Being Original

If you are not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original. – Sir Ken Robinson

Just something to think about.

Hunt's Equipment Specials

Here is another periodic update from Hunt's detailing their current specials on cameras, lenses and other related equipment:



Check out all of the subscriber specials at: HUNTS

Gene Schwope to be interviewed on "History Detectives"

SPCC Historian Gene Schwope will be interviewed at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 30th, live on KMSP TV, Channel 9, regarding that evening's "History Detectives" show, which will feature former St. Paul Camera Club member Marion Carpenter.

From the Photographic Society of America Website:
PSA News
Summer 2011

=======================================================================================

August 2011



"HISTORY DETECTIVES" TO FEATURE ....

On Tuesday, August 30, 2011, PSA-member St. Paul Camera Club (SPCC), Minnesota's oldest photography organization, will receive national publicity on a segment of the “History Detectives” TV program on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). The “History Detectives” airs at 7:00 PM in most locations, but checking local listings is recommended.   

Each hour-long episode of “History Detectives” features three investigations that delve into family legends, local folklore, and the stories behind potentially extraordinary objects in everyday American homes, cities, and small towns.

The first segment of the August 30 program features a battered camera said to be originally owned by former St. Paul Camera Club member Marion A. Carpenter. Marion belonged to the club in 1942-43, and again in the 1950’s. Marion was photojournalism's pioneering woman who became the first female member of the White House Press Photographers Association and White House Press Corp. She was the only female press photographer to travel with President Harry S. Truman on a daily basis and she captured images of other notables of the day including Dwight D. Eisenhower and Winston Churchill. After her death in October 2003, a donation from her estate was given to the Saint Paul Camera Club. It was decided that a traveling trophy, named the Marion Carpenter Award, would be given each year to the best Monochrome Photojournalism Print.

 St. Paul Camera Club Historian, Eugene Schwope, FPSA, provided the relevant information during the interviews. Wes Cowan, an independent appraiser and auctioneer, is the host for this program. Did this camera belong to Marion Carpenter? Did she use it to photograph President Truman? History Detectives visits the White House Pressroom and the Washington Post to find answers.

Visit the History Detectives web site and the page about this episode. 

All photos are the property of the St. Paul Camera club.

The Value of your Photographic Work

Here is a link to an interesting article that discusses the value of a photographers work. It briefly discusses the value of an image, and "positioning" your work to add value to it. Although the article is aimed primarily at commercial photographers, it message has applicability to anyone who takes their images seriously.

To read it go to: Editorial Photography.

Vivian Maier, update - new book expected this Fall

As we reported a couple of months ago, Vivian Maier: Street Photographer, the book, is being published by powerHouse and Amazon is now set up for pre-orders. The price is quite reasonable, $24.96 (just under the free shipping price, but, what the heck - order something else just because and get it shipped for free).

RidgePoint Arts and Crafts Fair

To participate by showing and hopefully selling your work, see the following:

I am looking for Arts & Craft vendors for our RidgePointe Arts & Crafts Fair that we will be offering on Saturday October 1, 2011 10:00AM to 2:00PM RidgePointe is an Independent Living Senior Apartment complex with over 268 residents in Minnetonka near the Ridgedale Mall. I am looking specifically for vendors who specialize in Wood products, Holiday Decorations, Hand sewn or made products, Photography & products, Artwork, etc...products that others would consider possible gifts for the holidays or products that are also practical in nature too. This show is FREE and Open to the Public. It will be advertised in our local newspaper, our website, and in the local Senior Community Centers and places of worship. VENDOR REQUIREMENTS: We are asking vendors to set up between 8:30 - 9:30AM Cost is $10 per 6' table and this includes two chairs. Vendors are asked to provide their own cover for their table. Registration Fee: $10/table (limit 2 tables) is due by September 10th, 2011 Checks should be made out to RidgePointe (must talk to Paula before registering!) Snacks will be available for sale 10AM - 2PM in the the Country Store in our Atrium. Lunch will also be for sale from 11AM - 1PM in our Deli in the Atrium. Potential Vendors are asked to contact: Paula Frakes   Resident Service Director at (952) 540-6212  or e-mail: pkfsunshine@yahoo.com if you are interested in displaying at our fair. I look forward to hearing from you and any other potential vendors for our show. I am also looking for a Quilter that would be willing to help provide us with a Quilt for a raffle that my resident council would like to host. It would also be awesome if the Quilter also was one of the vendors at our fair! If you know of anyone that quilts please let me know how to contact them. I really appreciate any and all contact information you can provide me to help make this Arts & Crafts Fair a success! I look forward to hearing from you! Kind Regards, Paula Frakes, M.A. Resident Service Director RidgePointe Senior Apartments 12600 &12800 Marion LN W Minnetonka, MN 55305 Direct: (952) 540-6212 WEB: www.funatridge.com

