The Newsletter of the Park West Camera Club! Photo Notes Our 75th Year May/June 2012
Presidentʼs Letter
Presidential Politics
You all know I plan to step down as PWCC Presi- dent at the end of this Club year. I am disappoint- ed that so far no potential successor has presented him/herself. When I consider all the national press about the US presidential campaigns, all the Republican candidates, the debates, the money spent, the dissection of personal lives in public media, I am surprised that we can’t find someone to lead our little outfit. It’s a much easier job. In This Issue
The Club Constitution describes the duties of the President’s Letter...... 1 PWCC President as follows: Who’s Who & What’s What...... 2 & 3 ”…Be the administrative officer of the Club, re- Club Info...... 3, 5 & 10 sponsible for its effective functioning as an or- B&H Space...... 5 ganization. The President shall preside at all Competition...... 6 & 7 regular and special meetings of the Club, and at Dated...... 8 all meetings of the Executive Committee, and Election Procedures...... 9 shall be a member ex-officio of all committees. Inquiries...... 10 The President shall appoint chairpersons of Business Meeting Minutes...... 11 Club committees and chairpersons to oversee Call for Entries...... 13 the functioning of special committees and spe- Expanding Visions 18...... 14 cial activities of the Club. The President shall be Gallery Watching...... 15 responsible for the effective functioning of ap- Meet the Members...... 19 pointees and of the other Club officers. The Club Photos...... 22 President shall, upon leaving office, turn over, Fireworks...... 23 in good order, all Club records of his/her ad- Year-End Competition...... 26 ministration to his/her successor.” Otto Litzel Dinner...... 27 Schedule of Activities...... 28-36 (continued on page 4) Field Trip Reunion...... 37 and so much more! May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 1 Park West Camera Club Committee Chairs Archives Myrna Harrison-Changar The Park West Camera Club is an independent not- 212 663 1422 [email protected] for-profit corporation. Guests are always welcome at meetings and activities. Competition George Hansen 212 595 7869 [email protected] The Park West Camera Club newsletter , Photo Notes, Hedy Klein is published every month by and for the members of 718-793-0246vv [email protected] the Park West Camera Club. Subscriptions are in- Joan Slatkin cluded with Club membership. Yearly subscriptions 212 260 7091 [email protected] are available to non-members by e-mail (free) or Field Trip Susan Sigrist postal service ($10 per year). Individual issues are 212 758 0036 [email protected] available at PWCC meetings. Inna Grubmair 646-355-6840 [email protected] Submissions of full-length articles or smaller items of photographic or general interest are always ac- Gallery Christine Doyle cepted. The staff of Photo Notes reserves the right to 212 595 4920 [email protected] edit any submissions which are published. Maria Fernandez 908 447 8075 [email protected] Deadline for submissions is the first Monday of each month. House Seymour Perlowitz 718 338 6695 [email protected] Photo Notes is optimized for viewing on the inter- Chuck Elster net. 917 796 7847 [email protected]
Contact Information Membership Marlene Schonbrun 212 662 3107 [email protected] Website www.parkwestcameraclub.org Newsletter Chuck Pine 212 932 7665 [email protected] E-Mail Address [email protected] Program Marilyn Fish-Glynn 212 685 8784 [email protected] Club Mailing Address 345 East 73rd Street, #8L, NY, NY 10021 Social Sid Georgiou Photo Notes Mailing Address 212 777 3960 [email protected] 680 West End Avenue, #5D, NY, NY 10025 Telephone Tree Dottie Mills 212 926 4375 [email protected] Club Officers Website Ruth Lowell President Paul Perkus 212-362-4379 [email protected] 212 929 1687 [email protected] Bob Wine V. President Ed Lee 212-758-5762 [email protected] 212 242 8714 [email protected] Workshop Jerry Harawitz Treasurer Myron Galef 212 673 2096 [email protected] 212 249 1270 [email protected] Corres. Sec. Helen Bohmart Pine 212 932 7665 [email protected] Cover Photo Rec. Sec. Lee Backer Tulip fields in Red 212-662-6740 [email protected] by Chuck Pine ©2012 Pres. Emeritus Chuck Pine 212 932 7665 [email protected]
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 2 Competition Info Did You Know?
Here’s some information for our members regar- Did you know that the on-line PDF version of ding our Club competitions. All the details may Park West Camera Club’s Photo Notes offers you be found in the PWCC By-Laws (Article III) and/ advantages? or in the illustrated PWCC Competition Manual. Did you know that all of the website and e-mail There will be one slide, one print, and one pro- addresses are hyperlinks? That means if you jected digital image (PDI) competition each click on them, you will be taken to that website month. (if you are connected to the internet) or to your e-mail program to send an e-mail. Each member may submit up to two images each month. Did you know that the images are in color and of higher quality than when printed out? And, you Print and slide entries must be submitted to the can enlarge them a bit, too, for detail. Competition Committee by 6:45 p.m. on the eve- ning of the competition. PDIs must be via e-mail Did you know that reading Photo Notes on-line to
All entries must be sized, labeled, formatted, etc. Did you know that reading Photo Notes on-line as described in the Competition Manual. saves the Club over $100 each and every month?
Here’s a hint for the Year-End Competition held in June. Each member may submit up to four Photo Notes Staff prints, four slides, and/or four PDIs. Only im- Publisher: Paul Perkus ages which competed in this year’s (October Editor: Chuck Pine through May) monthly competitions are eligible. These entries must be unaltered from their origi- Committee: Bill Apple, Elsa Blum, nal entry. The Club does not keep records of Madeleine Barbara, Ruth Formanek, Sid which slides or PDIs you entered. You should Georgiou, Gladys Hopkowitz, Hedy make a list of all your entries (and their scores) Klein, Helen Pine, and Judy Rosenblatt for your own benefit when you are ready to Contributors: Bill Apple, Gerda Artes, submit to the Year-End Competition. Myrna Changar, Christine Doyle, Maria Fernandez, Ruth Formanek, George Hansen, Paul Perkus, Chuck Pine, Dolores Roddy, Judy Rosenblatt, Marlene Schonbrun
Photo Notes is produced on a MacBookPro using iWork Pages and Adobe Photoshop. All uncredited images are royalty-free clip art or oth- erwise believed to be in the public domain. Credited images remain the sole property of their copyright holders—all rights reserved.
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 3 Presidentʼs Letter Archival Digital Project by Myrna Harrison-Changar (continued from page 1) A series of events led me to become the Club’s See, nothing to it. And you don’t have to deal archivist. Here’s the background— with Congress or be Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces! Twenty years ago, or so, there was a flood at the West Side YMCA where Park West began and One alternative scheme, proposed at the April resided for more than 60 years. A lot of the stuff Business Meeting, is to have a co-President, to that was stored in a room called the “Mother share the above awesome responsibilities, there- Hubbard” got soaked. With the help of one of fore making the job half as difficult. Any volun- our members, George Archibald, we loaded old teers? I’ll be delighted to take you under my prints, a large scrapbook (that I didn’t even wing and show you the ropes, keep your ear to know existed), and whatever papers I could find the ground, shoulder to the wheel, and nose to into shopping bags and took them to my apart- the grindstone. ment further uptown on the West Side. There, George told me what to do with the water- soaked stuff—rinse it in fresh water and let it air dry. Fortunately, I have a large apartment. After several months of going through this process, the recovered materials were loaded into Club- supplied archival storage boxes and transported back to the Y.
Years later, when we were evicted from the YMCA, I took all those items back to my home where they have been ever since. From time to time, I take some of the images out of storage to Also, about all that overseeing of committees be displayed in PWCC exhibits. and officers: we have a great crew of experienced Now, “the times are a-changing,” both photo- committee chairs and club officers always ready graphically and physically. I will not be able to to step in and walk the extra mile. So it’s really provide library space forever. no sweat. Just show up and the job is mostly done. So, on Wednesday mornings, Bill Apple, George Hansen, Ed Lee, Marvin Fink, and I have been I look forward to hearing from all you eager meeting in my apartment and digitizing the col- candidates for President being nominated the lection. Long term, our goal is to preserve the next time I open the floor for the purpose. Club’s history; short term, we are preparing a presentation for the Otto Litzel dinner celebrat- All the best, ing our 75th year as a camera club. Call me if Paul you’d like to join us—212-663-1422.
