Mike is going to share with us photographs from his time in the Army as well as his time as a photo journalist.
Molly Wood is a photographer based in Des Moines, Iowa. Her images use botanicals as metaphors for personal experiences and explore the interplay between modern technologies and art history. While using recent digital advances in photography, all of her images are styled using only natural window light with traditional Dutch still life paintings in mind.
Her series Fatal Flora features plants used for centuries for sustenance, medicine and later associated with witchcraft. These botanicals act as stand-ins for the complexity and duality of experiences in life that can be part healing and part toxic. Wood’s Omnia Vanitas series is a continuation of her interest in art historical references and focuses on memento mori vignettes of botanicals and symbols of ephemerality. These quiet tableaux serve as reminders of impermanence and mortality while still celebrating the beauty of the physical world.
Wood earned an undergraduate degree in Photojournalism at TCU in Ft Worth, Texas and then went on to get a Master’s in Art History focusing on photography from SMU in Dallas. She manages large commercial photo shoots at Dotdash Meredith Corporation for Better Homes and Gardens products.
Wood has held solo exhibitions at the Sioux City Art Center, the Dubuque Museum of Art, and Iowa State University. She has been included in exhibitions at the Figge Museum of Art, the Colorado Center for Photography (Denver), the Center for Fine Art Photography (Ft Collins, CO), the Southeast Center for Photography (Greenville, SC), the Midwest Center for Photography (Wichita), and the Kansas City Society of Contemporary Photography. Wood was the subject of a cover article in the July/August 2018 issue of DSM Magazine and was named one of five Iowa Arts Council Fellows in 2018. Her work is in the corporate collections of J.P. Morgan Chase, Banker’s Trust, Farm Bureau and Principal Group as well as the permanent collection of the Sioux City Art Center.
Join us as we welcome Rachel Mummey as our guest speaker.
About Rachel:
I’m a photographer based in Des Moines, Iowa. I’m a storyteller at heart. I’ve been taking photos in some form or fashion for nearly 20 years! My journey has taken me worldwide before finally returning to my Iowa roots. I’ve ridden in military helicopters, followed cowboys on cattle roundups, photographed the past five presidents, and met various characters along the way. My most significant honor has been the opportunity to document the most precious moments in the lives of people in my community.
I’ve worked at notable publications, including The Virginian-Pilot, The Palm Beach Post, The Dubois County Herald, and National Geographic Magazine. My work has been published by National Geographic, TIME, The New York Times, Washington Post, Reuters, Bloomberg, MSNBC, PBS, The Wall Street Journal, AARP, and Education Week. Articles about me and my photography have appeared in Photo District News and News Photographer magazines and online at The New York Times Lens Blog, Multimedia Muse, Harvard University’s Nieman Storyboard, and Kobré Guide websites.
I studied at the University of Iowa and have a Master’s in Visual Communication from Ohio University. I’ve received awards from the National Press Photographer’s Association, Pictures of the Year International, College Photographer of the Year, Indiana News Photographer’s Association, and the Iowa Newspaper Foundation. I received the 2010 Kit King Scholarship from the National Press Photographers Foundation.
I enjoy cooking, camping, canoeing, and riding bikes. I live with my husband, John, and dog Hera in Des Moines.
Mike will be presenting via ZOOM and we will project at Lion’s Club. You must be in attendance at Lion’s Club to hear his presentation.
The Properly Equipped Macro Photographer
Being a properly equipped macro photographer is not just about the equipment, but also equipping yourself with the how-to knowledge of macro photography. Mike will cover the most important equipment for macro photography, how to control depth of field, composition, and finding character in your subjects.
Mike’s Bio
Mike Moats is an international award-winning full time pro macro photographer from Michigan. He is a Tamron Pro Team Member, Vanguard Pro, and his articles and images have been published in many photo magazines for over 18 years. He has a Macro Photo Club online with over 2,800 members, from 28 countries. Mike teaches workshops and speaks at photo conference throughout the US.
What started out as a hobby in 2013, photography has now turned into a passion for Fort Dodge, Iowa native Justin Rogers. Currently residing in Ankeny, Iowa with his wife Jonah, son Jameson and daughters June and Jersie, Justin is self-employed as a web developer by day and a photographer by night. His somewhat flexible schedule allows him to depart at a moment’s notice anytime a photographic opportunity presents itself. “It’s all about chasing the light,” says Justin. “You could sit in one spot all day long and capture entirely different moods of the same scene due to the constantly changing light. The light can make or break an image.”
