October 2023

From the President... 

As we anticipate the opportunities and events of the upcoming season, it is comforting to reflect on the progress our Club has made in the past few years. We survived the disruptions of the pandemic and successfully completed the redesign of the club's facility. I am excited about the start of this new season and encourage all members to come in and check out the new facility and to take advantage of all the club has to offer.

Many member volunteers make all this possible. We currently are looking for volunteers to fill the roles of Supply Coordinator and Name Tag Coordinator. We also are looking for members to volunteer as back-ups or apprentices for the critical positions of Systems Administrator, Educational Chair, Newsletter Editor, Membership Coordinator and Monitor Committee Coordinator. And we always welcome new monitor volunteers, they are vital to keeping the club open for all members. Your help is needed. Please contact me, tell me which function interests you and I will get you in touch with the right person.

Now, continuing my review of Thomas Ang's book Photography, The Definitive Visual History, here are some highlights events between 1940-1959.

The largest intellectual and artistic exodus in history occurred in Europe in the years preceding and following World War II. To the advantage of the United States and Britain in particular, writers, playwrights, artists, and photographers almost immediately left Europe's cultural centers. This talent-based distribution led to a boom of photography. The strength and influence of photography increased. Small cameras, high-sensitivity film, and half-tone prints all contributed to the transition of moderate civilization into a primarily visual culture where news and information are conveyed through photographs rather than words.

But it was a time when all was not well. A turbulent world was too much for photographers to ignore. Their photographs brought the horrors of war into people's homes through magazines and newspapers. For the first time photographs of malnutrition, disease, and poverty exposed the world to realistic, detailed depictions of man's inhumanity to man.

Increasingly the public’s perception of the world was shaped and formed by published photographs. Editors wielded enormous power as photographs highlighted the latest designer gowns alongside reports of the devastating war and famine. The public saw the devastation of the Dresden bombing, child Jewish prisoners and the raising of the Flag on Iwo Jima. The images that were published influenced and molded the public's vision of the world. In 1943 Life Magazine wrote: "Why print this picture…The reason is that words are never enough." The sole photographer who survived the assault on Omaha Beach, Robert Capa (1913-1954), is credited as declaring that, "the truth is the best picture, the best propaganda." 

This was also a time when many technical advancements were made. American engineer Harold Edgerton made one of photography's most important advancements in an engineering lab. The tiny flash gun, indispensable to every modern compact camera, started out as a massive machine carrying lethal voltages. Edgerton was the first to properly comprehend that the duration of a flash of light is the same as the exposure time for a photograph in which all the light comes from the flash. He photographed a nuclear explosion and a bullet flying through an apple.

Camera lens design also advanced during this time period. Lens producers had expertise in telescope and microscope design, but photography presented unique difficulties. Although the planar lens was calculated by Carl Zeiss in 1896, anti-reflective coatings were not created until 1935 by Olexander Smakula. The Zeiss 80mm planar lens was first made available for medium format use in the 1950s and it quickly gained a favorable reputation. It produced a perfect mix of detail, color, and contrast. For 50 years, photographers who specialized in fashion and portraiture ruled with the Zeiss 80mm planar lens.

The popularity of subjective photography increased as this era ended. With a small, covert camera in hand, street photographers could explore neighborhoods, capturing the hustle and bustle of daily life as well as the strange, humorous, and beautiful things they saw.

More, next time...

Danny Valenzuela, President

Vision

A Juried Photography Exhibition at CPAC

Green Valley’s Community Performance & Art Center (CPAC) has recently announced a juried photography exhibition with a stated goal to “…celebrate the creativity and skills of photographers who convey their vision using their favorite practices. Artists working in all photographic media and styles are asked to submit photographs using experimental and mixed-media photographic techniques in addition to traditional photographs.” Cash prizes will be awarded. The deadline for entries is October 24 with the exhibition running from November 1st through the 21st.

