Berks Photographic Society

January 9, 2023 How Did You Get That Shot? Get ready for some creativity! Join us as BPS member presenter Betsy Wilson shows us how to remove the roadblocks and add that spark to getting great images.
2023-01-09 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
How Did You Get That Shot? Get ready for some creativity! Join us as presenter Betsy Wilson shows us how to remove the roadblocks and add that spark to getting great images. A hybrid zoom meeting.

Betsy will share a sampling of some before and after images by both her husband Jim and herself and explain how they got from the original image to the final creation. Sometimes it is merely getting creative with cropping and some minor edits, sometimes they will blend several photos together to create something completely different. “It’s not just the destination, but the journey – what I saw and felt and wanted to capture, and then the steps (and mistakes) along the journey to create the final image.”
Bio:
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 she has never looked back. Their shared passion for photography includes a wide variety of types including macro, landscape and nature photography. Both Betsy and Jim have been honored as Photographer of the Year Award at the Chester County Camera Club. You can see more of their images at Betsy and Jim’s website www.LetsCaptureTheMoment.com

Photo Shoot with Santa
2022-12-10 10:00 - 14:00
PHOTOS WITH SANTA AT BOSCOV’S NORTH
It’s that time of the year again and we need your help! On Saturday December 10th Berks Photographic Society will be having our annual Santa Photo-shoot. This year Boscov’s North will be hosting us.
We will be meeting in the down stairs auditorium at 10:00 am and the photos will be taken from 11:00am – 2:00 pm.
This is a super fun day for our club and our Santa Glenn is amazing. It can’t be done without your help! So please consider coming out and helping us make this year’s fundraising photo-shoot for our club a very successful one!
If you are available on Saturday December 10th please notify Kim Sweimler at kim.sweimler@berksphotographic.com

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.

“Best of the Year” with Henry Rowan returning for a thir d year in a row as judge for this event.
2022-11-28 19:30 - 21:30 | ZOOM
November 28, 2022: “Best of the Year” with Henry Rowan returning for a third year in a row as judge for this event.
Henry is a national award-winning photographer and the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Center for Photography in Doylestown (PCP’s WEBSITE).
In addition to being a working, professional photographer, Henry is a frequent lecturer and judge throughout the region, including BPS meetings, and teaches a variety of workshops at the PCP & in the field. Rowan’s work is frequently on display at galleries and shows and he has gained a following for his distinctive style of portraiture as well as his unique portrayal of landscapes, nature, and sports. Rowan plays with movement, light, and color in unison to create images that are easy to identify as his. The driving theme of his work is his concept of Non-Existent Imagery. Many of his images are the result of hours of work and are part of his CameraGraph® series, in which post-processing plays a major role to visually construct his “reality”. You may see Rowan’s work HERE.

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.

iPhone Photography Workshop with Julie Stauffer
2022-11-19 09:00 - 12:00 | Berks Photographic Society, 201 Washington St., Reading, PA, 19601, United States
The workshop will be limited to the first 15 people to signup.
Session fee: $40 or $60 per couple: visit the club store to buy your tickets
This workshop will explore the iPhone as a camera for serious photographers. We will experiment with various shooting possibilities, including portrait mode, slow motion, multiple exposure, etc. We will go through the various editing possibilities built into the camera. Those of you with newer phones that have prime lenses will be amazed at the possibilities. While you can still operate with one lens on the older iPhones, you do need to be aware that there may be limitations.
We will also use SNAPSEED as an editing app. Snapseed is just a powerhouse of possibilities if you know how to find and use them. Some of the features rival what you can accomplish in Photoshop.
If you prefer to edit (not photograph) on an iPad, feel free to bring that to class. It is ever so much easier on the eyes to have a larger screen to work on, but please do not bring a laptop. This is iOS meaning iPhones and iPads only.
During this session, we will also have time to photograph and experiment and share. Stauffer has condensed a lot of information into one session.
Please email Julie at juliestauffer@me.com with the following information:

What iphone you have
Do you use your phone regularly to photograph
What you would like to know more about from this session? You can be brief, just a few sentences, but it will give a basis to work on so that the time is well spent.

