Favorite Things and Photographs › Newsletters › lccc2013jun.pdf · Often, the shots that we think are going to be the best at the time of the shoot just don't pop, but a shot

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Share Moments - Share Photography

June 2013 Volume 5, Issue 10

Favorite Things and Photographs A Message From The Editor

Everybody has a favorite, one that is trusted, indulged, cherished or preferred above all others. In the Sound of Music,

Maria sings about her favorite things;

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels

Door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings

These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver white winters that melt into Springs

These are a few of my favorite things .”

These thoughts conjure up some very fine images. For many of us, photography is a

favorite pastime, an activity that should occupy one's spare time pleasantly. As

photographers, we have our favorite lenses, locations, shooting styles and accidentally

or on purpose we acquire a favorite photograph, or two, or many. Some of them may be of ‘normal’

things that we see everyday, yet captured in a different light. Some we planned for a lifetime. You just

never know for sure when you will get that favorite photograph. Often, the shots that we think are going to be the best at

the time of the shoot just don't pop, but a shot taken at another time in an almost off-hand manner can often become

one of our favorites; especially those candid shots of our loved ones.

In this edition of Exposures, you will find both planned and unplanned

favorite photographs. Almost all of the photographers whom submitted

their favorite image, admit the image may not win in competition, but as

Leslie Harris pointed out, “ It may not win an award except in my heart

- which is more important!”

Favorite photographs fill us with joy. To paraphrase Maria, “When the

dog bites, when the bee stings, when you’re feeling sad - simply

remember your favorite things and then you won't feel so bad.”

Photography and pictures are great therapy and we understand that

our current favorite photograph may change. “Because things are the

way they are, things will not stay the way they are. “ ~Bertold Brecht

Because of change, it is so very important to share moments and share

photography.

Inside This Issue

A Message From The President 2

Dates To Remember 2

Egon’s World 3

“Angel” - The Making Of The Favorite

Photo Of My Career

4

My Favorite Photograph 5

Who Stole Whisky Bill? 10


Exposures - June 2013 Volume 5, Issue 10 Page 2

A Message From President - John Williams

Here we are and it’s June already! We just reached 158 members after having several guests join us for a very interesting

and educational program with Tom Biegalski at last month’s meeting. Thank you to all who completed the member survey.

Your feedback, comments and opinions are very welcome and will be put to use in our planning meetings. We need your

help once again for nominations for our club year end recognition awards. Terry Ferguson has sent out the award

descriptions and forms. Please take a little time to nominate someone for each position. I know it’s difficult sometimes to

pick one member, but just pick the first that comes to mind.

John Rouse is doing a great job of heading up the new weekday photo activities. You can keep tabs on those by watching

the announcements through our Yahoo Group email. Put all the small group shooting opportunities along with our weekend

excursions and meetings and we have a lot going on all summer this year.

Now that our elections are complete, we have our new board of directors for the 2013-2014 club year. Mike Trahan will

make an excellent president! He is already contributing so much to our club and that’s not all folks, you’ll be learning about

many new great initiatives that should continue to improve member opportunities for growth and learning in photography.

Thank you Mike for accepting this leadership position for our club!

The newly elected Board Members are:

President: Mike Trahan

President Elect: Mark Theriot

Past President: John Williams

Secretary: Terry Ferguson

Treasurer: Jim Ross

Vice President, External Operations: Michelle Cox

Vice President, Internal Operations: Bill Sullivan

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ron Meyers for all his tremendous contributions to our club. He will be

stepping down from our Board. In fact, not only are we losing Ron from our leadership, but Ron and Mary are also moving

back home to Oklahoma with his family this summer. We sure will miss you, Ron. You have contributed to our club in so

many ways. I just can’t say thank you enough! You’ve been a great friend to so many. Please stay connected and let’s

give this long distance membership idea a try!

Questions or comments about this newsletter?

Please contact Ken Johnson, Newsletter Editor at

[email protected].

We are proud members of the

Chicago Area Camera Clubs Association

and the Photographic Society of America.

Our mission is to promote, teach and share the ideals, skills, techniques and

good practices of the art of photography and the use of cameras and

photographic equipment.

Visit our website www.lakecountycameraclub.org.

