Exposures Newsletter - Winter 2020 › Newsletters › lccc2020_winter.pdf · taken. If you have ideas on what you like and want to shoot, let Art Hughes or a board member know. When

Exposures Newsletter - Winter 2020

From the Editor Page 2

From the Prez Page 2

On the Cover Page 3

Who’s Who Page 3

“Join A Camera Club” Page 4-6

“Trip to Sax-Zim Bog” Page 7-8

“Check Your Camera Strap” Page 9

Club Excursions Page 10-11

Recognitions Page 12-18

Calendar of Events Page 19

Club Links and Featured Website Page 20

© Lake County Camera Club, 2020

Website: www.lakecountycameraclub.org

Email: [email protected]

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From the Editor...

The holidays are over and the new year has begun! As Barbara

Walters has said so many times… THIS IS 2020! Competition season

is in full swing and many photographers are setting out for those

special winter excursions. So whether its the warm indoor places of

interest, or getting out and braving the elements, keep those

shutters clicking and those images popping. And also remember that this is OUR newsletter. Not just

my newsletter. And OUR newsletter needs help. If you got a neat new toy, tell us about it. Went on a

good excursion, let us know. Have good editing tip, teach it us. Anything you’d like to add to the

newsletter for others to see, please send me those articles and photos. And to all, I wish a HAPPY

NEW YEAR and keep those shutters clicking!

Anthony Roma, Newsletter Publisher

Email: [email protected]

From the Prez...

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and enjoying the photography gifts

we bought ourselves. If you did upgrade, always remember a good place to

advertise / sell your old equipment is LCCC and CACCA. Those upgrading to

mirrorless and possibly experiencing a bit of a learning curve, let us

know. We could set up a small group to help you through some of the

difficulties, just let me or a board member know.

We all benefit from the club activities, and sometimes we have to evaluate the time spent on limited

participation. Club excursions numbers have been dropping over the last year, and will be addressed

at the end of this club season. November we had 8, and December 4 members, and it's always pretty

much the same individuals. The time spent on looking for activities can be lengthy and time

consuming. If club excursions have lost the interest of members, maybe it's time to reevaluate, other

clubs do not have club excursions.

I keep hearing from people "that's not what I enjoy shooting", but lighting is part of every image

taken. If you have ideas on what you like and want to shoot, let Art Hughes or a board member

know. When it comes to New Year's resolutions relating to photography, spend a day out learning new

techniques on club excursions. We are also looking for people to fill positions for the board and other

activities, starting in September. If you think you might be interested, what better way than shadowing

current positions. I would like to wish all members and their loved ones, a healthy and joyful New

Year.

Jeff Fisher, President, Lake County Camera Club

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The cover photo for this quarter’s issue of Exposures is

courtesy of Bob Kruzic. Bob’s photograph of “Dusk At The

Palace” won an award and received Print of the Month honors

for Small Monochrome Print in the October 2019 club

competition. Bob said, “this photo was taken outside of the

Louvre in Paris. The massive building was once a royal palace,

but it now is one of the premier art museums in the world,

housing the Mona Lisa along with thousands of other

priceless pieces of paintings an sculptures. Near sunset and

into blue hour this courtyard has endless photo opportunities

no matter which direction you look. Here everything qualifies

as art, even the lampposts. “

Congrats Bob!

On the Cover...

Who’s Who...

The Lake County Camera Club could not operate without the fine folks who volunteer on the Board of

Directors. The Board of Directors for the 2019-20 season are…

Jeff Fisher - President

Anthony Roma - President-Elect

Kimberly Shadduck - Past President

Sue Baron - Secretary

Jim Ross - Treasurer

Gary Edwards - Vice President, External Operations

Bill Sullivan - Vice President, Internal Operations

Bob Kruzic - Competition Chair

John Rouse - Webmaster

Anthony Roma - Newsletter Editor

There are also a number of other club members who volunteer in the operations of our club as well.

Without their help, this club doesn't continue. Special thanks to all who volunteer! To volunteer for an

open position within the Board of Directors or Operations of the club, please speak to one of the

current board members.