BEFORE the WORKSHOP:

Make sure your iPhone is fully charged
Bring your charger cables
Know your Apple username and password if you need to download apps
Download Snapseed and give it access to your photos.

We will discuss other apps: PhotoSplits, Hipstamatic ,ProCamera, Camera +, TruHDR, Slow Shutter, Clonerase, Waterlogue, Glaze, Oilist, Image Blender, Touch Retouch.
Questions: email Julie juliestauffer@me.com, but please be sure to identify yourself as BPS.

Blaschak Coal Fields, Photo Shoot
2022-11-09 10:00 - 13:00 | Blaschak Coal Fields, 163 Delano Rd, Mahanoy City, PA, 17948, United States
On Wednesday, November 9, 2022 BPS will hold a Photo Shoot at the Blaschak Coal Fields in Mt. Carmel, PA from 10AM to 1PM with a rain date of November 10. We will meet there & then be driven to various spots to photograph the activity & the huge earth moving equipment in action.

This must be limited to 8 registrants on a first come basis. Registration is free to BPS members. Please email Vince at Vince.Pellegrini@berksphotographic.com quickly to reserve your spot. Registration will go to a wait list once the maximum number is reached.

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!

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

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.

Open House at the Berks History Center for Phase II of the "Snapshot in Time" exhibit
2022-10-15 17:00 - 19:00
This Saturday, October 15, from 5-7 PM is the Open House at the Berks History Center for Phase II of the “Snapshot in Time” exhibit, featuring photos from BPS members. “For each circa 1900 image of Dr. Haman, one winning BPS member photograph was chosen to be displayed as 16×20″ prints beside its historic inspiration in the gallery.”

We would love to have lots of BPS members attend the Open House. Please, please, please, do this one for Bob!

Learn more at: https://www.berkshistory.org/event/a-snapshot-in-time-opening-night-reception/

We hope to see you there,
The Board of BPS

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!

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

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!

Knoebels Grove Amusement Park
2022-07-27 16:00 - 20:00 | Knoebels, 391 Knoebels Blvd., Elysburg, PA, 17824, United States
We are planning a group outing to Knoebels on July 27th! (rain date July 28)

We can car pool together and shoot photos from approximately 3 or 4 pm until 8 pm when the park closes!

Just a fun outing together shooting rides at night and a variety of amusement park scenes !

Let Jay know if you’re interested in joining the outing!

https://www.knoebels.com/

Antietam Lake Hike & Shoot
2022-07-16 09:00 - 11:00 | Antietam Lake Park, 230 Angora Rd, Reading, PA, 19606, United States
Antietam Lake Park is a beautiful local park on Angora Road in Reading. It provides several hiking trails as well as a beautiful lake and smaller pond which give plenty of photo opportunities from landscape to macro photography. Join Jeff Schaeffer on July 16th at 9:00am to explore the park with your camera. It’s a short walk to the lake, an easy short hike to the pond and the possibility to do a longer hike. We’ll tailor the time based on those attending. RSVP to Jeff at jeffschaefferphoto@comcast.net by 7/13.
Processed with MOLDIV

“Water in Any of Its Forms” with Nic Stover as judge.
2022-06-27 19:30 - 21:30 | ZOOM
– June 27, 2022: “Water in Any of Its Forms” with Nic Stover as judge.
Nic Stover Photography exists to help nature photographers, who are interested in deeper connections, to create more impactful images, so they can confidently & consistently express themselves. Through his classes, webinars, tutorials & presentations, Nic works with people of all ages, backgrounds, experiences & desires focused around a dialog on how we can thrive in our own unique creative and artistic process. Stover encourages his class participants to develop their skills, explore their capabilities, and to create meaningful work. Stover is based in San Luis Obispo, California. See Stover’s WEBSITE.

Fighters Heaven photo walk
2022-06-26 10:00 - 13:00 | Fighter’s Heaven, 58 Sculps Hill Rd, Orwigsburg, PA, 17961, United States
Join us for an informal meetup and tour of Fighters Heaven, Muhammad Ali’s training camp in Owrigsburg, PA.

Fighters Heaven was built in 1972 when Ali was preparing for his biggest fights, and has been beautifully restored and preserved as a legacy to the great man.

