Park West PHOTO NOTES Camera Club Summer 2015
In This Issue Club News...... 2 - 14 Photography News...... 15 - 27 Exhibits, Workshops, Etc...... 28 - 31 Schedule of Activities...... 32 - 40 Complete Index...... 40
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 1 Park West Camera Club Committee Chairs
The Park West Camera Club is an independent not-for- Archives Myrna Harrison-Changar profit corporation. Guests are always welcome at meet- 212 663 1422 [email protected] ings and activities. Competition George Hansen The Park West Camera Club newsletter, Photo Notes, is 212 595 7869 [email protected] Hedy Klein published every month by and for the members of the 718 793 0246 [email protected] Park West Camera Club. Subscriptions are included with Club membership. Yearly subscriptions are avail- Field Trip Susan Sigrist able to non-members by e-mail at no charge. Printed 212 758 0036 [email protected] issues are available at PWCC meetings. Paul Grebanier 718 629 7164 [email protected] Submissions of full-length articles or smaller items of photographic or general interest are always accepted. Gallery Linda Visser The staff of Photo Notes reserves the right to edit any 914-886-8441 [email protected] submissions which are published. House vacancy
Deadline for submissions is the first Monday of each Membership Marlene Schonbrun month. 212 662 3107 [email protected] Photo Notes is optimized for viewing on the internet. Elena Pierpont 212 956 4515 [email protected]
Contact Information Newsletter Chuck Pine 212 932 7665 [email protected] Website www.parkwestcameraclub.org Program Marilyn Fish-Glynn 212 685 8784 mfi[email protected]
E-Mail Address Social Marvin Fink [email protected] 718 469 5478 marvfi[email protected]
Club Mailing Address Website (interim) Michael Schleiff 345 East 73rd Street, #8L, NY, NY 10021 917 359 6823 [email protected] Workshop Jerry Harawitz Photo Notes Mailing Address 212 673 2096 [email protected] 680 West End Avenue, #5D, NY, NY 10025
Club Officers
President Ed Lee 212 255 9678 [email protected] V. President Michael Schleiff 917 359 6823 [email protected] Corres. Sec. Helen Bohmart Pine Cover Photo 212 932 7665 [email protected] Cigaretten Rec. Sec. Christine Doyle 212 595 4920 [email protected] by Chuck Pine ©2015 Treasurer Maria Fernandez 908 447 8075 [email protected] Pres. Emeritus Chuck Pine 212 932 7665 [email protected]
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 2 President’s Message torial review of the new 50th Yes, the book was new and Anniversary edition of the a breakthrough. Demonstrat-
CLUB Is It Just Me? book from their website: ing great technique and use of “In 1962, Porter created in In color film, the images helped At the last business meeting, Wilderness Is the Preservation bring to the forefront a new our President Emeritus, Chuck of the World, an immensely wave of conservation. But Pine, brought in a bunch of re- popular book, combining his compared to today’s photog- cent photo magazines for the evocative color photographs of raphy most of these images are Club which had accumulated New England woods with ex- not “sexy” enough and too while they were snow birding cerpts from the writings of Henry mundane. They too would in Florida. After the meeting, I David Thoreau. The book revolu- receive only a “B” by our com- borrowed a few issues of Out- tionized photographic book pub- petition judges. door Photographer magazine lishing by setting new standards “The more things change, and, while perusing them, I for design and printing, and prov- the more they remain the noticed something extremely ing the commercial viability of same!” similar among each issue: most fine art photography books. Its Have a great summer and of the landscape images looked success set Porter on a lifelong keep an eye out for a boatload alike, from the same cookie path of creating similar photo- of upcoming Club activities! cutter, regardless if they were a graphic portraits of a wide variety cover image, photographs in a of ecologically significant places feature or technical article, or the world over. Ed were used in an ad. All the images were wide- Photo Notes angled, HDR-appearing, had over saturated and extreme Publisher: Ed Lee colors, fantastic cloud forma- Editor: Chuck Pine tions, and the running water (if Committee: Bill Apple, Elsa Blum, Madeleine present) shot at a slow shutter Barbara, Ann Broder, Ruth Formanek, Gladys speed so it would appear soft Hopkowitz, Hedy Klein, Paul Perkus, Helen Pine, and cotton candy-like. A judge and Judy Rosenblatt at one of our competitions would say: “I've seen that type Contributors: Bill Apple, Christine Doyle, Ruth of image, a thousand times Formanek Paul Grebanier, George Hansen, Ed Lee, (you can add any number you Chuck Pine, and Judy Rosenblatt like), over processed, etc.… B!” Photo Notes is produced on a MacBook Pro So is this where we are in the using iWork Pages and Adobe Photoshop. world of landscape and travel photography? All uncredited images are royalty-free clip art or other- Remembering back over 50 wise believed to be in the public domain. years ago to Sierra Club’s In Wildness Is the Preservation of Credited images remain the sole property of their the World by Elliot Porter, it copyright holders—all rights reserved. seems like “deja vu all over again.” From an Amazon edi-
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 3 Images of the Year
CLUB PDI-of-the-Year Laundry in Motion by Natalie Manzino
Print-of-the-Year Congratulations to all our Hot Air Balloon Shadows by Elena Pierpont winners and runners-up!
Thanks to all who entered and competed this year.
And, a special thank-you to our three year-end judges—Melissa Fleming, Peter Fankhauser, and Tequila Minsky—for a job well done.
For the rest of us, wait until next year!
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 4 Runners-Up of the Year Print Runners-Up CLUB Escape by Paul Grebanier PDI Runners-Up
Fifth Avenue Strut by Hedy Klein
Stone Profile by Hedy Klein
Arrival by Paul Grebanier
Jumping for the Stars by Marvin Fink Two Trees by Carole DeBeer
Portrait of a Young Girl by Rita Russo The Stare by Marvin Fink
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 5 Cumulative Point Totals PDIs Year-End These are the final scores for CLUB George Hansen 134 by George Hansen the 2014-2015 Club year. Chuck Pine 114 Congratulations to all the Marjorie Gurd 108 Prints winners and runners-up. Joan Slatkin 108 And, thanks to all the Park Jerry Vogel 104 Hedy Klein 126 West Camera Club members Paul Grebanier 102 Paul Grebanier 116 who competed during the Natalie Manzino 102 George Hansen 116 previous eight months. Janet Susin 102 Oggy Doytchinov 108 Awards and/or prizes for Christine Doyle 100 Madeleine Barbara 98 the first-, second-, and third- Hedy Klein 98 Sarah Corbin 98 place winners will be given Elena Pierpont 96 Elena Pierpont 96 out at the Annual Otto Litzel David Francis 90 Elsa Blum 92 Memorial Year-End Dinner Paula Paterniti 90 John Brengleman 78 on June 8th. Madeleine Barbara 88 Paula Paterniti 78 Hope to see you all there. Marvin Fink 48 Rita Russo 86 Ann Broder 46 Marilyn Fish-Glynn 84 Bill Apple 36 Peter Houts 74 Alice Somma 34 Bill Apple 70 Marilyn Fish-Glynn 28 Dinorah Capota 70 Sorin Capota 22 Karen Corrigan 70 Ruth Yashpan 20 Sorin Capota 64 Dinorah Capota 18 Sarah Davis 62 David Francis 18 John Brengelman 60 Jerry Vogel 14 Dottie Mills 58 Cal Eagle 12 Don Raney 58 Eileen McNamee 12 Jerry Harawitz 48 Julie Foehrenbach 10 Michael Schleiff 44 Lois Honig 10 Ann Broder 40 Sal Maci 8 Carole de Beer 38 Natalie Manzino 6 Alice Somma 38 Dolores Roddy 32 Martin Smith 32 Ruth Yashpan 26 Jay Bitkower 19 Marilyn Thypin 18 James Lukens 14 Sonya Smith 14 Eileen McNamee 12 Sal Maci 8 Susan Genaro 6 Niv Gidron 4 Ruth Lowell 4
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 6 PWCC’s Yahoo Group PWCC Flickr Group by Paul Grebanier
CLUB Do you have an idea to go out shooting but don’t want to go alone? Have a question about Did you know that there is a way for PWCC Photoshop, or your camera, or some technique, members to share their pictures with other but don’t have someone to ask? Know of a great members and the world? Probably not! Seven photo op or workshop that you’d like to share years ago, a “Park West Camera Club” Group with your fellow Club members? What are you was set-up on the “flickr” picture sharing and to do? social networking site, just for such a purpose. Ta Da! The Club’s Yahoo group is the an- Unfortunately, the idea never really caught on swer to your questions. You can communicate at that time. The weeds of neglect and disrepair with other PWCC members about these and have overgrown the site. But the structure is more. All you have to do is sign up for the still there—awaiting rehabilitation. group. It’s easy and it’s free. What a waste! All you have to do is send an e-mail to the Club at