Most of Justin’s work consists of rural Iowa landscapes or Des Moines cityscapes but given the right time of year you can also find him photographing wildlife. When he isn’t out making new images, he enjoys leading or assisting in the teaching of local photography workshops. “A friend of mine jump-started my career as a photographer and I now enjoy sharing my passion with others. My only regret is that I didn’t start photography sooner but fortunately this is something I can do the rest of my life as well as teach my children about it as well as the great outdoors.”
Sandwiched between Russia, China, and Kazakhstan, is Mongolia - a beautiful country noted for its nomadic people and culture. These nomads, who are superb horsemen, celebrate a time-honored tradition of hunting with trained Golden Eagles from horseback, for fox and hare. Join nature photographer and world traveler Ty Smedes as he narrates a slide presentation exploring the Mongolian countryside, while experiencing the rich culture as a guest of local nomadic people. We'll also journey far to the south of the country, to explore the Flaming Cliffs, and renowned Gobi Desert, where seemingly endless sand dunes and the Bactrian Camel herders reign.
About Ty:
Ty’s photos have been published by many major magazines and book publishers. He specializes in landscape, wildlife, and prairie wildflower images. As a feature writer for the Iowa DNR’s Iowa Outdoors Magazine, his goal is to write and photograph many of the lesser known birds, animals, and places. Ty has taught nature photography classes and is as an experienced Photo-Tour leader, having led nature photography tours to Yellowstone and Teton parks, as well as the Eastern Sierras, during the fall season. He was also co-leader of a nature photography tour to Brasil in 1996 and has led nature photography tours to East Africa in 2005, 2008, and 2010, Botswana in 2006, 2013, and 2014, and Zambia in 2016. Antarctic and near Antarctic travel includes the Falklands, South Georgia Island, and the Antarctic Peninsula in 2014, with a return trip to South Georgia Island in 2015. A tour of West Papua New Guinea followed in 2017. Information regarding Ty’s three books - “Capturing Iowa’s Seasons,” “The Return of Iowa’s Bald Eagles – 2nd Edition,” and “Iowa’s Wild Beauty” can be found on his website at www.smedesphoto.com.
Capture What You Feel... Through the Experience of Architecture Photography
“Textures of Nature” - A Philosophy and a Workshop Series
Throughout my life as an artist and creator, among the subjects that have most interested me are the intimate aspects of the natural world: the patterns, textures, and colors found in the multitude of environments of nature. But for a long period of my life creating nature and natural history images, I primarily focused on interesting patterns and vivid colors in my photography. In reality, as a color-blind photographer suffering what’s known as a “red-green color deficiency,” to some extent the vivid colors were my subjects because they were the only ones I saw.
But I often felt much of my work was cliché - just more of the pretty flowers, summer postcard landscapes, and vibrant macro imagery everyone else was making. To move in a different direction I could instead shoot black-and-white, and bypass the color, and I often did that. But moreso, I pushed myself to do more work at times of the year during which colors aren’t really vivid at all. Even at times when the colors are considered by most to be dull and drab. And to venture into environments where vivid colors simply aren’t found.
What I found was a beauty in the tones of grey and brown, as well as in the muted shades of the colors that I had long cursed as “the only ones I could see” (as well as the “I know this is brown or green, or maybe deep red, I just don’t know which” colors). I began concentrating on the textures of nature, moreso than simply patterns and colors, as a foundation of the portfolios I was building.
This approach became a major force in my natural history photography, and also forced me to more deeply immerse myself in the principals of art and design, as I was no longer relying on the colors, the patterns, or the tonal range of a B/W image to carry the photograph.
As a longtime photo workshop instructor moving through this process, at some point I envisioned a series of photography workshops focused on this concept. Finally in the fall of 2021 I offered my first “Textures of Autumn: Artistry in Nature” workshop, and in spring 2022 “Textures of Spring: Artistry in Nature.”
I learned a lot in my initial two offerings of these workshops, and for 2023 I’ve almost completely overhauled the teaching approach I’ll use.
My presentation to the club will discuss and illustrate with images my “Textures of Nature” concept, and I’ll talk a bit about my current one-day “Textures” workshops and future plans for the series.