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 4 PWCCʼs Yahoo Group B & H Event Space
Have an idea to go shooting but don’t want to go B & H Photo is offering free workshops in their alone? Have a question about Photoshop™, or newly redesigned presentation space. Here is a your camera, or some technique but don’t have sampling of some of the photography offerings someone to ask? Know of a great photo op or this month: workshop that you’d like to share with your fel- low Club members? What to do? Tuesday, May 15, 2012 Intro to the DSLR Ta Da! The Club’s Yahoo group is the answer to Speaker: David Brommer your questions. You can communicate with other PWCC members about these and more. All you Wednesday, May 16, 2012 have to do is sign up for the group. It’s easy and Video Essentials it’s free. Speaker: Aron Ranen
All you have to do is send an e-mail to the Club Monday, May 21, 2012 at
If you have a (free) Yahoo e-mail account you Thursday, May 24, 2012 can go to the group site. There you can see all Enchanted Earth prior e-mails, post pictures, post links to other Speaker: Barbara Leven websites of interest, and more. If you don’t have a Yahoo account, you can only send and receive Tuesday, May 29, 2012 e-mails. Finding Photographic Style Speaker: David Brommer Note: if you reply to a group e-mail, it will bounce to everyone. For some responses, it is Wednesday, May 30, 2012 more appropriate to write to one member only; Lighten Up and Shoot Style you will have to forward your response to them, Speaker: Michael Thompson as opposed to replying to the e-mail. If it’s an e- mail asking “Where can I buy an old Polaroid Wednesday, May 30, 2012 camera,” perhaps you want to reply because this Here I Am: Bushwick Now and Then information could be of interest to all. If you are Speaker: Meryl Meisler saying “thanks for the information,” for exam- ple, perhaps you should forward your response Sunday, June 10, 2012 to only that one member. Darshan and its Journey Speaker: Manjari Sharma
Check out the website
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 5 May Competition Results by George Hansen
PDI of the Month Gypsy Wagon by Eileen Duranko
Honor PDIs Explosion by Rain Bengis Old Havana Rooftops by Rain Bengis Montauk by Carole de Beer White Sands by Eileen Duranko Niagara Falls at Night by Inna Grubmair May PDI-of-the-Month Workers, Cuba by Natalie Manzino Gypsy Wagon Malecon, Cuba by Natalie Manzino ©2011 Eileen Duranko Figure on Building by Elena Pierpont Karate Kids by Elena Pierpont King Love by Chuck Pine Old Roadster by Helen Pine Swimming by Dolores Roddy
Print of the Month Teatro De La Ribera by Madeleine Barbara
Honor Prints Lace Curtains by Elsa Blum Ostrich Family by Madeleine Barbara
Slide of the Month May Slide-of-the-Month Mom’s Silhouette by Joan Slatkin Mom’s Silhouette ©2005 Joan Slatkin Honor Slides Freedom Tower by Joan Slatkin
May Print-of-the-Month Teatro De La Ribera ©2012 Madeleine Barbara
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 6 Final Cumulative Point Totals October 2011 through May 2012 Note on Cumulative Points by George Hansen If you compete in only one category (PDIs, PDIs prints, or slides) during the year, all your points are counted in that category and are Chuck Pine 122 used to determine the Yearly Cumulative Natalie Manzino 114 Points winners. Rain Bengis 112 Helen Pine 106 If, however, you are multi-talented and com- Myra Resnick 96 pete in 2 or 3 of the categories (slides, prints, Rita Russo 96 PDIs) during the year, all of your points are Carole de Beer 92 counted to determine the Yearly Cumulative Eileen Duranko 90 Combined Points winners. This category is Doreen Rose 86 not open for those members who compete in Paul Grebanier 86 only one of the categories (as listed above). Janna Amelkin 84 Evelyne Appel 82 Jerry Harawitz 82 Prints Hedy Klein 80 Madeleine Barbara 142 Nyla 70 Bill Apple 98 Dottie Mills 68 Elsa Blum 84 Dolores Roddy 68 Oggy Doytchinov 66 Donald Ruscigno 48 Ruth Formanek 40 Barbara Berg 22 Sarah Corbin 38 Fonda Charne 16 Marvin Fink 30 Joe Cruickshank 14 Noe Cosme 14 Marjorie Gurd 12 Marilyn Thypin 10 Combined Bob Wine 8 Inna Grubmair 90 Nicole Dosso 84 Slides George Hansen 80 Joan Slatkin 124 Elena Pierpont 80 Marilyn Fish 92 George Grubb 74 Susan Sigrist 84 Pierre Henri 12
Congratulations to all the winners and to all who participated in the May competition!
Thanks to those who made it all happen.
And a Special Thanks to our May judge, Barbara Leven.
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 7 Dated 35mm, with a smattering of 2-1/4 inch negatives, by Bill Apple from my flirtation with a twin-lens reflex cam- era. Probably enough silver in 6,000 negatives to Wednesday, I became Vivian Maier. manufacture flatware for 12.
Not to worry—no gender-reassignment surgery What spurred me to such bravery (foolhardiness, or fabulous new wardrobe. I merely channeled really) was my working with Myrna Changar on the woman. Club archives for PWCC’s 75th anniversary (Myrna’s team also includes George Hansen, If Maier’s name doesn’t ring a bell, she’s the re- Marvin Fink, and Ed Lee). We’re re-photograph- clusive nanny-turned-photographer whose work ing and scanning old prints, news clippings, a was discovered in a storage locker auctioned off gigantic waterlogged scrap book and other after her death in 2009: 40,000 images, mainly ephemera, collected since the Club’s founding in Chicago and New York, decades of street shoot- 1937 as the Hypo Hounds at the West Side Y. ing with her Rolleiflex. It is first-rate, a treasure (Hypo was the chemical fixing bath we used in trove and time capsule. darkrooms, to make prints permanent.) While Club archives are getting in shape, my The buyer, a young man, has quickly managed own files are another story. Both jobs involve to parlay Maier’s negatives into a full-time ca- (continued on next page) reer, a Maier machine to keep him comfortable the rest of his life. So now, after she’s gone, Archival My files’ very first contact Vivian Maier is suddenly hot. And she’s acquired sheet, October 1973, with shots from this “curator” (who bought the locker and the Ithaca, N.Y., and a portrait of the pho- rights), gallery shows, a book, even a website, tographer as a young man (inset).
Well, I’m still kicking and can report that I’ve dug out my own archives. The hard work is now cut out for me. No curator, gallery, book deal or website in sight. No helpers coming out of the woodwork for my photos. It started one Wednesday not long ago, and with much trepi- dation. I pulled out a dusty milk crate lying un- touched in a remote corner of a bedroom closet since the Reagan administration.
This “Apple Archive” holds, stacked vertically, nearly 200 9 x 12 envelopes, each bearing one roll of film: an 8 x 10 black-and-white “contact” sheet Scotch-taped to the front, a folder of negatives and work prints inside. The photos are mostly
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 8 detail work, dust, yellowed and flaking paper Election Procedures…continued (and annoying bits of Scotch tape with no more stickum)—and, yes, a measure of courage to face At the March business meeting we began our what’s past. Bittersweet. yearly election procedures when President Paul Perkus appointed the Nominating Committee. Pictured, of course, are people no longer with us, They presented their slate of at least one nomi- people we—I—knew back in the day, whether nee for each position on the Executive Commit- it’s George Archibald, a PWCC fixture who died tee (vice president, treasurer, corresponding/ of lung cancer during my first stint in the Club membership secretary, and recording secre- (from the mid-1970s through around 1990); or tary—a presidential candidate has not yet been my friend Marc Rabinowitz, who died in his 30s, nominated) to the membership at the April in 1989, of AIDS. business meeting.
Less emotionally charged, yet still provocative, Also at the April business meeting, nominations both my own and the Club archives hold photos were opened to the floor. At each succeeding of places and things that no longer exist: an an- Club meeting leading up to, but not including, cient elevated subway line, apartment buildings the May business meeting, nominations will with clotheslines (!), the Twin Towers. again be accepted from the floor.
If I ever get to all my old negatives—I’ve bought The third phase of the election process is the a professional 7200-dpi scanner for 35mm film— election itself. This occurs at the May business might I, too, be discovered someday, like Maier? meeting. If there is only one nominee for each I’ve been giving this possibility some thought in position, then the presiding officer at the meet- the glow of Maier’s late-coming celebrity. I may ing can ask the secretary to cast a unanimous have hit upon a way to jumpstart my own fame. vote for the slate. Should there be more than one nominee for any of the five positions, then a Suppose, instead of scanning negatives I put written ballot must be prepared and a secret those dusty envelopes in storage, like Maier. I’d vote taken for that/those posi- also plant biographical details there, so whoever tion(s). (The secretary can still finds the work will know I shot it. Now, the gen- cast the unanimous vote for ius part: I rent the locker in the name of Richard the unopposed candidates.) Avedon, then stop paying after a couple of months. When Manhattan Mini Storage auctions Members must be present to off the contents of this overlooked “Avedon” cast a vote. Ballots will be trove, they will actually unearth Bill Apple’s oeu- counted by the Nominating vre. Ta-dah! Committee and announced before the end of the business meeting. The ploy just might get me discovered before I die, which has got to be a happier ending than Finally, the outgoing officers are thanked and the Maier’s posthumous fame. After all, I deserve my incoming Executive Committee will be installed own curator. Every photographer should have at the Otto Litzel Memorial Dinner held on the one. Think how it could help cut unemployment. second Monday in June.
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 9 Wanted… Inquiries
My film scanner handles 35mm negatives nicely, but I have a few dozen rolls of 120 film in my archives that I’d like to digitize. I have a flatbed scanner capa- ble of 1200 dpi. I can lay the negatives on the scanner glass, but what else? Any tips to maximize quality?