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 7 ExCom Meeting ating a new website and asked by Christine Doyle if we want to try using the PSA CLUB Recording Secretary template. Helen noted that a new website should also be May 18, 2015 mobile-friendly, which may change what we want to do, The Club’s Executive Commit- and that the Club should re- tee, consisting of the five and adding music to their consider hiring someone to elected officers plus the Presi- presentations; Ed suggested create the new site. Michael dent Emeritus, met tonight that a limit on the time allowed will reach out to PSA to see if prior to the Club’s May busi- for curtain raisers be included they can recommend anyone. ness meeting. He added that Ruth Lowell is Finding a venue for Labor Day not interested in redesigning Present at tonight’s meeting picnic was raised by Chuck the Club website. were: President, Ed Lee; Vice • Social Committee: Ed will President, Michael Schleiff; Fall meetings: Marilyn Fish- ask Gladys Hopkowitz if we Corresponding Secretary, Glynn noted that Rosh Hasha- can hold the Club Labor Day Helen Pine; Treasurer, Maria nah falls on Monday, Septem- picnic at her building rooftop, Fernandez; Recording Secre- ber 14th, so the first meeting of as we have done in the past. tary, Christine Doyle; President the 2015-2016 year will be on • Workshop: Chuck reported Emeritus, Chuck Pine. Marilyn Monday, September 21st; Ed that there will be no Expand- Fish-Glynn and George Han- added that there would be a ing Visions workshop this sen sat in on the meeting. show & tell on the 21st and a year; the next one will be held business meeting on Monday, in the spring of 2016. There is a I. The club exhibit at the Citi- September 28th possibility that some classes corp Building in Long Island may be held in the Fall of 2015. City ended in May and mem- III. Committee Reports • Field Trip: Chuck reported bers have retrieved their work. • Competition Committee: that he is researching a possi- George Hansen announced ble field trip to Cuba in Octo- II. Additions to Business Meet- that he is stepping down as co- ber 2015 and will poll members ing Agenda chair of the Competition at the Business Meeting to de- Committee but will remain a termine the level of interest. Old Business: discussion of member. John Brengelman will whether to continue the auc- be the new Competition tion as a Club activity was Committee co-chair. George raised by Helen noted that entries for the Final Competition are due by Mon- New Business: day, May 25th. A discussion was initiated by • Ed will print the certificates Helen of whether new guide- and obtain flash drives that lines are needed for curtain will be given as gifts to the raisers, given that members competition winners. have been showing more than • Web Committee: Michael re- the usual 10-12 images ported no new activity on cre-
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 8 IV. Summer Club Activities Business Meeting The following summer sched- by Christine Doyle CLUB ule was agreed: Recording Secretary • 6/1/2015: Final Competition • 6/8/2015: Otto Litzel Memo- (This is a draft copy and has rial Dinner not yet been approved by the • 6/15/2015: Executive Com- membership.) mittee meeting • 6/22/2015: Dinner & A May 18, 2015 Show/Death Valley Reunion I. Call To Order: President (plus images from other trips) tlepool Camera Club (in Eng- Ed Lee called the meeting to • 7/13/2015: Outdoor Model land) about another photo order at 7:01 p.m. Executive Shoot in Central Park (rain exchange between clubs (this Committee members: Vice date: 7/20/2015) has been done twice in the • 7/27/2015: Field trip to President, Michael Schleiff; past). Hartlepool suggested the Corresponding Secretary, Green-Wood Cemetery exchange of 30-40 images of Helen Pine; Recording Secre- • 8/10/2015: Indoor Model each club’s “home regions.” tary, Christine Doyle; Treas- Shoot (Figure Study) Helen suggested that members urer, Maria Fernandez; and - 8/24/2015: TBA who want to participate send President Emeritus, Chuck one image each to her and then Pine were present. The following field trip loca- she will combine the images tions were also suggested and into a pdf file for submission. will be mentioned at the Busi- II. Minutes of Previous Meet- ing: A motion to waive the ness Meeting: an out-of-town VI. New Club Business Cards reading of the minutes was site accessible by public trans- Ed showed samples of new passed. The minutes of the portation; New Jersey sun- Club business cards that he March 30, 2015 business meet- flower fields; nighttime field would like to order. He will ing were approved. trip to, e.g., Weehawken or ask members to send him im- Brooklyn Bridge Park; new ages over the next few weeks III. Treasurer’s Report: Maria Fulton Street subway station/ and he will select the ones reported that the Club has ap- Trinity Church/Brooklyn that will be used to illustrate proximately $13,000 in the Bridge; Coney Island/ the cards. Brooklyn Cyclones game; bank. The Club has saved Steamtown Historic Site money on rent as a result of the in Pennsylvania; Times Square three cancelled meetings in evening shoot; the Cloisters; February. Other expenditures Top of the Rock or other mid- are on target. Maria thanked town rooftop bar; Circle Line Marlene Schonbrun, Chair of cruise; Staten Island Ferry/ the Membership Committee, Staten Island Yankees game. for her success in increasing Club membership. Maria re- V. Hartlepool Photo Exchange ported that the Archive Com- Helen reported that she re- mittee will likely need extra ceived a request from the Har- funds for the next year to finish
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 9 its work preserving Club ar- calendars or books to sell to chair Linda Visser was not pre- chive materials, perhaps in- defray the cost of a storage bin. sent. Myrna reported that CLUB creasing the committee’s Ed suggested that they locate Linda had been visiting venues budget to $200. Maria also the owners, if possible, and of- for future Club exhibits, and noted the budget line item of fer to return the images. Chuck that she has recently returned $200 for the Library. Chuck noted that in past years the from an extended period of noted that the expense covers practice was to donate images traveling. Helen said she Club purchases of instructional to the Club, so the images be- would contact Linda to discuss videos to loan to members, but long to the Club. Marilyn Fish- her findings. that the videos are not used Glynn added that some Club • House: No report (no very much. Maria proposed, members may want some of chair). Ed thanked all members and members agreed, that the the images. Myrna suggested for helping to set up and put line item be removed from the that she hold an open house in away chairs used for meetings. budget and that any future her apartment so that members • Membership: Chair Mar- expenses be included under can view the items before a fi- lene Schonbrun reported that Administrative Expenses. nal decision is made. George the Club currently has 84 Hansen noted that the archive members. Four new members IV. Committee Reports materials that have already recently joined the Club after • Archive: Chair Myrna been scanned can be viewed on attending a Club field trip Harrison-Changar reported the Club’s website. George also through Ed’s NY Photo Safari that a library in Long Island asked whe-ther members meet-up group. City has expressed interest in could be allowed to sell their • Newsletter: Chair Chuck using one of the photos shown used equip-ment and/or im- Pine noted that the deadline in the Club’s exhibit at the ages on the Club website. for submitting materials for the Citicorp Building. She will re- Chuck said that that would not next issue, the Summer issue, port back when she receives be feasible. is June 1st. Any Club members further details. The Archive • Competition: George Han- who wish to help with writing Committee is still at work cre- sen announced that he will be /editing the newsletter are ating a new scrapbook, and do- stepping down as co-chair. welcome to join the committee. ing a lot of scanning and print- John Brengelman will be tak- Club members who are not ing work. Myrna noted that ing over as co-chair of the members of the Newsletter she has in her possession six Competition Committee. Committee are also free to archival boxes and scrapbooks George also reported that he submit articles. All submis- with old Club materials and and Co-Chair Hedy Klein are sions may be edited before asked the Club to address working on some additional publication. Chuck agreed where to store these materials changes to the Competition with Maria’s suggestion that in the future. A discussion fol- Manual that will resolve some they use one of the Club’s lowed on renting a small stor- unintended situations. credit cards to pay for printing age container for the Club ar- • Field Trip: Co-Chair Paul the newsletter, instead of reim- chive materials or whether the Grebanier reported that field bursing Club member Elena items should be disposed of trips to midtown galleries and Pierpont. As there are approx- after they are scanned. She Patterson, NJ are on the sched- imately 10-15 copies remaining suggested that the archival uled for May and June. out of a total print run of 50 at prints could be used to make • Gallery: No report since the end of each month, Maria
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 10 suggested that the print run be reduced. Ed responded that he CLUB uses the extra copies as hand- outs to Meet-Up members to induce them to join the Club. • Program: Chair Marilyn Fish-Glynn reported that the three judges for the Year-End Competition are Peter Fank- hauser, Melissa Fleming, and Joseph Rosen. • Social: Chair Marvin Fink was not present. Ed thanked Club member Natalie Manzino for providing refreshments for planned until the fall. [Correc- restaurant on West 23rd Street. after tonight’s meeting. tion: there is a print workshop As space is limited, members • Website: Website Commit- on June 10th.] who wish to attend should tee liaison Michael Schleiff re- V. Old Business send their payment ($42 per ported that there is no new ac- A. Executive Committee Elec- person), as well as their main tivity on creating a new web- tions: Nominating Committee entree preferences to Maria as site, but that he would still like chair Rita Russo reported on soon as possible. to test the PSA (Visual Pur- the slate submitted by her C. Year-End Competition: suits) template. He added that committee for the 2015-2016 The deadline for submissions there is also interest in making officers: President, Ed Lee; Vice for the Year-End Competition the new website mobile- President, Michael Schleiff; is next Monday, May 25th. friendly. Michael is looking Corresponding Secretary, There is no need to re-name into setting up a schedule to Helen Pine; Recording Secre- PDIs. All images may not be work on the new website next tary, Christine Doyle; and altered from their original fall. In response to Helen’s Treasurer, Maria Fernandez. submission. question, Club members re- Since the deadline to submit D. Labor Day Picnic: This ported that they use the Club nominations to run for a seat year’s Chuck Pine Labor Day website to read the newsletter, on the Executive Committee Picnic will be held on Sunday, check for field trips, and view was last week, the only candi- September 6th. Members were Competition and individual dates were from the commit- asked to contact Ed with venue members’ galleries. Ed noted tee’s slate. A motion was made suggestions. The host of last that only 11 members have gal- from the floor to have Record- year’s picnic, Gladys Hopkow- leries