About Mark:
Mark S. Peterson is a professional photographer from Ames, Iowa. His photographs appear in magazines, books, national advertising campaigns, and corporate and non-profit annual reports. His client list includes such diverse organizations as Anheuser-Busch, Better Homes & Gardens Special Interest Publications, and The Farm Journal Foundation. His fine-art photographs have been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in art galleries and public spaces throughout the Midwest, and appear in private and corporate art collections in the U.S. and Europe. Peterson has also been an art exhibit juror for The Iowa Arts Council, The Iowa State Fair, Iowa State University, Octagon Center for the Arts, and others.
Peterson has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Simpson College, and an MBA from The University of Iowa. Among Peterson’s interests when not photographing, is teaching photography through his Peterson Photo Workshops events and for other organizations. Peterson’s work can be seen at www.mpetersonphoto.com.
"Embracing the Process, Practicing Gratitude: Learning to See Beauty in the Small Things"
Using stories and lessons from her own journey, Shari will share how embracing the creative process allowed her inner artist, abandoned for decades, to emerge again and how a gratitude challenge led her to find - and photograph - beauty in the small things.
About Shari: Shari Miller is a photographer with a passion for seeking beauty in our ordinary, everyday lives. Through her work, she invites others to see more of the beauty that exists in the world around them, in others, and within themselves. She considers photography a contemplative practice and believes that the process of seeking beauty and meaning through photographic imagery can lead us on a path to greater self-discovery. Shari enjoys photographing ice, fallen leaves, feathers, leaves, acorns, wildflowers, and other small bits of nature she finds around a lake near her home.
Join us as Matthew shares his expertise in his fabulous sports photography and more!
Check out his work at matthewputney.com
About Matthew:
My Journey
My love and fascination with photography started at Johnston High School when I agitated an 8x10 print in developer revealing the magic of the dark room. As I looked for outlets for my passion I found the school newspaper and yearbook a very welcoming fit as well as freelancing for local papers.
Waterloo
I have spent the last 15 years working at the Waterloo Courier (Lee Enterprise newspaper) as a staff photojournalist and photo editor. In 2006 I graduated from Hawkeye Community College with an Associate of Applied Arts degree in Professional Photography.
Back to Des Moines
With the endless opportunities the metro provides as well as my family ties, I have moved to Des Moines to continue my photography business. I’m currently employed in sales at Christian Photo. I have a few more new adventures in the works so follow me on Twitter.
Please note! This meeting will now be via ZOOM only!
The Art and Beauty of Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) Photography
Stephanie Johnson is an ICM and Creative Photographer, and in her presentation “The Art and Beauty of Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) Photography” she shares her ICM work and talks about her journey from traditional landscape photographer to focusing primarily on ICM photography. Stephanie has a deep love, joy, and passion for the individually expressive nature of ICM and encourages photographers to ‘see things differently’ through the lens of their cameras, as well as through the lens of their inner creative selves.
ICM photography allows photographers to express their creativity uniquely through the making of images that reveal it is not always necessary to travel to all the iconic grand-scale landscapes in order to create beautifully artistic work with the camera. The art and beauty of ICM photography is that, by seeing things differently, we can connect with the ordinary, and even the mundane, to transform how we interact with our surroundings...to explore, experiment, and play with the camera in exciting new ways, resulting in images that are unique to each individual photographer.
In this talk, Stephanie covers some of the basic ICM principles and techniques, along with sample images to show the effects of various camera movements and the camera settings for each. Additionally, several examples showing scenes before and after using ICM will be shared, as well as a short field work video to show some of the camera movements Stephanie uses in different location settings. Stephanie also touches on some more advanced ICM techniques in this presentation, as well.
Stephanie Johnson Bio
Stephanie is a self-taught photographer, and she honed her ICM technique by getting out to do the work as often as possible. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and graduate work in English Literature and has always had a very strong emotional connection to the natural world and to art in all its various forms. Stephanie has a deep passion for creating uniquely artistic images by working with camera movement to paint how any given scene feels for her in the moment. She brings an inter-connected, creative, and intuitive approach to her photography-as-art to visually express the essence of light, color, form, line, texture, mood, emotion, and more.
Stephanie is the Founder, Creator, and Publisher of ICM Photography Magazine (ICMPhotoMag)...a first-of-its-kind e-magazine dedicated solely to featuring ICM images, articles, reviews, interviews, tips, and tutorials, by ICM photographers and artists around the world, in a quarterly feature packed digital format.
