PMDA » Programs

Ice-Scapes: How to Photograph Winter Ice

Jackie Augustine — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:58:09 +0000

©Russ Burden

By Russ Burden – Take Great Pictures.com

Lots of great images can be made during the winter months but we wanted to focus on the topic of ice for this article…

This winter it’s my strong hope that everyone who reads this article catches a cold. “That’s not very nice,” I hear you say, but I mean it. I really want it to happen – go out and catch a cold morning, afternoon, or evening of photography. Stop using the cold as an excuse to not go out and make pictures. Stop telling yourself there aren’t good images to be made in the winter. Stop worrying about all the things that make you worry about making images when it’s cold – it’s a great time to make some ice-scape photos.

Summer is over, the occasional warm days of a late fall have passed and you’re sitting on the sofa flicking through reruns of old TV shows On Demand. During a commercial you reflect back to all the photography you did when the weather was nice. You recall the special light that illumined the fall colors on the mountainside as you filled many gigabytes of memory. Rather than reminisce about all the shooting you did over the past few months, get off the sofa and head out into the cold. A world of photography awaits the photographer who snubs the chilly temps, persists, and goes out to shoot regardless of the conditions.

Lots of great images can be made during the winter months but I want to focus on the topic of ice. The subject is such that great images can be captured under varying types of conditions. If the light for the grand scenic doesn’t play out, move in close for the macro shot. If the macro shot doesn’t work, look for the abstract. If the abstract shot doesn’t come together, incorporate subjects that tell a story. In that ice subjects are numerous and all over, you’ll never get left out in the cold – sorry

The Overarching Scenic: Think about the close to home scenic gem you’ve often photographed in the spring, summer or fall. Revisit it this winter to create an ice-scape. Watch the news for weather patterns when ice would stand a good chance of forming. A recent snow with daytime temperatures that cause a melt followed by a hard night’s freeze is ideal. Get out early the next morning and you should be treated to lots of icicles. Include them in the composition to show them off. Back and side light are best. If the sun is low enough, place it right behind some of the ice formations, stop the lens down to f22, and you’ll wind up with a sunstar peeking out from behind the icicles….

http://takegreatpictures.com/photo-tips/photo-tips-and-techniques/ice-scapes-how-to-photograph-winter-ice

Portraits of Love Exhibition featuring Photographers John Bentham &Rick Gerrity

Jackie Augustine — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:00:20 +0000

Portraits of Love: Photographs by John Bentham and Rick Gerrity

February 1 – March 15, 2012

Curated by Hyewon Yi

Opening Reception: Wednesday, February 1, 2012, 4pm –7pm

Lecture: Monday, February 27, 2012, 4:40pm – 6:20pm (Campus Center F114)

The Amelie A. Wallace Gallery at SUNY College at Old Westbury is pleased to announce a special

exhibition by two professional photographers, John Bentham and Rick Gerrity.

Portraits of Love is a joint venture by PMDA (Photoimaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association) and the USO* to provide free portraits to families of deployed service members of the US military at holiday time. For the third year of this project, 2011, these New York-based photographers volunteered their time and skill, driving eighteen hours to Gulfport, Mississippi for the two-day shoot. Bentham and Gerrity photographed about forty families, producing over one hundred images. For this exhibition, seventeen individual and group portraits will be presented.

These portraits of children, from toddlers to teenagers, including three images that include parents, remind us of what is absent from so many of these families—the fathers. Dani , a little blonde girl, holds a Daddy Doll that bears a photo of her Marine father printed on the fabric; she takes it everywhere with her and even sleeps with it. Presented with broad smiles and dressed in their best holiday clothes, the children in these pictures deliver a message of love to their fathers (and sometimes mothers) overseas. One serviceman, shown holding his son upside down, was to be deployed to South Korea in a few short weeks. Children photographed with an American flag offer patriotic gestures. Two young mothers left behind are also shown smiling cheerily despite the lack of emotional and practical support that challenges them in the absence of their husbands.

Behind this evidently loving presentation of playful children and faithful spouses is the reminder that large numbers of U.S. military service personnel are stationed overseas. Regardless of one’s view of U.S. foreign policy and the powerful cultural, social, and political impact that U.S. foreign bases have on their host countries, the challenges faced by the families left behind, many living on U.S. military bases waiting for the return of their loved ones, deserves understanding and compassion. Although it is not conspicuous in this project, the shadow of anxiety and tragedy hangs over military families. In addition to combat deaths in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the cost of mutilated bodies and psychological injuries is tremendous. As just one indication, the U.S. Army reported record high suicide fatalities for 2011. This exhibition hopes to raise awareness and promote discussion of such topics.