on the Club website and ing Secretary Christine Doyle itz, will ask her building if we encouraged more members to cast a unanimous vote for the can meet on their roof again. take advantage of the oppor- slate of officers. The motion E. Auction: This year’s Club tunity to showcase their work. was seconded and approved. auction was poorly attended • Workshop: No report B. Otto Litzel Dinner: This and netted the Club only $85. (Jerry Harawitz was not in at- year’s Otto Litzel Memorial Joan Slatkin felt that the reason tendance). Ed noted that no Year-End Dinner will be held why more people did not at- additional workshops are on June 8th at East of Eighth tend was because Chuck was Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 11 not present for this year’s • 8/24/2015: Late afternoon tlepool. She will also contact event. A discussion followed as trip to Battery Park and Staten the Hartlepool club to advise CLUB to whether the Club should Island, perhaps with a model; them that, because of the size continue to hold an annual • Other suggested field trips of our Club, we will be sending auction; if so, when; and included light painting in more than 40 images. whether the Club should con- Woodlawn Cemetery. F. New Business Cards: Ed sider holding a swap meet in- D. Curtain Raisers: Helen reported that he will be order- stead. A motion to skip the noted that members have been ing new Club business cards auction in 2016 was passed and doing more elaborate presenta- that will include members’ im- approved. tions for their curtain raisers, ages. He asked members to adding music and expanding send him up to three images, VI. New Business the number of images beyond sized for competition, between A. Status of Expanding Vi- the 10-12 images, and asked June 2nd and June 14th, from sions: Chuck reported that, be- Club members if they thought which images that will be used cause he is still limping, there new guidelines should be to illustrate the new cards will will be no Expanding Visions adopted. Following a discus- be selected. workshop this year; the next sion on various topics, mem- one will be held in the Spring bers agreed that curtain raisers VII. Good and Welfare of 2016. He may do some should be continued. A motion A. From the Chair: classes in the Fall. to limit curtain raisers to five • Ed reported that the NECCC B. Possible Extended Field minutes was passed. Michael will be held at Amherst Col- Trip: Chuck is researching a added that each member was lege in Massachusetts in mid- possible extended field trip to to decide the screen duration July. The cost for the weekend, Cuba in October 2015. He is of each image in their curtain including room and board, is still investigating prices and raiser. Natalie Manzino sug- $300-$400. Peter Pan and possible venues, but he esti- gested that the Club hold a Megabus go to the campus. mates the cost will be about workshop on putting together • Helen reported that she, $4,000-$5,000 plus airfare. slideshows with music. Sarah Corbin and Carole De C. Club Summer Activities: E. Hartlepool Photo Ex- Beer are in the PWP “Whims of Club activities planned for the change: Helen reported that Weather” exhibit at the Na- summer months include: she received a request from the tional Arts Club in Gramercy • 6/22/2015: Dinner & A Hartlepool Camera Club (in Park through the 30th of May. Show/Death Valley Reunion England) about another photo B. From the Floor: Myrna or images from other trips, at exchange (this was done twice Changar-Harrison reported Chuck and Helen’s apartment in the past). Hartlepool sug- that Bob Wine is doing well. (attendees can show up to a gested the exchange of 30-40 Bob has asked that members maximum of 40 images); images of each club’s “home send him copies of any images • 7/13/2015: Outdoor Model regions.” Members agreed to they have of the Citicorp Shoot in Central Park with Ed this proposed exchange. Helen Building exhibit. (rain date: 7/20/2015); asked that all members who • 7/27/2015: Field trip to VIII. Adjournment: The meet- want to participate send one ing was adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Green-Wood Cemetery; image each to her, and she will • 8/10/2015: Indoor (nude) then combine the images into a Model Shoot with Ed; XI. Refreshments and socializ- PDF slide show to send to Har- ing followed adjournment. Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 12 Club Curtain Raisers Across the Pond CLUB After a lengthy discussion at In April, we received an e-mail the May business meeting, the from the Hartlepool Camera Club has decided to change its Club in northeast England definition of what a curtain
Second, the fields are Pine Chuck ©2014 you’re lucky enough to win photos Bothsunflower spread throughout northern and/or desire to do so. Of Jersey, mostly in areas where course, the images you send there is no public transporta- need not have been entered in tion. This means we have to any of our Club competitions.)
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 14 Depth of Field By Bill Apple
6 Modest Proposals
As the Club wraps up its 78th
PHOTOGRAPHY year(!) let us not forget to give them their due. Them? Those nattering nabobs of naysaying. You know, perenni- ally sour faces who want the Club never to change, never to do new things. They’d pre- serve it in amber if they could. You see them at business meetings, blocking innovation, He’s Against It Groucho takes a romp in academic pomp as sniping at new ideas, shooting the new, naysaying head of Huxley College, in “Horse Feath- down every motion in a single ers,” the Marx Brothers 1932 gem. Check the video link in the bound—or talking it to death text for this funny, funny song. till everyone loses interest. The Glass Half Empty People. It’s naysaying according to Things and ideas, I here Sorry, it’s got me. But let’s my friend, Merriam Webster: present for your consideration: turn to levity instead. one who denies, refuses, op- a half-dozen ways to better our Put “Horse Feathers,” the poses, or is skeptical or cynical Club, shake off its septuage- Marx Brothers’ 1932 romp, on about something. They’re narian slumber. Maybe even your To Do list. It still makes dreary folks, disappointing, the Executive Committee me chuckle, Groucho’s ditty, dispiriting, sucking the oxygen might be listening and put “I’m Against It!”, eloquently out of any room. some of these on its To Do list? delivered in cap and gown But allow me to continue Why not? Why not now? (he’s a newly installed college shifting gears—and channel prexy, standing for status quo). my inner Rod Serling: Themed Competitions. Sev- For the entire ditty go to eral months back I tried sug-
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 15 Themed competitions ins by thieves. That sounds so, out from a local restaurant. would focus content, making bogus. Somehow, real potlucks al- for more incisive critiquing We still need a central regis- ways packed more Club spirit, and feedback. Moreover, it try—and not just for gear, but everyone pulling together. would push members in new with members’ head shots, While some members may not directions, to leave their pho- contact information, and out- have contributed enough food
PHOTOGRAPHY tographic comfort zone and side interests and aptitudes to the enterprise—that’s the deal with subjects some sel- that might be helpful someday excuse naysayers used to dom shoot. Worth a try. to fellow members. Yes, make quash our custom—that could it a private Facebook page and have been dealt with and over- Clip Art? There’s hostility make participation voluntary, come. It’s a long-standing tra- about clip art in competition but get it done. (I confess, it dition we should revive, images and about compositing would help me learn faces of maybe eat at the Soho Gallery. generally. Bill Wadman, a new members.) And don’t tell me there’s no judge this year, is a practitioner kitchen. I know. par excellence, using his tech- E-Commerce. Having money nique seamlessly to build is never bad. So how about set- Widen the Circle. The Club stunning compositions from ting up shop for our pictures should always be on the look- layers of his own work and, at —literally—on the Internet, out for new members, and not times, bits from others. maybe at the arts-and-crafts just through word of mouth. At an Adorama presenta- site Etsy? Members, under a We need sexy business cards tion Wadman showed riveting PWCC umbrella, would offer and should get them. We need images, some including un- prints and photo tchotchkes, other marketing material, too, abashed appropriation of clip giving PWCC a cut, as with and contacts at camera empo- art from the Web and from our auction. And members riums. We might work up a photographer friends. He told would get to dip their toes into Power Point show for a place how he’d sent out a request for the world of online marketing. like the B & H Event Space. If a canoe one image demanded. The Archives Committee is we have a story to share—any By return e-mail, the high-res also sitting on a mountain of club around New York’s pho- boat glided his way along cy- vintage New York photo- tography scene for 78 years is a berspace. This is 21st century graphs, which the Club has in- story—and do some Show- digital photography. Please, herited over seven decades, and-Tell. Why hide under a relax our rules on clip art. work of historical and artistic bushel? But don’t forget to give There’s neither plagiarism nor merit, for collectors and others. out business cards, either. shame, just creativity. Why not make copy prints and We end this Club year try to sell them too? strong, with a robust head A Facebook Page. We need a count and a decent amount in registry of who owns what A Potluck. We used to have the bank. But there’s always equipment, so you can get ad- genuine potluck holiday din- room to improve. Recall Nancy vice or help about particular ners: members prepared home- Reagan’s anti-drug mantra, cameras. Trouble is, PWCC has made dishes (or arrived bear- “Just Say No,” then turn it on avoided such a database for ing store-bought goodies). its head. The only thing Park decades. Naysayers feared that Then laziness set in, and the West should be saying no to is a printed list could spark break- potluck became ordering take- the naysayers.