It’s an incredible site to visit. We would encourage members to bring their friends and family as well, and it should be a fun time for all. There is a lot to see and photograph inside many of the buildings, so it’s recommended you bring a flash if you have one.

There is no cost to visit but they do accept donations.

Egyptian/Beauty Photo Shoot
2022-06-25 10:00 - 14:00 | Berks Photographic Society, 201 Washington St., Reading, PA, 19601, United States
Kim Sweimler and Richard Shay will be hosting this Egyptian themed photoshoot.
Come and join us for this “IN HOUSE” hands-on event at the Goggleworks. Our models will be dressed in Egyptian themed garments.
We will also be taking headshots with a beauty dish for our glamor part of the photoshoot.
This event is limited to 12 people, so please sign up by emailing Kim at kas.kimages@gmail.com if you are interested.
Bring your camera and if you have your own pocket wizard please bring it with you also, if not Kim will provide a few.

“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.

Introduction to Printing and Mounting Workshop
2022-06-11 08:00 - 11:30 | Dan Bergs Studio, 477 Alleghenyville Rd., Mohnton, PA, 19540, United States
Second date added! The workshop on June 4th is filled so Dan has graciously agreed to run a second date.

Dan Berg of Berg’s Canvas Gallery will be conducting an “Introduction to Printing and Mounting” workshop on June 11th from 8:30AM to approx 11:30 at his printing studio in Mohnton, PA.
The cost of the workshop is $25.00. This event is limited to the first 6 people who register.
You can register here in our store.

Dan will demonstrate printing and mounting images. This is an excellent introductory workshop for anyone who wants an overview of excellent photo printing or is considering it in the future.

Visit Dan’s website at http://www.bergscanvasgallery.com/index.html
Studio address: 477 Alleghenyville Rd. Mohnton, PA 19540

Introduction to Printing and Mounting Workshop
2022-06-04 08:30 - 11:30 | Dan Bergs Studio, 477 Alleghenyville Rd., Mohnton, PA, 19540, United States
Dan Berg of Berg’s Canvas Gallery will be conducting an “Introduction to Printing and Mounting” workshop on June 4th from 8:30AM to approx 11:30 at his printing studio in Mohnton, PA.
The cost of the workshop is $25.00 and Dan has graciously offered to donate the proceeds back to the Berks Photographic Society. This event is limited to the first 6 people who register. If the workshop fills and we get enough interest we will add a second date the following weekend.
You can register here in our store.

Dan will demonstrate printing and mounting images. This is an excellent introductory workshop for anyone who wants an overview of excellent photo printing or is considering it in the future.

Visit Dan’s website at http://www.bergscanvasgallery.com/index.html
Studio address: 477 Alleghenyville Rd. Mohnton, PA 19540

Woods Hydrangea and Peony Farm Photo Shoot
2022-05-28 18:00 - 21:00 | Woods Hydrangea and Peony Farm, 180 Gun Club Rd., Barto, PA, 19504, United States
Sylvia Stottlemire will be opening her flower farm May 28, 2022 at 6:00pm for a photo shoot. Rain date June 4, at 6pm. This will be open to the first 6 people who sign up. If you would like to attend please RSVP below.
Peonies will be in bloom at this time. There are approximately 400 peony plants on the farm. Not all will be in bloom. With the help of Mother Nature there should be plenty to provide a fun photography experience. Bring your gear and be ready to capture these beautiful flowers. With some luck and timing a nice sunset may also be viewed and photographed.
Of the Woods Hydrangea and Peony Farm, 180 Gun Club Rd., Barto, PA 19504
Of the Woods Hydrangea and Peony Farm – Home | Facebook

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

Macro Workshop - a follow up to the Macro presentation “It’s the Little Things” by Chris McGinnis
2022-05-14 08:30 - 11:30
Macro Workshop
By Ivan Bub
Hi Folks,
As a follow up to the Macro presentation “It’s the Little Things” by Chris McGinnis on April 18, 2022, I am organizing a Macro Workshop & Photo Shoot run by Chris in May 2022.

