We're Back!

Long time no see,everyone. After an 81 day break the Western Wisconsin Imaging Group's informational blog is back on the air-- or in cyberspace or whatever.


As I told you in e-mails that were sent out prior to the meeting we had on February 1st, it was only after considerable contemplation and consultation with most of our members was the decision made to resume our group's meetings for another year, although with several changes in the format.

One of the things that I am going to change is how I communicate with the membership. I will send out just one e-mail prior to each meeting to confirm the date, time and location of the upcoming meeting and ask that interested members link to this blog for additional information. I'll do my part by posting here frequently and I am imploring you to visit and, more important, to post and comment as well. You don't know how? Well, it's less than straightforward but once you have the directions, you will find the process to be simple. I wrote up the directions last year and will be happy to send you a copy by e-mail or even a print-out by conventional mail-- all you need to do is ask (my e-mail is: bannis4@centurytel.net)

Return here often for lot's more news!

Regards, Byron

Today I encountered a remarkable
series of photos of waves while
cruising the web (please note that I
avoided using the obvious pun--
the word surfing-- which would have
been too lame, even for me.




To see all of them go to this website: http://internetpopculture.com/2009/09/15/inside-the-tube-incredible-wave-photography/

Byron

Meeting November 4th

I e-mailed Dr. Jim Terman who, unlike me, is a real practicing physician, and who is quite tuned in to the H1N1 flu situation.Here are the exchange of our recent e-mails:

Jim--
I haven't heard anything that would indicate that there is
currently an H1N1 epidemic here in La Crosse and thus there is no need to
cancel our November 4th meeting. Do you agree that we can go ahead?
Thanks and regards,
Byron

Yes. There are a number of absences in schools but that shouldn't
affect our plans given the comments I made earlier.
Jim

Please scroll down to an e-mail from Dr. Terman which was posted about 10 days ago in which he discusses the risks of H1N1 and some sensible precautions. You will find it very informative.

Byron

Booknotes

I've uploaded scans of the covers of some books that may be of interest to you. I'll have all of them readily available at our November 4th meeting if you care to take a look at them.

Designs on the Land is much more that just a collection of aerial photographs. Rather it documents how significantly the face of the land is being altered by human activity. Anyone concerned about runaway development may enjoy this book.

Zoe Strauss' America is a wonderful document of impressions of America in the early 21st century. It reminded me in some ways of Robert Frank's seminal work The Americans. This book is highly recommended.

Finally, John Szarkowski's book Looking at Photographs. I purchased this book from Amazon with high expectations. Szarkowski is the very esteemed former curator of the photography collection at the MOMA and the person who put together the exhibit and book The Family of Man. To say that this book is a disappointment is an understatement. It fails as a collection and for me there was hardly a worthwhile image in the entire book. The collection lacks any kind of coherence. But the worst aspect is the text-- the author indulges in a kind of art criticism which is vastly over-intellectualized and so obtuse that I'm not sure that I understood what he was talking about with most of his commentary. This kind of thing is commonplace in the the Art world and I think that it is fortunate that it is less so in Photography.

I suspect that most of you are aware of this image which was used in a universally despised Ralph Lauren ad. Bloggers far and wide copied and posted the image to accompany their caustic comments. Ralph Lauren's initial response was to sic the lawyers on the bloggers. Shame, shame on them! When the incident went viral, they pulled the ad and apologized. Like all good things Photoshop can be turned into something malign when misused (the first analogy that comes to mind is the use of prescription meds that relieve pain).

Byron

Links (see previous posts)

Here are the links to the 2 websites referenced in my previous post. I won't explain why they're not included because it's somewhat technical and complex. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Byron
1--http://www.lightstalking.com/

2--http://beforethecoffee.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/pontiac-chiefton-1953/

Fabulous Photography Website

At our next meeting one of the things that I intend to explore about is the use and abuse of HDR. As you may recall I have been very enthusiastic about HDR, in fact so much so that I shot 5 images of almost every photo I take so that HDR can be used if called for. However, as I've gained more experience with the technique my goals have shifted. I prefer that in the final result the observer has no clue that the photo has been manipulated. The first 2 images are from a collection entitled 17Awesome HDR Shots and are great examples of what I am trying to acheive. They were found at a really remarkable Photography website Lightstalker.com . Rather than post a lenghty description and rave review I suggest that you click the link and check it out for yourself. The "Flu Bug" I include in the prior post (actually a Southern Yellow Jacket) is from a collection of fantastic macro photos of insects posted there as well.

Fially here is an example of an over the top HDR. Some digital imagers love producing images like this and it is generally known as The Illustrative Technique. I think that there are actually easier ways to acheive even better graphic images, which I may demonstrate if time permits at the next meeting.