This sounds like an excellent opportunity for some of our talented members to show off their skills in art photography. More information with a link to download a prospectus and entry form can be found here. -ed

Photos for GVR Center Exhibits Needed

As you may know, GVR offers the Photography Club the opportunity to display our members' photographs at several of the GVR centers. Not only does this provide our members a means to show their work, it is a powerful tool for the club's membership recruiting activities. The photo below shows a few of the photos on display at the Las Campanas Center. The club has the entire area display through the end of October.

I encourage all members to join the current group of those that are exhibiting. If you wish to participate you can find newly updated instructions in the Photo Exhibit Guidelines page on the Club's website here.

If you have questions please contact Kirk Hively, kehively@yahoo.com (520-349-5593) or Julie Howard (402-202-4423).

Kirk Hively, Exhibits Coordinator

Keep those Facebook Photos Coming

The Photography Club's Facebook page is an excellent venue to display the photographic expertise of our members. I know you all have photos you're proud of. Join the fun and send them to me for posting.

As we transition into fall, I'm looking for Facebook submissions that capture the ever-changing landscape, visits to other states and countries and field trip experiences. Send to Sue Ready at suready@yahoo.com.

Photo of the Month

The October Photo of the Month is by Verne Wandell, titled Leopard, adult male. This spectacular shot was taken on a recent trip in the Republic of South Africa.

Vern recalls, "We had heard from other guides that there was a Leopard in the area and were traveling one of the dirt roads in an attempt to locate him. As we crested a rise, one of our team-members, Amy Gaunt, started calling to the driver over-and-over in a stage whisper – something that none of us could really hear over the sound of the Land Cruiser and could make little sense of. Finally she called out STOP in full voice.  Whispering again she said "He’s right behind us.” We all turned and sure enough, the Leopard was sauntering along behind us. When we stopped he just kept walking, passing within a foot or two of the vehicle. We followed along for 15-20 minutes and, just at the end of the golden hour, he stopped to pose on the top of an outcropping.

The photo was taken with a Nikon Z8 in DX mode with an FTZ mount adapter  through a Tamron 150-600 G2 lens at 150mm, F 8.0, 1/1000 second at EV 0, ISO 720, original image size: 5392x3592. It was post processed using Lightroom, DxO PureRaw 3, and Topaz AI Sharpen."

Congratulations, Vern.

The Photo of the Month is chosen from new and archived photos submitted to Sue Ready, the Club's Facebook Coordinator. Keep sending the best of your work to Sue at suready@yahoo.com so we may continue to showcase the refined capabilities of GVR Photography Club members. Photos should be submitted in .jpg format and please include its title and location. -ed

Wow, I finally figured out why we changed the name of our club from Camera Club to Photography Club. That realization hit me right out of the digital blue, through a new phone.

My old Android phone was dying from battery problems. My 80th birthday was fast approaching, and my grandkids asked me what I wanted for my birthday. “I want one of those new Pixel Phones that I’ve heard so much about. They supposedly have excellent cameras,” I told them. Sure enough, I received a Pixel Phone for my birthday, and I spent days mastering some of its features.

My youngest granddaughters asked me to shoot their high school graduation photos. I picked up my trusty Lumix camera and my new phone and went to work. I shot a series of typical graduation poses on my camera, and almost as an afterthought, I shot some on my new phone too.

Later, I loaded all of the graduation shots onto my computer and when I started to examine them, I was shocked. The photos from the phone were my favorites! My new favorite camera may well be my new phone!

Now you might ask, how many Photography Club members are using their phones as their primary cameras? A random survey of new members in our last Big Winter Class indicated that close to one third of our members use their phones as their primary cameras. Now I can see why and that gave me an idea.

Last month I mentioned starting a new Special Interest Group to encourage members to shoot and share photos. Now, I’m thinking that we could modify that idea into a Phone Photography SIG. I’d like to title it a Phoneography SIG, but I think I’d get some pushback on that. I visualize a SIG where participants could shoot and share photographs that were taken on their cell phones. We’ll try to get that concept organized into action sometime in November in place of a proposed plain old vanilla digital photo SIG.

