someone’s picture by jon fishback€¦ · the few minutes leading up to the analysis may seem...

February 2011 Volume 67, Issue 8 Special points of inter-

est:

How to Critique

someone’s picture -

we need help!

G S C C C b e i n g

planned for OKC,

you’re planning on

being there, right?

OCC sweeps all five

pictorial print divi-

sions - Wow!!!

Inside this Issue:

The Pain and Pleas-

ure of Critical

Analysis by Jon

Fishback

1, 3,

4

Meetings, Work-

shop Schedule,

Announcements &

Visitors

2

Competition Images 4-9

Photo Ops 9

GSCCC Convention 10

Scores of “15” 10

Competition Results 11-

13

Annual Club Certifi-

cate for Club with

Highest Points

14

Oklahoma Camera

Club, Inc.

Founded 1931

The Pain and Pleasure of Critical Analysis

by Jon Fishback

image can be made better through experience

is only part of the skill needed in proper analy-

sis. Saying something nice about the image

may do more harm than good.

Kind words regarding a photograph may seem

condescending if they have no substance. Sim-

ply saying that the subject is pretty, is saying

something about the photograph over which

the photographer may have little control, and

is probably obvious to everyone. Comments

pro or con must have substance. Most mak-

ers will recognize superficial comments and

Analysis-Paralysis may set-in. Cont’d Page 3 . . .

Jan Lee PPSA awards Dennis Corbin

PPSA his PSA recognition for the third

highest accumulated number of accep-

tances for all US residents and 4th for the

Whole World

Congratulations Dennis

One of the most difficult moments in the life

of any photographer is hearing an analysis of

his/her work. The few minutes leading up to

the analysis may seem like an eternity. The

event itself may feel like watching your first-

born perform in her first Christmas pageant.

This feeling is difficult to shake and may be

around for years for those who continue to

exhibit. I call this Analysis-Paralysis, AP for

those of you who love acronyms.

One of the most critical elements in reducing

this anxiety is the proper analysis by whoever

is doing it. Properly done, the analysis can

reduce the stress of the moment, and go a

long way toward making future events much

easier for the maker.

New members of camera clubs, PSA, or any

group, whose aim is viewing graphic art, may

be especially vulnerable to AP. If part of the

group‟s goal is to keep new members and

make them old members, AP may need to be

addressed at every level.

Analysis is much more complicated than just

saying something nice about a photograph

and then explaining how it could have been

made better. This has been the popular be-

lief in clubs for years. Persons who are suc-

cessful in exhibiting are many times ill pre-

pared to conduct analysis. Knowing how an

Meetings

February 8, 2011: CANCELLED

Competition: Assigned Competition , Identifi-

able Oklahoma: Prints - Monochrome A & B,

Color A & B, Nature & PJ. Moved to Feb. 22

Judges: Debbie Devonshire, Randy

Carr, Ward Conaway Will judge prints at

next meeting.

Program: TBA

Refreshments: The McCreary’s

February 22, 2011:

Competition: Assigned Competition, Identifi-

able Oklahoma: Projected Images - Open

A&B, Creative, Monochrome, Nature & PJ.

Judges: Dennis Corbin, Lorraine Caddy,

TBA

Program: TBA

Refreshments: Jim McIntosh

Workshops Photography 101 Workshop: Photography 101

Workshop will meet at my house, 6309 N.

Harmon Dr., 10 AM Saturday, February 19,

2011. We will discuss camera features. What

does that thing-a-ma-jig do? Bring your camera

and manual. Ed Lamb at 721-4714.

Photoshop/Elements Workshop: The next

meeting will be February 25th, 7:30 pm, at Tom

and Carol McCreary’s, the subject is

“Selection in Photoshop or Elements” .... bring a

photo that you have used selection in to move or

be moved to another photo. If you have any ques-

tions or suggestions, please contact Carol and

Tom McCreary’s, 425 SW 53rd, 634-1817.

