VOLUME 41 NUMBER 2 JAN-MAR 2015 The President’s Corner vision, craftsmanship, and art, have influ‐ enced the photography of many of us at the Thinking About club and across the photosphere. Spring, (continued on next page) Influencers, and Gestures By David Marshak In This Issue page As we all try to The President's Corner 1 endure this end‐ by Dave Marshak less winter (and SW Trek II 3 wish we were in Florida with our esteemed by Joe Kennedy treasurer), my thoughts turn to spring. Results of the Newsletter Survey 7 by Ellen Berenson I am thinking of a spring that will not only be the end of winter, but also the calling of New Member Interviews 9 new photo opportunities that will get us out by Janet Casey of the house and back in the woods, by the Reflections on Vivian Maier 11 shore, or on the street. by Deb Maynard Exploring Portrait Photography 12 For SBCC, spring will bring an exciting set of by Orin Siliya guest speakers including three who have SBCC Holiday Banquet 16 presented to us multiple times before – Ron by Kirsten Torkelson Rosenstock, Joe LeFevre, and Mark Bowie – SBCC Programming: What's Next? 19 and whom I personally have seen speak in other venues many times. It is exactly for by Janet Casey the same reason that I’ve seen them before Meeting Schedule 27 that I am very excited to see them again. It’s List of Club Officers and Committees 28 because I put them in the category of Influ‐ encers—people who, with their unique (continued from previous page) Gesture makes the photo interesting. Ges‐ Thinking about these photographers makes ture makes one image different from an‐ me reflect on those who have been the other. Gesture defines the decisive mo‐ greatest influencers in my own photog‐ ment. Take a look at these two photos. raphy. While some may point to Ansel Ad‐ They could both be said to have the same ams or Edward Weston, for me, the most subject, but the gestures (and thus the sto‐ significant have been the FSA photogra‐ ries) are very different. What story do you phers of the 30s (Dorothea Lange, Gordon think each tells? Parks, Walker Evans, et al), the Roberts (Capa and Frank), and above all, the master ‐‐ Henri Cartier‐Bresson. All of them have had the uncanny ability to capture, in Car‐ tier‐Bresson’s monumental phrase, “the de‐ cisive moment.” And in this tradition, over the past couple of years, we’ve been lucky enough to have had two speakers at the club—Lou Jones and Essdras Suarez—who have reinforced the lessons that I take from looking at the greats of the past. There is one other influencer that I’d like to mention—Jay Maisel. If you are not familiar with his work, I strongly suggest you look for it; not only to look at his images, but to listen to how he talks about photography. The Embrace 1 by David Marshak There are many podcasts with interviews with Maisel (Scott Kelby has several all‐day walkarounds on his KelbyOne site). But, even if you only have seven minutes, take a look at this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U7bn IYcvRM&mc_cid=a0828e3133&mc_eid=478 9ae09d1 In this interview, Maisel talks about the three elements of great photography: light, color, and gesture. Considering all of these in your photos will assuredly make them The Embrace 2 by David Marshak better. For me, gesture is most important. (continued on next page) Volume 41 Number 2 Jan ‐ Mar 2015 Page 2 (continued from previous page) so I headed home much earlier than Gestures are not just in people images. planned. Last year I decided to return to Look at Deb’s or Denise’s flowers. They all finish what I started in 2013, the remaining have gestures, and the best of them have five national parks of the Southwest. I fig‐ the most evocative gestures. And the most ured there was no way the Washington pol‐ memorable landscapes, sunsets, and city‐ iticians would repeat the insanity of the scapes are defined by their light, color and previous year! gesture. After an overnight stay in Las Vegas, I was well rested enough to face the five‐hour So, in this issue, I leave you with the follow‐ drive to the North Rim of the Grand Can‐ ing: yon. Staying within the park’s borders was a no‐brainer, as the next closest lodging was Think about who influences you (photogra‐ Jacob Lake ‐‐ a mere forty miles outside of phers, painters, musicians…). Look for ges‐ the park’s entrance! Looking over my notes