We meet the first Thursday of every month at:

University Center. 1200 University Drive,

Grayslake IL

May 25 Photo Excursion: Arlington Race Track

May 31 Challenge Due: Pastel Colors

June 6 Program Night: Relearning to See...Photographically

by Hank Erdmann 7:00PM

June 15 Shutter Café: Hillside Restaurant 8:00AM

June 20 Board Meeting: All are welcome 7:00PM

June 22 Photo Excursion: Architectural Walking Tour of Chicago

Dates To Remember

mailto:[email protected]

http://caccaweb.com/

http://psa-photo.org/

http://caccaweb.com/

http://psa-photo.org/

http://www.lakecountycameraclub.org/



2012 - 2013

Board Members President John Williams

President Elect Mike Trahan

Past President Ron Meyers

Secretary Terry Ferguson

Treasurer Jim Ross

Vice President, External Operations Michelle Cox

Vice President, Internal Operations Bill Sullivan

2012 - 2013

Committee Chairpersons

“Any day spent with you is my

favorite day,

So today is my new favorite day”

Winnie the Pooh

CACCA Representative Bob Kruzic

Competition Chair Bob Kruzic

Community Involvement Coordinator Open

Company Contact Coordinator Mike Styrna

Continuing Education Coordinator Jim Ross

DPI Competition Coordinator Steve Cullen

Facilities Coordinator Bill Sullivan

Historian Egon Shein

Hospitality Desk Margie Hurwich

Judge Procurement Tony Roma

Long Term Planning Mike Trahan

Mentoring Program Coordinator Tracy Castro

Membership Coordinator Terry Ferguson

Newsletter Editor Ken Johnson

Photo Excursion Coordinator Debra Olson

Program Coordinator Stevan Tontich

PSA Representative Michelle Cox

PSA Photo Travel Coordinator Birgit Tyrrell

PSA Photojournalism Coordinator Linda Kruzic

PSA Projected Image Coordinator Bob Marx

PSA Nature Coordinator Mike Trahan

Webmaster John Rouse

Egon’s World



“Angel” - The Making Of The Favorite Photo Of My Career By Jerry Ghionis

If you were to ask me today (January 2013) what my own favorite photograph is, I would tell you that it is was the image

featured below. It represents everything I love in a photograph: beauty, symmetry, strong composition, rich tones, beautiful

lighting, symbolism, etc. This image was created at a real wedding, the wedding of John and Monika in December 2011. The

image is a metaphor of an angel sleeping on a cloud at the pearly gates. There are strong symbols and triangles that are

recognizable and consciously or sub consciously pleasing to the eye, namely the omega sign and the keyhole shape. When

you have been shooting for as long as I have, you sometimes wonder if your best shots are behind you. This photo reminds

me that the elusive iconic “wow” photo that all photographers strive for is worth fighting for. My best photo is in my future, but

for now this will do.

Reprinted with permission.

http://jerryghionisblog.com/2013/01/angel-the-making-of-the-favorite-photo-of-my-career.html

Jerry Ghionis is widely regarded as one of the top five best wedding photographers in the world. Jerry and his wife Melissa

are based in Melbourne, Australia and Beverly Hills, California, USA. With the flair of a fashion designer and the ingenuity of

an architect, his style can be described where vintage glamour meets contemporary fashion. Renowned for his creativity, his

natural love and empathy for people creates powerful visual story telling.

Use the this link to access the Ice Society, an online educational website at www.icesociety.com.

The Ice Society is a subscription-based photography educational website created by world renowned photographer Jerry

Ghionis dedicated to empowering fellow professionals and enthusiasts to take their photography and business to new

heights. A new chapter is added every month with all new material.

Jerry and Melissa have offered to provide all Lake County Camera Club members a special promo code (lakecounty), that

will provide $50 off the membership fee to the Ice Society.

© Jerry Ghionis

“Angel”

http://jerryghionisblog.com/2013/01/angel-the-making-of-the-favorite-photo-of-my-career.html

http://www.icesociety.com



My Favorite Photograph By Various Artists

When trying to select a favorite photograph, is it possible to be objective? As several members pointed out, a favorite

photograph may not be directly proportional to a best photograph. The word 'favorite' signifies 'special.' The following

photographs are special because they truly are the best of shared moments and shared photographs.

