In Focus: August 29 - September 11
Mike Montgomery - Weed
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 submissions for the next newsletter is Friday September 9.
MEET THE PHOTOGRAPHER
This week’s cover photo is Weeds by Mike Montgomery, one of our newer members. Many OPCC members have already met Mike on club field trips or via his participation in Member Share Night, as he jumped right into club activities after joining. Mike was scheduled to be the featured photographer in this newsletter, but was unexpectedly hospitalized late last week. He expects to be in the hospital for a few more days, so we’ll share Mike’s bio and more examples of his work at a later date. We hope to see him back on his feet soon, with his camera in hand. Our thoughts are with his wife Debbi.
In the meantime, you can send get well wishes to Mike and a message of support to Debbi via email by clicking HERE.
NEWS
OPCC Members Shine at the Clallam County Fair
The Clallam County Fair returned this year after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic. As usual, OPCC members garnered lots of ribbons at the Fair’s Photography Exhibit. Congratulations to members Sally Harris, Dana Martell, Suzanne Anaya, Witta Priester, Lewis Bennett, Judy Larimore, and Mary Swartz. This year’s “Best of Show” went to Witta Priester for her monochrome flowers image, From the Garden. You can view this winning image and learn how it was taken in the July 4 edition of the OPCC In Focus newsletter by clicking HERE.
Lewis Bennett won the coveted “People’s Choice” award with his photo Kalaloch Beach Tree. Here’s the winning photo and Lewis’s description of how he did it.
Lewis Bennett - Kalaloch Beach Tree
“This composite image is based on a photo taken at Kalaloch Beach. There was a slight crescent moon to the right of the tree. I had brought a battery-powered wax flickering candle with me. At about 10 pm, I sat the candle at the base of the root behind the large log, set up the tripod about 20 feet from the tree; the tide was out. I set the aperture to 2.8, 6 seconds, ISO 1250, and focal length of 26mm. In the original image, there were stars, but pretty boring. So, in Photoshop I replaced the stars with a Milky Way photo I had taken from Hurricane Ridge. (Settings approx. ISO 1200, aperture 2.8, 19 seconds). Both photos were run through Topaz Denoise and worked on in Lightroom.”
Next year we expect more people will participate in the Fair exhibition. We know OPCC members will continue to enter an assortment of fabulous images, and look forward to having OPCC members help make the photography exhibit a success.
Welcome New Members
A warm welcome to our newest members Craig Mitchell from Port Angeles, Penny Rand from Sequim, and Judith Lilly from Graham. Plus, welcome back to pre-pandemic member Mark McNabb. We’re glad you’ve joined us!
EDUCATIONAL SPEAKER SERIES
Video Posted for August 18 Education Night Talk by Nico Carver
A link to the video recording of Nico Carver’s webinar Astrophotography Without a Telescope is now posted You can find the video link in the OPCC Education Night Archive by clicking HERE.
Nico Carver
MEMBER SHARING
Next Member Share Night Meeting is September 1 at 7:00 PM.
We will again hold a hybrid event for the September 1 Member Share Night meeting. The in-person meeting will be at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Sequim. Anyone not wanting to attend the in-person meeting at the church will still be able to participate via Zoom as usual.
The monthly Special Theme for sharing is Astrophotography/Milky Way.
For more information or questions about OPCC Member Share Night, contact Member Share Night Chair Dan McKenna (opccphotos@gmail.com).
FIELD TRIPS, WORKSHOPS, & MEET-UPS
Check Back for Late-August Field Trip Reports
We had no less than three field events scheduled for the end of August, shortly after the newsletter deadline. Check the next edition of the newsletter for a recap of these trips.
OPCC September Field Trip
Our next scheduled field trip is Saturday September 17: Port Angeles Architecture and Nightscapes. Watch the newsletter and website for updates.
COMPETITION/IMAGE EVALUATION
One Day Left For The First Federal 2023 Calendar Contest
Photos must be submitted by Monday, August 29. Go to their contest page for complete details by clicking HERE. Thanks to all the OPCC members who have submitted and Good Luck to everyone.
September Is A Busy Month For Competitions
The PSA Interclub Competition deadline is extended till Tuesday, September 7.
The Summer Competition Evaluation submissions are due on Monday, September 19.
Both competitions are OPEN competitions, so the submissions maybe on any subject, color or monochrome, your imagination is your only limitation. However the Image Sizes are different so be sure to check the requirements for each on the Competition Page of the OPCC website. Click HERE to visit the Competition Webpage.
Outdoor Photographer has opened their Nature’s Colors Photo Contest the entry deadline is November 15th, so there’s plenty of time to take those autumn photos. First place is a $1,000 cash prize plus dozens of other prizes one of three courses from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bird Academy and publication in an issue of the Outdoor Photographer. Click HERE for the details on entry on the Outdoor Photographer website..
International Garden Photographer of the Year will accept entries through October 31 in 17 different categories, like Abstract Views, Beautiful Gardens and Breathing Spaces. This is one of the most prestigious contests around and even if you don’t enter it is a great place to get inspirations. Click HERE for detailed information.
For more information, contact OPCC Competition Chair Peggy McClure (opcc.competition@gmail.com).
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.