Practical Real Estate Photography - John Bowden

John Bowden has been shooting photos for about 8 years, and uses a Canon 7D. He especially enjoys wildlife and bird photography. John manages residential rental property for a property management company in Durham. He takes all the company's residential rental real estate photos for their website. John will be talking about getting the best interior and exterior photos possible using a tripod, camera and one flash. Among the topics will be avoiding and correcting keystoning, what focal length to use to get the maximum coverage with the least distortion, comparisons of shots using just available light vs. using a flash, avoiding reflections in mirrors and appliances, and correcting color casts in Adobe Camera Raw. He will also show some shots he took in earlier years, and point out how he would do it differently now.

Macro Abstractions – Jamie Davidson

Jamie Konarski Davidson is an award-winning freelance outdoor & nature photographer with a passion for capturing the intimate details of the natural world. Her images are filled with color, artistic design, heart and soul.

  She is currently Summit Program Chair for North American Nature Photography Association (www.nanpa.org) and an active member of Carolinas Nature Photogrophers Association (www.cnpa.org). She has presented programs for numerous camera clubs and served as a judge for PSA competitions. Her work has been exhibited in the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Sertoma Arts Center, the North Carolina Museum of Life & Science and has appeared in Wildlife in North Carolina, North Carolina Literary Review, Impressions magazine and the Breast Cancer Resource Directory of North Carolina.

  Jamie leads one-day and weekend workshops through New Life Photos (www.newlifephotos.com) and also works and teaches classes at ASAP Photo & Camera in Greenville, NC. She loves nature and photography and sharing her passion with others.

Topic: The Macro & Close-Up Experience

It takes more than a macro lens to capture images that resonate with any viewer. Getting close is just the beginning. To create more than the documentary photograph, one needs patience, practice, an open mind and a willingness to see beyond the subject. Connection, exploration and imagination are even greater tools than whatever photographic equipment is available. In this presentation, Jamie will share her images and take you through her process of "seeing" and capturing.

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Cuba: Contrasts, Cultures, Changes - Chris Ogden

Last year, Chris Ogden, a local full-time pro photographer and educator, shared his Antarctica expedition images and Color Management Fundamentals with us. His presentation and teaching drew great reviews. This year we're fortunate to have Chris return, this time to share the first look at his recent humanitarian/photography scouting trip to Cuba.

For the past 50+ years, few Americans have been able to travel in Cuba, the largest island in the Caribbean Sea, just 90 miles South of Key West. Cuba is an amazing land, filled with contradictions of beauty and decay; hope and despair; the hand-of-man and nature; communism, socialism, and capitalism; modern worlds and ancient, living museums!

Come experience Chris' initial photographic Impressions of this amazing land, get an introduction to what Cuba and her people are like today, and learn how you can travel on a photo safari to Cuba right now (with a legal US State Dept. permit)!

Digital Workflow by Ted Salamone

“Maximum Throughput, Minimal Effort”

 Ted Salamone, founder of the Photographer’s Education & Resource Center, Inc., a Raleigh-based photography school, has photographed on six continents over a period of 30 plus years. His subjects and disciplines have included air shows, naval reviews, landscapes, fashion, architecture, portraits, nudes, glamour, performing arts, wildlife, weddings, events, and more. In addition to PERC, Ted operates a local photography studio and also trains amateur and professional photographers through UNC, Wake Tech, The Arts Center in Carrboro and Sertoma Arts Center in Raleigh.

 By developing a Digital Workflow that best suits you, your subject matter, habits and equipment, you will be better prepared for each shoot, enjoy photography more, and achieve BETTER results each time.

 Digital Workflow is the all-encompassing process where a photographer plans a shoot, captures images, transfers images, edits them, adjusts them, stores changes, backs them up and outputs final images. Photographers may have more than one workflow, based upon their objectives and shooting restrictions or complications.

 In his presentation Ted will cover the pre-requisites you need to know before starting to define your workflow, pre-production steps, production steps (the Shoot!) and post-production steps. Emphasis will be helping each attendee determine what THEIR optimal digital workflow should be and how they can achieve it.

 Feel free to ask questions as this session is part presentation, part dialog, and Ted wants everyone to be active participants. 

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Migration from Nature Photography to People Photography – Chris Schonwalder

Chris Walt Schonwalder is a retired biomedical research scientist who administered research grant programs at universities and medical schools worldwide   His interest in photography is based in the underlying order, patterns and rhythms of natural processes as seen by physics, chemistry and biology. “Although science can identify how processes work, formulas and predictive powers do not of themselves express the beauty of natural order.  Aesthetics are not revealed by scientific classification; but a properly composed image reveals both mood and emotion and a connection to human consciousness.”

Human achievement is part of this natural process.   Pursuit of perfection in art, in athletics, in dance, and in the expression of the human form are his current photographic projects. He travels extensively to photograph people and their cultures, sports, and classical and modern dance, and has a small portrait/figure studio at home.

