RA Photo Club Blog

Club members Tom Schatzky and I visited the Contact Photography Festival in Toronto last week. It is quite a show – 180 mostly free exhibitions plus public lectures, auctions and other events during the month of May – and quite a challenge to choose what to see. Many of the shows are unjuried, with wildly different subjects and uneven quality, but overall I found them more interesting than those we saw on a similar trip last year.
In the 3 days we had, we were able to see about 40 exhibitions and 2 lectures by Magnum
photographers, without rushing around too much. We did not see two marquee exhibitions at the ROM and AGO, and several I would have liked to see – like Berenice Abbott – had not opened yet. If you are going to Toronto or considering a visit in the next few weeks, let us know as we brought back a couple of extra copies of the Catalogue which we would be glad to share. You can also follow Contact on line at: http://scotiabankcontactphoto.com/

The RA Photo Club’s Year End Awards Banquet is coming up
fast! It will be on Tuesday, May 22nd.  Tonight, May 15th, is YOUR LAST CHANCE TO BUY TICKETS.
This is not a buffet, it is a fully served sit down, 10 course Chinese Banquet,
therefore we must give our final numbers to the restaurant a week ahead. You must
have bought a ticket to attend.
Year End and Awards Banquet
May 22, 2012
Mandarin Ogilvie Restaurant
1137 Ogilvie Road
Cash bar 6:30, dinner 7:00
Tickets at $25 can be purchased from the Social Committee at every Tuesday night
meeting until May 15th. Extra tickets for friends may be purchased at the same price.
This will be a fun evening in which we will be celebrating the accomplishments
(photographic and otherwise) of a number of the members of our club.
Please plan to attend. This is a great way to get together with your friends and applaud
all of our achievements during the past year.

Portraits at Sunset
Last Saturday evening an intrepid group of about 20 RA photographers gathered at Brittania Beach to take portraits at sunset. Led by Howard Sandler and Mike McKay, and with the help of three gorgeous models, we proceeded to take photos in every declining light. Our workshop leaders did a great job in providing useful advice with lighting suggestions and we (I) learned a lot about shooting in low light conditions. Thanks to Howard and Mike and our great (though often chilly) models, Angelika, Megan and
Selina.

The Feedback group meets on the second Wednesday of each month Sept – May, and all RA Photo Club members are welcome to attend. Our final meeting of the club year will be on Wednesday, May 9, at 19:30 in Bytown A (on the second floor of the RA building)
All participants are invited to bring their work for comment within this informal group. The goal is to help each other develop an eye for what makes a compelling image. Feedback is always given in a sensitive and supportive manner, and provides an excellent opportunity for learning how others view your work. Bring in up to 6 of your images in digital format on a CD or USB memory stick. The files should be full sized to allow for cropping and adjustments. In case there are too many entries to go through in the
evening, please number your images so that the group has a chance to comment on the ones that are most important to you. The files should be named “1-yourname.jpg”, “2-yourname.jpg”, etc.
Please bring your images starting at 19:00 so that we can get them loaded up in advance of the meeting at 19:30.

http://www.raphotoclub.ca/smf/index.php?topic=2879.0

Here is your chance to vote for next year’s competion topics. You may choose up to 3 topics. Voting closes on May 11, 2012 at (I’m not making this up) 08:39:42 pm.
Your choices are: Architecture, Shadows, Seasons, Mood, Winter Wonderland, Street Photography, Nostalgia, Abstracts, Solitude, Natural Abstracts, Negative Space, Boundaries, Fog Haze & Smoke, Fire, People and Pets, Columns and Arches, Fear, Man and Waer, Love. Go to the website above and vote or don’t complain next year .

