The Newsletter of the Park West Club Photo Notes Our 75th Year March/April 2012

Presidentʼs Letter

Flower Power!

Spring is in the air. It has actually been in the air for much of this past winter with temperatures in the 40s and 50s many days and abundant sun- shine, but for PWCC it means a time to speak anew of many things such as more field trips, the Club auction on April 9th, return of the Florida contingent, annual election of officers, planning the Otto Litzel Dinner and awards, short pants, sleeveless dresses, sandals, sun block, longer days for shooting pictures, Chuck’s Expanding Visions class, the Borough President’s Office In This Issue show and whatever I’ve left out, such as shoes, ships, sealing wax, cabbages and kings1. President’s Letter...... 1 Who’s Who & What’s What...... 2 & 3 So instead of winding down, the Club is heating Club Info...... 3, 5 & 10 up, invigorated by the warmer weather and an- Rules of ...... 4 ticipation of all our upcoming events and activi- B&H Space...... 5 ties, photographic and otherwise. Competition...... 6 & 7 Sitzfleisch...... 8 I’m particularly looking forward to the Otto Litzel Election Procedures...... 9 Dinner this year. It’s dedicated to the Club’s 75th Inquiries...... 10 Anniversary and we’re still looking for sugges- Business Meeting Minutes...... 11 tions for a restaurant roomy enough to display Call for Entries...... 14 Club memorabilia or at least to project a slide- Expanding Visions 18...... 15 show. Please give your suggestions to Sid Geor- Auction...... 16 giou. We will be reviewing the club archives for Memorial Weekend Trip...... 16 appropriate material, but if you have memorabilia Gallery Watching...... 17 Meet the Members...... 21 (continued on page 4) Pigeon Forge Formula...... 24 Schedule of Activities...... 25-31 and so much more! March/April 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. Joe Cruickshank 212-751-6077 [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 Wading Wood Stork 212-662-6740 [email protected] by Chuck Pine ©2012 Pres. EmeritusChuck Pine 212 932 7665 [email protected]

March/April 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 (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 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 at least one saves trees, landfills, inks, toners, water, and week prior to the scheduled competition. other natural resources?

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, Lee Backer, submit to the Year-End Competition. Christine Doyle, Marie Fernandez, Ruth Formanek, George Hansen, Paul Perkus, Elena Pierpont, Chuck Pine, Judy Rosen- blatt, 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.

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 3 to contribute please let us know. Rules of Photography We are also looking into fancier awards to competition leaders Some of the more common things you hear at such as ribbons or suitably en- just about any photographic competition or cri- graved memory cards. Again, give tique is “that horizon line us your suggestions. is not horizontal” and “the vertical lines are not vertical.”

The problem is that our As I often point out this is a Club of mem- brain is used to seeing horizontal things as per- bers—not just officers and committee chairs. fectly horizontal and vertical things as perfectly Every contribution is needed and counts. Uncle vertical. (It has something to do with our sense PWCC wants you! of balance and the liquid in our inner ears.) If they are just a tad off being exactly horizontal or Bring your entrenchment tools or tripods: vertical, they jump from the image and scream to flowers are for photographing. us, “tilted.” It, therefore, behooves us to make sure that our My best to you for a bountiful spring, verticals are straight up and down and that our Paul horizontals are truly horizontal. There are ways to make sure you keep your lines straight by using a spirit (or 1 Apologies to the Walrus bubble) level when shooting your images. Some tripods have them built in. Some have airplane-like levels as part of the electronics. And, you can always buy a dou- ble- or triple-axis level that fits into your camera’s .

You can also correct tilted lines after-the-fact us- ing the built-in leveling tools in most photo software and/or by using transform/distort tools in software.

The bottom line? Keep it straight! However, if you want your lines not to be straight, make them look like you meant it, not like a mistake.

March/April 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? Wednesday, March 14, 2012 Memory Cards Ta Da! The Club’s Yahoo group is the answer to Speaker: Alan Parry your questions. You can communicate with other PWCC members about these and more. All you Thursday, March 15, 2012 have to do is sign up for the group. It’s easy and Between Light and Shadow it’s free. Speaker: Tony L. Corbell

All you have to do is send an e-mail to the Club Monday, March 19, 2012 at We will respond with an The Ultimate Lightroom 4 Experience e-mail from the group website, and…you’re in. Speaker: Jared Platt

If you have a (free) Yahoo e-mail account you Tuesday, March 20, 2012 can go to the group site. There you can see all Better Photographic Composition prior e-mails, post pictures, post links to other Speaker: David Brommer websites of interest, and more. If you don’t have a Yahoo account, you can only send and receive Wednesday, March 21, 2012 e-mails. The Art of the Fisheye Note: if you reply to a group e-mail, it will Speaker: Gene Ho bounce to everyone. For some responses, it is Monday, March 26, 2012 more appropriate to write to one member only; Photoshop Grab Bag you will have to forward your response to them, Speaker: Andy Graber as opposed to replying to the e-mail. If it’s an e- mail asking “Where can I buy an old Polaroid Monday, March 26, 2012 camera,” perhaps you want to reply because this Ultimate Technology information could be of interest to all. If you are Speaker: Danny Lenihan and Jessica Boothroyd saying “thanks for the information,” for exam- ple, perhaps you should forward your response Tuesday, March 27, 2012 to only that one member. iPhone Artistry Speaker: Dan Burkholder

Check out the website for all the details as well as a complete list of addi- tional presentations, and to register for the course(s) of your choice.

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 5 March Competition Results by George Hansen

PDI of the Month Hanger Geometry by Inna Grubmair

Honor PDIs Monk by Carole de Beer Footsteps by Paul Grebanier Little Girl in Morocco by Elena Pierpont Place-Djemaa-el-fna-72 by Myra Resnick

Print of the Month La Boca-Portrait by Madeleine Barbara

Honor Prints March PDI-of-the-Month Tree Shadows Bldg #3 by Bill Apple Hanger Geometry Rear Window by Bill Apple ©2011 Inna Grubmair Seltzer Bottles by Madeleine Barbara City Island by Noe Cosme Weekend Afternoon by Oggy Doytchinov

Slide of the Month Old Gold Flower by Joan Slatkin

Honor Slides Snowstorm, Gramercy Park by Joan Slatkin

March Print-of-the-Month La Boca-Portrait ©2012 Madeleine Barbara

March Slide-of-the-Month Old Gold Flower ©2012 Joan Slatkin

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 6 Cumulative Point Totals Through March 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 Pine88 used to determine the Yearly Cumulative Natalie Manzino80 Points winners. Myra Resnick80 Rain Bengis78 If, however, you are multi-talented and com- Rita Russo72 pete in 2 or 3 of the categories (slides, prints, Helen Pine66 PDIs) during the year, all of your points are Janna Amelkin64 counted to determine the Yearly Cumulative Jerry Harawitz62 Combined Points winners. This category is Carole de Beer60 not open for those members who compete in Doreen Rose60 only one of the categories (as listed above). Paul Grebanier58 Hedy Klein56 Evelyne Appel54 Prints Eileen Duranko54 Madeleine Barbara 106 Dottie Mills48 Bill Apple74 Dolores Roddy46 Oggy Doytchinov66 Nyla42 Elsa Blum50 Donald Ruscigno40 Sarah Corbin38 Barbara Berg22 Ruth Formanek32 Joe Cruickshank14 Marvin Fink30 Marilyn Thypin10 Noe Cosme14 Bob Wine8 Fonda Charne4 Combined George Hansen64 Slides Nicole Dosso60 Joan Slatkin84 Inna Grubmair56 Marilyn Fish72 Elena Pierpont52 Susan Sigrist64 George Grubb46 Pierre Henri12

Congratulations to all the winners and to all who participated in the March competition!