The past five years of Stephanie’s photographic career has been solely dedicated to ICM work, and she has a strong desire to build a larger community around it...one that will also help give exposure and voice to other photographers who have been dedicated to perfecting their own ICM techniques.
Stephanie’s personal website can be found at www.stephjohnphoto.com.
Social Media –
www.facebook.com/stephjohnphoto
Becoming a Better Wildlife Photographer and Photographing Wildlife Around the Globe
This presentation is for individuals that want to take their wildlife photography to the next level. Hector will share the techniques that he uses while in the field photographing wildlife. Perspective, camera settings, reaction time, and composing in camera are some of the topics he will discuss with us. He will share how he photographs and how he plans ahead of a photo outing. This process has made him very successful in creating his wildlife images. He will share the images he creates at home in Texas and many of the wonderful places he visits like Africa, Scandinavia and Latin America.
Biography
Hector D. Astorga is a full-time wildlife photographer based in South Texas. His love of nature and the outdoors began as a child in his native country, Honduras. He is the ranch manager at the Santa Clara Ranch, a photography ranch that hosts wildlife photographers from all over the globe. He also leads and conducts photography tours & workshops at multiple locations in North, Central, and South America, Scandinavia, and Africa.
In 2019 his image of a Three-toed Sloth w/ baby won the prestigious Nature’s Best Windland Smith Rice International Awards Wildlife Category. With over 25,000 entries from photographers in 63 different countries the Nature’s Best competition is one of the premier nature photography competitions in the world. He is also a six-time Grand Prize winner of the Wildlife in Focus and Valley Land Fund Photography competitions. From 2008 thru 2017 he won 1st Grand Prize four times, 2nd Grand Prize once and also has a 3rd Grand Prize finish. He won top honors in the 2009 National Wildlife Federation Photography Contest and in the 2012 Rocky Mountain Outdoor Writers and Photographers Photography competition. In 2016, one of his images was selected as a “Best of Show” by the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) in their Annual Showcase competition. His images have been in the Top NANPA Showcase awards for the last eight years in a row.
His work is featured in Nature’s Best Magazine, Audubon Magazine, National Wildlife Federation Magazine, Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, National Geographic Guide Books, Ranger Rick Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Quail Unlimited, and other national and regional publications
In 2020 Hector was named one of the “We Will Not Be Tamed” Ambassadors for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. The Ambassadors are a group of remarkable Texan outdoorsmen and women who stand together and tell their stories about Texas, the place that has given them so much. He uses his photography for many conservation projects around the state.
Description of presentation:
While black and white photography may seem questionable in a world of unlimited color, it's an opportunity to explore many creative options. We'll talk about the advantages and disadvantages of both color and black and white photography, the importance of tonal values, hints on becoming more aware of them, and emphasizing them using Lightroom's post-processing tools.
Join us as we welcome back Ty Smedes for his new presentation.
Raptors of the Midwest
This presentation contains lots of biology, along with both portrait and flight photos of nearly every species that lives in the Midwest, or migrates through. You’ll also receive tips on where to find various species, and techniques for photographing birds on the wing.
Making Compelling Nature Photos
Join pro photographer Ian Plant as he shares some of his favorite photos from his travels around the world, as well as the stories behind the images. Ian will discuss his favorite techniques for making compelling landscape and wildlife photos that stand out from the crowd and get noticed. You'll gain a better understanding of visual design and the creative use of light and moment in photography.
Join us for a stunning presentation by Lake Superior photographer, Christian Dalbec. Christian will share a little of how he became a photographer as well as how he decided to pursue water photography.
Bio:
Christian Dalbec is a Lake Superior Photographer known for being ‘In and around the lake.’ Leaving behind a life of alcoholism, Christian found photography to be a healthier obsession. “So many years were wasted sitting at a bar stool and looking at the insides of buildings. Going outside and photographing, I see beauty everywhere I turn.”
While photography might be the more expensive addiction, he says his life is better than it’s ever been. He began experimenting with underwater and wave captures over 7 years ago. Being the original water photographer in Lake Superior (one of the coldest lakes in the country) you can usually find Christian photographing some of the area’s most beautiful sights from IN that water. Whether it is a gorgeous sunrise or sunset, waterfalls or icicles, surfing shots, and more, Christian shows the Lake in all her glory spring, summer, fall and winter! He finds joy in capturing those moments in time that will never be seen again.
