Follow up instructional excursion to Koziar's Christmas Village with Valerie Hoffman
2023-12-07 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Koziar’s Christmas Village
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.

Santa Photo Shoot at Fairgrounds Farmers Market
2023-12-09 13:00 - 16:00 | Fairgrounds Farmers Market
December 9, 2023 1 – 4 PM: It’s the first of this year’s Santa Photo Shoots at Fairgrounds Farmers Market. BPS members can help the club and have fun and get to know other members by participating!

This year’s Santa Photoshoots have been scheduled for December 9th and December 16th. Kim desperately needs at least 6 people per photoshoot to pull this off. These photoshoots help support the ongoing operations of our club. You will be told what you need to do. No high level photographic ability is required!

1st Photoshoot will be on December 9th at Fairgrounds Farmers Market from 1:00pm-4:00pm
2nd Photoshoot will be on December 16th at Boscov’s North from 11:00am-3:00pm

Kim would need you to show up one hour before shooting time. If you can only come for part of the time, that is great. If you can come the whole time that’s even better!
Farmers Market is located at 2934 N 5th Street
Boscov’s North is located at 2910 N 5th Street Hwy. [Down stairs in the Auditorium]
P.S. Kim needs someone who would be willing to be SANTA for the photoshoot at Boscov’s on the 16th. If you love kids and you wouldn’t mind spreading a bit of joy, please let her know. A Santa suit will be provided. (Our Santa for the Market will not be available for the 16th.)
Please let Kim know at your earliest convenience, if you can help either day or if you are willing to don that Santa suit at kim.sweimler@berksphotographic.com

2nd Photoshoot will be on December 16th at Boscov's North from 11:00am-3:00pm
2023-12-16 11:00 - 15:00
This year’s Santa Photoshoots have been scheduled for December 9th and December 16th. Kim desperately needs at least 6 people per photoshoot to pull this off. These photoshoots help support the ongoing operations of our club. You will be told what you need to do. No high level photographic ability is required!

1st Photoshoot will be on December 9th at Fairgrounds Farmers Market from 1:00pm-4:00pm
2nd Photoshoot will be on December 16th at Boscov’s North from 11:00am-3:00pm

Kim would need you to show up one hour before shooting time. If you can only come for part of the time, that is great. If you can come the whole time that’s even better!
Farmers Market is located at 2934 N 5th Street
Boscov’s North is located at 2910 N 5th Street Hwy. [Down stairs in the Auditorium]
P.S. Kim needs someone who would be willing to be SANTA for the photoshoot at Boscov’s on the 16th. If you love kids and you wouldn’t mind spreading a bit of joy, please let her know. A Santa suit will be provided. (Our Santa for the Market will not be available for the 16th.)
Please let Kim know at your earliest convenience, if you can help either day or if you are willing to don that Santa suit at kim.sweimler@berksphotographic.com

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.

Intro to Photography, Part 1: Getting To Know Your Camera: What All Those Buttons Really Do .
2024-01-13 09:00 - 15:00 | Goggle Works Suite 326
A Two Part Workshop Presented by the Berks Photographic Society. Did you get a new digital camera for Christmas? Or have you had one you just don’t know how to use? This two part series of digital photography workshops will help you become a better photographer! In the two part series we will be covering all aspects of digital photography, from the basics to editing and how to share pictures with friends and family!
Please bring your camera, your camera manual if available, and questions, to each class. We will have assistants on-hand to help with everyone’s cameras and questions. Both sessions are from 9:00am until 3:00 PM with a one hour lunch break. Both sessions will be held at Berks Photographic Society, @ Goggle Works, 201 Washington St., Reading, PA 19601, suite 326. PRICE: $90.00 per session, or $150.00 for both sessions (January & February). Berks Photographic Society members receive a discount on this class ($75. per session or $125 for both). January 13, 2024: Getting To Know Your Camera: What All Those Buttons Really Do . In this session we will learn to understand the basics of the “digital” aspect of photography. Megapixels, memory cards, etc. To better understand your camera we will be covering camera features, controls, and menus and how to make basic camera settings needed to take good photos.
Attendees should bring their cameras, and camera manual. Register online here: https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/intro-to-photography-workshop/

Part 2 will be held February 3, 2024

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/.