Photo courtesy of Bob Kruzic

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Join A Camera Club

Written by Anthony Roma

Walking around during one of the recent photo

excursions I was attending, I was approached by

a gentleman who wanted some information

about the photography world. As I spoke with the

gentleman, I began to recount and think back to

the time when I was starting out in photography.

Then I gave him the best piece of advice I can

give a person. Join a camera club!

I was sitting at home trying to figure out which art class I could take to complete the

requirements I needed to achieve my Associates Degree. As I thumbed through the pages of the

college catalog, the title “Digital Photography I” jumped out at me. I started to think that this could

be a nice class to take. I had purchased a cheap “point ‘n shoot” little camera a couple of years ago

and I was just getting started in raising a family. Like every new parent, I wanted photographic

memories of my children growing up and doing activities. Soon, I got the bug. After my first son was

born I would slowly notice that I was doing more than just “baby pictures” and started getting more

interested in seeing what else I could capture. When my second son was born, I was also trying to

finish up my college degree at CLC and had to complete the curriculum requirements, one of them

being an art class. I was never really interested in art to the point where I had thought about taking

classes for it. But then I saw the words “Digital Photography”. I figured that if I had to take an art

class, it might as well be one that I’m interested in. I had been messing around with my camera

from time to time and started wondering if photography was a hobby I could really get into. I

remember making a trip to the Shedd Aquarium and getting some pretty decent photos and

thinking that I can do this. So I registered for “Digital Photography I” at CLC.

Throughout the class, I was amazed at the quality of the photos my classmates had been

taking. Several of my classmates as well as my instructor had given me praise with the photos I had

been submitting and I soon started shopping for a bigger and better camera. I needed to graduate

from the point and shoot to the DSLR. My budget was limited so I started out small. After many

months of research, I purchased an Olympus E-500 DSLR camera and lens kit. The class was great

but I soon realized that if I really wanted to improve my hobby, I needed something more than a 3-

hour a week college class. One of the suggestions that was made to me was, “you need to join a

camera club.” With the hustle and bustle of raising children, being a new home owner, and various

training courses I was required to take with the Fire Department, I just didn’t have the extra time to

be in a club. Things began to settle down a little as the training classes were completed and we got

more settled as a family. It was time to start thinking about the club idea. Then I found the Lake

County Camera Club. I did a little research and found some information about the club and finally

decided that if I really wanted to pursue the photography hobby, I had to join the club. I attended

Photo courtesy of Anthony Roma

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my first meeting as a guest and was greeted with such open arms that I knew this was the place to be.

It was a competition night and seeing all of the entries being judged really fascinated me. I had even

brought some photos with me to show around and ask if I had any potential of being a photographer.

Much to my surprise, I had received several encouraging words from some of the longtime members. I

immediately realized that this was the club for me. I have to admit though that I was also a little dis-

couraged by the brilliant photos being judged during the competition. But I also thought that if I want-

ed to learn how to take quality photos and gain the skills to be able to put my own work in the competi-

tion, then I would have to join the club. I signed up that night.

As I got more and more involved with the club, my skills and knowledge had grown tremendous-

ly. Within a couple of years, I had gotten praises from several members on how much I have improved

with my photography since joining. The knowledge one can gain from being in a club is endless. There

are so many fields of expertise from the members within the club that really help, whether you are just

starting out, or just trying to improve the skills you already have. With the monthly meetings, the excur-

sions, and the competitions, you can really gain a world of knowledge. Not to mention the friendships

and comradery you can build with the other members. Joining the Lake County Camera Club was prob-

ably one of the best things I could have done.

