Berks Photographic Society

Chris McGinnis will speak on "It's the Little Things" via Zoom.
2022-04-18 19:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York)
Chris will share his favorite insect and spider images as he brings you into a tiny, hidden-in-plain-sight world. Specializing in field macro photography, Chris will discuss his gear for macro, explain his preferred camera settings, review tips for approaching subjects in the wild, share insights about processing techniques, and more! An interactive Q&A session will follow.
After a few years creating websites for a publishing company, Chris joined the Olympus America creative team and has been with Olympus for the past fourteen years. He currently serves as the Director of Creative Services and oversees all phases of Olympus’ graphic design, photography, and video production. Chris resides in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with his wife & twin daughters.
To see his work, visit his website (http://chrismcginnis.com), Instagram (http://instagram.com/innis2winnis), or Facebook page (http://fb.me/chrismcginnismacro).
Arrangements are being made to subsequently do a BPS macro photoshoot with Chris here in Berks County under the direction of Ivan Bub. Stay tuned for this small group workshop announcement.
This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation.
For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/. At checkout, please specify “Chris McGinnis – April 18” in the Additional information/Order Notes box. Once we receive your donation, your pass will be emailed to you. The deadline to request passes for this event is the Wednesday before the meeting.

BPS member Ginnie Lodge will share "My Experiments with Composites"
2022-05-02 19:30 - 21:30
BPS member Ginnie Lodge will share “My Experiments with Composites” She will “deconstruct” a composite image and describe her experimental and thought process in creating such an image. She’s still learning, so come along with her as she shares her journey.
Important Note*: For non Berks Photographic Society members interested in attending this session as a guest, please refer to the BPS website for information on membership (www.berksphotographic.org) &/or email BPS at guest-passes@berksphotographic.com for a guest pass to the meeting. Such requests must be made by April 27, 2022.

David Hutchinson will address “The Art of Seeing What You Can’t See” via Zoom
2022-05-16 19:30 - 21:30 | ZOOM
This session will address all aspects of long exposure photography, including the technical details, the gear and filters needed, tips and tricks and an awareness of cautions. This will be a robust talk so be prepared for 2 hours.
With over 15 years of photography experience, David has over 100 images published in books, magazines and calendars around the globe. David is continuously inspired by both landscape and wildlife photography and has photographed across Western Canada, the Yukon, several US states, as well as Italy. Recently, David became Singh-Ray Filters’ first international brand ambassador, as well as other well-known brands like f-stop Gear, Topaz Labs, and FLM Canada tripods.
Originally from St. Catharines, Ontario, David moved to British Columbia, Canada in 1993, and then to Sidney, British Columbia in 2002, where he currently resides. He now pursues nature photography full-time. He is passionate about preserving old growth forests and works to increase public awareness through his nature photography and videography. David recently won the prestigious “Best in Class” Award in Fine Art at the 2020 Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) National Image Competition. David also qualified as a finalist in the same competition for the Canadian Photographic Artist of the Year. David also recently received his Advanced Operations Drone Pilot License, which has helped him employ drone photography for a diverse range of photographic work.
David leads photography workshops on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, the BC Mainland Coast, and the Arctic listed on his web site.
This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation.
For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/. At checkout, please specify “David Hutchinson – May 16” in the Additional information/Order Notes box. Once we receive your donation, your pass will be emailed to you. The deadline to request passes for this event is the Wednesday before the meeting.
Sidney Pier, Sidney, Vancouver Island, BC Canada

“Attitude, Inspiration and Composition, A no BS Approach to Photography” via Zoom.
2022-06-20 19:30 - 21:30 | ZOOM
Rich Lewis, our judge for several 2021 BPS photo competitions, will give a session titled “Attitude, Inspiration and Composition, A no BS Approach to Photography” via Zoom.
This isn’t just a lesson in basic composition, it is a serious but entertaining look at the three fundamental building blocks required to create great photography.
Of all the things in photography, composition is the thing photographers struggle with the most. This is because composition is more completely subjective, but rarely taught that way. Composition also needs to be put in perspective with two other important components in order to be applied to one’s photography effectively. Those components are: Attitude – How to put yourself in the right mind and give yourself permission to create the way you want. Inspiration – We all need inspiration, but there is a fine line between imitating the work that inspires us and using it to create something unique. You will learn to navigate that fine line. Composition – More than a set of rules, learn how composition is actually a method of communication. All of this will be covered in the presentation with examples and even a fun test at the end.
Rich has been a professional and fine art photographer since the 1970’s with a passion for landscapes, especially the New Jersey Pine Barrens, abandoned buildings and interesting people. Richard’s inspiration comes from landscape painters and has developed a style he calls “Painting with a Camera”. This involves equal effort in both creating and post processing an image.
He is an active photography blogger, lecturer, instructor and conducts workshops in the New Jersey Pine Barrens to help photographers find their unique creative voice. His book “Photographing the New Jersey Pine Barrens, A Complete Photography Guide” was recently released & is available from his website & Amazon. To learn more about Rich, visit his website:RichardLewisPhotography.com.
This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation.
For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/. At checkout, please specify “Rich Lewis – June 20, 2022” in the Additional information/Order Notes box. Once we receive your donation, your pass will be emailed to you. The deadline to request passes for this event is the Wednesday before the meeting.

