Dec 12 Meeting Minutes...

[Margaret C. Benmore]

SSI PHOTO CLUB

December 12, 2012  - Minutes

 

OPENING REMARKS:  the meeting opened by Curt Firestone (El Prez) with a big Jambu !!!! Call and response…  (African greeting and shshhhhh the meeting is starting… yeah right with this group – good luck !)  Curt commented on all of the member’s activities over the time he was away --- very impressive indeed.  Our membership is growing but more importantly it is very active both in Club activities and in showing their work in the local island venues… This is so great for the island image, the island businesses and for our members… it is a Win Win for everyone…  Photography is alive and very active on SaltSpring…

The meeting was held in the meeting room at Harbour House and provided a wonderful cozy environment with drinks, coffee and cookies… thanks Harbour House…

 

NEW MEMBERS: Curt announced three new members: Bernadette Mertens- McAllister, Maureen Milburn and Darlene Ruckle    welcome guys --- come out and play with us…

Annual Dues are due to Pat Paige – ASAP - $15.00 made out to SaltSpring Photography Club…  cheapest entertainment on the island…. What with the website, coffee klatch, field trips, workshops and monthly meetings… endless opportunities to show you work, strut your stuff and share the photographic technology/jargon/lessons and interest with like minded folks… How much fun is all that…  What a deal !!! Come join the fun… Let’s get the money thing out of the way… send it now.. and get back to the fun stuff…

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS/OPPORTUNITIES:

 

B.C. Ferries --- In the Driftwood this week there was a plea from Shelia Malcomson, chair of the SaltSpring’s Local Trust Committee… basically they are looking for images of everyday life on the ferries --- a typical day, typical people - not the Cruiseship mentality of Public Relations.. the gritty and quirky Reality of our ferry Community...  we all have those shots don’t we… share them in an effort to save our ferries….  for further information contact Laura Stringer at [e-mail]  this is due Dec 21 –

It seems very short notice but certainly worth noting that these opportunities for Photographic social action are arising more and more and well worth participating in to support your principles…

 

“All Things SaltSpring” Website –  jOnesi offered an opportunity for club members to participate in his new “All Things SaltSpring” entrepreneurial venture --- he is promoting SSI products/arts and such through this new website and has invited us to add our images/products to his inventory/portfolio…  it sounds like a great opportunity to reach the Wide Wide World…  thanks jOnesi…  allthingssaltspring.com

 

Night Shoot Opportunity with Festive lights in the Garden --- MCB invited club to a night shoot in her garden with treats and local hot apple juice…  Tuesday Dec 18^th 4:30 to 7:30 ---- Sorry you missed it – maybe next year… It was great to see some folks come out to play in the lights and foliage --- watch the website for the images that were created…  It is interesting to see different views of the same place and time… Thanks for coming to play… MCB

 

Embe’s  Bakery Café: Doug

Doug McMillin and Avril Kirby have installed wonderful seasonal images in the Cafe to warm the patrons’ hearts over the cold winter… Some of you might be surprised and delighted to see familiar faces --- look for the 3 Wise Men  with a sidewalk supervisor over their shoulders.. it is a lovely image of good friends…

 

Fernwood Cafe:  

Great opportunity in a lovely location, wonderful coffee and goodies…

Contact Jennifer Shaw [e-mail] or drop by the Fernwood Café corner of Fernwood, N. Beach and Walker Hook – treat yourself…

 

Roasters Café:  (Country Grocers)

If you are interested in showing in this venue contact Cliff Kelly  [e-mail] – he is interested in lining up participants for next years calendar  – it takes about 6 images and can be a solo or combined show….

 

Penny’s Pantry: 

Penny’s is funky and very busy location offering space to our Club members.  Drop in and check out the goodies (there is a theme here – everywhere/thing revolves around warm/cozy/hot drinks and goodies… oh well so be it)  Good high traffic to see your work and believe me, people there do look at the work very carefully and talk about it …

 

Gallery of Fine Arts:  This gallery on McPhillips is well worth a visit – take your company. This Co-op gallery shows a variety of artists from the island in a wide variety of media…

 

Lady Minto, and Harbour House Slideshows:

Now showing is the SaltSpring Winter/Festive show that Wendy Rosier has pulled together from our collective work… it is lovely and getting rave reviews from all who have seen it …  Thank you Wendy you make us look sooooo good…  If you want the opportunity to see these shows visit Lady Minto’s waiting room (over by the blood letting place) or better still drop in to Harbour House for a tea and scone on a rainy afternoon…  It is a beautiful show…