After being in the club a couple of years and improving my

skills with the camera, I had also learned many skills with the

post editing of my photos. Curriculum nights and excursions that

taught me what to shoot, how to shoot it, and how to finish it

have been so informative, that soon, newer members were start-

ing to ask me for tips and advice. My photos were starting to do

well in the competitions and I was still making friends and gain-

ing praise. One thing I will never forget is the compassion I

gained from being a photographer. The road I traveled wasn’t

exactly easy either being the only Olympus user in a world domi-

nated by Nikon and Cannon. But I was never discouraged. Even

being an Olympus guy, Nikon and Cannon folks would always

encourage me to improve my skills. With several mediums the

club would use for its members, questions were always an-

swered, critiques were always constructive, and suggestions

were always encouraged. By now I had upgraded to the Olympus

E-5 and was really starting to expand out into the photography

world. Utilizing programs like Lightroom and Photoshop to im-

prove my post editing, printing my own photos, and even starting

to participate in arts and crafts shows to display my work. With

my continued participation in the club, I was also asked by the club president to join the club commit-

tee. Being asked to join the committee board, to me, was quite an honor. It meant that I was accepted

and I belonged and they wanted me to be a part of the group that helps make the club as successful

as it was. I remember quoting Steve Martin from the movie “The Jerk” when he finally got his name in

the phone book, “I’m somebody now!”


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So now that I have been involved in photography, I

seem to attract more and more friends and strangers seeking

information. Maybe they have seen my work at an art show,

or a friend who is interested in starting out, or they see me

walking around with the “big lens” on. One of the first things I

tell them is to join a club. A camera club will give them an un-

limited supply of knowledge in every field of photography.

They will learn how to use that camera far beyond the typical

“point and shoot” and how to use the camera well beyond the

“automatic” settings. They will learn how to shoot different

subjects far away, up close, and every point in between and

in every light. They will learn how to edit them and how to

best utilize the many computer programs out there. The list is

endless! But the most important thing… they will gain new

friendships for years to come. I encourage new members, just

the way I was encouraged as a new member, to get out the

and shoot. Go on the excursions. Submit into the competi-

tions. Join us for our monthly meetings and Shutter Cafes.

And most of all… ask questions. I promise them they will nev-

er be disappointed. As the club grew from a small basement

of a little church to a nice auditorium at a college, I grew as a photographer. I grew from a little Fuji

and Minolta point and shoot camera to an Olympus DSLR. As I loved using the Olympus cameras, it

was finally time for me to continue to grow even more and graduate to the Nikon. I eventually moved

up into the Class A world. But I will never stop learning and improving.

Always remember that camera clubs do not just magically appear or instantly become an over-

night success. The backbones of a camera club are the many volunteers that help organize and run

the club. From the board members to the hosts to the excursion coordinators and competition chairs.

Successful camera clubs are successful because of those volunteers. And more volunteers are always

needed. If you have the time, if you appreciate the opportunities to improve your photography, or if you

just want to help out, ask your club’s board members or volunteers how you can help. Everyone has

something to contribute no matter what skill level you are.

So I say this to all photographers looking to

improve their skills… JOIN THE CLUB! And to all

those new to the club, I say… NEVER GIVE UP! Con-

tinue to grow and improve your skills. Attend the

meetings, participate in the competitions, and go on

the excursions. I promise you that you will love the

club and the world of photography!



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Trip to Sax-Zim Bog

Written by Sue Barron

In December, Kate Scott and I decided to take a

road trip. Kate is an avid owl follower and I am

thrilled to see nature. Since the Bog has Great

Grays nesting in the winter, we decided to give it a

go.

It was a cold weekend. Kate’s car registered

a -14 one morning. We brought hats, ear warmers,

multiple boots, snow pants, snowshoes, lots of

gloves and hand warmers. There was no way we could get out of the car to hike! I have no idea how

those folks in Minnesota exist, but the cold was 10x worse than Chicago ever felt.

The snow in Duluth was at least 4 feet and when they piled

it up on the corners, cars were hidden. The roads were decent

and snow covered but not deep. At the Bog, it had stopped

snowing by Saturday afternoon so some roads were good. My

little Honda would have been scrapping the ground. All in all, I felt

comfortable in the passenger seat but maybe Kate will say

different.

We drove to the Visitor’s Center first. Wonderful volunteers

who were full of information. We chatted awhile to get an idea of

what birds were there, studied the map and used the wonderful

outhouse. The feeders there were alive. Lots of black capped

chickadees and woodpeckers. We had driven at least 10 miles

inside the Bog to get here. My untrained eyes hadn’t seen much

so these feeders were amazing.