Beginning Imaging Workshop: Wednesday,

February 9 at 7:30 pm at our house, Jan and

Wally Lee’s, at 14045 Osage Drive, Ed-

mond, 751–8179. Bring any pictures you

want to discuss or play with in Elements,

we'll discuss sizing images if anyone needs

help and any questions anyone may have.

HypoCheck Schedule Oklahoma Camera

Club

Inc.

Meetings: 7:30 pm

2nd and 4th Tuesdays

50th and N. May Ave.

Central Presbyterian

Church

For club information

Contact

[email protected]

405.751.8179

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Board of Directors

President Tom McCreary

PPSA

1st VP Derrell Dover

2nd VP Lee Donlon

1yr. Dir. Charles Taylor

APSA

1yr. Dir. Jim McIntosh

2yr. Dir. Randy Carr

2yr. Dir. Jaci Finch

APSA

Treasure Brad Smith

Secretary Wally Lee

Announcements

GSCCC Convention Committee

Meeting Feb.26th, 2:00 pm at Tom and

Carol McCreary, 425 SW 53rd, 634-

Assigned Competition February

meetings will have assigned competition,

all divisions. The subject is “Identifiable

Oklahoma” (or home state for members

living out of state). Since this assignment

was made early last year, any images taken

after January 1, 2010 are eligible. This is an

exception to the rule that images need to

have been during the current club year.

Board Meeting The Board will meet

on Tuesday, February 15, at the home of

Tom and Carol McCreary, 425 SW 53rd,

at 7:30 pm. If there is any interest, we will

meet at 6:00 for dinner at Chili‟s, I 240 and

South Walker. Please let Tom know at

[email protected]..

More Stars: Tom McCreary PPSA,

earned his 1st and 2nd stars in CPID, and

Debbie Devonshire earned her 1st, 2nd

and 3rd stars in CPID. Way to go, keep it

up!!!

Visitors: (1/25/11) - Jim Worthington

[email protected] from OKC visited us and I

recognized Jim from having worked at Kerr

McGee, nice surprise. Jim learned of us on

the WEB and has an interest in photograph-

ing landscapes and buildings. Welcome Jim,

please come back again. Joel & Susan

Lane [email protected] also from OKC

visited us having met the club at the Zoo.

Joel and Susan have wide variety of photo-

graphic interests - I believe we fit right in.

Welcome Joel and Susan, please come back.

of 14 HypoCheck

The Pain and Pleasure of . . . Cont’d from page 1 . . .

Club Dues

Individual $30

Family or Joint $40

(other rates available as

well as partial for less

than year)

Make Checks Payable To

Oklahoma Camera Club

Mail To

Club Treasurer

Brad Smith

1008 NW 18th,

Oklahoma City, OK

73106-6417

Contact

[email protected]

“I really like this photograph” may make

you feel good; however it does not help the

maker unless you can articulate why.

Many times the person doing the analysis

leaves out the most obvious. After all is

said and done regarding rules and regula-

tions about composition, lighting, and im-

pact, how does the photograph make you

feel? Sometimes the photograph will evoke

a certain feeling and step beyond the rules.

This gives the analyst another positive tool

to set up the help the maker needs.

Often, when confronted with a photograph

that has a myriad of obvious flaws, the

knowledgeable photographer as analyst may

be so anxious to help he or she may not

even be able to see the positive aspects of

the image. A type of tunnel vision sets in

and the positive comments are rushed and

many times shallow. It takes patience and

understanding to ignore what needs to be

done and comment intelligently on what

was done properly.

Many times it is not what is said that is

painful, but the way it is said. Positive com-

ments regarding a photograph have no busi-

ness in the same paragraph or breath with

assistance in what can be done better. An

example might be: “The foreground is well

handled, however is slightly out of focus.”

The maker may only hear the out of focus

part, and worse than that hasn‟t a clue as to

how the foreground was well handled. A

better approach is to discuss the fore-

ground in a substantive manner. “To me,

the foreground is well handled. Notice

how the dark band of the foreground steps

your eye into the lighter middle ground and

then to the darker background. This layer-

ing of hues, in my opinion, adds dimension

and impact to the image.”

