March 2012 - Spring has Sprung

It is time to start thinking of Spring. We have created a new gallery to celebrate Spring 2012. Images must be taken between the first day of Spring, March 20th and Easter Sunday, April 8th. There is a limit of one image per person. More details are coming soon.

Joe Atchison Award for Outstanding Service

1. Length of service. Service to include at least 12 years of active service. This service must include positions critical to the fulfillment of the NVPS mission. (President, Vice President - Competition, Vice President - Programs, Workshop and Field Trip chairs are particularly critical because of their educational nature)
2. To what extent has this service changed the club for the better?  Describe.
3. Is there tangible evidence of the nominee's impact?  Describe.
4. To what extent has the nominee served as a role model/mentor for service by others? Describe.
5. To what extent has the nominee inspired others to serve NVPS? Who has been encouraged to volunteer their services? Describe this "encouragement."

Nominating process:

1. Nomination is to be made in writing to the current president and must describe in detail how each of the above criteria has been met.
2. A three person committee appointed by the president and chaired by a former Atchison Award winner will review, investigate, and make the final determination.

The award consists of a camera mounted on a block of finished wood with four brass plates for engraving the awardee name and year. It is kept by the awardee for one year and returned to the club for the next winner. A permanent award is also made for the recipient to retain. It has been in the form of a finished wood base (plaque-like) with a brass plate for engraving and a crystal vase that sits on the base.

Bob
r.friedman.1 "at" alumni.nyu.edu

March 6th - Program Night: Cameron Davidson

Twenty Years in the Air

March 13th - Workshop - Corey Hilz

Image Editing Concepts and Techniques

March 20th - Competition - Judge Mary Ann Setton

February Competition Results

The full February competition results can be found at: http://nvps.org/main/meetings/competition/competition_results/february_21st_2012_-_results_o/

Some of the winning images from March

Clicking on any of the images above will display a larger version of the image.

Competition Images

The NVPS Website has a gallery of past winning images at http://nvps.org/gallery/v/competitions/. If your image placed first, second, third or received an honorable mention in a club competition, it is eligible for this gallery.  This is not done automatically; you must specifically provide consent for your image to be included in the gallery.

To have your winning image included in the gallery, email competitionwinners@nvps.org and provide the following information:

Your name
Image Category (digital, color print, monochrome print)
Image Class – for those categories with classes (Advanced or Novice)
Competition Date

Digital Winners: just provide consent for posting your image

Print Winners: send a digital version of your print, sized as if it were for digital competition (smaller is ok, but not too small).

The Fotofax newsletter is usually finalized during the weekend immediately following the monthly club competitions.  If your image is a first place winner and you send it in before the weekend after competition, your image will be forwarded to the editor for inclusion in Fotofax.  If you have not provided permission before that deadline, your image will NOT be included and another winning entry may be used for that category in Fotofax.

March 27th - Paul Simmons

“Bird Photography”

Paul has been a bird watcher all of his life and a photographer for just about as long.  Three years ago, his passions merged when he purchased a long lens.  He has been photographing birds, almost exclusively, ever since. 

Last year, at the February Members Gallery, Paul presented a slide show titled “Song Birds” that was followed with a lengthy question and answer session.  Because of the interest expressed by the members, he decided to conduct this Forum on Bird Photography.

Paul will begin his presentation by discussing how he plans bird-photography outings and his favorite locations.  The greater part of his presentation will cover photographic technique and equipment.  He encourages the active participation of the audience and is looking forward to answering lots of questions.

Early on in his photographic endeavors, Paul used Nikon film cameras and shot almost anything that was, “foolish enough to get in front of my lens.”  After a few years photographing like this, he purchased a 4x5 view camera and shot B&W landscapes exclusively.  For guidance, he studied Ansel Adams' six books on photography.  Today, Paul uses Canon cameras and shoots with an 800mm lens and a 300mm lens which he used to collect the images for this Forum.

Paul gives many thanks to NVPS members for twelve years of friendship and for the only photographic training he received. 

March 27th - Prints - Will Haubert

Will Haubert figures that just about everyone knows his basic story - that he retired from his government job on September 2, 2008 and joined NVPS 3 hours later. His transition consisted of riding Metro home and a quick dinner. He has been pushing his shutter release almost non-stop ever since.

Will began his photographic journey by taking pictures while hiking just about anywhere west of the Front Range. You probably know his landscapes - a Blue Sunrise in New Mexico, the red hues of the Wave. And a few local images - the Jefferson Columns. But something happened to Will about a year or so ago. During a wonderful trip to China led by Yulan Guo and Corey Hilz, Will started taking pictures of people. Well, mostly pretty women.

