Our Next Meeting: The ADAY Project Photo Review

I for one would like to see WWIG continue in one form or another, though I will totally miss Susanne's coffee and treats if we change the venue. Let's all consider participating in the ADAY project (link), which is an international effort to document a day in the life of the planet by having anyone and everyone take a photo on May 15 and submit it for potential publication. It is being touted as the day the world photographs itself. Western Wisconsin certainly ought to be represented in any planetary photo book.

 Perhaps we could all get together, if timing with the Project allows, to view and discuss the image we intend to submit or are considering for submission (from a group of possibilities) and get back to talking shop on the subject of photography. The 15th is a Tuesday, so we could meet that evening, if necessary, or Wednesday evening, if that works out better with deadlines for submission, and with people's schedules.

The only problem is where to meet. If Byron would consider hosting the meeting, everything could be a lot simpler, except for the Annises. Otherwise, I am willing try to find a room somewhere in La Crosse to meet. Or, I would  be willing to host at my gallery in Beach Corners, but that is a half hour's drive (about the same distance I usually drive to meetings.) I can make good coffee but have more humble baking skills.

Any thoughts?

Ron Reimer
Ettrick WI
60-525-7104

http://youtu.be/nCYwZRiqyuE

Tomorrow's WWIG Meeting. The Final Episode

Tomorrow's evening's meeting of the WWIG will be the final episode of this interesting and rewarding adventure. So far, I've only received submissions of images for digital projection from 3 members. As T.S. Eliot wrote "this is the way the world ends, not with a bang but a whimper". To those who submitted images, sincere thanks; and to others, it's not too late.

I will post the meeting agenda later today or tomorrow, so if you are undecided about attending please check back. I have tried to make this meeting more entertaining rather  than challenging which seems a more fitting way to fade off into the sunset. Please do join us if you can.
Byron

Door Prize

DOOR PRIZE

As always members are encouraged to submit (by e-mail) digital images or bring prints to our March 7th meeting. To stimulate interest I am offering a chance to win a great door prize in a drawing to those who do-- let me be honest, it's a bribe. Everyone contributing an image will have their name placed into the hat. You don't have to be present at the meeting to win. Good luck.
Byron

New Photo on the Masthead

Jackie Rand won't be at our meeting on March 7th. She and her husband Tom are visiting the Four Corners region, staying in Page, AZ. She did send several images to be shown, however, and they are really wonderful. I could have used any of them for the masthead and selected this one., Rest easy, you will get to see them all at the meeting. I didn't  use my favorite here in order to show you the projected version so that you will get the full impact. I can assure you that it is spectacular.
Byron

Interval Report

It's true... some things never change. For example, my blogging behavior. I have started 3 blogs with a burst of enthusiasm and the best of intentions realizing that the success of any blog depends, more than any other factor, on a steady stream of posts. But in each instance my performance just doesn't live up to my expectations and the assurance that I have routinely given to readers that I will do better in the future. So here we go again. To those of you who have visited this blog expecting to find something new to read and perhaps find your interest in some aspect of photography stimulated, my apologies. Am I promising to do better in the future? No... I know better than to make hollow assurances and won't insult you by doing so, nor will I make any lame excuses. Suffice it to say that I find the whole thing embarrassing.


Let's move on to some news that is more felicitous and, to be perfectly candid, which allows me to preen. I submitted images to B&W+Color magazine a few months ago for their annual color special issue. Three were accepted and published in the April 2012 issue.

 Also Theresa Smerud and I submitted a proposal to the Pump House for a gallery showing for next season and we were accepted. The show will run from July 18, 2013 to August 31st. I have seen recent additions to Theresa's portfolio and, let me tell you, the work is stunning. I am extremely pleased with my own recent work but, frankly, have no idea how others will react to it. While it is nice when one's friends and fellow photographers enjoy looking at one's work, I'm glad that I don't have to sell my prints to make a living. Essentially, this allows me to strive to make images that satisfy my own creative needs without being overly concerned when others don't like them.

