In Focus: May 30 - June 12
Ed Hartman - Trees Dancing in the Woods
This twice monthly list of OPCC events, reminders, and news is compiled by Lori Moilanen. Please send information on upcoming events, news items, and corrections to opcc4mail@gmail.com. This newsletter is currently published twice monthly on Sunday evenings in advance of our first and third Thursday meetings. The deadline for new submissions for the next newsletter is Friday June 10.
MEET THE PHOTOGRAPHER
This month’s featured photographer is another of our newer members, Ed Hartman. Ed has wasted no time getting involved, attending Dan McKenna’s Long-Exposure Workshop, participating in field trips, and most recently, volunteering to assist OPCC Field Trip Chair Ellen Bogenschutz when she needs some back-up. Way to go Ed - we’re glad you’ve joined us! Here’s more about Ed, in his own words:
“The old adage "Work the scene! Work the camera!" comes into play for my cover photo - " Trees Dancing in The Woods ". There is a scene at Fort Flager State Park, that I have tried photographing many times when its foggy, rainy, overcast etc. But I could never capture what I was seeing. Its chaotic, but I see the colors of Madrona trees with reddish bark and yellow tones of fir trees and surrounding bushes mingling with each other. Eventually shooting it as an abstract captured my vision of what I was seeing: a party, with trees dancing.
When I retired in 2019, the first thing I did was make a list of my goals and hobbies. On top of the list was getting back into photography. The corporate world of going to work and coming home in the dark limited my photography. As a member of the Seattle Mountaineering group over 30 years, I could do hiking trips into backcountry but members didn't wait for me to take photos. I wanted a group or club that was like-minded, with field trips, educational opportunities, and passionate photographers. With COVID issues waning, I finally Joined OPCC in February 2022. I have to say after only a few months I am very impressed with the education provided by the club and the beautiful images created by members. There are a lot of skillful and artistic photographers In the club.
My interest in photography probably started in college. Between deciding to major in Meteorology or Economics, I took all the photography courses available including darkroom lab and printing. My mom gave me my first SLR film camera (a Canon FTb) as graduation present. Shortly thereafter I quit my first job after 5 years and traveled for a year in the South Pacific - island hopping including Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, and Raratonga among others with my film camera.
My early influence and inspiration was taking several photo classes with Joseph Scaylea who also was the Chief Photographer for the Seattle Times Newspaper. To this day I always remember his advice: "If you have command of LIGHT you are half way there". There are lots of photographers I follow but more recently Cole Thompson, Michael Kenna, and Edward Weston for minimalism - black and white (B/W) images. I also follow Ellen Borggreve from the Netherlands for painterly forest/landscape scenes reminiscent of the romantic era paintings, and Randall Hodges for old school in-camera photography.
As I enjoy the outdoors hiking, I shoot primarily landscape/nature photography and macro/close up. I try to photograph in camera as much as possible. But lately I have been trending towards B/W minimalism, requiring more post-processing in lightroom/photoshop to develop high contrast images. In truth, I end up photographing what I see and feel in my heart. Believe it or not, I shot Canon film cameras (FTb) until 2019 when I purchased my first DSLR - Canon EOS 5D MK IV along with 3 Canon lenses. Later I purchased Canon 5DS R. I do my own printing and matting at home with my Canon Pro-1000 printer. The itch to change to mirrorless camera is, however, getting stronger.
I'm so glad to have joined OPCC with it’s knowledgeable members and the opportunities for improving my skills. Going forward in 2022 and on, I look to improve my pre-visualization of what I see and feel…to create an image and interpretation about what I saw and not what the camera documented. I have plans to improve my post-processing skills in both Lightroom and Photoshop. I've been in competitive sports all my life, but was never interested in photo competition. So for the first time ever, I submitted a couple photos for the Spring Competion.
As passionate photographers, don't be surprised when you often hear me say: "Become One with Nature" and "Slow down and Smell the Roses."
Ed Hartman
Ed at Schwabacher Landing in the Grand Tetons, overlooking the Snake River and Mt. Moran
Blue Hour At Ruby Beach
The Piano - Keys to Minimalism
You can view more of Ed’s work in the OPCC Field Trip Galleries.
