November 2020 Focal Points Magazine by John Nilsson

Focal Points Sierra Club Camera Committee Magazine NoNovember 2020

Focal Points Magazine

Contents

Due to current directives from The Sierra Club, we will be holding our December 10, 2020 meeting online. I will be contacting everyone when the time comes with instructions as to how to access via Zoom.

4. Cover Story 14. Meetings and Outings 20. Member Photos 80. Black and White Pages 90. Contributor's Bio's 100. Notes and Announcements

Focal Points Magazine

108. Photo of the Month

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

109. Parting Shot

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

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

Flowers in a Time of Quarantine By Velda Ruddock

Introduction “How,” I was recently asked, “did you photograph the flowers that were recently published in Focal Points?” The pragmatic answer to that was pretty straightforward: I’ve set up a studio in our home with a black cloth as a background, and a Costco table with a black tablecloth. I use a Really Right Stuff tripod, Nikon D750 with a MicroNikkor 105 1:2.8 for most shots and natural light, sometimes augmented with overhead lights or an LED light on a stand. I process using Lightroom and if I’m going to print I’ll take the image into Photoshop and the NIK software. Anyone can do it, right? Except isn’t that like a landscape photographer saying, “I go somewhere, I set up a tripod, I take pictures?” Yeah, no, that’s not very helpful. So here is the longer story.

For the love of flowers When I was a toddler my grandmother would take me for walks and tell me stories about Forget-Me-Nots and Buttercups and Dandelions. She made me chains of daisies, read me stories of fairies clothed in lilies and every morning we would water her houseplants – Begonias, African Violets, and the vivid Cyclamen. The cut flowers were usually Tulips, Chrysanthemums, Roses or Carnations, and these still hold a special place in my heart. Later, of course, other, more dramatic flowers dazzled me, and Southern California is home to extravagant exotic beauty.

For the love of photography I’ve been photographing since I got my first Brownie camera, and my husband, Joe Doherty, and I have been taking photo safaris since we were courting. People marveled that so many of our photos looked different from each other. That was because while Joe would photograph the “big picture,” I could often be found on my stomach, 4

photographing the smaller view. I often took photographs of flowers by hand-holding my camera in a field of wildflowers or with my cell phone in portrait mode. The voice in the back of my head was clear, “Yes, that’s pretty, but wouldn’t you rather make something that will take your breath away?

For the love of flower photography About a decade ago I found a book, One Hundred Flowers, by Harold Feinstein, at a used bookstore in Chicago. I remember sitting on the floor and gazing at every page, my heart racing. I’ve recently had to buy a second copy because I love his images so much I want a backup. Feinstein had spent most of his career doing street photography but in 2001 started using a scanner to photograph images of flowers, seashells and other beautiful items. He published several books of his scanographic art. Scanography didn’t interest me because I didn’t have a scanner. But, Joe suggested I could create flower photographs in my own voice, with my camera and a macro lens. He bought me my Micro-Nikkor 105 for my birthday. I wasn’t interested…until one day I was.

Early studio Flower Shots - Long Freesia and Dark Gerberas 5

Studio and equipment Late in 2014 I threw a black cloth over a rod in the garage and photographed some flowers. The images didn’t match what I had in my head. It didn’t look great. So I bought the best, deepest, darkest, most expensive black velvet I could find and draped it over the card table as well as a backdrop pole. Better. Joe told me I needed better light. He helped me with light stands and mirrors, but all of those things overcomplicated it for me. I wanted to focus on the flowers. Even today I mostly use available light, sometimes adding additional artificial light. That means I’m limited in when I shoot but that’s not a bad thing. Today I still use the velvet and usually the macro lens, although I now also use a Micro Nikkor 55. I use a tall, heavy, tripod because I need the camera to be steady and sometimes need to be ten feet away or more to get the image I want with the depth of field I want. I constantly need to broom and groom the backdrop and tablecloth and now use a black cutting board as a base because it is easier to keep clean. I have an area where I will sort and prepare the flowers, or more recently, the dried flowers, seeds and pods. I may use frogs (those devices with metal needles to fix the stems of the flowers), earthquake and floral putty, and narrow vases to position the flowers. A soft brush, tweezers and canned air will blow away the dust or take out the dead leaves or bugs. It is surprising to see how many bugs hide out in the petals! When Joe and I started traveling again, carefully, I did not want to give up the studio. A few years ago he gave me a light tent, and that goes with us now. It is easy to set up and take down, although we need to secure it to a table or a gust of wind can make it tumble in the dirt and those tents are really hard to clean.