And it didn't stop with wheels down at Dulles. It seems that Will could not call himself a photographer unless he felt comfortable taking pictures of people. So for the past year, that is pretty much all he has done. His wife was skeptical when he set up a photoshoot with a model during a hiking trip he made to Utah a year ago. It was the highlight of Will's trip and changed his photography dramatically. Now he shoots all models all the time.

For a man who spent a lifetime being a generalist, his single-minded focus on models is surprising, if not shocking. Ask why and you'll get a reply like this: "I truly love women and love to portray their beauty. Beauty is soul-deep and that's what I seek in my images. If I do it right, a woman's inner beauty will reveal itself to the lens - and to the viewer's eye." He hopes that when you view his images at Member's Gallery, that's what catches your eye ...

March 27th - Digital - Ursy Potter

I have wanted to go to Africa for a long time. But I never wanted to go as a tourist or on a fancy animal safari. I learned of an opportunity to go to Ghana, in West Africa, last summer and stay with the Ewe tribe, living with a Kente weaver and working with a traditional potter in a village about an hour's distance by various buses, taxis and Trotros. So off I went by myself having no idea of what to expect about anything. I discovered the Ghanese people are intelligent, beautiful and oh so friendly. The children are polite and mannerly.

I was the only white person for the almost one month stay but I had no mirror and so I just felt like one of the gang. Bobbo, the Kente weaver and my host, has eleven sons and seven daughters and is thrilled by all of them. The youngest is perhaps twelve years old and every one of them is intelligent, speaks English and is accomplished. Bobbo is 74 years old and has had several wives.

I was expected to wear a long skirt and a head covering as is the style for women. Being on the Equator I was expecting Ghana to be beastly hot. Instead, I left the beastly hot Washington, DC weather behind and found it comfortable in Ghana by comparison.

Not having worked in clay for ten years I wondered how it would go. Since their techinique is so different from mine that didn't matter. I was a dilettante no matter what. The women with whom I worked spoke only Ewe and my English was of no help but they were so patient and kind it was all fun using hand gestures. The kids are adorable. Ghanese are strict with children so they learn at an early age to toe the line, although as soon as I got my camera out the kids popped up in front.

Now I'm studying African drumming from Kofi Dennis, a Ghanese drummer here in Northern Virginia. I'd enjoy going back, perhaps as a drummer.

A full list of all current Board members and their contact information can be found at nvps.org/main/about/board-members

Our board officers are:

Notice: Workshop and contest announcements of events not sponsored by or affiliated with NVPS are provided as a courtesy to Members. Individuals should review the detailed contest rules and conditions to determine what impact entering images has on rights and ownership of the submitted images. Review the descriptions of workshop to whether participation in a workshop would actually meet personal learning goals. NVPS attempts to screen events for legitimacy and quality, however NVPS does not recommend these events and cannot assume responsibility for their ultimate quality. We recommend due diligence and encourage you to share your experience with other club members.

Members' Resources:

Do you need help with a photography problem, but don’t know who to ask? The Members’ Resource Program is here for you. Have you ever been asked “How do you do that?” If so, then consider sharing your knowledge with other club members.

The Members’ Resource area of the club web site http://nvps.org/main/members_resource/ contains a growing set of presentations and ‘how to’ documents created by club members. For example, it includes Jay Heisel's excellent Forum presentation from the January meeting on Social Photography, with his detailed explanations. It also contains the Members’ Resource List, which provides the names and email addresses of club members who have volunteered to help club members looking for help on specific technology and technique topics.

If you have a photography question, check the Resource List for the name of a club member who can help you with it. If nobody has indicated they have expertise in the topic, then contact me and we’ll find somebody. If you have some expertise that you’d like to share, let me know what topics you are able to address.

If you’d like to share your knowledge through a presentation, club website document or Fotofax article, and just need some help getting it off the ground, let me know and I can help with writing, editing, or graphics. Jay Heiser, Members’ Resource Program Coordinator, jay “at” heiserhollow.net .

Members News:

Our members routinely receive photo awards and recognition and have images in shows. As FotoFax only comes out monthly, the best place to look for current events is on the website at :

http://nvps.org/main/member_news/

Congratulations to member NVPS Member John W. Wiles II, who is on deployment in Afghanistan. He recently received an iPad for his placement in a commercial Photo Contest! Check the link above for more details.

Exhibition Opportunities

Second Annual Joseph Miller Abstracts Exhibit - Last Chance!

