacks, has authored two extensive e-books on night photography, and one on his photographic journey, Finding November. He has also released two instructional videos, FORESTS: The Art of Photographing Trees & Woods and Multiple Exposures for Maximum Landscapes. Mark is a staff instructor for the Adirondack Photography Institute and leads landscape photography workshops.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81664296045?pwd=Z3U4c29wMUprK3diOS9LcTFVTCtkUT09
Dawn Wilson, a professional and award-winning nature photographer and writer specializing in wildlife of high latitudes and high altitudes of the Rocky Mountains and Alaska.
A resident of Estes Park, Colo., just outside or Rocky Mountain National Park, she focuses on the animals and destinations of this rugged region through tours in the park, writing for regional and national magazines, including Outdoor Photographer, Alaska, Colorado Life, Motor-Home, and many others, and co-hosting The Nature Photographer Podcast through Wild and Exposed.
Description: Bird photography can be one of the most challenging types of photos to successfully capture. Birds like bald eagles and great blue herons fly slower and are larger, making them great subjects to start with for birds in flight, but there are techniques for capturing the smaller birds as well – either in flight or finding the right perch location. This presentation will cover bird behavior for better photos, settings for improving your success rate for birds in flight, ideas for creative bird photos, and much more.
Dawn will be sponsored by our good friends at Hunt’s Photo. Hunt’s Photo will be proving some specials for us after the Program.
Charter Oak Photographic Society is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82914157707?pwd=SWlWMWFuTjZGc1gwZmU0N2hiUi9OQT09
Meeting ID: 829 1415 7707 Passcode: 103233
This month’s Program is by Professional Photographer Lisa Langell from Arizona and is going to be provided to us by Lisa in a live Webinar session. What this means is that you must click on the Webinar link below and sign up prior to 1/23/23. Once you completed the sign up info, Lisa will provide you with a Zoom session link to your email within a few hours. Please do not delete the email from Lisa as you will need use the Zoom link in this email on Monday, 1/23/23 at 7pm to attend Lisa’s Program. Should you have any questions, please contact Gretchen at ghein@megahits.com. Lisa’s program will be a great one as Lisa is a fantastic photographer and speaker.
Please register for the webinar.
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JIzwXOsIQf-BmwjjC9iWgw
Lisa Langell has a different view of nature photography. The talk focuses on the difference between classic nature photography and nature photography that addresses nature photography as a decorative element. Lisa will explain how to produce unique photos that buyers want to hang in their homes. The talk will address artistic decorative trends.
As photographers, we have classically been taught one master set of “rules” that govern how we photograph wildlife and nature. Those rules are largely oriented toward the requirements for publication in magazines and calendars.
They are dictated by how an audience responds best in those genres. Most competitions have geared their requirements toward the same rules of composition, style and quality. But did you know there are other rules, too?
What if your image isn’t going in a calendar, but instead will have its permanent place in a home, office, website banner, etc.? In these cases, the rules we learned may not apply!
Many do not realize that there are more than one set of rules for nature photography depending on where it will “live”! We’re missing out on a whole world of photography by not considering these alternative rules. Lisa will present alternatives for thinking, capturing the shot, composing, processing and “homing” our work, including:
- Identify the difference between “Classic Nature Photography” and alternative (new) options for composing, capturing, processing and producing your work.
- Spot the right photographic compositions for modern decorative art.
- Identify and apply photographic techniques that elevates your work from traditional to art-worthy for today’s interior trends.
- Break out of the traditional mode and find new ideas, inspiration and outlets.
- Think flexibly about your photography and the rules around it.
- Incorporate mixed-media and “found objects” into your creations.
- Apply simple – but impactful – post processing techniques.
- Discover images in your archives that, with a few tweaks, can be translated into the New Nature Photography.
Lisa Langell is a full-time, award-winning photographer whose work has appeared in numerous prestigious publications, galleries and more. Most recently, she was published on the front cover and wrote a feature article in Outdoor Photographer magazine. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the North American Nature Photography Association. She is also an ambassador for Tamron and FotoPro.
GAS, also known in the photography community as “Gear Acquisition Syndrome”, is a real problem in our consumer society. In this Program Emilie Talpin will shed light on her minimalist approach to macro photography from her gear to her shooting method. There is no reason macro photography can’t be easy without breaking the bank; you just need to choose what is right for you and let your curiosity and creativity do the work.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us /j/85700132738?pwd=UTFJbTBiMWx4MEhzQmF5YnpHTytMdz09
Meeting ID: 857 0013 2738 Passcode: 075362
We are all in for a stimulating and enjoyable learning experience. Whether you are traveling to a national park here in the US, traveling abroad or just shooting the wildlife in your own backyard, there are techniques that can aid you in capturing that peak action, that cute look or the ultimate animal in habitat shot. Joe and Maryann McDonald will talk about the best exposures to use, how to prepare for your trip or shoot, and some of the photography tools that are on the market to help with your success.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84377896824?pwd=dk5HYTFjNUlmUEVRRVc4cDVIRXFCQT09
Meeting ID: 843 7789 6824 Passcode: 868998
This program by Lisa Cuchara will explore the beauty of imperfect and/or unconventional subjects. As nature photographers we often seek out the flowers, leaves and such that are not perfect, but rather have /character/, the double headed flower, the decaying fall leaves, the deformed coneflower that stands out as flawed and hence different and beautiful. This program will also explore the concept of slowing down and appreciating the beauty of everyday life, things that might be overlooked.
As purveyors of rust and decay we appreciate the perseverance and beauty of “life after humans” as cars and equipment falls apart and succumbs to oxidation and decay. Wabi-Sabi teaches us to find beauty in everyday life. It is a kind of antiaesthetic, an alternative to the dominating discriminatory ideas we hold about beauty. “Wabi means a beauty of elegant imperfection. Sabi means aloneness. Together, they suggest the beauty of ‘the withered, weathered, tarnished, scarred, intimate, coarse, earthly, evanescent, tentative, ephemeral.’ (Crispin Sartwell; Six Names of Beauty). It is a way of honoring that everything is impermanent, and we are always in a state of both becoming and falling away. It is used to describe a particular philosophy that beauty can be found in the old, the everyday, the imperfect. Wabi Sabi applies to more than nature and the seasons of change and decay, but it also to the “Life after Humans” arena or UrbEx (urban exploration). As a side note, the term Wabi Sabi can also be part of the social movement of embracing imperfection of your physical traits as a human being, especially with respect to self-perception and celebrating imperfection in a society that encourages people to be perfect and pressures people to be flawless.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us /j/88246516104?pwd=ZUMwb3k2WEZURldzRlQ4Q21Bc0FxQT09
Meeting ID: 882 4651 6104 Passcode: 922552