I am able to do some serious contemplation of lots of important things while doing long distance driving. On my recent trip, especially on the return leg from Florida, I considered my constantly shifting attitudes about criticism, especially the formalized critiques that have been de rigeur in the amateur photography scene for what seems like forever. Personally, as you know, I don't care to to be part of that process either as a subject of critique or to analyze the work of others. Let me be more precise. I love visual art, especially photographs but my opinions about images, both my own and others, is very subjective. Does the photography provoke some emotion, or appeal as an intellectual construct; does it tell a good story, or better yet create a mystery that encourages one to make up his or her own story? I put a very high value on novelty, in other words, is the image like nothing I've seen before? My own photographs don't stand up very well to scrutiny as far as the technical aspects-- for instance, almost every shot is a little soft which is likely due to my not paying proper attention to details (or seldom using a tripod) but this is unlikely to change because, frankly, I don't care all that much. The  prolific photographer and entrepreneur Trey Ratclif recently responded to some of his critics in an extremely amusing YouTube video which I present here to close this long post which I hope readers will find interesting and, furthermore, willing to offer their reactions to the opinions expressed at some future meeting.

Byron

Next WWIG Meeting

There will be a meeting of the WWIG on Wednesday March 7th. Same time and same place but the meeting format will be substantially different, 

I will present a slideshow of the images I made during and after my recent trips to Cuba and Florida. These images do represent a significant departure from my previous work and demonstrate the new directions in my photography that I intend to pursue. As always those attending are encouraged to bring prints or submit digital images (by e-mail),

For quite some time I have been contemplating how to go forward with the WWIG. The options include carrying on as before, which doesn't work for me, discontinuing the group, or making substantial changes that will reinvigorate the enthusiasm of the members as well as my own interest.  I would like to forge ahead but using a significantly changed format. If you have any interest in seeing continuation of  this organization and participating in planning its future, I strongly encourage you to attend the March 7th meeting.
Byron

Epson Printer Has Been Sold

The Epson StylusPro R2400 that was offered for sale in a previous post is no longer available.
Byron

Jamie Heiden Exhibit at Pump House

From Jackie Rand:

"Could you post something about Jamie’s artwork being on display at the Pump House through March 10th. Went last night and it is simply beautiful. She is truly a gifted artist".

You will see that the header image has been changed. This wonderful B&W photograph is from Theresa Smerud.

I will be leaving today and will be gone until mid February but can, if necessary, be contacted by e-mail.
Byron  

Printer For Sale-- Very Good Deal

Epson Stylus Pro R 2400

On offer: An Epson Stylus Pro R2400 Inkjet Printer. Priced for fast results! Best offer over $99. This printer is working flawlessly. I will throw in a roll (unused) of 13 inch Epson Premium Luster Paper. This was my primary printer for a couple of years but has been idle since I purchased an Epson Stylus 3800-- only in order to make larger (17x22 inch) prints. I'd be happy to arrange an inspection and demo. If interested call me at 788-1812.
Byron

New Photo on the Masthead

The image you see in the masthead was submitted for the November Topic of the Month (photos about fall) by WWIG stalwart Larry Lindesmith. One of the aspects that really appeals to me is that this photo is an excellent depiction of one of the foundational principles that guided me during my intense gardening days, namely to arrange landscape and hardscape so as to interrelate color, texture, scale and shape. Another of Larry's submissions is also very appealing to me, primarily because of the wonder quality of the light.

I've returned from my very excellent phototour in Cuba having had a thought provoking and photographically rewarding experience. I will be posting some of the images on my personal blog, Seeing America One Back Road at a Time.

Byron

Ansel Adams exhibition in Chicago area

If anyone will be traveling to the Chicago area in the next month, you may want to check out the exhibit at the Wauconda museum displaying work by Ansel Adams.

Here is a link to the article from the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-ent-1201-museums-ansel-adams-20111201,0,4699048.story

Phyllis Olson

To Cuba on Tuesday

I doubt that I will be blogging during my trip. Back on December 9th. All good wishes,
Byron

PS: There were many outstanding images submitted for our November meeting.   I will be using them in the header over the next few months. The one placed today is from Marti Sullivan. Thanks to everyone who has participated.

Happy Thanksgiving... a day late

I spent quite a lot of time on the Internet searching for a photo that says something about Thanksgiving that isn't maudlin or hackneyed. I saw hundreds of images of food, people at table-- every last one looking deleriously happy, lots of turkeys-- both in their natural state (ie. alive) or cooked, but nothing that I found the least bit interesting or meaningful. There were 2 paintings scattered among the images, this one by an artist named Farley, and another by I can't remember who.

Thanksgiving has always been a favorite holiday for our family, just not one that has any particular profound meaning. I don't want to seem cynical, but the commericial aspects and the forced and phony sentimentality do annoy me.