First Call for entries for the Second Annual Joseph Miller Abstracts Exhibit to be held at the Joseph Miller Center for the Photographic Arts, 4811 Catharpin Road, Gainesville, VA 20155.

-- Abstracts entries due at JM Center not later than Wednesday, February 29, 2012. Data on how to send entries (CD and/or email) is listed on the website, via the link below.

-- Notification of acceptances by last week of March 2012.

-- Drop off / delivery of accepted, matted and framed prints Saturday, April 28, Sunday, April 29, Monday, April 30, 2012.
-- Abstracts Exhibit opens Friday May 4, 2012.
-- Reception and Awards Sunday May 6, 2012.
-- Abstracts Exhibit closes Monday May 28, 2012.
-- Pick up accepted prints at JM Center Friday June 1, Saturday June 2, and Sunday June 3, 2012.

Further details regarding entry requirements, official entry form, gallery hours, etc., are posted on line at the NVACC Website: http://www.nvacc.org/Abstract_Exhibit.html .

Maryland Federation of Art - Call For Artists

MFA invites all artists residing in the United State, Puerto Rico and Canada to enter its open-juried photography exhibition. Any original work created in any form of photography, following exhibition guidelines, will be considered by the juror. The selected works will be on exhibit in the MFA’s Circle Gallery. Only original works of art created in any form of photography will be considered by the juror.

Exhibition Dates: May 25 - June 17, 2012
Submission Deadline: March 14, 2012
Notification Deadline: Accepted artists and artwork will be posted on the MFA website and artists notified via email by April 12, 2012
Juror: Margaret Adams, assistant professor at Corcoran College of Art + Design and Maryland Institute College of Art
Download printable prospectus (pdf)

Blue Ridge Mountain Photographers

The Blue Ridge Mountain Photographers invite members to enter their 2012 National Juried Nature and Fine Art Photography Exhibit. Last year more than 150 photographs were selected for display in The Art Center, an historic courthouse in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Their judge this year will be Professor Paul Dunlap of North Georgia College and State University. A total of $2000 in prize money will be awarded.

Final deadline is July 2, 2012. Detailed information and entry form can be found at www.blueridgemountainphotographers.com or www.blueridgearts.net/BRMPNationalShow.aspx

5th Annual Claude Moore Park Photography Expo

The 5th Annual Claude Moore Park Photography Expo has a theme of Natural Places & Old Spaces and features the following six categories for competition:

Roots & Buds – Native plant life in wild settings; NO cultivated plants are accepted
Wild Creatures – Wild animals on land or in the water; NO domesticated animals
Winged Wonders – Any creatures that fly including birds, bats, & butterflies, etc.
Nature’s Backyard – Scenic views of natural spaces; NO manicured or man-made habitats (lawns or backyards)
History & Heritage – Structures that capture local history and culture, including statues, monuments, farms, homes, and other historic buildings, autos, trains, etc.
Kids Discovering Nature – Photographs of children enjoying natural spaces and parks

To enter into the photography expo, please complete the entry form provided at http://www.loudoun.gov/claudemoorepark.

Submissions must be entered by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, April 18, 2012. An entry fee of $5.00 per photograph for adult entrants, and $3.00 per photograph for youth entrants under 18 years of age will be collected at the time of submission. All entry fees are to be paid to the Friends of Claude Moore Park.

Events

On-Line Learning Resources

Our club offers incredible resources via our meetings, workshops and member resource links. If you are a real learning junkie, there are a variety of free on-line learning resources offered by others.

Adorama has a learning center with tutorials and demos at: http://www.adorama.com/alc/ .

B&H Photo offers similar resources at: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/indepth/ .

Adobe offers tutorials and demos on most of their products at: http://tv.adobe.com/

YouTube has reviews and demos of many products and/or techniques, but the quality varies: http://www.youtube.com/

There are many free podcasts available with tutorials or lectures. Within iTunes, go to the iTunes store, select the Podcast tab and then search on your preferred topic. Several universities and high schools offer great lectures on the history of photography, great photographers and specific techniques such as lighting.

End of Year Banquet

It is never too early to plan for a wonderful evening. There will be your fellow photographers, eye-popping award winning photographs from every competition, the end-of-year competition winners and awards, an excellent buffet, a chance to thank those who made this year happen, and some prizes. And, the board has voted to support this event by reducing the cost per guest to $5 less than last year – just $35. This includes all but the cash bar.

The end of year banquet will be June 8th starting at 6 PM at the same location as last year:

Best Western Tyson’s Westpark
8401 Westpark Drive, Mclean, Virginia, 22102-3602
Phone: 703/734-2800
Located at the corner of Route 7 and Westpark Drive

Please make your reservation by giving Tom Brett a check or cash for you and any guests you wish to bring.

