Dec. 10 2014 Meeting Minutes...

[Margaret C. Benmore]

Photography Club Minutes

December10, 2014

 

My apologies for the delay in the minutes --- but just back, got the plane plague and had to do a Vancouver run… so here they are… with love… MCB

 

1.  Opening:   Wendy Rosier did a fabulous job of opening the meeting at Harbour House…  a new president, a new location and new hi-tech toys… what more could a club want… Boy lots has changed since I left you alone for two months ago… but it nice to see the old and friendly group…

There was a very good turnout about 25-30 folks… with a few guests: Ben Fenske and Dave Buffett…  We also have two new members; Tamar Griggs and Brenda Dixon --- welcome and come on out and play with us…

If I was a cynic (which I am not… just a realist) I think the wonderful turnout was due to a warm place to meet, food and coffee --- it was all terribly comfortable and cozy… love it… good move…

 

2.  Announcements: 

       GISS Mentoring program:  GISS is offering a program on how to mentor for those interesting in working with students on various projects… if you are interested contact Wendy Rosier at [e-mail]  More information will be emailed out to all members in the coming weeks.

 

        ArtSpring Lobby Show: Bob Rogers and Maggie Argiro are organizing the Club Show for the ArtSpring Lobby this year… you know the one --- your best/favourite image of the year… It is the show that really struts the members stuff and is truly enjoyed by those on SaltSpring during the wonderful quiet cozy winter… so let’s dazzle them…

 

       The email with instructions from Maggie reads:

“Hi Everyone, The January Lobby show is coming up very soon! 

There’s just under two weeks before we need to know what you are putting in the Show.  Bob is making the title cards for each piece, so let’s give him a few days to do that, and set December 31 as the deadline to sign up on the SSIPC site under the forum for the Show.   Enter your name, the title of your piece, etc....

Remember, there is no fee and no size limitation for this show. You can also put in as many pieces as you like! Drop off date is January 2, 11am to 12 noon.  Pick up date, Feb 2, 11am to 12 noon. 

SIGN UP NOW !!!!!!!!

 

       Club's new technology at Harbour House:  Doug McMillan and Chris Dixon have been very busy little elves working for the Club… they have purchased, installed, tested and encased in a cabinet our new whiz of a projection system… great job guys…. Thank you so much… it is a thing of beauty… perhaps a huge Photo Club picture on the cabinet drawer would help pretty it up and lay the Photo Club claim to it… though other groups I understand will be able to use/rent/borrow it… but it is an opportunity to show our images… just a thought ???

 

3. Now Showing: 

       TJ’s: Judy McPhee has a show at TJ’s this month, so be sure to drop by for a warm cuppa and enjoy her work… always something beautiful…

       Special note:  TJ’s has also offered to sell our CD so if you are looking for a gift to send to friends off island… why not show them our island home at its finest as taken by your friends…

 

       Country Grocer Café Gallery: a new year of showing at Country Grocer Café is unfolding with a January show featuring the work of our own Cliff Kelly… so that will be something to look forward to…  Cliff will also be sending out a notice of the opening available for 2015 or you can give   him a call/email if you are interested… CG is always fun because they have very participatory viewers… do your own show or team up with someone… it is fun…

      

       Fernwood Café:  Bob Rogers is presently showing at Fernwood… always a treat… as is the coffee. lunches and goodies… wander out that way and see what is hanging… Bob is there until mid January…

 

If you know of other shows in town… add them on to this blog or better yet post it on the event section of our website… Let us all know what you have found and enjoyed…. 

 

4. Educational Segment: Lenses  Simon Henson…

Simon graciously stepped in at the last minute to cover for someone what had to cancel… As always it is wonderful to have Simon with us and he is at his best when he is teaching us and sharing his beautiful images… it is always inspiring and awesome… Simon explained to us that there are two types of photographers… Image Scavengers:  those that like to shoot everything/all the time (that’s definitely me… more later)… 

And there are those Others who have refined/disciplined themselves, who work in areas of particular interest which enables them to refine their knowledge, equipment requirements and choice of devices… this is Simon – his interests are: Nature, Macro and Landscape…  though he does everything sooooo well and knows so much techno stuff… he is wonderful… (read devoted fan here…)

Simon spoke about 2 types of lenses: Prime Lens – better Optics, sharper image, lighter weight, less moveable parts, lower mount, better in low light…

Zoom Lens: flexibility, move between focal lengths, less intrusive, safer in some situations, physically heavier and larger and slightly poor optics…