The photographers employed traditional studio portrait techniques that include full-body, waist-up, and three-quarter profile portraits shot in a temporary studio. John Bentham used mostly dark backgrounds for his sitters, creating a deeper receding space behind each model. Gently directed children show an awareness of Bentham’s camera, through which he captures the vulnerability of the young ones and theawkwardness of the teenagers. Bentham portrays these young individuals with dignity, offering the viewer a naturalness akin to the sensibility of August Sander or Diane Arbus. Employing a white background, Rick Gerrity opted for more lighthearted moments in which the children were free to express playfulness among themselves. The performative aspects of Gerrity’s sitters were brought out by his sense of humor and inventiveness as their poses suggest a lively interaction between sitters and photographer.

John Bentham (b. 1959, Toronto; working in New York since 1991) is an award-winning photographer specializing in documentary and portraiture. His images have been widely reproduced in periodicals andbooks. As his particular interest is in sub-cultures, he has documented a diverse range of subjects,including biker rallies, burlesque dancers, Native American powwows, drag queens, and underground NYC clubs. He was named A Photographer to Watch by Kodak, and in 2009 was awarded one of only twelve coveted slots in the Magnum Photos portfolio review. Bentham has garnered accolades from Nikon, Magnum Photos, Photo District News, and The New York Times. He has exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, Paris, Tokyo, and Prague.

Rick Gerrity (b.1954, Newark, NJ; lives and works in New York and New Jersey) has been photographing professionally over the past twenty-five years, specializing in people, products, and locations throughoutthe U.S. and Canada. Gerrity has documented bikers in the tradition of iconic figures Danny Lyon and Hunter S. Thompson. A motorcyclist since age seventeen, Gerrity utilized, to some extent, the participant observer approach to record the lives of the bikers. Gerrity’s twenty-one year-old son, Marine Lance Corporal Ryan Gerrity , is serving his second combat tour in Afghanistan, a connection that makes Gerrity’s participation in this project all the more poignant.

A reception to mark the opening of Portraits of Love will be held between 4:00pm and 7:00pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012. The exhibition remains on view through March 15, 2012. Gallery hours are Mondays and Wednesdays between 12pm and 7pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12pm and 4:30pm; and by appointment.

The lecture is scheduled for Monday, February 27, between 4:40pm and 6:20pm in F114 Campus Center. The photographers will discuss their works accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation.

Canon and Gilbert Displays generously donated the printing and mounting of the images.

For further information about Portraits of Love , please contact Gallery Director Hyewon Yi at yih@oldwestbury.edu or 646-421-5863. Please visit our gallery Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.

For directions to the College, see the link here. For a map, please click here

* The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO ) is a private, nonprofit organization that provides morale and recreational services to members of the United States military.

Photoshop Tip Of The Month: Move It On Over

Jackie Augustine — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:24:11 +0000

By Russ Burden – TakeGreatPictures.com

Learn how to move objects using Photoshop in this month’s tutorial.

Nature and people are my primary photographic subjects. While I love to make images of many others, it’s these two that prompted me to adopt the focus of this month’s tutorial. When I photograph people, communication allows me to reposition them so their arrangement makes a nice composition. But if I’m doing street photography, or if I don’t know my subjects, or if I’m traveling, I don’t have the luxury to readily move person A to spot A, person B to spot B, person C to spot C, etc. Wildlife is even tougher as I’m at the mercy of where the animal wanders. While I often find myself “willing” it to a given location, it doesn’t always occur. Knowing the potential of what each shot could have been, I always pressed the shutter just to have a record of the only if encounter. Only if it would have walked into the light, only if the two animals were a bit closer, only if it moved away from the bush………… Maybe it was fate, but I’m glad I pressed the shutter back then and I now continue to press it on a regular basis and perform a bit of Photoshop magic to get the effect that “could have been” if the animal did what I wanted.

Mount Evans is a world class destination to photograph mountain goats and other species of wildlife. I’m lucky to live an hour and a half away from this great location so I try to get up to the summit a few times a year to capture the goats. At 14,000 feet, the wind is hardly ever calm. Near the summit is a small tarn. In all the trips I’ve made to photograph the wildlife, it’s rare to see it still. Compounded with this rarity is the few times I’ve seen it still, no animals ever showed up. Well serendipity occurred one morning this year and just about every piece fell into place. The one part that didn’t materialize was the two goats never got close enough to the water. I was hoping for less scree between them and their reflection. Hence, this month’s Photoshop Tip of the Month.

I like the capture of the mountain goats along with their reflections, but all the while I was pressing the shutter, I so wanted them to get closer to the water. It would have eliminated much of the spacing between them and their reflection and resulted in a tighter composition. I still made a number of photos as I knew I would apply the technique covered in this month’s PS Tip. It would have been better if it all came together in the field, but so goes the life of a nature photographer. Additionally, the image now falls into a photo illustration as opposed to one that is truly natural.