Intro to Digital Photography Class part 2 - Seeing The Light
2024-02-03 09:00 - 15:00 | Goggle Works Suite 326
A Two Part Workshop Presented by the Berks Photographic Society. Did you get a new digital camera for Christmas? Or have you had one you just don’t know how to use? This two part series of digital photography workshops will help you become a better photographer! In the two part series we will be covering all aspects of digital photography, from the basics to editing and how to share pictures with friends and family!

Please bring your camera, your camera manual if available, and questions, to each class. We will have assistants on-hand to help with everyone’s cameras and questions. Both sessions are from 9:00am until 3:00 PM with a one hour lunch break. Both sessions will be held at Berks Photographic Society, @Goggle Works, 201 Washington St, Reading, PA 19601, suite 326. PRICE: $90.00 per session, or $150.00 for both sessions (January & February). Berks Photographic Society members receive a discount on this class ($75. per session or $125 for both).
February 3, 2024: Seeing The Light–Using Your Camera: Picking Proper Settings & Exposure and Creating Better Compositions. This session will go into techniques which can used to make everyday pictures into great looking photos you would be proud to hang on your walls. Gain a better understanding of your camera settings and functions, and how you can use them to create better photos. You will learn basic workflow for saving, and editing your images. Please bring your camera and camera manual. Register online here: https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/intro-to-photography-workshop/

If you paid for both parts in January, there is no additional charge for Part 2.

”The Seeing Lens” program
2024-02-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
Berks County Veterans Administration representatives Kaylin Brice and Amy Cook will introduce ”The Seeing Lens” program, a 10-week therapeutic photography group program.
During the presentation we will see how this program combines learning photographic techniques with group counseling for veterans. Some of the participants’ experiences, successes, and samples of their amazing photos taken during the course will be shared.
“The Seeing Lens” was developed through a partnership of the Lebanon VA Medical Center and Lebanon Valley College. For the past 5 years the program has been offered to Veterans in recovery at the Lebanon VA Medical Center with great success, now they would like to offer it at the Berks County VA.
As many of you might know, BPS has been involved with area non-profits for decades. Our members provide photography services for many fundraising events, construction projects, award ceremonies, youth camps, and dedications. Often the club members who volunteer say they get more out of the experience than they give. So when Kaylin contacted BPS and asked if we could assist them with “The Seeing Lens” we met over Zoom and they introduced the program. Join us and see why we said YES, YES, YES!!! to volunteer and help with this amazing program.

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.

Arthur Meyerson will present “Endless Highway, An Ongoing Photographic Journey” via a hybrid zoom session.
2024-03-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
Arthur Meyerson is recognized as one of America’s finest color photographers & is a highly sought after speaker & workshop instructor. He has traveled throughout the world, visiting all seven continents photographing for advertising, corporate & editorial clients. Arthur is a three-time winner of Adweek’s Southwest Photographer of the Year award, as well as being named one of the 30 best advertising photographers by American Photo. In 1999, he was honored by Nikon’s illustrious Legends Behind the Lens series.
Arthur’s images are imbued with a sense of poetry & spirit of time & place. The poetry comes from his appreciation & understanding of the human condition. His ability to capture a sense of place comes from his emotional awareness. Arthur builds & creates images that record the nuances that define our world, in color.
His photographs are exhibited internationally, appear in numerous publications & are part of several permanent museum collections. Arthur’s first monograph, “The Color of Light” was published in 2012 & his highly acclaimed second book, “The Journey” was released in 2017.
Visit Arthur’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/.

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/.

