photography education

March Education Night – “How to Create an Environmental Portrait” by your Education Team

Making a portrait of a person in their environment is not the same as a normal portrait. An environmental portrait requires that you pull back some and show that person in their workspace or other environment that is applicable to that person’s life and/or passion.

Robert Rostick, Jim Sykes, and Lynn Wiezycki take you into the art studio of a local artist and show you his environment and then show you several ways to work with the person in their environment to create a portrait that is about the person and what he/she does!

We have created a video showing the techniques and essence of this type of portraiture. We will answer your questions after the video.

So please think about a person or persons who might fit this assignment. Think about the environment they work in and come up with some questions that will help you make a creative environmental portrait!

Reminder: This is our monthly assignment for June’s Exhibit/Comment Night!

Who Should Attend

This type of portraiture is actually closer to what most folks shoot of friends and family! Sometimes we even attempt this while shooting folks we see in our travels. But there are some tricks to getting that really good environmental portrait! This will take your photos, of this type, to the next level!

How to Attend

We will send the Zoom invitation to all current (2023) members on Tuesday.

Non -Members – If you are interested in joining us to see what we are all about, we will send you a Zoom Invitation. Please send your Name and Email address with the Subject line “Zoom Invite Needed for MEETING on (appropriate date)” to mytbcc@gmail.com so we can get the invitation to you.

I hope to see you at our Education Night on 03/23/2023.

Lynn Wiezycki, TBCC President

Special Presentation – “Is Your Flower Photography Boring? Let Me Help!” – by Mike Moats for our January Education Night

Mike Moats has joined us previously as a judge for a special macro photography contest we had a couple of years ago. This time he will be talking about macro flower photography (remember the Exhibit Assignment in March is Macro Photography). So please join us for a special education night on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 7 PM ET.

Presentation Summary

Are you feeling like your flower photography is lacking something and is boring. There are many different styles and ways to create better flower images that will stand out. This will be an in-depth session on creating unique and interesting flower images.

Mike’s Bio

Mike Moats is an international award-winning full-time pro macro photographer from Michigan. He is a Tamron Image Master, Vanguard Pro, and his articles and images have been published in many photo magazines for over 15 years. He has a Macro Photo Club online with over 2,600 members, from 28 countries. Mike teaches workshops and speaks at photo conferences throughout the US. Mike’s website: https://www.tinylandscapes.com/

Samples of Mike’s Flower Images

Who Should Attend?

If you are at all interested in macro photography you should not miss this one! Some of the techniques Mike will talk about apply to other small subjects. Macro is a genre we should all have in our bag of photo tricks as you can make macro images anywhere! I create macro images in my home, at the local parks and botanical gardens, and definitely when I am traveling. I may be shooting an epic landscape but there will be macro subjects right in front of me as well! REMEMBER, look behind you, look to the sides and for sure always look up and down! There is almost always something else to shoot and many times it is even more interesting and a better subject than what caught your attention in the first place!

I have known Mike for a number of years and have attended his Bootcamps, one of his annual Macro Summits, and a macro workshop he did in conjunction with Madeline Island School of Arts in Tucson, AZ. When you think of macro photographers, he should be the first to come to mind! His images are amazing and his teaching style is laid back and intense at the same time!

How to Attend

We will send the Zoom invitation to all current (2023) members a few days prior to 01/26/2023.

If you have not renewed for 2023 please click on the following link, complete the info form, submit it, and then click on the BuyNow button at the bottom to pay your dues. Renew Membership

Non-Members – If you are interested in joining us to see what we are all about, we will send you a Zoom Invitation for our Competition Night only. Please send your Name and Email address with the Subject line “Zoom Invite Needed for MEETING on (appropriate date)” to mytbcc@gmail.com so we can get the invitation to you.

I hope to see you at our Exhibit/Comment Night on 01/19/2023 and at our Education Night on 01/26/2023, for this special presentation.

Lynn Wiezycki, TBCC President

June Education Night – Creating Beautiful Portraits with only Window Light – presentation by Robert Rostick and Jim Sykes

Please join us for our June Education Night on Thursday, June 23, 2022, at 7 PM. The presentation will be given by our own Robert Rostick and Jim Sykes.