Snow Photo Tips: Make the Most of Your Snow Photography

Jackie Augustine — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:00:04 +0000

By Tracy Greene – TakeGreatPictures.com

Whether you find the snow in your own backyard, or need to vacation to a distant place to see the white blanket cover the landscape, keep these snow photography tips in mind.

Be Prepared Yourself
Patience is definitely a virtue in photography and being able to wait for just the right light, a bird to fly through your photo, or explore until you find the perfect angle can be critical to making a great photo. All of these things take time so make sure you dress warmly and wear the right clothes to keep you warm, dry and comfortable.

Get Your Camera Ready
Make sure your camera batteries are fully charged so you can keeping shooting as the light and the moment create the perfect combination. When you get back home, try to keep your camera in the coolest part of your house for a while to gradually warm it back up. This will help you avoid condensation. If you do get condensation, remember to let it try on it’s own. Be patient and never try to wipe it off. It will only come back and could damage your lens.

Tamrac’s new Aria camera bag series is designed for female photographers who want to carry their camera equipment stylishly and discreetly

Jackie Augustine — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:43:37 +0000

From TakeGreatPictures.com

Attention female photographers… tired of all those tough-guy camera bags? Looking for something with a feminine flair? Tamrac’s new Aria camera bag series is designed for female photographers who want to carry their camera equipment stylishly and discreetly. The bags have a timeless look and strike the perfect balance between elegance and functionality. They are made from rich, smooth fabric that you’ll find in high-end handbags. The Aria 3, and Aria 6 provide discreet protection for your DSLR and lenses without advertising what’s inside.

The Aria 6 is versatile for the shooting woman. It also holds an iPad, and both models have a pleated, zippered front pocket to hold camera accessories and personal items like a wallet, cosmetics and keys…

Warm Up to Winter Sweepstakes: Win a Fujifilm Instax Mini 25 camera and 2 packs of film!

Jackie Augustine — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:50:03 +0000

From TakeGreatPictures.com

Enter today for your chance to win a Fujifilm Instax Mini 25 camera and 2 packs of film!

Shoot and see the results instantly with the Fujifilm Instax Mini 25. Taking fun to the next level is easy with this sure to be a party favorite instant film camera. Producing cute, credit – card sized images in just a matter of moments, image enthusiasts young and old alike will once again enjoy walking away with an event souvenir just as soon as the shutter clicks. With a high-quality Fujinon lens in combination with the Instax Mini Film, superior images are just an instant away.

Winter Photography Tips: How to keep your camera gear (and you) running smoothly when the weather outside is frightful

Jackie Augustine — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:46:13 +0000

By Tracy Greene – TakeGreatPictures.com

Here are some winter photo tips to help you make the best photos in and out of the snow…

When fall fades away and the cool winter air moves in, there are different things to think about to keep you shooting. Here are some winter photo tips to help you make the best photos in and out of the snow.

Keep your camera cold

Most cameras and batteries will perform well in temperatures that you and your family can endure comfortably in winter. Once the temperature gets unbearable for you, it’s probably going to get tough on your gear as well. If you’re suited up for the bitter cold though, here are a few things to look out for where your gear is concerned.

Mechanical problems with your LCD displays or battery failure will probably be the first things you might notice. The exact temperature where problems might occur depends on the design of the equipment. You’ll probably show signs of failure before your gear.

Although it may be tempting, putting your camera under your jacket can actually cause condensation and you won’t be able to take any photos until it dries. It is also a lot easier to brush snow off of a cold camera. If the camera is warm, the snow will melt and become a wet mess.

Avoid going from a cold environment to a warm environment and back again. This will also cause condensation. Keeping your car cold when you drive from place to place will help the camera stay at the outside ambient temperature and keep you shooting.

When you do come back indoors, be sure you warm your camera slowly. If you’ve worn glasses and gone from the cold outdoors to the warm indoors you’ve experienced condensation. Ths is exactly what happens to your lens and renders your camera useless until it clears. Try leaving your gear in your camera bag for a while and that will help it slowly acclimate…..

Warm Up to Winter Sweepstakes: Win a Fujifilm Instax Mini 25 camera and 2 packs of film!

Jackie Augustine — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:20:25 +0000

From TakeGreatPictures.com

Enter today for your chance to win a Fujifilm Instax Mini 25 camera and 2 packs of film!

Jackie Augustine Elected as New President of the Board of Directors at RTP: Rehabilitation Through Photography

Jackie Augustine — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:44:48 +0000

RTP taps photo industry veteran as new president to spearhead the revitalization of the 70 year old organization that is changing the lives of people with special needs through the power of photography.