Rock Hollow Woods Environmental Learning Center with Amy Langman
2024-04-20 09:00 - 12:00
Rock Hollow Woods Environmental Learning Center, a 67-acre non-profit, invites you to come to their property on Saturday, April 20, 2024 from approximately 9 am to 12 pm. During this time, Amy Langman will lead you around the property to experience its magic. There are plenty of photographic opportunities including many species of trees, insects, amphibians, emerging woodland and wetland growth, a gorgeous pavilion made with barn stone, and more. Please RSVP to Amy at birdgyrl@gmail.com at your earliest convenience. There is no direct cost for this unique experience, but a donation to Rock Hollow Woods is encouraged.
If members all agree, we can do a creek study also. We can find dragonfly nymphs, crayfish, and other insect larvae that spend most of their life in the healthy creek.
Please make sure to have water, snacks, and sturdy shoes. Mother Nature is unpredictable so please be prepared! If you want to gather for lunch at Stampede Barbeque afterwards, it would make for a nice, informal gathering to discuss photography and enjoy each other’s company.
Rock Hollow Woods is located at 615 Rock Hollow Road, Birdsboro, PA 19508 (Amy will direct parking) and Stampede Barbeque is located at 4372 Morgantown Road, Mohnton, PA 19540.

BPS member Jeff Schaeffer shares “Travel Photography – Capturing the Experience!”
2024-05-06 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
BPS member Jeff Schaeffer shares “Travel Photography – Capturing the Experience!”
Jeff enjoys traveling to new places and enjoys capturing the experience to share with others. He is enthusiastic about traveling to foreign places but also enjoys traveling in the USA and exploring places near to home. In 2023, he and his wife decided to do a ‘day trip’ each week to get out, explore and shoot! Jeff will share tips and ideas that have helped him in his travel photography journey. He will also share several ideas of day trips that are within a couple of hours of home where to practice capturing our experiences to share with others.
As a follow-up to the presentation, we will schedule two ‘day trips’ this summer to get out and practice!
Jeff is a retired business intelligence and analytics IT professional. Once retired, Jeff began focusing on photography and enjoys learning and practicing all types of photography. He loves to travel and has spent about half a year in India where his passion for travel photography really grew. He has had images published in “The Hindu” – a national newspaper in India, a book “Kalarippayattu: A Holistic Martial Art from India” published in Poland and on signs and advertisements throughout India.