Workshop Offerings Photoworks Photoworks in Glen Echo Park offers a variety of photography classes & workshops for adults and children, taught by many familiar names, including former speakers at NVPS. The Spring/Summer schedule is out and can be seen at: http://register.glenechopark.org/class/classctlgindex.aspx Wayne Wolfersberger Wayne Wolfersberger (NVPS member and past President) will be teaching many classes for his thirteenth year with Fairfax County’s Adult and Community Education - ACE. Anyone can sign up (Fairfax residency not required). Courses are designed for beginners, intermediate and advanced skills in photography which includes Outdoor (Nature) classes, flower and garden classes, as well as well as classroom table top shooting for composition and creativity. Several classes include weekend field trips. See http://www.fcps.edu/is/ace/index.shtml and then go to Art – studio art for details or http://www.waynewolfersberger.com/ Roy Sewall Roy was the November 2011 judge and presented a program in November 2010. He offers one-on-one coaching for novice and intermediate photographers, tailored to an individual's specific needs. Representative topics are: how to operate a digital SLR, equipment selection, photo critique in a private setting, on-computer demonstration of photo improvements, and field technique. See his recently updated website for more details and information about upcoming workshops or to sign up for his newsletter: http://www.roysewallphotography.com/iWeb/Home.html Nikhil Bahl Photography Workshops Responding to a request for proposals, Nikhil Bahl has offered three workshops to NVPS members at a reduced rate. Nikhil gave an NVPS Forum program in April 2011. The first of the three workshops is: MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY BOOTCAMP, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA Dates and Schedule: April 21-22, 2012 The workshop will start with a presentation at 12pm on Saturday, April 21, followed by a critique session. We will go into the gardens for an evening field session. On Sunday, April 22 Nikhil will start with a field session at sunrise.  In the afternoon, Nikhil will provide post-processing techniques and tips followed by an evening field session. Tuition: $190 -- Regular fee would be $225. A $35 discount will be offered to all NVPS members. Participants are responsible for travel, hotel, food and other incidentals are not included as part of the workshop fee. The details on the other two discounted workshops are listed on the NVPS website at: http://nvps.org/main/featured/nikhil_bahl_to_offer_3_worksho/ If you are interested in any of his offerings, please contact Nikhil at: www.NikhilBahl.com www.facebook.com/nikhil.bahl.photography Awake the Light Photo Tours and Workshops Mollie Isaacs and Mary Lindhjem Join two well-known professional photographers on their exciting and educational photo tours. For 2012 they are offering trips to Alaska's Denali National Park and Katmai National Park, Yellowstone National Parks, Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley in Arizona, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Acadia National Park in Maine. All tours include extensive photographic opportunities in the field, as well as personal one-on-one assistance and classroom instruction. Mollie and Mary gave a NVPS Programs in October 2010. See their website for more information on their workshops and tours. Mollie Isaacs and Mary Lindhjem http://www.awakethelight.com/ 757-773-0194 awakethelight "at" cox.net Josh Taylor, Jr. Fall workshops, classes, and lectures are posted at archiphotoworkshops.com. Please take a look and hopefully, you will find something of interest, including Canon camera classes. Josh is an NVPS member and most recently presented a workshop in March 2010 and was our September 2011 Competition judge. jtaylorj "at" verizon.net archiphotoworkshops.com Mike Moats Mike was our November Program Speaker on the topic of Macro Photography. He is conducting a Macro Boot Camp in our area on May 18th, 19th, 20th, 2012. The cost is $149. It will be held at the Hampton Inn & Suites, at 22700 Holiday Park Drive in Sterling (Near Dulles/Washington Airport.) For more details, check the events listing on Mike's website: www.tinylandscapes.com Bill & Linda Lane Responding to a NVPS request for proposals, Bill and Linda Lane are holding a workshop near Marlinton, West Virginia from June 20-23 and are offering a $100 discount to NVPS members. They plan to shoot along the Greenbrier River Trail, the scenic highway, the glades, waterfalls, barns, all around town and surrounding towns. Indeed, they will take advantage of every 'photo op' they can find! http://www.lanephotoworkshops.com/workshops_2012/12summerwv.htm Their base price of $775 (NVPS discounted price $675) includes most meals but not lodging; they have reserved a block of rooms for attendees. Bill and Linda will give NVPS members until April 1st to sign up before they allow non-members to register. For more information, see the workshop link above or contact: Bill and Linda Lane Nature's Image Photography Field Workshops 15325 Mountain Road Montpelier, Virginia 23192 (804) 883 7740 or check their website: lanephotoworkshops.com Joseph Rossbach Joe was our speaker on February 7th and mentioned that his latest