by Jon Fishback - Oklahoma Camera Club

Oklahoma Camera
Club, Inc
.
Founded 1931
Special points of interest:
How
to
Critique
someone’s picture we need help!
GSCCC
being
Volume 67, Issue 8
February 2011
The Pain and Pleasure of Critical
Analysis
by Jon Fishback
planned for OKC,
you’re planning on
being there, right?
OCC sweeps all five
pictorial print divisions - Wow!!!
Inside this Issue:
The Pain and Pleasure of Critical
Analysis by Jon
Fishback
1, 3,
4
Meetings, Workshop Schedule,
Announcements &
Visitors
2
Competition Images 4-9
Photo Ops
9
GSCCC Convention 10
Scores of “15”
10
Competition Results 1113
Annual Club Certifi- 14
cate for Club with
Highest Points
One of the most difficult moments in the life
of any photographer is hearing an analysis of
his/her work. The few minutes leading up to
the analysis may seem like an eternity. The
event itself may feel like watching your firstborn perform in her first Christmas pageant.
This feeling is difficult to shake and may be
around for years for those who continue to
exhibit. I call this Analysis-Paralysis, AP for
those of you who love acronyms.
One of the most critical elements in reducing
this anxiety is the proper analysis by whoever
is doing it. Properly done, the analysis can
reduce the stress of the moment, and go a
long way toward making future events much
easier for the maker.
New members of camera clubs, PSA, or any
group, whose aim is viewing graphic art, may
be especially vulnerable to AP. If part of the
group‟s goal is to keep new members and
make them old members, AP may need to be
addressed at every level.
Analysis is much more complicated than just
saying something nice about a photograph
and then explaining how it could have been
made better. This has been the popular belief in clubs for years. Persons who are successful in exhibiting are many times ill prepared to conduct analysis. Knowing how an
Jan Lee PPSA awards Dennis Corbin
PPSA his PSA recognition for the third
highest accumulated number of acceptances for all US residents and 4th for the
Whole World
Congratulations Dennis
image can be made better through experience
is only part of the skill needed in proper analysis. Saying something nice about the image
may do more harm than good.
Kind words regarding a photograph may seem
condescending if they have no substance. Simply saying that the subject is pretty, is saying
something about the photograph over which
the photographer may have little control, and
is probably obvious to everyone. Comments
pro or con must have substance. Most makers will recognize superficial comments and
Analysis-Paralysis may set-in.
Cont’d Page 3 . . .
Page 2 of 14
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Oklahoma Camera Schedule
Club Meetings
Inc. February 8, 2011: CANCELLED
Competition: Assigned Competition , IdentifiMeetings: 7:30 pm able Oklahoma: Prints - Monochrome A & B,
2nd and 4th Tuesdays Color A & B, Nature & PJ. Moved to Feb. 22
50th and N. May Ave.
Central Presbyterian Judges: Debbie Devonshire, Randy
Church Carr, Ward Conaway Will judge prints at
next meeting.
For club information Program: TBA
Contact
wallylee2@cox.net Refreshments: The McCreary’s
405.751.8179 February 22, 2011:
Competition: Assigned Competition, Identifiable Oklahoma: Projected Images - Open
A&B, Creative, Monochrome, Nature & PJ.
Judges: Dennis Corbin, Lorraine Caddy,
TBA
Program: TBA
Refreshments: Jim McIntosh
Workshops
Board of Directors
President Tom McCreary
PPSA
1st VP
2nd VP
Derrell Dover
Lee Donlon
1yr. Dir.
Charles Taylor
APSA
1yr. Dir.
Jim McIntosh
2yr. Dir.
Randy Carr
2yr. Dir.
Jaci Finch
APSA
Treasure
Brad Smith
Secretary
Wally Lee
Announcements
More Stars: Tom McCreary PPSA,
earned his 1st and 2nd stars in CPID, and
Debbie Devonshire earned her 1st, 2nd
and 3rd stars in CPID. Way to go, keep it
up!!!
Visitors:
(1/25/11) - Jim Worthington
jbpaw@aol.com from OKC visited us and I
recognized Jim from having worked at Kerr
McGee, nice surprise. Jim learned of us on
the WEB and has an interest in photographing landscapes and buildings. Welcome Jim,
please come back again. Joel & Susan
Lane jandslare@cox.net also from OKC
visited us having met the club at the Zoo.