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 16 Gallery Watching by Ruth Formanek and Judy Rosenblatt
Gillian Laub, Southern Rites; Benrubi Gallery (in collabora-
PHOTOGRAPHY tion with the International Center of Photography), 521 West 26th Street; to June 27th untitled © by Gillian Laub vivid portraits, taken with a By Judy medium format camera. I iden- The best gallery shows are the tion of the senior prom at her tified with these kids more ones that wallop your emo- county high school which re- strongly than with many other tions when you’re there and sulted in two separate proms. photographic subjects I’ve keep haunting you long after Laub was sent to cover the seen. In some ways they’ve you’ve left. This show more story. She kept returning to Mt. had to grow up all too quickly. than qualifies in every way. It Vernon to document the com- The contrast between their glit- features superb portrait pho- munity, and her 2009 photo es- tery prom clothes and their se- tography and tells a compel- say in the NY Times Magazine riousness and vulnerability ling story that confronts racism sparked outrage that led to the enhances the effectiveness of head on. The story was so com- proms’ integration. Laub’s images. pelling to the photographer Amidst this hopeful Gillian Laub was born in that she also made a video that change, a black teenager was Chappaqua, New York, in aired on HBO on May 18th. shot and killed by an older 1975. She has already been white man. Laub explored the widely awarded and exhibited murder’s aftermath in her for work reflecting her love of video and it reverberates in storytelling and interest in this exhibit as well. Of course families and conflicting cul- she became a controversial tures. Her book, Testimony, fea- figure in the community. Laub tures portraits of Israelis and was escorted away by police Palestinians. She is a photog- when she went to photograph rapher we should all know the first integrated prom. about, and her work restores The exhibit consists mostly my faith that photography can of large-scale portraits of teen- indeed work as an agent of so- agers dressed for their prom, cial change. This is a strong often standing outdoors. The exhibit about a very timely Felicia text accompanying the photo- topic and I urge Club members ©2009 Gillian Laub graphs is in the students’ own not to miss it. words, adding depth to the In 2002, a brave student images. Laub forged close ties By Ruth from Mt. Vernon, Georgia, with the students and some of Activism in photography has a wrote a letter to Spin magazine their families, and that connec- long history. Long ago, pho- telling about the racial segrega- tion seems reflected in these tographers like Lewis Hine
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 17 showed the inhumane condi- peers into a wall mirror ac- tions of child laborers, Dorot- companied by two of her hea Lange and other FSA Mexican hairless dogs. She is (Farm Security Administration) also seen resting, standing photographers depicted rural alone in her garden, and with poverty, sandstorms destroy- her husband, the muralist Di-
PHOTOGRAPHY ing farms, and the effects of the ego Rivera. She seems to have Great Depression on the urban cultivated an impression of unemployed. Gordon Parks cool aloofness (except in one demonstrated our shameful image where she’s blowing a racial divide. kiss to one of her dogs), so de- Along comes Gillian Laub, spite the illustriousness of her who shows us in living color Frida Kahlo photographers, I could never the remains of segregation in ©1940s Lola Alvarez Bravo get a sense of Frida the person, Georgia schools. While integra- of what she was really like. tion was mandated by the Su- by a terrible bus crash when I think this exhibit is mostly preme Court in 1954 the she was 18. Her lifestyle, and of interest to Kahlo fans, al- schools may have interpreted the image she created through though I’m impressed by all that decision to apply solely to her many self portraits, have the famous photographers indoor classrooms. Social life by now turned her into a cult who came her way. She cer- remained segregated as shown figure. She was photographed tainly had an exploitable mag- by Laub’s strong and beautiful by many photographic lumi- netic quality. New Yorker critic, photographs of segregated naries of the 20th century, and Peter Schjeldahl, describing the high school proms. over 50 of these images are on concurrent re-creation of It is possible to document display in this exhibit, along Frida’s garden at the New York social evils colorfully, although with some drawings and other Botanical Garden, points out war and murder scenes to be artifacts of her life. that for $22 at the Garden gift effective need to be in gritty The photographers repre- shop you can purchase a Frida black and white. (I can’t imag- sented here include Manuel oven mitt. Now what would ine Robert Capa’s or Weegee’s and Lola Alvarez Bravo, Imo- she have thought of that? photos in color). gen Cunningham, Gisele Fre- und, Edward Weston—the list By Ruth Mirror Mirror…Portrait of Frida goes on and on. Judy’s review is kind. I had a Kahlo; Throckmorton Fine Art, Kahlo was always a willing strong negative reaction to this 145 East 57th Street; until Sep- model, dressed in long skirts show. I felt that it was a celeb- tember 12th and shawls, bejeweled and rity stunt. Even though Kahlo elaborately coiffed in arrange- was a good painter, had mar- by Judy ments that often included ried Diego Rivera, had affairs Frida Kahlo probably needs no bunches of flowers. So she with both men and women, introduction here; she has be- must have spent much time including Leon Trotsky, had come famous not just as a Mex- looking at herself in mirrors, as eyebrows almost grown to- ican painter, but as a person she is seen doing in some of gether and wore ethnic Mexi- who lived passionately despite these images. In a notable one can clothing, her portraits by suffering chronic pain caused by Lola Alvarez Bravo, Kahlo famous photographers lacked
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 18 the Jewish diaspora across the David Graham, Where We Live: world from Rome to New Photographs of the American York, India to Yemen, Morocco Home; Laurence Miller Gallery, to Ethiopia, Sarajevo to Samar- 20 West 57th Street, through kand. He has published five June 26th books and directed three films.
PHOTOGRAPHY In 2006, Brenner founded By Judy This Place, a collective photog- Because its ad showed a house raphy project aimed at show- shaped like a shoe, I thought ing Israel from multiple per- this exhibit would be about spectives, soon be shown at the types of houses, and to some Frida Kahlo Howard Greenberg Gallery. extent it was: it included a ©1913 Imogen Cunningham I had seen Brenner’s earlier small photograph of a ceme- exhibit and was impressed tery in which one of the head- interest for me. Kahlo’s paint- with his explorations. He stones resembled a dollhouse. ings are not shown, neither at found and photographed, for But it mostly was a potpourri Throckmorton Gallery nor at example, the descendants of of oddities, like the National the New York Botanical Gar- Freshwater Fishing Hall of den. They are what’s really of Fame, where you could see interest, not her garden nor people standing in the mouth photos of her. of a giant fish replica. It in- cluded an Elvis impersonator, Frédéric Brenner, An Archeology a group of happy-looking folks of Fear and Desire; Howard in a Philadelphia garden, and a Greenberg Gallery, 41 East 57th whole wall devoted to the sur- Street, Suite 1406; until July 3rd roundings of a couple who lived on a isolated Maine is- By Ruth land for 35 years. I found these French photographer Frédéric Ben Gurion Airport slices of Americana to be of Brenner is known for his ©2010 Frédéric Brenner mild interest, and felt that the documentation of Jewish exhibit, though it had warmth communities around the Spanish Jews who had been in and humor, didn’t quite come world. His work has been ex- hiding since the Inquisition. together as a whole. hibited internationally, Little remained of their tradi- Searching for “authentic tions except for the lighting of Judaism,” Brenner first photo- candles on Friday evenings, graphed Orthodox Jews in Je- after they had drawn their cur- rusalem, then turned to Jewish tains to escape detection. The communities around the Howard Greenberg Gallery has world, exploring how Jews a very large show of Brenner’s adopted the traditions and work, mostly in color, unfortu- manners of their home coun- nately without much explana- tries and yet remained Jews. tion. But go see the show, Providence, RI He spent 25 years chronicling Brenner is a master. ©1989 David Graham
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 19 Big Apple Fireworks How To Shoot Fireworks to fadeout takes a few seconds. by Chuck Pine Your exposure, therefore, The following is a list of legal should be long enough to cap- fireworks displays around Fireworks abound in the New ture all, or part, of this pro- Manhattan that have been is- York City metropolitan area gression. How long should sued permits by the FDNY: every summer. See the article your exposures be? At least
PHOTOGRAPHY to the left for some photo ops one second long, sometimes • Friday, June 12th, 9 p.m., in town—many others are two seconds, and some expo- Liberty Island available around the area. Get- sures even longer. ting good pictures of fireworks There’s another reason for a • Wednesday, June 17th, 18th, is pretty easy—if you know time exposure. As bright as 19th, 9:30 p.m., Central Park’s what you’re doing. There are fireworks look to us against a Cherry Hill only two basic requirements: dark sky, they are not so bright 1) a time exposure; and that most cameras can record • Saturday, June 20th, 11:30 2) a solid platform for them in a blink of an eye. If p.m., Liberty Island the camera. you were to set your shutter speed for, say, 1/60th of a sec- • Friday, June 26th, 11:30 p.m., ond, not only will the lens be Hudson River, Pier 60 (20th open for only a moment of the Street) firework’s life, but the expo- sure may also be too brief to • Sunday, June 28th, 9:45 p.m., record any image at all! With Hudson River, Pier 40 (Hous- ISO 100 or faster settings, try a ton Street) one-second exposure.