Thanks to those who made it all happen.

And a Special Thanks to our March judge, Ellen Denuto.

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 7 Sitzfleisch A rabbi I know illustrates the dismal state of by Bill Apple global sitzfleisch with an “extraordinary” photo- graph from the past, among synagogue memo- A most useful German word—Yiddish, too— rabilia. It’s a formal dinner of perhaps 75 couples sitzfleisch: the flesh you sit on, but not the glu- from the late 1940s or early 1950s, before the teus maximus exactly. No, it’s a more colloquial rabbi was born: a catered affair, round tables, term for patience, perseverance, sticking to a white cloths, floral centerpieces, fine china, crys- task until done, though sometimes it can just tal, flatware. mean an ability to sit through something pretty long. What makes this picture extraordinary, the rabbi continues, is that everyone is looking squarely In usage, the word is often in the : “He into the , as if the photographer has hasn’t sitzfleisch to read “War and Peace,” say, or unleashed some potent Svengali spell. for Wagner’s “Ring.” Sad to say, that’s far from atypical. America’s national sitzfleisch has been in In the world of 2012, the rabbi says, recording serious decline for decades. We may have run such a scene would be all but impossible. In- out. variably, someone would be chatting on a cell- phone, pounding a BlackBerry to answer e-mail, Our Club, for instance, showed considerable lack playing Angry Birds, or Googling calories for of sitzfleisch by limiting competition entries to chocolate mousse on an iPhone. Call it DWD, for two per member, down from six, to finish com- “dining while distracted.” petition evenings earlier. (One member recently boasted that he loves being home by 8:30, appar- One New York photographer, however, Terry ently unaware that he’d be home much earlier deRoy Gruber, is reviving the fusty genre, the were he not to come at all.) “group portrait,” for weddings, class reunions,

But it’s not just camera club sitzfleisch. A recent story details Google’s struggle to shave millisec- Watch the Birdie! Photographer Terry onds from Web searches. The company wants to Gruber commanded the wedding hall, get searches down to 250 milliseconds, a quarter- with his old-fashioned banquet camera. second. People these days simply don’t have (GruberPhotographers.com) sitzfleisch to wait even 400 milliseconds, the time it takes to blink. They’ll click their mouse and head somewhere else.

How did we ever bear the excruciating 60- second wait for Polaroids to develop, let alone a week for snapshots from the drug- store? Today you can shoot a photo, see it right away on your camera’s LCD, then e- mail it worldwide in seconds.

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 8 and other large gatherings. But do not attempt Election Procedures with a 12-megapixel . Gruber wields an antique 25-pound, wood- At the March business meeting we will begin framed “banquet camera”—an affair with bel- our yearly election procedures when President lows and hood—set upon a 10-foot-tall tripod Paul Perkus appoints the Nominating Commit- that can survey the largest of halls. tee. It will present their slate of at least one nominee for each position on the Executive In case you’re wondering, Gruber’s negatives Committee (president, vice president, treasurer, (film!) measure 12 x 20 inches. His camera’s corresponding/membership secretary, and re- is opened manually, and a shot is lighted cording secretary) to the membership at the with a half-dozen flashbulbs, strategically strung April business meeting. for even lighting and triggered by a squeeze bulb. Guests are instructed to “freeze” during Also at the April business meeting, nominations the picture, which takes a few seconds’ sitzfleisch. will be opened to the floor. At each succeeding “The whole process, it’s a real dance,” Gruber Club meeting leading up to, but not including, told a reporter not long ago. the May business meeting, nominations will again be accepted from the floor. The wedding photo accompanying a New York Times article on Gruber and his “lost art”—and The third phase of the election process is the reproduced here—shows 112 wedding guests, all election itself. This occurs at the May business ogling one camera, sitting at many round tables, meeting. If there is only one nominee for each or standing in the background, not a BlackBerry position, then the presiding officer at the meet- in sight. Each face is sharper than the proverbial ing can ask the secretary to cast a unanimous tack, something not achievable from 35mm film, vote for the slate. Should there be more than one let alone any digital camera I know of. nominee for any of the five positions, then a written ballot must be prepared and a secret The photo, shot last fall, carries a rather formal vote taken for that/those position(s). (The secre- and old-fashioned look, harking back to the days tary can still cast the when banquet photography was routine, from unanimous vote for the un- about 1880 through 1960. Now photographers opposed candidates.) who do it are few and far between. Members must be present Gruber is paid well. He gets $2,500 for one to cast a vote. Ballots will be photo, which includes three prints and, of counted by the Nominating course, his painstaking set-up at the loca- Committee and announced tion—and that arresting Svengali spell. Every before the end of the busi- guest seems mesmerized, as if his or her life de- ness meeting. pended on the shutter click. Finally, the outgoing officers are thanked and the Now that’s a decisive moment of sitzfleisch. incoming Executive Committee is installed at the Otto Litzel Memorial Dinner held on the second Monday in June..

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 9 Wanted… Inquiries

Should I give up my point-and-shoot (P&S) camera or my digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera for an iPhone? I have been hearing some very good things about the built-in camera. B&H even offers work- shops in using it. What should I do?

While it’s true that Apple’s iPhone (and other smart phones, as well) have a camera that can take some pretty good shots, I’d hold off on getting rid of your bigger, heavier, older-fashioned digitals… at least for now.

Yes, the iPhone has an eight megapixel camera. Yes, it fits easily into your pocket or purse or belt carrier. But it does have limitations! …volunteers to write for the Park West Camera Club’s Photo Notes. Could be on a continuing ba- It doesn’t have the oomph to make large, high sis or as a one-shot deal. Experience not neces- quality, competition/exhibition prints. It cannot sary. Enthusiasm is a must-have. Don’t worry offer you many of the features available on a about spelling or grammar or the like—our crack DSLR nor even on most P&S cameras these days. editorial staff handles all the details. And, even though, you can now buy auxiliary wide angle and telephoto attachments, the qual- Some suggestions for individual articles or ity and variety of the iPhone’s lens assortment is monthly columns are: dwarfed by that of the real digital cameras.

• photo magazine reviews So, what do the iPhone and its brethren have go- • photo workshop reviews ing for themselves? Portability, for one thing. But • Club field trip reviews that’s not an exclusive to phone-cameras. Many • photographic gallery reviews P&Ss fit in a pocket or purse or even on a belt • equipment reviews carrier. The one unparalleled advantage of the • technical/technique articles phone-as-camera is its ability to multitask. You • photographic hints and tips can’t make a call with your DSLR; you can’t get • computer hints and tips driving directions on your P&S; and you can’t • photographic poetry text, or surf the web, or e-mail, or hundreds of • photography puzzles (X-word, jumbles, other things on a camera… at least not yet. word-search, etc.) • recipes from Club pot-luck dinners But most of all, even with all the advantages of • anything else you can dream up—as the iPhone, it does not give you the quality im- long as it is photo- or Club-related. ages that a photographer seeks and cherishes.