tures in your own photos. And remember, on visiting the North Rim, I wanted to check snow is just a four‐letter word. out locations for sunrise and sunset in the days to follow. I drove to Point Imperial and SW Trek II Cape Royal to familiarize myself with these by Joe Kennedy locations. I was not disappointed by the early morning or evening light shows at If I were only these popular North Rim spots. Strangely allowed one word enough, my favorite photo op within the to describe the park was an overlook, a mere five‐minute national parks of walk from the back of the lodge. the Southwest, it would have to be unique. From the plateaus that sur‐ round the North Rim to the floor of the canyons in Zion carved out by the Virgin River to the amazing hoodoos of Bryce to the arid basin of Death Valley to the deep valleys of Yosemite ‐‐ these parks are as Lodge Overlook Sunset by Joe Kennedy unique as you and I. “Lodge Overlook Sunset” was an unex‐ In 2013 I embarked on a very ambitious at‐ pected surprise. While I was watching a tempt to visit ten of our national parks out storm brewing in the distance, the setting west. Unfortunately, a poorly conceived sun was lighting up the skies around me! shutdown of the government by Congress happened at the halfway point of my trek, (continued on next page) Volume 41 Number 2 Jan ‐ Mar 2015 Page 3 (continued from previous page) Sunrises and sunsets draw out the photo My next national park was Bryce and its enthusiasts in Bryce, especially at two loca‐ iconic hoodoos. These unique natural sculp‐ tions. I was able to get out one morning tures rising up from the ground are every‐ early enough to have the prime viewing where you look. When traveling solo, I try area at Bryce Point all to myself. Within a not to hike desolate trails. But after seeing few minutes a woman and her uncle from the horde of hikers gathering at the head of Seattle joined me for small talk and the an‐ Navajo Trail, I knew I would not be alone. ticipated sunrise. All was extremely quiet Along the well‐laid out switchbacks, I man‐ until the arrival of two tour buses packed aged to stop, set up my tripod and click with about a hundred camera‐packing tour‐ away at the multitude of hoodoos. ists. With mutual aid from the Seattle cou‐ ple, we were able to claim enough turf to set up our tripods and fend off the surging visitors, who, by the way, left within minutes after the rising sun. My shortest haul would be the ride from Bryce to Zion, a mere two hours. However, as the saying goes, “the best laid plans…” Curiosity got the better of me when I saw a sign for a short cut to Zion along Route 89. According to my trusty GPS, this exit was Plethora of Hoodoos by Joe Kennedy quite a distance before my planned high‐ way departure. While it was not a back As expected, the return trip up these paths route into Zion, it did not disappoint. A five‐ would be a little more challenging, especial‐ mile round trip up Kolob Canyon Drive af‐ ly packing my tripod and camera gear, but I forded me spectacular vistas and a most in‐ felt exhilarated by the scenery all around teresting brief but scenic hike into the me. Queen’s Garden was the other major valley. trail within Bryce. It was a fairly easy hike to its base, but a little more strenuous climb back to the top – all worth the effort! In the what‐were‐they‐thinking department, I passed a European couple, who was push‐ ing their daughter in a stroller down the switchbacks. Both were wearing sandals. I heard later that they decided to turn around and not tempt their luck any fur‐ ther. Kolob Canyon Scenic by Joe Kennedy Volume 41 Number 2 Jan ‐ Mar 2015 Page 4 (continued from previous page) fore it shutdown. The next morning I was “Kolob Canyon Scenic” was my initial en‐ first in line to enter the ghost town, spend‐ counter when I pulled into the first turnoff on this road! After this serendipitous pit stop, I was more than energized to get into Zion. My lodging of choice was Cliffrose in Springdale (alas, not inside the park but close enough for me to walk from the lodge into the Visitor’s Center at Zion). And, since Zion relies on a The Extraterrestrial Highway by Joe Kennedy tram system to get you to the more inter‐ esting sites, I didn’t need my car. I found ing another four hours walking the entire this transportation system very reliable and town, or what was left of it.