March 2015 In Focus - Northside Creative Photography

IN FOCUS
Newsletter of the Northside Creative Photography Club
MARCH 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
From the President
1
Contacts, Notices
2
Articles
3
Workshops4
Outing, Exhibitions
5
Left: Walking in Step
by Alison Seccombe
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
UPCOMING EVENTS
Is photography dead? Are we drowning in images?
Photography took over from painting as a recording medium in the visual world and
reigned supreme until the 1980’s when computer imaging was developed.
Until that time you could say that what was in front of the camera was reality. “The camera
never lies”.
This is no longer the case as we all know. One indication of this is that photography can
no longer be used as evidence. Computer manipulation of both still and moving images
is available to us all. Criminal cases have been overturned when it was found that
manipulation of images had taken place. Images and scenes can now be created entirely
digitally using Photoshop techniques. Today most cameras and phones are sold with
special effects built-in, which alter the image in many different ways. You don’t need any
skills at all to create them.
The camera has become a democratic tool available for everyone. Mobile phones, whilst
making photography more popular than ever, have virtually extinguished the point-andshoot market. Will mobile phone technology eventually improve to the point that press
photographers will no longer need to carry a full frame DSLR and a 600mm lens, and we
lowly amateurs no longer aspire to own a top of the line DSLR?
Whereas we used to take 3 rolls of film on holiday (if we felt a bit extravagant), and wait
with baited breath to pick up the prints from the chemist a week later, we now take
hundreds of images in the hope that some will be “Special Merits” and we come home
with a massive editing and processing job to do.
Is this progress?
Are we really thinking about what we’re taking or are we just recording everything we
possibly can but not actually enjoying, appreciating or remembering the moment.
Camera phones can take great photos, but when you come to print them the result is
generally poor. For most of the population this is not an issue as they are stored and
ultimately displayed on a phone, tablet or computer. Do we need prints in this digital
world? Personally, I think we do.
To me, a print is the ultimate expression of photography. There’s something about a print
which can never be reproduced in a digital display. It has depth and texture and integrity.
Hopefully it sets us aspiring photographers apart from the general populace. Let’s keep the
quality coming and don’t let the mobilephonographers take over!
We should remember however, that a top of the line camera or the world’s best app won’t
make us better photographers any more than a good microprocessor in your computer
would make us better writers. - Alison Seccombe
1
Wed 4th March
Open Competition
Judge: Allan Coker
Wed 18 March
Presentation: Sue Murray “Imagine me”
Chinatown Outing Competition
(Max 3 prints)
Fri 20 - Sun 22 March
Weekend Away Southern Highlands
Sun 29 March
EDI entries due 8pm
Wed 1 April
Open Competition
NEW MEMBERS’ MEETING
Saturday 18th April 2015, 1pm - Please
keep this date free.
New members will be contacted
regarding an informal get-together to
discuss .... well, anything photographic
and/or club related!
New-ish members who have previously
attended such a meeting are welcome to
come along – especially if they
still have questions!
IN FOCUS Newsletter • Northside Creative Photography • March 2015
REVIEW OF WEBSITE OPERATIONS
CONTACTS
POST:
PO Box 192 Gordon
NSW 2072 Australia
WEB:
www.ncp.org.au
EMAIL:
For general enquiries:
ncp@ncp.org.au
To contact individual members of
the committee use the “Contact
Details” page on our website.
THE CLUB MEETS AT:
Lindfield Uniting Church Hall,
Pacific Highway, Lindfield
(Corner Provincial Road)
On the 1st and 3rd Wednesday
of each month
at 7.30 for an 8pm start.
PRESIDENT:
Alison Seccombe
0418 338 337
VICE PRESIDENT:
Jan Glover: 02 9498 3916
SECRETARY:
Chris Spraggon
TREASURER:
James Proctor
COMMITTEE:
Chris Barlow
Susan Buchanan
John Chapman
John Fisk
Judy Watman
PUBLICITY:
Judy Watman
WEBMASTER:
Chris Barlow: 02 9487 3646
2
A meeting has been scheduled for 25th
March (7.45pm at Gordon) to review
website operations including ancillary
functions such as processing of digital
images and projectionist. The intention
is to ensure that the club has a group of
skilled members to carry out these essential
tasks and also that there is appropriate
backup to provide robustness. The
current Webmaster is unable to maintain
his considerable workload. A number of
members have already volunteered - if you
would like to assist please contact Alison
Seccombe or Chris Barlow.