Joel and Susan have wide variety of photographic interests - I believe we fit right in.
Welcome Joel and Susan, please come back.
GSCCC
Convention Committee
Meeting Feb.26th, 2:00 pm at Tom and
Carol McCreary, 425 SW 53rd, 634-
Photography 101 Workshop: Photography 101
Workshop will meet at my house, 6309 N.
Harmon Dr., 10 AM Saturday, February 19,
2011. We will discuss camera features. What
does that thing-a-ma-jig do? Bring your camera
and manual. Ed Lamb at 721-4714.
Board Meeting
“Selection in Photoshop or Elements” .... bring a
photo that you have used selection in to move or
be moved to another photo. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Carol and
Tom McCreary’s, 425 SW 53rd, 634-1817.
Assigned Competition
The Board will meet
on Tuesday, February 15, at the home of
Tom and Carol McCreary, 425 SW 53rd,
at 7:30 pm. If there is any interest, we will
Photoshop/Elements Workshop:
The next meet at 6:00 for dinner at Chili‟s, I 240 and
meeting will be February 25th, 7:30 pm, at Tom South Walker. Please let Tom know at
and Carol McCreary’s, the subject is
tcmccreary@cox.net..
Beginning Imaging Workshop: Wednesday,
February 9 at 7:30 pm at our house, Jan and
Wally Lee’s, at 14045 Osage Drive, Edmond, 751–8179. Bring any pictures you
want to discuss or play with in Elements,
we'll discuss sizing images if anyone needs
help and any questions anyone may have.
February
meetings will have assigned competition,
all divisions. The subject is “Identifiable
Oklahoma” (or home state for members
living out of state). Since this assignment
was made early last year, any images taken
after January 1, 2010 are eligible. This is an
exception to the rule that images need to
have been during the current club year.
Page 3 of 14
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The Pain and Pleasure of . . .
“I really like this photograph” may make
you feel good; however it does not help the
maker unless you can articulate why.
Club Dues
Individual $30
Family or Joint $40
(other rates available as
well as partial for less
than year)
Make Checks Payable To
Oklahoma Camera Club
Mail To
Club Treasurer
Brad Smith
1008 NW 18th,
Oklahoma City, OK
73106-6417
Contact
bradsmith5@cox.net
Many times the person doing the analysis
leaves out the most obvious. After all is
said and done regarding rules and regulations about composition, lighting, and impact, how does the photograph make you
feel? Sometimes the photograph will evoke
a certain feeling and step beyond the rules.
This gives the analyst another positive tool
to set up the help the maker needs.
Often, when confronted with a photograph
that has a myriad of obvious flaws, the
knowledgeable photographer as analyst may
be so anxious to help he or she may not
even be able to see the positive aspects of
the image. A type of tunnel vision sets in
and the positive comments are rushed and
many times shallow. It takes patience and
understanding to ignore what needs to be
done and comment intelligently on what
was done properly.
Many times it is not what is said that is
painful, but the way it is said. Positive comments regarding a photograph have no business in the same paragraph or breath with
assistance in what can be done better. An
example might be: “The foreground is well
handled, however is slightly out of focus.”
The maker may only hear the out of focus
part, and worse than that hasn‟t a clue as to
how the foreground was well handled. A
better approach is to discuss the foreground in a substantive manner. “To me,
the foreground is well handled. Notice
how the dark band of the foreground steps
your eye into the lighter middle ground and
then to the darker background. This layer-
Cont’d from page 1 . . .
ing of hues, in my opinion, adds dimension
and impact to the image.”
Notice also the use of the personal terms
TO ME, IN MY OPINION. These terms
anchor the analysis to the analyst‟s personal
opinion, which, after all, is what it is.
Never use the connecting words, „however‟
or „but‟ or any word that ostensible “drops
the other shoe.” This technique doesn‟t
work; the receiver may only retain the
negative comment.
After finishing with what was done properly, a short pause may allow the maker to
relax and even reflect on the fact that this
process is not so bad after all. When writing the analysis always separate the good
from the help area by placing them in separate paragraphs. The tendency may be to
re-address previous positive comments, to
emphasize the help part. Do not do this.