Margie Hurwich

In my short time of shooting photography (less than 8 years), I've shot thousands and

thousands of photos, many of which I absolutely love for one reason or another. But one

always captures my heart for two reasons. First and foremost it is a lovely photograph of

my daughter, Kimberly. And two, it conveys the type of photography I love to shoot, which

is a story telling image.

© Margie Hurwich

Jim Ross

This image was taken on a early morning outing with a fellow

LCCC member at the McDonald's Woods forest preserve in

Lindenhurst, Il. It was originally taken on film using my Canon

T90 camera and years later scanned from the negative to

digital. We were walking through the forest preserve trying to

shoot the prairies covered with dew. As we crossed the little

bridge between the ponds, a heavy fog rolled in and shrouded

everything. At the top of the hill, all we could see was this oak

tree surrounded with fog. The fog lasted a couple of hours until

the sun burned it off. I like the feeling of peace and the simple

composition of this image. I have a print at the top of the stairs

in our home. Everyone that sees it, wants to know about when

and where it was taken. I've had many requests from friends

for copies.

© Jim Ross

“Oak Tree in Fog”

Leslie Harris

This photo of grandson and grandpa is one of my

favorite family photos. It was a candid shot of

Zach telling grandpa something funny as they sat

on the glider last summer. It demonstrates the

closeness between the two of them.

It may not win an award except in my heart -

which is more important!!

© Leslie Harris

“Me and Gramps”

“Kimberly”

(continues on next page)



(continues from previous page)


Gary Smith

While hiking in the mountains on a beautiful sunny afternoon I paused

to look down into a pond. While standing there in awe of the rock

formations I had an urge to shoot something, as I was not seeing much

activity in the way of wildlife. It was then that I had a vanity attack,

which sadly took away my awareness of the wilderness I was in. I saw

a rock I could stand on which looked like a good place to pose. With

the camera on delay I set the focus on the rock I was to be on and

pressed the button. I hurried over to the rock and posed, unaware of

the approaching danger. It turned out to be my last photo.

© Gary Smith

Mike Trahan

Shortly after joining the club, I asked Margie Hurwich if a collage

could be submitted for a competition. I don't know why; I just asked.

She said yes, but no one had ever won with a collage (or no one had

submitted one -- can't remember). Right then, I decided someday I'd

submit a collage.

Awhile later, I was taking pictures of my granddaughter Natalie. She

definitely did not have a poker face. Her mother (my daughter Susan)

when faced with some of her expressions, had decided to make a

game of it. She taught Natalie to make the faces on command. So in

my picture taking, I had her run through her repertoire; happy face,

surprised face, angry face, snooty face. Here at last was the makings

of my collage. It took a bit of Photoshop work but when submitted for

the club, the image got a 25 and an award. Of course, it did merely

ok at CACCA; there must have been grumpy old men as judges that

day, but I love my picture.

“My Last Photograph”

© Mike Trahan

“Happy Face, Surprised Face, Angry Face, Snooty Face”

Egon Schein

This is technically a mess, but it was my FIRST roll of Kodachrome in 1946. It includes my

dad, older sis (who silkscreened THE tie, which my mom sewed), mom (she's the one with

the Pall Mall, unfiltered, of course), and little sis, the only survivor today. The camera was

a Kodak Bantam 828, possibly 1/100 f/5.6(?). The color held up well but the slide could

possibly have been cleaner when I scanned it. This was taken outside Temple Emanuel on

Buckingham Place in Chicago, which has since housed more than one other religion, and

is now an (upscale) residential building!

© Egon Schein



Mark Theriot

This picture has never done very well in competition - but it's

special to me and one of my favorites. After a long day at work,

the best stress reliever is to just get out to the peace and quiet of

nature - always with a camera in tow. After a particularly stressful

day, I took a long walk and just sat by one of my favorite

ponds. As usual, it was full of American Coots - very common and

not generally very photogenic.

This day was a little different though, one little Coot was just

catching hell from everybody - constantly getting attacked and

chased by all the others. I watched this go on for about twenty

minutes - feeling a bit of a bond with him giving the lousy day I had

at work. Swimming only about fifteen feet away from me - once

again getting chased, he had reached his fill and turned around. As Popeye would have said, "I stands all I can stands and

I can't stands no more" - and this little Coot had enough! Rearing back, he proceeded to give his aggressor one heck of

beating, eventually pushing him underwater and sent him packing. By the time it was over, I realized that my camera was

at my face, with a round of images captured. Getting ready for work the next day I thought about that little Coot, and put an

extra chip on my shoulder . . . it was going to be a good day.