Photographers Rights

The following was posted online as an explanation of a photographer's rights with the caveat; when in doubt contact a lawyer (preferably one versed in intellectual property law).

1. You can make a photograph of anything and anyone on any
public property,except where a specific law prohibits it.
e.g. streets, sidewalks, town squares,parks, government
buildings open to the public, and public libraries.

2. You may shoot on private property if it is open to the
public, but you are obligated to stop if the owner requests
it.  e.g. malls, retail stores, restaurants, banks, and
office building lobbies.

3. Private property owners can prevent photography ON their
property, but not photography OF their property from a
public location.

4. Anyone can be photographed without consent when they
are in a public place unless there is a reasonable
expectation of privacy. e.g. private homes, restrooms,
dressing rooms, medical facilities, and phone booths.

5. Despite common misconceptions, the following subjects
are almost always permissible: accidents, fire scenes,
criminal activities * children, celebrities, law enforcement
officers * bridges, infrastructure, transportation facilities
residential, commercial, and industrial buildings 

6. Security is rarely an acceptable reason for restricting
photography. Photographing from a public place cannot
infringe on trade secrets, nor is it terrorist activity.

7. Private parties cannot detain you against your will
unless a serious crime was committed in their presence.
Those that do so may be subject to criminal and civil charges.

8. It is a crime for someone to threaten injury, detention,
confiscation, or arrest because you are making photographs.

9. You are not obligated to provide your identity or reason
for photographing unless questioned by a law enforcement
officer and state law requires it.

10. Private parties have no right to confiscate your
equipment without a court order. Even law enforcement
officers must obtain one unless making an arrest. No one
can force you to delete photos you have made.

These are general guidelines regarding the right to make
photos and should not be interpreted as legal advice.
If you need legal help, please contact a lawyer.  

Check out Wikipedia for an in-depth discussion of the rights
of photographers.

River Rats Water Ski Team

Some of us made it down to the mighty Mississippi to watch and photograph the River Rats as they prepared for their Aquatennial shows this July. The shows include trick skiing, pyramids, line skiing and ski jumping. Below are some of the images we took.

You can view a lot more images of the River Rats on their Facebook page. Also, you can view the images that are shot every year by our good friend and professional photographer Larry Grace at: River Rats, or Larry's website on PBASE.




By Mark Karney



By Russ Borud




By Forrest Pearson

The River Rats perform on the Mississippi just North of the Plymouth bridge, and South of the Broadway bridge. You can view all of the action for free from the West side of the river. They will continue to perform through August. To see their upcoming schedule go to: River Rats.

Classes/Workshops at MPC

There are a number of photography related classes on tap for August at the MPC. Click HERE for more information.

Also, the MPC offers a number of workshops with professional photographers. For a listing of these click HERE.

ART

World Famous Panorama Views

There is a website that has posted images of some of the famous landmarks of the world, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Great Wall of China, the Pyramids, Niagara Falls and many others. The exciting feature is that each image is shot as a 360 panorama. So you can click on each famous image and get a full view of the area surrounding it to get the feeling of actually being there to see it in person.

To view these panoramic images go here.