October 2020 Focal Points Magazine by John Nilsson

Focal Points Sierra Club Camera Committee Magazine October 2020

Focal Points Magazine

Contents

Due to current directives from The Sierra Club, we will be holding our October 8, 2020 meeting on-line. I will be contacting everyone when the time comes with instructions as to how to access via Zoom.

4. Cover Story 10. Meetings and Outings 14. Member Photos 84. Black and White Pages 88. Contributor's Bio's 94 . Notes and Announcements

Focal Points Magazine

104. Photo of the Month

Published monthly by the Angeles Chapter Sierra Club Camera Committee, John Nilsson, Editor.

105. Parting Shot

Questions and comments can be directed to John at 213-266-2224

Cover Photo Credit:

Notes from the Chairman Don’t Forget: You can post directly to the Angeles Chapter Instagram Account Through the efforts of Jonathan Howard, the new Communications Coordinator of the Angeles Chapter, we now have the ability to make postings of our photos to the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter Instagram site @sierraclubangeles. This site has over 1600 followers! https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fdgVW_ VfYG5qlkxexHUMQxlH3wyYYc-G?usp=sharing #1 - Click the link above to find the ‘Instagram uploads’ shared folder in Gdrive. Once inside the folder, create an additional folder to house your photos and caption document using the naming convention: name-date

Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time.

#2 - Upload up to three (3) photos to be posted to Instagram with the naming convention: Photographer_ name or Instagram Handle-Date-Camera_used Maximum file size per photo must be less than 5mb or they will not load #3 - Jonahan will periodically (several times per week) post your photos and descriptions to #sierraclubangeles. That’s all there is to it! Each post will link to the Camera Committee’s website and any other website within SC comms guidelines. The most liked photo of each month will be included in the Southern Sierran along with the Focal Points photo of the month. 3

Cover Story

Hoot Hollow, Pennsylvania By: Phil and Becky Witt

Recently my wife,

Becky, and I ventured out of the state for the first time since the Covid-19 lockdown. We spent three days in rural central Pennsylvania with a photographer couple, Mary Ann and Joe McDonald, at their home/studio, Hoot Hollow, in a private workshop, mostly outdoors.

Both are gifted photographers and instructors with whom we have travelled in the past to the Pantanal region of Brazil. Joe is a master at constructing natural habitats in which to photograph a variety of wildlife. Our morning began photographing Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at the multiflash set up, and wandering the grounds photographing birds and chipmunks

After lunch, we entered Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s studio, where we photographed a Black-tailed Rattlesnake and a Timber Rattlesnake. Joe has handled reptiles since childhood, and he is involved in a network of similar-minded individuals who lend each other various reptiles for educational and photographic purposes. Joe constructed different photographic sets for each snake, depending on its natural habitat.

At night, we sat quietly listening to katydids and watching nocturnal flying squirrels by a large, lit, elevated pool, where raccoons reliably come each night. The elevated pool is adorned with rocks, logs, and trees to the extent that our raccoon pictures look remarkably like they were shot in a natural setting. All in all, we had an enjoyable photographic getaway after five months of lockdown.

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

Meetings and Outings

Sierra Club Camera Committee --

October 8, 2020 Meeting

Where:

In the comfort of your own home via Zoom

When: 7:00 PM

What:

The Art of Time-Lapse Making Time Fly

Who:

Presented by Brian Leary

Time-lapse movies are a great way to show long periods of tim

that, they can be really fun to make and cool to watch!

From the way motion plays out in front of the camera to the dur capture, there are many elements that go into the creation of a timethe components necessary to make a professional looking time-laps images. 12

Click this link for Time-Lapse video rollâ&#x20AC;Ś https://youtu.be/MmgdaK7miYM

me on a compressed scale. Aside from

ration of the event you are trying to -lapse. In this talk, you will learn all of se video from a series of still 13

The Zoom platform has recently been upgraded to provide high security and ease of operation. Be certain to download or upgrade to the latest vesion before the presentation! 13