About the images I posted last week: The first is part of a series taken at the Los Angeles Airport by a renowned "street photographer" Gary Winogrand. The photo was seen in a NY Times slide show about the wonderful Arts scene in LA-- this image was used to hype the permanent photo collection at the Getty Museum. Hmm... I thought,  I bet that if it is the the Getty's permanent collection it must be very valuable and although I didn't see a dollar value when, on the Internet, it is obviously a well known and highly regarded picture. I certainly have no idea why. To my untutored eye it is a not very well composed snapshot and it really doesn't say anything about the Los Angeles Airport that I'd like to know. I suspect that there are plenty of similar pictures taken by regular folks with the Kodak Hawkeye cameras that were predominant during the 1950s.

The 2nd image is Rhine II by Andreas Gursky. It has the distinction of selling at auction for the highest amount ever paid for a photograph: $4,338,500! This image is from a video made by Gursky admirer (sycophant) and was made at the site where the 4+million dollar photo was taken. Gursky mentioned that he did a bit of cleanup with Photoshop.

Finally I want to thank Phyllis and Jamie for commenting. I really do appreciate knowing that this blog  is being read.
Byron

Images For Contemplation and Discussion

I had planned to post images that I find captivation this month, but decided to take a break when this last weekend I came across these 2. They, each in their own way, are very thought provoking and I hope that members of our group will find them interesting and be willing to comment about them. Today, I'll simply post the images but tomorrow I will make my comments about them. Please do respond by posting or commenting on the blog.

More tomorrow, including complete attribution. In the meantime, I'm eager to see what you think.

Byron

Web Gallery

At our recent meeting I did mention that my web gallery is more or less done and gave a shout out to Ben Stern who helped convert what was for quite some time an embarrassing mess into something I am quite proud of.  I am doing some shameless self-promotion here and formally inviting you to visit. It is still a work in progress but all of the important elements are finished. I will be adding more slide show presentations and plan to add a large number of photos to the family snapshot gallery but will make it available only to family members (as soon as I learn how).

If you do visit,  any feedback you care to share will be appreciated-- especially suggestions about what can be improved. 
Byron

NEW PASSWORD

I purchased an iPhone yesterday and am in the process of setting it up. In doing so I accidentally screwed up the password setting for this website/blog. Unfortunately Mr. Google wouldn't let me re-enter the password that we have always used. I whined and begged and tried a couple of workarounds but he wouldn't relent, so I had to assign a new one. The process of accessing the blog is unchanged and the change in the sign in process involves only the password. So that we are all on the same page I'll repeat the relevant information here.

The URL remains unchanged: http://westernwisconsinimaginggroup.blogspot.com  To read the blog, look at the posted images, access the archives and link to the listed websites all you have to do is enter this address into your browser. It is suggested that you bookmark it so that one click will get you in.

To post entries or comments you do have to sign in. Just click "Sign In" in the upper right hand corner of the blog page and on the right side of the page you will see boxes for e-mail address and password.

E-MAIL

wwig01@gmail.com 

PASSWORD

wwig1111

The only change that has been made is in the 4 digits of the password-- from wwig1234 to wwig1111.

I regret that this occurred and hope that this post will clarify the situation. Please call or e-mail me if you encounter problems using the blog.
Byron



Image for Saturday November 12th

Recently I've been looking at paintings once again, but haven't made any progress in understanding-- or liking--  most Modern Art. Cubism has always been way beyond my comprehension. Here, once again from Demitri Daniloff, is what one could call an example of Photo-Cubism which, while elusive in meaning, is nonetheless a very impressive work in terms of digital artistry.

Byron

A Portrait Artist to share

The photographers name is Jaqueline Roberts and can be found here.  I grabbed a photo off the internet just to entice you to visit her page. I think she's wonderful!  -Jamie Heiden

Future Fantasy From "After Capture" Magazine

I recently subscribed to After Capture Magazine. It's not a great publication what  I like best about it is that the subscription is free. In the most recent issue there was a fascinating article about a French photographer (more accurately, a digital photographic artist?) Demitri Daniloff, which was copiously illustrated with his remarkable images. I'll post some of these during the remainder of this month. Incidentally, I don't think that I'm violating any intellectual property rules because his images are freely available for download when one Googles his image pages.

Byron