November 2023, Roll 88, Exposure 11

Contact: [email protected] Website: twincitycameraclub.com

521 Elm Street, downtown St. Joseph, MI 49085

Krasl exhibit invite: The Krasl Arts Center has invited visual artist living in Berrien County
to participate in its annual exhibit along with KAC member artists. The exhibit is Dec. 9-Jan. 21.
The community exhibition is designed to showcase local talent while connecting with new
artists. For guidelines and to register, visit krasl.org by Nov. 24. Artwork dropoff is Nov. 27-
Dec. 1

Box Factory exhibit: Photographs by club members Sherry Saenz, Jim Genellie and Ron
DeKett are part of the “Remembering Songs of Youth” exhibit at the Box Factory for the Arts.
The exhibit, which continues through Jan. 14, is an annual event during which Box Factory
members are invited to submit up to two works for the show. Visit boxfactoryforthearts.org for
details.

2024 Board of Directors:

The following members were
reelected to serve a new two-year
term beginning Jan. 1, 2024, and
ending on Dec. 31, 2025.

They are: Barry Nelson, president;

Christine Loose-Randall, first vice Barry Chris Bill Ted

president (term expires Dec. 31,

2024); Bill Schalk, second vice
president; Ted Post, treasurer; Sandy
Hafer, secretary; Dennis Hafer,
director; Marguerite Eichelberger,
director (term expires Dec. 31, 2024;
and Ken McKeown, past president;
Sandy Dennis Marguerite Ken

Quotes of the Month: Here are

two quotes that stress the importance of photography beyond merely technical excellence:
• “That harkens back to that quote by Robert Capra that if your photographs aren't good
enough, then you are not close enough. I've always felt that means you should be
emotionally close, not just physically in their face." – Alex Kilby, photographer,
 educator, discussing on his YouTube channel “The Best Styles In Photography
Explained.”
• “Photography for me is not looking, it's feeling. If you can't feel what you're looking at,
then you're never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.
Nothing in this world is entitled to be a great image. Even the most spectacular events
can trigger nothing if devoid of emotion.” – Don McCullin, British photojournalist
Lights at Fernwood: A photo field trip opportunity to Fernwood Botanical Gardens called
Lights at Fernwood begins
Nov. 24 and ends Jan. 6.
Entry times are 6 p.m., 7
p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are
$10 for adults and $5 for
ages 3-12 (free for children
2 and younger) on
Thursdays, which is family
night. On Friday-Sunday, tickets are $15 ($12 for Fernwood
members) and $8 for children ages 3-12. Visit fernwoodbotanical.org for tickets and
information. (Ron DeKett photos)

Wanted: cookies & snacks: Volunteers are still needed to provide refreshments and snacks
for four meetings. To sign up, visit the Snack List Sign Up page on our website and select the
date you are available to participate. After submission, Christine Loose-Randall will contact you
to confirm it. Thank you for your support.

Bathroom back in order: Our bathrooms have been

remodeled and are now fully functional. You are invited to check
out the work next time you are at the clubhouse. A special thanks
goes to Ted Post for his efforts in managing the completion of this
project.

Smartphone seminar: Thanks goes to club members Jasmin

Bretaña and Bill Schalk for conducting a seminar Oct. 23 on
smartphone photography at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 23. Their
presentation was timely because December’s Select Subject is
cellphone photography.

Bretaña Schalk

Juried exhibit: The 45th Elkhart Juried Regional runs through Dec.
22 at the Midwest Museum of American Art, 429 S. Main St., Elkhart.
The exhibit marks more than 40 years of providing artists in northern
Indiana and southern Michigan, including Berrien County, an
opportunity to show their work and compete for cash awards.
Although the exhibit appears to have only one photographer’s work on display – Kay Westhues
from South Bend – it provides an opportunity for photographers to study how other artists
express shape, line, space, form and texture, as well as tone and color. Visit
www.midwestmuseum.org for details.

Photography teachers needed: Webmaster Jasmin Bretaña has created a form under the
website membership tab where members can sign up to conduct a class on a photographic skill.
Bill Schalk has created a list of suggested topic ideas, or you can offer to teach another topic that
interests you. You can use the club computer and TV for your class.

Photos of the Month: Congratulations go to new member Becki Utigard whose photo,
“Good Dog,” was selected as the Black & White Photo of the Month for November, and whose
photo, “Girl Dancing in Fountain,” was selected as the Color Photo of the Month for November.
Here photos were selected because they received Honors in the November competition. They
were her first Honors as a club member.