This Month's Member Photos

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

This Month's Member Photos

MAY 2015

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

Wisconsin in October, 2019

Being that it is hard to go out

Normandy

and shoot landscapes or find wildlife during these smoky conditions and travel is difficult during the quarantine I decided to send in some shots of Teri and my trip to Normandy in 2015. This is a place everyone of our generation should visit. The “Man in the High Castle” was a recent series on Netflix or Prime about what the world might be like had the Nazis won the war. The success of the invasion ended Hitler’s hope of ruling the world. In early May of 2015, my wife, Teri, and I took a trip to the Normandy Coast to visit the beaches, museums and sense the history which unfolded there just 71 years earlier. The weather was mostly cloudy with intermittent rain showers, fog and cool temperatures much like what faced the Allies as they landed on the beaches early on the morning of June 6, 1944. Paratroopers jumped inland of the German fortifications while American, British, Canadian and other Allied Forces stormed the beaches from Utah Beach at the west end to Sword Beach on the east end of approximately 50 miles of rugged coast line. The town of Arromanches was ground zero for the D-Day invasion Within days an artificial harbor was created, named Port Winston. Within just six days of operation , 54,000 vehicles, 326,000 troops, and 110,000 tons of goods had crossed the English Channel. Eleven months later the war was over.

Point du Hoc

The area and beaches today look much like they did at D-Day. Mostly deserted except for a few trophy hunters with their metal detectors, (Preceding Page). In the town of Ste-Mere Eglise, a few miles inland of Utah Beach, one American paratrooper got snagged by the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s church steeple before he was rescued. A likeness was reinstalled, (Left).

age on the previous page and to left are of an area known Hoc, where Army Rangers scaled these cliffs to attack the n batteries. Three of the bunkers still contain the 155mm were capable of firing up to 13 miles. The bomb-cratered, andscape at Point du Hoc is the same as it looked to the D-Day. 27

Image Above is of the German Military Cemetery where 21,000 German soldiers are burried. When we arrived at the somber and bleak site we were immediately confronted with the clear sense of defeat and despair. The tragedy of the young soldiers who gave their lives for a cause they couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand.

In stark contrast is the American Cemetery, Images 7, 8 and 9, with its 9,387 brilliant white marble crosses symbolizing hope and victory in memory of Americans who gave their lives to free Europe. The final image, (next page), is looking east toward Arromanches with the cultivated fields of Safflower. In the misty distance you can still see evidence of some harbor structures during low tide and the town of Bayeau. 29

American Raptors

American Screech Owl 32

American Bald Eagle 33

Golden Eagle

Horned Owls

Kestral

Osprey

Peregrin F

Red-tail Hawk

Swa

Falcon

ucca, erved

ainsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hawk

JW Doherty I have two favorite photographic locations in Los Angeles, and both of them have burned. Malibu Creek State Park suffered massively in the Woolsey fire in 2018, and now Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve has caught fire over Labor Day Weekend. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my estimate that 90% of the shoreline vegetation was burned away, as was the surrounding field of grass that was habitat for rabbits, squirrels, and other raptor prey. The fire cleared the brush that concealed several campsites. One of these included a patio of interlocking stones, and another had a simple mud-oven with a baking rack. The remnants of the homeless economy (shopping baskets, bicycle parts, recyclables) dotted the landscape. The brush was thick enough that I was completely unaware of these camps on previous visits. 39

The trees lining Haskell Creek, which flows along the side of the pond, w visited the day after the fire, but the creek itself contained enough life to vultures soared over the charred grasslands looking for food, and I was at the east end of the reserve. I intend to document the recovery. 40

were mostly burnt out. Some of them were still smoldering when I o make it worthwhile for several egrets to strike at the water. Turkey fortunate to see a juvenile red-tailed hawk conduct a successful hunt ÂŠ 2020 JW Doherty, All Rights Reserved

Josie

From my recent hikes in the Santa Monica Mountians......

ll Rights Reserved

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

Grey Hairstreak butterfly on sunflower, Rancho Palos Verdes 50

MAY 2015

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

Macro photography is one way to keep shooting during these difficult times without venturing too far from home. These are 5 of my favorite macro photos taken in the last two months.

Pride of Madeira foliage, Rancho Palos Verdes

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

Rose of Sharon flower alo Lagoon in Ven

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

ongside the Ballona nice CA

MAY 2015

Dahlia Collarette flower alongside the Ballona Lagoon in Venice CA

John Clement

Caladium Dew- near my gargae door. Iphone 10

Random Shootings in my Backyard! The past 3 weeks has seen 100â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of thousand acres burned, homes, towns and lives destroyed here in the NW. Hazerdous air conditions never experienced before by me or my family. Air so bad that even I was seriously affected for 3 days of breathing misery, constant coughing, sneezing and runny nose. But there is always beauty out there for those who look and seek it in all conditions. With the sun but a faint orange orbe in the sky when it was visible - but much of the time it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. My ventures outside were mainly to check the vegatable garden and water a few plants and to the garage to work on several sculpting art projects. Here are a few of the interesting images I was able to capture during my brief but focused ventures outside.