Good question! The answer, however, might not be what you want to hear. Flatbed scanners can do a great job in scanning photographic prints and other printed material, but not so good with film (negatives or slides). There are two major reasons for their shortcomings.
First, they just don’t have the resolution neces- sary to do an acceptable job. If you’re looking to make a scan so you can put a digital file on the …volunteers to write for the Park West Camera Club’s website (or any other) or to send to Photo Club’s Photo Notes. Could be on a continuing ba- Notes for publication, a low-res scan may be ade- sis or as a one-shot deal. Experience not neces- quate. But, if you want to make prints you will sary. Enthusiasm is a must-have. Don’t worry need a higher resolution file that flatbed scan- about spelling or grammar or the like—our crack ners cannot provide (assuming that you want to editorial staff handles all the details. make a high-quality print at a larger-than- snapshot size). Some suggestions for individual articles or monthly columns are: Second, flatbed scanners are designed to work with reflected light from below the scanner bed • photo magazine reviews that is bounced back to the sensor. Film scans re- • photo workshop reviews quire the light to be transmitted through the • Club field trip reviews negative or slide from above. Most flatbed scan- • photographic gallery reviews ners do not have this capability. You either have • equipment reviews to replace the scanner’s lid with one that pro- • technical/technique articles vides the light or use film adaptors that have • photographic hints and tips built-in mirrors to reflect the light back through • computer hints and tips the film. • photographic poetry • photography puzzles (X-word, jumbles, Another option is to purchase a film scanner de- word-search, etc.) signed to scan 120/220 film—$1,000 and up • recipes from Club pot-luck dinners (mostly up)! Your best bet might be to find a • anything else you can dream up—as film-scanning service to do the job for you. long as it is photo- or Club-related.
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 10 Minutes Field Trip—Sid Georgiou noted that a trip to Poe by Christine Doyle House on May 5th that he is leading is not listed in the newsletter, however, Paul Perkus noted it April 30, 2012 is on the website. Paul also read out the locations of other field trips from the sign-up sheets. (This is a draft copy and has not yet been ap- proved by the membership.) Gallery—Maria Fernandez reminded members that the due date for members to submit images Call to Order—President Paul Perkus called the and fees for the Manhattan Borough President's meeting to order at approximately 7:02 p.m. He Office exhibit is May 15th. noted that we have a quorum. House—No report; committee chair not present. Minutes of Previous Meeting—The minutes of the March 26 meeting, which appeared in the Membership—Marlene Schonbrun said there are April 2012 newsletter were approved. 70 active members, eight of whom came to the Club from last year’s Expanding Visions classes. Treasurer’s Report—We have a total balance of Marlene and other Membership Committee $12,177 in the bank, of which $103 is for trips, members are doing profiles of all new members leaving an adjusted balance of $12,074. Myron for the Club newsletter. Club members present noted that spreadsheets showing club expenses commended the Membership Committee. going back to 1995 were available for review for those preparing committee budgets, which are Newsletter—Deadline for submitting new due at the May business meeting. Myron invited articles is next Monday, May 7th. members to send questions about budgets and Club expenses by email. Program—Marilyn Fish-Glynn announced upcoming speakers and judges. Committee Reports Archives—Myrna Harrison -Changar noted that Social—Sid Georgiou thanked Natalie Manzino Ed Lee, George Hansen, Marvin Fink, and Bill for bringing beverages for this evening. Apple are helping to digitize the Club scrapbook she has in her possession. She is hoping to be Website—No report; committee chair not able to use the digital archive as entertainment present. Paul Perkus said he would follow up for the Otto Litzel dinner, but it is a big job. about field trips that are missing from the site. It was noted that instructions and a form to submit Competition—Hedy Klein reported that mem- images to the Member Galleries are on the site. bers are still submitting images for competition that are neither sized nor named properly. The Workshop—Portfolio reviews were a big success Club agreed that she did not have to contact and it was agreed to continue them next year. these members to correct their images—they Jerry Harawitz asked members to send him new would be displayed “as is.” It was suggested ideas for workshops for the fall. that Chuck Pine determine whether the projector allows the competition images to be sized larger. Ad Hoc Survey Form Committee—No report.
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 11 Old Business Next Year's Budget—Paul Perkus reminded Club Auction, April 9th—Myron Galef noted that committee chairs to submit their budget request the club collected $756 at the recent auction and for next year at the next business meeting. The netted a profit of $250. Executive Committee will send committee chairs their current budget and actual expenses. Otto Litzel Dinner – 75th PWCC Anniversary, June 11th—Sid Georgiou reported that he is still New Business From the Floor negotiating with restaurants and will have a full Competition Rules—Sarah Corbin suggested that report of options available next week. Sugges- the competition rules be changed back to allow- tions are Arte, East of Eighth, a Russian restau- ing members to submit a total of 6 images per rant in the Flatiron district, the Salmagundi month (two per category), as opposed to the cur- Club, and Il Cortile on Mulberry Street. Cere- rent rule, which limits members to a total of two monies and all other activities will take place at images each per month. Following a spirited the selected restaurant. The expected cost will be discussion of the pros and cons of the proposed $40-$50 per person. rule change, in which a majority of the members present participated, a motion was made to Manhattan Borough President's Office Exhibition, change the competition rule to allow members to September 2012—The exhibit's theme is “On My submit a total of 4 images per month, no more Block & Around the Corner.“ than two in any category. The motion was seconded and then was approved. Memorial Day Weekend Trip to Washington, D.C.— Trip cancelled. Other—The subjectivity of some competition judges was noted. Marilyn Fish-Glynn respond- Other: Nominating Committee—Sid Georgiou ed that Club policy was to have a variety of reported that all the members of the Executive judges look at our work and that their comments Committee have agreed to serve another term, should be taken with a grain of salt. except for the president. No members have shown an interest in running for president for Other—Paul Perkus asked for suggestions as to the coming year. It was suggested that the office where to hold the Chuck Pine Labor Day Picnic be opened to two people who could serve as co- this year. presidents. The Club agreed and the Nominating Committee was charged with contacting mem- Other—Paul Perkus noted that the Executive bers willing to serve as co-presidents Committee was holding a special meeting on the future of the Club at the Stage Door Deli (33rd/ New Business From the Chair 8th Ave.) on Tuesday, May 15th. All concerned Nominations—Paul Perkus explained that he PWCC members are urged to attend. would call for nominations from the floor at each meeting until the May business meeting. He then Good and Welfare From the Chair—None. opened the floor for nomination. Seeing none, nominations were closed for the evening Good and Welfare From the Floor Sarah Corbin said she received first place in a PWP competition opening May 11th and the
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 12 Colorado Center for Alternative Techniques Call for Entries—MBPO 2012 accepted one of her images. by Christine Doyle & Maria Fernandez Gallery Committee Co-Chairs Marilyn Fish-Glynn noted that the Soho Photo Gallery Show of Ruth Gruber’s work is opening Our next PWCC exhibit is scheduled for the May 3rd and on May 24th a documentary of her month of September, 2012, at the Office of the life will be screened. Manhattan Borough President. The title of the show is On My Block & Around the Corner. This Adjournment encompasses images taken on the block, street, The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. or immediate area (“around the corner”) where you live, but each individual artist’s submissions should be limited to the same area/location.
Works do not have to be all the same size but each individual artist’s work must be matted (ei- ther white or off-white) and framed (simple black or silver metal frames) in a similar manner. Accessory Quiz Members are invited to submit up to 6 images Can you name this photography accessory? each; entry fees are: 1 - 3 images, $10.00; 4 - 6 im- No prizes, just a fun challenge! ages, $20. Payment, cash or check, should be re- Send your guesses to
The Club requests participants to submit their images, digitally prepared and sized as for com- petition, and titled with the theme, your name, and image title, to
Answer next month in Photo Notes. Because of time pressures in the final days lead- ing up to the opening of the MBPO exhibit, sub- Last Month’s Answer stituting different images on the installation date This is a Film Leader Re- will not be allowed. triever. It is used to re- trieve the tongue on a roll Volunteers are needed to receive images at the of film that has been acci- MBPO [week of August 27, 2012; exact date to be dentally rewound into the determined], help with hanging pictures, mak- film cassette. ing labels, and other administrative work as nec- essary. Volunteers are also needed to plan and Last Month’s Correct Answer organize the Opening Night Reception [date to Paul Perkus be determined].
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 13 Expanding Visions 18 of the photographic art’s classic compositional techniques and how to use it. Get out your calendars. Find a bright red or blue Magic Marker. Circle each and every Thursday Not too complicated, is it? Lots of fun and edu- from May 10th through July 5th. These are the cational; but most of all, it will expand your vi- dates for the all new version of the ever-popular sion in the photographs you take, and allow you Expanding Visions. to grow as a photographer.
