photo by Bob Conklin
October Photo Newsletter
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Dear Photographers,

This month we are taking the opportunities provided by fall sports to practice our photography skills for capturing movement. Both freezing the action and blurring motion are techniques that allow us to convey the excitement of bodies in motion (including horses' bodies, as you'll seen in the work of Bob Conklin, our photographer of the month.)

photo by Bob Conklin

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Two-Part Photo Workshop:

Sports/Action Photography

This workshop will cover use of specialized equipment to create photos that capture the decisive moment, up close and personal. In this type of picture-taking, shutter speed becomes a top priority, but lenses show your particular version of reality. We’ll learn to use high speed telephoto lenses to drop out the background and to pull distant figures forward, as well as near fisheye, to bend, distort and sharpen a receding background. Lenses matter! We will also talk about the importance of knowing your sport to guide you in making decisions about framing, color and depth of field.

An assignment will develop reflex timing and handling.

First Session: Discussion of equipment and technical matters. Thursday 7:00 - 8:30 10/21

Second Session: Feedback on your work from the intervening week. Thursday 7:00 - 8:30 10/28

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Photo Field Trips

Freezing Time on Forbidden Drive (continuing from last month!)

This field trip is an opportunity to develop your skills for freezing and blurring motion in your photography. Forbidden Drive in Fairmount Park is a favorite stretch for bikers, joggers, and even an occasional horseback rider - all excellent subjects for practicing the capture of motion.

Saturday, 10/23 10:00 - 12:00

Jenkins Arboretum

Come to this charming arboretum to take pictures of a vast variety of local flora. We will spend time at the large pond, which, surrounded by reeds and other types of vegetation, offers some really lovely vistas. It is especially photogenic this time of year!

Location: Radnor

Thursday, 10/7 3:00 - 5:00

In- Person!

Like many of the rest of you, we are taking some steps to reconnect... in person!!

For those who are vaccinated and comfortable meeting in the classroom setting, small group events and individual lessons are available.

For those who are not yet ready for this step, we are carrying on with remote lessons via Zoom.

Email or call (610) 626 - 7854 to sign up.

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Please Note: New Cancellation Policy

As we transition to this phase of providing photography instruction both in-person and on-line, we are instituting a new policy covering cancelled lesson.

Students are asked to provide at least 24 hour notice when an appointment cannot kept.

When a lesson is cancelled with less than 24 hour notice, students have the option of rescheduling for a $10 rescheduling fee. If no make-up session is scheduled, however, the full amount of the missed lesson will still be charged.

Exceptions in the case of emergencies will be determined by Owen on a case by case basis.

DSLR 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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Advanced Photography - Using self-generated assignments and in-depth critiques we will help you move forward in your work.

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Photo Salon

Sunday 3:00 - 4:30 10/31 In Person at our new address!!!

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. These Salons often fill-up,

so it's best to get your spot early

ALSO.... Check out this facebook link and join the group. 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. What do you say???

Special thanks to Jonathan Prusky, whose technical skills have saved us more than once and made this whole endeavor possible.

photo by Owen Biddle

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Not a photo, but ...
In Nude Descending the Staircase, Marcel DuChamp (1887 - 1968) tackled the representation of motion in a static, 2D art form. If he could do it, we can do it!

FALL

the black oaks fling
their bronze fruit
into all the pockets of the earth
pock pock

they knock against the thresholds
the roof the sidewalk
fill the eaves
the bottom line

of the old gold song
of the almost finished year
what is spring all that tender
green stuff

compared to this
falling of tiny oak trees
out of the oak trees
then the clouds

gathering thick along the west
then advancing
then closing over
breaking open

the silence
then the rain
dashing its silver seeds
against the house

Mary Oliver

POM

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Photographer-of-the-Month

Bob Conklin

Here's what Bob has to say...... "

I started photographing with a point and shoot digital back in 2000. I learned how to adapt telephoto lenses to this camera to capture better wildlife and sports photos. My wife decided I could benefit from additional training. Off to Owen Biddle School of Photography where I learned exposure, focusing, and how to manipulate the camera to give me the shoot I was looking for. I stayed with wildlife and portraits for about 10 years. Then my day job went from 60 hours a week to 20. Tired of me hanging around the house, my wife suggested I go photograph horses. So, I did.

My first foray into the world of horses was unimpressive. I kept at it, reading about horses, visiting farms, working with other photographers. Practice makes perfect. Slowly but steadily, I gained experience and customers. That led to being the official show photographer for small shows which led to calls from bigger shows to be the official photographer. Soon I needed to start hiring people to assist me in covering the bigger shows.

Now I regularly work with 6-8 photographers every show season. Some stay for a few years. Some only for a season. I coach each photographer on settings, aperture, metering and shutter speeds to capture the shot that makes Conklin Photographic different from the others.

Pricing is as important as everything else. I keep my prices low to encourage purchases. I’ve seen people raise their prices to the point that no one needs them. Instead of buying high priced photos, people will stick with whatever mom and dad captured. It’s a tough business model to manage, but sales have steadily risen every year since 2010. Plus, I have a regular following and a consistent customer base."