Follow along on the journey by checking out Christian Dalbec Photography on Facebook, Instagram or visiting online at inandaroundthelake.com.
Visit his website and be prepared to be amazed!
christiandalbec.com
Join us as Eric gives us insight on how he captures the image - from the technical side to finding the wildlife.
About Willard:
My name is Willard Sharp and I’m a storm chaser, landscape, weather, and night skies photographer. I love being outside, enjoying nature and all of its beauty. I’ve been a weather enthusiast my entire life. With a strong interest in weather I started chasing storms in the mid 1990’s and over the years my storm chasing passion has grown, which in turn has spawned my interest for photography.
When I’m not at work in the IT field as a network engineer, you can often times find me out with my camera looking for that next perfect shot. I became fond of photography in 2012 as I started looking for ways to improve my photos during my storm chase adventures. During that time period I discovered astrophotography. I saw all the cool photos of the Milky Way and star trails and I said to myself, “I need to try that!” When I started astrophotography a couple of years ago, I quickly became hooked.
From Mark:
It sneaks up on you. I realized today that I have spent nearly forty years (almost two-thirds of my life) documenting middle America. I have a special interest in the Flint Hills region of eastern Kansas—4.5 million acres that represent one of the last significant stands of tallgrass prairie in North America. Just eighty miles or so at its widest, this narrow oval of land, bisecting Kansas and extending into Oklahoma, is all that remains of a diverse prairie ecosystem that once stretched from Canada to Texas, and from the Great Plains to the forests of the East. According to the Nature Conservancy, less than four percent of the world’s tallgrass prairie remains—and most of that is in Kansas.
Saved from the plow by a layer of “flinty” rock lying just beneath the surface, this last little bit of lush, protein-rich, bluestem prairie is one of the most economical places in the world to add weight to livestock. It is estimated that more than a million head of cattle are fattened here each summer. As has been the case since the earliest days of statehood, it is a ranching economy that underpins the Flint Hills, and it is the stockman who serves as the principal steward of the land.
My journey of discovery began innocently enough—with a borrowed film camera and a desire to learn something of my family’s history. How I tumbled from a long weekend in the Flint Hills into four decades of photography, publishing, and advocacy is beyond me! But I wouldn’t trade it.
In 1996 I cofounded The Konza Press with an express mission of promoting the “people, places and rich history of Kansas” and I have coauthored a handful of books on Kansas and the Flint Hills. We have a sister company to the press, the Konza Art Company, that deals in corporate and institutional art. In 1997 I launched Emil Redmon’s Cow, a long-term effort to collect stories from the farm and ranch.
Links:
www.TheKonzaPress.com
www.FlintHillsAnthology.com
www.RedmonsCow.org
Abstracts with Impact:
Abstracts are the poetry of photography. They allow your imagination and your creativity to soar. Abstracts allow you to incorporate line, shape, form, and color to create images that are unique and artistic. And it allows you to be completely free of rules or restrictions. This program will show you how to find abstract subjects, plus how to create beautiful images from ordinary things you see every day. You will be taken step-by-step through the creative process. You will see the basic scene or subject, and then the resulting abstract image. You will learn how to find abstracts in a variety of subjects including cars, water, birds, flowers, landscapes, shells, glassware, and more. This program will open your eyes to all the creative possibilities around us. Learn how to turn basic things we see every day into compelling images that will catapult your photography to a higher level.
About Mollie:
Mollie Isaacs is a professional photographer who specializes in Nature, Wildlife, Flowers, and Abstracts. She is passionate about photography, and loves nothing more than to share that passion by teaching others. Early in her career she studied with Ansel Adams and Joyce Tenneson. She has won the Kodak Gallery Award 14 times, considered by some to be the “Oscar” of photography. Her work is in the Permanent Collection of the International Photography Hall of Fame, and has been exhibited at Epcot Center in Disney World, and Grand Central Terminal in NYC. She runs Awake The Light Photo Workshops & Tours, offers online Webinars, and personally leads photo workshops around the country and beyond. Read more about her and see her work on www.awakethelight.com
Landscapes:
The fundamental underpinnings of a well-composed landscape shot takes into account three concepts: simplicity, flow and relationships. Within those concepts, the landscape photographer explores space, lines, color theory, balance, how a viewer's eye moves through the shot, and how the different parts of a photo echo, contrast or expand upon each other. Combine those ideas with lens choices, tripod heights and the ideas of how to approach a composition as a painting instead of a photo and you get Bryan's methods for landscape composition.