As usual, this nine-week class will be free to Here’s the class syllabus: Park West Camera Club members, and only $75 for non-members (or $15 per session up to the May 10 Introduction to the Class $75 maximum payment). Please note, this is a raise Overview of Equipment/Expo- in price—the first increase in 17 years! sure/Etc. Preview of trips and techniques Expanding Visions is a marriage of a field trip May 17 Trip #1 Columbus Circle class with a class in photographic seeing. This reflecTION nine week class will open your mind to new ways of looking at photographs, subject matter, May 24 Trip #2 South Street Seaport equipment, and techniques. It will also allow isolaTION you to explore parts of the City that you may not May 31 Review of Trips 1 & 2 have experienced before. June 7 Trip #3 Roosevelt Island The format of the class is simple: We start with filtraTION an introductory session. We will discuss equip- June 14 Trip #4 Coney Island ment, techniques, and the specifics of the course; radiaTION a term project will be assigned. For the next two weeks we’ll go on field trips to different places June 21 Review of Trips 3 & 4 around town and work on the assignments. The June 28 Trip # 5 Times Square following session will bring us back indoors destabilizaTION where we’ll share our photographs, talk about our experiences, and evaluate what and how July 5 Review of Trip 5 & Term Projects well we learned. Two more weeks of trips and assignments will be followed by another review. As usual, the instructor of this class is the creator Then, the last trip and assignment and the final of the Expanding Visions concept, and Park West review (including the term project presenta- Camera Club’s president emeritus, Chuck Pine. tions). Fees (for those non-PWCC members taking the The basic thread running through the assign- class) are due at the first session (or at each ses- ments in Expanding Visions 18 is abstracTION— sion if paying by the week). Cash or check only. all of the weekly assignments will have to do with various aspects of removing your images Let us know if you’ll be attending by sending a from reality. The term project will deal with one message to
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 14 Gallery Watching new light. Indeed, Darzacq had insured that they by Ruth Formanek and Judy Rosenblatt collaborate in the whole shooting process, from picking their settings and clothing to assuming Denis Darzacq: Act—Meditations on the Disabled their particular positions in space. In the first Body at Laurence Miller Gallery, 20 West 57th image you see on entering the exhibit, a young Street, Wednesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 man stands in front of two paintings of mythic p.m., through June 15—by Judy figures, reflecting their gestures with his own. The exhibit’s title, Act, emphasizes this approach This exhibit may be a “first” in terms of subject in which people often portrayed as passive vic- matter shown in a photo gallery: the whole show tims of their fate become anything but that. One is devoted to portraits of people with disabiliti- image shows a group running on a hillside aim- es—physical, mental, or both—such as Down ing straight at the camera (and thus the viewer) syndrome or cerebral palsy. The photographs are in a moment of exuberant freedom. Darzacq de- approximately 3’ x 4’ or somewhat smaller, and liberately removed his subjects from the institu- in color. They are taken in many settings, from tional settings in which many of them lived. As museum to countryside to home. I immediately he put it, “I wanted these broken or deformed felt that Darzacq was trying to break down peo- bodies to be represented in places associated to ple’s stereotyped views of this population by beauty. What was important was that they take a portraying them atypically and with great dig- position in symbolic public spaces, that they oc- nity. Ruth, on the other hand, felt a whiff of ex- cupy them because they are citizens like any ploitation in them—of a photographer perhaps other and that these places belong to them.” trying to advance himself by dealing with such (conversation with Virginie Chardin) unusual subject matter. She felt the subjects might not even understand what the project was Darzacq was born in 1961 in Paris, where he about. lives and works. He graduated from the French National School for Decorative Arts in 1986. He has exhibited in France and elsewhere and has work in numerous collections. In 2007 he won a World Press Photo Award. He doesn't strike me as a photographer who needs to make a name for himself.
Darzacq’s past work was also concerned with Jack Riley. Act 41 figures in space. In his last exhibit here, Hyper, he © Denis Darzacq photographed street dancers leaping or appear- ing to levitate amidst supermarket shelves stuf- The woman at the gallery desk overheard our fed with products they probably couldn't afford. discussion and rushed over to assure us that this As to his choice of people with disabilities, Dar- was not true at all; the people in the photographs zacq said, “After my last work, which consisted knew full well what was intended, and had been in photographing youth at their physical peak, it delighted to come to the opening in Paris and was also a way to tread an unknown path, that is realize that the public might now see them in a to shrug off my fear of others and differences.”
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 15 He sought his subjects in places where they utes to their sense of failure. She would not want might already feel comfortable with some sort of a color photograph of her child to be on exhibit. self-expression—a theater or athletic group—and also in regular institutions, in France, England, Evgeny Mokhorev: Photographs 1991-2010, and the U.S. In the image that haunts me the Nailya Alexander Gallery, 41 East 57th Street, most, we are looking down on a young couple Suite 704, through June 9—by Ruth lying together on an oriental rug, hands en- twined. The feeling between them—though they Mokhorev, born in 1967 and living in Saint Pe- were upside down from each other—was palpa- tersburg, began photographing as a child. Since ble. I later learned that they both were com- the late 1980s he has explored the marginal lives pletely paralyzed. Yet here they were, willing of adolescents in the streets and had his first ex- participants in a photography project, even hibit in Paris in 1992, soon after the collapse of though they had to be hoisted into position. the Soviet Union. More recently Mokhorev abandoned his street photography in favor of I felt these photographs to be beautiful, accessi- more ‘artsy’ compositions using young and fre- ble, and moving, although I realize that they are quently nude models. The present show includes not the whole story of these people's lives. I’ll 24 silver gelatin prints photographed since 1991. give Darzacq the last word: “Some people have said to me, ‘How dare you photograph disabled people.’ And I said, ‘How dare you NOT photo- graph them.‘ “ (interview with Jonas Cuenin) I urge you to visit this exhibit and see if you agree.
Ruth’s comments on Darzacq: As Judy mentioned, I saw exploitation in Dar- zacq’s choice of subjects: Although they may have enjoyed participating in this project, it was not clear that all of them understood what was afoot—a show in a New York gallery of large Untitled (Masks) prints of themselves and their very visible handi- ©2006 Evgeny Mokhorev caps and deformities. Yes, showing these photo- Staging scenes to be photographed suggests that graphs breaks a taboo, but one needs to consider the photographer has an idea, a unique percep- the rights of the subjects and their parents. tion of the world, an ideology—something that led him/her to create the scene. However, as I was able to speak to the mother of a child with beautiful and evocative as most of Mokhorev’s Down syndrome and asked her to react to Dar- silver gelatin prints are, each of them can lead to zacq’s project. She was bitter about her experi- multiple interpretations rather than one. Some ences and angry with people who didn’t under- images are dreamlike, others evoke comparisons stand her and her family’s suffering. It was im- of person-machine relationships (reminiscent of portant for her to tell me that her other children Chaplin in “Modern Times”), or relationships were normal: an impaired child represents a between humans and parts of buildings. Other blow to the self-esteem of parents and contrib- images are of menacing just-before-a-rape mo-
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 16 ments. Mostly they are puzzling. Whereas Mok- Now, in post-Soviet society, photographers are horev’s earlier photos of street teenagers were no longer constrained by the state, have contact simple, revealing and affecting—even humor- with photographers internationally, and are in- ous: one dilapidated wall behind the teenagers is fluenced by international trends. Yet, remnants inscribed with four-letter words—in English! of earlier themes still exist. One example is anti- feminism, an element of contemporary photo- Some of his newer images are dramatic and the- graphic practice not only in Russia, but through- atrical; all his backgrounds seem to be in need of out the Eastern bloc, according to Rosler, writing renovation (paint is usually peeling); his models after 1994. look serious, sleepy and alienated. Why Mok- horev needed to add masks or even shmattes like As I realized the importance of the relationship lace curtains around his models is puzzling and between photography and politics, I was re- moves his images perilously close toward fash- minded of one of my heroes, one of the best pho- ion photography. International influences are tographers ever—Aleksandr Rodchenko (1891- suggested by his teenage scenes (reminiscent of 1956). Internationally most influential, he photographs by Larry Clark), as well as by the worked during the fertile early twentieth cen- dreamy, passive nudes presently popular. The tury among painters, sculptors, photographers, juxtaposition of figures against industrial back- etc. His photography was influenced by his so- grounds fits into the current ‘cult of ruins’ cialist ideology: he advocated that the creation of (Huyssen), but may have special meanings to a a new society (after the 1917 Revolution) called post-Soviet photographer. for the creation of a new and non-capitalist way to see the world. Rodchenko often shot his sub- Despite my reservations I liked Mokhorev’s jects from odd angles—to shock the viewer and work and got interested in current Russian pho- to postpone recognition, and used distortions tography. Aside from one article by Martha Ros- that we still imitate. His photography was so- ler, a Brooklyn, photographer www.russian cially engaged, innovative, and opposed to a photographs.net/doc.vphp?id=181) I found only painterly aesthetic. one expensive book by Stephen Hutchings (I didn’t buy it). In the 1930s, with Stalin gaining absolute power Rosler reports on a meeting in 1994 on post- over the arts, Rod- Soviet photography, which, like all Russian cul- chenko was soon out of ture, is in a transitional state. In the past, photog- favor and he was ex- raphy was unsupported as an art form by the pelled from the artists’ Soviet state except when it was in the govern- organizations. Photog- ment’s interests: to promote heroic Soviet raphy in Russia seems achievements in life, labor, and war. Photogra- to have come full cir- phic propaganda was used in particular to en- cle—from the freedom hance the cult of Stalin’s personality, which of artistic ex- tainted it and created a general distrust of the Osip Brik pression dur- medium itself. ©1924 Aleksandr Rodchenko ing Rod- chenko’s time