Bryn Athyn Cathedral Photoshoot – May 18 Led by Vince Pellegrini
2024-05-18 10:20 - 16:30
Join us for a fun filled & educational day at the Bryn Athyn Cathedral & Glencairn Mansion/Museum in Bryn Athyn, PA. All BPS members & their guests are invited to this event. In fact, the more the merrier. However, registration is required & you must email me at Vince.Pellegrini@berksphotographic.com, as well.
The Bryn Athyn Cathedral is an active house of worship & gathering place for members of the New Church, a Christian denomination based on the writings of Emanual Swedeenborg. This Gothic & Romanesque Cathedral was constructed between 1913 & 1919 by 300 local artisans. The major benefactor was John Pitcairn Jr., President of Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company (PPG). The complex is located just outside of Philadelphia, 65 miles from Reading.
The architecture of the Cathedral is very dramatic with its tower, asymmetry & gorgeous stained glass windows. The Cathedral’s lobby feels like a medieval castle with tall ceilings and stone walls. The interior of the cathedral’s nave is at least as impressive as the exterior, if not more so, with light streaming through the stained-glass windows overhead. It is listed as a National Historic Landmark. Learn more with these references HERE & HERE.
On the Cathedral grounds is the Glencairn Museum, the former castle-like mansion of John’s son, Raymond. It is a medieval, Romanesque style building with nine stories & 90 rooms & a nine story tower & was completed in 1939. Now converted to the Museum, it contains a collection of about 8,000 artworks, mostly religious in nature, from cultures such as ancient Egypt, Greece, the Roman Empire & medieval Europe, as well as Islamic, Asian & Native American works. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. During our visit, there will be an exhibition titled Cardboard Chronicles: The Biblical Art of Rudolph Bostic. More information on the museum can be found HERE.
The Cathedral, its buildings & the three huge houses that were originally built for the Pitcairn family are picturesquely sited on rolling hills that combine open fields and woods with lovely views out over the surrounding countryside. There are beautiful & expansive gardens throughout the complex. The grounds were designed by Olmstead Brothers of NYC’s Central Park fame.
We will drive separately to Bryn Athyn, about 75 minutes from Reading. Those who want to carpool could arrange that & perhaps meet at the GoggleWorks. I can help to facilitate that. Our group will gather at the Cathedral at 10:20 AM. BPS will have a very special experience at the Cathedral beginning at 10:30 AM. Our group will first have a private 45 minute tour of the historic Cathedral as described here: “Our tours tell of the ever-evolving representation of a faith much like the community it serves, a manifestation of organic beauty, that is highlighted in the religious symbolism of the building. Dedicated over 100 years ago, this masterpiece marries old craftsmanship with modern upgrades.” We will then be allowed to photograph the interior for up to an hour. Tripods will be allowed which is a big exception to the policy. There will be free access to independently explore & photograph the grounds & gardens for up to another hour after the tour. A bag lunch would be ideal at the conclusion of this portion although there is a cafe about one mile away.
At 1:00, we will meet up at the Glencairn Museum/Mansion on the grounds & have a private 90 minute Highlights Tour. Here is the tour’s description: “The guided tour begins in the Great Hall, featuring awe-inspiring architecture and skilled craftsmanship. Experience spiritual beliefs and practices through the ages by exploring three galleries (most likely Rome, Greece, and the Medieval Treasury) with art and artifacts from the Glencairn Museum collection. Immerse yourself in family spaces that have remained unchanged since Glencairn was a home, including the family Chapel (with stained glass and mosaics) and the Main Bedroom and Bath. The elevator ascent to the Tower, with its commanding view of the local area and the Philadelphia skyline, is a visitor favorite.” We will be able to photograph inside the museum during & after the tour however the rooms are too small here to allow the use of tripods. Our group will leave as desired anytime after the Museum tour. The Museum closes at 4:30.
We will not be able to photograph the Cairnwood Estate & its gardens as there will be a private function there during our visit. Privacy will need to be respected.
This will be a great architectural & flower photographic opportunity combined with a wonderful educational & cultural experience. It will be a lovely event for photographers & non-photographers alike. Bring the family.
Cost: The Cathedral tour is $5, paid in cash at the door. The Museum tour is $15 with seniors & student discounts, paid in advance using this BPS specific LINK. Everyone joining us this day must complete this link to be registered. Do so as soon as you know that you will join us. You must also please email me at Vince.Pellegrini@berksphotographic.com to confirm that you will be participating & the size of your group so that there is a handle on the numbers & we know who will be attending. Include in that email if you are interested in carpooling & I can put out an email with that information.

Paul Sanders of the UK will present “The Soul of the Creator” via a hybrid zoom meeting. More info to follow
2024-05-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
Paul Sanders will present live from the UK his talk entitled “The Soul of the Creator” via a hybrid zoom meeting. This presentation will explore the relationship a photographer must have with their subject & why we so often fail to pay our fullest attention to our muse. Every genre of photography is a collaboration between two elements, the photographer & the subject but each has the impressions of hundreds, if not thousands of other influences embedded within them. This talk aims to unravel the mystery of this relationship & offers thoughts about how we might all benefit from being a little more grateful of the hands of others in our chosen subject.