About Bryan:
Bryan Hansel is an award-winning professional landscape photographer and outdoor educator. He has over 30 years of photography experience with over 100 publication credits from publications such as National Geographic, Outdoor Photographer, Lake Superior Magazine, Ocean Paddler, Canoe and Kayak Magazine, Backpacker Magazine and many more. In 2018, he received Lake Times Magazine’s Best Photographer in Minnesota award. An outdoor educator and guide at heart, Bryan decided to share his passion for outdoor photography and started a photography workshop program in 2006. His programs take students to the best and often unknown locations in the northland and across the nation to many National Parks. He lives in Grand Marais, Minnesota.
Description of presentation:
While black and white photography may seem questionable in a world of unlimited color, it's an opportunity to explore many creative options. We'll talk about the advantages and disadvantages of both color and black and white photography, the importance of tonal values, hints on becoming more aware of them, and emphasizing them using Lightroom's post-processing tools.
Join us as we welcome guest speaker, Colleen Miniuk, as she presents her “Finding Your Creative Voice” to our Club. This will include her Artist in Residence at Acadia NP and some other adventures.
From Colleen’s website:
“I'm a Corporate-America-escapee turned full-time freelance outdoor photographer, writer, publisher, instructor, and motivational speaker, supporting a wide range of assignments for editorial and commercial clients. Specializing in nature and outdoor recreation, my purpose as an outdoor communicator is to inspire and help others enjoy the Great Outdoors.”
“I currently reside in Chandler, Arizona, but growing up in Ohio, Arkansas, and Illinois, I never intended to become an outdoor communicator...”
“In 1997, armed with a Bachelor of Business Administration-Computer Information Systems degree from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (GO BLUE!), I moved to Phoenix, Arizona to begin a 10-year project management career in software development at Intel Corporation.”
“Initially as an outlet to corporate life, I began making photographs of the Western landscapes in late 2001 during my "Introduction to Photography" class at the Chandler-Gilbert Community College. Two years later, I started selling my photographs at art shows across Arizona. In 2006, I had my first photograph published in a magazine. Then, in February 2007, I left the grey cubicle walls of Corporate America to pursue a full-time career in photography and writing. Now, I can't imagine life wandering without a camera or a notebook in hand!”
Check out her website:
http://www.cms-photo.com/index.htm
(Photo credit: Ivan Martinez (ivanmartinezphotography.com)
Setting up a landscape photograph is not complicated and is the subject of many articles in magazines, Web sites, and books. This presentation, however, will look beyond the basic skills of setting up a landscape photo and discuss concepts to encourage us to expand on how we look not only at landscape photography, but other types of photograph as well.
I’ll bring up for discussion topics such as: creating connections, limitations, why we photograph, and environmental impacts of landscape photography. There will be opportunities to touch on equipment, composition, and locations with the idea of building on our technical foundations to expand how we approach a landscape photograph.
Larry’s Background:
My early interest in photography turned into 14 years of working in various roles at several newspapers. Leaving journalism also left me without a specific reason to photograph until a trip to Banff National Park in Canada sparked my interest in landscape photography. Since then, landscape photography has become my connection with nature. Being out in the landscape – especially by myself and early in the morning – is a soothing, almost meditative, experience. In a world of jangling cell phones and hectic schedules, I feel it’s important to share that feeling through my photographs.
However, at one point my landscape photography hit a dead end. To “restart” myself, I spent four years photographing churches in Iowa resulting in a project called “Places of Spirit and Light”. The insights I gained from that project provided a fresh approach to landscape photography.
Since 2003, my work has been in numerous juried art shows and exhibits; curated into several national exhibits, and has appeared in four LensWork publications.
Winging It - Completing a Photo Assignment When Everything Goes Wrong
Over years of commercial and editorial photography for clients ranging from financial services institutions to internationally-circulated newsstand magazines to beer companies, I’ve encountered numerous situations where things went wrong on assignment. Some situations have been merely frustrating. Some have been frightening. Some have been nothing short of hilarious. On a few occasions, it has seemed as though everything that could go wrong, went wrong. In fact, I’ve sometimes thought wilderness survival might be easier than some photo assignments, and I’m often reminded of Yvon Chouinard’s (founder of Patagonia) famous quote about mountaineering: “It isn’t an adventure until something goes wrong.” This is very true in assignment photography.