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 10 Minutes submit one “lost” image in addition to the two by Lee Backer you would normally submit. If you had a second “lost” image, you may submit it in the April February 27, 2012 competition in addition to your other two images. 2) PDI files are not being named (This is a draft copy and has not yet been ap- properly, e.g., no title, wrong month. 3) The proved by the membership.) committee will write a standard guideline to be provided to judges to ensure they all receive the Call to Order – same instructions. President Paul Perkus called the meeting to order at 7:00p.m. He noted that we have a Field Trip – Susan Sigrist announced several quorum. upcoming field trips.

Minutes of Previous Meeting – Gallery – Christine Doyle reported that a call for A motion was made to accept the minutes as entries for our exhibit at the Manhattan Borough written in the February 2012 newsletter, instead President's Office was sent out. The committee is of reading them. It was seconded and passed. continuing plans mentioned at last month's business meeting for creating digital galleries. Treasurer’s Report – They intend to use an independent curator to Myron Galef provided a correction to his report select member images submitted for the galleries given at the last business meeting. The money in and are waiting to hear what the curator's fee the bank from field trips was overstated. The would be. correct amount is $103.61. We have a total balance of $11,179.66 in the bank, with a true House – Seymour thanked members for setting balance of $11,076.05, which excludes field trip up chairs and putting them away. funds. Membership – There are 69 active members. Committee Reports Archives – No report; committee chair not Newsletter – Paul noted that the President's present. Members who had offered to look into letter is now in a box separated from the copying some of the archives for the club's 75th background image. anniversary celebration had not yet met, but plan to meet soon. There were suggestions to put Program – No report. Committee chair not some historical photos on the website and to use present. a PWCC Flickr group site for photos. (Jerry Harawitz is currently administering this site.) Social – Sid Georgiou announced the menu for tonight's post-meeting offering. Competition – 1) Some submitted images for last month's PDI competition were not received. If Website – Bob Wine said field trip information you submitted images but they were not will be posted on the website as soon as it is included in the competition, you may resubmit received in writing. Inna from the Field Trip them. For the March competition, you may committee will report the information.

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 11 Workshop – Bob Wine will give a Lightroom New Business From the Chair demonstration on March 12. Raise in room rental by Soho Photo Gallery Our room rent will rise twenty percent (from Old Business $100 to $120 per night) beginning March 1, 2012. Club Auction, April 9 Soho Photo must pass along a 20% increase their Ed Lee will send a draft of a news release to landlord imposed on them. We may not have to the Executive Committee for review. He will ask increase the room rental segment of membership Sarah Corbin whom she contacted last year. Ed dues to cover the increase if we can maintain a said he and Chuck Pine are sending notices to membership of more than sixty. The Executive their respective meet-up groups. Committee does not foresee a raise in dues this club year. If there appears to be a need to Otto Litzel Dinner – 75th PWCC Anniversary increase dues in the future, it would be fully Sid Georgiou mentioned the last three discussed with the membership and voted upon. restaurants that hosted the dinner in the past. He requested the membership to suggest more Extended field trips places. He was asked to consider a restaurant About nine members present expressed with a space where we could display prints interest in a field trip to Cuba. It probably would copied from the archives. Other suggestions: need to be arranged through a tour operator. Show archival images with a digital projector, Members suggested Boston and Washington, instead of hanging prints; have an anniversary D.C. as possible destinations for Memorial Day ceremony at Soho Photo first and then go to a weekend. restaurant for dinner. New Business From the Floor Behavior Toward Judges, Speakers, etc. Bill Apple made a motion for the (See last month's minutes.) Paul Perkus Competition Committee to prepare a report for contacted the member involved and said the the April business meeting that would show the matter is now closed. effect of the new competition rules. This report should include statistics that compare competitions under the new rules versus the old rules. Statistics would include the average number of entries per month and the number of people entering competitions. The motion also requested the committee to recommend whether to keep the current rules or change them. Rain Bengis seconded the motion. During discussion it was noted that the overall duration of competition nights is not recorded and cannot be compared. Some members said that people still leave before the end of all competitions, and this behavior is rude. The motion failed: 8 for, 16 against.

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 12 Marvin Fink said he is in contact with a The Latest(!) and Greatest(?) member of an Australian camera club. That club is interested in having a photo competition with I am sure by now that you’ve read about, heard us. He will follow up with them to get more of, or even discussed with your photo buddies, information. the newest whiz-bang—the Lytro Light Field Camera. In short, the Lytro allows you to take Good and Welfare From the Chair one picture of a scene and then, after the fact, ad- Paul said he is pleased that Ruth Formanek just the point of focus to your heart’s content. and Judy Rosenblatt have revived the gallery exhibit reviews. He is also pleased to see the new Confused? Here’s what I mean… Take a shot, member biographies written by Membership any shot, let’s say one of a friend standing in Bat- Committee members. tery Park, with the Statue of Liberty in the dis- tance, and with a sailboat somewhere in the Good and Welfare From the Floor middle of the scene. Ed Lee said the free March B&H Events include Lightroom instruction. Natalie Manzino No need to focus! No need to set the to said Dan Burkholder will also be at B&H Event give you the perfect depth-of-field! Just point Space in March. Natalie also praised the free and shoot! The Lytro captures everything, from software available for download at foreground to background, and everything in DVDvideosoft.com. between, without any settings on your part.

Adjournment Then, once you download the image to your The meeting was adjourned at 8:13 p.m. computer, and have already installed the proper software, you just click on any spot in the frame and, presto, that becomes the point of focus and Accessory Quiz everything else is blurred out of focus.

Can you name this photography accessory? Is this the perfect camera? Not No prizes, just a fun challenge! by a long shot! There’s still much Send your guesses to to be worked out: better resolu- Googling not permitted—on your honor! tion; more control, etc., etc., etc. But this is a step in the right direction for the future of photogra- phy. (Actually, the TV series, Star Trek, The Next Generation, showed 25th century cameras with similar capabilities. But that was science fiction. The Lytro is as real as it gets, and it’s here now— starting at only $400, in your choice of and memory sizes.)

To play with the images, go to their website at Answer next month in Photo Notes. Have fun!

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 13 Call for Entries—MBPO 2012 New York Photo Show? by Christine Doyle & Maria Fernandez Gallery Committee Co-Chairs Do you enjoy looking at ?