I do need some help, though. I need someone who is familiar with IPhone, to initially co-chair the SIG with me. Drop me an email if you’d be willing.

Gene Komaromi, Education Chair

This Month's Club Activities

Jump to SIGs

Jump to Travelogue

Jump to Field Trips

Jump to Photo Ops

Jump to Showtime

Jump to Speaker Series

Check the Club Calendar for the latest information on all club activities. Photography Club members are also welcome and encouraged to attend the Club’s monthly Board of Directors meetings. Check the Club Calendar for the date of the meeting and attend in-person at the Club, or remotely by registering using this link. The Board is always interested in comments and new ideas from the members.

Need help with your digital camera, smartphone camera, slide/print scanning, photo printing or a photo editing software application? Photography Club Volunteer Helpers are available to help. Log in to the Club’s website. Click on the three bars at the far right of the home page menu bar and select Volunteer Helpers. Once you've found a helper, scroll down to see their contact email listed. Help is just a few clicks away.

Travelogue

Closed for the Season

As many of you will be traveling this summer, I encourage all our members, especially those who haven't tried to make a Travelogue, to photograph your adventures. Creating a Travelogue video is fun and rewarding, not only to share with others, but to preserve your travel memories.

Keep working on your travelogues for the upcoming series of them starting in November. If you need help putting them together, let me know. I will be happy to assist. Please keep them under 20 minutes, if at all possible.

Check out the Multimedia SIG's Software Resources on the Club's website for guidance on how to make a video. If you have questions please contact me at 970-596-1505 or email me here.

Paul McCreary, Travelogue Coordinator

Showtime

Closed for the Season

SHOWTIME is now on ‘snooze’ until December. It was a great SHOWTIME season. Thanks for your attendance and special thanks to those contributing programs for the events. Between now and December gives you plenty of time to gather some of your photos and videos, add some music, and turn it into a short program for others to enjoy.

Use Windows Photos or iMovie to assemble the photos and add music of your choice. Need help?? Try coming to the Multimedia Special Interest Group that meets regularly on Monday mornings. We'd love to meet you and show you how it's done.

Chuck Hill, Showtime Coordinator

Speaker Series

Starting in November

Get ready for an exciting line-up of presenters at our 2023-2024 Speaker Series including Roger Naylor, Arizona historian, author, outdoorsman and photographer, and Stephen Vaughan, a professional photographer and ornithologist whose work has appeared in multiple magazines and publications. You won't want to miss a single program this season! The Speaker Series begins in November, with a break in December, and picks up again January through April. Look forward to seeing everyone next month!

Deb Sanders, Speaker Series Coordinator

Field Trips

Off to a Great Start

What a great start to our field trip season! We went to the Van Gogh Exhibit, a marvelous lunch at Charro Vida, followed by the best gelato in Tucson at Frost. Everyone had a such a good time, another trip is in the works!

The backstage tour of Tucson's Fox Theatre is scheduled for October 27th with the Fox’s Jason Wiley-Hill guiding us through the history of the theatre. Since this trip was sold out in a matter of hours, Tom Parker is working with Jason to come up with additional trips.

This season's first Nature (formerly Birding) trip will be to Canoa Ranch on October 3rd. Please note the new format. In the past we would set up the locations in May. This meant that we were not necessarily in the right place at the right time to see all the different migratory birds passing through. Mike McMinn, our leader, and Sandy McMahan, our birding expert, will be closely monitoring the various birding associations to decide where the best place to be for that particular date. We hope this makes for a better experience for all. The two Nature trip locations that are locked in are Whitewater Draw to view the Sandhill Cranes on January 9th and Tubac’s Hawk Watch on March 12th.