© Mark Theriot

“American Coots”

John Rouse

This picture was taken with a Nikon Coolpix on

Thanksgiving Day. The grandkids had been a holy terror

all day. After a turkey dinner, they became our little

angles fast asleep on opposite ends of the couch. It isn't

an award winning picture, but it is one that is dear to our

hearts.

© John Rouse


Bob Marx

This photo is a composite of photo's taken when my dad and I were at

nearly the same age. Both photo's were in color, and with different

backgrounds. It's one of the pictures on my office wall.

© Bob Marx




Birgit Tyrrell

This is one of my favorite images. It is of my hand and my mom's hand. In January [2013]

she had a massive stroke and was only able to communicate by squeezing our hand

when we asked her to. We did not think she would survive, so I took this picture while she

laid in the hospital bed. She did make it and even though not able to speak or move her

right side, she is alive and in a nursing home now. It is hard to put into words -

expressing the emotion this image means to me; but love, strength, and bond are the

three that come to mind.

© Birgit Tyrrell

Michelle Cox

Selecting a favorite picture has to be quite a challenge to any

photographer. As I shoot, I have a "new favorite." However

when taking a look at what I've done over the years since I

joined Lake County, I fell in love with a couple images all over

again. Now to only choose one - it's very difficult.

Here's the story behind my image that I call Eve's Temptation.

My sister, Gail, had been telling and telling me about her friend's

place up by the Dells. Oh, it was a perfect bird heaven,

seemingly all types of rare birds just flocked to her friend's place.

Although I was a bit doubtful, I decided to make the drive. Gail

was going up the day before and would meet me at the house.

As I was driving to the Dells, I started imaging what great

images I would get! Oh boy, great competition pieces, new birds

to research and learn about, and being out in the beautiful

wooded area near the Dells. As I got closer, I remembered Gail

mentioning that a tornado had torn through the area a year or so

ago and her friend's place had been hit hard. I began to think my

expectations may be a bit high. When I pulled into the friend's property, you could tell the tornado had paid a visit to this

spot. Trees were broken off, ripped from the ground, and only one remained on the lot. I didn't see any birds (not even a

Redwing) but thought maybe my pulling in scared them off. I think in the birders' world there has to be a story equivalent to

the fisherman's giant fish that got away. The story for birders has to be that there just was an Oriole (or whatever bird you

are wanting to shoot this year) but it flew away a few minutes ago. Of course, never to reappear while you are in the area.

I was warmly greeted by Gail, her friend and Gail's Yorky, Blaze. I began to think no birds would be around with Blaze in

the neighborhood! Gail had an excited look about her and she asked me to quickly come into the backyard. Oh great, I

think, BIRDS that I can't see at home! She proudly shows me a dead blue snake she found while fishing. Right away she

thought about how great it would be for me to take photos of this little fella. I notice both of them are looking expectantly at

me. I see on their faces that they couldn't wait to see how I would photograph this snake. I looked around the yard where

only one tree was left standing. It was an apple tree with one piece of fruit on it! I asked if I could use the apple and was

told yes. The photography adventure was on! Hope you enjoy this picture as much as I do!


© Michelle Cox

“Eve’s Temptation”



Helen Mary Hahn


Linda O’Rourke

Whenever I think of my favorite photo, there are many

that come to mind, it is hard to single out a photo. But I

do know that this one is the first to come to my mind. It is

because it is a memory of the most fun vacation

excursion I have ever taken. We were in Alaska, on a

whale watching cruise excursion in 2009. Here I am not

expecting to see much when we come upon several pods

of Humpback Whales bubble feeding off the coast. Now

you have to imagine we are on a smallish boat, with about

20 other people. The day is cold, cloudy, on and off rain,

and the sea is not real calm. We are bopping up and

down turning from one direction to another to get a view

of something, a piece of a whale, a fin, just something.

The captain has a microphone in the water and we are

hearing the whales talk to each other, but no siting’s yet.