• Monday, June 29th, 9:15 p.m. 2. Solid Platform. Regardless of Wards/Randalls Island your camera, the second re- quirement is a solid platform • Saturday, July 4th, 9:15 p.m., to hold the camera motionless East River, Brooklyn Bridge during the time-exposure. This is pretty much a need for all • All summer long, every Fri- time-exposure photography. day night, 9 p.m. (or when the 1. Time Exposure. A fireworks The best platform is a tripod. It Brooklyn Cyclones baseball projectile (sometimes called a provides a solid, easy-to-carry game ends) over the Atlantic skyrocket) takes time from the base on which to hold the cam- Ocean at Coney Island (on the moment it streaks up from its era still for an extended expo- boardwalk in front of the launch tube, to the peak of its sure. All SLRs and most point- Wonder Wheel) explosion, until the last traces and-shoots have a threaded of its color fade. As the rocket opening on their baseplate that There are also plenty of pyro- sails skyward, the crowd has permits you to attach the cam- technic displays in the outer time to exclaim “Ooh!” Then as era to a tripod. A tripod is just boroughs and in communities it explodes in a burst of trails the beginning. You also want throughout Long Island, Jersey of color, the crowd has time to the camera to be as vibration- and upstate New York. exclaim, “Ahh!” From launch free as possible during the ex-
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 20 posure. Since pressing the What focal-length should you model, turn off the autofocus shutter button can cause the use? If you have a choice, go and use manual focus. Autofo- camera to shake, you avoid for a “normal” or slightly cus will work, maybe, but not this by using a remote release. wide-angle lens. Since your as fast as you’d like and cer- The release enables you to position relative to the rocket tainly not as fast as a lens set at press the shutter button with- bursts will determine the exact infinity in manual mode.
PHOTOGRAPHY out touching the camera. focal length, use this as your (If you don’t have a tripod, guide: You want the frame of What aperture should you use? don’t give up. Try placing your your image to extend so that it You might think that because camera on a makeshift solid includes a good bit of the fore- the sky is so dark you need a platform, such as a wide aperture. Just the fence post, a railing, opposite is true. Remem- or a wall. None of ber, your objective is not them is as steady or to record the dark sky ex- convenient as a tri- cept as background. You pod, but they’re want to record the in- much better than tensely bright streaks of hand-holding.) color. Were you to use a (If you don’t have wide open aperture dur- a remote release, ing your time-exposure, again, don’t give up you would probably and go home quite overexpose the colors. yet. Although using a Result: They would remote release is bet- “burn out” and fade. To ter than shooting intensify the color, there- without one, shoot- fore, use a smaller aper- ing without a release ture like f-8, or f-11, or is better than not tak- even f-16. Which you use ing the shot at all. depends on your ISO set- Just be gentle while ting and the intensity of tripping the shutter.) the color bursts. I suggest you check your histogram ground in the bottom (more on Now to a few specifics: Which or bracket your shots, using this in a moment) and “head- way should you hold the cam- different f-stops. room” above the topmost fire- era? If you’re going to capture Here are some suggested work trails. Chances are you’ll the rocket’s upward trail and starting points for ISO setting need at least your normal and the blast, a vertical orientation and aperture combinations: possibly a wide-angle setting is called for. If you’re zooming ISO 100 f -8 for this. A wide-angle to short in for the burst of color, hori- ISO 200 f -11 telephoto zoom is ideal. zontal may work better. In ISO 400 f -16 other words, use both, depend- Remember, use your LCD Where should you set focus? ing on your particular situation screen to check for composi- Set your lens for infinity. If and goals. tion, exposure, etc., and make your camera is an autofocus corrections as needed.
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 21 onlookers to give a sense of lo- The bottom line(s) at this kind cation to your picture. Or a of shoot: have fun, shoot lots of tree. Whatever. The important exposures, and experiment thing is that your image in- with all sorts of different tech- clude some interesting fore- niques. you never know what ground objects. you’ll get; and isn’t that one of
PHOTOGRAPHY the joys of photography? One trick you may want to try Hot Dogs, Baseball is to use flash, built-in or acces- sory, to light the foreground and Fireworks All photographs this article object. Let’s say you want to © Chuck Pine capture the crowds of people The Club is planning a trip to in the foreground, but they are Coney Island on the 14th of How many frames should you August, a Friday. It will in- shoot? Expect to shoot plenty! in the dark. How can you add light to the heads during your clude food from Nathan’s Every burst is beautiful and exposure? Your flash can do Famous, a Brooklyn Cyclones you can’t predict which one minor league baseball game, will be the best. Be prepared to the trick. Keep the camera on manual exposure control. Set and shooting the after-game change media cards and batter- fireworks (weather permit- ies quickly and in the dark. up on the tripod as already ex- plained. But in this case, focus ting, of course). Practice! My advice, shoot, If you’re interested in this shoot, and shoot some more. on the people. With a wide- angle lens the fireworks will be all-American evening, let within your depth of field. If Chuck know by the end of How do you set your camera July. The tickets are $15 each for a long shutter speed and not, the fireworks may not be sharply in focus, but this lack for field box seats. Every at- small aperture at the same tendee will receive a Cyclones time? On most cameras, switch of sharpness is acceptable because the fireworks are baseball cap and the Club will to the manual exposure mode. be announced on the score- Set the aperture to the f-stop streaks of light and color, not detailed objects. board during the game. you want (or bracket around Seats are limited; we’re the one you’ve chosen). Set the There’s one more “trick” for only buying 20 of ‘em. You are shutter speed to the ‘B’ set- welcome to invite family and ting—that stands for ‘bulb.’ you to consider. Why limit yourself to just one explosion? friends.Remember, this is a first come, first served event. Now, there’s an additional step Try keeping your shutter open long enough to capture the Payment is due with, or just to consider that can take your after, you reserve your seat(s). pictures out of the ordinary glow of a few fireworks, one after the other. To do this, ex- Make your checks out to and make them extra-special. PWCC and give them to The burst of a skyrocket, by periment with longer expo- sures—10 seconds, 20 seconds, Chuck or mail them to him at itself, is pretty. But it’s not par- Chuck Pine, 680 West End ticularly interesting. What can and even longer. You can get some dazzling results! Just Avenue, NY, NY 10025. you do to add interest? Con- We’ll meet in the Nathan’s sider including a statue in the hold your hat, or some other opaque object, in front of the picnic area at 6 p.m. The game foreground, with the fireworks begins at 7 p.m. framing it. Or silhouettes of the lens between the bursts. Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 22 How To Shoot Baseball regular season Big League by Chuck Pine game? You probably won’t get really close to the action. But On August 14th, we’ll be going this doesn’t mean you’re out to MCU Park in Coney Island of luck. It simply means that to watch and shoot the Brook- you’ll have to use a longer lens
