Owen Biddle
Photo School
March Photo Newsletter
Once Upon a Time
photo by Eric Dimitratos
"A picture's worth a thousand words...." ~ Anon
Dear Photographers,
There are probably as many reasons to aim and click a camera as there are people with cameras. One of our favorites is to tell a story. These images can be dramatic, telling a powerful story. They can be subtle and mysterious, just hinting that something is going on here. They can expose tragic realities or they can remind us of the humor in our everyday lives. This month we want to delve into photography's power of the narrative and invite you to consider this wonderful dimension of our art.
Jessie Tarbox Beals, c. 1905
Once upon a time, in a far off land, a clever young lad, sitting in a dark room, saw a tiny hole in the wall. Imagine his astonishment, when he turned around and saw on the opposite wall an upside down and backward picture of.... the very scene outside! Bewitching! And thus began the history of photography.
Our workshop this month will tell that story. An assignment will be provided to help learn more about the styles of master photographers.
First Session: Survey of the history of photography
Monday, 3/17 7:00 - 8:30
Second Session: Share results your work from
intervening week
Monday, 3/24 7:00 - 8:30
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Photo Field Trips
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This is great place to begin looking at buildings as subjects. A city crowded with historical sites challenges us to capture the unique personalities of these buildings. I will guide students in discovering new viewpoints to isolate the structures making use of the perspective distortion of wide-angle lenses to enhance the sense of three dimensionality.
Tuesday, 3/18 10:00 - 12:00
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Colonial Plantation is a great photo destination. This period farm setting has gardens, farm house, barns, animals, and guides in period clothes demonstrating an earlier, simpler way of life.
Newtown Square, PA
Sunday, 3/29 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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Speaking of....
photos that tell stories... Setting up miniature figures in unexpected places can create some charming incongruities of scale and content. Check out this link for more examples.
February
Photo Contest: Winterscapes
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First Place Winner
Mary Stamper​
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Second Place Winner
Judy Eckert
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Third Place Winner
Joe Piette
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March Photo Contest:Narratives
We're looking for pictures that tell, or at least suggest, a story. You may capture a spontaneous moment, but don't be shy to concoct your own scene. Feel free to put together costumes, poses, lighting, setting... it's all fair game in search of a good tale. To enter simply email your photo to : owenbiddlephotography@gmail.com Limit three images per entry.
The winning photos will be featured in our next Photo Newsletter.
photo by Owen Biddle
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Sunday 3/23 2:00 - 3:30
​These are very friendly, relaxed get-togethers at my apartment in Lansdowne. 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 painting by N.C. Wyeth (1882 - 1945) reveals the excitement of an excellent illustration. In our photos we can also employ all of our artistic tools (dynamic composition, expressive color, dramatic lighing etc) to bring the story to life.
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Photographers of the Month
Eric Dimitratos
“Originally from Connecticut and now living in Brooklyn, I fell in love with photography by capturing film photos of friends – documenting and sharing memories. It started by pocketing disposables for ease and fun, but then grew to a deeper passion over time.
Working in marketing for entertainment, photography has become my personal creative outlet outside the office. As I took classes with Neo, I developed a greater appreciation. I especially love candids that capture moments of those I care about, and places to look back on and remember stories with a smile.”
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Neo Cordova
“My love for photography grew during my time as a flight attendant, traveling to dozens of cities and capturing moments to share with friends, family and keep just for myself. Originally from the Philippines and now living in New York City, I find photography the best way to document my journey. What began as a way to capture my travels soon became a true creative outlet.
My favorite subjects are friends, travel locations and unexpected moments that happen in everyday life. Photography has always been something I’m drawn to and I want to continue to explore it even further. Refining my skills alongside Eric has been so rewarding. It’s turned a passion into shared experiences that bring us closer.”
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Neo and Eric have a wonderful story to tell: "
Our first date was supposed to be a simple movie night – but the universe had other plans. When subway delays caused us to miss our showtime, we changed course and set out to find dinner. Our detour led us to South Street Seaport in search of food, with the Brooklyn Bridge watching from the background. We soon stumbled upon something meaningful, a shared love for photography.
We both had cameras with us, and not just ones on our iPhones (Neo had his Nikon film camera, and Eric a disposable Kodak Gold). We started capturing the moments – each of us photographing a stranger we just met while hungry for dinner, but wanting to continue the fun - the city lights shimmering behind us. We talked about how we take photos of friends, and how it’s one of our hobbies - learning more about each other as the minutes passed. At the time we had no idea if this night would lead to a second or third date – but it did. And each time more photos and more memories were captured. Over time, our relationship developed, just like the film in our cameras..
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And see how beautifully they share their stories through this series of images from their many adventures together.
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Click on thumbnails to see full images.