Our next PWCC exhibit is scheduled for the Do you collect , Ambrotypes, month of September, 2012, at the Office of the Tintypes, Stereoviews, Cabinet Cards, Cartes de Manhattan Borough President. The title of the Visite, Snapshots, Vernacular Photos, Photo show is On My Block & Around the Corner. This Postcards, Photography Books, Digital Photo- encompasses images taken on the block, street, graphs, Fine Art Photographs, and/or Alterna- or immediate area (“around the corner”) where tive Process Images? you live, but each individual artist’s submissions should be limited to the same area/location. Do you like Civil War Images? Do you like im- ages by Black American Photographers or of Works do not have to be all the same size but Black Americans? Do you like to look at images each individual artist’s work must be matted (ei- of Asians or Asian locations? ther white or off-white) and framed (simple black or silver metal frames) in a similar manner. Do you have Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tin- types, Stereoviews, Cabinet Cards, Cartes de Vis- Members are invited to submit up to 6 images ite, Snapshots, Vernacular Photos, Photo Post- each; entry fees are: 1 - 3 images, $10.00; 4 - 6 im- cards, Photography Books, Digital Photographs, ages, $20. Payment, cash or check, should be re- Fine Art Photographs, and/or Alternative Proc- mitted to Christine Doyle or Maria Fernandez by ess Images you want to sell? May 15, 2012. Are you looking for a place to sell your own art The Club requests participants to submit their photographs? images, digitally prepared and sized as for com- petition, and titled with the theme, your name, If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, and image title, to where should you be March 31, 2012? At the by May 15. New York Photo Show, of course! It all takes place at The Lighthouse, 111 East 59th Street. Because of time pressures in the final days lead- ing up to the opening of the MBPO exhibit, sub- For more information go to their website at stituting different images on the installation date and copy the cou- will not be allowed. pon for a discount on admission and for all other information. Volunteers are needed to receive images at the MBPO [week of August 27, 2012; exact date to be determined], help with hanging pictures, make labels, and other administrative work as neces- sary. Volunteers are also needed to plan and or- ganize the Opening Night Reception [date to be determined].

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 14 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 10Introduction 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 17Trip #1Columbus 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 24Trip #2South Street Seaport equipment, and techniques. It will also allow isolaTION you to explore parts of the City that you may not May 31Review of Trips 1 & 2 have experienced before. June 7Trip #3Roosevelt Island The format of the class is simple: We start with filtraTION an introductory session. We will discuss equip- June 14Trip #4Coney 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 21Review of Trips 3 & 4 around town and work on the assignments. The June 28Trip # 5Times 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 5Review 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

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 15 Going, Going, Gone Memorial Weekend Trip

April 9th is the date for the annual PWCC auc- Pack your bags! We’re going to Washington, DC. tion. Members and guests are invited to bring The dates are Friday, May 25th through Monday, any photography, computer, or photo-related May 28th. That’s four days and three nights in items which they want to sell. and around the nation’s capital and all it has to Items must be brought on the night of the auc- offer, including the White tion starting at 6:00 p.m. (Sorry, but items may House, the Capitol Build- not be stored earlier at Soho Photo.) Each item ing, the Washington must be accompanied by a completed “Auction Monument, the Lincoln Inventory Sheet” which includes your name, a and Jefferson Memorials, the Viet Nam, Korean, description of the item, a minimum opening bid and World War Memorials, and all the edifices of (optional), and what percent of the final selling the Smithsonian Institution. Want more than ar- price you wish to donate to the Club (PWCC chitecture, history, and art? How about the Na- gets at least 20%, but you can give more—up to tional Zoo, the National Botanical Gardens, Ken- 100%). These forms will be available the week nilworth Aquatic Gardens, Rock Creek Park, the prior to the auction; they will also be available National Cemetery, the Iwo Jima monument, and on auction night. so much more!

As a buyer, you must have Here’s the catch: space cash on hand, (or a per- is very limited; a de- sonal check if you are a posit is required to Club member) to pay for hold the rooms; and the the items you bid on and cancellation date is a win. Items must be taken month before the trip. home at the conclusion of the auction. Therefore, a deposit of $100 is required to hold your spot. Full payment Items not sold will return to their original own- is due no later than Monday evening, April 16th. ers and must be taken home that night. Un- The fee includes: lodging in the Georgetown sec- wanted items may be disposed of in the trash tion of DC; breakfasts each morning, and all-day receptacles. Metro passes for both Saturday and Sunday.

Those people who sell items will be paid their The full cost of the trip is $300. The single sup- percentage at the Club’s business meeting in plement is an additional $270 (for a total trip cost three weeks on April 30th. If you cannot attend, of $570). Please note, this does not include trans- your check will be mailed to you. [Note—if portation to and from DC. If you decide to go, you’re not a PWCC member please be sure to full information will be provided for driving, fly- leave your mailing address with us so we can ing, bus and/or train. send your payment in a timely fashion.] A flyer will be available at Club meetings. Good shopping.

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 16 Gallery Watching distance. She is quoted in Wikipedia as saying by Ruth Formanek and Judy Rosenblatt this series is about “the fakeness of role playing as well as contempt for the domineering ‘male’ Cindy Sherman Retrospective; through June 11th at audience who would mistakenly read the im- the Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53rd Street, ages as sexy.” This series of 8 1/2 in the Tisch Exhibition Gallery, sixth floor—by x 11 shots presages themes that run through Judy much of her work, which is in color and very large-sized. There is a 1981 series which takes off I approach with trepidation the prospect of writ- on centerfolds of porno magazines, except the ing about the Cindy Sherman retrospective now images are of clothed women in various ‘real at MoMA). She has been a major figure in pho- life’ modes—frightened, dreaming, etc. One im- tography since the late 1970s, when her Untitled age, in peach colored tones, looks down on a Film Stills burst upon the scene. I was vaguely woman lying on a linoleum floor with a some- familiar with this series and knew that most of what inscrutable expression, clutching a torn out her work through the years consisted of photo- Personals ad. (This , Untitled #96, graphing herself in various guises and disguises. sold for $3,890,500 at a Christies’ auction last Not an approach to photography that appealed May.) Of this series, Sherman said in an inter- to me; yet she has been hugely successful com- view: “…I wanted a man opening up the maga- mercially and has received great critical acclaim. zine to suddenly look at it with an expectation of The entrance to this exhibit is framed with a something lascivious and then feeling like the huge mural of four different renditions of Sher- violator that they would be. Looking at this man against a grainy black and white back- woman who is perhaps a victim—obviously I'm ground. The exhibit begins with the complete trying to make someone feel bad for having a Untitled Film Stills and takes us through many certain expectation…" stages of her work, which is always done in se- ries form. Also included in this show are examples of Sherman's Clown Series, take-offs on fashion pho- The Untitled Film Stills tography (that were actually used to sell fash- are parodies, invented ions), her riffs on Old Master paintings, and by Sherman, of the more. Some reviewers felt these 180 or so images kinds of ‘sexy’ scenes left out important aspects of Sherman's work, you'd see in movie but there is plenty to chew on here. Sherman posters trying to lure was born in 1954 and switched from painting to customers. In rooms, photography as a student at SUNY Buffalo. She on beds, in natural set- is reported to have loved dressing up in cos- tings, she presents tumes as a child. She works alone, as her own herself as a series of producer, makeup artist, scene designer, costu- women who may be mer, and actor. Attempts to use models have not vamps, victims, so- worked out for her. Untitled #466 phisticates, lost souls, ©2008 Cindy Sherman usually gazing When we first talked about Cindy Sherman, vaporously into the Ruth said, “I don't like her!” But she was going