Presentation Summary

Portraits using only Window Light: Robert and Jim will take you through an actual shoot using window light with two beautiful models.

There will be 3 types of images demonstrated: with some slight variations of each included

Side Light
Silhouette
Full light – subject facing the window

Once they have played the shoot (pre-recorded) they will answer any questions and talk about shooting in Monochrome and converting regular color images to Black and White via post-processing.

Why Attend?

The monthly assignment for the July Exhibit/Commentary is “Black and White Portrait using only Window Light”. But beyond that, it is great to know how to get beautiful portraits and not need all those fancy lights!

We will record this presentation but to get the most from the presentation and to get any of your questions answered by Jim and Robert, it is best to attend the Zoom meeting.

The Zoom Invitation will be sent out on Tuesday, June 21st.

Hope that everyone can attend now that we have moved our meetings to Thursday evening.

Lynn W.

May Education Night – Special Presentation – “The Power of Personal Projects” by Mary Presson Roberts

Please join us at another great TBCC Education Night for a special presentation by my good friend and amazing photographer, Mary Presson Roberts. She will be talking about “The Power of Personal Projects” on May 27, 2022.

Summary of Presentation

There is no better way to grow as a photographer than to regularly practice your craft. Mary has found that personal photography projects have not only been a way to practice her craft but they have led her to some of the most meaningful photographs she has taken during her journey as a photographer. In this presentation, Mary will discuss the importance of personal photography projects, how to choose a personal project, and share several projects she has completed during the last decade.

Mary’s Bio

Mary Presson Roberts is a photographer, author, and educator native of the Carolinas. Mary received her Bachelor’s Degree from Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC, and her Master’s Degree from the Citadel, Charleston, SC. Mary has been an educator in the Carolinas for more than three decades. Mary was able to purchase her first serious camera using a gold coin her father gave her. She was immersed in art education throughout life by her mother’s influence. The camera became her primary tool for self-expression. Twelve years ago, Mary combined her passions for photography and education. She leads photography workshops, photo tours, and gives inspirational presentations of her photographic journey. Mary has a diverse interest in photographic subjects. Photography has introduced Mary to people she would have never met, taken her to places she would have never experienced, and adventures she never would have attempted. It transformed her life.

Mary’s Website: https://www.themaryphotographer .com/

Some Samples of Mary’s Photography

Why You Should Attend

I have known Mary for many years as she is another of my fellow Arcanum participants. I have also traveled and spent time photographing with Mary so I have seen her project process. I watched her shoot all kinds of abstracts on surfaces and textures while we were in Wyoming and Montana! She is a wonderful person who just recently retired from teaching elementary school for many years! Watch out Robert, she will have your number! LOL!

How to Attend

We will send the Zoom invitation to all current (2022) members a few days prior to 05/27/2022.

Non -Members – If you are interested in joining us to see what we are all about, we will send you a Zoom Invitation for our Competition Night only. Please send your Name and Email address with the Subject line “Zoom Invite Needed for MEETING on (appropriate date)” to mytbcc@gmail.com so we can get the invitation to you.

Hope to see you at our next Competition/Critique Night on May 20th and for this Education Night on May 27th.

Lynn Wiezycki, TBCC Pres

Special Presentation – April Education Night – “Minimalism” by Scott Norris

Please join us Friday, 04/22/22, for a special presentation on “Minimalism” by Scott Norris.

FYI: this happens to be the competition assignment coming up in June.

Presentation Summary

My presentation on minimalist photography will begin with how I developed my minimalist approach/style. I’ll then go into what I feel makes a good minimalist photo and talk about some compositional elements and what to look for.

Scott’s Bio

Emotion. Mood. Atmosphere. This is what I capture through my photographs. Whether it is landscapes, architecture, still life, or macros – it is a very personal journey as my own fears, triumphs, beliefs, and shortcomings are exposed with each photo.

Much of what I shoot is done spontaneously. What surrounds me dictates what is photographed.