English fine art photographer Paul Sanders has been involved in photography since leaving school, first as a black & white printer, then as a fashion photographer. His career changed direction in the early 1990s as he started working as a news photographer. This change led to a post at Reuters & then The Times newspaper, as Picture Editor overseeing the entire visual content of the prestigious publication. Paul left The Times at the end of 2011 to pursue his love of nature & the landscape.
Paul’s approach to landscape photography is one of mindful connection. After looking at nearly 20,000 images every day during his years at the Times, his own work is the result of his emotional & spiritual responses to the subjects. He works with & reflects the sense of stillness & calm he feels whilst with them.
A passionate advocate for mental health & the benefits of using photography to help with recovery, Paul leads workshops for West Kent Mind to build confidence & resilience for those suffering with a wide range of mental health needs.
His first book, a limited edition of 150 (self published through Envisage Books), sold out in under 24 hours. Paul is a sought after speaker in the UK & Europe. His highly reflective work has been exhibited widely across the UK, Europe & Japan. Paul is an ambassador for Fujifilm UK, Fotospeed Papers & Lee Filters.
Visit Paul’s website at www.discoverstill.com as well as his Instagram account @discover_still & his Facebook page discoverstil.
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/.

BPS member Dutch Bagley presents “Architectural Haiku”
2024-06-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
BPS member Dutch Bagley presents “Architectural Haiku”
Dutch has loved capturing images of a city’s architecture wherever he visits, especially in New York City. For this presentation, Dutch will demonstrate his initial approach for selecting a capture, the tools used to create an image and will show how he creates light flows, enhances contrasts and tonal ranges, incorporates selections and curves into his images to promote an in-depth three-dimensional look for his architectural images, and how finished work is readied to hang on a gallery wall. Even if your work is focused in another direction, this presentation will give you additional options to create your vision.
Dutch is a self-taught amateur photographer, beginning with his passion for all sizes of film cameras in the 70’s, creating black and white framed prints, through to his acceptance of using digital processes during the last 10 years to recreate newer versions of those long ago visions. He is an avid (understatement) local, national and international photography competition entrant, relentlessly tracking/analyzing his yearly and lifetime competition entry costs, number of images accepted/rejected, acceptance rate (currently 47.62 %), etc., etc., etc., and much more, which keeps him in the rabbit hole. He is a member of 9 photography clubs/venues, including: President of Gallery 14 in Hopewell NJ, V.P. of the Cheltenham Camera Club and a member of the Phillips’ Mill Photo Exhibition Committee. He enjoys creating and giving presentations to photography clubs on topics that drive his photographic experience, believing that sharing one’s knowledge can make us better creators of art.

New York City - BPS members are invited to go to NYC via Klein Bus and photograph with Dutch Bagley
2024-06-08 08:00 - 18:00
New York City – BPS members are invited to go to NYC via Klein Bus (or via their own transportation) and photograph with Dutch Bagley as a follow-up to his Monday, June 3rd presentation. This is an amazing opportunity to photograph the city with someone who knows all the places to go! We will have eye popping opportunities to capture a multitude of architectural buildings and structures, from the Javitz Center and Hudson Yards at the Vessel, on the west side and down the High Line to the AIC building and beyond. Interspersed with this walk are great moments which include photographing the spring flora and an active city population during their daily activities. There has been a change in bus transportation from the plan originally sent out. The Klein bus is booked through ourbus.com and is $70 round trip. Arrival time in NYC is 9:25 AM, and morning leaving times vary depending on departure point. Plan to leave NYC at 8:30 PM. Contact Jay Linsenbigler soon (kristieandjayl@gmail.com) for full details and with any questions.

Saturday, June 15: outing to Philadelphia- the Parkway and the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
2024-06-15 08:00 - 17:00
Group outing to Philadelphia- the Parkway and the Philadelphia Navy Yard. A day trip with Dutch Bagley to the French Champs-Élysées inspired architecture along the Ben Franklin Parkway which includes the Phila. Art Museum, Phila. Library, Rodin Museum, Barnes Foundation, Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, and many more extraordinary buildings. Even a chance to do a selfie with ‘Rocky.’ Then it is on to the Philadelphia Navy Yard where there is a chance to capture the John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier and other older mothballed ships in drydock, and the curved structure of the Intrepid building and several more modern buildings.

