All posts by knightgalileo

MAY UPDATE

May 13, 2021 | JOEL BROWN

Hello Santa Rosa Photographic Society

May has come to Sonoma County and I think of joyful music played on warm nights while grilling in the backyard. Music, do I have favorites? I freely admit I am a Piano Guys, Luther Vandross, Santana, Miles Davis kind of guy when alone, However, this evening I am thinking of Vivaldi’s Spring (La Primavera). A technically complex and understated art piece, with studied brilliance, deep passion, and burning creativity; just like we are as SRPS photographers.  Despite the clouds of Covid, our club members have persisted in delving into our art and the quality of our photos during competition nights show that growth.

I want to especially thank and recognize Lynda Stuber and her Program Committee mates, Anne Abrams, Betsy Waters, & Liz Lawson. The past 2-programs; Harold Davis Photography, Rob Badger & Nita Winter, were presentations without any charges to the club due to this committee’s efforts. And the programs themselves, I can only describe as studied brilliance. We thank you each of you for your service!

I would like to thank Tony Reynes, for organizing the Mentoring Photo Critique sessions prior to our monthly competition nights. It has become a hit with everyone who participates in this venue, and the quality of the submitted images are evident during competition nights. In a sense, Tony, you seem to be burning off creativity that you cannot put into your own pictures (you can only submit 3 per month ?) by giving to others. You’re like an Energizer Rabbit (capitalized)!!!

Nick Allen, I want to give a loud “shout out” for the behind the scenes work you did on enabling our Zoom Meeting announcements access thru our website. Now that both members & the public can access our programs thru our website, there is a large potential for spreading the word for our activities just by word of mouth; “go to our website my friend”!! A technically complex piece of software use in your understated way. & thanks to Erin as well when you don’t have the answer at your fingertips.

The final gracious thanks is for Bill Stacy our Judges Chair person & Zoom Meeting coordinator. Bill’s work as the judge’s coordinator is simply outstanding. He has also taken on the role of Zoom Meeting coordinator over the past year; being present for dealing with any technical difficulties during our competition and program nights. His deep passion for photography which he shares with us not only in his pictures but his willingness to volunteer is outstanding.

Which comes back to the largest SRPS need; more Volunteerism from our members who are not already donating their time to various club positions.  As a club we have indicated a real desire to continue our virtual meetings alongside our meetings at LBA&GC. We do have the technical expertise between Bill, Nick & Steve. However, the burden on their time bluntly needs to be reduced by others in the club volunteering to learn what they do and be there as alternates if they are away taking pictures like the rest of us. I see a need for alternates in the following positions:

  • Zoom Meeting Coordinator alternates (must be willing to learn how to troubleshoot zoom meetings)
  • LBA&GC representative
  • Competition Chair alternates (willingness to learn Visual Pursuit Software in case Steve gets lost in the ethernet and cannot find his way back)
  • Website Coordinator alternate (willingness to learn our website management software, in case Nick gets eaten by a zombie bunny rabbit}
  • Projection Chair alternate (willingness to run competition laptop at our in-person meetings, learn ICM software, Steve cannot do both when we return to LBA&GC)

I am going to let this simmer for now, but this needs to become a prime goal for all of us. Share the load so that all of us can have more time to take pictures.

Some upcoming events. Tim Allen (Exhibition Coordinator) is organizing or our September Photographic Exhibition at the Sebastopol Regional Library. He has begun sending out emails on theme of the show, as well as trying to gauge participation levels. Please respond to him!!

As to when can we return to LBA&GC, the following is a summary from Cindy Moore (LBA&GC Board President) received 5/3/21: “The Center is classified as a Community Organization and Event Center, which puts us under the larger category of Convention Centers in Sonoma County.  Both the CDC and the County instructions do not allow these types of places to open until the green status.  That said, I think we can follow the guidelines to open on a limited, modified basis starting with smaller meetings and then working our way up to Workshops, Open to the Public meetings and finally opening our outside Event business. We will need to continue to monitor the official status closely and send out regular updates once we agree on a plan. We will also begin to tentatively book the calendar at that time.  Hopefully things will move quickly, and we can all get back to our next version of normal.” I will keep the club in the loop on LBA&GC’s progress. 