Members Travel Sharing Night
2022-09-12 19:30 - 21:00 | ZOOM
Jay Linsenbigler will moderate a BPS member session “show and tell” photo sharing night of the places we have visited – both near and farther away. The purpose is to give members ideas or inspiration about places to visit & ways to capture travel images. Local photo spots are fine – there are surely many places nearby that few know about.
Jay is asking members to share for only 5-10 minutes about one or two locations visited (recently OR in the past), showing perhaps 5-10 photos. Please email Jay at kristieandjayl@gmail.com if you’re interested in sharing! We need multiple members to volunteer to make this work!

Keith Bauer will do a Zoom presentation entitled Avian Photography - It’s more than just getting the bird in the frame
2022-09-19 19:30 - 21:30 | ZOOM
September 19, 2022: Keith Bauer will do a Zoom presentation entitled Avian Photography – It’s more than just getting the bird in the frame. Keith will provide a presentation on avian photography and what it takes to create images that are much more than just getting the bird in the frame. Like all wildlife photography, the photographer can’t control all the variables, but a little thought and planning can make a big difference in the final images you’re able to capture. This talk will share images and the information behind them. To be sure, luck is sometimes required, but being prepared can make that luck happen more often and allow you to come home with compelling avian images.

Keith is a nature & wildlife photographer living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Born and raised in Colorado, his academic background includes majors in Math, Physics and a graduate degree in Computer Science. That training led to a rewarding 34 year career in the world of Computer Science with the last 28 years working in the world of national security at Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque. Now 5 years into retirement, photography continues to play a significant role in life.
Keith’s photographic background includes studio work creating formal portraits, commercial work, weddings, outdoor portraits, and now predominantly nature and wildlife. For the last 20 years or so, the world of avian and wildlife photography have played a dominant role, but night, macro, time lapse and landscape photography are important components of his photographic portfolio.

Keith is a post processing expert in Lightroom and Photoshop and has co- authored 2 video e-books on Lightroom. His website is https://www.keithbauerphotography.com.
This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation.
For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/. At checkout, please specify “Keith Bauer – September 19” in the Additional information/Order Notes box. Once we receive your donation, your pass will be emailed to you. The deadline to request passes for this event is the Wednesday before the meeting

Julie Stauffer, iPhone Photography - member talk
2022-10-03 19:30 - 21:30 | Berks Photographic Society, 201 Washington St., Reading, PA, 19601, United States
Julie will talk about her creative journey as an iPhone photographer, why she shoots with an iPhone, and show some of her photo images. She will also discuss various creative techniques such as multiple exposures, intentional camera movement, unique post-processing and printing methods using images from ANY camera.
Julie Stauffer has been a leading iPhone photography teacher along the East Coast. She has taught workshops throughout Connecticut, Westchester County, and New York City and has expanded into Maryland, Washington DC, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Florida. Now in her third decade as a professional photographer, her primary work is in iPhone photography instruction.
Get some great tips on how to shoot with the camera you have with you all the time!

David duChemin will present his talk The Heart of the Photograph via Zoom.
2022-10-17 19:30 - 21:30 | ZOOM
October 17, 2022: David duChemin will present his talk The Heart of the Photograph via Zoom. This is a combined session with the Lancaster Photo Group & the York County Camera Club. Illustrated by inspiring photographs from around the world, David’s session will be a 90-minute conversation (including Q&A time) exploring ten powerful ideas about the creation of more engaging photographs. This Zoom session will discuss techniques and ways of thinking about the creation of images designed to engage human imagination and emotion, including questions of vision and intent, the use of space and time, the creation of depth, and the use of point of view. David will also discuss mood and mystery, storytelling, and what this all means for our choices of moments as well as more practical considerations, like the more creative use of exposure tools, composition, and more. This will be a compelling talk with (and about) heart that all of us will remember for a long time.

David duChemin is a best-selling author, award-winning photographer, and leading expert in the field of creativity. With over 35 years of experience making photographs, his calling is to help photographers make photographs that are more than just sharp and well-exposed. David teaches how to make photographs that light a spark in people, that communicate clearly, that captivate imaginations and grab the attention and hearts of the people who will see them. As an international workshop leader and author of best-selling books like Within The Frame and The Soul of the Camera (both published in over a dozen languages), he’s taught students this incredible craft on all seven continents.

You can get a sense of David’s teaching on his blog at davidduchemin.com. You can see his portfolio at portfolio.davidduchemin.com. And you can listen to his sultry radio voice by tuning into his podcast about the joys and challenges of everyday creativity at aBeautifulAnarchy.com.

This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation.
For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/. At checkout, please specify “David duChemin – October 17” in the Additional information/Order Notes box. Once we receive your donation, your pass will be emailed to you. The deadline to request passes for this event is the Wednesday before the meeting.