“Authentic Travel Photography in the Age of Instagram” with Bob Krist
2024-06-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
– June 17, 2024 at 7:00 PM: Bob Krist will present via a hybrid Zoom session “Authentic Travel Photography in the Age of Instagram”. The following thoughts are from Bob: “There’s no doubt about it, social media like Instagram & Facebook has allowed photographers to reach much wider audiences. It’s no longer necessary to pass the gatekeepers of magazine art directors & picture editors to share your photos with the world. The democratization of media has been a boon to photographers. But it’s not without its pitfalls. Instead of fostering a genuine interest in other peoples & cultures, the Instagram aesthetic somehow became one of, ‘hey look at me.’ Rather than using the camera as a license to be curious, we use the camera as a tool to brag with. Pandemic notwithstanding, we may be traveling, shooting & sharing more, but we’re not becoming any more culturally literate. However, we have become a whole lot more narcissistic.”
Traveling Photographer (2000) was hailed by American Photographer magazine as “the best book about travel photography we’ve ever read.”
You can visit Bob’s website HERE.
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/.

June 22, 2024 (Saturday): Post processing workshop with Dutch Bagley, 9am-noon at the Goggleworks.
2024-06-22 09:00 - 12:00 | Goggle Works Suite 326

BPS Member Photo Competition & Critique Night The theme is “Anything Goes” in both Pictorial & Nature categories. This is a change in topic.
2024-06-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
The second BPS competition and critique for this year will be held on June 24, 2024. Submission deadline is Sunday night, June 9, 2024 at 12 MN. This deadline is close. Submit now. This will be a recorded, hybrid meeting using Zoom for those who decide not to join us at the GoggleWorks. Every member is encouraged to participate. The goal of our competitions is to make these sessions learning experiences for everyone, the submitters and the observers. Hopefully, this will lead to improved photographic outcomes down the road. This is accomplished by having highly qualified judges who do thoughtful and constructive critiques of the submissions and give actionable recommendations.
“Anything Goes” is the theme for this event in both nature and pictorial. This theme was used in 2023 but is being repeated. The reason for this is to allow our creative expressions to go all out again. Here is the chance to shine. This is the session to showcase abstract images, multiple exposures, intentional camera movement, Photoshop manipulation or even straight forward, representational imagery, if desired. Any type of image, genre or creative process works as long as all of the elements originate entirely within a camera. To be specific, no AI generative fill elements are allowed in any BPS competition. The maker will need to differentiate between Pictorial and Nature subject matter as the core basis of their images since this could be difficult to discern from the final result.
The BPS competition rules were revised and given BPS Board approval on May 8, 2023 and some slight procedural changes were made this year. Everyone should review the latest rules and the details for entry as found HERE or refer to the BPS website for details under the “Competition” header. This document will give you the naming guidelines and the sizing criteria along with a lot more information. Ginnie has created a guideline for image sizing – check it out HERE. Please, please do your best to get this process correct. Carefully review your files before your submission. There continue to be a significant number of errors which creates a large amount of unnecessary work on my part.
For competitions, BPS members are divided into Class A (advanced) and Class B groups. Generally, all new members are in Class B. If you feel that your photographic images and skill level are indeed “advanced” then please email Vince Pellegrini at Vince.Pellegrini@berksphotographic.com to request a review. Each dues-current BPS member in Class A and Class B group may submit up to two images in each of the two categories, Pictorial category (P) and Nature category (N). Please note the category designation has changed to clarify things with P and N now used for the two categories (instead of A and B.)
For submission, there are 4 links to 4 separate directories in the Club’s SmugMug account to upload images into, depending on the photographer’s Class (A or B) and the image Category (Pictorial=P or Nature=N). This will then automatically separate the image files appropriately on the receiving end.
Class A photographers use these 2 links to upload files once they are sized and named correctly:

Pictorial (P): https://www.smugmug.com/upload/r5ZTvq/ClassAPictorial

Nature (N): https://www.smugmug.com/upload/BkRVbG/ClassANature

Class B photographers use these 2 links to upload files:

Pictorial (P): https://www.smugmug.com/upload/f7pVTw/ClassBPictorial

Nature (N): https://www.smugmug.com/upload/F5hJxr/ClassBNature

If you have questions or need help, please email Vince before submitting at Vince.Pellegrini@berksphotographic.com. Remember, no changes can be made after submission.
Submission of an image for any BPS competition indicates agreement of the maker to allow BPS to post the image in the BPS Newsletter and online via the BPS website and BPS YouTube channel.
Carl Finkbeiner will be the judge for this competition. Carl is a professional photographer in the Philadelphia area, offering fine art photographs, artifact photography services for curators and makers, as well as photography instruction. After a 45 year career in a highly rational/analytical profession – statistical sciences – he left the business world in 2015 and pursued his lifelong passion for photography in earnest. Carl earned the Contemporary Practices Photography Certificate from the Tilt Institute in Philadelphia, then worked in event and portrait photography, exhibited his own work, taught photography composition and editing, and is the Photographer at the Rose Valley Museum, shooting the collection as well as events and marketing material.
Carl is an instructor with the Digital Photo Academy which offers a range of on-line courses and services as well as over 200 in the field sessions around the world through 124 instructors. Carl’s own business is Deliberate Light Photography. Carl can be found on Instagram and Facebook: @carlfinkbeiner.
The four first place winners of this BPS competition will be posted on the Digital Photo Academy sites.

Hindu Temple ‘Day Trip’ – June 27 (new date!!!!!) By Jeff Schaeffer
2024-06-27 08:00 - 14:00
PLEASE NOTE THE NEW DATE FOR THIS TRIP — JUNE 27th —
On June 27th, the club will be taking a day trip to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, NJ. This is the second largest Hindu temple in the world and it’s less than two hours from Reading! The first Mandir opened in 2014 and is a beautiful temple with intricately carved sculptures inside and out as well as beautiful mosaics and paintings. The large Akshardham was opened in October 2023 and is an amazing structure with over 10,000 marble sculptures. An interesting fact is that a lot of the work was done by over 15,000 volunteers, each contributing the time they could to help move the project forward. This is a Hindu temple, but it is open to people of all faiths and the volunteers here are very welcoming!
More information about the temple can be found here: BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham
A few things to note about the visit. There is no photography allowed inside the buildings. There is plenty to photograph outside the temples and around the grounds. There is a strict dress code – tops must cover the shoulders, back and upper arms and legwear must be at least below knee-length. If you don’t comply, you will be requested to wear wraps which are provided at the Mandir. Also, all footwear must be removed to enter the temples. Shoe racks are available at the entrances (note – socks are ok). More visitor information can be found here: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir – Robbinsville – Visitor Info
We will plan to arrive at the temple by 10:00 AM which will give us time to tour the Mandir and experience a daily arti (ceremony) at 11:15 AM. Following that, we will take a tour of the Akshardham and have time to wander around the grounds. Once we are finished at the temple, we will go to a local Indian Restaurant for lunch. The restaurant will be located near other restaurants for those that may not care for Indian foods.
There is no cost for the trip. There are donation boxes around the temple grounds if you chose to make a donation. You can choose to meet there, or I’d suggest we try to carpool where possible. Since there are a few tolls on the turnpike and bridges (about $30), we can just share the costs per vehicle. Once we have a list of those planning to go, we can work out the meeting location(s). We would need to leave Reading by 8:00am.
To sign up or for more information, please contact Jeff at jeffschaefferphoto@comcast.net . If we have enough people going, we can probably arrange for private tours.
We hope you’ll join us on June 19th!