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 17 in the 1920s, to its total suppression and sole use ized into four groups: her student years in as propaganda, until the fall of the regime in Rhode Island, 1975-78; her last student year 1989—to renewed freedom, of which Mok- spent in Italy, 1977-78; her time in New York, horev’s work is an example. 1979-81, and an interlude at the MacDowell Col- ony in New Hampshire in 1980. Francesca Woodman, Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Avenue (at 89th Street), through June Since space will not allow for lengthy comments 13—by Ruth and Judy: on Woodman, we would like to sum up our reac- tions by saying we found both her work and her Francesca Woodman, born in 1958 in Colorado to life story haunting. There are many examples of artist-parents, jumped to her death from a loft on her images, along with voluminous commentary, New York’s lower east side in 1981. Educated in to be found online, but we urge Club members private schools in the U.S. and in Italy, where the not to miss this important exhibit. family had a home, and a photographer early on, she entered the Rhode Island School of Design in 1975. Woodman’s short life shows a profusion of parkwestcameraclub.org photographs that seem to have captured the in- terest and imagination of people both in the arts Have you checked out the Club’s website re- and the public at large, judging by the large cently? It has all sorts of new features for you crowds at the Guggenheim exhibit. to explore. Check out the newly designed Field Trips pages. The current issue of Photo This exhibit, which includes more than 120 Notes and all past issues of the Club’s news- printed vintage letters are available for you to download and photographs read. The gallery section has winners from (selected from our competitions and members’ images. over 500 im- ages), spans Woodman’s brief six-year career and claims to be the first compre- hensive survey of her work in Untitled North America. © Francesca Woodman Most of the im- Why not assemble a small portfolio of your ages are silver work for posting on our site? It’ll give you an gelatin prints approximately 13” x 13”. Also in- ego boost the size of Alaska, and it’ll improve cluded are examples of her videos and ‘artist’s the Club’s image as well. books,’ as well as the much larger blueprint studies of caryatid-like figures for her 1980 Tem- ple project. The work is chronologically organ-
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 18 Meet the Member member for several years. She left the first camera by Gerda Artes club since it was difficult to get to, and left the second club because it didn't offer many field trips. Dolores discovered PWCC through the Expanding Visions Class in May of 2011. She participated in Dolores is thrilled to have found PWCC through Ex- three field trips and valued the evenings when cri- panding Visions. She has participated in many of the tiqing the photos took place. Expanding Visions also monthly competitions, and feels this will help her im- gave her the opportunity to go out on shoots and meet prove her photographic skills. new people sharing the same interests. We welcome you, Dolores, and are glad you became a Dolores used a member. point and shoot camera for many Meet the Member years. However, by Marlene Schonbrun when she traveled to Africa for the Elena Pierpont first time fifteen joined PWCC years ago and used in early Sep- her point and shoot tember after camera, she was looking up deeply disap- pointed in the qual- photography ity. On her next trip clubs on the to Africa (Kenya) internet and two years later, she finding three bought a camera with interchangeable lenses, includ- of interest in ing one very long lens. To make sure she was better the New York prepared to take good photos, she took a photo work- area. After shop out West, and has since participated in other checking two photo workshops, traveling to Costa Rica and the of them out, she chose PWCC because of our Falkland Islands. She now uses the Canon EOS 30D. friendly environment and the schedule of photo- graphic activities available to members on a weekly basis.
Elena was bitten by the photography bug in her 20s when her younger sister was taking a pho- tography course in high school and learning how to use the darkroom. Her sister’s enthusiasm was so contagious that Elena found herself rent- ing a darkroom space, taking a class at the New School, and eventually setting up a darkroom in a walk-in closet at home. Although it didn’t have She then joined two S & K running water, everything was pretty organized, camera clubs and was a © Dolores Roddy and she was working there almost every night.
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 19 slow down and think more. While she hasn’t de- veloped any of the film yet, she plans to take this camera on a trip with her daughter, and will use slide and black-and-white film. She’s quite ex- cited about this leap back into the past.
Elena participates in the Club competitions, goes on many field trips, and is a great co-chair of the Membership Committee.
We are delighted to have you in the Club, Elena. Tulips © Elena Pierpont Meet the Member by Dolores Roddy Her father had several cameras, and was the family photographer. He gave her one of his Gerda Artes does a lot of traveling and has been cameras, an Olympus, when she was in her 20s. interested in photography for a long time. She However, when her career as a facilities manager spoke to Susan Hoehn about her interest and became a dominant force, she dropped photog- discussed how she could get more involved to raphy for 20+ years. improve her skills. Susan told her about PWCC and the value of belonging to a photo club. In years past, Elena was mostly interested in Gerda had never photographing landscape and animals. Now, she been a member of describes herself as interested in everything and a photography attributes this broadened horizon to membership club, and the idea in the Club. Her horizon now includes photo- appealed to her. graphing landscapes, animals, taking candids of However, she people, and shooting unusual subjects. For ex- postponed joining ample, she decided to take pictures of iron grids because of her ex- and sees them everywhere. She’s having great tensive traveling. fun with this project. (After she discussed her iron grid project in this interview, I started to see Gerda’s first digital them everywhere as well.) Elena uses both camera was a point Picasa and Photoshop Elements to edit her im- and shoot. As she got more involved, like many ages, and is enjoying this process as well. of us, she wanted to get a better camera and bought the Nikon D3100. She enjoys shooting Since joining PWCC, and seeing such great pho- nature, people, and anything that looks interest- tography from others, she feels the bar has been ing to her. raised for her to take better pictures. She recently unearthed her old film camera, bought film, and As she became more immersed into taking pic- started to take pictures with it. It made Elena re- tures, she began to wonder what more could be alize that taking pictures with film makes her done to improve her images, so decided to pur-
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 20 Sonya got interested in photography in her teens when the family took a trip to the Botanical Gar- dens. Her mother had the camera, but when the photos were developed, Sonya realized that she wasn't in any of them. That was because she had taken over the camera and discovered how much she enjoyed taking photos.
In her profession, Sonya works with an architect, so naturally her interest is in photographing buildings, bridges, towers; anything to do with Tasmania chase Photoshop Elements. architecture. Sonya is not interested in photo- © Gerda Artes Now came the hard part… graphing flowers. She says “it has been done to learning how to use it. To death, with colors etc. in every conceivable way.” embark upon this journey, she is now taking Give her an architectural structure and she’s classes. happy.
So far, Gerda has not entered the Club’s competi- PWCC is the tions, but hopes to in the future. She is taking a first camera trip to Australia for a few weeks and hopes to club Sonya return with many wonderful pictures. has joined and she is very We welcome Gerda to PWCC and look forward happy she did. to all that she brings to the Club. While she is very interested Meet the Member in entering the competi- by Gerda Artes tions, her busy work Propeller schedule does not allow ©2012 Sonya Smith Sonya Smith is another member of PWCC who her the time to do so. came to the club through Expanding Visions. She She’s looking forward to when her schedule truly enjoyed the changes so that she can participate in this aspect classes, the cri- of the Club. tiques, the great company, and the Sonya joined PWCC in the Summer of 2011 and field trips. An is definitely renewing her membership. She ea- added bonus for her gerly awaits another Expanding Visions class. was that the money paid for Expanding And after all I have heard about Expanding Vi- Visions was incor- sions, I can hardly wait either!! porated into her Welcome, Sonya. dues for Club mem- bership for the fol- lowing year.
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 21 Club Photos
All photos ©2012 by George Hansen
Right—Susan Sigrist displaying the May Print-of- the-Month, Madeleine Barbara’s Teatro De Lariber 2.
Below—Chuck Pine auctioning off a Pentax DSLR at the PWCC annual auction, in early April.
Bottom—View of the Club Auction from the back of the room. Up front are Chuck Pine, Chuck El- ster, and Myron Galef (seated). Can you name the PWCC members seeing only the backs of their heads and their clothing?
All PWCC members are urged to submit images for this page.