PORTFOLIO 2015
I have done presentations on Portfolio
work for various other clubs and it can
take a couple of hours – depending on the
amount of discussion generated. So how
to condense all that information into this
article? Hmmm…
JUST DO IT.
This will be our 5th portfolio year and the
goal is unchanged: for members to develop
their photographic skills and techniques. As
always, the portfolio is aimed at any and
all levels of photographic ability and your
photographic development is based around
creating a body of work that illustrates an
idea or theme of your choice. With each
portfolio the bar has been raised. Your
fellow members become your mentors,
your comrades in arms, your wizened
advisor (that’s me!), through regular
meetings and unstinting critique. Be afraid,
be very afraid and…
DO IT ANYWAY.
I am happy to answer any questions
members may have about doing a portfolio.
The salient point to address now is
commitment. Organizationally, we need to
know how many members are interested.
Please express your interest by emailing
portfolio@ncp.org.au Please keep the
following date free for our first meeting:
1pm Saturday 28th March. (Location to be
advised.) Finished work will be exhibited on
November 18th.
Susan Buchanan
More info: http://www.ncp.org.au/forum/
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=503
(Members will need to log in to the Forum
to view)
Presentation
Wednesday 18th March
Sue Murray – IMAGINE ME
Sue began her creative studio practice
working in the traditional form of
documentary photography, where the
photographer interprets their subject.
Later, she began exploring the subject’s
participation in the making of their image.
In 2013 Sue began developing the Imagine
Me creative self portrait project, which
tells the stories of people living with spinal
injury, through images and text. Individuals
are invited to participate in workshops
where Sue collaborates with them using
digital photography to create innovative
individual artworks which express their
feelings about themselves.
The aims of Imagine Me are to give people
living with spinal cord injury the opportunity
to share their stories
and be heard, and
to offer support to
others.
It
fosters
community awareness
and
understanding
towards people living
with disability. Sue has exhibited
widely
since
the
mid 1990’s and has
lectured at University
and
TAFE
while
completing a Master of
Fine Arts. Throughout
her career she has
been commissioned
by numerous public
organisations
to
develop creative projects with a diversity of
community groups.
Visit Sue’s inspiring website at:
http://www.imagineme.com.au/
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
are now due
Details for payment are available on
the membership/renewal form which is
available HERE. Printed copies of the form
are available at the desk on club nights.
All financial members will receive a 2015
membership card.
NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS
We invite you to contribute to In Focus. If you have images you would like to see appear or
a story with or without accompanying images, we would like to hear from you. As a guide,
photographs should be saved as high quality .jpg, 1024 pixels wide.
To ensure our newsletter goes out on time, please have any submissions emailed to the
editor at ncp@ncp.org.au
MATERIAL DEADLINE: Fri 27th March or prior
IN FOCUS Newsletter • Northside Creative Photography • March 2015
NAME TAGS
If your name tag is lost or damaged, or just
out of date, please request a new one.
Contact Jan Glover via the club website
ncp@ncp.org.au
The Photograph and
Australia
Sundays 8-29 March 10.30am
The Art Gallery Society would like to let
you know of an upcoming lecture series
at the Gallery which may be of interest to
you and your students. The Photograph
and Australia is the largest exhibition of
Australian photography held since 1988
that borrows from collections nationwide
and looks at the history of the medium. This
accompanying lecture series investigates
how photography was harnessed to create
the idea of a nation and reveals how our
view of the world, ourselves and each other.
We would like to offer special members
pricing for the Federation of Camera Clubs
NSW and student pricing is available as well.
You can find out more about the lecture
series here , and to access membership
pricing
simply
choose
“Partners
promotion” when booking your tickets.
NATASHA MIKITAS
Marketing & Events Coordinator
ART GALLERY SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH
WALES
http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/
members
EVENTS for photographers
Each year, former FCC President Alan
Hitchell compiles a useful list of events for
photographers.
http://www.ncp.org.au/forum/
viewtopic.php?f=25&t=969
Coming up in March are:
Mardi Gras (Sat 7th Mar), Camerally (6th –
8th Mar), Canberra Balloon Spectacular (7th
– 15th Mar), Cessnock Country Rodeo (21st
Mar), Royal Easter Show (26 Mar – 8 Apr).