Location: Gring’s Mill Recreation Area, 2083 Tulpehocken Rd, Reading PA 19610. We will meet in the Parking Lot.
Date: Saturday, May 14, 2022 with Rain Date of Saturday, May 21, 2022.
Time: 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
Cost: $40 for BPS members & $50 for non-members.

Maximum number of participants for the workshop: 12 people. (A minimum of 7 people is needed to make the workshop possible.)
If you sign up for the workshop, please ensure that you are available for both dates, as due to the amount needed for the presenter’s honorarium, refunds will not be possible.
The link to sign up for the workshop can be found here:
https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/macro-workshop-may-2022/
Chris is an exceptional field macro photographer. He is Creative Director for Olympus America and has been on the creative team for 15 years. He is based in Bethlehem Pennsylvania. He and his camera can be found exploring gardens, meadows, and the forest floor in search of insects and spiders. His photos show the intricate details and hidden beauty of arthropods which often go unnoticed. I hope you will join up for what will be an exceptionally educational and fun workshop.
I can be reached at ivanbub@comcast.net.

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.

Sheep and Wool day at Springton Manor Farm & Iron Pour & Forge Fest.
2022-04-30 11:30 - 22:00
Next up in our ongoing club outings will be on April 30th. We’re planning on a doubleheader event so there should be something for everyone. First in the morning we’ll be meeting for the Sheep and Wool day at Springton Manor Farm in Glenmoore, PA. There will be plenty of photo ops of farm animals, farm demonstrations, and sheep shearing during the day. The new baby animals are in the barns for the kids to pet, and as always the Springton goats will be posing for portraits. Admission is free and there is free remote parking with a short bus ride to the farm. We plan to meet at 11:30 in front of the Manor House which is on your right as you enter the park. You can get more information about the event schedule and directions to the farm at their website https://www.chesco.org/2307/Sheep-Wool .
Later in the day we’ll be close to “home base” at the GoggleWorks for the annual Iron Pour & Forge Fest. The Forge Fest is from 2 to 7pm followed by the Iron Pour from 7 to 10pm. Blacksmith demonstrations, food and music will keep everyone busy during the day. We’ll plan to meet later in the day at 5:30 to prepare for the Iron Pour at 7:00 where there will be plenty of heat and sparks flying for us to photograph. More info on the festival can be found on the Google Works web site at this address. https://goggleworks.org/event/spring-iron-pour-forge-fest/
So if you like the soft and fuzzy stuff join us in the morning at Springton Manor then finish it off with the hard pounding anvil action of the Iron Pour.
Hope to see lots of new faces at our next outing.

Chris McGinnis will speak on "It's the Little Things" via Zoom.
2022-04-18 19:30 - 21:30
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 (and president) Bob Gross: “The Where, When and How of Masking”
2022-04-04 19:30 - 21:30
“How do I use the masking tools and techniques in Lightroom and Photoshop?” That question comes up a lot in conversations about post processing our images.
All the new masking tools and techniques that were added recently can make our editing tasks so much easier if we know where they are and how to use them.
So join us for an evening of discovery where BPS member Bob Gross will go over the basics of masking in Lightroom and Photoshop. Following this basic masking intro Bob will share some of his favorite masking tools, tips and tricks that you can add to your image editing toolbox.
After Bob’s presentation we’ll open up the meeting for members to ask questions and to share their favorite masking tips with the group.
Important Note*: For non-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 March 30, 2022.

“Chasing the Light” with Mollie Isaacs as judge. Details to follow.
2022-03-28 19:30 - 21:30 | ZOOM
March 28, 2022: “Chasing the Light” with Mollie Isaacs as judge. Details to follow.
Mollie Isaacs is a professional photographer who specializes in Nature, Wildlife, Flowers & Abstracts. She is passionate about photography and loves to share that passion by teaching others. Early in her career, she studied with Ansel Adams and Joyce Tenneson. She has won the Kodak Gallery Award 14 times, considered by some to be the “Oscar” of photography. Her work is in the Permanent Collection of the International Photography Hall of Fame & has been exhibited at Epcot Center in Disney World & Grand Central Terminal in NYC. Isaacs runs Awake The Light Photo Workshops & Tours, offers online webinars & personally leads photo workshops around the country and beyond. Read more about her and see her work on her WEBSITE.
.