Then the most awesome circle of whales come up out of

the deep, and these babies are BBIIGG, and their mouths are open, to catch sardines for lunch. I am going from side to

side in the boat, front, back, left and right, and then I got it, this shot. It was exciting, thrilling and awesome, I had never

seen a whale before and now I have this photo and every time I look at it I relive the whole experience.


© Linda O’Rourke

Ron Hahn

I thought for a long time and reviewed may of my photographs, and I mean many! There

were many photos that I think are great for one reason or another. I thought more and

more about; what one photograph was meaningful to me?

I’ve selected a black and white photograph of my mother, Helen Mary Hahn. I was in my

early stages of learning how to take portrait photographs. Since I could only work with film

and developing darkroom prints, digital photography wasn't even an option. I was a senior

in high school learning photography by experience, trial and error. I was able to use a 4X5

press camera that I had purchased used. This camera took sheet film, another new

experience. I wondered, who could I take a portrait of while practicing? So I turned to my

family; mom, dad, grandmother and a few friends. My studio was in the basement with a

dark cloth for the backdrop. The lighting was two hardware store clamp-on light shields

with two photo daylight bulbs. The other challenge I had was that my enlarger would only

take a 2 1/4’ X 3 1/4’ negative. Since my camera back was 4” by 5” I had to make a paper

mask. I was very pleased with my first large format image of my mother. Lighting was

great, not over or under exposed. The larger format negative allowed me to have the sharpness that I wanted. As I looked

at this photo again in 2013, I was so pleased that I still had this wonderful image of my mother and I can see all her finer

physical features. I took this image of my mother in 1961. My mother passed away four years later. It has always been a

comforting feeling t look at her photograph that I took 52 years ago.

© Ron Hahn



Who Stole Whisky Bill? By Gary Smith

It was around 1985 when I first met Whisky Bill (1) in White Oaks, New Mexico. I was staying

about 70 miles from there with the Lake County Astronomical Society at the Gran Quivera

National Monument, our favorite observing site. I had read that White Oaks was an old mining

town in the 1870s and was now a ghost town, and that

spelled photo ops. to me. The local cemetery held Sheriff

Bell (2) who was killed by Billy the Kid. So one morning I

went there, passing through the deteriorating town of

Claunch, (3) to get the early sun. Claunch was one of many

shrinking towns in central New Mexico, which had

once prospered from agriculture. Sadly in the 40s

the weather pattern changed, causing the rains to

come too late for it to continue being the pinto bean

capital of the US. I would often stop at its post

office (4) to chat with some of the locals, it was

right across the highway from the school house

(5) built by the WPA in 1935.

On my first trip to White Oaks, a town

mentioned in the movie Young Guns, I

was taking a photo of an old mining

shack (6) when my buddy said a bar

down the road was open. Open?

At 9am? That began a long love affair

with the No Scum Allowed Saloon (7)

and the locals, one of whom was Whisky

Bill, a fella with a good voice and fine

guitar.

Around 2011 a new owner bought the

bar and he joked that Ol’ Bill kind’a

came along with it. Bill, who was slowly going

blind, got a little too drunk one night and fell off

a bar stool and broke his arm, which ended his

strumming for a while. But the arm healed and

Bill started playing his guitar once again (8)

when all of a sudden he was gone. The new

owner told me that some woman up in

Claunch stole him, about 55 miles from White

Oaks. When on my next trip down there I

stopped by the Claunch post office and was talking with some of the locals (9)

when one of the women (the gal in blue) mentioned her man was at the blind

school. I put two and two together and I looked her square in the eye and said,

“You, you are the gal who stole Whisky Bill.” Ha, she responded, “Yes I

am.” We all had a good laugh and she told me of the abduction. Berlene said her husband had died and she began to visit

the No Scum bar where she met Bill and they began to talk’n, and such, when she offered to take him home for a gourmet

dinner. She had run gourmet schools in California and lived next to John Wayne where her husband taught many on the

show “Dancing with the Stars” to dance. Her story was, “It was going to be Bill’s 73rd birthday and I offered to cook him a

gourmet dinner, so I just brought him home and never took him back.” Just call me Sherlock.

Documents

Favorite Things and Photographs › Newsletters › lccc2013jun.pdf · Often, the shots that we think are going to be the best at the time of the shoot just don't pop, but a shot