Steam Train Sunday at Hornsby.
Sunday March 8
Celebrate 125 years of the North Shore
Line. Heritage Express will be running
steam trains from Hornsby to Gordon and
return. Most seats are now sold, but it may
be a good photographic opportunity.
Trains depart Hornsby at 10.22, 11.22,
12.22, 2.22, 3.22.
http://www.heritageexpress.com.au/
pages/tours-events/2015-03-005-SPEV.
htm#timetable
3
Special Interest Groups
What type of photography do you favour?
Macro, Portrait, Nature, Creative, Street
or any of the many other genres? Would
you like to share that special interest with
other Northside members?
Well, that’s what our Special Interest
Groups project is all about. We’ve already
had one meeting of enthusiasts with more
coming up. The initial group of eight
members has decided to concentrate on
Macro photography for the time being.
But all of us are interested in at least one
other genre. As more join us, it won’t be
long before we are working in the other
areas too.
We have decided to set up a Flickr group
for our macro work. Its purpose will be to
showcase our output and provide a forum
for discussion. We will also meet in person
at least once a month to share tips and
comments. Between us all, we seem to
have all the gear you could ever want so
that’s something else to share.
In time, we plan to exhibit our work at the
club and contribute articles to In Focus.
This is promising to be a great way to extend our knowledge and enjoyment of our
wonderful pastime. Give it some thought
and join in. Contact John Pettett for more
information at 9410 1007 or
sig@ncp.org.au
SHIRLEY STEEL PRESENTATION
Shirley Steel entertained,
enlightened,
impressed
and educated us with
her beautiful images and
her wonderful laid-back
style of presentation. She
prefers black & white photography, but
also showed us many of her colour images.
She very generously shared some of her
photographic and processing techniques
with us.
Shirley loves to take out-of-focus images,
using a slow shutter speed combined with
panning, jiggling or twisting the camera in
a circular motion, to create dreamy effects.
She has also perfected the art of multiple
exposure images, her greatest influence
being the photographer Chris Kovacs. Some
of her other influences are photographers
Freeman Patterson and André Gallant, and
artist JM Turner.
Shirley shoots in raw and edits with
Lightroom and Nik software, although she
is about to do some experimenting with
Photoshop. We will await the results with
eager anticipation!
http://www.shirleysteel.com/
FREEMAN PATTERSON
Shirley Steel in her February presentation,
referred to photographer Freeman
Patterson as her inspiration.
Freeman Patterson is a Canadian nature
photographer and writer who lives in New
Brunswick. Born in 1937, he received a
Master of Divinity degree (M. Div.) from
Union Theological Seminary at Columbia
University, New York. His master’s thesis
was “Still Photography As A Medium Of
Religious Expression.”
His popular books on photography and
visual design include Portraits of Earth
( 1987), Photography and the Art of
Seeing. (1979), The Garden (2003), Photo
Impressionism and the Subjective Image
(co-authored with Andre Gallant) (2001).
Although he states “In the broadest sense
I photograph Nature”, much of his work
focuses on the things that are unseen to
most observers. His landscapes are simple
graphic images which concentrate on
patterns and shapes, in contrast some of
his later impressionistic images are riots
of pattern and colour, often achieved
with slow shutter speeds or multiple
exposures. His books contain many
writings on photography, on the subjects
of composition and visual design, how
to create balance and proportion, and
insights into what inspires his photography.
His books were written well before the
days of digital photography, and much of
his work was done with a 35mm Minolta
SLR. His insightful writing and beautiful
photographs were an inspiration for many
of us who were looking for new ideas.
Now we are overwhelmed with images on
the internet, but we can still appreciate
the simplicity and honesty of his images
(without asking which Photoshop filter he
used!).
Read his Art Statement http://www.
freemanpatterson.com/art_statement.htm
His books are available from his website,
and also from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/FreemanPatterson/e/B000APT9OI
(See Andre Gallant’s website at: http://
www.andregallant.com/ )
IN FOCUS Newsletter • Northside Creative Photography • March 2015
SUNSTUDIOS
1 day only PopUp Sale,
7 March 12pm to 6pm.
Huge discounts on professional camera
gear, studio equipment and furniture,
lighting, ex-rental gear.
sunstudioaustralia.com
42 Maddox St, Alexandria
Foto Riesel by Digital
Camera Warehouse
Digital Camera Warehouse and Foto
Riesel are two photographic stores which
are popular with members for their
excellent service. In a press release it was
announced that DCW has bought Photo
Riesel - will be interesting to see how that
pans out.