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 22 Fireworks Over the Big Apple How to Shoot Fireworks by Chuck Pine The following is a list of legal fireworks displays that have been issued permits by the FDNY: Fireworks abound in the New York City metro- politan area every summer. See the article to the Wednesday, May 23rd, 10 p.m. at Pier 84/44th left for some photo ops in town—many others Street over the Hudson River (Intrepid Museum) are available around the area. Getting good pic- tures of fireworks is pretty easy—if you know Saturday, June 23rd, 9:45 p.m.over the New York what you’re doing. There are only two basic re- City Harbor in front of Ellis Island quirements: 1) a time exposure, and Sunday, June 24th, 10:30 p.m. at Pier 54/14th 2) a solid platform for the camera. Street over the Hudson River 1. Time Exposure. A fireworks projectile (some- Wednesday, July 4th, 9 p.m. over the Hudson times called a skyrocket) takes time from the River from 23rd Street to 42nd Street—this is moment it streaks up from its launch tube, to the Macy*s extravaganza, the largest fireworks dis- peak of its explosion, until the last traces of its play in the world color fade. As the rocket sails skyward, the crowd has time to exclaim “Ooh!” Then as it ex- Friday, July 6th, 9:00 p.m. over Jamaica Bay at plodes in a burst of trails of color, the crowd has Breezy Point off Rockaway Peninsula time to exclaim, “Ahh!” From launch to fadeout takes a few seconds. Your exposure, therefore, All summer long, every Friday night, 9 p.m. (or should be long enough to capture all, or part, of when the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball game this progression. How long should your expo- ends) over the Atlantic Ocean at Coney Island sures be? At least one second long, sometimes (on the boardwalk in front of the Wonder Wheel) two seconds, and some exposures even longer.
There’s another reason for a time exposure. As bright as fireworks look to us against a dark sky, they are not so bright that most films can record them in a blink of an eye. If you were to set your shutter speed for, say, 1/60th of a second, not only will the lens be open for only a moment of the firework’s life, but the exposure may also be too brief to record any image at all! With ISO 100 or faster settings, a one-second exposure should be enough.
2. Solid Platform. Regardless of your camera, the second requirement is a solid platform Coney Island Night to hold the camera motionless during ©2008 by Chuck Pine the time-exposure. This is pretty much
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 23 a need for all time-exposure photography. The burst of color, horizontal may work better. In best platform is a tripod. It provides a solid, other words, use both, depending on your par- easy-to-carry base on which to hold the camera ticular situation and goals. still for an extended exposure. All SLRs and most point-and-shoots (film or digital) have a What focal-length should you use? If you have a threaded opening on their baseplate that permits choice, go for a “normal” or slightly wide-angle you to attach the camera to a tripod. A tripod is lens. Since your position relative to the rocket just the beginning. You also want the camera to bursts will determine the exact focal length, use be as vibration-free as possible during the expo- this as your guide: You want the frame of your sure. Since pressing the shutter button can cause image to extend so that it includes a good bit of the camera to shake, the foreground in the you avoid this by using bottom (more on this in a cable release. The ca- a moment) and “head- ble release enables you room” above the top- to press the shutter but- most firework trails. ton without touching Chances are you’ll need the camera directly. at least your normal and possibly a wide-angle (If you don’t have a tri- setting for this. pod handy, don’t give up. Try placing your Where should you set camera on a makeshift focus? Set your lens for solid platform, such as a infinity. If your camera fence post, a railing, or a is an autofocus model, wall. None of them is as turn off the autofocus steady or convenient as and use manual focus. a tripod, but they’re Autofocus will work, much better than hand- maybe, but not as fast as holding.) you’d like and certainly not as fast as a lens set at (If you don’t have a ca- infinity in manual ble release, again, don’t mode. give up and go home quite yet. Although using a cable release is better What aperture should you use? You might think than shooting without one, shooting without a that because the sky is so dark you need a wide cable release is better than not taking the shot at aperture. Just the opposite is true. Remember, all. Just be gentle while tripping the shutter.) your objective is not to record the dark sky ex- cept as background. You want to record the in- Now to a few specifics: Which way should you tensely bright streaks of color. Were you to use a hold the camera? If you’re going to capture the wide open aperture during your time-exposure, rocket’s upward trail and the blast, a vertical ori- you would probably overexpose the colors. Re- entation is called for. If you’re zooming in for the sult: They would “burn out” and fade. To inten-
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 24 sify the color, therefore, use a smaller aperture is that your image include some interesting like f-8, or f-11, or even f-16. Which you use de- foreground objects. pends on your ISO setting and the intensity of the color bursts. I suggest you check your histo- One trick gram or (especially if you’re shooting film) you may bracket your shots, using different apertures. want to try is to use flash, Here are some suggested starting points for ISO built-in or setting and aperture combinations: accessory, to ISO 100 f -8 light the ISO 200 f -11 foreground ISO 400 f -16 object. Let’s Remember, use your LCD screen to check for say you want composition, exposure, etc., and make correc- to capture tions as needed. If you’re shooting film: bracket, the crowds of people in the foreground, but they bracket, bracket—it’s the only way to be sure. are in the dark. How can you add light to the heads during your exposure? Your flash can do How many frames should you shoot? Expect to the trick. Keep the camera on manual exposure shoot plenty! Every burst is beautiful and you control. Set up on the tripod as already ex- can’t predict which one will be the best. Be pre- plained. But in this case, focus on the people. pared to change rolls of film/media cards and With a wide angle lens the fireworks will proba- batteries quickly and in the dark. Practice! My bly be within your depth of field. If not, the advice, shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. fireworks may not be sharply in focus, but this lack of sharpness is probably acceptable because How do you set your camera for a long shutter the fireworks are streaks of light and color, not speed and small aperture at the same time? On detailed objects. most cameras, switch to the manual exposure mode. Set the aperture to the f-stop you want (or There’s one more “trick” for you to consider. bracket around the one you’ve chosen). Set the Why limit yourself to just one explosion? Try shutter speed to the ‘B’ setting—that stands for keeping your shutter open long enough to cap- ‘bulb.’ ture the glow of a few fireworks, one after the other. To do this, experiment with longer expo- Now, there’s an additional step to consider that sures—10 seconds, 20 seconds, and even longer. can take your pictures out of the ordinary and You can get some dazzling results! Just hold make them extra-special. The burst of a sky- your hat, or some other opaque object, in front rocket, by itself, is pretty. But it’s not particularly of the lens between the bursts of color. interesting. What can you do to add interest? Consider including a statue in the foreground, The bottom line(s) at this kind of shoot: have with the fireworks framing it. Or silhouettes of fun, shoot lots of exposures, and experiment the onlookers to give a sense of location to your with all sorts of different techniques. you never picture. Or a tree. Whatever. The important thing know what you’ll get; and isn’t that one of the joys of photography?
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 25 Year-End Competition writer of our “Gallery Watching” column]. One of Don’s recent projects has been photographing The Year-End Competition will be held on June ancient American Indian burial mounds around 4th. It is different from our monthly competi- the country. tions: the rules for entering are different; the judging is different; the rewards are different. Moshe and Rivka Katvan met while attending the School of Visual Arts and have been partners Each Club member may submit up to four in life and photography ever since. They are yin prints, four slides, and four PDIs. But, and this is and yang of the studio, with each one’s unique a big but, all the submissions must have been skills combining to create a whole greater than entered into one of the eight monthly competi- the sum of its parts. Moshe shoots all still life tions held this year (October through May). It projects, while they collaborate on people shoots. doesn’t matter whether they were awarded hon- Rivka is well-known for her photographic stud- ors or got a ‘C,’ they are eligible for this competi- ies of the Broadway theatre, as seen in her recent tion. But, the images may not be altered from the Abrams’ book, Backstage: Broadway Behind the way they were originally entered. You can’t re- Curtain. Rivka and Moshe presented their portfo- print a print; you can’t spot out a speck of dust; lios to PWCC last month as our guest speakers. you can’t even crop a slide with a piece of tape— it must be the original, unaltered image. Conceptual Photography © Moshe Katvan There will be three judges. Each of the three will score from one to nine points for each image. A Club member (one who is good at math) will add the scores and immediately call out the to- tals. Pictures can accumulate anywhere from 3 to 27 points. For each group of entries—prints, slides, and PDIs—there will be one winner (the Print-, Slide- and PDI-of-the-Year) plus four from Backstage runners-up. © Rivka Katvan
The judges for this year are:
Don Burmeister is a Brook- lyn photographer and owner and director of the (now defunct) Sate-T- Gallery (also in Brooklyn). In addition, Don writes re- views of exhibits for The Every Club member should attend New York Photo Review Criel Mound, West Virginia this event. You’ll have a great time. (dot com) [as does our very © Don Burmeister own Ruth Formanek, co-
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 26 Otto Litzel Memorial Dinner The all-inclusive cost (complete meal, taxes, and tip) is a mere $40—a bargain these days. This year’s annual Otto Litzel Memorial Year- End Dinner, celebrating Park West’s 75th anni- The Social Committee will be accepting reserva- versary, will be held at the historic Salmagundi tions and collecting payments at all Club meet- Club, which is located at 47 Fifth Avenue, be- ings. You may also send a check to our treasurer, tween 11th and 12th Streets. The date is Monday, Myron Galef, at 345 East 73rd Street, Apt. #8L, June 11th. NY, NY 10021. Please make the check out to Park West Camera Club (or just PWCC, if you’re in a For those of hurry); and please, do not send cash through the us who need mail. Please note: reservations will not be ac- a place to cepted without full payment!!! hang out after work and be- Presentations of awards and other surprises will fore the fes- immediately follow the meal. tivities begin, the club will The Salmagundi Club, in Greenwich Village, is open to us for convenient to public transportation. The down- cocktails (cash town M 1, M2, M3, and M5 buses run right in bar) at 6 p.m. front of the door. The crosstown M8 and M14 Dinner will be (any letter) buses stop at Fifth Avenue and leave served begin- you a short walk to Salmagundi. The 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ning at 7 p.m. and 6 trains, as well as the B, D, F, L, N, Q, R, (more or less). and V lines, all have 14th Street stops that are within two blocks of Fifth Avenue. The dinner will be served buffet style. You may eat as much as you like. On-street parking in the area is difficult, but not impossible (if you’re the lucky type). Parking ga- From past experience, the meal starts out with a rages are available and expensive—after all, it is choice of salads and dressings. This is followed Manhattan! However you get there, subway, by a selection of main courses,(usually there are bus, car, or cab, this is the Club social event of beef, fish, chicken, and vegetarian choices), side the year. dishes (including vegetables ,potatoes and/or other starchy dishes, etc.), and breads and Don’t miss it! spreads. This will be followed, of course, by a selection of desserts and coffee, decaf, and teas.