The positive reinforcement has been done
and can only be degraded by further comment. Make the help comments as succinct
as possible and above all make them pertinent
In the previous example one might say,
“The foreground appears to be slightly out
of focus to me. I think a sharper foreground
may have given this photograph a bit more
impact.” Then stop, and go on to any
other help that can be rendered. Never
belabor an obvious flaw, saying it two different ways is redundant at best and only
adds to the makers AP.
One of the most difficult things in analysis is
the need, many times, to completely alter
the way one speaks or writes. The use of
definite terms such as „always‟, Cont’d Page 4 . . .
Page 4 of 14
HypoCheck
The Pain and Pleasure of . . .
“Analysis is
not designed
to find something wrong. It
is designed to
see something
„never‟, „must‟, „should‟, are usually not the
best words to use to analyze photography.
Substituting softer terms such as „may‟,
„might‟ or „consider‟, may go a long way toward making AP easier to handle, and leave
the analyst room to be wrong.
Analysis is not designed to find something
wrong. It is designed to see something right,
and then see things that may be improved
upon. Analysis is not designed to correct
what is wrong, but to suggest what may be
done to improve in the future. The maker
may be
must always be left with the impression
that the improvement is their choice.
New members of PSA are taking advantage
of an analysis service designed just for
them. Along with many additional services
for new members this analysis service is
provided on the PSA new member web
page, http://www.psa-newmember.org/J
Jon Fishback
Director
(PSA) New Member Pictorial Image Analysis
Email: JPF1@aol.com
right, and then
see things that
Cont’d from page 3 . . .
January Competition
Cont’d next page . . .
improved upon.
“. . . The maker
must always be
left with the
impression that
the improvement is their
Another Time, Another Place
Charles Taylor, APSA
Costal Ship Vignetted
Carol McCreary APSA, PPSA
choice. “
~ Jon
Fishback
Hoof and Mouth Rhino
Tom McCreary PPSA
Celebrating the Goal
Jack Melton
Page 5 of 14
HypoCheck
January Competition
Cont’d next page . . .
Nature will bear
the closest
inspection. She
Sand Carver at Work
Carol McCreary APSA
Backyard Gazebo
Jack Melton
Out of Frame Photographer
Carol McCreary APSA PPSA
Agony in the Dirt
Carol McCreary APSA, PPSA
Red Surf Boards
Tom McCreary PPSA
Spiderman
Randy Carr
invites us to lay
our eye level with
her smallest leaf,
and take an
insect view of its
plain.
~ Henry David
Thoreau
Page 6 of 14
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January Competition
Cont’d next page . . .
We are
always looking
for more
Taosino
Charles Taylor APSA
“Hey _ Mon”
Randy Carr
Snug at Home
Jan Lee PPSA
articles or
ideas to
share.
Please send
them our
Zion Nat’l Park
Jerry Duncan
Yellow Soccer Kicker with Eyes Closed
Carol McCreary APSA, PPSA
way!!!
dmfinch@cox..
net
Taos Church Grain
Carol McCreary APSA
Elder Wisdom
Charles Taylor APSA
Flamingo Portrait
Tom McCreary PPSA
Page 7 of 14
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January Competition
Cont’d next page . . .
There is one
spectacle
grander than
After the Last Flight
Jan Lee PPSA
Wine Press
Carol McCreary APSA
King of Beasts Poster Edges
Brad Smith
the sea, that is
the sky; there
is one
spectacle
grander than
the sky, that is
the interior of
the soul.
Bikers’ Flare
Debbie Devonshire
Old Mementos
Carol McCreary APSA
Size Matters in Basketball
Jack Milner
~ Victor
Safe!
Jan Lee PPSA
On the Move
Robert Green
Page 8 of 14
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January Competition
When gifts
Yellowstone in the Winter
Robert Green
Cont’d next page . . .
Three Towers
Jan Lee PPSA
are given to me
through my
camera, I
accept them
graciously.
~ Minor
White
Behind the Bloom
Jan Lee PPSA
Flames of a 57’
Brad Smith
Door’s on the Latch
Aloma Anderson
Tiger Stare
Ward Conaway
Page 9 of 14
HypoCheck
January Competition
Our first
teacher is our
You Lookin’ at Me?
Robert Green
Home from the Sea
Aloma Anderson
own heart.
~ Cheyenne
Proverb
Egret with Stick
Wally Lee PPSA
Photo Ops:
Skinn’n
John Key
By: Lee Donlon
Feb 5 Ponca City Fly-in, Regional Airport, Ponca City, Go early enough for breakfast.