Watch for upcoming trip announcements for Ruby Ghost Town, Holiday Nights at Tohono Chul, Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum, Gadsden-Pacific Toy Train Operating Museum, the Celtic Festival, Reid Park Zoo, Franklin Auto Museum, the Tucson Auto Museum and the Tucson Botanical Gardens, just to name a few!

Please join us for the Field Trip committee meeting October 4th if you have ideas of places to visit or would be willing to lead a field trip. Remember, our success depends entirely on the number of people who step up to lead the trips!

You can always find the latest information and register for future field trips, as well as the Field Trip Committee meetings, here. And please contact me if you if you have questions or want to participate in our Field Trip activities.

Thank you for your support!

 Monica E. Parker, Field Trip Facilitator

Photo Opportunities

The weather is pleasant and there is so much going on in southern Arizona that photo opportunities abound this month.

Treat yourself to artisan markets in Oro Valley and Patagonia, meet yourself at the aptly named Meet Yourself Folklore Festival in Tucson, check out car shows in Tucson and San Manuel or the fall festival in Marana, take in Western-themed and Native American events in Tombstone, or relax with some Art in the Park in Sierra Vista. And both Raptor Free Flight at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum and Butterfly Magic at the Tucson Botanical Gardens resume this month. Grab your favorite digital device, have some fun and take some great shots.

Glowing Pumpkins

• Ongoing through Oct 31, 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm – Fees vary
• Tohono Chul Gardens, 7366 Paseo del Norte, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Taste of Tucson's Historic Downtown Tour

• Ongoing Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm - $72
• Mercado San Agustin - 100 S Avenida Del Convento, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Historic Canoa Ranch Tour

• Ongoing Saturdays, 8:30 am to 10:30 am - $5.00
• Historic Canoa Ranch, 5375 South I-19 Frontage Road, Green Valley, AZ
• Find more information here.

Yumi Japanese Gardens Re-opening Celebration

• Oct 1, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm – Fees vary
• Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson, 2130 North Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Butterfly Magic

• Oct 1 thru May 31, 7:30 am – 3:30 pm – Free with gardens admission
• Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 North Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

• Oct 5, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Pay what you wish
• Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, 140 North Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Sonoita Quarter Horse Show

• Oct 6-8, Events and fees vary
• Sonoita Fairgrounds, 3142 S Hwy 83 - Sonoita, AZ 85637
• Find mor information here.

Southern Arizona Home Builders Association Home & Garden Show

• Oct 6-8, Fri and Sun 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Sat 10:00 am to 5:00 pm - $8
• Tucson Convention Center, 260 South Church Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Mainly Murals Walking Tour

• Oct 7, 8:00 am to 10:00 am – $30
• Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 North Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Art in the Park

• Oct 7-8, Sat 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Sun 9:00 am to 4:00 pm - Free
• Veterans Memorial Park, 3101 East Fry Boulevard, Sierra Vista, AZ
• Find more information here.

Second Sundaze - Family Day at TMA

• Oct 8, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm – Pay what you wish
• Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, 140 North Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Tucson Meet Yourself Folklife Festival

• Oct 13-15, Fri and Sat 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, Sun 11:00 am to 6:00 pm - Free
• Jacomé Plaza, Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 North Stone Avenue, Tucson AZ
• Find more information here.

Turquoise Trail Walking Tour

• Oct14, 8:00 am to 10:30 am – $30
• Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 North Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Copper Town Days – Car, Motorcycle and OHV Show

• Oct 14, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm - Free
• San Manuel Junior/Senior High School, 711 McNab Parkway, San Manuel, AZ
• Find more information here.

Benson Butterfield Rodeo

• Oct 14-15, Sat starts at 8:00 am, Sun starts at 12:00 pm - $15
• Benson Arena Bar & Rodeo Grounds, 250 North Prickly Pear, Benson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Sky Islands Artisan Market

• Oct 14-15, Sat 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Sun 10:00 am to 4:00 pm - Free
• Patagonia Town Park, 325 McKeown Avenue, Patagonia, AZ
• Find more information here.

