Owen Biddle
Photo School
May Photo Newsletter
Colors of Spring
photo by Jane Shafter
“The earth laughs in flowers.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dear Photographers,
Are you ready for the challenge of spring? How can we confront the outrageous beauty? How can we shake off the frozen casings of winter and allow the stirrings of optimism that tender new green things promise? How? Grab your camera and go make art!!
photo by Owen Biddle
Spring offers an infinity of photo possibilities, from intimate close ups of flowers to expansive fields of color. You don't want to miss any of it! A bit of knowledge about filters and lenses will allow you to avoid pitfalls such as distracting glare. This workshop is a chance to learn creative uses of macro and wide angle lenses and polarizing and neutral density filters. You will even learn how to convert your telephoto lens into macro using a diaptor/close up filter! Bonus: We will discuss ways to manage a variety of background challenges and throw in tips for using a spray bottle to give the look of rain!
First Session: Discussion of equipment and technique Tuesday, May 13 7:00- 8:30
Second Session: Share your work from the intervening week
Tuesday, May 20 7:00 - 8:30
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Photo Field Trip
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This stately turn-of-the-century mansion, surrounded by formal gardens, complete with a beautiful old fashioned swimming pool, offers great opportunities for photographing both intimate scenes and grand vistas. The grounds feature unusual plantings as well as some quirky post-modern garden statuary. Our exploration will range from the macro abstractions of flower-portraits to the wide angle accentuated perspective of deep space landscapes. And we won't miss the reflections on the beautiful lotus pond. To learn more about Chanticleer check out this link: Chanticleer GardensLocation:
Radnor, PA
Saturday, May 17 3:00 - 5:00
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​DSLR and Mirrorless Fundamentals Tutorials
Below are descriptions of the basic units of our curriculum available to students ranging from beginner to advanced. Most units are five lessons and include a set of assignments designed to give practice in targeted skills with opportunities to get feedback from the instructor so that you learn from your experiences.
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Just give a call and we can set up individual sessions to keep you moving forward with your photography.
Call (610)-626-7854 for details.
​(click on links for more information)
Fundamentals 1: Camera Operations is for students who are just starting out, or want a good review of the basic camera functions.
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Fundamentals 2: Applications is for students who have some comfort with the camera and want to start applying their skills to expand their photographic range.
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Fundamentals 3: Composition takes photography beyond the subject, and encourages you to see the artistic and compositional opportunities in everyday life. Here is a chance for your right brain to come out and play!
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Fundamentals 4: Lighting Across the Genres is for students who are ready for the next critical step: lighting. Explore sophisticated means of controlling both natural and artificial light for portraits, landscape and still life to get just the mood and effects you want.
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Advanced Photography - Using self-generated assignments and in-depth critiques we will help you move forward in your work.
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May
Photo Contest:
It's a Material World
This month we didn't get enough entries
on-theme to make for an actual competition, but here are a couple images we really like.
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photo by Tom Clark​
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photo by Celine Kelly
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May Photo Contest: Colors of Spring
What can you and your camera tell us about what spring means to
you? Email your images to: owenbiddlephotography@gmail.com Limit three images per entry.
The winning photos will be featured in our next Photo Newsletter.
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Sunday, May 25 2:00 - 3:30
​These are very friendly, relaxed get-togethers - location to be determined. Photographers of all levels are welcome to share pictures, get photography tips, and discuss camera equipment. You can also get ideas for entering photography contests, submitting to photography magazines and having photo shows. Feedback from the group provides encouragement and inspiration to go out and take more pictures. These informal photography critiques offer an excellent opportunity to start identifying themes in your work and to get ideas for new directions. Group size is limited, so if you can come an RSVP is required by email or call (610) 626-7854. Cost is $10.
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Not a photo but....
this landscape by Wolf Khan (1927 - 2020) shows his passion for the colors of the season verging into the realm of the abstract. Don't you think you and your camera can get this beautiful effect too? Soft focus?
ANNOUNCING
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A mainstay of our photo community, Ray Schneider, will be having a show at the Cosmopolitan Club of Philadelphia
1616 Latimer Street, Philadelphia
Exhibit in the gallery April 29th - June 12th.
Free wine and cheese opening reception May 8th from 5-7 p.m.
"Photography is both an art form and a channel for transforming the mind’s ability to “see” completely. In other words, photographs can reveal what the conscious mind misses, and invite connections that may not have been made in real time. In its best form, photography has the superpower of being able to spark the mind of the viewer, propelling stories—past, present, and future." ~ Ray Schneider
Learn more at https://www.rayschneiderphotography.com/
Check our our online Photo Salon
https://www.facebook.com/groups/owenbiddlephotosalon
Our purpose is to provide an online place for our community to stay in touch, stay inspired and get out there and keep snapping. You can post pictures and get feedback, ask photo questions, make suggestions etc.
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Photographer of the Month
Jane Shafter
Here's what Jane has to say:
"As a visual artist, photography has always helped me connect in a more immediate way with nature and people. After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design with degrees in Fine Arts and Art Education, I designed and developed giftware, accessories, dolls and other collectibles for clients including Elizabeth Arden, Liberty of London, Neiman Marcus and the Danbury Mint.
Even though my focus was painting and mixed media, I learned the importance of documenting my work with photos. As a teacher, I enjoyed photographing my students while they were being creative.
When painting outdoors, I like to photograph the landscape for inspiration. This helps me notice more details which I then try to capture in the photograph, much as a painter incorporates details into a painting.
I feel as though I’m creating a painting during the editing process. I feel I’m missing something if I don’t have my iPhone with me to capture the images around me. Through photography I’ve found a new way to capture the things which inspire me. "
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Photographers like Jane, with an art background, invariably bring an exciting dimension to their work - a penchant for really original compositions.
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Click on thumbnails to see full images.
