I have just finished looking at a book from the library entitled "Beneath the Cold Seas" by David Hall --- it is photographs of the underwater wilderness of the Pacific Northwest.... it is wonderful the exotic creatures that are out there in the deep and suprisingly the colours...   His lighting is amazing as is his composition... 

www.seaphotos.com   -- is the website.... enjoy 

Cheers.. MCB 

The guidelines for 2012 Eclectic Visions have been sent to all members who have signed up to participate.  If you signed up and did not get the guidelines and an entry form, contact Curt ASAP.

There are 29 participants this year.

Dates to remember:

Entry fee is due by May 9

Entry Form is due by May 25

Framed photo delivery to Art Spring on May 31 between 5 and 6:30 PM

curtfirestone@gmail.com with questions or comments.

April 26, 2012

I have agreed to try my hand at coordinating some Photo Shoots in the near future. Our first Target” shoot is at the Raptor Center in Duncan. Curt has made an on-site visit and given them my name for contact but before I proceed any further I really need to know which of our members might be interested in this kind of activity.  In addition I will then need to know when the interested parties would prefer to attend – Weekdays or Weekends. I have asked around a little…

SSI Photo Club

April 14, 2012  - Minutes

1.  Opening remarks:  

         Curt opened the meeting by commenting and congratualing everyone who is presently showing around town…. Boy have we got the town covered, very well covered.  Rachel is at the Credit Union, Brian and Karen are at Fernwood, Sam Lightman and Maureen Milbur are at ArtSpring and Avril is showing at Penny’s Pantry….   and all are wonderful shows -- get…

I thought fellow club members would find this of interest in their outdoor photo adventures.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/sunrise-sunset-calculator.htm?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news25

The Community of Arts Council of Greater Victoria has asked us to let the club members know about their upcoming explotion of Community Art.... I don't know if SSI would be able make a Guest Appearance -- if any one is interested... contact   Bob Williams  www.cacgv.ca  for information. …

I received a message from SARS about the photos I geave them from our "Shoot" of their exercise on March 10. I have forwarded the message to Curt and some  other members but  if any of you that were there would like to forward your images please keep on the look out here and at meetings for more info about how to get the photos to them.

SSI Photo Club

March 14, 2012  - Minutes

(My apologies for the slight delay – Grandma’ing weekend in Vancouver followed by a bout with a Seafood Salad Sandwich in Twassassen – it decked me for a few days…  do NOT eat Seafood Salad sandwiches... )

1.  Opening remarks:  

         Bob Rogers gave a short and pithy opening to the evening…  the following are updates on other notices and new…

Salt Spring Coast Guard (with GI SAR [Land], Unit 20 from Pender and CCG hovercraft from Richmond) will be holding an integrated search and rescue exercise (SAREX).  More information on page 7 this week's edition of the Driftwood.

Saturday, March 10 starting at 10:30 at Fernwood Dock. Public and Photographers Welcome.

They would love to see what we shoot and I will follow up with Chuck Hamilton  as to where to send our best shots.

See…

Having tried another location for this material and getting rejecterd I hope this information is printed.

There are three exhibition dates remaining for the Country Grocer Shows. May, August, and October. Today Margaret Benmore contacted me and reserved the six available images in the October show so we now ony have two months that are not spoken for - May and August. Interested parties for those two months please let me know. Each one of our months there are spaces for 6 photos and…

Some interesting and inspiring bicycle-art photos.

  http://inspirationgreen.com/bicycle-art.html

The annual gathering of Scoters (and other water birds with them) for the herring season has started today. There is a flock of over 100 birds in the bay now and they usually stay or abour four to six weeks. The best vantage point would be towards the point because they don't come in very close to the he enclosed area of the cove but they are quite colorful and they usually attract a crowd of seagulls who are also interested in Herring eggs.

SSI Photo Club

Feb. 8, 2012  - Minutes

1.  Opening remarks:  

         Curt opened the meeting with the introduction of new members: Jennifer Shaw recently from N. Vancouver, Harold Bailey also new to Salt Spring thought he’d see what kind of folks hang out in the Photo Club (entertaining and interesting folks), and Ken Werneberg also from North Van but didn’t know Jennifer before tonight,…

This hopefully is a link to a Haida Gwaii series of photos by "sumguy" in Massett -- he is my friend of my brother who lives up there.  The pictures are amazing    haidagwaiiphotos.com     Enjoy.... Cheers... MCB 

Viva Voice has approached the Photo Club through Bob Davidson looking for a photographer to create photos of two of the their rehearsals of an upcoming production.

April 5, Thursday pm rehearsal (7 - 9:15) Brian Tate, the composer of our newly commissioned piece, attending and conducting the rehearsal that night.  They want to interview him and submit an article to the DW along with a photo, hopefully of him and the choir in rehearsal.



May 25,…

Happy New Year to all.... the Portlock Portable was a babble of photographers on Wednesday evening. It seems everyone is excited about the new toys they got over the holidays, and the thought of a new year of shooting and playing together.... 

1.  Opening remarks:  Curt Firestone (El Presidento) opened the meeting with thanks to the outgoing excecutive for their hard work and dedication to the development of the club.  Tom…

About five days ago a flock of ducks (they appear to be mostly widgeons)flew into Churchill bay and are still here. hey are quite immobile (as they somemtes get in very cold weather) but still swimming about browsing. I just noticed that there are also quite few other water birds - Mergansers, Buffle Heads, Golden Eyes, etc. in the vicinity. We have a bright sun at the moment, which should keep them here for a while. I would say this sighting should be good for about 3 hours or more for…

Shortly after I arrived here a very prominent club/association of artists - who had been quite active and supportive to the community - just kind of folded up and ceased to exist. I thought it  was very sad and really a shame but the underlying cause was that there was no more ability within the group to accomplish the very necessary administrative tasks required to keep any organization - any "group" of people - functioning together. I was recently polled to see if I would be interested in…

Wishing all our members a very Merry Christmas.Looking forward to another year of paticipating and learning from all of you. 2011 has been a year of discovery and learning - and sharing our passion witih everyone - which shows the whole community the value of membership in our active group. 

For those of you who are having trouble getting your images focused when using manual, you can change the focusing screen to a split screen, like the older SLR cameras used to have. It requires dextarity and a clean environment but can be done at home. Screens run about $40 - $80 depending on type of camera. This does not affect the auto focusing of the camera but replaces the screen that is supposed to assist you in seeing if the image is in focus. I am not affiliated with any of the…