The Bog has miles of roads. I don’t think we traveled down all

of them. There are Black Spruce and Tamarack trees as well as

hayfields and meadows. A mix of landscape to accommodate the

habitats for snowy owls and black backed woodpeckers. People live

throughout the area but so do many birds and mammals. There are

warning signs of no trespassing as well as a notice of ‘non bird

friendly’ areas. Most of the locals welcome birders. Some of the

locals put up feeders and are noted on the map. Mary Lou had the

best! So many bird feeders help to bring in many varieties of flying

jewels as well as 4 footed walkers. And the 2 footed visitors are

treated to a heated outhouse! It was an unexpected luxury and we

were happy to make a monetary donation.

Photo courtesy of Sue Baron



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Kate had told me that the Northern Shrike kills its

prey and carries it off to put on a pike. Then it enjoys it’s

catch as it gets hungry. Sure enough, we spotted a hunt-

ing bird and ID’d it as a shrike. He didn’t care that we

were watching him in our car blind and he was on a wire

watching the snow. He knew there were voles under the

snow. Quickly he flew down into the snow and we could

see that he came up with a brown vole. It was bigger than

a mouse and I thought it would be too big for a smaller

than a robin sized bird to carry away. But he did it. Took

more than one attempt but he took it off into the woods

right in front of us. Exciting!

The birds I captured in digital (many not very clear) were Canada Jay, a hawk, evening gros-

beak, downy wood pecker, pileated woodpecker and northern shrike. While many images were

fuzzy, we did capture many good images of the same bird. Many of these were lifers for me.

Some day I will make another trip. We didn’t see a Great Gray but there were 4 counted the

day after we left so they were there. Folks have taken beautiful flying images of them. It would be

nice to capture one but I don’t need a physical image to remember the weekend. The images in my

head of that trip are awesome.


Photo courtesy of Sue Baron Photo courtesy of Sue Baron

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Check Your Camera Strap

Courtesy of NANPA.org Blog Poster

Maybe something similar has happened to you. I was photographing along the Oregon Coast. My cam-

era was on a tripod, it was windy and my camera strap was bouncing around causing vibrations, so I un-

clipped it. So far, so good. When I was done, I clipped the strap back on and took the camera off the

tripod . . . and almost dropped it into the surf because I hadn’t secured the strap clips properly.

November is International Check Your Camera Strap Month, an annual event created by a couple

of . . . you guessed it . . . camera strap manufacturers. But, before you dismiss this as a publicity stunt

(which it absolutely is) let’s look at the reasoning behind it.

Surveys of camera manufacturers and camera repair facilities indicate that “impact damage” is

the most frequent type of repair. While not all camera crashes are caused by strap problems, enough

are to make this topic worth examining. I can’t prevent myself from being clumsy but I can do some

simple things to protect my gear. And, one of the simplest is to regularly check my camera strap.

I love the ability to quickly unclip my strap. It comes in so handy in situations like that windy

beach, where the flapping strap could ruin my photo. But it’s all too easy to clip the strap back in quick-

ly, without thinking and without making sure it’s secure. It’s also all too easy for camera strap attach-

ments to loosen up over time, especially with all the use (and abuse) we put them through.

So, let’s take advantage of International Check Your Camera Strap Month to cultivate some new

habits. Let’s regularly check our straps and double check the connections every time we reattach the

straps.

There are many kinds of camera

straps, which give us tons of flexibility in

how we use our gear. Properly used

straps can make carrying our gear

much easier and prevent a lot of falling

camera accidents. But only if they are

properly attached.

This article is courtesy of the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA). NANPA publish-

es a blog and provides free articles and information for photographers. Visit them at NANPA.org

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Club Excursions

October: Scarecrow Festival

Scarecrow Fest began in 1985 with a few contest entries in St. Charles,

Illinois’ Lincoln Park. It has grown from a small community festival to a

nationally recognized festival attracting over 100,000 over the three-day

Columbus Day weekend.