And shooting is only the first step – a jumping-off point. I take the raw images and create what I see in my mind’s eye. Coaxing out textures in the shot – sometimes adding them. Enhancing the contrast of light and dark to create the mood and emotions I felt and feel. In the end, it’s all about listening to my heart and mind and creating a visual representation of what I feel the moment the shutter is released.

I’m a native of Texas living on Milwaukee’s East Side with my wife and son. When I’m not out shooting or with family, you can find me hiking along the Milwaukee River, working on my other business, Scott Norris Creative, camping, reading sci-fi, and cooking.

Website: https://www.scottnorrisphotography .com/

Some Sample Images from Scott

“Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.” –Helen Keller A lone tree on a snowy field. Copyright 2021 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

A mostly hidden outdoor stairway at the newly re-opened, renovated and expanded Milwaukee Art Museum. Day 240 of my 365 photo a day project. Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

“Be an opener of doors.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson An old vintage doorknob in our home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Day 174 of 365 Copyright 2022 Scott Norris Creative scottnorrisphotography.com scott-norris.pixels.com scottnorriscreative.com

Here’s to a POWERful new year in 2022. Day 92 of 365 Copyright 2021 Scott Norris Creative scottnorrisphotography.com scott-norris.pixels.com scottnorriscreative.com

“Even bad coffee is better than no coffee at all.” –David Lynch My morning cuppa on the kitchen table. Long shadow courtesy of the sun. Day 102 of 365 Copyright 2022 Scott Norris Creative scottnorrisphotography.com scott-norris.pixels.com scottnorriscreative.com

What You Will Learn from this Presentation

I have known Scott for many years. We were in one of the original cohorts in The Arcanum which was an innovative online photography mentoring program back in the late 2000’s. Scott’s style stood out immediately! Minimalism seems like it would be easy but it is all about balance and feeling! I know Scott will give you a great insight into this type of photography.

This will give you a base from which to spring for your June competition assignment!

How to Attend

We will send the Zoom invitation to all current (2022) members a few days prior to 04/22/2022.

Non -Members – If you are interested in joining us to see what we are all about, we will send you a Zoom Invitation for our Competition Night only. Please send your Name and Email address with the Subject line “Zoom Invite Needed for MEETING on (appropriate date)” to mytbcc@gmail.com so we can get the invitation to you.

Hope to see you at our Competition Night on April 15th and for this Education Night on April 22nd.

Lynn Wiezycki, TBCC Pres

March Education Night – Special Presentation – “SETTING THE SCENE” by John K Putnam

Mark your calendar as you will not want to miss this presentation by John K Putnam on Friday, March 25, 2022, at 7 PM.

Presentation Summary

SETTING THE SCENE: Are you tired of getting stuck taking the same shot over and over? Or maybe you’re sick of going home empty-handed? In this presentation, I’ll share a simple approach that will help you make the most of every location and increase your number of “keepers”.

John’s Bio

John K. Putnam is a full-time nature & landscape photographer based on Mount Desert Island, Maine, home of Acadia National Park. From 2006 to 2014 he worked as a photographer in New York City producing work for publishing companies and magazines as well as photographing high-end events, all while spending every vacation traveling and photographing across five continents, 20 states, and more than 30 national parks.

When he moved to Maine in 2015 John founded J.K. Putnam Photography with the mission of building personal photographic experiences for clients, no matter their needs or skill level, by offering private, instructional photo tours and workshops. John’s knowledge of Acadia as a photographic subject is unparalleled and he uses that knowledge to put himself and his students in the right place at the right time based on the tide, weather, light, and time of year. He loves teaching, loves showing off Acadia, and, most importantly, gets outside to photograph every day. John also, on occasion, writes bios in the third person.

Sign up to receive workshop announcements HERE

Book a Tour or Workshop HERE

Read Trip Advisor Reviews HERE

Visit my gallery in Southwest Harbor HERE (Open May-October)

Web: jkputnamphotography.com

Phone: 207-266-4505

Connect: instagram | facebook| twitter | flickr

J.K. Putnam Photography

P.O. Box 1476

Southwest Harbor, ME 04679

Sample Images

Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island, Maine. The winter that I photographed this scene was a series temperature fluctuations. Temperatures would rise, rain would fall, snow would melt, low areas would flood, and then the temp would drop again, freezing it all. This happened over and over again. I was exploring an area of forest that had flooded and froze a number of times when I found this leaf, floating in a thin pool of water between two layers of ice.