How I work - Sorting Table and Tent Studio (Credit: Joe Doherty) 6

Choosing the subject and the story A few years ago a friend gave me a gift card for Trader Joe’s so I could buy as many flowers as I wanted to photograph. Each TJ has a slightly different selection, so I visit many in my neighborhood. I can spend hours at nurseries. The plant stores employees sometime ask me what I am doing when I look at the flowers through a hand-telescope, or if I get a preview with my cellphone. I focus on the flowers themselves and how I can shoot their best side. I believe what I do is make portraits of something I love. I have started learning their language. I am looking for the story. A flower story is most likely to be an emotional memory with the flower standing in for an event or relationship. I may focus on the individual or multiple flowers, and I may use the petals and leaves to help develop the story. The color and the light are important elements. But what is most important is how it makes me feel, because then I know what I want to communicate. Very often I want to hint at the mystery, the secret, that may be hidden in the flower or plant; at other times it feels like the joy or the sorrow is more explicit. Harold Feinstein’s basic instruction to his students is, “When your mouth drops open, click the shutter.” I love that. I gasp when I see what I don’t even know I want until it’s there. I giggle when the image is teased out when I see it on the screen. It is the moment I know I’ve connected with the flower.

As for more specific tips,

• Make sure the light is even (usually all shade). Some light and shadow can be added in the digital darkroom, but you need no make sure it’s not too dark or you lose detail, or too light, which blows out the detail, or too much of both because it’s just too hard to reconcile too much contrast. • Eliminating the noise of everything other than what you are shooting. Start with focusing on a single flower and look at it from all angles. It is worth shooting all the angles because when they are pulled up on the screen it becomes obvious what works and what doesn’t. •

When possible, work with odd numbers of flowers. 7

• Leave enough room around the flower. I often still make the mistake of shooting too tightly. • Take the time to look at all the corners on your screen. This seems boring but a stem or leaf can ruin a shot. • Look at what is the lightest object in your shot. Chances are that is where your viewer’s eyes will go. Is that where you want them to look? • Okay, this seems obvious, but double check that what you want is in focus. Some people focus stack, or take multiple shots changing the focus just a tiny bit each time. I haven’t mastered that skill so instead look for where I want the image to be sharpest.

Flowers in a time of quarantine This January Joe and I completed our winter trip through New Mexico and Utah. We loved being on the road and started mapping out the rest of the year, planning to photograph our way through California, Oregon and Washington; spend a month in Ireland and Holland; explore Central California; block out the Loneliest Highway 50; and probably make our way through Colorado in the Fall. We spent a week in Yosemite in February and saw signs in the bathrooms warning us about a virus with significant respiratory consequences. A couple of weeks later we realized those were probably early COVID-19 cases. As we entered the pandemic lockdown I found myself anxious and depressed. I lost interest in shooting and processing, and many things that keep me happy and sane. When I didn’t just “get over it,” I made a conscious decision to set up a studio and photograph the natural collections from the road. But the season had changed and I realized needed a happier way of expressing myself. I didn’t expect quick results and was surprised at how soon I reconnected with myself. I was fortunate. It appeared I needed the break to refresh my vision. The flowers themselves seem to stand in how we feel during this time of isolation, how we miss others, how we may be bored or looking for order in our lives or excited about small things like the way the sun hits our face. 8

Examples of Flowers in a Time of Quarantine

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

What’s next

MAY 2015

I’ve also been experimenting with the series. I tried using a white background that make the light more ethereal, but it was clear that black, deep dark black, works best. My subjects are drama queens, starlets, and nothing provides that aura as a black background. I photographed a collection of older flowers, which I call the Aging Beauty shots, and love how age transcends them. I’ve also photographed a Shattered collection, in which the flowers appear to have explode with petals and leaves everywhere. I love that collection and look forward to exploring it more.

Collections within the Flowers in a Time of Quarantine - Aging beauty and Shattered

Now that we have entered the Fall season and are heading to winter, I’ve started looking at dried flowers, the seeds, leaves, pods, and bark, but I want them to be as glamorous as the blooms. I’ve also been shooting more bouquets. 12

More recent work – Natural beauty and bouquets The joy I have in shooting these flowers and plants has only grown. I’m building a body of work and I want to share it with others. I’ve published some on social media and received good feedback. I’ve submitted some for publication. I’ve sold some images. I would like to do a small book, or an engagement calendar, but worry about the cost. Flowers in a Time of Quarantine feels like going back to my roots, but the process - and out of necessity, the meaning - is evolving. Sometimes a disaster can have a silver lining.