Hit Us With Your Best Shots, Fire Away
2022-10-24 19:30 - 21:30 | Berks Photographic Society, 201 Washington St., Reading, PA, 19601, United States
The final BPS competition for 2022 will be held on October 24, 2022 at 7:30PM ET as a hybrid meeting, in person & via Zoom. The theme is “Hit Us With Your Best Shots, Fire Away” in both Nature & Pictorial.
BPS is incredibly fortunate to have as the judge for this event Tony Bramleyfrom Essex, England. Members are encouraged to check out these various links to Tony’s work: HERE, www.lightacademy.co.uk, www.suprematism.co.uk & www.stormphotography.co.uk

Jeff Schaeffer will share "Getting Started in Video"
2022-11-07 19:30 - 21:30 | Berks Photographic Society, 201 Washington St., Reading, PA, 19601, United States
Cameras have been constantly improving their capabilities over the last several years. In addition to providing new features that help us capture our images, the video capabilities in most DSLRs, mirrorless cameras and even cell phones also keep improving and expanding giving us new tools to work with. While an image often tells a story, video enables us to tell even more of the story. The videographer uses moving images and sound to guide the viewer through the story they want to tell.
While initially working with video can seem a bit intimidating, as photographers, we already have a great foundation of skills to expand on. Many of the things we already do as photographers can easily be applied to video. However, creating videos requires learning some new skills such as camera movement, the use of audio and video editing.
Jeff is relatively new to video and began working with it in 2021 when he challenged himself to start learning by creating a video during a one-week day camp and present it to parents on the fifth day to help them experience the week at camp. While there are things that can be improved on with this video, it was a good opportunity to learn some basic shooting techniques, how to organize video clips, how to approach telling the story and how to do some basic video editing. It also gave him a list of things to explore and skills to develop to continue on his videography journey in 2022. Most importantly, the project challenged him to get started! (note: the video can be seen here )
Jeff will share how to utilize some of the skills we already have as photographers, how to leverage some of the capabilities of equipment we already own and introduce a few new basic skills about videography to get us started on an exciting new journey of telling stories through video!

Rodger Elliot will speak to us via Zoom on Landscapes, Plants, Flowers & Patterns of Australia
2022-11-21 19:30 - 21:30 | ZOOM
November 21, 2022: Rodger Elliot will speak to us via Zoom on Landscapes, Plants, Flowers & Patterns of Australia. This presentation will cover many aspects of what one can come across as you explore the vast Australian continent with the main concentration on its amazing plant life. Australia is regarded as a biological hot spot of the world. The images Rodger has selected for this presentation were taken in a wide range of habitats as well as in cultivation. There will be images of scenes (from alpine to desert and coast), tree trunks, foliage, flowers (including carnivorous plants), fruits, fungi, lichens, moss and a series on natural patterns.
Rodger had had a passion for observing & cultivating Australian plants since his late teens and began photographing them in the early 1960s. He will discuss selection of subjects, exposure/shutter speed, f/stops and ISO as well as providing some hints that he puts into practice while photographing. He is very interested in the practice of gaining ‘bokeh’ in images and this has led him into further ‘artistic’ fields which will also be covered near the conclusion of the presentation.

Rodger has traveled throughout most of southern and central Australia and has had a number of excursions into northern Australia. He always travels very light with minimal equipment as he would often be hiking. His gear usually includes one or two camera bodies and a couple of lenses with UV and daylight filters plus magnification rings. Tripod, flash or a reflective sheet are rarely utilized. Post production editing may involve Photoshop Elements but is not seen as a must for most images.

With his long involvement in the horticultural industry, it has meant that his photography is often used as an aid for plant identification and images are often utilized for publishing projects.

Rodger lives with his wife Gwen in Berwick, a leafy area some 40 km east of Melbourne, Victoria in south-eastern Australia. They have operated retail and wholesale nurseries specializing in Australian plants for about 35 years, including selecting and breeding Australian plants for worldwide markets. Having been a horticulturalist, pseudo-botanist, writer, lecturer and tour guide, Rodger is now retired. He began writing for Australian and overseas garden journals and magazines in the 1970s and has completed over 25 books on Australian plants. He is co-author with David Jones of the highly renowned 9-volume The Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation that is illustrated by Trevor Blake. He has lectured on Australian plants in many parts of Australia, the UK, Europe and Japan as well as widely in the US, including Longwood Gardens, Brooklyn Botanic Garden & the University of California Santa Cruz Arboretum and Botanic Garden.
Rodger served on the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Board for 16 years and is currently Chairman of the Maud Gibson Trust Advisory Committee, its sole support. In 1999, Rodger received the Gold Veitch Memorial Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society, London. In 2001, Rodger and Gwen were appointed Members of the Order of Australia for their contribution to the horticulture of Australian plants. They are Honorary Life Members of the Arboretum Associates of the University of California, Santa Cruz. In 2004, Rodger and Gwen received the F. Owen Pearce Award of Horticulture from the Strybing Arboretum Society in recognition of their role in expanding the horticultural potential of Australian flora for Californian gardens. In 2014 they were inducted into the Horticultural Media Association Australia’s Hall of Fame. Rodger’s other awards include the Australian Institute of Horticulture’s Award for Excellence 1992, Honorary Life Membership of Australian Plants Society, Australian Plants Award 1995 and the Australian Natural History Medallion 1995.
This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation.
For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/. At checkout, please specify “Rodger Elliot – November 21” in the Additional information/Order Notes box. Once we receive your donation, your pass will be emailed to you. The deadline to request passes for this event is the Wednesday before the meeting.

