Edina Art Fair this Weekend

The annual Edina Art Fair is this weekend.  It is held each year on and around 50th and France Avenues in Edina.  It's popularity attracts a wide range of great artists from throughout the United States, including many fine photographers.

The Art Fair runs from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.  For more information go to: EDINA.

Camera Council Judging School

For the past two years the Camera Council has put on a judging school to teach interested club members the fine art of judging club competitions.  The judging school is taught by professional photographer Ron Timm who is currently the president of the Camera Council. As a result of this course member clubs now have a larger pool of talented judges to rely upon for their club competitions.

The response has been tremendous, and each year the class has filled up early.  Space is limited and the course is only offered once per year.  So if you are interested, sign up now so you won't be disappointed and have to wait another year to take this course.

Below is the information about the judging school.  If you are interested please note that the course requires the commitment of all attendees to appear at each class and follow through with the practice judging sessions.  If you are not able to make this commitment, you should not sign up for the course at this time.  If you are able to do so, you can look forward to learning a new skill and improving your own photography.  

Click on Image for a Larger View

Exhibit Openings at the MPC

Two new exhibits are opening at the Minneapolis Photo Center in June.  The first is titled "Up close and personal" that is an international juried competition curated by Andrea Mellard. 

Click on the images below for larger views 

The second is titled "You look at me like an emergency" that features photographs by artist Cig Harvey who will also be present before the opening to sign her book of the same name.

 
The opening reception for of these exhibits is being held on the night of June 22nd at the MPC gallery.  The reception starts at 7:00 pm and runs until 10:00 o'clock, but Ms. Harvey will be present starting at 6:00 pm to sign her book.

For more information, go to: MPC.  To sign up to receive email alerts for upcoming exhibitions so to: exhibits.

The Making of War Horse

Before there was a movie, there was a stage play, "The War Horse". An amazing production, the directors used puppets and light to transmit the story, emotion, and movement. Very much what photographers do, of course. It is showing on Netflix as "The Making of War Horse" and includes a rather interesting discussion of the use of light on a minimalist state. As a photographer, I highly recommend it.

Kirk Tuck, Visual Science Lab: DSLR vs Small Cameras

DSLR vs the Small Camera - "I'd like to make the case that, in order to survive, today's big, hungry and macho DSLRs will evolve by co-opting the best features of their current predators and keeping the goofy and lovable features that marketers think we all want..."

Remember when the discussion was film vs digital? Time marches on....

Craig Blacklock at the Arboretum

Renowned Minnesota photographer Craig Blacklock will be the featured speaker at the Minnesota Arboretum's Photography Symposium 2012: Conservation Through the Lens.  The symposium will be held Saturday June 16th from 9 - 2 p.m.  Craig will give two presentations: a keynote address with time for Q & A's and a technical presentation.

Click on the image below for more information about the symposium, or go to: arboretum. 

You can also visit Craig Blacklock's website at: www.blacklockgallery.com.

The "Other" blog sites for non-Canikon cameras

Visual Science Lab is an excellent blog to add to your reading list - Kirk Tuck is a wonderful photographer and frequently mentions/explores the world outside of Canikon (Canon/Nikon), which is as rich as the highly renowned Canon and Nikon products. Sony, Olympus, Panasonic, Fuji and others are working hard to compete and provide some great products for those not able or uninterested in the high cost of Canon and Nikon. The new Canon 5DM3 has probably replaced the old medium format considering the quality, the size, and the cost. The current digital 'medium' format is probably the new large format due to size, cost and quality. That is amazing and desired by major artists and professionals. But for the rest of us, there are many options that will deliver great images at reasonable cost - the Sony, Olympus/Panasonic M43 and others.

Other good sites to keep up with all aspects of photography are the The Online Photographer, Lenswork (which is now celebrating its 100th issue with some great prices and online information), and Camera-Talk, although we can't begin to list them all. We try and link you up to the best we can find, so don't forget to check our Camera Council blog often.

Good reading and good shooting.....

Plymouth Creek Center Photo Show

Photography as Art is the theme for this photo exhibit. It emphasizes using the computer to change the original images into more creative images. There are over 50 photo images, with a concentration on summer and spring, to view. Photos from the North Shore, Maine and Alaska are imcluded.

Jim and I create our images for others to enjoy. Please come and view.

Plymouth Creek Center Lobby
14800 34th Ave North
Open M-F 8 am to 4:00 pm sometimes later. 
763.509.5280 for other opening hours and week-ends...call before coming to see if the desk is covered.

- Jim and Sally Strand

Camera Lens Testing

Lens Condition? Bob Atkins has an interesting blog on how to evaluate how a lens is working and its current value/quality. This is great information to have in your intellectual kit and will be of service when you buy new or used. Personally, I have made some great buys in the refurb/used market, but it really helps to know what you are getting into by having a great knowledge file to draw upon.

Note the blog history on the left side of the article for even more good information.

A prototype Leica sells for millions$$

A prototype Leica camera has sold for 2.16m euros (£1.74m), setting a new world record for a camera.