NEWS
Monthly OPCC Executive Board Meeting on Tuesday June 7 at 7:00 PM via Zoom
The next OPCC Executive meeting is scheduled for Tuesday June 7. All OPCC members are welcome to attend as observers. To add an agenda item, provide feedback, or ask a question, contact OPCC President Bruce Fryxell (opccpres@gmail.com).
Use the OPCC Board Meeting Zoom code to access this meeting. Click HERE to access the OPCC Zoom Codes webpage.
New Month - New Monthly Theme
The June Monthly Theme for photography is Wildlife/Nature. Shoot your themed photos now to share at the July 7 Member Share Night meeting.
EDUCATIONAL SPEAKER SERIES
May Speaker Recording Now Available
A recording of the May 19 presentation ”Get Prepared for Bird Action Photography” by Bonnie Block has been posted to the OPCC website. Click HERE to visit the Recorded Presentations webpage. This page may also be accessed using the “Recorded Presentations” button on the Education Nights webpage of the OPCC website. To view the video, use the 2022 OPCC member password when prompted to enter a password.
MEMBER SHARING
Reminder - The June 2 Meeting is a Competition/External Review Meeting
See the Competition section below for details. Member sharing resumes on July 7 with a Special Theme of Wildlife/Nature.
For more information or questions about OPCC Member Share Night, visit the OPCC Member Share Night webpage by clicking HERE, or contact Member Share Night Chair Dan McKenna (opccphotos@gmail.com).
FIELD TRIPS, WORKSHOPS, & MEET-UPS
Eagle Action Photography - Tuesday May 31
Our May field trip is a perfect match for our monthly theme of Birds/Flight/Raptors. Join award-winning photographer Bonnie Block and OPCC member Suzanne Anaya to photograph eagles and herons as they feast on spawning fish. For detailed information on meeting time and location visit the Field Trip webpage by clicking HERE. For questions contact OPCC Field Trip Chair Ellen Bogenschutz (fieldtrips4opcc@gmail.com).
To watch or review Bonnie Block’s presentation on preparing for this field trip, click HERE to visit the OPCC Recorded Presentations webpage.
Remember, if you have an idea or can host a Field Trip or even a casual “Meet Up”, let OPCC Field Trip Chair Ellen Bogenschutz know via email (fieldtrips4opcc@gmail.com) to keep learning and expanding our photographic talents.
Bonnie Block - 2016 Audubon Grand Prize Winning Image
(taken at our next field trip location)
COMPETITION/IMAGE EVALUATION
OPCC Spring Competition/External Image Evaluation Meeting - June 2 at 7:00 PM via Zoom.
Please join us for the Spring Competition Evaluation meeting - the image evaluations and discussions are always informative. Eleven OPCC members submitted images to the Spring Competition for evaluation and scoring by a Photographic Society of America (PSA) judge. The judge is Dr Joel Ohlsen, a retired oncologist living in south central Colorado near Rye. Dr Ohlsen has been actively involved for the past ten years as a member of the Southern Colorado Photography Society, and the Pueblo Art Guild. He shoots with Canon and Sony equipment and recently started using a DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone.
Information on OPCC competitions is located on the “Competition” webpage in the Members Only section of the website (click HERE to visit the Competition webpage). For more information contact OPCC Competition Chair Peggy McClure (opcc.competition@gmail.com).
External Competition Reminders
Check the OPCC External Competition Webpage (click HERE) for complete details on the following competitions:
The American Landscape competition held by Outdoor Photography magazine is accepting entries until May 31. Early entries submitted by May 17 earn you a discount on the entry fees.
The International Garden Photographer of the Year will accept entries through October 31 in a variety of categories.
The Washington State Fair – Northwest International Exhibition of Photography is accepting registration for entering through Saturday, July 23, 2022 and the last day to submit your entries is July 25, 2022. To view or download the instructions go to Enter a Competition at the Washington State Fair (thefair.com) and click on Northwest International Exhibition of Photography.
If You’re Aware of Competitions That Might Interest OPCC Members…
If you are aware of any competitions you think members might be interested in please contact Competition Chair Peggy McClure at opcc.competition@gmail.com. Peggy will gather the details and when appropriate we will publish information in the Newsletter and on the Website.
Information on a select list of external competitions (curated by Peggy McClure) can be found on the Competition webpage of the OPCC Website in the Members Only section.