Resources and inspiration I want to grow my sources of inspiration and build my community of flower photographers. Although we almost all shoot flowers from time to time below is a sampling of some of my favorite sources: • Kathleen Clemons - http://kathleenclemonsphotography.com/ • Harold Feinstein - https://www.haroldfeinstein.com/portfolio/flowers/ (and many books) • Christin Geall – https://www.cultivatedbychristin.com/, FB – her work is a feast! I especially like Cultivated: The Elements of Floral Style (Princeton Architectural Press, 2020) • Robert Llewellyn - https://www.robertllewellyn.com/ • Patricia Emerson Mitchell – https://patriciaemersonmitchell.com/galleries-3/flora/ • Irving Penn - https://www.pinterest.ca/scarletblk/irving-penn-flower- photographs/ (the book is too expensive now but a Google image search will give you an idea…) • Manuela Zine - https://www.manuela-zine.at/en/gallery/ 13

Meetings and Outings

Sierra Club Came --

December 10, 20

Where:

In the comfort of your own home via Zoom

When: 7:00 PM

What:

Climbing Denali: Land of Ice and Snow

Who:

Presented by Michael Chamoun 16

era Committee

020 Meeting

Zoom Link Provided before the Presentation See You There!

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! 17

This Monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Member Photos

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

This Month's Member Photos

A few more photos from my trip to Wisconsin in the fall of 2019

MAY 2015

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

These images were all made with the iPhone 11 Pro Max. These are of the famous church in Barcelona which was designed by Gaudi, La Sagrada Familia. It has been under construction Started in 1882, the Sagrada Familia is the sixth most visited tourist attraction in the world, according to TripAdvisor. It is due to be ÂŤcompleted soon.Âť

ÂŠ2020, Vaugh Hart,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A few years on the Navaj Reservation. covers parts of and Arizona Corners area a Page Arizona. T were taken in as the Monum Tribal Park and hire an Indian into the back c idea as this are and many of t not on a map. formations hav the Totem and Image 1. There of rock art in formations,

ago I did a shoot jo Nation Indian The Reservation f Utah, New Mexico a from the Four all the way west to The first 5 images n an area known ment Valley Navajo d requires that you guide to take you country. Not a bad ea is very desolate he dirt roads are Many of the rock ve names such as d the Dancers in e is an abundance n the sandstone , as in Image 4.

Just southeast of Page, Arizona is an area on Tribal lands called Antelope Canyon. It is just a slice in the earth where wind and water have carved a slot maybe 30 to 40 feet deep and no more than several feet wide in some areas. When the sun is overhead it sends shafts of light into the slot and bathes the various strata of the walls in warm saturated colors. Several years ago photographers could reserve time slots to take photographs without crowds of tourists crawling over each other to hike the canyon but more recently the Navajo have allowed dozens of tour buses without restrictions and trying to take photographs has become impossible. Currently, with Covid 19 which has hit the Navajo Nation especially hard, I think Antelope Canyon is closed. The last 5 images are of the slot canyons.â&#x20AC;?

Thomas Cloutier ÂŠ 2020, Thomas Cloutier, All Righs Reserved

A few photos from a recent trip to Arizona......

Susan Manley

BIG HORN SHEEP munching his lunch of yellow flowers

Glacier National Park

MOUNTAIN GOATS on the look out for impending danger

JW Doherty

Fall and Smoke in El Capitan Meadow

Sunrise and Clouds, Grimes Point, NV 49

Petroglyphs at Grimes Point, NV

Fall in the Bodie Mountains near Masonic Spring

Carson River near the California Trail

Fall on Masonic Road 42

Doherty Reserved

McGee Creek 53

Evening along the Carson River, Fort Churchill State Historic Park, NV 54

Blue Hour at Chemung Mine 55

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

Recently I’ve been photographing street art in Venice Beach, where there are more than 200 wall murals scattered across the city. I’ve attached some favorite images from these endeavors.

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

John Clement Blue Morning

Emerging Light

Random wanderings her air flow has cleared the the coast of Oregon to ra blessing to be out doors.

re in the Northwest. As we have transitioned from raging fires and heavy smoke the northwesterly fall air and moisture laden fronts have repeatedly brought fall rains to our region. From moody light on aging fall colors in my pasture to amazing cirrus clouds while prospecting in eastern Oregon it been a . Enjoy some of my captures. All Fall Down

Coleus Light

Dawns Stillness Kubota Sun

Fall at Manning Bridge - located in the Palouse near Colfax Wa. The bridge was destroyed by a ragin wild fire several weeks ago during one of our fierce wind storms. RIP

Moody Light at Bandon 66

Peace Barn

Steve Anderson I made these images while on a road trip to the Pacific Northwest in September 2019 and 2020. My route took me as far north as the NW tip of the continent across from Canada and to my old friend Mount Rainier. The air quality at the time was a welcome relief to the smoke stagnating across Oregon and California.