Big surf is fairly common along Acadia’s coast. It is best on an incoming high tide but that does not always line up with the first light of the day, to have both along with dramatic clouds was a gift. Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island, Maine

Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island, Maine

What you will get out of this presentation:

I have attended a couple of John’s webinars so I know you will enjoy his presentation. This subject is one that everyone struggles with when shooting landscapes. In fact, this is the primary issue I hear from many photographers when we talk about landscape photography. The way John takes you through the “process” will get you to see the epic landscape all the way down to macro. This will actually help you with any type of photography!

How to Attend

We will send the Zoom invitation to all current (2022) members a few days prior to 03/25/2022.

Non -Members – If you are interested in joining us to see what we are all about, we will send you a Zoom Invitation for our Competition Night only. Please send your Name and Email address with the Subject line “Zoom Invite Needed for MEETING on (appropriate date)” to mytbcc@gmail.com so we can get the invitation to you.

Hope to see you at our Competition Night on March 18th and for this Education Night on March 25th.

Lynn Wiezycki, TBCC Pres

October 2021 – Technical Night – Special Presentation – “Photographing Glassware with Refractions and Reflections” by Gerri Jones

For our last Technical/Education Night of the year, coming up on Friday, October 22, 2021, we have a special presentation by Gerri Jones.

Presentation Summary

“Photographing Glassware with Refractions and Reflections”

Photographing glassware can be challenging. Finding new ways to get creative with it even more so. Join Gerri Jones as she demonstrates her approach to photographing glassware using colorful backgrounds and reflections on a surface. This program will feature: What types of backgrounds to use and how to display them. Some technical points of shooting in the dark on a tripod, lens choices, f/stops and angles for successful photographs with this technique.

Gerri’s Bio

Gerri enjoys photographing all subjects and especially the challenge of new ways to see through the creative use of Lensbaby lenses. She is a Lensbaby Ambassador.

Gerri has been a featured speaker/instructor at regional camera conferences including Mike Moats Macro Convention, Hazel Meredith’s Creative Photography Conferences, New England Camera Club Council (NECCC) Photo Conference and Out of Chicago Conferences. Gerri also instructs in creative photography presentations with camera clubs, in person or online.

Gerri’s images have been featured in several publications, commercial proposals and she also has reviewed several photography books for development by Focal Press Publications. Her images have received several first place awards in national and regional photo competitions.

Gerri resides in Buffalo, New York.

A Couple of Gerri’s Images

HOW TO ATTEND

We will send the Zoom invitation to all current (2021) members a few days prior to 10/22/2021.

Non -Members – If you are interested in joining us to see what we are all about, we will send you a Zoom Invitation for our Competition Night only. Please send your Name and Email address with the Subject line “Zoom Invite Needed for MEETING on (appropriate date)” to mytbcc@gmail.com so we can get the invitation to you.

This is a fun photo project you can do right in your home so you won’t want to miss this. You never know…this might be a competition assignment next year!

Hope to see you at our Competition Night on Oct 15th and for this Technical Night on October 22nd.

Lynn Wiezycki, TBCC Pres

September 2021 – Technical Night – Special Presentation – “In Depth on Depth: Creating Dimension in Landscape Photographs” by Colleen Miniuk

If you caught Colleen’s TBCC presentation last year, you know you don’t want to miss this year’s on Sept 24th! Colleen is creative, knowledgeable and a tiny bit fun! She has a way of looking at photography and explaining it that will open your eyes, minds, and get your cameras clicking!