In every case, regardless of what transpires on set or on location, every client still expects world-class photographs, delivered on time and under budget.
During this presentation, I’ll share some humorous stories and behind-the-scenes photos of occasions where “everything went wrong” on assignment, and I'll discuss a slightly different form of photographic creativity: the art of winging it in photography. That is, thinking fast and creatively on-the-fly to solve problems and keep a photography project from either spiraling out of control or falling on its face. This may mean on-the-spot changes of logistics or talent, scavenging or building make-shift props well beyond “the last minute,” or even being forced to rely on what I simply call "unplanned experimental photography.”
But whatever the case, “winging it” requires creative thinking in and of itself. We’ll discuss some keys to creatively keeping a photographic assignment, self-assignment, or project on-track in the face of unplanned challenges.
Mark’s Background:
Mark’s photographic experience has spanned the full gamut of photography over his career: from early days as the sole staff photographer at a small college public relations office, to years as a fine-art photographer selling photographic artwork on the regional art festival circuit, to roles as principal staff photographer for advertising agencies, to many years of freelancing. Mark produced and sold stock travel images via multiple stock agencies and has executed a number of gallery shows over the years. His fine art images hang in public and private photography collections in the US and in Europe.
About Nic Stover
Nic Stover was raised in the high mountains of Western Colorado on a single magazine subscription to National Geographic and only 5 television channels, where the only shows his family regularly watched were Nature (PBS) and the Tour De France. It was here that his love for adventure, the outdoors, and photography took shape.
Stover is based in San Luis Obispo, California and focuses on landscape photography classes and workshops encouraging his class participants to Develop their skills, Explore their capabilities, and to Create meaningful work.
Nic Stover Photography exists to help photographers understand the unique perspectives that assist in the discovery of their capabilities, while enabling a deeper connection with themselves and others through creative expression. Through his classes, webinars, tutorials, and presentations Nic works with people of all ages, backgrounds, experiences, and desires focused around a dialog on how we can thrive in our own unique creative and artistic process.
His landscape photography work has taken him across the globe — from the backcountry of Greenland, to the windswept mountains of Patagonia, and the frigid extremes of Alaska. His portfolio of work encompasses desert, ocean, night, and mountain photography. Nic also enjoys showcasing the amazing the places that are unique to the Central Coast, from sea caves to sand dunes, and its dramatic coastal landscapes. Additional information can be found at www.stoverphoto.com
A Passion for Wildlife Photography, the Stories Behind the Images
This talk is based on my more than 35 plus years’ experience photographing wildlife and covers the requirements, strategies, techniques, and equipment required to capture engaging images of animals in their natural habitat. Included is information on lighting and composition, plus locating, attracting, and approaching wildlife. The program is interwoven with some entertaining stories behind some of the images. Photos from my recent urban wildlife projects acquired during the COVID19 crisis are included.
BIO
For more than 35 years, I have shared my photographic experiences and love of nature with thousands of individuals through more than 300 photo classes, workshops, lectures, and tours in both the U.S. and abroad including Kenya, Iceland, Newfoundland, the Falkland Islands, the Brazilian Pantanal, South Dakota Badlands, Bosque del Apache, Chincoteague NWR, Tangier Island, etc. Program sponsors have included zoos, nature centers, camera clubs, and conservation organizations such as National Wildlife Federation and the Assateague Island Alliance. For many years, I have taught photography classes at Johns Hopkins University and other educational institutions and have written “How To” articles on nature photography for national publications such as Outdoor Photographer and Birding. My images have appeared in magazines, calendars, and books published by National Wildlife Federation, Natural History Society, Audubon, and Sierra Club. Credits include the book, “Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, an Ecological Treasure.”
Join us as we welcome guest speaker Jennifer Renwick.
Jennifer will share and discuss what slow photography is and how practicing slow photography has helped her create more impactful and fulfilling nature photography. She will share her insights using examples from her journeys through the landscape and discuss how to create more meaningful imagery that connects with the viewer. She will introduce the process of slow photography, discuss expressive photography, storytelling, and how to curate photo projects to tell a complete story.