In this outdoor workshop participants will acquire techniques for balancing ambient light and flash to create well-exposed portraits with rich twilight colours. We will also experiment with a technique of altering the white balance while using coloured gels over flash to enhance the sunset or dusk colour. Sunset is at about 8:30; we will shoot from 7:30 to 9:30 to cover everything from “magic hour” sunset light, backlit sunsets with strong fill flash and twilight portraits with dramatic deep blue sky.
Participants can bring their own flash compatible with their camera, if they have one; however, we have work-arounds using other flashes if these are not available. Cost is $10 to cover two models. Limit 12 photographers. Meet at Britannia Beach gazebo.
Sign up via the club’s sign-up web interface

Year End and Awards Banquet
May 22, 2012
Mandarin Ogilvie Restaurant
1137 Ogilvie Road
Cash bar 6:30, dinner 7:00
By popular request, our Year End Awards Banquet will take place once again at the
Mandarin Ogilvie Restaurant. A fabulous 10 course dinner will be served.
Tickets at $25 can be purchased from the Social Committee at every Tuesday night
meeting until May 15th. Extra tickets for friends may be purchased at the same price.
This will be a fun evening in which we will be celebrating the accomplishments
(photographic and otherwise) of a number of the members of our club.
Please plan to attend.

The Nature Group magnificent nine undaunted by dire weather forecasts of rain on
Saturday proceeded optimistically to drive to Fort Coulonge for a day of nature
photography. Jayni Bloch our fearless leader did her song and dance and we had a few
showers while driving but never one drop during the time we were shooting at Coulonge
Falls and Luskville. Now that is what I call having some clout with the weather man. Just
goes to show that you can’t believe everything you see on TV and the internet when it
comes to weather. The only water we encountered at the falls was when the wind blew
the mist from the falls our way when we were on observation platform # 10 facing the
falls. Now when we went for our traditional lunch together to “La Ferme Livamia:, on
61Chemin du lac de la Truite we were somewhat taken aback when she stopped at a
farm house that had not seen paint for the last 50 years and had a number of ponies
and horses in the side and backyard. She quickly corrected and proceeded some 100
meter down the road and turned into a large property with a great new building larger
than the barn in the first stop she made. We were greeted graciously by a young woman
who introduced herself as the owner and chef of the establishment. She was dressed in
a black jacket typical of a chef and welcomed us to a large table set for our group.
Everyone was amazed to find a table d’hote which was delightfully tasty and
imaginative. We had an “amuse gueule” of whole wheat crackers with cheese and
olives, followed by a fresh garden salad accompanied by a crouton of bread covered
with red deer meat with onions and mushrooms and chutney and melted cheese. As a
main course we had “cipaille” followed by fresh fruit and a house maple dip as a desert.
We accompanied this wonderful culinary experience with a bottle of the house red wine
and great conversation about a variety of subjects which flowed effortlessly form the
persons at the table. The cost per person was a paltry $18.00 per person plus the wine.
The more diligent members who proceeded to Lusk Falls on the way home were
rewarded with images of some of the early wild flowers that are found in the micro
environment of the Eardly escarpment.
From left to right;
Keith Shewbridge, Susan Gardiner, Elaine Hum-Sim, Sam Lewinshtein, Jack Starkings,
Pierre Gauthier, Jayni Bloch, Andrea Schlecht, David Burt

The Welland Camera Club is sponsoring a one-day seminar with Ethan Meleg – Tips and Tricks Workshop from a recognized Canadian outdoor photographer. (Ethan is a regular contributor to Outdoor Photography Canada).
Seminar date: May 5, 2012
Location: Niagara College, Glendale Campus, NOTL – Yerich Auditoreum
Cost: $50.00 per person (CAD)
Lecture: 9:00am until 4:30 pm
For further information contact the Welland Camera Club at: www.wellandcameraclub.com

Spring Workshop
What: Introduction to Contemplative Photography
When : May 4, 5 & 6
Where: The Ottawa Arts Court
Details/More Info: www.henryfernando.com under “Workshop”