Soft drinks are available from the bar at no cost. Wine may be included as well—we’re working on it. Other alcoholic beverages, if you like, are on a pay-as-you-sip basis.
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 27 Schedule of Activities York Water Taxi free shuttle/ferry to Ikea. Alter- natively, you may take the subway (2, 3, 4, 5, M, All Club Monday night meetings take place at N, or R trains) to Borough Hall in Brooklyn and the Soho Photo Gallery located at 15 White take the free Ikea bus to the store. You may also Street, between West Broadway and the Avenue drive to the Brooklyn of the Americas (6th Avenue) unless indicated Ikea (use your GPS otherwise in the listings below. Meeting sites for to get the directions). other Club activities are included within the list- We’ll all meet up in ing. Following the schedule of activities are de- front of the Ikea en- tailed directions to each of our meeting sites. trance at approxi- mately 11:30 a.m. Check the Park West Camera Club Website This up-and-coming
* Saturday, May 12 Field Trip—Red Hook As we continue our exploration of New York City neighborhoods, we head over to Brooklyn and the area known as Red Hook. One of our Kings County locals, Natalie Manzino, 917-757- 7086, will be our fearless leader. We’ll meet at from the series Mommie Pier 11, Slip A at the foot of Wall Street and the © Arlene Gottfried East River at 10:45 a.m. and take the 11 a.m. New
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 28 has exhibited at the Leica Gallery in New York tates with incredible land- and in Tokyo, and at the Smithsonian Institution scaping, and much more in Washington, D.C., among others. She is the to whet your photo- recipient of numerous awards, including the graphic appetite. To get Berenice Abbott International Competition of there, we’ll meet our field Women's Documentary Photography. Gottfried trip leader, Susan Sigrist, is the author of Midnight (powerHouse Books, 212-758-0036, at Penn Sta- 2003) and The Eternal Light (Dewi Lewis Publish- tion’s New Jersey Transit ing, 1999). A lecturer and a teacher, Gottfried ticket area (8th Avenue lives and works in New York City. The curtain and 31st Street) at 11 a.m. raiser tonight is longtime PWCC member and We’ll take the 11:29 a.m. Bearded Iris the Club’s archivist, Myrna Harrison-Changar. Montclair-Boonton Line to ©2007 Chuck Pine Mountain Avenue/Upper * Tuesday, May 15 Montclair. From the station, we’ll walk up Laurel Special Meeting Place, over the train tracks, to Upper Mountain Avenue, turn right and walk two-tenths of a mile The Executive Committee of PWCC invites all of to the garden.. Admission is free but donations its members to an informal and open discussion are accepted. about the future of the Club. This may include your thoughts on what works in the Club and * Thursday, May 17 what does not. It may include criticism as well as Expanding Visions 18 positive comments. The agenda will be driven by the members. If you plan to attend, please Tonight is the first field trip/assignment of the RSVP to
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 29 from noon to 5 p.m. each day, rain or shine. Ex- As usual, we’ll end the evening with refresh- perience the delightful taste of various cuisines ments and socializing. See page 9 of this issue of from around the world. Photograph games and Photo Notes for more details about the PWCC fun activities for the children. There will be live election procedures. stage entertainment of international music and dance. And, it’s all free! Wednesday—Wednesday, May 23—30 Photo Op—Fleet Week This year, Fleet Week celebrates the bicentennial of the War of 1812. Thousands of Sailors, Ma- rines, and Coast Guardsmen (and their ships) * Sunday, May 20 will be in Manhattan for this spectacular exhibi- Field Trip—Norwegian Parade tion. Fleet Week includes dozens of military This parade celebrates many things in Norwe- demonstrations and displays throughout the gian history and culture. Officially it’s called The week, as well as public visitation of many of the 17th of May Parade and is held today, the closest participating ships—mostly on the West Side. Sunday to that date, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. We Many tall ships will also be in port for the cele- will meet at the front of the platform of the bration. Photography is permitted except in downtown (Brooklyn bound) R train at the Un- some restricted areas. ion Square station at 11:30 a.m. Our leader is Marilyn Fish-Glynn,
* Thursday, May 24 Expanding Visions 18 Tonight is the second field trip/assignment of the all new Expanding Visions 18 class. Tonight’s assignment has to do with isolaTION. This ses- * Monday, May 21 sion will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will take place at Exec. Comm. Mtg. the south Street Seaport. Prior to tonight’s business meeting the Club’s officers will meet to discuss matters of interest Saturday—Monday, May 26—28 and importance to the Club. The meeting will be Photo Op—Art Show held at the Soho Photo Gallery at 6:00 p.m. The Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit— now in its 82nd year—is a twice-a-year happen- * Monday, May 21 ing every Memorial Day Weekend (and the Business Meeting weekend that follows) and every Labor Day Tonight being the final business meeting of the Weekend (and the weekend that follows that). year, we will elect next year’s officers, vote on The event showcases fine artists and craft arti- the Club budget for next year, and finalize plans sans from around the New York metropolitan for the summer meetings, among other things. area, the nation, and the world. Attendees come
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 30 from all over and are a cosmopolitan mix.The * Monday, May 28 show has its venue on University Place, and this Competition Entry Deadline spring will start at East 12th Street extending Please note that PDI entries are due by midnight south along the east side of Washington Square tonight for next week’s year-end competition. Park ending at West 3rd Street. The southern end of the show encompasses Schwartz Plaza, (aka Tuesday, May 29 Bobkin Lane), between NYU's Shimkin Hall and Photo Event—Tuesday Evening Hour Bobst Library. Plenty to see, plenty to photo- graph, and no admission fee! Tonight is the year-end dinner party and fund- raiser. The digital presentation for the evening is Monday, May 28 The French Sub Antarctica by Laurie Campbell. Photo Op—Memorial Day Parades Reservations are required—212-964-3936. Details Memorial Day isn’t just an excuse for springtime will be presented upon reservation. sales and a three-day weekend—it is, first and foremost, a time to honor those who’ve served Wednesday, May 30 the United States in times of war. New York City Photo Event—Sierra Photo honors our fallen heroes with parades all over The New York City Sierra Club’s Photography the five boroughs. The Little Neck–Douglaston Committee is holding its meeting tonight. The parade in Queens is reputedly the largest. You program for tonight is From Calamities to Tran- can also follow Brooklyn's Memorial Day Parade quility, the photography of John Isaac. John spent (145 years old!), which begins at 87th Street and 20 years as a photojournalist covering wars and Third Avenue. In Manhattan, head uptown for a famine around the globe for the United Nations. smaller parade in Inwood, which begins at Dyckman Street and Broadway. Check the City’s events calendar for a full list of events and start times.