Presentation Summary

Are your landscape photographs falling flat? While humans see the world in three dimensions, a photographer can render an image of a scene through our camera in only two. Not only do our cameras “see” differently than our eyes and brains do, but also our own eyes can deceive us: what we see and what we think we see doesn’t always line up. If we understand how humans see depth, we can consciously create a sense of shape and dimension in our compositions. Join outdoor photographer/writer Colleen Miniuk for this insightful presentation to learn how to mindfully incorporate the three L’s (lines, layers, and light)—and even optical illusions!—that can help transform uninspiring arrangements into engaging expressive photographs.

Colleen’s Bio

Colleen Miniuk is a corporate-America-escapee turned full-time outdoor photographer, writer, publisher, instructor, and speaker from Chandler, Arizona. Her credits include National Geographic calendars, Arizona Highways, AAA Via, National Parks Traveler, On Landscape, and a broad variety of other publications.

Her work from the Colorado River watershed is currently featured in a solo photography exhibit “The Current Flows: Water in the Arid Water” curated by Jeanne Falk Adams (Ansel Adams’ daughter-in-law) at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center in Pueblo, CO.

She has served three times as an Artist-in-Residence with Acadia National Park after which she authored the award-winning guidebook, Photographing Acadia National Park: The Essential Guide to When, Where, and How.

She is also the author of Wild in Arizona: Photographing Arizona’s Wildflowers, A Guide to When, Where, & How (1^st and 2^nd editions) as well as the instructional eBook, Seeing the Light in Outdoor Photography (1^st and 2^nd editions) and exhibition catalogue The Current Flows.

She writes an online photography advice column called “Dear Bubbles” and leads photography workshops, women’s photography retreats (called “Sheography™”), webinars, and online critique sessions for camera clubs, organizations, and private clients across the U.S. Learn more at http://www.colleenminiuk.com

A Few of Colleen’s Images

HOW TO ATTEND

We will send the Zoom invitation to all current (2021) members a few days prior to 09/24/2021.

Please remember to renew your TBCC annual membership if you have not already done so for 2021. You can use this link: http://www.jrsphotos.com/misc_sale_tbcc_dues30.htm

BE SURE TO COMPLETE THE MEMBER INFO FORM, HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON AND THEN PAY YOUR DUES ON PAYPAL. THIS IS FOR RENEWALS AS WELL AS NEW MEMBERS!

Non -Members are Welcome! If you are interested in joining us to see what we are all about, we will send you a Zoom Invitation for our Competition Night only. Please send your Name and Email address with the Subject line “Zoom Invite Needed for MEETING on (appropriate date)” to mytbcc@gmail.com so we can get the invitation to you.

Colleen will educate and entertain you, so don’t miss this special presentation!

Hope to see you at our Competition Night on Sept 17th and for this Technical Night on September 24th.

Lynn Wiezycki, TBCC Pres

August 2021 Technical Night – Capturing Motion – presentation by Jim Sykes

Our own Jim Sykes has created a video presentation that we will be showing on our technical night for this month on Friday, Aug 27, 2021.

Presentation Summary from Jim

This will be a recorded presentation to help motivate and encourage you to capture motion with your camera in a variety of different ways.

I will give some tips and show lots of examples of a variety of techniques that you can use. Some of the techniques that will be discussed are: slow shutter speed, creative use of ND filters, animated GIF from timelapse, intentional camera motion, multiple exposures, front curtain sync flash, rear curtain sync flash, high speed sync flash, and strobe lighting.

Watch the presentation and get inspired to challenge yourself to do something new with your camera. I’m looking forward to seeing your creations for our October Competition Assignment – “Capture Motion”!

Example Image

HOW TO ATTEND

We will send the Zoom invitation to all current (2021) members a few days prior to 08/27/2021.

Please remember to renew your TBCC annual membership if you have not already done so for 2021. You can use this link: http://www.jrsphotos.com/misc_sale_tbcc_dues30.htm

BE SURE TO COMPLETE THE MEMBER INFO FORM, HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON AND THEN PAY YOUR DUES ON PAYPAL. THIS IS FOR RENEWALS AS WELL AS NEW MEMBERS!

With this timely information from Jim you should have the opportunity to come up with some very creative entries for October’s assignment.

Hope to see you at our Competition Night on August 20th and for this Technical Night on August 27th.

Lynn Wiezycki, TBCC Pres