Rochester offers photographers a wide range of opportunities. First, there’s the George Eastman House. Saturday night Tracy and I attended a showing of the Ivory/Merchant film “Jefferson in Paris.” It was introduced by James Ivory, and an interview with Mr. Ivory followed the film. Their collection of photographs and films is one of the best and most prestigious in the world. A few years ago, my brother-in-law gave me a membership there for Christmas. We’ve renewed it every year, and enjoy the parties for members whenever a new exhibit opens up. I get to three or four lectures there every year as well, and we enjoy the concerts in the gardens during the summer.
There’s a long standing camera club, Camera Rochester, that hosts monthly competitions the first Monday of the month, and a lecture/demonstration the third Monday each month. Image City, a local photography gallery hosts new photography shows every six weeks or so, and hosts a free photo critique session the first Wednesday of every month. The partners there frequently offer both short and long-term classes. Then there are several meet-up groups. In addition to Camera Rochester and the photo critique group, I belong to the Rochester Photo Editing Group (RPEG). We meet once a month to see demonstrations of photo editing techniques (Lightroom, Photoshop Elements, Photoshop, HDR programs, etc) and occasionally they host a photo shoot for edit.
On Saturday RPEG members met at the Lamberton Conservatory. It’s one of my favorite places to take photos. The deal with RPEG is to go to the shoot with some new skill to practice and then to upload your photos to share at the following meeting. I don’t use my tripod or my macro lens very often, so I went off with macro on my mind. I wasn’t thrilled with what I got (I had definite ideas about what I wanted), but I learned a bit. One of the benefits of groups like these is the help you get from other members. One of them walked by me on Saturday and asked why I wasn’t using the Live View feature on my new camera. Truth is, I didn’t know anything about it. In a matter of minutes, Brad had me “up and running” with Live View.
I had hoped to convert several of the photos to black and white, but this was the only one that seemed to work. Seeing in black and white while shooting in color is another skill I need to learn.
This one I liked; I call it “Eyes to You, ” though someone said it remined them of an owl.
And this one I took simply for the amusement factor. Ah, sweet Victory! (It’s some kind of bud.)
Lastly, a photo taken with my 50mm at the end of the shoot of the cute quails that run about in the tropical room at the conservatory.
It’s been several months since I participated in any of these groups, but it’s good to be back. I’m so grateful that there are so many free opportunities to practice and learn. I picked up some great tips for editing in Lightroom last night at the meeting, one of which I was able to use today while editing photos from our trip.
I think your photos are fantastic. Especially liked the B&W and the’ eyes’.
I have been told that the seeing more in B&W can be achieved by squinting slightly. I think the science behind it is that you reduce the light entering your eye so that you the cones can’t work so well. Have to say that sitting here it doesn’t work with a computer screen! It’s a technique used by garden designers to judge whether there is sufficient contrast between the leaves of two plants when planted side by side.
Your ‘victory fingers’ mean something quite different over here,I’m afraid!! I can definately see the ‘owl’….though we are a bit owl obsessed over here right now.
A great selection of nature shots.
All of them are fabulous Karen, how envious am I? You don’t want to know. I spent a brilliant day with a professional photographer earlier in the year and one of the things I learnt was how to put the camera into black & white mode…less thinking (and squinting:)
They are all brilliant photos, but I particularly like the first one.
That alien-fingered peace sign is a hoot. And all the photos are fantastic. I am a bit envious of all your opportunities. Living here in podunk, there aren’t any clubs or opportunities to speak of and I hate the hour plus drive into Philadelphia (some of the roads you have to navigate are scary as hell) so the opportunities there aren’t particularly appealing. I’ll have to do some more research to see what might be around here.
What fascinating things you’ve captured with your camera. So glad I came by. The last is my fave, but all are brilliant.
I love this post Karen. I’ve been saving it to come back and read it more fully. What a great network you have there. I would love more in-person photography classes and expereience. I bet there are opportunities here, but, for now, I just don’t have the time. I am trying to promise myself a trip to a local estate for a photographer’s date before spring gets too far away.
Rinda
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