Tuesday, July 13, 2010

How to Post Messages and Comments

At our recent meeting I was asked by several members of the group to describe how to post messages and comments to this blog (again). Although it seems awkward it is really quite easy. I am sorry that you have to go through this rigmarole, but when I established the blog I couldn't figure out any work around. Larry Lindesmith has recommends a better alternative, Google Wave, which I will investigate in the near future. In the meantime:
  1. To access the WWIG blog (read only-- no posting or comments) use this URL http://westernwisconsinimaginggroup.blogspot.com/. I suggest that you bookmark the address so that  you can get on the site with only one click.
  2. To post messages and/or comments you must SIGN IN. To do so go to the upper right corner of the page and click "Sign In". Use this User Name wwig01@gmail.com and this Password wwig1234. At this point you should be signed in.
  3. Select the tab New Post and you will see the appropriate dialog. You are now good to go.
If you are having difficulties please feel free to call me for further help.
Regards,
Byron

Saturday, July 10, 2010

It's a New Era!

We're in the 1st week of the new era for the WWIG blog-- the era of frequent posting which will make visiting this site worthwhile. How long will it last? Well, if history is any guide, we won't be making this measurement in centuries, or even decades. On the other hand it will probably be somewhat longer than, let's say, the duration of the shutter speed you would select when shooting an F1 auto racing event. Enough of that. So let's get started.

Here is an e-mail that I got from the Kelby Worldwide Photowalk 2010 organization yesterday:
You're getting this email because, well...we haven't decided if your walk is approved or not yet. Here's why...
There's already a Photo Walk happening in your area that isn't quite full yet. Since the Worldwide Photo Walk is a social event, it works best when a walk has a lot of people, so if that walk starts to fill up, we'll approve the next walk request on the list, and that could well be you (well, it's probably you, but ya never know).

When will that be? We don't know. It could be tomorrow. It could be in a couple of weeks. It may not happen at all, but either way, at least it's not a "no!".
But we wanted to let you know what was up so you wouldn't be wondering why you hadn't gotten a response.
Good Luck! We're rootin' for ya!
The Photo Walk Team
Monday I am going to try to contact the above captioned "Photo Walk Team" and/ or the designated La Crosse group leader (who has not, as far as I can tell, done the required website and who hasn't answered the message I sent) Ms. Carri Campanile. However, if all else fails I do plan on going ahead with the July 24th Photowalk with or without official sanction.

Remember, the cutoff date for submission of prints for the WWIG display at the La Crosse Public Library is August 1st! Don't know how or where to submit your prints? Please review prior postings or call me or John Zoerb.



Here is a great  photograph taken by Dr. Steve Shpall of Palo Alto CA, one of the members of the Jos. Von Os Photo Tour of the Oregon Coast I attended in  May. Steve is an all around good guy as well as an accomplished photographer and Photoshopper-- who, incidentally,  makes very interesting images using various Photoshop filters. I'm calling this photo Virtue Rewarded. For a variety of reasons-- prodigious rain mostly, but not entirely-- it was only on the last day of the tour that we had a reasonable opportunity to shoot a sunrise on the Pacific coast. It wasn't until the 4th day that the sky cleared enough to see the moon -- a glorious full moon in fact. I set my clock for 4am and did get up when it rang, but I crapped around in my room fiddling with my gear for way too long and arrived on the beach about 10 minutes after the 3 other participants who got up to shoot. While I was setting up Steve took this wonderful photo. By the time I got my first shot the clouds had moved enough to almost completely obscure the moon and the resulting image is very pedestrian. What's the lesson? I had planned to get my gear ready the evening before but because I was exhausted I decided to collapse into bed rather than prepare-- a bad choice.

Off to Iola WI for the annual car show. Perhaps I'll have some images to post here next week.
Byron

Thursday, July 8, 2010

News from Jamie Heiden

I received this e-mail today from Jamie and thought that  members of the WWIG would like to know where she will be displaying her work over the next several weeks.
Hi All!
I wanted to invite you to come visit sometime over the next three weekends. I will be in Madison at Art Fair Off the Square this weekend the 10th and 11th. Stockholm Art Fair is Saturday the 17th, and the 24th and 25th is our local Art Fair on the Green at UWL. It is a busy July but I am looking forward to it all!
Jamie

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Kelby Worldwide Photowalk 2010

I still have not had a response from the Kelby organization about my request to lead a Photowalk here in La Crosse. However, in rummaging around their website I learned that a walk has been assigned here. Click on the link and you will learn everything I currently know about the walk: http://worldwidephotowalk.com/walk/la-crosse-wi-united-states/ . I did send an e-mail to the leader, Carri Campanile,  and will let all of you know more when I do.
Byron

Monday, July 5, 2010

Update and Invitation

John Zoerb, his friend Sue Retzleff, and Mike Earley visited my garden this afternoon and did some serious garden photography. The conditions were about as good as it gets. While overcast it was not dark and because of the rain, everything was covered with water droplets. On the other hand I didn't see any light reflecting off  of the foliage or water drops. The garden is exceptionally lush this year and both the foliage and bloom are exuberant. The daylilies are blooming unusually early and many available to photography, but we are probably 5-7 days away from peak bloom.