Delicate II-Backyard Olympus OMD EM1-MarkIII-300mm lens 55

Garden Art- another trip to the mail box-Olympus OMD EM1-MarkIII 56

Nasturtium Art- on my way to the mail box-Olympus OMD EM1-MarkIII

Delicate Balance with Cosmos-Backyard-Olympus OMD EM1-MarkIII 300mm lens 57

Stacked Suns-backyardOlympus OMD EM1-MarkIII-300mm lens

Backyard View-Olympus OMD EM1MarkIII-40mm lens

Sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s- Backyard Olympus OMD EM1-MarkIII-300mm lens

Double Suns- watering in my backyard-Iphone-10

Seed Pods

And you thought I only did birds?

ÂŠ 2020 Paul Reinstein

John Nilsson

BLD (Before Lock to photograph the Pa greatest wheat prod agrarian past. Many

k Down) I went on a memorable trip with other SCCC Members to the Pacific Northwest alouse region of East/Central Washington State. The area is home to some of the duction in the United States and offers uncomparable beauty and a return to our y thanks to SCCC Member John Clement for leading us through this experience!

Â© 202

The Black and White Pages Bodie John Fisanotti Nikon D700 Nikon 28-105 3.5-4.5 f/11@1/500, ISO 200

Nikon D700 Nikor 35-mmf/2 @ 35mm f/9.5, ISO200

Vestrahorn, Stokksnes peninsula, Iceland Winds were gusting at 50 miles an hour. David DesRochers

Hand held with 14 mm lens, f5.0, 1/320 sec. ISO 1000

George the Dog The Palouse, Washington State There's something about a good dog in the back of your pickup

Sony 7RMII Sony 24-70mm f/4 @ 70mm 1/1250 @ f/5.6 ISO 800

Contributor Bios

Steve Anderson

John Clement

Steve worked primarily in the

John began his career in photography in the early 70’s after graduating from Central Washington University with a double major in Geology and Geography. Since then he has earned a Masters of Photography from the Professional Photographers of America. He has received over 65 regional, national and international awards for his pictorial and commercial work. His photographs grace the walls of many businesses in the Northwest and has been published in numerous calendars and coffee table books. He has provided photographs for Country Music Magazine and for Northwest Travel Magazine. He has supplied murals for the Seattle Seahawks Stadium and images for The Carousel of Dreams in Kennewick, WA. Current projects include 17 – 4x8 foot glass panels featuring his landscapes in Eastern Washington for the Pasco Airport Remodel. Last year he finished a major project for the Othello Medical Clinic where almost 200 images were used to decorate the facilities ranging in size from 24” to 35’ in size. His work can be viewd at:

conventional medium of Black and White silver-based photography for many years as he explored the natural landscape of the local San Gabriel Mountains and his beloved High Sierra in California. In the last 20 years he has engaged in digital photography as it has opened up new avenues and excitement about making images of the natural scene. His interest in photography began in junior high school when he developed his first roll of film from a Kodak Brownie camera. He became very interested in combining photography and traveling adventures as a member of the Highlanders, a mountaineering club at Pasadena City College. His work turned more serious during military service as the landscape became his focus of attention. Steve’s interest in the environmental movement, starting in his college days, led him to actively seek ways of using his photography to help in a personally significant way. He joined the Mono Lake Committee 40 years ago and has been an active leader in the Sierra Club since 1981. He served as the chairperson of the Camera Committee of the Angeles Chapter for 5 years. Steve’s images have appeared in Sierra, the Southern Sierran, Images of the West, A Portrait of Bodie, and the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter Schedule of Activities. Some of his monochrome images were significant contributions to help save Mono Lake. He has had work shown in a number of local galleries. Steve was the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Artist in Residence in 2015. Steve has published four photography books that are available through Blurb.com. “My images sum up my feelings about the grandeur of nature. It is never just one thing that touches me when I try to capture a moment, but always a vast array of emotional and photographic textures. Most of my images are therefore complex and detailed.” Email: sandersonimagery@outlook.com Viewingwebsite:www.pbase.com/ spanderson 84

www.johnclementgallery.com John Clement Photography Face Book Professional page The Kiona Winery in Benton City, and at Allied Arts Gallery in Richland, WA.