613-592-4916
613-291-9596

The Canadian Rockies are one of the most spectacular mountain ranges in the world and has some of the most wonderful scenery you will ever see. This workshop will be based in the heart of the Rockies at the Num-ti-Jah lodge (num-ti-jah.com) just north of Lake Louise. This is a truly spectacular place. The surrounding area, Bow Lake, Lake O’Hara, Mt Wilson and the Columbia Icefields Parkway will form the basis of our field trip locations. But it doesn’t stop there. The whole area is so rich photographically.
In September the autumn colours should be at their peak and we aim to match them photographically. The mountains are huge and snow capped and our aim will be to make images that reflect the majesty we see. Many field trips to those areas mentioned and more are planned during this week long workshop.
Your instructors for this exciting workshop will be Richard White from Australia and Craig Richards for Canada. Both are leaders in their field and both have taught workshops for many years. Meeting in the picturesque town of Banff you will enjoy the current exhibition at the Whyte Museum before we make our way deeper into the Canadian Rockies. Richard has made this journey several times and considers it to be one of the most awesome drives in the world. Craig has lived there for most of his life and knows the area intimately. It is in effect his back yard. Craig is currently Curator of Photography of the Whyte Museum in Banff. He is one of Canada’s leading landscape photographers. Having lived within the shadows of the Canadian Rockies for more than 30 years he knows the area intimately.  He has had more than 40 solo exhibitions and taught workshops for over 20 years. He has also published books on the Canadian Rockies, Mountain Climbers of the world as well a joint venture on the Hill Towns of Italy. Currently he is planning another Rockies book. Craig’s web address is www.craigrichardsphotography.com Richard has been a professional photographer for over 20 years and has taught workshops since 1995. In 2010 he was made a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) (its highest honour) and is also a Master of Photography with that organization. In 2003 he was awarded an Arts Council Grant for overseas study and won the Victorian Professional Photography Landscape Award. Richard also judges at the Annual AIPP photography awards and has won numerous other awards for his photography. A regular exhibitor of landscape photography and keynote speaker at photography functions. He writes regular articles for Better Photography magazine, produces the high quality High Country Calendar, a range of posters and black & white greeting cards and plans to release a book on the High Country in 2012. Richard’s web address is www.richardwhite.com.au
Num-Ti-Jah Lodge is one of those comfy old fashioned mountain lodges. Situated on the shores of Bow Lake within the Banff National Park. If you look at this Utube clip you will understand and see why this location is so spectacular.

The Dates are : September 16 – 23, 2012 The Instructors are: Richard White & Craig Richards
The Workshop Fee is: $1250 (Deposit $250)
Accommodation and all meals from CAN$1125 – $1200 based on a twin share There will also be a small charge for van hire Limited to just 12 participants. The aim is for 6 from Australia and NZ & 6 from North America.
Book now to secure your place.
Autumn in The Canadian Rockies 2012
Mt Temple, Canadian Rockies © Richard White
Bow Lake © Craig Richards

The Feedback group meets on the second Wednesday of each month Sept – May, and all RA Photo Club members are welcome to attend. Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, April 11, at 19:30 in Bytown A (on the second floor of the RA building)
All participants are invited to bring their work for comment within this informal group. The club has many excellent photographers with varied opinions on what is “good”, and members are encouraged to express their opinions. Group members respond by highlighting what they like about an image and to suggest ways in which it might be improved. The goal is to help each other develop an eye for what makes a compelling image. Feedback is always given in a sensitive and supportive manner, and provides an excellent opportunity for learning how others view your work.
Bring in up to 6 of your images in digital format on a CD or USB memory stick. The files should be full sized to allow for cropping and adjustments. In case there are too many entries to go through in the evening, please number your images so that the group has a chance to comment on the ones that are most important to you. The files should be named “1-yourname.jpg”, “2-yourname.jpg”, etc. Please bring your images starting at 19:00 so that we can get them loaded up in advance of the meeting at 19:30.