You are all cordially invited to visit the garden at any time. No need to call ahead. I'll be gone more than here this coming week so show yourself around. If you will be attending the meeting on Wednesday, why not come early and bring your camera (and consider a tripod as well).




Here are a couple of fantastic images I found cruising around the Internet: They were winners of the 1st Epson International Pano Awards contest (http://www.thepanoawards.com/) Click on the link to see the top 50 in all of the categories. It is daunting yet very exciting to see the quality of images being posted on the Internet every day. I have no doubt that the general level of photography has improved exponentially during the digital imaging revolution. It is an wonderful time to be a participant in this rewarding enterprise.
Byron

Friday, July 2, 2010

WWIG Continuing Update- July 2010

There will be a Western Wisconsin Imaging Group  meeting on July 7th at our home (N2207 Pammel Pass W.) at 6:30pm. The format will be somewhat different this time. We will be viewing the video documentary video documentary Alfred Stieglitz: The Eloquent Eye. As mentioned in my e-mail, "I have seen this film and it gave me more insight into a very important aspect of the historical development of photography than anything I have read or seen. I hope that those who choose to attend will be inclined to participate in discussion afterward."


Above right: Portrait Alfred Stieglitz. Above left: Alfred Stieglitz, Winter 5th Avenue, 1892














The Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk has been tentatively scheduled for July 24th. However, its status remains somewhat uncertain. Although I submitted an application on June 21st, I've had no reply so far. My inclination is to go ahead with an event on our own  if we don't get official designation. I am going to make tentative arrangements with a restaurant for an after walk get together and will keep you posted as things develop. Unfortunately, if we don't get approval from the Photowalk organization you won't get a tee shirt. On the other hand, maybe we could do our own. Stay tuned.

Finally, the exhibition of our work at the La Crosse Public Library is on! The submitted images will be hung for public display on August 5 for one month. They have requested 18 pieces. The prints can be any size, B&W or color; framed or unframed but should be matted (the stiffer the better). Everything will be returned. You may submit as many prints as you like for consideration. The  selections will be made by John Zoerb. This is NOT a contest and in the selection process our goal is to show the diversity of  approaches and the considerable photographic talent of our group. Please drop off your prints at  John Zoerb's home. You can place them in his garage where he has both a special box and a table for this purpose. As an alternative you can bring them to my house as well. The cut-off date is August 1st.

WWIG Upcoming Activities

Greetings everyone--
The Western Wisconsin Imaging Group is back online (for now). To get up-to-date I am posting a copy of the e-mail I sent to the members recently:



I have several announcements but not much time to send a comprehensive e-mail this evening. I'll be posting on the WWIG blog (http://westernwisconsinimaginggroup.blogspot.com ) with further details over the next several days. However, let me briefly tell you what is in the works:


We will have a meeting in July! I have arbitrarily selected Wednesday July 7th. We will, however, not follow the usual format. I would like to show the video documentary Alfred Stieglitz: The Eloquent Eye. I have seen this film and it gave me more insight into a very important aspect of the historical development of photography than anything I have read or seen. I hope that those who choose to attend will be inclined to participate in discussion afterward. Because the video is 90 minutes, we will not do anything else at this meeting except for an intermission during which we can have the refreshments (Susann Annis is back from her travels, so they'll be good).


I am in the process of applying for our group and guests to participate in the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk 2010 which will take place on Saturday, July 24th. Go to this website http://worldwidephotowalk.com/ for more information. John Zoerb and I will be laying out a route for the walk as soon as I get confirmation that our application has be accepted.


Finally, our group has been invited to display 18 prints at the La Crosse Public Library. I hope that all members will submit prints for consideration. If, we receive more than 18 printed images I will ask John to make the final selections. I feel that this should NOT be considered a competition but the images selected should reflect the varying photographic interests and considerable talent of our members. If any of you don't have access to a decent printer, do not hesitate to ask me to make my photo printers available.


I'll keep you all posted as plans finalize. If, in the meantime, you have questions, please feel free to e-mail or call me at any time.
BByro