The following are reflections of David Carter and his importance to NVPS and its membership from Joe Miller and Ed Funk.

Dave Carter

Dave Carter was a nice person. He was a learned person. He was a talented person. He was a gentle person. He was a gentleman.

Dave had many interests but photography was a passion of his. He was an excellent photographer and he willingly shared his knowledge with others. Dave joined NVPS in l983, and the license plate on his car read NVPS 83. Dave held most Board positions including president and he was the recipient of the 1st Joe Atchison Award, the highest honor NVPS gives. Dave was a true friend to camera clubs, judging and presenting slide shows such as Night Photography, Learning from the Masters, Adventures in Visual Design, etc. Writing was one of his many skills, and he authored or co-authored a number of the booklets on photography in the NOVACC series.

Dave was more than a camera club judge. His ability to analyze an image and critique its merits was unsurpassed. Dave understood the intricacies and nuances of visual design and could articulate why an image did or did not work. Because of his comprehension of visual design he loved abstracts, and they were his favorite images.

Dr. David E. Carter was a tenured professor at Georgetown University teaching psychology. His favorite course was Psychology, Photography, and the Visual Arts, and often Dave invited members from area camera clubs to be guest lecturers in that course.

He possessed a dry and witty sense of humor. Among his many interests, Dave was an avid collector of old-time movie serials. He also collected quotes, particularly quotes about photography.

For 25 years Dave was a valued member of NVPS. We will miss you, dear friend.

Joe Miller

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David Carter (1938-2008) had an enormous impact on the growth and development of the Northern Virginia Photographic Society. Dave  grew up in Michigan and participated in several camera clubs as a young man. He completed his post-graduate psychology studies and earned his doctorate in New York before accepting an assistant professorship at Georgetown University in the early 80's. When he joined NVPS in 1983 he brought his significant photographic skills, teaching skills, keen vision and understanding of visual design, and knowledge of camera club activities. He devoted this wealth of knowledge and talent to our organization and has left an enduring legacy that includes:

Starting two regular activities that continue today and into our future. The monthly FORUM meeting and the Member's Gallery show are attributed to Dave’s early leadership although he always deflected credit to others for their ideas and assistance.

His On Location column appeared monthly in our FOTOFAX newsletter. Dave's meticulous writings and directions could lead anyone right to his tripod holes. His research pointed out items of interest for photographers and non-photographers. These writings became a significant part of a Field Trip Guide Book published by the Northern Virginia Alliance of Camera Clubs and remains useful today. Dave authored or co-authored several other Alliance publications.

Dave served as FOTOFAX newsletter editor for a number of years. Since that time our newsletter has received an award almost every year from the Photographic Society of America for its excellence.

Dave conducted many workshops and his influence was infectious. His Night Photography workshop (with Gary Silverstein) sent us off in a new and delightful direction.

His Learning from the Masters workshop (with Jim Steele) taught us to see how the great painters used design and light in their work; and as a result his influence made our visits to museums and art galleries a more pleasurable experience.

His Macro and Close-up Photography workshops were inspirational to many of us. Dave showed us that we didn't have to buy expensive equipment to take advantage of these techniques. We could use extension tubes, tele-extenders, diopters and reversing rings and achieve extraordinary effects.

We will miss Dave, his extraordinary contributions and his humanity.

Ed Funk

Seeing requires a methodology, a procedure, a way of careful looking, a systematic approach, a thorough examination. This means looking from top to bottom, from left to right, from corner to corner and from edge to edge. 

Here are some factors we should consider as we look at a photograph, not listed in any order of priority. 

Eye Movement

Balance/imbalance

Harmony

Color

Tone

Contrast

Rhythm

Placement

Spacing

Separation

Flaws

Exposure

Light

Dominance

Mood, feeling, emotion, mystery

Story telling

Composition

Craftsmanship

Creativity

Content

Total presentation

The careful viewer must ask a series of questions regarding these factors. Do they provide a positive or negative contribution to the photograph? How do they vary in importance? How did the photographer use the picture space? Where did the photographer place his/her choices? Is the photograph ordinary, less than ordinary, or better than ordinary? Can I articulate why this photograph works or does not work? Have I not only looked at the photograph, have I also looked into the photograph?

Today we are inundated with a tsunami of photographs, most of them technically correct thanks to amazing modern technology. At best we can only skim the surface as we glance from image to image and that is okay in most instances. But what about our photographs? How do we evaluate and learn from our photographs and the photographs of others so we can improve as a photographer? That is when looking becomes seeing, and seeing becomes analysis, and analysis becomes improvement.

Joseph Miller

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