 

Harbour House Wall Space: 

Avril Kirby has a solo show hanging at Harbour House until Jan 1… It is called “ A Part, Apart ” and shows the diversity of Avril’s work.  She has beautiful images that cover the full range from soft subtle landscapes, to hauntingly mysterious disturbing but compelling people pictures, to a compassionate stark portrait…  She is a woman of many many images but always with a certain sensitivity and compassion…

There is an opportunity for anyone interested in exhibiting their work at Harbour House (Lobby and Restaurant) they should contact Tanya at Harbour House for details and information

 

TJ Bean’s:  Gregor Alan’s EcoArt is showing until December 31. Drop by frequently as the show is ever-changing and developing…  it is interesting to watch the progression over time…  

 

ArtSpring Winter Lobby Show:  Jan 2-31 2013 -  this show is being organized by Bob Rogers and all Club members are invited to submit --- so far he has 15 members showing 36 images in a wide range of formats, styles and techniques…  Hanging will take place Jan.2 from 9-11 am --- please have your work there as early as possible… thanks Bob and crew…

 

B.C. Museum:  International Nature Photography Show… this is the Best of the Best in the world in nature photography and well worth the trip to Victoria.. It will be showing until April – but don’t put it off you may want to go more than once… it is Amazing, Beautiful, Stunning…   those are the reviews by the Club members at the meeting…

 

 

UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL EVENTS: 

Miksang Workshop on Jan12-13 is being coordinated by Bob Rogers  -- this has been described as the Haiku of Photography.   The general membership has been very responsive and excited by this concept and it will be wonderful to see what comes to the club because of their participation…

 

 

THIS EVENING’S EDUCATIONAL EVENT:  " Giving Feedback… "

Marshal Heinekey is a long time member/exec of Toast Masters International, he is also mentoring our own Arthur Black --- so this man must know a thing or two about how to give feedback and critique constructively…

Basically the message was that giving feedback or critiquing someone’s work must always be constructive and focused on development… Your opinions should be posed in a positive respectful manner from your personal perspective… what you see, what you would focus on, what you would change --- it is your opinion of how you would approach  --- you want to challenge the person and offer concrete suggestions – to focus on their development and improvement in technique.   The Marshall’s presentation provided some very useful information and techniques and lead to a lively critique slide session that followed.   

Thanks to all who put forward their work for critique – that was brave to allow us to test our new critiquing skills on you…. But I think we all still are basically pretty nice and gentle with each other… and that is NOT a bad thing…

 

EVENING’S MEMBER’S SLIDE SHOW – members were invited to submit work that they are having problems with or would like some suggestions on how to resolve/improve…. It was a very participatory and lively session that went a tad overtime.. But all seemed to be enjoying themselves…

 

 

NEXT MEETING:

Wed.   January 9, 2013    (Happy New Year   !!!!! ) ---

                  7-9 pm   Portlock  Portable…

The Next Educational Component:  Greg Klassen will be doing a presentation for us.   Greg’s work is technically - amazing, creatively -  out of the park and he has a wonderful skill of story telling delivered in the visual images… It promises to be a very interesting and informative evening…   

The Next Evening Slide theme  “ MOTION “    and everything that encompasses.  Have a go at it --- take it right out there…

Forward your 2 images to Doug [e-mail] as soon as possible so he can creatively stitch together our work into a wonderful tapestry of images, imagination and colours… Thanks Doug – you do a great job of making us look good too…. You and Wendy are magicians…

 

SPECIAL NOTE:

As always if you find mistakes/omissions and such --- just speak up –post it for all to see in the comments area… it is totally unintentional and certainly not meant to offend anyone… all additions welcome… Sometimes there is a slippage in memory and/or hearing…

 

Have a lovely Holiday Season and enjoy the spirit of Community be it small or cosmic…

Peaceful and healthful wishes to all…

(Now how SaltSpringy does that sound ??? )

Cheers…    MCB

[Avril Kirby]

Thanks for the kind review, Margaret! (Good job on the minutes.)

[Curt Firestone]

The most complete minutes ever recorded!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Margaret C. Benmore]

Thanks Susan --- don't panic we will take you money pretty much anytime --- contact Pat Page [e-mail]  or see her at any meeting, or you can give it to any member of the exec... Happy Year sounds like your off to a good start... cheers... MCB