Tombstone Helldorado Days

• Oct 20-22 - 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, parade Sunday at 11:00 am - Free
• 311 East Allen Street, Tombstone, AZ
• Find more information here.

Marana Fall Festival - An Evening On The Farm

• Oct 21, 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Free
• Marana Heritage River Park, 12375 North Heritage Park Drive, Marana, AZ
• Find more information here.

Tucson Classics Car Show

• Oct 21, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm - $10
• The Gregory School, 3231 North Craycroft Road, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Oro Valley Fall Artisan Market

• Oct 21-22, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm - Free
• Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 North Oracle Road, Oro Valley, AZ
• Find more information here.

Wilcox Wine Festival

• Oct 21-22, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm – Fees vary
• Railroad Park - 157 North Railroad Avenue, Wilcox, Arizona
• Find more information here.

2023 Fall Ikebana Festival

• Oct 26-Nov 5, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm – Fees vary
• Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson, 2130 North Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Santa Cruz River History Tour

• Oct 27, 9:00 am to 11:00 am – $35
• Mission Gardens, 946 West Mission Lane, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Raptor Free Flight

• Oct 27 thru Apr 7, daily (except Weds) at 10:00 am – Free with museum admission
• Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 North Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Public Art & Murals Walking Tour

• Oct 28, 8:00 am to 10:00 am – $30
• Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 North Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

4th Annual Tombstone Native American Festival

• Oct 28 - 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, parade at 10:00 am - Free
• 313 East Allen Street, Tombstone, AZ
• Find more information here.

• Oct 28, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm – $30
• El Tiradito Wishing Shrine, 418 South Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

We are always looking for recommendations for future photo opportunities. Please feel free to contact me If you have suggestions for upcoming events of interest.

Tom Parker, Photo Op Coordinator

Special Interest Groups are fun and educational. Any member of the Photography Club is welcome to attend any of the SIGs.

Click on any of the links listed to get more information on each one.

Multimedia SIG
Black and White SIG

Studio and Fine Art SIG

Photoshop/Lightroom SIG

Field Trip SIG

Photoshop Elements SIG

Wildlife Photography SIG

Monitor Notes

Monitors typically welcome and check in club members, answer the phone, and inform those seeking information about the Club. We are all indebted to the dedicated team of monitors who volunteer to keep the Photography Club open. Many thanks to all of you.

We are always looking for additional monitors. Help us provide all the benefits the Club offers to its members. As you take advantage of the Club's activities and its extensive digital processing equipment, consider sharing the effort in providing these services by volunteering as a monitor.  You are not expected to know how to use the equipment. Training takes about three hours.

Contact: gvrcameramonitors@gmail.com for more information.

Photography Items

Wanted

or

For Sale

All items:

• May be placed only by current, past or families of past members.
  
• Must be for used photography related equipment.
  
• Must include your name, or the name of the past member, and contact information.
• Should be submitted to neilwicai@gmail.com.
• Must be placed by the 25th of the month prior to the month of listing.
• Will run for one month, but may be resubmitted up to three times to be listed again.

GVR Photography Club

The GVR Photography Club is one of the largest photography clubs in the U.S. with over 600 active members. Regardless of your skill level, you'll have fun honing your skills in taking, editing, and presenting photos and videos. Share your photographic passion with others. Take FREE courses and join our Special Interest Groups to get the most from your digital camera, smartphone, action camera, or drone. Learn the ins and outs of post-processing software. Use our state-of-the-art equipment to digitize and edit photos, slides, and videos. Go on Club Field Trips to practice your photographic skills. Exhibit your photos/videos at our Showtime and Travelogue events. Come make friends and photographs!

The Club is located on the 2nd floor of the west wing at the Santa Rita Springs GVR Recreation Center. You may contact us at:

PO Box 1423, Green Valley, AZ 85622 or  gvrphotographyclub@gmail.com. 

Neil Wicai, Newsletter Editor - neilwicai@gmail.com - 575-224-1238