Tom Stoeri will present "Composition - In The Wild"
2022-12-05 19:30 - 21:30 | Berks Photographic Society, 201 Washington St., Reading, PA, 19601, United States
“There is no such thing as art. There are only artists.” — The Story of Art, E.H. Gombrich
Photography IS art! Per Merriam-Webster, art is “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination…”.
There are countless decisions that photographers make every time they create a photograph. In studio photography you may control EVERYTHING! But when you are in the wild, you lose much of that control. The very fact that you are in the wild means you have very little control. There is one thing you can still control — how you order the picture space. How we compose using the light, weather, subject, background, how much detail we decide to include or exclude.
A major factor in controlling that detail is depth of field. How do you make your subject pop in the photo? Understanding how to use depth of field to effect your composition in the wild is a powerful tool. It is more than just selecting the f-stop. Knowing how distance to subject, distance to background, sensor size, focal length, bokeh all effect the composition is key to your artistry!
We will have a creative time exploring this tool for composition in the wild.

Mollie Isaacs will do a hybrid Zoom presentation titled “Abstracts with Impact”
2023-01-16 19:00 - 21:00
January 16, 2023: Mollie Isaacs will do a hybrid Zoom presentation titled “Abstracts with Impact”.

Abstracts are the poetry of photography. They allow your imagination & your creativity to soar. Abstracts allow you to incorporate line, shape, form & color to create images that are unique & artistic. And, it allows you to be completely free of rules or restrictions. This program will show you how to find abstract subjects, plus how to create beautiful images from ordinary things you see every day. You will be taken step-by-step through the creative process. You will see the basic scene or subject & then the resulting abstract image. You will learn how to find abstracts in a variety of subjects including cars, water, birds, flowers, landscapes, shells, glassware & more. This program will open your eyes to all the creative possibilities around us. Mollie will show you how to turn basic things we see every day into compelling images that will catapult your photography to a higher level.

You will recall that Mollie did an excellent judge & critique session for our March 28, 2022 Competition night. Mollie is a professional photographer who specializes in nature, wildlife, flowers, and abstracts. She is passionate about photography & loves to share that passion by teaching others. Early in her career, she studied with Ansel Adams & Joyce Tenneson. She has won the Kodak Gallery Award 14 times, considered by some to be the “Oscar” of photography. Mollie’s work is in the Permanent Collection of the International Photography Hall of Fame & has been exhibited at Epcot Center in Disney World & at Grand Central Terminal in NYC. She runs Awake The Light Photo Workshops & Tours, offers online webinars & personally leads photo workshops around the country and beyond. Read more about Mollie & see her work at www.awakethelight.com & Facebook.
This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation. For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/. At checkout, please specify “Mollie Isaacs – January 16” in the order box. Once BPS receives your donation, your pass will be emailed to you.

February 20, 2023: Matt Payne will present “Methods for Tapping Into Your Creativity” in a hybrid Zoom session.
2023-02-20 19:00 - 21:00
February 20, 2023: Matt Payne will present “Methods for Tapping Into Your Creativity” in a hybrid Zoom session.
By focusing on what speaks to us as a person in the field, we can hone in on what makes photography an incredible creative pursuit in a more consistent way without using rules or tropes. Using some of Matt’s own images, he will walk through his process of self-expression & the techniques he uses to maximize his ability to capture stunning moments in nature.

Matt Payne is a mountain climber as well as a fine art nature & landscape photographer living in Durango, Colorado. In 2018, Matt completed his life-long goal of climbing the highest 100 mountains in Colorado, where his love of photography was kindled. Since 2017, Matt has hosted a weekly podcast dedicated to nature photography called “F-Stop Collaborate and Listen”. Matt is also the co-founder ofNature First Photography, an organization that was created in 2018 to help increase ethical awareness in nature photography – see more on this below. Lastly, Matt is the co-creator of theNatural Landscape Photography Awards, an international photography competition begun in 2021 which rewards & celebrates nature photographers who dedicate themselves to photographing & editing their work in a realistic fashion.
Learn more about Matt & his work at mattpaynephotography.com & be sure to check out his podcast “F-Stop Collaborate and Listen”.
This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation. For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/. At checkout, please specify “Matt Payne – February 20” in the order box. Once BPS receives your donation, your pass will be emailed to you.

March 20, 2023: Alan Ross will do a hybrid Zoom presentation titled “The Magic of Black-and-White”.
2023-03-20 08:00 - 17:00
March 20, 2023: Alan Ross will do a hybrid Zoom presentation titled “The Magic of Black-and-White”.
Alan feels that black-and-white, by its very nature, is an abstraction of “reality”. A sky can be light or dark without looking wrong. Colors can be skewed without anything looking wrong. But with color, unless doing something clearly wild, there is an expectation of “reality”. A green sky or purple skin just looks wrong! This abstraction quality of black-and-white provides a freedom of creativity & expression that has captivated Alan since his very first forays into photography. Although Alan has done a lot of color in his career & has some things that he’s thrilled to have done, in the end, it seems black-and-white is always what grabs him.
Join Alan as he shares with us how he “sees” in black-and-white, explores what makes a successful black-and-white image & shows us his favorite tips & techniques for converting images to black-and-white for a tonally rich final image.
Using his vast portfolio of exquisite black-and-white images, Alan will walk us through the magic of black-and-white, including: What makes a successful & compelling black-and-white image; How to use the colors in a scene to interpret & express the feelings you want to convey; Creating this magic with film or pixels…using filters for film & a range of conversion options from digital captures; Simplifying post-processing & learning why many do-it-for-you black-and-white conversion applications may not be the best option. If time allows, Alan will use one or two BPS member images to demonstrate his approach to post-processing that emphasizes interpreting shapes, colors, textures & relationships in a scene.