Sydney, Australia – 27 Jan, 2015 - Digital
Camera Warehouse is delighted to
announce it is the new owner of the Foto
Riesel store in Sydney’s CBD. Foto Riesel
is located at 360 Kent St, Sydney. Digital
Camera Warehouse, acknowledging the
importance of Foto Riesel as a specialist
store in Sydney’s photographic retail
industry, made a successful offer to
purchase the business. The store will
re-open as ‘Foto Riesel by Digital Camera
Warehouse’ in the coming months.
COMPETITIONS
Sydney Harbour International
http://www.sydney-harbour-international.
org.au/
Closing 14th April
International Landscape Photographer of
the Year
http://www.internationallandscapephotographer.com/
Entries close 15 May 2015
The Epson International Pano Awards
www.thepanoawards.com
Opens March
Macquarie Photography Prize
Closes 31 August.
http://www.australianartsales.com.au/
MacquariePrize/Macquariephotograhyprize.html
Heritage Bank Photographic Awards
The awards are one of the richest competitions of their type in Australia with prizes
valued at more than $8,000.
Entries open 1st April 2015.
https://www.heritage.com.au/sponsorship-events/photographic-awards.aspx
4
WORKSHOPS
PhotoTutor Photography Course
March 2015
Dear friends,
As you probably know, Jim Crew and I have
previously run some workshops and photography courses based in the Lane Cove
area. We are running our 8 week photography course again in conjunction with the
Parallaxis Photography exhibition in March.
We concentrate on personal tuition and
hence the small group size.
Please note the course prerequisites on
the registration form.
We would like to invite any members of
your respective clubs who would benefit
from this course to register ahead of the
public promotion through the exhibition in
early March.
We are also available to run workshops for
small groups at your premises, if required.
Our Lightroom introductory course has
been very popular. There will be some opportunities for further workshops later in
the year.
Should anyone be interested and need
further information, please contact me via
editor@phototutor.com.au or on 0418 241
141
MICHAEL SMYTH
Download a flyer at:
http://www.ncp.org.au/forum/viewtopic.
php?f=28&t=959
IGNACIO PALACIOS
Altiplano 17-28 October 2015 – Bolivia and
Chile
Galapagos Islands – 6-15 Nov 2015
Lofoten (Norway) – Chasing the Northern
Lights – 16-23 February 2016
http://www.iptravelphotography.com.au
On the Verandah
Photographic Adventures in the Kimberley
May 11-17 – “End of the Wet” Photo
Adventure
June 1-7 – “Dry Season & Cattle Muster”
Photo Adventure.
http://www.ontheverandah.com.au/
http://www.ontheverandah.com.au/photography-adventures.html
Live It Tours
Lakes and Landscapes New Zealand Photography Tour – 1st May 2015
Christchurch, Te Anau, Milford Sound,
Queenstown, Fox Glacier
With Andrew Goodall, Nature Photographer
www.liveittours.com.au
Iconic images International
Mongolia - the Land of Nomads August 2015
http://iconicimagesinternational.com/itineraries/mongolia-nomads-land/
Len Metcalf
Tours and workshops include Flinders
Ranges, Blue Mountains, Cradle Mountain,
Tarkine, Lighroom, Digital B/W photography (November – Jindabyne).
www.lensschool.com
Luminous Landscape
Tours to Patagonia, Iceland, Antarctica.
Instructors include Art Wolfe and Ignacio
Palacios.
http://luminous-landscape.com/workshops/page/2/
Darran Leal
2015 - China, Kimberley, Tanzania, New
Zealand, Capetown to Kalahari.
2016 – Arctic, Argentina, Guatemala,
Canada, Alaska, Mongolia, Gobi Desert,
Iceland, Cuba, Botswana.
worldphotoadventures.com.au
Peter Eastway
Away- Hamilton Island. June 2015. With
Peter Eastway, David Oliver, Bruce Pottinger, Clare Oliver
http://www.betterphotography.com
Michael Snedic – Trekabout Photography
Michael Snedic & Mark Rayner from Trekabout Photography are holding their photography workshop on beautiful Norfolk
Island in October 2015. Travel dates are
ex Sydney 26 October-2 November 2015.