Feb 5, 6, Heart of America International Finals Youth Rodeo, Expo Center,
Shawnee, Includes activities from Bull Riding to Goat Tying. 405/447-3623
Feb 5, 19, Eagle Watch, Lake Thunderbird State Park, Norman - Eagle lovers gather
at the nature center and caravan by car to designated spots aground the park. 405/321-4633.
Feb 11-13, OK Horse Fair, Duncan. Trial and ranch horse show. 405/226-0630
Jan 18,19, USS Batfish (submarine) Living History Display, Muskogee
Feb 18-20, Battle of Round Mountain Reenactment, Jim Thorpe Park, Yale - Firing
cannons and smoking guns puncture the air in this Civil War-era winter encampment, created by
the townspeople where Union and Confederate soldiers square off.
Mar 2-6 OKC International Auto Show, State Fair Park, OKC
Mar 4-6 Timed Event Championship (rodeo), Lazy E Arena, Guthrie
Mar 5 Mardi Gras Parade, downtown Norman
Page 10 of 14
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Announcements
The Gulf States Camera Club
Gulf States
Council Convention
Convention in
here in “Oklahoma City” mark your calendars!!!
OKC
April 14 - 16
2011
“Sores of 15”
Randy Carr, “Hey_Mon”
Monochrome Pictorial Prints,
Class A.
Carol McCreary APSA,
PPSA, Sand Carver at Work,
Color Prints, Class A.
Tom McCreary PPSA,
Flamingo Portrait, Nature Prints.
Congratulations Guys - Well Done!!!
Page 11 of 14
HypoCheck
Competition Results - Prints
January 11, 2011
Name
Entry No. 1
Color Prints - Class A Ward Conaway
Randy
Carr
Indian Air
Place
Entry No. 2
Mabry Mill, Virginia
2
2
THOR
Fall, Linville River
Place
HM
2
Charles
Taylor
Elder Wisdom
2
Lily After Rain
HM
Carol
McCreary
Sand Carver at Work
1
Taos Cross
3
Tom
McCreary
Cemetery at Christmas
—
Red Surf Boards
3
Jack
Melton
Dream Boat
HM
Grand Lake Sunset
—
Color Prints - Class B
Vickie
Jenkins
Beautiful Butterfly
2
Fenced in Fun
2
Jerry
Duncan
Zion National Park - Utah
1
No Entry
—
Monochrome - Class A
Jack
Melton
Bench on the Beach
—
Backyard Gazebo
2
Carol
McCreary
Out of the Frame Photographer
3
Coastal Ship Vignetted
HM
Charles
Taylor
Another Time, Another Place
3
Taosino
2
Randy
Carr
Fight Time
HM
Hay Mon
1
Jenkins
Union Station, Kansas City, MO
1
Grandma‟s House
2
Jack
Melton
Red Head
—
Nature Re-Grows Nature‟s Fire
—
Jaci
Finch
Lion in Shade
3
African Warthog
3
Tom
McCreary
Flamingo Portrait
1
Hoof & Mouth Rhino
2
Vickie
Jenkins
Nature‟s Multi-Colored Beauty
HM
Bug - Off
—
Monochrome - Class B
Vickie
Nature
Photojournalism
Vickie
Jenkins
Just Me and the Fish
HM Just Chilin‟ in Bricktown
HM
Jack
Melton
Celebration of the Score
3
Rub My Tummy
HM
Carol
McCreary
Yellow Soccer Kicker with Eyes
Closed
3
Agony in the Dirt
1
Randy
Carr
Spiderman
1
Cat Walk
2
Page 12 of 14
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Competition Results - Digital
January 25, 2011
Continued Page 14
Name
Entry No. 1
Place
Entry No. 2
Place
Monochrome
John
Key
Old Old Cabin
3
Soo Line Steam Engine 2
2
Carol
McCreary
Shannon‟s Eye Contact
HM
Mission with Light Ray
2
Bob
Green
Winter Bison
3
Ghost Tree
HM
Jan
Lee
Three Towers
1
Snug at Home
1
Aloma
Anderson
All Eyes
2
Old Porch Rocker
2
Vickie
Jenkins
Cute, Clueless and Carefree
HM
Waiting on Parole
—
Jack
Melton
Cute Little Bird
2
Eyes of the Predator
3
Wally
Lee
Hot Springs Scenic #2 Mono
2
PInnacle-Col Nat Monu-Mono
HM
Debbie
Devonshire
Forest Ceiling
HM
Wanting Out
3
Vickie
Jenkins
The Colors of Fun (2)
3
Adorned Horse
HM
Carol
McCreary
Amanda Sketch
2
Leah Dancing
2
Brad
Smith
King of Beasts Poster Edges
1
King of Beasts Glowing Edges
—
Jack
Melton
Dreams of a Pony
3
Flames of a “572
2
Jan
Lee
Behind the Bloom #2
1
Early Fall in the Smokys
2
Debbie
Devonshire
Biker‟s Flare
1
Hyena
2
Creative
Beginning Color
John
Key
Floridians
HM
Red Eye Reef
2
Vickie
Jenkins
Eli
3
Pops
2
Bob
Green
Procession of Pronghorns
3
Yellowstone in Winter
1
Ward
Conaway
Wolf #1
3
Tiger Stare
2
We‟re on the web!