PHOTOGRAPHY lyn Cyclones play the State to fill the frame. College Spikes. (This will be How long a lens? This, of followed by photographing the course, depends upon where team is at bat can’t show the fireworks.) Here are some sug- you sit. From most seats in the ball. And there are some action gestions for photographing the stands, a 200mm to 300mm shots that work fine without game. (These suggestions are lens (either fixed focus or, bet- the ball: The runner sliding valid for just about any other ter yet, a zoom) will probably into third, for example, may kind of sports photography, do fine. But realize this: The make a great shot even if the too—football, soccer, hockey, maximum aperture of your ball is nowhere in the scene. basketball, volleyball, cricket, longer lenses is probably This means, like all of the whatever.) around f-4.5 or greater—not rules, this is a rule that is very fast. This means that you meant to be broken. may not be able to shoot at a fast-enough shutter speed to 3. Use a high ISO. The faster, stop the action, especially the better. 400 ISO is ideal for when your subject is in a major league stadiums at night shaded area of the field. It with their powerful lighting should, however, be fine for systems. It should also work at action in sunny areas, or raise most ball games in the day- 1. Get as close to the action as your ISO, or just go slow and time. You may want a higher you can. Wherever possi- capture the blur of the action. ISO for overcast days or other ble—in a big stadium or in a sports indoors. Why all this sandlot—try to nearly fill the 2. Show the ball in the picture. emphasis on speed? You want frame with your subject rather When you shoot an action to get the fastest possible shut- than have him or her show up photo, whether it’s the batter ter speed to stop the action. as a distant speck. How close is taking a mighty swing or a But what about noise? For close enough? The closer the close play at first base, the pic- years photographers worried better. You probably can get ture is much more effective if it about excess grain in all films right on the sidelines—or in shows the ball too. Or, if you’re and excessive noise with digi- the first row of seats—at a Lit- shooting the outfielder circling tal cameras shot at higher ISOs. tle League game, a high-school under a fly ball, try to capture Nowadays, however, modern game or even those various the ball in the same picture so DSLRs almost eliminate noise. corporate league games in that we see the subject of the (Ain’t science grand?) Of Central Park. Even at minor fielder’s concentration. course, as I mentioned above, league games (the Brooklyn Of course, not every shot sometimes it pays to break the Cyclones or the Staten Island can show the ball. For exam- rule, go with a lower ISO, like Yankees), you can usually get ple, a photo showing the play- 100, and accentuate the mo- pretty close. What about the ers in the dugout while their tions as blur. Imagine the run-
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 23 ner sliding home or the ball One other advantage of an- Obituary leaving the pitcher’s hand, as ticipating where the action will examples. be involves exposure. Typi- Mary Ellen Mark (March 20, cally, one thing you have to 1940—May 25, 2015) was an consider during day games is American photographer that one part of the field may known for her photojourna-
PHOTOGRAPHY be in bright sun while the rest lism, portraiture, and advertis- is in shadow. If you anticipate ing photography. She had 18 the action at home plate which collections of her work pub- is in bright sun, you can set lished, including Streetwise and 4. Anticipate where the action your exposure for the bright Ward 81, and was exhibited at will be. What is meant by an- home-plate area in advance. If galleries and museums world- ticipate? Basically, it means you don’t anticipate—and wide. Miss Mark received nu- that you should aim your cam- your camera does not have fast merous accolades, including era at the point where you ex- autoexposure—your exposure three Robert F. Kennedy Jour- pect the action to be, and pre- may be way off. Where you nalism Awards, three fellow- set the focus for that area. (If have a choice of shooting ac- ships from the National En- you’re using a quick-reacting tion in a sunny area or a dark dowment for the Arts, the 2014 autofocus camera, you may not area, opt for the sun. You want Lifetime Achievement in Pho- have to deal with this.) to shoot at the fastest possible tography Award from the Let’s say there are runners shutter-speed to freeze the ac- George Eastman House and on second and third. The big tion. Deep shadows may call the Outstanding Contribution play is most likely to be at the for a slower shutter-speed that Photography Award from the plate, so it makes sense to train won’t stop the action. Of prestigious World Photogra- your camera on the plate, set course, if you have no choice phy Organisation. focus, and wait for the action the first rule is: Go where the to occur. If you’re right, and action is! there is a play at home, you’re ready to capture the critical 5. And finally, be prepared for moment. But don’t take your the unexpected. While it’s eye away from the camera after great to be able to follow all of you shoot the first shot. Be the previous rules, they are ready to shoot a second, and a not carved in stone. Be alert third, and a… Anything can for the possibility of some- happen. The ball might be thing that makes a good pic- Mother Teresa dropped by the catcher. The ture, even though it’s else- © Mary Ellen Mark runner may be congratulated where on the field and you couldn’t possibly anticipate it. by the on-deck batter. The Mary Ellen Mark died In the words manager may come storming in New York City last of the Boy out to protest the call. You month at the age of 75. Scouts, “Be might want to set your camera She will be missed by prepared.” on continuous shooting mode, the entire world of if you have one. Be ready! photography.
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 24 Go With the Flow • Mekong River through seven Tips for River Photos by Chuck Pine countries in Southeast Asia; by Chuck Pine
Rivers, both large and small, Keep these in mind when pho- can be found everywhere tographing rivers both from around the globe. They all pre- the shore and on/in the water. sent interesting perspectives They can help you get the best PHOTOGRAPHY and challenges for photogra- possible images. phy. And they all can make for • If you’re shooting from land, some beautiful images. use a tripod and remote shut- Here are some that you ab- ter release (previously known solutely, positively should visit as a cable release) for the best and photograph in your travels quality. around the country and world: • If you’re on a boat or a not- • Columbia River between • Orinoco River in Colombia so-stable bridge, forget the tri- Oregon and Washington in the and Venezuela; pod and set a high ISO and Northwest USA; • Ganges River in India: shutter speed to compensate • Rhine River through six for the movement. countries in Central Europe; • Thames River in England;
• Mississippi River through the central USA; • Nile River, in Northern • Shoot with a very slow/long • Danube River through ten Africa; and shutter speed to capture the Eastern and Central European • Yangtze River in China. motion of the water and/or nations; clouds and add that smooth, • Volga River in Russia; cotton candy-like look and feel • Amazon River through to the motion. Peru, Colombia, and (mostly) • Consider depth-of-field Brazil; when you’re shooting. Do you want it shallow? Or deep? Set your aperture accordingly. • If you must have great depth-of-field and a fast shut- Anyone for a field trip? Just ter speed to freeze motion, use let me know and we’ll see if we an appropriate ISO setting. can get a group together for a Work slowly and deliber- Park West excursion. ately, and most of all, have fun with what you do.
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 25 PhotoShopping by Chuck Pine
Checkerboard
Do you want to enter a creative
PHOTOGRAPHY image into the competition but you don’t know what to do? Here’s a suggestion for a sim- ple technique that can produce When the Dialog Box opens Select one of the boxes in some very interesting and ex- (see above), go to the Grid sec- the Grid with the Rectangular citing results. tion. In the Color Drop-Down Marquee tool. (Type M.) Go to It’s called, as the above title menu, choose a bright color Image > Adjustments > Black implies, a checkerboard. Start such as red or turquoise. In the & White… When the Dialog by selecting a color image. I’ll Guideline Every box enter the Box appears, use the sliders to use this close-up portrait—but number “20” and then select achieve the look you want. any image will do. Percent in the Drop-Down Then, click OK. The selected menu at the right. Style should box will become monochro- be set to Lines and in the Sub- matic while all the rest remain divisions box, enter “1.” in full color. Click OK. Type Command/ Choose additional boxes in Control - ‘ (apostrophe) to the Grid and make similar ad- show the Grid. justments. When you’ve con- verted some of the boxes to black-and- white, evaluate the im- age. You decide when In the menu bar on a Mac, you are finished. For go to Photoshop > Preferences additional creativity, > Guides, Grids & Slices… try using other tools On a Windows computer, go to under Image > Ad- Edit > Preferences > Guides, justments to see what Grids & Slices… you can accomplish.