From Jennifer’s website:
“My love affair and fascination with nature started at a very young age, and it was during this time, I developed an innate curiosity with the natural world around me. I usually had my nose buried in books about the ocean, rocks, or animals growing up, eager to learn anything I could. Before diving into the world of nature photography, I received my degree in Geology and then continued on to work in Veterinary Medicine for 14 years. During my college years studying geology, I was introduced to the American West and its mountains and immediately fell in love. Every chance I could conceive I traveled west and picked up a camera along the way to capture the rugged landscapes to share with others and admire from my home in the Midwest. After some soul searching, I took the plunge into full-time photography three years ago and moved out west. I haven't looked back since, now enjoying my new creative freedoms with a camera in hand.”
“I am now based in Colorado but travel full-time in a travel trailer with my partner David Kingham teaching photography workshops, exploring and photographing the American West. I extend my photography passion to my students by helping them to become visual storytellers by expressing themselves through their imagery and teaching them how to connect with their subjects from behind their lenses.”
“While I enjoy photographing landscapes, my real passion is focusing on the smaller details in those landscapes. Every grand landscape has many stories and nuances that make up the larger picture, and each of these deserves their moment to shine. I enjoy practicing slow photography and being a visual storyteller. Whether I'm photographing dolphins in the ocean or positioned over a natural abstract in the desert, my goal is the same. I strive to make compelling photos that not only trigger emotions and feelings but, more importantly, help bring awareness to the inspiring but delicate natural world we live in.”
Check out Jennifer’s website:
https://www.jenniferrenwick.com/
Photo Planning with PhotoPills
In a live online presentation hosted by the Des Moines Camera Club, Tim Grey will share his top tips for using the PhotoPills app for planning a wide variety of aspects of sunrise and sunset photography. Tim will also address questions from those who attend the live online presentation.
ABOUT TIM:
Tim Grey is a highly respected educator in photography and digital imaging, offering clear guidance on complex subjects through his writing and speaking.
Tim has written eighteen books on a variety of subjects related to photography, has published over two hundred training courses, and has hundreds of articles published in magazines such as Digital Photo Pro and Outdoor Photographer, among others.
For more than eighteen years Tim has been answering questions from photographers in his daily Ask Tim Grey eNewsletter. He also produces the GreyLearning video training library. He teaches through hands-on workshops and presents at a variety of events around the world.
Summary of the presentation:
Let's dive into the challenging world of food and product photography. You don’t need a studio to take professional-grade still photographs! We will cover the fundamentals of photographing still objects, products, food, and more, as I show you how to create and tailor your own lighting setup — on any budget. We will cover how to optimize your lighting setup for your needs, and even learn to shoot glassware and other tricky products! Whether your goal is to make an eye-catching food blog or just to expand your photographic skill-set, Mark Stoltenberg will help you improve your food and product photography skill set.
From Mark:
I am Mark Stoltenberg, an award winning “fine art nature” photographer, photography instructor, speaker and owner of Mark Stoltenberg Photography. I am a self-taught photographer with over 40 years’ experience creating images. In 2008, I went full time. During the past 9 years, I have been teaching photography classes and have inspired over 450 adult students to explore and expand their camera knowledge and image making skills.
Awards: Ames Community Art Council’s “Art Educator of the Year 2015” and numerous awards at various art festivals throughout Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
I'm available for speaking engagements or assignment work. I am also available to teach private or small group lessons, Real Estate Photography, High School Senior Photography, Family Photography, Artist Jury Images, and Business / Website Photography.
Photography class information and registration is available at https://mark-stoltenberg-photography.square.site/ You can contact me via email at mark@markstoltenbergphoto.com
This program comes from my observation of those whom I photograph with or teach in a workshop. I have witnessed their struggle to discover worthy images. As with all of my programs, it is also autobiographical in that I have the same struggles. These struggles come from what I call F.U.D. or fears, uncertainty and doubts. Once we encounter F.U.D., it becomes difficult to find something to photograph. The intent of this program is to address the F.U.D. and suggest ideas as to how we can overcome it. I will share concepts, ideas, and images designed to build confidence or inspire any level of photographer. At the end of the presentation, I will show 7 personal “discoveries” in an effort to cement the concepts discussed
Check out his website:
https://johnbarclayphotography.com/