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 17 to try to keep an open mind as we headed for the exhibit. I had a vaguely similar approach. But we both came away impressed with her audaciousness and craftsmanship. For myself, I realized that her message is meant to be any- thing but likable. She is railing against all the fake facades we erect to disguise our very falli- ble humanity, with a strong feminist slant. There is a lot of anger expressed here, especially to- Untitled #96 ward the way women have been pressed into ©1981 Cindy Sherman sexually stereotyped roles. Obviously she's stick- ing it to the men (that they still need this is clear The triumph is the skill involved in their assem- from the recent flap over Rush Limbough’s re- blage. As with most conceptual art, esthetic marks). The show abounds with downtrodden beauty in the traditional sense is, I think, beside feminine souls. Is this Sherman’s view of real the point or distorted. For me, this is the missing women? The most moving to me were the recent piece in this rich and provocative show. series of society women of a certain age. Their desperation, despite their makeup and sumptu- Ruth's Comments: The historical portraits: ous surroundings, comes through loud and Sherman pokes fun at famous paintings but she clear. In the Clown Series, pathos and other emo- really tears them down. For example, she adds a tions underly the most elaborate facades of all. long nose (for no apparent reason) to a portrait There are a few huge images of amorphous, rot- of Savaronola. In another painting, she strips a ting materials, like vomit, and images in which woman who looks like Queen Elizabeth to show she parodies using prosthetic her sagging breasts. Historical? I think Sherman parts. Here a very bleak world view emerges. expresses her anti-intellectual and anti-art rage It’s not a view I can easily relate to, but I can cer- against authority figures. Off-putting to me. tainly appreciate the prodigious imagination Couldn't wait to go to another gallery. and meticulousness that went into creating these works. I think Sherman’s best work is the Untitled Film Stills, in which she dresses and photographs her- I left the show feeling that I'd been to the movies, self in assuming many traditional and mostly except that instead of seeing one movie with downtrodden female film roles. As such, she many scenes, I felt I'd seen many movies with demonstrates gender inequality so vividly that I only one scene. Each image invites the viewer to at first thought the images were real, not in- spin a story about it. No verbal clues are given: vented, film stills. they are all untitled. This is not photography as many of us conceive of it: as bearing witness to Finally, although Sherman is an admirable “the world's beauty, pain, injustice, and tri- craftsperson, three million bucks for one umph,” as photographer Ellen Denuto puts it. medium-sized print seems outrageously high. Rather, the camera serves as the recorder of Six people, including a Rockefeller, banded to- elaborate theatrical tableaux expressing mostly gether to buy one of the photographs to donate pain and injustice (though not without humor). to MoMA. If you think I’m consumed with envy, you are absolutely correct.

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 18 Eugène Atget: “Documents pour artistes” through weather and April 9th at the Museum of Modern Art, 11 West war, rendering 53rd Street, in the Robert and Joyce Menschel them unrecog- Photography Gallery, third floor—by Ruth nizable. Atget looks back- What a difference between French photographer wards in time, Eugene Atget and Cindy Sherman! Atget’s gen- seems to lack tle, well-composed black-and-white scenes interest in evoke nostalgia for a simpler world. He shot technological over 8500 images, including park scenes, win- progress be- dows, doorknobs, courtyards, staircases, trees, yond the car- bushes, and people. When he photographs peo- ousel. ple, they are mostly poor: street musicians, street vendors, rag pickers, and prostitutes. Among street scenes are carousels, store windows dis- Onions playing uniforms and corsets. This work was ©1900 Eugène Atget considered ‘surrealist’ by the emerging move- ment around 1920, but not by Atget. In his current show at MoMA, Atget’s work at- tests to his significant place in the history of pho- tography. Shooting from different perspectives, Atget found that the most interesting distinc- tions among his photographs were due to his many angles and thus relative. “….one tree, or one reflecting pool, was never twice the same, and would therefore last as a subject as long as one’s concentrated attention. With this realiza- tion he became, surely not intentionally, a mod- ern artist” (John Szarkowski, Photography Until Now, 1989, page 134).

Atget’s gentle, well-composed black-and-white scenes, often evoke nostalgia for a pretechno- Coin, Boulevard de la Chapelle et Rue Fleury 76, 18E logical world of abandoned and decaying parks, ©1921 Eugène Atget clean old courtyards, stables, and city buildings, some from the 16th century. He avoided includ- Atget (1857-1957) produced Documents for Other ing tourist sites like the Eiffel Tower or Versailles Artists, a modest goal brilliantly achieved. castles.

I particularly felt drawn to his Parc de Sceaux Atget used a on a tripod, produced (1925): an abandoned park near Paris with the mostly glass-plate negatives, and gelatin-silver remnants of ancient, ivy-clad stone statues, mys- prints. MoMA was given many prints by the terious because they were long ago destroyed by American artist Man Ray who lived down the

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 19 street from Atget. Many more were donated by Berenice Abbott who was Atget’s assistant. Back in Town

I enjoyed seeing Atget’s exhibit and strongly The Nikon School will be back in town on recommend you go see it. June 9th and 10th for your photographic edu- cation and pleasure. Judy comments: Yes, to see Cindy Sherman and Eugene Atget in tandem is to travel from one Introduction to Digital is held all day Saturday, pole of photography to its very opposite, as well and Next Steps: Color, Light, Technology is held as back in time. In contrast to Sherman, here is a all day Sunday. All sessions are scheduled loving documentation of a real place. Many im- from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The venue will be ages have a quality of light and form that is the Hotel Pennsylvania—401 7th Avenue (at beautiful and serene. Seeing Atget after Sherman 33rd Street). felt, in a way, like coming home to rest after an absorbing, but hectic, journey. Go on-line to for more information and/or to register for ei- ther or both classes. Factoid Fillers

Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: parkwestcameraclub.org Spades - King David; Hearts - Charlemagne; Have you checked out the Club’s website re- Clubs -Alexander, the cently? As Tony the Ti- Great; Diamonds - Julius ger used to say, “It’s Caesar! Greaaaat!” It has all sorts of new features for you to explore. If a statue in the park of Plus, the gallery sec- a person on a horse has tion has winners from both front legs in the air, our competitions and the person died in battle. members’ galleries. If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person Once you check it out, died because of wounds ©2011 Chuck Pine why not assemble a received in battle. If the small portfolio of your horse has all four legs on work for posting on our site? It’ll give you an the ground, the person ego boost the size of Alaska, and it’ll improve died of natural causes. the Club’s image as well.

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 20 Meet the Member Javits Center Photography Show, a professional by Elena Pierpont photographer reviewed Inna’s portfolio and suggested that she take portraits of Russian peo- While at the B&H photo store, Inna Grubmair ple in New York. took a flyer inviting people to join the Expanding Since, December Inna Visions class. What she read interested her and has been working on she decided to try it out. There, she met Chuck this project and re- Pine, who teaches the class, and (as the Club’s cently took a portrait President Emeritus) introduced her to Park West. of a Russian woman Inna looked up PWCC’s web site, visited a meet- at The Institute for ing, and joined the Club. This is the first, and to Democracy and Co- date, the only club of which she is a member. operation.

As a foreigner in New York, she noticed how very active the pho- tography scene is ©2012 Inna Grubmair here. During her four years residing in the City, Inna enrolled in and graduated from the New York Institute of Photography.