Fall Foiage - Mt Rainier NP 68

Forest Floor - Vashon Island

Edge of the US - Cape Flattery 69

Gun Battery - Fort Worden

Steel Door - Ft. Worden

Hooded Oreole- Kenneth Hahn SP

pass spot these can, flight far, th

House KennethHahn Hahn House Finch Finch -- Kenneth SP SP

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve heard it said that there are over 500 species of birds that live in, or through, Los Angeles. These are just a few of them. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve barely begun to them all, let alone know what season or what habitat to look for them in. All e birds are wild in Los Angeles, not baited. I try to capture behaviors when i small passerine birds like sparrows and finches, and i love to shoot birds in t. My goal is always to capture as much excruciating detail as possible. So heir colors and variety continue to astound. Lesser Goldfinch - Kenneth Hahn SP

Killdeer - Lagoon SP

Lesser Goldfinch Kenneth Hahn SP

Mandarin Duck - Irvine Regional Park

Mallard - Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Mallard - Ballona Freshwater Marsh

Mallard - El Dorado Park

Mallard - Irvine Regional Park

Allen Johnson On September 10, 2020, I decided to wait for the sunrise across the Columbia River from the banks of Kennewick, Washington. There was so much smoke in the air from the west-coast fires that the skies turned a bright amber. I was about to pack up my camera when I noticed a fisherman in a kayak approaching. I waited for him to cross the sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reflection before photographing the image.

need near almo

Both of these images were photographed this week. The kayak image was shot on the Columbia River Kennewick, Washingon. The doe and fawns image was shot at the Yakima River Delta Reserve, also Kennewick. Regarding the deer photograph, I was taken by how quickly autumn has come our way; ost overnight. ÂŠ2020 Allen Johnson, All Rights Reserved

The Black and White Pages

Death Valley Dunes John Fisanotti Nikon D700 f/11@1/500 14mm

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

Driftwood Port Townsend, WA Steve Anderson Samsung SM-G973U 6 mm f/2.4 82

Cirrus Pano Olympus E-M5MarkII f/13 @ 1/250 12 mm

Building Facade

South Broadway, Los Angeles

John Nilsson Leica M10 Monochrom Zeiss Planar 2/50 ZM 50mm f/8 @ 1/500

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 90

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!!!

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Causes, Notes, and Announcements

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Notes and Announcements Ken Karagozian Writes:

“ DEEP CONNECTIONS ” Photographs By

Ken Karagozian

LOS ANGELES UNION STATION PASSAGEWAY LIGHTBOX DISPLAY On Display until Mid 2021

Lightboxes located in the passageway connecting Union Station East and West

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Joe Doherty Writes: Velda and I have 7 pieces exhibited at the Yosemite Gateway Art Center in Oakhurst. This is a show organized by the Yosemite Western Artists, which is loosely affiliated with the Yosemite Renaissance. The show theme is «Water,» and it will be up until mid-December. Anyone on their way to Yosemite through Oakhurst should make it a point to stop at the gallery, which is part of an art gallery complex that is an unexpected gem in the foothills.

Deep Connections

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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 105

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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

More members - More to share 107

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Photo of the Month

Vestrahorn, Stokksnes Peninsula, Iceland Winds were gusting at 50 miles an hour

David DesRochers Canon EOS 5D Mark III 14 mm

Hand Held, f/5.0 @ 1/320, ISO 1000 108

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The Parting Shot

ÂŠJohn Nilsson

Cowboy Leader Contacts John Nilsson, Chairman Leader, Editor - Focal Points dtlanow@gmail.com

Steve Anderson, Leader

sandersonimagery@outlook.com

213-266-2224

John Boyle, Leader jboyle6300@gmail.com

Allan Der, Leader, Instructor

714-892-4857

ader@sprynet.com

714-962-2054

Ed Ogawa - Treasurer

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

626-794-5207

cscurlock@charter.net

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

Carole Scurlock, Leader

Peter Mason, Leader

323-828-8334

peter@petermason.com

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530-265-2528

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November 2020 Focal Points Magazine

Articles inside

Contributor's Bio's