Some of the future activities being developed by the Board are as follows:

  • Setting up a post-Field trip photo salon which utilizes a combination of Zoom & our photo competition software Visual Pursuits so members can talk about what they shot for that trip. Steve & Tony are close on this activity. [Nearly close on this activity. Tony has done 1 or 2 sessions post field trip but moving the photo submittals to Visual Pursuits has caused an overload of the software. Stay tuned, the VP software group is working on a fix.]
  • Setting up a Photo Critique & Photo Processing Technique Salons which will focus on providing helpful information and creative sharing outlets to our members in a safe & caring environment. The salons will utilize the same technical combination of Zoom & our photo competition software Visual Pursuits. The club team of Terry Connelly, Nancy Goodenough, Steve Muench, Nick Allen, & Joel Brown are still working out details of technical and format issues but stay tuned.  [On the back burner at this time]
  • We hope to enable access to our Competition and Program Night Zoom Meetings directly thru the Club web site. The feature will allow not only club members but non-club members who visit our web site direct access our public events. [Complete, whoo-hoo!]
  • Run our Club Meetings at LBA&GC in parallel with a virtual interface meeting format, i.e. Zoom or other software. Will allow remote attendance by members and the public, plus increase the pool of judges and programs from local to national & international. [1-meeting to date of the committee; N. Goodenough has pointed out a similar activity by Science Buzz Cafe in Sebastopol scheduled to start in September which will be investigated.]

Vivaldi’s Spring (La Primavera); technically complex but understated, studied brilliance with deep passion, and burning creativity. Yeah, that is us!!!! Let’s spring forward and don’t let Covid rain on our parade!!!.

“Life is short and precious, so one must make every Shutter Click count!” – unknown photographer.

MARCH UPDATE

March 11, 2021 | JOEL BROWN

Hello Santa Rosa Photography Society

It is March 11, 2021, approximately 3 days short of one year (3/14/21) since Sonoma County declared a Covid-19 lockdown for its residents 65 and over.  I personally see signs of hope in that more of our 65 & over members are talking about how they have received either their 1st or 2nd vaccination. If you have received the vaccination let us keep our vigilance up for a few more months until our under 65 members receive their shots.

While we are awaiting those future milestones, let us all congratulate Tamara Krautkramer & Betsy Waters for their published articles to the N4C Foto Fanfare March 2021 edition. Tamara Krautkramer’s article on “Insider Tips for African Safaris” is very helpful for anyone’s future “bucket list” trip to the veldt lands of the African continent. Betsy Water’s article “Photography for Aging Boomers” is so “a right time” primer for our club membership. A very specific congratulations from the President to both of you because it really is harder to open up with the written word for others one’s feelings and knowledge about their passions.

At the N4C 2020 Annual Competition Judging Awards on Sunday 2/21/21 via Zoom the following members won recognition:

Pictorial Projected

  • BASIC: Fritz Carlson (HM), Joel David Brown (HM)
  • INTERMEDIATE: Steve Gibbs (1st)
  • MASTERS: Tamara Krautkramer (3rd)

Monochrome Projected

  • BASIC: Pat Carlson (HM)
  • INTERMEDIATE: Steve Gibbs (1st, 5th), Frances Williams (3rd), Guy Miller (4th), Lynda Stuber (HM)
  • ADVANCED: Herbert Gaidus (3rd)

Travel Projected

  • ADVANCED: Herbert Gaidus (HM)
  • MASTERS: Tamara Krautkramer (4th, HM)

Journalism Projected

  • BASIC: Joel David Brown (2nd)
  • INTERMEDIATE: Betsy Waters (1st), Lynda Stuber (3rd), Ellen Storz (HM)
  • ADVANCED: Bill Stacy (HM)
  • MASTERS: Tamara Krautkramer (4th)

Nature Projected

  • BASIC: Fritz Carlson (2nd)
  • INTERMEDIATE: Betsy Waters (1st), Lynda Stuber (3rd), Ellen Storz (HM)
  • ADVANCED: Bill Stacy (4th), Jennifer Marano (HM)
  • MASTERS: Tamara Krautkramer (HM)

Creative Projected

  • BASIC: Pat Carlson (HM)
  • INTERMEDIATE: Steve Gibbs(5th)
  • ADVANCED: Bill Stacy (3rd), Michael Funk (HM), Trisha Brown (HM)
  • MASTERS: Nancy Goodenough (HM)

Portfolio Projected (out of 57 entries)

  • Tamara Krautkramer – “Pilgrims of Lalibela” (4th)
  • Tara Pavis – “Taken out of context” (5th)
  • Trisha Brown – “After John Coplans” (HM)
  • Nancy Goodenough – “Animals with Attitudes” (HM)
  • Bill Stacy – “Wine Country Polo” (HM)
  • Timothy S. Allen – “Fun at the Carnival” (HM)

Bravo…Bravo…Bravo!!!!!

We are in the midst of our March Field Trip to Quarry Hill (March 7 – 13, 2021) which has been arranged by Tony Reynes our Field Trip Coordinator; details can be found by either contacting Tony directly or visiting our website’s Events Calendar. Our March 25, 2021 Program features a presentation by noted photographer Harold Davis, titled “Photography as Poetry”. Details can be found by contacting Lynda Stuber our Programs Coordinator or visiting our website’s Events Calendar.

Our club members approved the proposed changes to Section 4.0 of the SRPS Competition Rules by a 19-0 vote margin. I want to say thank you to all the Advancement Committee members for a long and serious discussion of the changes, and the solid changes to these rules will make it better for the entire club membership.