JW Doherty

John Fisanotti

Joe Doherty grew up in Los Angeles and developed his first roll of film in 1972. He has been a visual communicator ever since. He spent his teens and twenties working in photography, most of it behind a camera as a freelance editorial shooter. He switched careers when his son was born, earning a PhD in political science from UCLA specializing in American politics and research methods. This led to an opportunity to run a research center and teach at UCLA Law, where he became best known as an empirical bankruptcy scholar. After retiring from UCLA in 2016 he continued to consult, but now he and his wife Velda Ruddock spend much of their time in the field, across the West, capturing the landscape.

As a youth, John’s interest in photography stemmed from an interest in astronomy. His first photos were attempts to photograph the night sky using a folding Kodak camera, that once belonged to an uncle. Later, John used a 35mm rangefinder camera to photograph nature, particularly the San Gabriel Mountains above his home in La Crescenta. After high school, John sold his telescope to purchase a 35mm SLR camera outfit. John was a photography major in his first three years of college. He has used 35mm, 2-1/4 medium format and 4x5 view cameras. John expected to be a commercial photographer. His personal work leaned heavily to shooting landscapes and outdoors. In 1977 John changed majors. After graduating from California State University Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Urban Studies in 1979, John’s first post job college was in a commercial photo laboratory. In 1980, he pivoted from photography and began his 32-year career in public service. John worked for four Southern California cities in city planning, community development and redevelopment, and concluded his career as a Project Manager for the Culver City Redevelopment Agency. During these decades, he continued to shoot outdoor scenic images whenever possible. After retiring from public service in 2012, John has pursued his astronomical and photographic interests. Beginning in 2013, John has been a telescope operator for the 60" reflector telescope at Mt. Wilson Observatory. And John has increased his photographic portfolio concentrating on outdoors, landscape, travel and astronomical images. Beginning in 2018, he has expanded his repertoire to include architectural and real estate photography. Occasionally, John has been fortunate to have photographs selected for various exhibitions or publications. He currently shoots with Nikon DSLR cameras. John’s photographic websites: Landscape, Travel and Astronomical images http://www.johnfisanottiphotography.com; Architectural and Real Estate photography are at http://www.architecturalphotosbyfisanotti.com. Contact John at either

jfisanotti@sbcglobal.net or fisanottifotos@gmail.com.

Jeff Gottesman

Wiebe Gortmaker

I first became interested in photography back in high school sometime in the last century. My father worked for many years in a professional camera store in Pittsburgh (Kadet Photo Supply) where he did the picture framing. I spent a few summers working in that camera store mostly doing shipping and receiving but every chance I got, I would be talking with and learning from the salesmen who knew everything about cameras and photography. At the end of the summer they gave me a used Pentax Spotmatic 500 and there began my love of photography. I did all the shooting and darkroom work for my high school yearbook and later as a photographer and writer for college newspapers. At the same time, I developed a love of nature and graduated college with a degree in Geology (with several electives in Photography). That was where all the environmentalists spent their time. The love of nature and photography were a perfect match and after retiring from IT a few years ago (there was a career change somewhere in there) Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve returned to those early loves and am able to spend a lot more time on photography, enjoying workshops and especially the Sierra Club trips :).

I am based in Boulder, Colorado and consider myself a full-time hobbyist. After retiring from the airlines, I have devoted a high percentage of my time to travel and learning photography. In the past few years I have moved from travel photography to primarily wildlife and landscape photography. Prior to the airlines, I spent considerable time in remote areas of Alaska and Central and South America. I am now able to revisit those places with a focus on photography. I have lived in Colorado since college and spent a lot of time flying, hiking, and climbing in the wild places in my back yard. With my new hobby I am looking at these places in a new way, trying to preserve the image and feelings I have of the wildlife and landscape. This process motivates me to learn and discover. Wiebe is concentrating on his photography at this time and is not currently active on social media. He does plan to have a website together in the near future.