Trekabout is also organising a 2 week trip
to Antarctica in January 2016
http://www.trekaboutphotography.com/
index.html
QUEENSTOWN CENTRE FOR CREATIVE
PHOTOGRAPHY
Autumn colours, Fiordland, Kinloch, Mt
Cook, West Coast NZ.
http://www.qccp.co.nz
L&P Off Camera Flash event
2-6 Mar and workshop 16 May
JOIN US AT L&P 2-6 March 2015 for this
exciting week, showcasing the latest technological advances in the ‘OFF CAMERA
FLASH’ range with TTL and HSS.
WORKSHOP : 16th May 2015
Off Camera Flash Lighting with Tim Bauer
http://www.lapfoto.com.au
IN FOCUS Newsletter • Northside Creative Photography • March 2015
SOCIAL NIGHT - SELFIES
At our first meeting of the year, members
had an opportunity to demonstrate their
creativity in interpreting the subject
“selfies”. Steve Mullarkey did an excellent
job of commenting on the entries, and
gave the top award to Peter Steele.
EXHIBITIONS
PARALLAXIS PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP
EXHIBITION - 3- 15 March
We are pleased to announce the first
exhibition by the Parallaxis Photography
Group. The exhibition is called “Odyssey”
and will be held from March 3rd to March
15th inclusive at The Art Space on the
Concourse, Chatswood.
www.parallaxisgroup.com
MICHAEL SMYTH
Parallaxis Photographic Group
AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
28 March to 5 October.
See over 100 Images selected from 40,000
entries worldwide
http://australianmuseum.net.au/event/
wildlife-photographer
nhm.ac.uk
5
FEBRUARY OUTING
Chinese New Year
Because there was so much to see and the venues
so scattered it is no surprise that we each soon
went our own way. It also explains why we all saw
different things.
We arrived a little late to see a dragon dance in
Dixon Street but we were rewarded by the antics
of a very engaging and beautifully made up 82 year
old clown still coping with a hoopla!
Darling Harbour was unrecognizable. It had
been transformed into a real colourful Chinese
playground. The paths became red and gold
pergolas covered with beautifully painted lanterns.
Barges decorated with big swans, fish,
lotus
floated
on
the
little
streams.
Rows of white tents and red lanterns provided
great perspective.
In Castlereagh Street the floats were being
decorated for the night’s parade.
In the many years I attended the preparations
to the Chinese New Year Parade in Hyde
Park I had never seen so many group taking
part. The bands and the flag bearers kept on
repeating their steps until they were perfect.
The girls groomed each other or practised their
dancing steps, their outfits were gorgeous and
their smiles very catching.
I understand that the same word in Chinese applies
for goat and sheep and that explains why we saw
lots of each.
I left before the Parade started but that was the
right place to see dragons dancing; one dragon was
carried by over 30 bearers!
A very colourful and happy day.
Jacques.
See more photos on the photo gallery
under outings - February 2015
ART GALLERY OF NSW
ArtExpress – until 19th April
www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au
Featuring a selection of outstanding
student artworks developed for the
artmaking component of the HSC
examination in Visual Arts 2014,
ARTEXPRESS 2015 provides insight
into students’ creativity and the issues
important to them.
The exhibition encompasses a broad range
of approaches and expressive forms,
including ceramics, collection of works,
documented forms, drawing, graphic
design, painting, photomedia, printmaking,
sculpture, textiles and fibre, and timebased forms.
http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/
insideartexpress/2015/expressive-forms/
STILLS GALLERY
BOOKMARKED EXHIBITION 4-28 March 2015 OPENING Wednesday 4 March, 6-8pm STILLS PHOTOBOOK FAIR Saturday 7
March, 11am-5pm + STEPHEN DUPONT ARTIST TALK Saturday
7 March, 3pm Celebrating artist books in all their
forms, from handcrafted one-offs to selfpublished photobooks, sculptural creations
and vintage punk fanzines, Bookmarked
is a curated group exhibition that allows
visitors to get lost between the pages.
Bookmarked will feature a special display
of nearly 50 books on special loan from the
Asia-Pacific Photobook Archive .
36 Gosbell St, Paddington.
Wed to Sat 11am – 5pm
stillsgallery.com.au
IN FOCUS Newsletter • Northside Creative Photography • March 2015

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