Good Dog – Becki Utigard

 Girl Dancing in Fountain – Becki Utigard

December Select Subject: Cell phone images: The original image must be captured using a
cell phone camera. Photo editing is allowed as it is for other photos. The submission deadline is
midnight, Dec. 4. The entry form is on the club website.

Select Subjects: Here are the Select Subjects for the 2023-24 competition season:
• Jan. 8 – Creative: The image is manipulated or enhanced with in-camera techniques or
with photo enhancement software, filters, plug-ins, or actions showing the maker’s
creativity. The image should be unique and different, out of the ordinary.
• Feb. 12 – Sports: The object that is the focus of attention in the image must have
something to do with sports.
• March 11 – Anything goes: The image can be anything the rules permit. Everything
qualifies as Select. Use your imagination and creativity.
• April 8 – Shadows: The dark shape that appears on a surface when an object blocks light.
• May 13 – Architecture: Anything related to architecture, buildings, parts of buildings.
You may isolate aspects of the subject to emphasize design portions.

Award winner: Congratulations goes to Jim Lynch whose photograph won Best of Show
during the recent North Berrien Senior Center Fall Art Exhibit.
Editor’s choice: This is the second installment of “Editor’s choice,” in which each month I
will select a photo that I personally like and will tell you the reasons I believe it is a great
photograph. This month’s pick is “Dismal Swamp,” by Jim Genelie.

Dismal Swamp – Jim Genelie

© Jim Genelie

Why I like it: There is a wonderful tonal contrast between the muted warm colors of the swamp
and the cool colors of the clouds and sky. Like all good landscapes I feel as if I could step into
the scene with little fanfare except maybe to watch out for late season mosquitoes. Notice how
the image’s darkness transitions to light starting in the foreground, through the middle ground
and into the background sky. This gives the image a feeling of depth. But even as the eye
wanders toward the lighted sky it is pulled downward to that single point where the tree trunk
touches the water, which demands attention. The slate gray color of the water with its highlights
anchors the point of contact. Finding a pleasing composition in woodland photography is
notoriously difficult. Woodlands by their nature cast a seemingly endless series of distractions
that foil efforts to find an unobstructed scene. Jim was able to find the shot, taking advantage of
the natural chaos of nature while finding room to capture the image. Well done, sir.

Roti Roti Art Center: The Roti Roti Art Center, 117 W. Front St., Buchanan, is showing a
member exhibit through Dec. 16, featuring photography, various painting media, pottery,
woodworking, fiber and metal work. The center is open noon-6 p.m., Wednesday-Friday and
noon-4 p.m. weekends.
Costa Rica explored: Learn about Costa
Rica’s efforts to promote sustainable
ecotourism as Ron DeKett takes you on a
visual tour of the small country’s natural and
cultural heritage.

The island is rich in history and wildlife. It is

a nature photographer’s paradise. Lots of
bugs and howler monkeys, too. The program
starts at 7 p.m., Nov. 27.

Magazine available: Photographic magazines for the taking are available at the front table.

Photography competition: This is a partial list of several upcoming photography

competitions. Be sure to conduct due diligence if you decide to enter.
• Celebrate Michigan, annual competition sponsored by The Detroit News, open to
amateur photographers. Google "Celebrate Michigan Photo Contest".
• Michigan Trails Photo Contest, sponsored by Michigan Trails. Deadline for 2024 is Jan.
31. Visit mitrails.org/photo-contest.php.

Feedback wanted: Club members are invited to make comments, ask questions, give
suggestions and voice concerns about club offerings. The board wants to know what the club can
do to improve and expand its services and programs to benefit members. The feedback will be
used by the board of directors as it plans its programs for the coming year. Contact information
for board members is available on the club website.

Member Spotlight: Check out the club website to learn more about club members.
Webmaster Jasmin Bretana has created a Member Spotlight section under the “announcements”
link on the main page.
Facebook: Don’t forget about the club Facebook page. Members are encouraged to post their
images, report on photo opportunities and learn about up-to-date club news.
Visit the Website: Remember to regularly visit the club website, twincitycameraclub.com.
Instagram: Webmaster Jasmin Bretana has created a club Instagram account. Visit
www.instagram.com/twincitycameraclub/.
November honors: Congratulations go to Becki Utigard who was the only club member to
receive Honors for the November entries. The November competition had a robust response with
82 black & white entries and 114 color entries. However, the Select Subject – decay – proved a
difficult challenge. Of the 196 total entries in both Select and Open categories, two received
Honors, 134 received Accepted and 60 were rejected. Only two of the rejected were from the
Open category. None of the Select Subject entries received an Honor.
B&W Open
Becki Utigard - Good Dog

Color Open
Becki Utigard - Girl Dancing in Fountain

Keep those shutters clicking…