My photos can be seen at https://www.jeffgottesmanphotography. com/

Joyce Harlan I have always loved photography! First to document and save photos of my sons. We had little to no money for film developing in the beginning but I kept shooting. Every year my husband would ask me what I wanted for Christmas/birthday and I would always say “develop my film”!! After several years he finally did, but everything was yellow but the memories were there. From there, when I was coaching downhill skiing for Westside Special Olympics, I took photos of my athletes and created a book for each of them. The pure joy I saw on their and their family’s faces was priceless! Finally, I was at Mammoth skiing with my family (grandkids!!) and we had lunch at Bergers Burgers. They had the most gorgeous landscape photos on they walls. I asked the waitress about them and she said they were by Vern Clevenger and that he often came in for lunch after skiing and she would point him out for me. She did, I asked about workshops and he said “absolutely”. That was it!! I took one workshop from him and many, many more with Mountain Light in Bishop with Jack Dykinga, John Shaw, Jerry Dodrill, David Meunch and Jeff Foote. One of the most memorable was their ten day inaugural rafting the Grand Canyon trip with Jack & Jerry. Over the years I have been blessed to travel the world with Muench Workshops (Cuba, Yukon, Mongolia, Alaska) Visionary Wild (Botswana, Kenya, Patagonia, Greenland), Aurora Expenditions (Antarctica), and Nathaniel Smalley (Iceland, Maine fall color). Photography mixed with travel has been my favorite soul food for a long, long time. And will continue to be for as long as I am able. Sadly, I am missing a trip to China in April and Uganda in June to see the gorillas. But I’ll get there as soon as it is safe again.

Allen Johnson I'm a PhD in psychology with

a passion for photography. I'm also the author of several books: a memoir on France entitled "Pardon My French" and two novels: "The Awakening" and "Spike, Benny, and Boone."

Butch Mazzuca

John Nilsson

I was born in Chicago IL and attended the University of Dayton. After graduation I served four and half years as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps. My last official ‘work' position was President & CEO of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co-Denver. I Retired in 1999 and moved to Vail where I taught skiing, a “fundamentals of photography” class at our local community college and wrote (still do) commentary for the Vail Daily Newspaper. I Started taking pictures in 2008 when my wife Bobbi “talked me” into traveling to Africa (we returned seven more times! ) My images have been published in Shutter Bug Magazine, Sarasota Magazine, Travel Africa Magazine (5 times) and Africa Geographic (6 times including two photo essays) I consider myself a generalist although African wildlife and landscape photography are my favorites.

I have a fond memory from my early years of my father dragging me to the Denver Museum of Natural History on a winter Sunday afternoon. He had just purchased a Bosely 35mm camera and had decided he wanted desperately to photograph one of the dioramas. I distinctly remember the display was of several Seal Lions in a beautiful blue half-light of the Arctic winter that required a tricky long exposure. The transparency he showed me several weeks later was spectacular and mysterious to my young eyes. Although the demands of Medical School made this photo one of the first and last he shot, at 5 years old I was hooked. The arrival of the digital age brought photography back to me as a conscious endeavor - first as a pastime enjoyed with friends who were also afflicted, and then as a practitioner of real estate and architectural photography during my 40 years as a real estate broker. Since retiring and moving to Los Angeles, I have continued my hobby as a nature and landscape photographer through active membership in the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter Camera Committee and my vocation as a real estate photographer through my company Oz Images LA. The camera is now a tool for adventure!

www.OzImagesLA.com dtlanow@gmail.com

David DesRochers

Larry Miller

David is an accomplished speaker, instructor and writer and his wildlife and landscape photographs have been published in books, magazines and on calendars. As an Associate Naturalist with the New Jersey Audubon Society, he has been leading workshops and tours for over 10 years. In 2014, David was awarded the New Jersey Federation of Camera Clubs Citation in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of the art and science of photography in the State.

I bought my first SLR camera in 1985 to document hikes in the local mountains that I did with friends. My first Sierra Club Camera Committee outing was a wildflower photo shoot in the Santa Monica Mountains led by Steve Cohen in 1991. Since then the SCCC has introduced me to many other scenic destinations, including the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, the Gorman hills, Saddleback Butte State Park, East Mojave National Preserve, the Eastern and Southern Sierras, Point Reyes, the Big Sur Coast, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Red Rock Canyon State Park, Tejon Ranch, and Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. At the same time, my own photography trips gradually expanded in scope over the years to include most of the western National Parks and National Monuments, with the Colorado Plateau becoming a personal favorite. Photography is an avocation that took a backseat to my career during the 32+ years that I worked as a radar systems engineer at Hughes Aircraft/Raytheon Company. Since retiring in 2013, I’ve been able to devote more time to developing my photographic skills. Experiencing and sharing the beauty of nature continues to be my primary motivation.