November: Brookfield Zoo

The Brookfield Zoo houses around 450 species of animals in an

area of 216 acres. Opening in July 1934, gained international

recognition using moats and ditches vs. cages to separate

animals from visitors and other animals. First in America to

exhibit giant pandas; one has been taxidermied and displayed in

Chicago's Field Museum of National History. 1960, built the

nation's first fully indoor dolphin exhibit. 1980, introduced Tropic

World, first fully indoor rain forest simulation and then, largest

indoor zoo exhibit in the world.

December: Old World Wisconsin

Stroll through the 1880's Crossroads Village decked in

holiday greenery, full of homes and shops bustling with

holiday preparations. Treat yourself to a warm cup of

wassail, do some holiday shopping, and see the largest Yule

Goat in North America. Then, enjoy a horse-drawn ride

around the village, but keep a watchful eye out for the

Krampus! If you've been nice, make sure to stop by Santa's

workshop to say hello and take the perfect family photo.


Photo courtesy of Gary Edwards

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January: Norge Ski Club Winter Tournament

The annual Norge Ski Jump tournament traditionally happens each year on the 4th weekend in January.

Top-ranked ski jumpers from around the world compete in the annual tournament. The competition takes

place on the giant slopes just two blocks north of Routes 14 and 22 in Fox River Grove, Illinois. The event

is the oldest continuously-held ski-jumping tournament in North America. Spectators can view the

tournament on the hill as well as experience vendor booths, food and drink.

February: Eagles at Starved Rock

From the Visitor Center Parking lot, take a short hike to the top of Starved Rock for live eagle

viewing. Drive across the river to the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center for eagle viewing from their

observation deck and an educational presentation all about eagles. Check out the Frozen Waterfalls &

wild life. Dress warmly.

Fuel up for your outdoor adventure

Located in the Starved Rock Visitor Center, Trailheads offers a menu of favorites such as corn dogs, soft

pretzels and nachos to sweet treats, including our homemade fudge, Artisan ice cream and soft serve

cones.

Enjoy a casual dining experience in our warm, welcoming restaurant. Our on-site restaurant at Starved

Rock Lodge is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner

March: To be announced…

LCCC does not have a scheduled Excursion for March as of yet. If you have any ideas, please let

someone on the Board know and perhaps an excursion can be arranged.

Visit the Lake County Camera Club website calendar for more information of upcoming excursions.

Upcoming Excursions

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Recognitions...

The 2019-20 season is underway. The Lake County Camera Club recognized several awards for pho-

tographers and their accomplishments for the first quarter.

OCTOBER

“Purple Reigns Over The Ghost Shift” Bill Sullivan

Lg Color - LCCC HM

“Diabolus Enim Centralis” Bill Sullivan

Lg Mono - LCCC POM, CACCA HM

“Nothing's Going To Stop Me Now” Bill Sullivan

Lg Mono - LCCC Award, CACCA Award

“The Golden Age of Bridges” Bob Kruzic

Lg Color - LCCC Award, CACCA Award

“Dusk at the Palace” Bob Kruzic

Sm Mono - LCCC POM, CACCA HM

“Mile Zero” Egon Schein

Lg Color - LCCC HM

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“Teasels” Jim Ross

Sm Color - LCCC HM

“Broken Arch” John Williams

Sm Color - LCCC POM, CACCA Award

“Victorian Curves” Linda Kruzic

Lg Mono - LCCC HM, CACCA Award

“Cobblestone Courtyard” Linda Kruzic

Sm Mono - LCCC HM, CACCA Award “Out From the Shadows” Liz Rose Fisher

Sm Color - CACCA Award

“Chicago L Curve” John Williams

Lg Color - LCCC Award, CACCA Award

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“Unabashed Splendor” Mike Trahan

Sm Color - LCCC HM

“Holland Lake Montana” Mike Kukulski

Lg Mono - LCCC Award, CACCA HM

“View From the Third Floor” Sue Baron

Lg Color - LCCC HM, CACCA HM

“Looking Up” Sue Baron

Sm Color - LCCC HM, CACCA HM

“Pittsburgh by the Monongahela River” Sue Baron

Lg Mono - LCCC HM

“Sicilian Wine Cellar” Tim Elliot

Sm Mono - LCCC HM, CACCA Award

“The Three Sisters” Tim Elliot

Sm Color - LCCC Award, CACCA HM

“Water Lillies” Tim Elliot

Lg Color - LCCC Award

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“The Royal Music Room” Bob Kruzic