www.Oklahomacameraclub.com
HypoCheck
Page 13 of 14
Competition Results - Digital
January 25, 2011
Name
Entry No. 1
Place
Entry No. 2
Place
Advanced Color
Wally
Lee
Chilhuly Onions in the Park
3
Water Lily Opening
3
Brad
Smith
Azalea 4729
HM
Shady Hook Overlook
3
Aloma
Anderson
Door‟s on the Latch
2
Home from the Sea
3
Jack
Melton
Grand Disney
2
Little Purple House
2
Debbie
Devonshire
Sibling Affection
—
Baboon Togetherness
HM
Carol
McCreary
Wine Press
1
Old Mementos
1
Jan
Lee
After the Last Flight
1
Bumble Bee on Comfrey Blooms
3
Ward
Conaway
Sleeping Alligator
2
Red Panda
—
Vickie
Jenkins
Deadwood
HM
The Tree Stands Alone
HM
Jan
Lee
View from Potash Road
2
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
2
Brad
Smith
Saddleback Portrait 0122
HM
Young Gorilla Sitting
HM
Jack
Melton
Three-leaf Clover on My Head
3
Wild Turkey
HM
Bob
Green
On the Move
1
You Lookin‟ at Me
2
John
Key
Srooms
—
Timber Wolf 2
HM
Debbie
Devonshire
Red Panda in Tree
—
Sibling Rivalry
3
Wally
Lee
Egret with Stick
2
Taking a Snooze #2
—
Nature
Photojournalism
Vickie
Jenkins
All that Jazz in Kansas City, MO
—
Charlie Brown‟s Christmas
—
Carol
McCreary
All Eyes on the Volleyball
2
Runner and Tongue Action
HM
Debbie
Devonshire
Skateboarder in the Air
HM
Passing Through
2
John
Key
Chow‟n Down
3
Skinn‟n
2
Jan
Lee
Mountain Men Manicure
HM
Safe!
1
Jack
Melton
Size Matters in Basketball
1
Cross Country
3
Page 14 of 14
HypoCheck
Photographic Society of America
Pictorial Print Division
Editors
Doug Finch APSA
Jaci Finch APSA
dmfinch@cox.net
INTERNATIONAL CLUB PRINT COMPETITIION
Annual Club Certificate of
Award for
Highest Points
Presented To
Annual Club Certificate of
Award for
Highest Points
Presented To
The Oklahoma Camera Club
315 points
Large Color, Class “LC”
The Oklahoma Camera Club
297 points
Small Color, Class “SC”
2009-2010
2009-2010
Annual Club Certificate of
Award for
Highest Points
Presented To
Annual Club Certificate of
Award for
Highest Points
Presented To
The Oklahoma Camera Club
The Oklahoma Camera Club
304 points
308 points
Large Monochrome, Class “LM” Small Monochrome, Class “LM”
2009-2010
Annual Club Certificate of
Award for
Highest Points
Presented To
The Oklahoma Camera Club
306 points
Creative Altered Reality,
Class “CAR”
2009-2010
2009-2010
The Oklahoma Camera
Club Excels!!!
First Place in All Five
Pictorial Print Divisions
Photographic Society of
America
International Club Print
Competition
Wow - Well Done!!!