 Chris will show images from recent trips to Cuba and Hawaii and then will present his perspective on photographing dance (he shoots for the Carolina Ballet); horses and wild animals; and big wave surfing.

Southern Utah – Tom Poston

As a young man, Tom Poston was an avid outdoorsman and hiker who sometimes took photographs; now as a cranky, old, retired professor of linguistics and American literature, he is a photographer who sometimes hikes.  His wife notes that he has over the years gotten himself lost in many of our best national parks and wilderness areas.  He is quick to remind everyone that he has always managed to find his way out -- even if it took awhile.  Nowadays he is primarily a landscape and macro photographer.  His subject for his presentation is "Photographing Southern Utah,” in which he will show some of his recent images from Capitol Reef National Park, Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument, and Bryce Canyon National Park.  He will also talk about some of the difficulties of shooting in the harsh environment of the high desert country.  

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Shooting Nature in Springtime - Mike Dunn

Capturing Spring
A photographic exercise with naturalist Mike Dunn
Being aware of the splendor of the seasons, of the natural world, makes us understand man’s critical need for wild places. Living with familiar things and moving in the seasons can fulfill that profound need common to us all: a sense of place.
Jo Northrop
After the long cold quiet of winter, the world slowly starts to waken…the pace soon quickens and change is all around us. Spring has arrived in the Piedmont. What are some of the signals that spring is on the way or that is it is in full swing? And why are scientists interested in this thing called phenology? Join Mike Dunn as he shares tips on what to look for (and where to look for it) as spring pours over the landscape.

Mike lives in Chatham County and has worked as a naturalist and educator for 21 years at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. Before that, he was a naturalist with North Carolina State Parks. It was that job that first introduced him to the natural wonders of our state.  Through it all, photography has played an important role in how he spends his time (and money!). His favorite photography spots include the area around his home in Chatham County, Yellowstone National Park, and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge near Plymouth, NC.
Photography is a tool for helping open people’s eyes to the beauties and mysteries of the world around us. It is an aid to telling the story of the magic that surrounds us and that we are often too busy to see or appreciate. His advice to budding nature photographers is to get a decent lens, get to know your subject, and learn to be patient. Then just get outside and do it. Become a “woods watcher” and you will begin to capture stunning images. Share your passion with others – help them see the magic.
Mike has designed and conducted hundreds of workshops on natural history throughout the state and beyond on subjects ranging from wildlife to wildflowers. He has had articles and photographs published in Wildlife in North Carolina magazine, Carolina Country, 15-501 Magazine, and is a frequent contributor to the Museum’s Naturalist magazine. His images have been displayed in shows at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and the three NC Aquariums. He has taught several courses on nature photography including three years of Pocosin Portraits – Nature Photography in the Land of Swans and Bears for the Pocosin Arts Folk School in Columbia, NC. He is also a judge for the annual NC Wildlife Photography of the Year contest sponsored by the Museum and the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

Photo Challenge - Abstract photos taken as close-ups

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Environmental Portraits (portraits in people's natural settings) - Kim Crenshaw

 Print competition - Nature (Judge will be Mike Dunn)

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Print competition - Environmental Portraits

Judge will be Kim Crenshaw

Tonight’s program theme is Bird Photography and will be presented by Arthur Lehrman and John Stroud. Each presenter will share images, experiences, and practical knowledge for 30-40 minutes apiece.

 John Stroud Bio:

John retired from Sprint in 2001 and stumbled into photography as a hobby in 2005. His first camera was a Fuji S5000 (only 3 meg) point and shoot. New to the hobby, he didn't know the difference between a shutter and aperture, but soon combined photography with a lifelong fascination of hummingbirds. The great joy and peace he discovered in capturing close-up images of hummingbirds triggered a desire to see all of nature through the lens and share those moments with others. In 2006, eager to learn more about the art of photography, he completed a basic photo class at Wake Tech, and joined several camera clubs - Carolina Nature Photography Association, Capital City Camera Club, Wake Forest Camera Club, and North American Nature Photography Association. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has displayed several of John's photographs in the "Best of Wildlife in North Carolina Photos" special exhibit.

While nature photography remains his passion, he has sold portrait, product, real estate, and sports photography as well. Some of his work is exhibited in restaurants, art galleries, and on his website at www.PhotosByJohnStroud.com. Many of his images have also appeared in various books, magazines, newspapers, and websites. John's primary equipment currently includes the Canon XTi, 30D, 40D, 7D camera bodies and an assortment of Canon macro, mid-range, and telephoto IS lenses.

Presentation: Florida Bird Photography – Tips and Tricks.

Bird photography is a challenging endeavor - capturing compelling avian images requires knowledge of bird behavior and habitat, patience, planning, and hours of trial and error. John will describe and demonstrate his equipment, technique, preparation, and experiences (both good and bad!). Images from a recent trip to the rookery in Saint Augustine, Florida will be used to illustrate ways to improve your bird portrait and in-flight photography.