By the way all through the presentation Simon was showing off his newly developed skill in transitions between slides… they were very interesting, fun and entertaining… the slides were instructive too… nice job Simon… pretty tricky…

I won’t even try to relate all of what Simon said (JJJ) but will say that it was informative and useful… and everyone seems to have been actively involved… we even picked up some wonderful hints… want a soft picture, breath on your lens to fog it up a bit before you shoot… now that is my kind of technology…

 

5.  Evening Show/Challenge…  Peace, Tranquility and Renewal… with words…  how seasonal was that… what a lovely show…  

Doug opened the show with a wonderful sunset Heron… followed by a magical image of a child’s hand holding a Dragonfly by Linda Roth… Then it progressed from there with images of Grandpa’s sharing a child, Harry’s naked beach in Fulford (sans Harry), Cherry blossom Peace Symbol, and Anna’s eagle on foggy Maxwell… Fifi’s Mexican Angel and Jaclyn’s garden at Hately Castle… a single white rose of serenity… Susan sang us through her image of the Lone Tree in Israel – lovely … some stunning images of the snow on the beach/shores of Vesiuvus… tombstones by Pierre, the Great Wall from a new perspective… Soltice Sunbread… and so much more go to the website and have a look or relook it is sooooo Lovely…

It was a wonderful collection of peaceful images, some familiar, others calming and yet others reflective and made you smile… thanks to all who participated and shared their words and their pictures… it was a beautiful Season’s Greeting from one to the other… gave us all a glow of well being…

 

6.  Next Meeting:  Wednesday, January 14, 2015

                           Harbour House…  7:00 pm

              More goodies to be had… friends and fun too...

 

7.  The Challenge for next month:  “Adventure, Thrills  and Chaos “…   the other extreme from December’s challenge of Peace, Tranquility and Renewal “…  Now this can be taking pictures of your New Year Bungee jump, it could be a great vertigo shot, it could be walking in the wilds of a Rainforest threatened by fast growing moss… it could even be something like the chaos of cold germs festering in a petre dish… it is all up to your imagination… but feel the Rush, feel the Thrill… or not… it is SSI and anything is acceptable… enjoy the process… and please don’t get hurt…   

 

8.  Health and Safety for Photographers:  Just an aside, nothing to with the meeting at all…   Many of you know that I have been away for a couple of months.  While off travelling I discovered something that might be of interest to you as intrepid Photographers… It is possible to sustain a “workplace injury” while photographing…  After two months of continuous shooting (20K+ images - that’s another story) I found I had a very painful shoulder to elbow… like tennis elbow but longer, to the shoulder… It wasn’t until the last couple of days that I realized it was due to the fact that I shoot lots of UP… art, architecture, street art, churches and everything else… (Image Scavenger by Simon’s definition… totally undisciplined, spontaneous…  EVERYTHING… I love it all… Let’s talk rebranding though… ) all requiring me to hold my camera up and steady… thus the painful arm/shoulder from repetitive stress/strain injury… who would have thought…

Then at the meeting with Simon spoke of his neck problems from carrying too much equipment… AHHHHH !!!! thinks I…. others probably have other ailments/conditions related to their photography adventures/efforts…  

So I was wondering if you could help  me to develop Taxonomy for Photography Related Conditions (PRC’s)…  either physical or psychological…  We only need a Name, a brief Description and best guess cause and if you have a suggested treatment all the better...

 

Anyone with any ideas of a name for my particular condition – it would be appreciated as right now I am using Shutter Shoulder… but it doesn’t really capture it….

 

9.  Best of the Season to you all ...

Hear it…  Taste it…  See it…  Smell it…  Touch it…

Most of all Appreciate it…

Enjoy…

 

                                                                             ( This is one of the 20K… Verona, Italy… )

Wishing you Peace, Love, Health and lots of laughter…

MCB

 

 

Editorial aside: If you have any comments, corrections or additions please feel free --- all help is welcome…

I would like to encourage all club members to take part in the conversations on the website --- they are interesting and endlessly informative…  Share your pictures with the club on the site – you know we all love to look at images and it would give us a chance to get to know a little bit about you …  let’s participate…

 

Thanks for your patience...

Cheers… MCB 

 

 

 

[Curt Firestone]

Question:  What does lower mount mean in the context of prime lens?  From your report of Simon's presentation.

Glad to have you home and doublely glad that you are thrilled with our new meeting venue.

[Avril Kirby]

Lovely photo, Marg, and fascinating minutes, as usual.  Thanks!