Alan Ross is an internationally respected master photographer & educator who worked side-by-side with Ansel Adams as his photographic assistant. He knows Adams’ approach & technique perhaps better than any other photographer today. He also continues to be the exclusive printer of the Yosemite Special Edition negatives, an assignment Adams selected him for personally in 1975. Alan makes each print by hand from Adams’ original negatives using traditional darkroom techniques.

As an artist, Alan is best known for his tonally exquisite black-and-white photographs of the American west. His photographs hang in collections & galleries around the world. As a photographic educator, he specializes in helping photographers realize & express their photographic vision at any skill level & using all formats & styles.
Alan lives in visually captivating Santa Fe, where he pursues his own work, teaches one-on-one & small-group workshops in the art of seeing & master printing, & writes articles & blogs sharing his vast knowledge of the art & craft of photography. Learn more about Alan & see his work at www.alanrossphotography.com.
This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation. For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/. At checkout, please specify “Alan Ross March 20” in the order box. Once BPS receives your donation, your pass will be emailed to you.

April 17, 2023: John Barclay will do a hybrid Zoom presentation titled “Dream - Believe - Create”.
2023-04-17 19:00 - 21:00
April 17, 2023: John Barclay will do a hybrid Zoom presentation titled “Dream – Believe – Create”.

John states: There was a time when I felt I could not create anything. My self-talk was – I am not a creative person, I’m not smart enough, I can’t do this. After seeing images projected at the first workshop I took, I dreamed of becoming a good photographer. Primarily with the help of well known, accomplished photographers, I was able to chip away at the negative self-talk & believe that I could create worthwhile images. Thus “Dream – Believe – Create” has become the centerpiece of what I teach in my workshops. I believe that everyone has dreams & can achieve their dreams if they would just believe they could. I also know that when you truly believe, you will be liberated to be able to create.
He continues: The process & journey required to create images feeds my soul & brings me great joy. My goal in this presentation is to inspire you to capture the essence of the subjects you are drawn to using the creative medium of photography. This might entail capturing a small intimate portion of a scene. It might involve more creative techniques, such as multiple exposures, the “slide sandwich” or camera movement for a more expressive interpretation. I will also touch on the digital darkroom and how having a keen understanding of the plethora of technology can help you achieve your artistic vision. Numerous examples will be shown which include traditional nature scenes as well as more abstract & urban compositions. We will explore the beauty in both the grand scale as well as more intimate details. The ideas presented in this program have application to any genre of photography.
I believe, like Ansel Adams, that photographers bring to their images their own journeys, their perspective of the world, their experiences & their passions. For me, photography is simply another medium of artistic expression, visual poetry if you will.
My hope is that after spending time together you will leave inspired to create images that rise above the ordinary & make your heart sing!

John Barclay is an award winning freelance photographer based in Bucks County, PA. John is a passionate photographer, enthusiastic workshop leader & inspirational speaker, presenting his programs to audiences around the world. John is an Ambassador for Singh-Ray Filters, Lensbaby, & well known for his Topaz Webinars. John’s work has been published in a number of books & magazines & is treasured by a number of private collectors. Recently, John was the recipient of an excellence award from B&W Magazine & was chosen by Dewitt Jones to participate in his www.healingimages.orgprogram. “John Barclay is one heck of a photographer, both creatively & technically. Beyond & above that however, John is one of the best teachers on the planet.” stated Dewitt Jones, the acclaimed professional photographer from National Geographic. You can learn more about John, his work & view his workshop schedule at www.barclayphoto.com & https://linktr.ee/barclayphoto, & follow John on Instagram & Facebook at johnbarclayphoto.
This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation. For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/. At checkout, please specify “John Barclay – April 17” in the order box. Once BPS receives your donation, your pass will be emailed to you.

May 15, 2023: Oliver Wright comes to BPS from England & will do a hybrid Zoom presentation titled “What I’ve Been Doing in the Last 12 Months”.
2023-05-15 19:00 - 21:00
May 15, 2023: Oliver Wright comes to BPS from England & will do a hybrid Zoom presentation titled “What I’ve Been Doing in the Last 12 Months”.

During his talk, Oliver will take us through his last year or so of photographic travels, projects & adventures. There will be a mix of wildlife & macro from the UK as well as landscapes, wildlife & aurora photography from North Sweden (basically anything Oliver has been shooting). He will review some of the different techniques he uses in his photography, particularly his focus stacking process. Oliver will go through the highlights, the lessons learnt & how he got his images.

Oliver has been a professional photographer for 8 years after an extensive corporate career in project management. He has always had a keen interest in nature & has been an avid outdoors person. He had been part of the British Climbing Team & hasclimbed/mountaineered globally, from the European Alps to the Andes. An injury blunted his climbing activities & he turned to photography to fill a void. Photography has become a huge passion. Oliver particularly loves aurora & landscape but also enjoys wildlife, macro, architectural & people photography. He has photographed the Northern Lights in Sweden, Norway, Finland & Iceland.
During the autumn/winter, Oliver works guiding clients to view & photograph aurora & arctic landscapes in Abisko, North Sweden for a company named Lights Over Lapland. Then in the summer he concentrates on his own projects & guiding macro workshops in the UK & abroad. Oliver has worked closely with Canon for 6 years, talking at some major photography events such as Bird Fair & The Photography Show. In 2020, Canon launched its new RF 100mm Macro L lens & decided to use Oliver & his macro work as their promotional material for this lens. His work has been published many times in a wide range of publications, all the way from Grand Designs magazine to BBC Wildlife & The Times. He is one of only a few photographers who have managed to get images included in the prestigious British Wildlife Photography Award for 6 consecutive years. Additionally, Oliver is one of the judges for the BBC wildlife photographic competition (the winning entries are used for the BBC Countryfile charity calendar).
You can explore Oliver’s work at: www.oliverwrightphotography.com, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube & Instagram. Check out his fabulous starling murmuration images & videos. This is how I first found out about him.
This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation. For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/. At checkout, please specify “Oliver Wright – May 15” in the order box. Once BPS receives your donation, your pass will be emailed to you.