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 26 Inquiries Awesome Boardwalks • Virginia Beach, VA by Chuck Pine by Chuck Pine
What’s the best lens for taking on There are literally 100s of a vacation? awesome beaches with board- Like most photo equipment walks all across the United questions,… that depends! It PHOTOGRAPHY States; and many of the most depends on where you’re go- awesome are right here in the ing and what you like to shoot. northeast—New England and However, in general, the the Mid-Atlantic states. Here lens that lets you do more of are a short dozen suitable for a what you want to do without day trip or easy over-nighter: having to change lenses, is • Ocean City, NJ probably your best bet. Not • Atlantic City, NJ • Hampton Beach, NH changing lenses means less • Jenkinson’s, Point Pleasant, wasted time and less dust and NJ moisture getting into your • Sandwich, MA camera and wreaking havoc with spots on your images. If you want to travel light, with only one lens, my sug- gestion would be what’s re- ferred to as an all-in-one zoom • Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY lens. These babies cover wide- angle through moderate tele- photo ranges. Some have macro/close-up capabilities. Of course, there are many Sony has an 18-250 mm all- more. But this list should get in-one. Tamron has an even your juices flowing. Check wider range all-in-oner, 16 to them out on your favorite 300 mm. Not to be outdone, search engine. Get a group to- Nikon has an 18 to 300 mm gether. Plan a trip. and Canon a 28-300 mm lens. • Ocean City, MD Photo Tips Just remember, the quality • Rehoboth Beach, DE of these all-in-one lenses is not • Old Orchard Beach, ME Shoot at the subject’s eye level. as good as that of lenses with • Wildwood, NJ For example, get down low lesser zoom ranges. And, this when making a child or animal class of lens is not nearly as portrait, do not stand over fast as shorter lenses (they them shooting down. mostly start with apertures of f-3.5 to 5.6 or 6.3). As for costs, Right before snapping the anywhere from hundreds to photo, take a second. Look up, thousands of dollars. down, all around...and make Good shopping! sure there is nothing you are missing from the scene. Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 27 B & H Event Space Tuesday, June 23rd Shoot Like a Pro Close Up and Macro B&H Photo offers free work- Speaker: Lester Lefkowitz Dear Park West Camera Club, shops. Here are a few of this A friend who lived in New month’s offerings: York recommended your Club for an interesting collaboration Wednesday, June 10th that we’d like to propose to you. Optimizing Workflow We lead photography expedi- Speaker: Hector Martinez tions in rather inaccessible loca- tions, away from the crowds, with the help of yachts, sled dogs, kayaks, etc. Our group Tuesday, June 30th size is up to 6 photographers— ExHIBITS • WORKSHOPS ETC. Perfect Venue Lighting to ensure an exclusive experi- Speaker: Moshe Zusman ence and maximum shooting time. We have photography tu- Tuesday, June 16th Tuesday, June 30th tors who regularly shoot for Na- Every Time You Take a Photo The Copyright Zone Guys tional Geographic, Patagonia, Speaker: Jeff Cable Speakers: Ed Greenberg and Apple, Microsoft, New York Jack Reznicki Times, etc. We would like to offer to your Club members a signifi- cant discount (not advertised anywhere else) for two of our upcoming photography expedi- tions: Photographing whales in Check out the B&H website the Johnstone Strait (BC, Can- at
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 28 Workshops @ Adorama Space is limited and the Accessory Quiz workshopsNECCC Photo fill up fast—so The workshops at Adorama don’t miss your opportunity to The New England Camera Can you name this photo are free except as indicated. learn from the best in the busi- Club Council’s 70th annual accessory? No prizes, just a ness. Sign up now! fun challenge! Send your Thursday, June 11th Photography Conference is guesses to the Club’s ad- Replicating Existing Light scheduled to take place on the dress
ExHIBITS • WORKSHOPS ETC. Adler, Charles Glatzer, Roman Kurywczak, and many more. The featured keynote speaker is Ron Magill from Zoo Miami. See the answer next month Ron is an excellent speaker and Thursday, June 18th in PWCC’s Photo Notes. an even better photographer. Portraits and Fashion (We have seen several of his Speaker: Daniel Norton Last Month’s Answer presentations and always have wanted to go back for more!) There will be plenty of work- shops and learning sessions including model shoots, live animal shoots, photo contests, a Revolutionary War re-enact- This is a MagnaSite brand ment, and plenty more. There grain focuser. It was used in is also an area set aside for the the old days in the dark- many vendors who will be in room to help you focus criti- attendance. And, don’t forget cally when you were mak- the BIG ice cream social hour! ing enlargements. Instead of For all registration informa- squinting to see if an image tion, go to the NECCC website was sharp, this device let at
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 29 Wild Photo Contest
You're invited to enter the Na- ture Conservancy’s 2015 New Wild Photo Contest. Over the years, we’ve been blown away by the photos you've submit- ted—what will you amaze us with this year? The Nature Conservancy is committed to a future for peo- ple and nature, and we want to see it through your eyes. For ExHIBITS • WORKSHOPS ETC. Focal Point Gallery length. (Going by car is a our 2015 Photo Contest, we’d quicker option.) You might as like to know: “what does the Ron Terner’s Focal Point Gal- well bring your camera and do New Wild mean to you?’ Is it lery, on City Island, The Bronx, some shooting on City Island; nature in an urban area? Is it in has on display its June photo and don’t miss out on some of the forest and parks in your exhibit. The current exhibit will the excellent sea food eateries area? Does it have people, ani- run through the 28th of June. —ask Ron for suggestions. mals, or macro details in it? Photographers are always How do you live with nature? invited to exhibit their art here. Capture those moments Calls for entry are frequent. and you could be a winner of For more information call 718- the New Wild Photo contest! 885-1403 or go to Ron’s website And did we mention there
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 30 Nature Photography Day Aesthetica Art Prize Juried Exhibition
Monday, June 15, celebrates the Tthe Aesthetica Art Prize 2015 The Smithtown Township Arts 10th anniversary of Nature is open for entries. Now in its Council (STAC) located in Photography Day sponsored eighth year, the Prize is an in- Saint James, Long Island, seeks by NANPA (the North Ameri- ternationally renowned award entries for its 34th Annual can Nature Photographers As- presented by Aesthetica Maga- Juried Photography Exhibition sociation). Give yourself a pre- zine that enables emerging and to be displayed at the Mills sent. Explore the natural established photographers to Pond House Gallery, also in world: you and your camera. showcase their work and fur- Saint James on the Island. See where your photography ther their involvement in the The jurors for this exhibit takes you! art world. are Melanie and Michelle Cra- Here's a chance to open ven, the co-owners and direc- ExHIBITS • WORKSHOPS ETC. your work week in an espe- tors of the Tilt Gallery of Pho- cially creative style. Invite fam- tography in Scottsdale, Ari- ily and friends to join you that zona. The entry deadline is day. Inspiration can be close June 15th—sorry for the late- by--maybe a park, garden, or ness of the announcement but trail. Camera club members. we just received the notice. remind your colleagues about The theme for this exhibi- Nature Photography Day and tion is Dualities. The jurors are how images have been used to particularly interested in… protect the natural world. “images that are twofold, con- NANPA is hosting two sisting of two essential parts of separate events on Facebook: Prizes include a group ex- the whole, pairs or elements 1. The Nature Photography hibition, £5,000 (that’s ap- that demonstrate similarities, Day Member Event is back, proximately $7,600), publica- the relationship of the contrast and so is their Facebook page! tion in the Aesthetica Art Prize of differences between them Take images on June 15, and Anthology, and editorial cover- and the reflection of a new per- upload one for the event sec- age in Aesthetica Magazine spective.” [Whew!] tion. 2. New this year on (with a readership of 186,000 NANPA’s Facebook Group worldwide). Page:—a special photo contest Categories for entry: Pho- sponsored by Tamron, Red tographic and Digital Art; River Paper, Hunt’s and Painting and Drawing; Three NANPA. Dimensional Design and For all the details, visit Sculpture, and Video, Installa-
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 31 Recurring Summer minor league team has a full North America, with more Photo Ops summer schedule of exciting than 200 companies from all games—and you can get much over the world performing for There are many events which closer to the action than at the 16 days in 18 venues all across occur on a regular basis during major league stadia. See How to lower Manhattan. In total, the summer months in the Big Shoot Baseball on page 23 of this there will be more than 1,200 Apple. Here is a short list of issue of Photo Notes. incredible performances. For only some of the more photo- more details, visit the website genic happenings: New York EcoCruises at
Fireworks at Coney Island Did you know that New York SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES Harbor sports several islands Friday Night Fireworks takes with colonies of cormorants, place from the last weekend in egrets, and herons? You have June until the Friday before the opportunity to see the is- Labor Day in Coney Island. land colonies close-up and in The show starts at 9:30 p.m. (or complete comfort on NY Water later when following a Brook- Taxi’s Sunset EcoCruises, in lyn Cyclones baseball game). conjunction with the Audubon Concerts in the Parks There are also fireworks after Society of NYC. Departing Saturday night Cyclones from Pier 16 at South Street For 50 years the New York games. While there, you can Seaport on selected Sundays Philharmonic Concerts in the shoot in the amusement parks, from June 7th through August Parks have become an iconic photograph the beach and 16th, the tours explore three New York summer experience. boardwalk life, pay a visit to different routes: Sail up the They transform parks through- the New York Aquarium, and East River to the fascinating out the City into a patchwork stop by for a bite at Nathan’s Brother Islands, down under of picnickers and provide mu- Famous. See How to Shoot Fire- the Verrazano Bridge and past sic lovers with an opportunity works on page 20 of this issue the Statue of Liberty to the to hear the best classical music of Photo Notes. large egret and cormorant under the stars. This summer, rookeries of Hoffman and there will be five free outdoor Swinburne Islands, or visit the concerts, two in Manhattan vast, wild expanses of Jamaica and one each in Brooklyn, Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Queens, and the Bronx (sorry For more info and tickets, go to Staten Island), all during the
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 32 Schedule of Activities