Lg Color - LCCC HM

“Attention” Bob Lin

DPI - LCCC Award

DECEMBER

“Ranch Gate” Art Hughes

DPI - LCCC HM

“Big Boy 4014 Heading South” Bill Sullivan

Lg Mono - LCCC HM

“Turbulance” Bill Sullivan

Lg Mono - CACCA Award

“A Light in the Palace Courtyard” Bob Kruzic

Lg Color - LCCC HM

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“Argentine Tegu Lizard” Gary Edwards

Sm Mono - LCCC POM

“Why Can’t I Blend In?” Gary Edwards

DPI - LCCC HM

“Chase” Bob Lin

DPI - LCCC HM “Daydreaming” Christopher Washburn

DPI - LCCC HM

“African Gray Crowned Crane” Eric Weddel

Sm Color - LCCC HM

“A Pensive Moment” Gary Edwards

Lg Color - LCCC Award

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“Cathedral Pipes” Mike Burgquist

Sm Mono - LCCC HM

“Chicago On Ice” Mike Kukulski

Lg Color - LCCC POM

“Lady By The Pond” Karen Gallwitz

DPI - LCCC Award

“Ascending In Style” Linda Kruzic

Lg Mono - LCCC HM “Simplicity In Balance” Linda Kruzic

Sm Color - LCCC HM

“Charles Keith” Liz Rose Fisher

Sm Color - LCCC Award, CACCA Award

“Precarious Prediciment” Liz Rose Fisher

DPI - LCCC POM

“Lake Michigan Winter Fury” Mike Kukulski

Lg Mono - LCCC POM

“Simnasho Church, Warm Springs, Oregon” Mike Kukulski

Sm Mono - LCCC HM

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“On Your Mark” Tom Brandt

DPI - LCCC HM

“The Path Less Traveled” Tom Brandt

DPI - LCCC Award

“Barred Owl” Sue Baron

Sm Color - LCCC HM, CACCA HM

“A Pair of Leadwort Flowers” Sue Matsunaga

DPI - LCCC HM

“The Alchemist Considering” Tim Elliott

Sm Color - CACCA Award

“Dawn At The Rock” Sue Matsunaga

DPI - LCCC HM

“The Alchemist Preparing” Tim Elliott

Sm Color - LCCC POM

CONGRATS TO ALL HONORS WINNERS!!!

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Upcoming Events...

This section is a reminder of all events and excursions coming up during the next few months. For

details of upcoming events, please see the Calendar of Events of the Lake County Camera Club

website.

January 2020

1/1/20 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

1/1/20 - LCCC Monthly Challenge: "Your Favorite Photo"

1/9/20 - LCCC Meeting Night

1/11/20 - CACCA Meeting and Competition

1/18/20 - Shutter Café

1/20/20 - Martin Luther King Day

1/23/20 - LCCC Board Meeting

1/25/20 - LCCC Excursion (Norge Ski Jump Competition)

1/26/20 - Shots & A Beer

1/31/20 - DPI for LCCC Competition in Feb is Due

1/31/20 - LCCC Monthly Challenge Due

February 2020


2/1/20 - LCCC Excursion (Eagles at Starved Rock)

2/6/20 - LCCC Competition Night


2/14/20 - Valentine’s Day


2/17/20 - President’s Day


March 2019


3/5/20 - LCCC Meeting Night

3/8/20 - Daylight Savings Time Begins (Check your smoke detector batteries!)




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Club Resources...

http://caccaweb.com

Featured Website...

This quarter’s LCCC Member Featured Website is Not Quite In Focus

Owner/Operator - Mike Kukulski

https://notquiteinfocus.com

https://www.artscameras.com

https://www.huntsphotoandvideo.com

https://psa-photo.org

https://www.redrivercatalog.com

http://www.stevegettle.com

http://caccaweb.com

Documents

Exposures Newsletter - Winter 2020 › Newsletters › lccc2020_winter.pdf · taken. If you have ideas on what you like and want to shoot, let Art Hughes or a board member know. When