It was one of just 25 models created in 1923 as a prototype for the groundbreaking Leica A, which was the first commercially successful compact camera to use 35mm film.

Branded the "null-serie", or 0-Series, only 12 are known to have survived. - BBC

Ok, I should have started collecting those things long, long ago. What was I thinking!

Mike Moats - hey mon no problem

People are always freaked out when I tell them I shoot only Jpeg. I tell them... - well click on the link and find out.

Leica M Monochrom

A true black-and-white version of the M9 rangefinder - a true black and white camera? Do you care or are you excited?

Weekend Photography & Encaustic Workshop

Update: Clare has an unexpected opening - come and join us!


Weekend Photography Encaustic Workshop
May 18 ñ May 20, 2012 

Take your photographs to new dimensions and creative possibilities by learning the techniques of working with encaustic (en kaw stick) and photography. This alternative photographic process uses the mixed media of hot wax and pigments to enhance your images. 

We will explore adding images at different stages, at the beginning or during the process of adding layers of wax. This course will cover paper use and selection, mounting techniques and materials, encaustic pouring and painting techniques,  glazing, scraping, image transfers, stenciling, imbedding objects, and adding texture and color to the encaustic process.

Instructor: Clare OíNeill (www.clareoneill.com)
Friday May 18, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Saturday May 19, 10am - 5pm
Sunday May 20, 10am -5pm 

Cost: $285 (includes $35 material fee) Class Size: Limited to 4 

Studio: 711 Lake Street, Minneapolis Call 651 312 0113 to register

I have seen John Olson's images using this process and it was very interesting. I can recommend the process and the teacher - barb smith

A Day in the LIfe of the World

A project by a Swedish based humanitarian organization seeks to document a day in the life of the world by having professional and amateur photographers everywhere in it submit photos taken on May 15, 2012.  The idea sprung from the success of the organizations first project aptly titled "A day in the life of Sweden".

It is not a new concept as many other projects have done similar events.  Organizers claim what sets this one apart is the photos selected will be based upon representation - the ones that create the best snapshot of what life was like for us during this period of our history.

If you want to participate, go to WWW.ADAY.ORG for more information.  You can register for free.  They are looking for images in three categories: home, work and connections.  You can upload up to 10 images between May 15-22 for consideration.
 

Kaleidoscope

Now for something completely different: a Kaleidoscope.  Click on the link to create your own kaleidoscope.

Hunt's Digital Specials this weekend

Hunt's Photo is a longtime support of the Camera Council of the Twin Cities and they are offering a special this weekend that they would like to share with us:
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Amazing  Low Adobe Specials!!!

Adobe Elements 10: 1 day sale $89.95 Saturday Only(less $45 Adobe Bill Back) Final price $44.95

Adobe Lightroom 4 Full  $127.99 (less $22 Bill Back) Final Price $105.99

Contact Keith Patankar at 781.462.2340

Email: Patankar@wbhunt.com

What happens in Vegas should stay in Vegas

There are people living in 200 miles of a flood tunnel beneath the glamorous Las Vegas Strip. They are mostly criminals, drug addicts, and the homeless. These living conditions are deplorable with all the rats and filth. However, many of them have brought all of their belongings to the rooms that they have created in the tunnel.

Check out the images of this "lifestyle" below by Austin Hargrave:

 

How to make a watermark

For those of you who have wondered how to make a watermark to protect the rights to your photos online there is a good, yet easy tutorial that will show you how it is done. 

Just go to: watermark.

Pinterest

Pinterest is a website that has recently gained attention as one of the fastest growing sites out there.  It primarily is a social photo sharing site that allows users to create theme-based image collections in any categories they choose.  It's a public Pinboard that lets users put anything they want on public display. 

It's an engaging site to visit and it is tempting to create a category and post personal images for viewing.  But before you do be aware of the terms of service.  There have been recent discussions online between photographers about the terms of service you agree to when posting on Pinterest that you should consider before posting any images.

Essentially you agree that anything you post is yours and you own the copyright to it. (so far so good).  Except that Pinterest lets you post anything you want including others images.  If you do, you agree to indemnify Pinterst in it and you are later sued for violating a copyright. (Not too bad if you only post your own content).  However, in making a post you grant Pinterest, and any other member, the right to use your content however they see fit. (Not good at all). 

This is a brief synopsis of what you can expect when posting to Pinterest.  If you do decide to post anything, make sure you check the terms of service beforehand to fully understand what you are agreeing to.   

Amazing Landscape Photos

There is a website that posted what it termed "25 epic photographs of breathtaking landscapes."  Included were places like the Gran Canyon, the Matterhorn, Venice and Iceland among other locations.  The photos do live up to the billing the are epic, or at the very least amazing.

To view them all in high rez go to: EPIC.

Making complex selections in Photoshop

I came across a great how-to article on making difficult selections in Photoshop.  It describes how to efficiently and effectively make selections of things like hair using the Refine Mask dialogue box in Photoshop.

Check out this short, but informational tutorial here: Selections.