"Creative Use of Flash"
2023-09-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Goggle Works Suite 326
“Creative Use of Flash” presented by BPS member (and president) Bob Gross

“In Nature’s Embrace”
2023-09-18 19:00 - 21:00
September 18, 2023 at 7 PM: Xuan Hui Ng will present “In Nature’s Embrace” from Japan details to follow

"Film is not dead, in fact it is very much alive and growing...and is FUN...!!! presented by BPS member Ken Martin
2023-10-02 19:00 - 21:00 | Goggle Works Suite 326
“Film is not dead, in fact it is very much alive and growing!!” A discussion of the many aspects of shooting film: where to buy film and cameras, the types of film you can use, developing equipment and chemicals for both B&W and color, slide and motion picture film. Also, how to get your negatives printed with the use of a scanner. Best of all, you can do all this at home without a darkroom!!

“Taking your bird and wildlife photography to the next level”
2023-10-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
Simon d’Entremont will present “Taking your Bird and Wildlife Photography to the Next Level” via Zoom from Canada in a hybrid session. This talk is thanks to a major donation from Dr. and Mrs. Leigh Reeves.
Simon will go over some of his top tips about wildlife photography, including gear, settings, field techniques & strategies for pretty pictures. He will also cover his post processing.
Ever since he was a youngster, Simon has been interested in wildlife & nature, & curious about the world in which we live. His personal interest in the natural world, wildlife, astronomy & science always kept him looking around at the wonders of the universe & our natural environment. From our enormous Milky Way galaxy to the smallest bird, Simon marvels at its natural beauty.
With the advent of the digital camera came a way to capture this beauty & the adventure of capturing it became a way to explore his beautiful home province of Nova Scotia. Whether by staying up late to watch the constellations rise one by one over the horizon while capturing the Milky Way, hiking kilometers to see a waterfall or by getting up before the break of dawn to watch birds feeding their young…mysteries abound all around us and capturing their beauty for his own enjoyment and for others to enjoy is Simon’s “me.”
What started as a hobby is now a professional career, one that Simon enjoys every day. He has recently started shooting more video & as such, started a YouTube Channel to host the videos. Members should go HERE & have a look.
This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation. For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/. At checkout, please specify “Simon d’Entremont – October 16” in the order box. Once BPS receives your donation, your pass will be emailed to you.

Valerie Hoffman teaches how to photograph "Holiday Lights"
2023-12-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Goggle Works Suite 326
Valerie Hoffman will teach us how to photograph “Holiday Lights.” It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holiday season, when colorful lights and decorations can be found all around, is a great time to challenge your photography skills and get out and shoot! For those who have never tried much beyond playing with their cellphone’s camera, this can be a daunting task. You’re photographing in the dark, the camera’s meter doesn’t want to give you a good exposure, it’s hard to see to focus, what you thought was in focus still turned out blurry… So many challenges to deal with. In this presentation we’ll talk about them all!
Join us as we view images and discuss exposure, focus, composition, other camera settings, gear and even some creative techniques. Then consider getting out and joining us as a group to put what you learned in practice. Valerie has it all planned. On Thursday, December 7, she will continue teaching with a hands on excursion to Koziar’s Christmas Village. See below for details.
Val is committed to helping photographers become better at their craft, and have fun in the process. Visit her website for her upcoming treks and other offerings at valeriehoffmanphotography.com.
– December 7, 2023 (Thursday) starting at 6 PM – Follow up instructional excursion to Koziar’s Christmas Village. Join us on Thursday, December 7th, for an “almost free” fun photowalk at Koziar’s Christmas Village in Bernville with Val there to offer help, instruction, and suggestions. Cost for the event is only $15, and needs to be paid directly to Val by Dec 6th. You can bring your money to the club meeting and holiday lights presentation on Monday December 4th. For those who will not be at the GoggleWorks that evening, you can send the money to Val using PayPal, Venmo, or the Cash app. You will still need to also pay your entrance fee to the Christmas Village which is $13 for adults or $12 for seniors.
We will meet at a designated spot prior to the village’s opening for the night, which is 6 PM. Here is a link to Koziar’s which covers all the info about the place if you have never been: koziarschristmasvillage.com
Due to the possibility of crowds and smallish walkways, and so Val can give the best instruction, we are limiting this group to only 10 people. The first 10 to contact Val and sign up are in! You can email her with questions and to get specific payment info at vahoffman22@gmail.com
She will send an email to those who register, with suggested gear and any other pertinent info.

BPS Annual Meeting - It is very important that all BPS members participate in this annual meeting.
2023-12-18 08:00 - 17:00 | Goggle Works Suite 326
BPS Annual Meeting – It is very important that all BPS members participate in this annual meeting.