SRPS is currently going thru a reach out effort for a volunteer to take over the Treasurer position form our one-&-only Cheryl Akers. Unfortunately, Cheryl strongly feels that she needs to pass her role onto to a younger member (smile). I want to add that there are many of our members who are strong future candidates for Advancement to masters in the next 1-3 years. (I talk with both the Review Committee & Advancement Committee members!). Club service is required for advancement to Masters level. Yes, this is your opportunity Grasshopper if you are willing to seize the day!!!! I will probably be calling some of you directly, smile!!!

Some of the future activities being developed by the Board are as follows:

  • Setting up a post-Field trip photo salon which utilizes a combination of Zoom & our photo competition software Visual Pursuits so members can talk about what they shot for that trip. Steve & Tony are close on this activity.
  • Setting up a Photo Critique & Photo Processing Technique Salons which will focus on providing helpful information and creative sharing outlets to our members in a safe & caring environment. The salons will utilize the same technical combination of Zoom & our photo competition software Visual Pursuits. The club team of Terry Connelly, Nancy Goodenough, Steve Muench, Nick Allen, & Joel Brown are still working out details of technical and format issues but stay tuned. 
  • We hope to enable access to our Competition and Program Night Zoom Meetings directly thru the Club web site. The feature will allow not only club members but non-club members who visit our web site direct access our public events.

Well for now I have run out of words. We really are one “rocking” club…thank you for everyone’s participation and passion for photography!

“Life is short and precious, so one must make every Shutter Click count!” – unknown photographer.

JANUARY UPDATE

JANUARY 14, 2021 | JOEL BROWN

Hello Santa Rosa Photography Society

I welcome everyone to the 2021 world of the Santa Rosa Photography Society. Last year, 2020, was a challenging year for Sonoma County, California, our country & the world. Political turmoil throughout the year; the return of fire danger to Sonoma County; the tragic loss of our members Richard White and Jim Radford, as well as Ben Braver who was the partner of our Ronnie Rosenbach; and the all-encompassing impact of Covid-19.  Our club has been forced to embrace an increasing reliance on the digital landscape where our website, Zoom, Facebook, and email has become our communication lifelines. However, despite the difficulties of minimizing the feeling of isolation inherent to utilizing digital mediums for all our communications. Our SRPS membership has continued to try to join in solidarity as a human family. In that spirit I offer the below pictures excerpted from the 1955 “Family of Man” photo exhibit, and the hope we can get thru these challenging times with smiles on our faces.

1955 “Family of Man” photo exhibit, pages 154 – 155

I introduce myself for the first time as Joel Brown, SRPS president, taking over from Michael Funk. I hope to do this job at least ½ as well as Michael has done these past 2-years. Our current board consists of Greg Pech, Cheryl Akers, Elizabeth Springs, Steve Muench, Jennifer Marano, Lynda Stuber, Michael Funk. I want to especially thank Steve Muench, in stepping in as Competition Chair at the end of 2020.  

Going into 2021 still burdened by Covid-19, please expect our club meetings and field trips to continue electronically. There does seem to be some hope that by the summer 2021 the Covid-19 vaccination program will be sufficiently widespread that we may begin again to meet in person. I want to assure all members that SRPS continues to pay lease fees for the LBGC in anticipation of our return to face-face meetings.

I want to congratulate the following for advancing up thru our competition process and encourage new members to enter our monthly competitions to improve photographic skills.

BASIC TO INTERMEDIATE: Joel Brown, Pat Carlson, Ronnie Rosenbach

INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED: Steve Gibbs, Guy Miller, Lynda Stuber

ADVANCED TO MASTERS CANDIDATE: Bill Stacy, Michael Funk

MC to MASTERS: Anne Abrams, Nick Allen, Tim Allen, Tamara Krautkramer, Tony Reynes, Steve Ruddy

There were 8-entries from SRPS to the N4C Portfolio competition and my understanding is that N4C will be contacting each of you with submitted portfolios soon on the judge’s evaluation of your work. Our on-line Exhibition thru Smug Mug is going well; thanks for the setup by Tim Allen & Steve Muench. Our Facebook page, overseen by Ronnie Rosenbach has become a common space to post pictures. Tony Reynes’ pre-competition photo review sessions seem to be always full. We have a SRPS YouTube Channel set up by Nick Allen; and Bill Stacy & Tony Reynes post our meetings to the channel for members viewing at their leisure. In summary, SRPS despite the challenges of 2020 continues to grow.

One of my primary goals as president is to help identify what “best practices” we can retain from this temporary period of all communications thru digital means and continue to use productively once the world is more normal. Well to cut this short, I look forward to working to make the club stronger and practicing the art and skill pf photography with all of you in 2021.

“Life is short and precious, so one must make every Shutter Click count!” – unknown photographer.