Inna enjoys all the things the Club offers—the enthusiastic atmosphere, looking at other mem- It was looking at the many pictures her uncle bers’ work, being able to ask questions, learning took that piqued her interest in photography. She from other members, the competitions, the guest asked her parents for speakers, and the field trips. and received a camera for her 16th birthday. We welcome Inna and are very happy to have After a while Inna her as a member. [Check out Inna’s winning PDI- would convert the of-the-Month photo on page 6 of this issue of bathroom to a dark- Photo Notes.] room on weekends to develop her black & white photos. Meet the Member by Marlene Schonbrun She enjoyed taking pictures of landscapes Marjorie Gurd came to the Park West Camera and as time went on Club after hearing about us from a fellow stu- ©2012 Inna Grubmair Inna became inter- dent while attending a class on Night Photogra- ested in taking pic- phy at Adorama. tures of people. Last November, at the annual

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 21 Marjorie tal camera, the Nikon D5100. She got a good used a price on selling the Nikon D60 on Craig’s list, for Pentax those of you who want to upgrade. K1000 in the mid Marge believes that she’s already accomplished 70s. At some of her goals since joining the Club. Coming that time, to the competitions, portfolio nights, and attend- She was ing the critiques at Chuck & Helen’s home, have primarily given her much food for thought as to what con- interested stitutes a good photograph, and what can be in travel done to improve an image. She’s not only inter- photos ested in seeing beautiful photos, but wants to and learn how to enhance images using the editing scenics, programs she’s purchased—Lightroom 3 and and took Marjorie Gurd Photoshop Elements 10. Marge would like to see slides and ©2012 Marlene Schonbrun PWCC conduct workshops to teach us these, as B&W prints. well as other editing programs. She is excited However, when she got involved in selling real that the club focused on before-and-after images estate, that became a dominant force in her life, at a Monday meeting back in February—it was and she dropped photography for lack of time. another great learning experience for her and other members. After retiring a few years ago, she renewed her interest in travel and photography, bought her Marge enjoys getting to know people in the Club first digital camera, the Nikon D60, and started and sharing ideas. She is now an active member to shoot again. Her main photographic interest of the Social Committee. We welcome you to now is shooting street scenes (candids), and low PWCC, Marge, and look forward to seeing you light scenes. Marjorie felt the D60 was not effec- grow photographically. tive in low light, so she purchased her 2nd digi-

Meet the Member by Marlene Schonbrun

Welcome to PWCC, Noe Cosme! Noe is one of our newest members, and possibly our young- est. He does not get to attend full meetings as he works until 8:00 p.m., but often you will catch sight of him at the end of the evening. Noe found out about our Park West through googling “photography clubs.” Fall Beauty Noe is fairly new to photography—his first point ©2011 Marjorie Gurd and shoot camera, a Sony Cybershot, was

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 22 His preference is to get the picture right when he takes it.

When answering the question about what he hopes to gain from membership, he said he’s in- terested in having others look at his work and offer constructive feedback. He enjoys seeing what members are working on, and believes he has much to learn from the Club.

In addition to working long hours, he’s also studying engineering at the Borough of Manhat- bought in 2007. He described himself as not tan Community College. If he can somehow find knowing anything about aperture, shutter the time to attend more meetings, I believe he speeds, or f-stops. He says, “I was completely clueless!” Noe is making up for his lack of expe- rience by buying books, attending B&H work- shops, purchasing better equipment, and of course, joining PWCC. He now has a Canon 40D and the Canon 5D Mark II. Noe also owns a Leica, as well as a Linhof Master Technika. For those who aren’t familiar with equipment (moi), the Linhof is a camera (4x5) pretty impressive for someone who’s so new to photog- Untitled raphy. ©2010 Noe Cosme

Noe is will learn a lot from our members, but I also be- interested lieve he has a few things to teach us too. I look in shoot- forward to seeing his work. ing land- scapes and old Caveat Emptor build- ings. The following is from the Snapfish user con- When he tract that you must agree to before using their Untitled wants to services: ©2011 Noe Cosme expand his know- “…you hereby grant Snapfish a perpetual, uni- ledge about a subject (for example, lighting), versal, nonexclusive, royalty-free right to copy, he’ll buy a book. He believes that to improve display, modify, transmit, make derivative works one’s craft it takes practice, practice, and more of, and distribute your content,…” practice. While he has Adobe’s Photoshop CS5 and Lightroom, he uses them only occasionally. To paraphrase, “photographer beware!”

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 23 Pigeon Forge Formula Select the white triangle by Marlene Schonbrun (far right) and move it to the left until it lines Some of you attending the Portfolio Review eve- up with where the his- ning in January, or the Before & After workshop togram’s information in February, expressed interest in knowing more begins. This should about how George Grubb transformed his im- brighten up the Solariz- ages into something whimsical, colorful, and ing colors. magical. With his permission, here is his secret formula for your experimentation. Keep in mind Go up to the Layer that you might get caught up in just one image menu (once again, on and spend hours. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. top) and click on Flat- ten Image. George starts out in Lightroom with the follow- ing two adjustments, but I believe you can go Now the fun begins. Go to the Filter menu, and straight into Photoshop to accomplish the same select Liquify. You can adjust brush size, and use steps. [Actually, in Camera Raw—Ed.] the icons on the left to stretch, shrink, suck in, twist, etc.

George then returns to Lightroom’s Develop module to play some more. He goes to Lens Cor- rection, choosing the Manual panel to transform the image even further.

As for me, I stopped playing after the Liquify step. It’s all up to your eye, sense of adventure, and willingness to push the envelope.

In Lightroom, select the Saturation and Vibrance George and I wish you many hours of editing sliders, and move them all the way to the right to pleasure. exaggerate the colors.

After completion of this step, bring the image into Photoshop. I have Elements but I’m sure it works in any Photoshop program.

Once in Photoshop, go to the Filter menu (on top), select Stylize, and then click on Solarize. The image becomes very dark, but not to worry.

After this, go to Adjustment Layer, and select Levels. There are 3 small triangles in this layer. [All images are ©2011 George Grubb.]

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 24 Schedule of Activities present an overview of Lightroom’s modules and go through the processes of importing, de- All Club Monday night meetings take place at veloping, and exporting images in this newest of the Soho Photo Gallery located at 15 White Adobe’s photo software. Street, between West and the Avenue of the Americas (6th Avenue) unless indicated Tuesday, March 13 otherwise in the listings below. Meeting sites for Photo Event—Tuesday Evening Hour other Club activities are included within the list- Tuesday Evening Hour is an artist’s non-profit ing. Following the schedule of activities are de- slide-show program whose mission is to expose tailed directions to each of our meeting sites. the works of the artist to the public. Each Tues- day a working photographer presents a slide Check the Park West Camera Club Website show/lecture. No reservations required—just for late-break- arrive. Tonight’s presentation is Beyond Stone- ing details on all meetings and other PWCC ac- henge: Rock Stars of the Neolithic Era by PWCC’s tivities. very own Recording Secretary, Lee Backer. The

All meetings begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise indicated below.

The Park West Camera Club meets every Mon- day night (with some exceptions for holidays and a slightly curtailed summer schedule). Please join us at a meeting or on one of our many scheduled field trips.

