By Ellen Bedrosian
Did you ever wonder why light is so crucial to photography? Besides the obvious element of exposure (for which our images are often criticized for being over- or underexposed) light, I believe, expresses each photographer’s personal vision. For me, capturing the light from a sun ball while shooting underwater is absolute bliss. I’m connecting two of Earth’s essential ingredients for sustaining life: Light and water.
Bali Bait Ball
By Ellen Bedrosian
When I got my first iPhone in 2010, iPhone photography was already in its pre-school stage. Apps and accessories were readily available, and Tony Sweet had recorded an instructional video, Getting Started in iPhone Photography.
Hanging me out to dry — iPhone 3Gs with Pic Grunger
By Ellen Bedrosian
If you’re in need of some creative inspiration, want to learn some new photography or post-processing techniques, or are interested in learning about photographic opportunities beyond your own backyard, photography blogs are wonderful resources.
One of my absolute favorite photographers is Denise Ippolito. She always surprises me with unique and innovative fine art images. Yet, she is also an accomplished nature photographer as well. She is willing to share her secrets on Facebook and seems like she would be a fantastic workshop leader who offers a wide variety of creative adventures.
Denise Ippolito’s fine art images
By Ellen Bedrosian
National Volunteer Week is from April 6-12 this year. Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week celebrates all who donate their time, expertise and passion into making their communities a better place in which to live. From EMTs and firefighters to animal shelter dog walkers and photographers (yes, even us) we all having something to offer for the causes or places that we care about.
Not too long ago, TCC members volunteered to photograph river clean-ups organzied by Hackensack Riverkeeper so that that they could illustrate their publicity campaigns. Many images on their website and in print were used to entice new volunteers to help with the river clean-ups.
Hackensack Riverkeeper volunteer with his his canoe.
If you’d really like to make a difference by volunteering your time to a hobby you care deeply about, like photography, why not consider becoming a volunteer for Teaneck Camera Club? We’re always looking for fresh ideas and helping hands for projects and events. We are in special need of a computer-savvy member to help with the digital competitions. Contact President, Rachel Katic or Digital Competition Chair, Laura Downs-Buma.
By Ellen Bedrosian
While showing images of waterfalls in Iceland during his landscape photography program a few weeks ago, Nick Palmieri said something that stuck with me. While comparing two different views of the same scene, his favorite was the unconventional interpretation. “I have this one hanging in my office, but it didn’t score well in competition,” he said. One of the more traditional views did score well, however. To see Nick’s images, visit his Waterfalls of Iceland gallery.
He also said that he wouldn’t enter in competition some images that he has the most emotional connection to because he knows they wouldn’t score well. It did get me thinking about the purpose of competitions. Is it to win, or is it to display our artistic visions? Sometimes serendipity strikes the Rodda Center on a Tuesday evening. Artisitic vision lines up with the judge’s determination of what constitutes an excellent image, and voila! Our image scores a 9, like this image of mine from Eastern State Penitentiary.
By Ellen Bedrosian
With the polar vortex blanketing the region, a lot of us have been sticking to indoor photography. There are all kinds of possibilities for warm weather wussies — flowers, fruit and other still life subjects — but for those of us lucky enough to share our lives with some cuddly companions, pet photography offers a tremendous challenge to hone our photography skills.
The January 26, 2014 New York Times Magazine online features a video of Walter Chandoha, Lessons from a Master Cat Photographer, explaining how he captures such compelling images of cats and dogs. Not surprisingly, his first piece of advice: Get eye level with the subject.
My kitten, Cheech, resting on my desk.
By Ellen Bedrosian
Photographs of food are everywhere. From Instagram lunches to Facebook feasts, social media has made sharing photos of Thanksgiving dinner at granny’s or an elegant appetizer at Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare ubiquitous. When I was in Thailand, one breakfast featured the exotic dragon fruit. I was so taken by its beauty, that I couldn’t resist snapping a few photos of it with my point & shoot before digging in. After many attempts with different exposures and angles, I managed to capture one half-way decent shot before totally alienating my dining companions.
Dragon fruit and a sweet bun for breakfast
Long-time TCC member and Salon photographer, Jeff Norton, will have four images on display among 105 photographs at the NYC Sierra Club Photography Committee’s exhibit, Encounters with Nature. Encounters with Nature will be open to the public from December 3 through December 27 at the Calumet Galley, 2nd floor, inside the Calumet Photographic store at 22 West 22 Street (Between 5th and 6th Avenues), NY.
May 14, 1952 – Oct. 24, 2013
Teaneck Camera Club recently lost one of its most talented photographers, Robert Paul Jagendorf. Bob was an extremely generous soul who freely offered advice about cameras, photography and any other topic in which he was well-versed.
By Ellen Bedrosian
When the email from Olympus hit my inbox with the above title, it was one of the few times I didn’t click it into the trash without reading it. I think it’s safe to say that for most photographers, autumn is the favorite season for shooting. For photographers inexperienced (or unsatisfied) at capturing this miraculous phenomenon of nature, Olympus offers some excellent tips on exposure and post-processing.
The leaves are turning every day, so it’s important to keep track of where the fall foliage is optimum. One good website is The Weather Channel where you can enter any zip code you want to see what’s happening and plan your travel.