New York, NY, December 20, 2011 – RTP, Rehabilitation Through Photography announces the election of Jackie Augustine to the position of President of the Board of Directors. Jackie is a 30 year veteran of the photographic industry. She served as Group Publisher of VNU/Nielsen’s Performance Group of Magazines and prior to that she was VP, Group Publisher of the High Technology Group of magazines at Primedia which included Petersen’s PHOTOgraphic and Shutterbug magazines. Currently she is the President of Jackie Augustine Consulting, a company focused on integrated media and marketing solutions. She is also a Member of the PMDA Board of Directors and Editor of the PMDA website. Jackie has been a strong supporter of RTP for over 25 years and a member of the RTP Advisory Committee She is passionate about art and photography and the role that Rehabilitation Through Photography plays in “helping transform lives through the power of photography.”

Ron Sharpe, Immediate Past President of the RTP Board of Directors stated that “Jackie Augustine has played an instrumental role in the ongoing revitalization of RTP. As a board director, fund raiser, publicist and executive director, Jackie’s enthusiasm, networking skills and can-do spirit have contributed in essential ways to RTP’s personnel development, programs, strategic direction and other key areas. As the new President, she will no doubt further expand our organization’s ability to illuminate the lives of special needs individuals through photography we are very excited about the great progress that RTP is making in so many areas. This will help us continue to expand RTP’s charitable mission of inspiring individuals and illuminating their voices and vision through the power of photography and photographic instruction.”

Richard Rabinowitz, Member of the RTP Board of Directors commented “I have known Jackie Augustine as a driving force in the photo industry for 20+ years. Her vision and focus has resulted in important developments within the photo world overall and specifically with a number of important organizations including PMDA, IPC and others. I am certain that Jackie’s position as President of RTP will result in crucial advancement for all the recipients of the RTP services.”

Kelly Strantz, Executive Director, RTP said “Simply put, working with Jackie has been one of the most fruitful working relationships I’ve ever had with a board member. RTP is very fortunate to have her in a leadership position.”

ABOUT REHABILITATION THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY

Rehabilitation Through Photography provides photography instruction and programs to veterans, the physically and emotionally challenged, the elderly, at-risk youth, the economically disadvantaged, the homeless and, the visually impaired. This photography instruction engages individuals with the wider world beyond their limitations and empowers them to see and act in creative and life-affirming ways. The acts of capturing the beauty and vitality of the world with a camera and of then enhancing the resulting images, rekindle individuals’ interest in and excitement about life.

RTP, Rehabilitation Through Photography partners with public and private organizations across the New York metropolitan area to create programs and procure equipment and supplies and train instructors. Some of the organizations supported by RTP include: ABBR, Arts & Media Preparatory Academy, Block Institute, Children’s Village, Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, Encore 49 Residence, Jewish Home & Hospital, Land Gallery, Millenium High School, Pathways To Housing, Phyllis L. Susser School for Exceptional Children, STARR,Inc. From the analog cameras and darkrooms of the past to the digital cameras and software of today, RTP’s programs have taught many thousands of students in need, created many inspiring works of beauty, and nurtured countless New Yorkers.

RTP, Rehabilitation Through Photography is entirely supported by tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations and foundations and is a registered 5013C charitable organization.

Great Camera Buys For The Holiday Season

Jackie Augustine — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:18:18 +0000

By Jason Schneider – TakeGreatPictures.com

With enhanced performance, cool new features, and enticing prices, the latest crop of cameras make awesome gifts!

These days digital SLRs (DSLRs) and compact interchangeable-lens cameras (CILCs) are generating the most buzz among serious shooters and emerging enthusiasts, but that’s hardly the whole picture. Many of the latest point-and-shoot compacts are also delivering great value, amazingly high performance, and a rich array of features including full HD video in order to lure a broad spectrum of customers away from the ubiquitous cell-phone cameras that offer “always with you” convenience and “good enough” picture quality. As a result of all this ferocious competition among camera manufacturers, this holiday season consumers of all stripes can choose from a truly impressive crop of exciting new cameras that increase shooting flexibility, enhance the overall picture-taking experience, and take still picture quality and video movies to a whole new level of technical excellence.

To help you make an informed decision we’ve assembled some of the most ingenious and best performing new cameras on the market today and described their features and capabilities in detail below. Whether you’re hankering for a new camera for yourself, or looking for that memorable gift that will help someone you love do the same, this “A list” of the latest hardware should put your on the right track. We hope you enjoy perusing it, and good shooting!

A scintillating selection of DSLRs

Nikon D3100

An easy-to-use entry into DSLR photography, the 14.2MP D3100’s enhanced guide mode, viewed on its 3.0-inch LCD, displays sample images that change with camera settings to teach you how to achieve a desired look and guide you through techniques such as softening backgrounds or freezing action. It also features: face detection that locks focus on up to 35 faces; D-lighting that automatically rescues dark or backlit images; an auto scene selector that chooses the best scene mode for you; Full HD 1080p or 720p HD video recording; and special effects. Street price: $649.95 with Nikkor 18-55mm VR image stabilization lens. nikonusa.com…