As nature photographers, we love to be outdoors, exploring and photographing our natural world. While stay-at-home and social distancing orders are keeping us indoors, what’s a NANPA member to do? David’s program will show you how to bring nature indoors by creating beautiful images of plants and flowers on your dining room table. Topics include equipment, camera settings, set ups, composition, and editing.

www.desrochersphography.com

Phil Witt

Velda Ruddock

Phil Witt has been photographing nature since he got his first SLR camera in the late 70s. An avid birder, he is a volunteer at the Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary of NJ Audubon in Bernardsville, where he coleads the photography workshop series. He is currently on NJ Audubon’s Board of Directors. He is a past president of the Camera Naturalist Photo Club, and program chair of the Somerset County Camera Club. He judges photography competitions and presents instructional programs at photography clubs throughout New Jersey. He received the NJ Federation of Camera Club’s 2017 Citation for service to photography in the state. He and his wife enjoy traveling the world for photography--Antarctica, the Galapagos, Tanzania, Iceland, Costa Rica, among others. When not birding or photographing, he is a (mostly retired) forensic psychologist, specializing in legal cases and court testimony.

Creativity has always been important to me. I received my first Brownie camera for my twelfth birthday and I can’t remember a time I’ve been without a camera close at hand. I studied the social sciences and art, and later earned a Masters degree in Information and Library Science degree. All of my jobs allowed me to be creative, entrepreneurial, and innovative. For the last 22 years of my research career I was Director of Intelligence for a global advertising and marketing agency. TBWA\ Chiat\Day helped clients such as Apple, Nissan, Pepsi, Gatorade, Energizer, and many more, and I was considered a leader in my field. During our time off, my husband, Joe Doherty and I would travel, photographing family, events and locations. However, in 2011 we traveled to the Eastern Sierra for the fall colors, and although we didn’t realize it at the time, when the sun came up over Lake Sabrina, it was the start of change in our careers. By 2016 we had both left our “day jobs,” and we started traveling – and shooting nature – big and small – extensively. Our four-wheel drive popup camper allowed us to go to areas a regular car can’t go and we were – and are – always looking for our next adventure.

https://philwitt.smugmug.com

Susan Manley

Paul Reinstein

Susan Manley has more than 35 years experience as a photographer. Her career consisted mainly working in a Communications Department writing and shooting a wide variety of public relations and photojournalism photos. Since she retired approximately ten years ago, she switched her focus onto nature photography including landscapes and wildlife in America.

I have two lifelong hobbies; photography and fine woodworking. My father fostered both those interests. At 14, right before I went on a 1 week backpacking trip around Yosemite Valley with my friend Joe (16) who could drive, my father taught me the basics of using a camera on an Olympus camera that shot half frames on 35mm film. Can you imagine allowing a 14 year old to do that in today’s world? By 20, I was fully independent. In my 20s, I bought a Minolta SRT-101, and I also started dabbling in woodworking as a way to have simple furniture while working my way through college (Biochemistry, UCLA). I even had a simple B&W darkroom for a while. I shot mostly landscapes. After getting my degree, I decided I didn’t like working in that field, so I went back to school, and worked my way through a masters degree (Electronics Engineering, CSULB). I spent the majority of my career at The Aerospace Corp, working mostly on electrical power systems for rockets and satellites for the Air Force, NASA and the NRO. During that time, when not working, I began focusing mostly on fine woodworking, shooting occasional snapshots. By 50, my woodshop was enviable, my wife and I were flipping homes on the side, I was a manager at work, and digital cameras reignited my interest in photography. When the music stopped in real estate, we built our own home in Mar Vista. Then, my boss, and his boss both died unexpectedly (and independently), a huge layoff was announced, and I was retired. I got my general contractor’s license, and tried that for a couple of years. I retired fully at 60, earlier than I would have imagined. By 2016, I had amassed a number of bird photos, just by happenstance, so I decided to see what I could get that number up to, just for fun. That turned out to be eminently satisfying, albeit expensive, and now I spend much of my time shooting birds locally or travelling worldwide to do so. My big birding trips so far include the Galapagos and the UK, and my list is presently up to about 350 species, and I have a small presence on Instagram and on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/preinstein54/. I’ve sold a few images upon request, several of my friends have my images on their walls, and I still dabble in woodworking, including making my own frames.