Discussion topics will include:

·        Increasing ‘Keep Rate”

·        Capture birds having fun, not just sitting around

·        Lighting

·        Composition

·        Camera Angle

·        Focus on the eye!

·        Auto-Focus selection

·        Camera settings

·        Background considerations

·        Favorite birding locations

Arthur Lehrman Bio:

Arthur is a retired plastic surgeon from Syracuse, NY, who relocated to Raleigh after retirement.

His surgical career has given him photographic entree into some remote places, including Afghanistan, India and Cameroon, West Africa, where photography provided him with a permanent record of unforgettable experiences. More recently, he’s focused on nature photography, particularly birds, and has traveled with knowledgeable photographers on various workshops led by some of the best nature photographers in the world.

Presentation: Arctic Bird Photography

In August 2010 Arthur spent six days on St. Paul Island in the Pribiloff chain with a group of photographers led by Greg Downing, Naturescapes publisher, and Alan Murphy, master and teacher of bird photography.  If you’ve seen the Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Chanel, you may have seen moments filmed on St. Paul Island, about 400 miles west of Anchorage in the Barents Sea.  It’s a wonderful destination for arctic birds. The experiences and practical knowledge gained while in the Arctic will be shared by Arthur.

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Print competition - Open topic

Judges will be Margo Pinkerton and Arnie Zann.

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Wildlife Photography with Juan Pons

Program -

Want to learn how to take your wildlife photography to the next level? Join wildlife and nature photographer Juan Pons as he shares with you his techniques for making great wildlife images whether you are on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Africa, or hoping to make great wildlife images right in your backyard.

Topics Covered:

• "Making" Pictures
• Improving your Wildlife Photography
• Elements that make great wildlife images
• Pre-Visualization
• Gear
• Tips & Techniques

Bio -

Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Juan is a nature and wildlife photographer, whose passion is photographing our worlds magnificent wildlife and natural features. Juan is a strong supporter of wildlife and natural habitat conservation and is a member of several conservation organizations. Though private individuals purchase photos directly from him, Juan donates his images to non-profit organizations with nature and wildlife preservation missions. Juan never ceases to be amazed by the natural subjects he photographs and hopes that sharing his photographs will inspire others to appreciate and respect natural life.

With a background in computer science, Juan is an expert in digital photography, imaging, and storage systems.

With more than 20 years experience in photography, Juan has most recently embraced the biggest revolution in Digital SLRs, High Definition video. Working with video capable DSLRs since their introduction, Juan had become a recognized expert on maximizing the capabilities of DSLRs when shooting video.

Juan travels extensively capturing nature’s beauty, but also teaching on his own workshops and multitude events thru out the world on many photography topics.

Juan’s work has been featured on numerous publications, including: Sierra Magazine, Nature Conservancy, Audubon Magazine, Audubon North Carolina, Wildlife in North Carolina, The Independent, and many others.

Juan is the co-host, with his friend Rick Sammon, The Digital Photography Experience podcast, a leading audio podcast that covers many photographic topics. Juan also owns Wild Nature Tours, offering instructional photo workshops in Yellowstone and many other locations thru out the US.

Photo Challenge - Plants/Trees

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Planes/Trains/Automobile Photography - Dick Cicone

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Photo Challenge - Doorways/Windows

State Fair - No Meeting

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Secrets of Shuttle Launch photography (and other Florida Birds!)

with Charles Twine

Born in Norfolk,Va. Attended Norfolk College of William and Mary (BS Chem.) Came to Chapel Hill for graduate school (MS,PhD Organic Chemistry) in 1962 and never left. Worked at Research Triangle Institute as a synthetic organic chemist for 35 years. While in graduate school started doing darkroom work with black and white and then Cibachrome printing. Was photographer for the UNC interior decorator and  had work published in Southern Living, Gourmet and Photo Methods magazines. I am member of Carolinas Nature Photography Association, Chapel Hill Camera Club and Durham Photo Club.

This year I was privileged to cover the final two Space Shuttle launches for Jones Media Group.This required both in hand and remote controlled cameras. I will discuss both methods for the launches and also discuss some unique opportunities I was able to photograph. If time permits I will show some of the bird photography available in the Cape Kennedy area.

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Annual photo show at Sertoma Art Center.

Hanging activities from 12:30pm to 3pm.

Annual Dinner/Annual meeting at Raulston Arboretum

6:30 PM

Annual Dinner to be held in our usual meeting room at Raulston. At the meeting we will recognize and give awards to our members who have excelled in our competitions this year; we will sit down for a dinner and conversation; and we will have a business meeting to elect Board Members for 2012 and briefly review our 2011 activities.

The coordinator for the dinner is Melody Rudisill. She can be contacted at (919)414-2235 or e-mail melodyrudisill@bellsouth.net. Please contact her if you plan to attend with what dish you will be bringing along with how many will be attending.

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