Cross Polarized Light Photomicrography Demonstration presented by Ivan Bub.
2024-01-08 18:30 - 21:00
NOTE: this event has been moved back to the GoggleWorks location due to an Albright College scheduling conflict and a key participant’s health issue. Ivan will bring his equipment and have a hands-on demonstration of his cross polarized crystal photography at our GoggleWorks suite 326 location. This will be an in-person only meeting without a Zoom feed.
Meeting time will be our normal 7:00pm start with doors opening for socializing at 6:15.
We will reschedule our Albright College tour and program for later this Spring. Look for the date announcement in the newsletter, FaceBook and Meetup pages.
BPS member, Ivan Bub, is a retired family physician with a love for photography. Although he enjoys many forms of photography, his specialty is Cross Polarized Light Photomicrography. This interesting photographic technique, which allows blending Science and Art in photography involves crystallizing various substances such as Sulfur, Vitamin C, Artificial sweeteners, Salicylic Acid and Lactic Acid on a microscope slide. Using a camera attached to a microscope under cross polarized light, the crystal formations that develop are photographed, producing one-of-a-kind images, as no two slides are identical. Since retiring, Ivan has been teaching students at Albright College Total Experience Learning various photographic techniques, including crystal photomicrography, infrared photography, light painting and macro photography.

The live demonstration will take place at: Albright College Total Experience Learning facility, 1041 Rockland Street Reading PA 19604.
We will start at 6:30 PM with a tour of the facility, following with the presentation at 7 PM. This will be an “in person only” event.

Dewitt Jones will present “Making Your Art Your Life” during a hybrid zoom session from his home in Molokai, Hawaii
2024-01-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
Dewitt will share his career in photography from its beginnings to the present day. He spent 20 years with National Geographic, 10 years in advertising & writing columns for Outdoor Photographer Magazine, & another 20 years lecturing on creativity & vision. During all of this time, he created a heck of a lot of images. What has he learned from them? How has his experiences as a photographer affected his life & how he has lived it? Dewitt will share both his images & his lessons with us in a spellbinding talk.
Dewitt is possibly the most sought after international keynote speaker in photography. He has shared his message of “Celebrating What’s Right with the World!” with hundreds of colleges, associations & corporations. Everyone is urged to watch his TEDx Talk HERE prior to this session. Check out Dewitt’s WEBSITE.
As one of America’s top professional image makers, Dewitt spent 20 years as a freelance photographer for National Geographic, photographing stories all over the globe. Turning to advertising, Dewitt rose to the forefront of corporate creative marketing, photographing national advertising campaigns for Dewar’s Scotch, Canon & United Airlines. As a motion picture director, he had two documentary films nominated for Academy Awards (“Climb” – Best Live Action Short Film & “John Muir’s High Sierra” – Best Short Subject Documentary). He has published many books, including “California!”, “Visions of Wilderness”, “What The Road Passes By”, “ROBERT FROST – A Tribute to the Source”, “Canyon Country”, “John Muir’s America” & “Anasazi World”. His most recent book, “The Nature of Leadership”, was created in collaboration with Dr. Stephen R. Covey & A. Roger Merrill (The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People). Dewitt’s column, Basic Jones, appeared monthly in Outdoor Photographer magazine for over 20 years. Dewitt is a cum laude graduate of Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Drama & he holds a Masters Degree in film making from UCLA.
Dewitt’s knowledge of the creative process, his relaxed and genuine style, and his ability to communicate make his presentations truly outstanding. We are very fortunate to have Dewitt speak to us.
This will be a combined session with the LNC Photo Group, the West Shore Photography Club in Mechanicsburg, PA & the Cape Fear Camera Club in Wilmington, NC. BPS welcomes our friends.

This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation. For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/.

Guy Tal will present “Creativity & Expression in Photography” in a hybrid zoom session.
2024-02-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
Here is what we will experience from this talk in Guy’s own words: “Photography is a medium eminently capable of both objective representation & subjective expression. This dichotomy, although long resolved in other media, is still a subject of contention among photographers & critics. If we accept photography as a medium for expressive art, the question remains: how to use a medium designed to record realistic appearances to convey subjective & emotional meanings. In the words of Ernst Haas: how to humanize the machine.” In this talk, Guy will discuss some of the challenges faced by photographic artists today & historically. Explaining his philosophy of art & some of the science of visual expression, Guy will also discuss how photography, even in its purest forms, may express concepts beyond just representation of appearances.
Guy is a professional writer & photographic artist based in Torrey, Utah. He works primarily in the high-desert region known as the Colorado Plateau, where he lives & spends many weeks each year hiking, camping & communing with the wild landscape & its natural inhabitants. In his photographic work, Guy places emphasis on originality & personal expression rather than documentation. He is the author of several books & a regular contributor to various photographic publications.
For a sampling of Guy’s work and writings, please visit his WEBSITE or his BLOG.

Guy Tal’s talk is sponsored in large part by Cardinal Camera. A number of BPS members have purchased their gear from this fantastic, family & locally owned store. This includes Vince Pellegrini (and three of his friends), Ivan Bub, Bill Coughlin, Bert Rogers & Jim Kessel. The store was founded by George H. Seelig in 1937, one year before BPS was organized. A subsequent owner, George K. Seelig, had his roots in Reading in the 1960s at Wyomissing Corporation. Kurt Seelig now runs the business. Cardinal Camera has evolved into one of the largest volume camera stores in the US with stores in Lansdale, King of Prussia & Ephrata along with Howell, NJ & Charlotte, NC. It’s been an excellent go to resource. Thank you Kurt!
This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation. For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/.