Still Life “Hands On” Workshop - July 15,2024 - with Tim Huey, Kim Sweimler, and Ginnie Lodge
2024-07-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Goggle Works Suite 326
Still Life “Hands On” Workshop.
Still Life “Hands On” Workshop. Recently added to our schedule for July 15 is a hands-on workshop to create still life images. BPS members can attend this workshop at no charge. Non-members can attend for only $10. This is a Monday evening event in the middle of summer, when the club usually takes a summer hiatus. But to keep your photographic juices flowing, we are offering this special summer opportunity. BPS board members Tim Huey, Kim Sweimler, and Ginnie Lodge will be setting up still life scenes and lighting for you to photograph. They will also be available to help you and to answer any questions. Bring your camera and a tripod. Get together in person with other members. Try something new! This is an in-person only event in our space in the GoggleWorks. If you are interested or have questions, you can reach out to Ginnie at ginnie.lodge@berksphotographic.com. Let us know if you plan to join us.

Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles Image Processing with Vince Pellegrini
2024-08-08 19:00 - 21:00 | ZOOM
A special mid-summer BPS Zoom session with Vince Pellegrini on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 7:00 PM. I plan to cover the entire process of that day in Boyertown from start to finish: from my vision before arriving at the Museum, to the technical aspects of my set up for the images, my thoughts on how I culled my best images out of nearly 300 shots & finally, my post processing workflow in Adobe’s Lightroom, including its new masking & remove tools. I will emphasize the many neat bits that I learned during this endeavor. This session will be geared toward exciting all members no matter the skill level!

I sure hope that many of you will join me live on this night. I think that we’ll have a really fun time together. This will be Zoom only with no presence at the GoggleWorks. The session will be recorded but I really hope to see you there so that we can have a good interaction.

Here is the Zoom link for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85756958939?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 857 5695 8939
Passcode: [REDACTED]

BPS member Ginnie Lodge will share “Photoshop Tips and Tricks.”
2024-09-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
BPS member Ginnie Lodge will share “Photoshop Tips and Tricks.”
Learn how to go from Lightroom to Photoshop and back again. Find out about the power of layers. Learn how and when to use the new generative AI features to remove objects or expand your photos. And more! She will address questions sent by members in advance to help you use Photoshop more effectively.

Francesco Gola will present “Introduction to Seascape Photography” from Italy in a hybrid zoom session
2024-09-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
In this event Francesco will take us on an engaging journey through the captivating realm of seascape photography. The session will kick off with a comprehensive exploration of the essential gear required to capture the breathtaking beauty of seascapes. From cameras & lenses to tripods & filters, Francesco will provide valuable insights into assembling the perfect toolkit for this genre. Moving seamlessly into camera settings, we can expect to unravel the intricacies of achieving optimal exposure, focus & depth of field in various seaside scenarios. Francesco will demystify the technical aspects, empowering photographers of all levels to master their equipment & create mesmerizing compositions. The heart of the talk will delve into shooting techniques, with a particular focus on the art of long exposure. Francesco’s expertise in this area will shine as he unravels the magic behind capturing the ethereal movement of waves, transforming ordinary scenes into extraordinary visual stories.
Francesco will also share invaluable practical advice garnered from years of hands-on experience. From timing the perfect golden hour shots to navigating unpredictable weather conditions, these insights will prove invaluable to anyone seeking to immerse themselves in the world of seascape photography. Whether a beginner or a seasoned enthusiast, participants will leave the meeting with a heightened appreciation for the art & a toolkit of skills to embark on their own seascape photography adventures.
Francesco Gola is an engineer who’s fallen in love with photography. Born in Italy in 1981, as soon as he started taking pictures he fell in love with long exposures of seascapes. For him, a long exposure is a parallel universe in which to escape from the frenzy of modern life. His passion for the sea & for travel led him to visit some of the most iconic locations on this planet, looking at them with different eyes.
Inspired by the romantic painters William Turner & Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky, Francesco developed a special emotional relationship with nature that is clearly expressed through his seascape photographs.
Now Francesco lives & teaches photography in Milan where he collaborates with companies, sites & magazines for the diffusion of photographic culture in Italy & in the world.

Visit Francesco’s sites to learn more about his wonderful work & offerings: WEBSITE & INSTAGRAM.
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/.