The Park West Camera Club * Monday, June 8 * Wednesday, June 10 meets every Monday night Otto Litzel Memorial Print Workshop (with some exceptions for Year-End Dinner All Club members are invited holidays and a curtailed sum- This year’s OLMYED cele- to bring a dozen or so prints mer schedule). Please join us at brates another successful year for this Club event. Bring them a meeting or on one of our at Park West. It celebrates the for an honest, but gentle, cri- other scheduled activities. winners and the best of our tique of your work. This work- All Club Monday night photography. It celebrates all shop has limited space. Sign meetings take place at the Soho SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES those who helped to make the up in advance with Elsa Blum Photo Gallery located at 15 Club a success. The venue for at
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 33 Sweger-Perez at 347-644-3266 mingle with the participants as addition, other PWCC mem- or
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 34 Saturday, July 4 extravaganza, which made its Photo Op—Parades debut in 1976 to commemorate the nation’s bicentennial. The Today is the day for parades, iconic display will return to the festivities, and fireworks (see East River this year; fireworks the next entry for more). The will be set off from the Brook- big parade in town is the 105th lyn Bridge and from barges in Travis Fourth of July Parade on the water below. The best Staten Island. The actual pa- Sunday, June 28 rade begins at 12:30 p.m., but Photo Op—Pride Parade all access roads to the area The first Gay Pride March (aka close at 11:30 a.m. To get there, SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES Parade) was held in 1970 and from the Staten Island Ferry has since become an annual Terminal (in Staten Island), civil rights demonstration. take the S62 or S92 bus to the Over the years its purpose has Wild Avenue stop (for the broadened to include recogni- viewing stand), or better yet, tion of the fight against AIDS get off at the next stop, Glen and to remember those lost to Street, for the formation area at viewing spots will be from illness, violence, and neglect. the Showplace Center. Be sure Brooklyn Bridge Park and the The March is a celebration of to get there early so you can Brooklyn Heights Promenade, lives and community. In 2014, shoot the marchers and floats and along the east side of there were over 325 unique getting prepared. Other big Lower Manhattan. If you plan marching contingents, repre- events are scheduled in both on heading to where the action senting a vast array of non- Chinatown (Columbus Park, is, arrive by 5 p.m. to snag a profits, community organiza- Canal Street, Mott Street, etc.) good spot (the light show tions, corporate sponsors, and most towns on Long Is- starts at 9 p.m.). For more info, small businesses, political can- land, upstate, and in Jersey, of- visit
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 35 tan, a place where evening * Monday, July 13 matters more than morning, Outdoor Model Shoot that special day comes when Join PWCC and president Ed the Sun sets in exact alignment Lee for this Summer’s outdoor with the Manhattan grid, fully model shoot. We’ll be in Cen- illuminating every single cross tral Park in the areas of Belve- street for the last fifteen min- dere Castle, the Swedish Cot- utes of daylight. You will see tage, and the Shakespeare tom has evolved into a family the entire ball of the sun on the Garden. Meet at the Swedish reunion holiday during which horizon—on the grid. For best Cottage at 5:45 p.m. to get your people return to ancestral fam- effect, position yourself as far ily places and visit and clean equipment ready. Please refer SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES east in Manhattan as possible. to your camera manual for their ancestors’ graves, and But ensure that when you look peak performance. Your best when the spirits of ancestors west across the avenues you bet is to shoot with a wide- are supposed to revisit the can still see New Jersey. Clear household altars. It has been angle to short telephoto zoom cross streets include 14th, 23rd, lens. We’ll start shooting at 6 celebrated in Japan for more 34th, 42nd, 57th, and several p.m. Our model will pose in than 500 years and tradition- streets adjacent to them. The several summery outfits and ally includes a dance, known Empire State building and the as Bon-Odori. Today in the accessories. As the sun sets City, the O-bon is celebrated by (8:27 p.m.) use your built-in the New York Buddhist camera flash or attach a strobe Church in Bryant Park starting for filling in shadows. To get to at 12:30 p.m. the Swedish Cottage, enter the Park at Central Park West and Saturday & Sunday, July 11 & 12 81st Street, just north of the car Photo Op—Manhattanhenge entrance. (The “B” and “C” trains stop on the corner.) Fol- What will future civilizations low the footpath east, bear to think of Manhattan Island the right, and cross Park Drive when they dig it up and find a West. Make a right turn and carefully laid out network of Chrysler building render 34th walk south. Take the first path streets and avenues? Surely the street and 42nd streets espe- to the left (just before going grid would be presumed to cially striking vistas. On Satur- over the 79th Street Trans- have astronomical significance, day, the 11th, you will see the verse). The Swedish Cottage just as we have found for the entire ball of the sun as it sets; (and Marionette Theater) is just prehistoric circle of large verti- on Sunday, the 12th, you will cal rocks known as Stone- see only the top half of the henge, in the Salisbury Plain of sun’s circle sitting on top of the England. For Stonehenge, the horizon. Sunset is at 8:29 p.m. special day is the summer sol- on Saturday and one minute stice, when the Sun rises in earlier on Sunday. Be prepared, perfect alignment with several get to a spot early, and wait for of the stones, signaling the the moment. change of season. For Manhat-
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 36 a few steps east. If you’re late, earned an international reputa- you can find us at the Shake- tion for its magnificent beauty speare Garden, located just and became the prestigious east of the cottage, or at Belve- place to be buried, attracting dere Castle, located a little fur- 500,000 visitors a year, second ther east of the garden. only to Niagara Falls as the na- during the summer. A short tion’s greatest tourist attrac- Friday—Sunday, July 17—19 ferry ride from Lower Manhat- tion. Crowds flocked there to Photo Op & Event tan will get you there to picnic, enjoy family outings, carriage NECCC Conference photograph, and enjoy gor- rides, and sculpture viewing in geous views as well as a wide the finest of first generation The 70th annual New England SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES array of cultural activities. The American landscapes. Green- Camera Club Council Photog- City of Water Day Festival is a Wood’s popularity helped in- raphy Conference is this week- free, day-long celebration of spire the creation of public end on the campus of the Uni- the world-class potential of the parks, including New York versity of Massachusetts in water that surrounds us and City’s Central and Prospect Amherst. This is one of the brings us together. The event Parks. Green-Wood is 478 acres largest teach-ins in the country draws thousands of people of hills, valleys, and paths, with scores (if not hundreds) of from throughout the metro- throughout which exists one of workshops, shooting sessions, politan region to participate in the largest outdoor collections competitions, and the like. hundreds of unique, fun, and of 19th- and 20th-century PWCC has several groups of educational waterfront activi- statuary and mausoleums. members going by private car ties. The events run between or public transportation—ask 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. To get there, around, or use the Club’s Ya- take the ferry from the Battery hoo Group. Go to their website Maritime Building (located at
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 37 Street/Union Square Station at it off with a fireworks shoot. 1:15 p.m. We'll exit at the 25th See the items on pages 20 and Street Station in Brooklyn and 23 for details. Leader: Chuck walk east one block to Green- Pine at
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 38 * Monday, August 24 Monday, September 7 Field Trip & Model Shoot Photo Ops—Parades Galore Tonight we'll be photograph- Today is Labor Day. That ing a model in Battery Park means parades. Every borough and on the Staten Island Ferry of the City, and many of the at dusk and right before sunset surrounding towns, have La- (which is at 8:14 p.m.). Take bor Day parades (check your the #1 Train to the South Ferry day. World-famous riders dis- local listings). But, the big Station or the “R” Train to play their skills, and members event of the day is the West In- Whitehall Street/South Ferry of the public have the oppor- dian (Caribbean) Day Parade
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES Station. We'll meet up at the tunity to try one-wheel riding. and Carnival in Brooklyn. small triangular park/ See the listing under July 18th Many of the city's roughly one walkway in front of the Staten for info about the venue and million citizens of Caribbean Island ferry entrance at 5 p.m. how to get there. ancestry—along with thou- RSVP to Ed sands of neighbors, day-
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 39 You should be able to shoot in Table of Contents 25 Go with the Flow the staging area for over an 25 Tips for River Photos hour and then continue shoot- Club News 26 PhotoShopping ing as the parade kicks off at 2 Who’s Who at PWCC 27 Inquiries noon and then marches on
FINAL PAGE 3 President’s Message 27 Awesome Boardwalks Eastern Parkway over to 4 Images of the Year 27 Photo Tips Grand Army Plaza. Bring 5 Runner-Up Images plenty of extra media cards (or 6 Point Totals Exhibits, Workshops, Etc. color film if you’re still shoot- 7 Yahoo Group 28 B&H Event Space ing that way), but go light on 7 Flickr Group 28 Shoot Like a Pro the equipment (no tripods, 8 ExCom Minutes 29 Accessory Quiz etc.). There’s plenty to eat on 9 Business Meeting Minutes 29 Workshops @ Adorama the sidewalks and in the res- 13 Curtain Raisers 29 NECCC Photo Conference taurants. (All parade activities 13 Across the Pond 30 Focal Point Gallery end at 6:00 p.m. due to City 14 Club Business Cards 30 Photo Tips ordinance, whether or not they 14 Hullabaloo 30 Wild Photo Contest reach the final viewing area.) 31 Nature Photography Day Enjoy! Photography News 31 Aesthetica Art Prize 15 Depth of Field 31 Juried Exhibition 17 Gallery Watching 20 Big Apple Fireworks Schedule of Activities 20 How to Shoot Fireworks 32 Recurring Photo Ops 22 Hot Dogs, Baseball and… 33 Summer Schedule !23 How to Shoot Baseball 40 Directions 24 Obituary 40 Table of Contents
Directions to the Pine’s at 680 West End Avenue at 93rd Street, Apartment 5D: Take the #1, 2, or 3, trains to 96th Street (exit at the south end of the sta- tion) or the M7, M11, or M104 bus to 93rd/94th Streets. From the train or bus, walk the few steps to 93rd Street, make a right turn and head west to the apartment en- trance on the corner of West End Avenue and West 93rd Street. If you are coming by car, street park- ing is limited but there are several Have a great summer garages in the neighborhood of shooting!
Summer 2015 www.ParkWestCameraClub.org 40