Thomas Loucks Tom has been a longstanding amateur photographer, but only in recent years has he had more serious time to devote to the hobby. He garnered first place in National Audubon’s 2004 Nature’s Odyssey contest and has placed well in several contests by Nature’s Best, Denver Audubon’s Share the View, and the Merrimack Valley’s George W. Glennie Nature Contest. He has two images of “Alumni Adventurers” on permanent display at Dartmouth College. He is also the incoming President of Mile High Photo Club in Denver (2021-2022) where he currently serves as VP and as a Director. His photographic interests are landscape, wildlife, and travel photography, though his favorite subjects are alpine landscapes. Recently retired, Tom is looking forward to spending more time on photography and other outdoor activities. He recently signed up as a volunteer with Denver Audubon to assist with field trips and hopes that those will soon resume.

Basil Katsaros A native of Denver, Colorado, I first attended Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Not understanding humidity or seeing the sun for 30 days, I transferred to the University of Colorado. During my junior year, a roommate needed money and sold me his Pentax 35mm camera. That moment launched my interest in photography. My interests and knowledge were expanded by the Nikon School of Photography. In the earlier days, subject matter centered around my twin sons with travel photos and Christmas cards. As a real estate appraiser, I used photography in much of my work. I must admit, however, the 70’s primarily utilized a Polaroid as film was too time consuming for client demands. I have since graduated to two Nikon digital cameras and too many lenses. While attempting to downshift in work, I occasionally use my photography skills to testify as an expert witness in real estate. My interests include travel, landscape, and wildlife photography. I’m not smart enough to have a website, maybe someone can show me how. Most images are for personal enjoyment and mainly remain in my computer. My goal at this time is too not only become a better photographer, but to conquer Photoshop!!!

Causes, Notes, and Announcements

Notes and Announcements Vaughn Hart Writes: I am sure you know about this huge online Adobe Convention called ADOBE MAX. Here is what I just discovered that is even more amazing..... In the the sessions catalog browse and schedule from more than 350 sessions across 10 tracks. Filter by your interests and technical level to create a custom experience. Click the Heart icon to favorite sessions, then filter to show My Favorites to easily find them. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Check back, we’re adding sessions each week — including the MAX Live Broadcast, featuring our Headliner and Luminary speakers. Sessions will be offered in English with closed captioning available in English, French, German, and Japanese. Labs and workshops will be presented in English with English closed captioning. Lab and presentation files are English only. The majority of sessions and labs will be available on-demand after they premiere. On-demand content will be available at no cost for all registered attendees to watch over the coming year. Some live broadcast sessions featuring celebrities will be available during the event only.

More Information at max.adobe.com

Joan Schipper Writes: Be mindful that there are rattlesnakes out there on LA’s trails! It’s a good reminder to be watchful out there -- if the snake tracks we crossed on our Aliso/ Wood Canyon hike weren’t enough! As my brother-in-law sais, we should never be surprised to meet a snake on the trail. We hike in their domain, after all. If you are bit, there is really nothing you can do but get to medical care immediately!

Dan Writes: This event may be of interest to SCCC folks. Pasadena-East LA Open Show-Pasadena East LA strengthens our photography community and brings together the public and artists in a discussion centered around photography. LOCATION: Zoom Video Conferencing Instructions to join us on Zoom will be emailed to you prior to the event This event is FREE! Please RSVP FOR MORE INFO www.pasadenaphotographyarts.org www.openshow.org Sponsored and produced by Pasadena Photography Arts a project of Fulcrum Arts / EMERGE Program. 97

Szela Wojciech writes: With so many workshops, photo walks and other events cancelled I’ve been looking at alternatives. This one can be interesting to our community: https://www.laaudubon.org/events/2018/12/14/open-wetlands8wn7s-h6gld-d9pep-fd356-jhp28-a5c7h-9happ-bwd4l-yehrgg9jfg Books: - last month or so Thomas Heaton published his first book with some both epic and intimate landscapes (I’m proud to have a copy of it) https://thomasheaton.co.uk/product/mybook/ - Ben Horn also published his book recently, plenty of intimate landscape shots from our LA «backyard» (Death Valley, Zion...) https://www.kozubooks.com/books-new/ between-the-wind-by-ben-horne - Adam Gibs book got re-published (2nd edition) https:// www.kozubooks.com/books-new/quiet-light-by-adam-gibbssecond-edition Other events: - The Ansel Adams Gallery with have Charles Cramer retrospective exhibition in November https://www.anseladams. com/gallery/welcome/news-exhibits/exhibits/ Charles is famous for his woodland photography. He has been Ansel Adams student and has been running photography workshops under The Ansel Adams Gallery umbrella. Bio: https://www. charlescramer.com/about 98

The Member’s Choice Photo Contest What’s your favorite photo in this Focal Points? Continuing with this issue I am asking all members to vote for their favorite photo. Here’s how: 1. Please e-mail me at dtlanow@gmail.com (Heading: Member’s Choice) and let me know your choice for the best photo by the 20th of the month in which the issue is published. 2.