eBook would be coming out soon. It looks great and is now available at: http://www.josephrossbach.com/west-virginia-adventures-light-ebook-joseph-rossbach/ The website is also offering a bundled package of six eBooks by Joe and/or Ian Plant, for only $36. A few seats are still available for his next workshop offering, the Springtime in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Photography Workshop. Dates: April 14-18, 2012 Where: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Price: $1150.00 Deposit: $200.00 Instructor: Joseph Rossbach Limit: 10 For registration details, follow this link: http://greatsmokymountainsphototour.eventbrite.com/ Other events are viewable at: http://www.eventbrite.com/org/172820333?s=5473534 Want Ads For Sale Charlie Custis has the following items for sale: 3  film developing tanks 1 photo flood light 1 background stand 2 background paper  black and gray 2 light stands 2 Tripods For price and details, contact Charlie Custis tel (703)998-7826 cell (703)244-6795 Northern Virginia Alliance of Camera Clubs (NVACC) The NVACC website has recently been updated and it is AWESOME! The Northern Virginia Alliance of Camera Clubs (NVACC) is an informal entity started in 1997 by Joseph Miller with the assistance of Dave Carter and Ed Funk. Its purpose is to promote communication and cooperation among area camera clubs. NVACC is made up of Member Clubs and Associated Member Clubs. Did you miss a great speaker at NVPS? She just might be speaking at one of the other (lesser) clubs in the area. NVACC publishes a monthly Calendar of Virginia Member Club Events that can be found at http://www.nvacc.org/Calendars.html. NVACC has published a Field Trips Guide Book for Photographers, which provides information about nearby areas that camera clubs might wish to visit. See their booklets at: http://www.nvacc.org/Booklets.html . Editor's Note Penn Camera has been a topic of discussion around the coffee pot at recent meetings. It was a shocker - the sudden announcement of their financial problems, the immediate closing of five of their eight stores, and then the distress sales at the three remaining stores. It was a joy to buy some items at 70% off the list price, but sad to see the faces of the people who worked there. Like many members of NVPS, I bought a lot of photo gear at Penn over the past decade. Most of the staff were highly professional - experts whose opinions I came to trust. (I can also say the same about Ace Photo.) Yes, there were a few times I ran into someone who was rude or seemed misinformed, but those were rare exceptions. In collapsing from eight stores to three, many employees --good or bad, lost their jobs. It is a sad sign of our times. Calumet Photo acquired Penn and the three remaining stores will continue operating under the new management. I have shopped in Calumet stores in Boston and Chicago and enjoyed visiting those stores. The surviving Penn stores will have some of the same staff and according to the website, will also offer expanded products and services. Hopefully, they will change enough to avoid the pitfalls that caused Penn's failure. We can usually find an on-line vendor with a lower price for any product. They will not have the same overhead costs; they may be located in lower cost countries. But sometimes, we want to hold the merchandise, see how it feels in our hands, and ask questions of someone we can see face to face. That personal service touch comes with a markup in expense to the vendor. Smart shoppers look for the "best deal." Salesmen dread the shoppers who ask lots of questions, then buy the product somewhere else where they can save a few dollars. If customers are unwilling to pay a small premium for that service, it goes away. Some people argue this type of customer service will inevitably die. It represents an old school approach to commerce. We are told that blogs, discussion groups, wikis, etc. are the future source of product information. They say we will use the on-line communities to find the products that fit our needs, and then use a price comparison tool to purchase at the lowest price. It will not matter whether it comes from Burke, Hong Kong or Sao Paulo. Voila! Thomas Friedman's Flat World has arrived. NVPS has always been a place where photography enthusiasts share information. We help each other take better photos, we share tips about what gear works best, and tell each other about interesting places to use that gear and knowledge. For those of us who just might not yet be living in this brave new world where interactions are predominately virtual, we can still network the old-fashioned way on Tuesday evenings and for at least a little while longer, even shop in a place where we can swap photo stories while handling the merchandise. Comments, requests and submissions should be sent to editor@nvps.org . Newsletter Editor, Dan Ward Copyright 2012 by the Northern Virginia Photographic Society and its Contributors. The contents of this FotoFax are copyrighted. No material herein may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the Editor or the material’s specific contributor. All photographs are copyrighted by the photographers who have granted permission for NVPS to use their image in FotoFax and/or on the NVPS website, but otherwise retain all rights to their image.