An asterisk (*) preceding the date indicates an official Park West Camera Club activity. Other listings included below are Photo Events, which may be of interest to photographers, and Photo show begins at 6 p.m. and is held at St. Marga- Ops, which offer opportunities to take pictures. ret’s House, 49 Fulton Street (near the South Street Seaport). The closest subway is the #2 or #3 train station at Fulton Street, but others are * Monday, March 12 nearby—check your maps. A $2.00 donation is Workshop Night requested. Let’s all turn out to support our fel- low PWCC member! Tonight’s meeting is a workshop/demonstration in Wednesday, March 14 the use of Adobe’s Photoshop Photo Event—Audubon Photo Club Lightroom (or just Lightroom, to those in the know). This The NYC Audubon Photo Club meets tonight. presentation will be led by These meetings are for all photographers. The PWCC’s Website Committee co- cost is $6 per meeting, or $45 for the year/$35 for chair, and computing whiz, Bob Wine. Bob will NYC Audubon members. Please pre-register at

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 25 The program begins at can avoid the crowds that throng the sidewalks 6:30 p.m. and is held at the National Audubon below 59th Street. The upper steps of the Metro- Office, at 225 Varick Street—a block and a half politan Museum of Art provide a great view or north of Houston Street. The nearest subway you can get a close-up view of the marchers stop is the Houston Street station on the #1 train. where the parade turns east on 86th Street. The St. Patrick's Day Parade ends around 2 or 3 p.m. Thursday, March 15 Photo Event—NYPC Meeting Saturday-Sunday, March 17 & 18 Photo Op—Antique Show Plus The New York Personal Computer Club (NYPC) usually holds its monthly general meeting this Internationally known, and a staple for New evening, from 6 to 8 p.m. Their website has not Yorkers, the Pier Antiques Show and Fashion Al- yet been updated to include this information. ley, is one of the largest shows of its kind,… They quite often present programs of interest to anywhere. Celebrities, and major designers and photographers. Be sure to check out their web- decorators, from all over the country attend it in site to get the what and where droves, and shoppers come from around the for this event. world to discover future trends! 500 exhibitors assemble on the Hudson River, Pier 94 to be pre- Saturday, March 17 cise, at 12th Avenue and West 55th Street. The Photo Op—St. Patrick’s Day Parade hours both days are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the cost is $15 per day. Photograph the antiques, Often regarded as the most popular parade in shoot the fashion, snap away at the parade of , the St. Patrick's Day Parade is people, and maybe do a little shopping as well. not to be missed. The first official St. Patrick's Food is available on site. Day Parade in New York City was held in 1766 by Irish military men serving in the American * Monday, March 19 colonies. This is the 251st marching of the parade Guest Speaker—Toby Old (yeah, I know, the numbers don’t add up, I guess they missed a Tonight’s guest photographer is Toby Old—the year or two judge at our competition last month. “Toby cap- here and tures animation in his photography, depicting there). The both realistic and exciting observations of hu- parade goes man life. Drawing on the inspiration of photog- up 5th Ave- raphers of the 1960s, he has traveled the country nue from 44th photographing in many different environments, to 79th Street. including street performances, beaches, fairs, Despite not fashion shows, nightclubs, boxing events, parks, allowing and Fourth of July celebrations. His images cap- floats, autos, nor exhibits, there are over 150,000 ture extraordinary moments in human action marchers every year. The New York City St. Pat- and social and cultural experiences as they un- rick's Day Parade will start at 11 a.m. on 5th fold.“ His portfolios include works in dance, es- Avenue and 44th Street. Toward the north end of pecially the disco scene, and Americana. Check

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 26 out Toby’s website * Monday, March 26 Business Meeting to see more of his Tonight, we will continue the discussions from work. The curtain the last business meeting as well as raise some raiser tonight is new ones. The Club’s election process begins to- PWCC member, ar- night with the appointing of the ad hoc Nominat- chitect, traveler, and ing Committee As usual we’ll end the evening photographer ex- with refreshments and socializing. See page 9 of traordinaire, Nicole this issue of Photo Notes for more details. Limelight Club, NYC Dosso. © Toby Old * Monday, March 26 Competition Entry Deadline Tuesday, March 20 Please note that PDI entries are due tonight for Photo Event—Tuesday Evening Hour next week’s competition.

Tonight’s presentation is The Islands of Greece by Tuesday, March 27 Vlassios Pyrpyris—his name says it all!. See the Photo Event—Tuesday Evening Hour listing under March 13th for the general details. Tonight’s presentation is unknown at this time. * Saturday, March 24 See the listing under March 13th for the general Field Trip—China Town details. The Year-of-the-Dragon and the new Spring sea- Wednesday, March 28 son beckon. Bring your camera and be prepared Photo Event—Sierra Photo for some of the best street shooting in the Ci- ty—people, architecture, storefronts, parks, the The New York City Sierra Club’s Photography light green of new growth, and so much more. Committee is holding its meeting tonight. The We meet at 11 a.m. at the China Town Informa- tion Booth (corner of Canal and Baxter Streets— #6, J, M, N, Q, R, W, and Z subway lines). Leader: Rita Russo: 212-475-3875.

* Monday, March 26 Exec. Comm. Mtg. Prior to tonight’s business meeting the Club’s officers will meet to discuss matters of interest and importance to the Club. The meeting will be held at the Soho Photo Gallery at 6:00 p.m.

Lofoten Islands, Norway © Carlos Esguerra

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 27 program for tonight is a presentation by Carlos Esguerra. It will be based on the first book of God Made, Man Made, a two-volume coffee-table book project on which Carlos is presently working. Carlos was born in the Philippines, and is now living in New York City. He was in the computer field for 36 years, starting as a programmer ana- lyst for IBM Corporation in White Plains, NY, and later as founder and president of CLÉ Systèmes, Inc. Since 1999 as a landscape and fine arts photographer, he had received more than 40 national and international awards, and his works Untitled #11-Auschwitz had been selected in numerous juried exhibitions © Susan May Tell in many states in the U.S. and in other countries such as Canada, Austria, France, Germany, and ments..“ Check out some more of her images at Sweden. The meeting, open to the general pub- lic, is held on the second floor of St. Paul the Apostle Church at 405 West 59th Street, just west Tuesday, April 3 of Columbus/9th Avenue, and begins at 6:30 Photo Event—Tuesday Evening Hour p.m. A $5 donation is collected at the door. Tonight’s presentation is unknown at this time. See the listing under March 13th for the general * Monday, April 2 details. Monthly Competition There are only two monthly competitions re- Wednesday, April 4 maining this year. Three of the four races are too Photo Event—PWP Monthly Meeting close to call at this time, and the fourth is still Professional Women Photographers is a group of within reach. Don’t miss out on the excitement. women photographers who network and share Enter your images and attend the competition their images and experiences. Tonight’s program meeting. Full rules are available on the Club’s is a presentation by photographer Karin Rosen- website Re- thal, Journeying Within the Human Landscape. member, print and slide entries must be submit- Karin has photographed nudes in the landscape ted by 6:45 p.m. so that we may get under way since 1975, finding resonances between body and with the competition promptly at 7 p.m. PDI en- nature first in traditional B&W images and now tries must be submitted by midnight one week in digital . In this talk, she will prior to today—March 26th. Tonight’s judge will draw from a variety of series to convey the evo- be Susan May Tell. “Susan is an award-winning lution and range of her motivations, ideas, and fine art photographer whose quiet images are explorations. Using light and reflection, Rosen- distinguished by elegant compositions and thal has created abstractions and illusions that evocative moments. Although frequently mov- challenge us to see beyond the predictable with ing, the work is never sentimental due to her one click of the shutter. More of Karin’s images masterly control over the frame's formal ele- may be seen at Meet-