In your e-mail, give me the page and the name of the photographer and a brief descrip- tion so I can identify your choice.

I will tally up the votes and announce the winner in the next issue and republish the photo with a paragraph from the photographer about how it was captured, where, when, and even the dreaded mire of camera, settings and lens. This should be a fun feature!

..........John Nilsson, Publisher

Wanna Go on a Hike?

Just in case you didn’t realize it........... The Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club has litterally 100’s of outdoor activities that Sierra Club Camera Committee members can attend.

You can find these activities at http://angeles.sierraclub.org/activities If you have an idea for a trip that the Camera Committee might like to plan for, tell a leader. They are always open to ideas of new places to go, new places to shoot. See the end of the newsletter for a list of contact information for the leaders.

CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. All participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. To read the liability waiver before you participate on an outing, go to: http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms

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Do you enjoy receiving your monthly copy of Focal Points? If your answer is "Yes" and you want to continue receiving Focal Points, please send us your check for $15.00 and your full name and email address for a yearly subscription to: Sierra Club Camera Committee c/o Wesley Peck 3615 Gondar Ave. Long Beach, CA 90808-2814

As a bonus, you will enjoy: An invitation to contribute your photographs to Focal Points for publication Full membership in The Sierra Club Camera Committee and access to our extensive programming and trips 101

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Get out there and get involved! Our natural world is under attack and we all need to fight to preserve the things that we hold dear.

CONTRIBUTE

YOUR TIME, YOUR DOLLARS.... OR BOTH! Do you know anyone who would like to become a member of the Sierra Club Camera Committee? We are seeking new members to share their outdoor experiences and photographs. If you have a friend or acquaintance whom you feel would benefit from and add to our membership, please ask them to join us at our next meeting.

Membership costs only $15.00 per year - a tremendous value! To join or renew, please mail a check for $15 (payable to SCCC): Wesley Peck, SCCC Membership 3615 Gondar Ave. Long Beach, CA 90808-2814

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Photo of the Month

Szela Wojciech The shot of NEOWISE comet was carefully planned. I’ve made a list of locations I’ve visited in the past and I knew, composition wise, would work well. Equipped with the knowledge, all that was left was watching the weather forecast and waiting. One day all the elements aligned at Mono Lake. I’m very happy I’ve decided to pre-plan and take this shot as the sight of the coming sun raising above the horizon was simply wonderful. Sony A7II Sony with 24-70mm F2.8 GM tripod: Feisol CT-3442 Acratech GP Ball-Head plus Acratech Leveling Base Petz Active Headlamp with a lantern case circa ten raw shots at 52mm, f2.8, ISO 1600, 10s - for the sky and water one raw shot made about 10-15 minutes later at 52mm, f4, ISO 400, 60s and a little bit of illumination from the headlamp diffused through the lantern case - for the tufas (rocks) 104

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The Parting Shot

Prominade Leader Contacts John Nilsson, Chairman

213-266-2224

Carole Scurlock, Leader

626-794-5207

Steve Anderson, Leader

714-962-2054

Allan Der, Leader, Instructor

714-892-4857

dtlanow@gmail.com

sandersonimagery@outlook.com

cscurlock@charter.net ader@sprynet.com

Ed Ogawa - Treasurer

Alison Boyle, Leader, Co-Chair: Outings alisoniboyle@icloud.com

John Boyle, Leader jboyle6300@gmail.com

ed5ogawa@angeles.sierraclub.org

310-994-1019

Wesley Peck, Membership

562-420-8543 wesdpeck@gmail.com NOTE: Send Membeship Checks to Wesley at 3615 Gondar Ave., Long Beach, CA 90808-2814

310-828-6300

Joan Schipper, Leader, Co-Chair: Outings joanschipper@ix.netcom.com

Peter Mason, Leader peter@petermason.com

323-828-8334

John Nilsson, Leader, Focal Points Editor dtlanow@gmail.com

530-265-2528

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213-266-2224

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