"Capturing Motion" presented by Betsy Wilson.
2024-03-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
Betsy will explore the world of motion photography through her unique perspective. A combination of traditional techniques of controlling shutter speed with some non-traditional concepts using camera motion and light-painting, Betsy’s images will inform and inspire us to try new ideas. Using your camera to capture motion in ways beyond what we see with our eyes results in endless creative possibilities.
Betsy began learning photography after retiring from a career as a newspaper publisher. Her husband Jim gave her his hand-me-down camera and a lot of encouragement, and now says he created a monster. Her passion for photography includes a wide variety of types including macro, landscape and nature photography. In addition to being honored as Photographer of the Year Award at the Chester County Camera Club in Pennsylvania, she has received numerous recognitions for her artistic photography including a Silver Medal awarded at the Wilmington International Exhibition of Photography, and First Place Award in Photography at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Betsy is an active member of the Chester County Camera Club, and has given numerous presentations and led workshops for area camera clubs.

BPS Member Photo Competition & Critique Night with Jonathan Vaines of the UK as judge.
2024-03-25 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
Jonathan will give highly skilled reviews of all the images as well as demonstrate selected image processing suggestions. Details will follow.
Jonathan has been the Regional Organizer for the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) for five years & is the Judges’ Secretary for the East Anglian Federation (EAF) of Photographic Societies in Great Britain. He is also an A panel judge and a sponsored lecturer for Paper Spectrum. Jonathan tutors for the RPS & online photo clubs that operate predominantly in North America, running processing method workshops most weeks. BPS will have a session with Jonathan in November 2024. Explore Jonathan’s WEBSITE.

Don’t forget, BPS members, that our first photo competition and image critique of the year is coming up in March. Photos must be entered by midnight on March 10. If you are wondering about sizing your images, click on the link: http://tinyurl.com/BPS-Resizing for a simple two page document to help you.

BPS member Jeff Grabert presents “South Africa Private Reserves Safari”
2024-04-01 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
BPS member Jeff Grabert presents “South Africa Private Reserves Safari”
This program will highlight photography from private reserves in South Africa. These reserves border world famous Kruger National Park and no fences keep the animals from traversing into and out of the parks. Unlike Kruger, guides can take guests off-road for very intimate sightings. Additionally, only lodge guests can be on the land so there is much less traffic and vehicle occupancy at sightings is limited. Photographic tips will be discussed as well as advice on gear, lodging, and best times to go.

Jeff says, “I am a self-taught travel photographer with a portfolio that showcases images from multiple continents and an array of subject matters. My particular focus is nature and culture. With a degree in biology, I have had a lifelong fascination with the natural world. My “Happy Place” is being on location pursuing wildlife and wilderness images. From the Serengeti to Patagonia, the scenery and wildlife may change but the feeling remains the same – being connected with the earth. It is my hope that my photography helps the viewer connect with that feeling as well.”

See Jeff’s work at www.grabertimages.com

Phil Penman will present a talk entitled “Street Photography Unfiltered” in a hybrid zoom session.
2024-04-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
Historical events are happening all around us all the time. As photographers we have an ability to be able to share stories & capture world events in real time. Learn about the thought process behind picking a subject, capturing it & getting it out into the world from one of the absolutely most respected in the genre.
The British-born, New York-based photographer Phil Penman has documented the ever-changing scene of New York City’s streets for more than 25 years. In his career as a news & magazine photographer, with a large body of work in such publications as The Guardian, The Independent, The New York Review of Books, among others, Phil has photographed major public figures & historical events. In particular, his reportage following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center has featured on NBC’s Today show, as well as on the BBC, History Channel, & Al Jazeera; his images have been included in the 9/11 Memorial & Museum & its archives. Phil’s work covering the pandemic lockdown in New York City has been acquired by the U.S. Library of Congress, whose collection holds work by such great Depression-era documentarians as Walker Evans & Dorothea Lange. Besides showing at Leica galleries in New York, Washington, D.C., Boston & London, Penman’s signature street photography has appeared in international exhibitions as far afield as Venice, Berlin & Sydney.

Phil tours theorld teaching workshops on photography for Leica Akademie.
Penman’s first book, “Street”, published in 2019, became a best-seller & was featured at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He just released his second book, “New York Street Diaries”.
Among his accolades: Phil was recently named among the “52 Most Influential Street Photographers,” alongside such legends as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Sebastião Salgado, Diane Arbus & Garry Winogrand. “Voted Top 10 Street Photographers 2019” – The Phoblographer. “From astronauts on the crosswalk to young skaters shredding on high rooftops, to 30-foot-tall statues lying sideways on the back of a truck, Penman’s subjects prove there’s never a dull moment in the Big Apple” – Jenny Zhang, My Modern MET. “Top 10 Contemporary Street Photographers living today” – My Modern MET. “If the photographs themselves are stunning – by turn surprising, moving, funny & even shocking – the show’s real star is New York itself. Penman’s love of his adoptive home shines through on every page” – Grazia Magazine.

Visit Phil’s WEBSITE.
This will be a paid event for non-BPS members with a $10 donation. For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/.