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 28 ings are held on the second floor of St. Paul the los Esguerra. See the listing for March 28th, Si- Apostle Church at 405 West 59th Street, just west erra Photo, for more about Carlos. See the listing of Columbus/9th Avenue. The doors open at 6 under March 13th for the general details. p.m. and the meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. There is a $10.00 fee for guests. * Wednesday, April 11 Print Workshop Thursday, April 5 All Club members are invited to bring a dozen Photo Event—Soho Photo Opening or so images for this every-other-month event. Soho Photo is pleased to announce that Stephan Bring your work prints, finished prints, what- Gersh is the guest photographer during April. ever prints, for an honest, but gentle, critique of Stephan, whose exhibition is entitled Insights, your work. This workshop has limited space so began photographing in 1964, when he worked please sign up in advance. Contact Ruth Forma- as an assistant to Ansel Adams. He has exhibited nek at 212-799-3984, or widely; he’s been in 20 solo shows and his work at any Club meeting to get the time and meeting is included in the collections of museums in the place. The workshop leader is Nancy Sirkis. United States, Canada, and France. Gersh has been a teacher for over 30 years, and taught with * Monday, April 16 Minor White in the graduate program at MIT. He Guest Speaker—Rivka Katvan created photography programs at several col- Tonight’s guest speaker, Rivka Katvan, is a part- leges and schools, conducted workshops, and ner with her husband Moshe, in Katvan Studio, served as a consultant to Polaroid Corporation. here in New York City’s photo district. Although The opening is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; the show basically a commercial photo studio, Rivka is runs through April 27th. Gallery hours are also well Wednesdays through Sundays, from 1 p.m. to 6 known for p.m., and by appointment (and, of course, at all her fine art our PWCC meetings). and , * Monday, April 9 as well as Club Auction her photo- The amassed crowd is abuzz with anticipa- graphic stud- tion as Chuck Pine swings the gavel,… and ies of the with a loud bang the 2012 PWCC auction of Broadway Elizabeth Taylor, The Little Foxes photographica begins. See “Going, Going, theatre, as ©1981 Rivka Katvan Gone” on page 16 of this issue of Photo Notes seen in her for all the details. recent Abrams’ book, Backstage: Broadway Behind the Curtain. Please join us for this exciting and enter- Tuesday, April 10 taining evening of photography. Tonight’s cur- Photo Event—Tuesday Evening Hour tain raiser is scheduled to be Natalie Manzino, award winning photographer and former PWCC Tonight’s digital presentation is Architectural Ab- ExCom member. stracts, Los Angeles, Belgium, Spain & NYC by Car-

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 29 * Saturday, April 14 and the area known as Red Hook. One of our Field Trip—West Village Kings County locals, Natalie Manzino, 917-757- 7086, will be our Talk about street shooting, fearless leader. We’ll what better place could there meet in the Fairway be than the West Village (da parking lot at 11 villaj, to da locals)? Bring your a.m. (Arrive a few camera and be prepared to minutes early if you capture the character and the want to shop for characters of one of the Big lunch!) A meeting Apple’s oldest and most cherished areas. Meet at place and time in the corner of West 4th Street and Sixth Avenue/ Manhattan will be announced at Club meetings. Avenue of the Americas—the West 4th Street sta- This up-and-coming nabe (besides Fairway, it is tion of the A, B, C, D, E, F, and V lines are be- the home of the furniture and furnishing giant low—in front of the IFC Cinema at 11 a.m. from Sweden, Ikea) also has some great old sec- Leader: Inna Grubmair, 646-355-6840. tions, plus some spectacular views over the wa- Tuesday, April 17 ter including some of lower Manhattan, the Photo Event—Tuesday Evening Hour Statue of Liberty, and more. See you there?

Tonight’s presentation is unknown at this time. * Monday, April 23 See the listing under March 13th for the general Portfolio Review Night details. Our third and final Portfolio Review Night of the * Thursday, April 19 year occurs tonight. Five more Club members Projected Image Workshop have been invited to bring a concise portfolio of their work for an in-depth review and critique. All Club members are invited to bring a dozen Each will present up to 12 images on the same or so images for this every-other-month event. subject/theme. The critic we have retained for Bring your 35mm mounted slides or your PDIs tonight’s review is Susan May Tell—this month’s (on a CD or a /thumb drive) for an honest, judge at our April 2nd competition. but gentle, critique of your work. These may be finished images, works in progress, shots you’re Tuesday, April 24 thinking of entering into competitions, whatever. Photo Event—Tuesday Evening Hour We get started at 7 p.m. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. so you may enter your images. (Please Tonight’s presentation is unknown at this time. don’t arrive any earlier.) All this will take place See the listing under March 13th for the general at the home of Chuck and Helen Pine. See below details. for the address and directions. * Sunday, April 29 * Saturday, April 21 Field Trip—Williamsburg Field Trip—Red Hook Can’t get enough of ? Fugedabout it! As we continue our exploration of New York We got ya covered. Join us for this Sunday morn- City neighborhoods, we head over to Brooklyn ing and early afternoon stroll through historic

March/April 2012 www.parkwestcameraclub.org Page 30 Directions to Soho Photo Gallery at 15 White Street, between Avenue of the Americas/ Sixth Avenue and West Broadway. Take the #1 train to the Franklin Street station (one stop below Canal Street). Walk one block north on West Broadway to White street, make a right turn, and walk half a block to the gallery. Take the A, C, or E train to the Canal Street station. Walk south on Sixth Avenue /Church Street 3 blocks to White Street, make a right turn, and Williamsburg. We’ll see and shoot the sights and walk half a block to the gallery. Although a little bit people of the neighborhood. We’ll sample the longer walk, take any other train to Canal Street, foods in the old sections, visit the galleries in the walk west to Church Street, and follow the directions new sections, and we’ll have a great time as we immediately above. Free evening parking is limited, travel around. We’ll meet at the corner of North but available. 7th Street and , right upstairs from the Bedford Avenue station on the L train, Directions to the Pine Apartment at 11 a.m. Our leader for this journey is our Field at 680 West End Avenue at 93rd Street, Apartment Trip Committee co-chair, Susan Sigrist, 212-758- 5D: Take the #1, 2, or 3, trains to 96th Street (exit at 0036. Hope to see you here. the south end of the station) or the M7, M11, or M104 bus to 93rd/94th Streets. From the train or * Monday, April 30 bus, walk the few steps to 93rd Street, make a right Exec. Comm. Mtg. turn and head west to the apartment entrance on the Prior to tonight’s business meeting the Club’s corner of West End Avenue and West 93rd Street. officers will meet to discuss matters of interest and importance to the Club. The meeting will be held at the Soho Photo Gallery at 6:00 p.m. Now on the Website

* Monday, April 30 Now, when you visit the Club’s website and Business Meeting navigate to the Field Trips page, you can click Tonight, we will continue the discussions from and download complete information on the the last business meeting as well as raise some scheduled day trips that have been planned new ones. As usual we’ll end the evening with by the Field Trip Committee. refreshments and socializing. My suggestion would be to print it out and * Monday, April 30 then use a small magnet to attach it to your Competition Entry Deadline refrigerator door. This way you’ll constantly be reminded of Park West’s upcoming shoot- Please note that PDI entries are due tonight for ing activities. next week’s competition.

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