Puffin Horsemen, Morocco © John Isaac
He will show how he slowly shifted his focus to wildlife and nature by returning to his passion for saving the rapidly diminishing tigers of his native India. John expanded his coverage to in- * Monday, May 28 clude birds, flowers, and other animals (in Af- No Meeting rica, Alaska, New Mexico, Florida, etc.). He’ll In honor of Memorial Day. show how photographing nature and wildlife is so different from the frantic business of covering wars. He had to learn to be very patient, to sit for
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 31 hours waiting for a tiger to appear or a puffin to business meeting. The PWP meetings are held on come out from behind a ledge. He hopes to show the second floor of St. Paul the Apostle Church at that it is possible to switch gears in mid-life and 405 West 59th Street, just west of Columbus/9th delve into an area of photography that brought Avenue. The doors open at 6 p.m. and the meet- him peace and tranquility. The meeting, open to ing begins at 6:30 p.m. There is a $10.00 fee for the general public, is held on the second floor of guests. St. Paul the Apostle Church at 405 West 59th Street, just west of Columbus/9th Avenue, and * Thursday, June 7 begins at 6:30 p.m. A $5 donation is collected at Expanding Visions 18 the door. Tonight is the third field trip/assignment of Ex- panding Visions 18. Tonight’s assignment has to * Thursday, May 31 do with filtraTION. This session will take place Expanding Visions 18 on Roosevelt Island. We’ll meet at the tram sta- Tonight is the first review session/critique of the tion located at East 59th Street and 2nd Avenue all new Expanding Visions 18 class. Please fol- at 6:30 p.m. low the instruction in preparing your digital im- ages for projection. This session is scheduled to Thursday, June 7 begin at 7 p.m. and will take place at the home of Photo Event—Soho Photo Opening our instructor, Chuck Pine. [See below for direc- The Soho Photo Gallery presents, My Better Half, tions.] Please note, if there are too many participants, the photography of Rick Odell. Each of the 23 we will have to split into two groups, an early group images in this show is a double portrait that ap- at 4:30 p.m. and late group at 7 p.m. pears at first to represent a male and female cou- ple. However, the pictures are, in fact, digitally * Monday, June 4 manipulated composites of two photographs of Year-End Competition the same subject—one of a man in drag persona Tonight is the big event of the year, the one we’ve all been building up to—the PWCC Year- End competition. Full rules for entering this competition can be found in the article, “Year- End Competition,” on page 26 of this issue of Photo Notes. Remember, PDI entries must be submitted by Monday night, May 28th, at mid- night; other entries must be submitted tonight by 6:45 p.m. so that we may get under way at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, June 6 Photo Event—PWP Monthly Meeting from My Better Half Professional Women Photographers is a group of ©2008 by Rick Odell women photographers who network and share their images and experiences. Tonight’s program masquerading as a woman and one of that same is a members’ show and tell and their annual man with masculine attire and grooming. There
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 32 will also be exhibits by four Soho Photo Gallery the train is first elevated and then ground level— members. The opening is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; great for photography. This will be a hop-on- the show runs through June 30th. Gallery hours hop-off trip so be sure to bring your MetroCard, are Wednesdays through Sundays, from 1 p.m. a good pair of walking shoes, and outerwear to 6 p.m., and by appointment (and at PWCC suitable for temperatures and winds more severe meetings). For more info on Soho Photo Gallery, than in Manhattan. Our leader is Susan Sigrist, go to
* Friday, June 8 Saturday, June 9 Field Trip—South Queens Photo Op—Belmont Stakes Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs As the third and final leg in horse racing’s Triple of New York City, the largest in area, and the Crown, the Belmont Stakes occurs five weeks second-largest in population. Queens is the most after the Kentucky Derby and two weeks after ethnically diverse urban area in the world with a the Preakness Stakes. While the Belmont Stakes population of over 2.2 million, 46% of whom are itself is the ‘main event’ of the racing weekend foreign-born, representing over 100 different na- there are also several other prestigious stakes tions and speaking over 138 different languages. races contested We’ll be visiting three of the southernmost com- on the ‘under- munities in Queens—Howard Beach, Broad card.’ To get Channel, and the Rockaways (in order from there, take the F north to south). Be prepared to shoot areas of train to 169th (sub)urban decay and extravagant homes, white- Street or 179th sand beaches and swampland reminiscent of the Street and then Everglades, birds and boats—in short, a part of take the N6 or New York city that is filled with contradictions the Q2 bus to Belmont, or take the E train to Ja- and juxtapositions. We’ll meet at 10 a.m. at the maica Center (Parsons Blvd.) and then take the front of the downtown A train’s West 4th Street Q110 bus to Belmont. You can also take the Long station. [Note—this is a multi-level station, be Island Rail Road—$13 round trip if you buy sure you’re on the correct platform!] The ride on your tickets before boarding the train. Admis- the A train is underground through Manhattan sion to Belmont Park is $10.
Saturday, June 9 & Sunday, June 10 Photo Op—Crafts Festival The 36th annual American Crafts Festival at Lin- coln Center for the Performing Arts will be held this weekend (and next). Saturday, 12 noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. This festival features exhibitors from all over America dis- playing their handmade jewelry, sculpture, pot- and Brooklyn (what do you expect, it is a sub- tery, and other art and craft work. Admission is way, after all), but then when we enter Queens, free. Please ask for permission before shooting
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 33 the art and the artists—they tend to be protective parade. Enthusiastic school children, bands, his- of their creations. toric and patriotic groups will participate with American flags of every shape and size. The Pa- * Monday, June 11 rade will start at 12 noon at City Hall, Broadway Otto Litzel Memorial Year-End Dinner and Park Place, proceed south on Broadway, east on Fulton Street, turn south on Water Street, then This year’s OLMYED celebrates more than just north onto Broad Street passing the Flag Day another successful year. It celebrates more than Ceremony Stand in front of Fraunces Tavern just the winners and the best of our photogra- Museum at the corner of Broad and Pearl Streets. phy. It celebrates Park West’s 75th year! The There will then be ceremonies with songs, proc- venue for this year’s festivities is the historic and lamations and recitations honoring "Old Glory." and beautiful Salmagundi Club. With the names of Chase, Tiffany, and Wyeth, among many oth- * Thursday, June 14 ers, echoing through the halls, we’re bound to Expanding Visions 18 have a great time. Dinner will be served buffet style with choices for everyone. The cost is $40 Tonight is the fourth field trip/assignment of per person (cash bar is extra). The Salmagundi Expanding Visions 18. Tonight’s assignment has Club is located at 47 Fifth Avenue, between 11th to do with radiaTION. This session will take and 12th Streets. Buses and subways galore pass place at Coney Island. We’ll meet at the Nathan’s right in front of the club or are within a walk of a Famous—at the picnic tables just to the right of few short blocks. See page 27 of this issue of the serving counters on Surf Avenue at 6:30 p.m.. Photo Notes for more details. Come a little earlier if you wish to sample some of Nathan’s delicacies. Tuesday, June 12 Photo Op—Museum Mile Celebration * Friday, June 15 Field Trip—Beacon, NY New York City has officially designated Fifth Avenue from 82nd to 105th Streets “Museum Beacon is a quaint little town along the Hudson Mile” because of the vast richness and cultural River in southwestern Dutchess County sur- diversity of the ten museums found there. Ac- rounded by rolling hills and lush greenery. It is tivities of all kinds will be taking place on the the home to some 15,000 inhabitants, dozens of street (5th Avenue) as well as in the museum streets filled with hundreds of stores, and Dia, buildings. Today’s event is rain or shine and with its renowned collection of art from the goes from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. 1960s to the present. The Thursday, June 14 museum fea- Photo Op—Flag Day Parade tures installa- tions of The 234th anniversary of the adoption of the works by American Flag by the Continental Congress in some of the 1777 will be observed in New York City with a most signifi-
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 34 cant artists of the last half century. Admission to Saturday, June 23 Dia: Beacon is $10/$7 (seniors 65 and up) and Photo Op—Mermaid Parade the MetroNorth fare is $14/$9.25 {seniors). Or, Outrageous! That’s the word that comes to mind you may purchase a One-Day Getaway deal at when anyone mentions the Mermaid Parade. Grand Central which includes round-trip train- This annual Coney Island event is celebrating its fare and admission to Dia for only $31.50/$24.50 27th Anniversary. Although the parade through —you do the math (but just in case, seniors save the streets and on the boardwalk begins at 2 p.m. a buck, youngsters save $6.50). We’ll meet at you’ll find better photo chances by getting there 10:30 a.m. (no later) and take the 10:45 a.m. train around 11:30 a.m., purchasing a press pass for to the Beacon station, visit Dia, have lunch, and $10, and shooting in the staging area. You’ll be wander around town, shooting all the time. Our able to mingle with the participants as they pre- leader for this excursion is Barbara Berg, 917-972 pare their floats, don their scanty and/or intri- -0255 or
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 35 8th Street; then west to Christoper Street and ends at Christopher and Greenwich Streets. No tickets are necessary. (Special needs seating will be available near the intersection of 23rd Street and 5th Avenue.) The gathering commences at 11 a.m. and the march kicks off at 12 noon.
Tuesday, June 26 Photo Event—Sierra Photo The New York City Sierra Club’s Photography Rita Russo,
May//June 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 36 Field Trip Reunion Street. If you don’t know how to get there, the directions may be found at the end of the Sched- This past year, the Club had two extended field ule of Activities (page 36). The doors will open at trips—an Alaskan Cruise and an excursion to the 6 p.m. so we can load the images into the com- Great Smoky Mountains. Now it’s time to share puter and the slides into a carousel. We’ll get our images from these two trips with the world. started with the show around 7 p.m.
This is a Park West Camera Club event, Each trip participant will be able to share up to Mt. Rainier Pano so do you have to five minutes worth of images from each trip— ©2011 by Chuck Pine ask if food will be PDIs or film slides. You may show 60 images part of the evening? (that’s one every 5 seconds), or just one image We promise, you won’t go home hungry! (and talk about it for your entire five minutes), or any number in between—it’s your choice. But, There is no cost to those who attend, but space is please, keep within the five minute limit; we had limited and reservations will be required. Please a total of 22 travelers on both trips and if each email
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