Notice also the use of the personal terms

TO ME, IN MY OPINION. These terms

anchor the analysis to the analyst‟s personal

opinion, which, after all, is what it is.

Never use the connecting words, „however‟

or „but‟ or any word that ostensible “drops

the other shoe.” This technique doesn‟t

work; the receiver may only retain the

negative comment.

After finishing with what was done prop-

erly, a short pause may allow the maker to

relax and even reflect on the fact that this

process is not so bad after all. When writ-

ing the analysis always separate the good

from the help area by placing them in sepa-

rate paragraphs. The tendency may be to

re-address previous positive comments, to

emphasize the help part. Do not do this.

The positive reinforcement has been done

and can only be degraded by further com-

ment. Make the help comments as succinct

as possible and above all make them perti-

nent

In the previous example one might say,

“The foreground appears to be slightly out

of focus to me. I think a sharper foreground

may have given this photograph a bit more

impact.” Then stop, and go on to any

other help that can be rendered. Never

belabor an obvious flaw, saying it two dif-

ferent ways is redundant at best and only

adds to the makers AP.

One of the most difficult things in analysis is

the need, many times, to completely alter

the way one speaks or writes. The use of

definite terms such as „always‟, Cont’d Page 4 . . .

of 14 HypoCheck

“Analysis is

not designed

to find some-

thing wrong. It

is designed to

see something

right, and then

see things that

may be

improved upon.

“. . . The maker

must always be

left with the

impression that

the improve-

ment is their

choice. “

~ Jon

Fishback

The Pain and Pleasure of . . . Cont’d from page 3 . . .

must always be left with the impression

that the improvement is their choice.

New members of PSA are taking advantage

of an analysis service designed just for

them. Along with many additional services

for new members this analysis service is

provided on the PSA new member web

page, http://www.psa-newmember.org/J

Jon Fishback

Director

(PSA) New Member Pictorial Image Analysis

Email: [email protected]

„never‟, „must‟, „should‟, are usually not the

best words to use to analyze photography.

Substituting softer terms such as „may‟,

„might‟ or „consider‟, may go a long way to-

ward making AP easier to handle, and leave

the analyst room to be wrong.

Analysis is not designed to find something

wrong. It is designed to see something right,

and then see things that may be improved

upon. Analysis is not designed to correct

what is wrong, but to suggest what may be

done to improve in the future. The maker

January Competition Cont’d next page . . .

Another Time, Another Place

Charles Taylor, APSA

Costal Ship Vignetted

Carol McCreary APSA, PPSA

Hoof and Mouth Rhino

Tom McCreary PPSA Celebrating the Goal

Jack Melton

Nature will bear

the closest

inspection. She

invites us to lay

our eye level with

her smallest leaf,

and take an

insect view of its

plain.

~ Henry David

Thoreau

of 14 HypoCheck


Sand Carver at Work

Carol McCreary APSA

Out of Frame Photographer

Carol McCreary APSA PPSA

Backyard Gazebo

Jack Melton

Agony in the Dirt


Red Surf Boards

Tom McCreary PPSA

Spiderman

Randy Carr

HypoCheck

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Taosino

Charles Taylor APSA

“Hey _ Mon”

Randy Carr

Zion Nat’l Park

Jerry Duncan

Yellow Soccer Kicker with Eyes Closed


Taos Church Grain

Carol McCreary APSA

Elder Wisdom

Charles Taylor APSA

Flamingo Portrait

Tom McCreary PPSA

We are

always looking

for more

articles or

ideas to

share.

Please send

them our

way!!!

[email protected]

Snug at Home

Jan Lee PPSA

of 14

HypoCheck

There is one

spectacle

grander than

the sea, that is

the sky; there

is one

spectacle

grander than

the sky, that is

the interior of

the soul.

~ Victor


Old Mementos

Carol McCreary APSA

After the Last Flight

Jan Lee PPSA

Size Matters in Basketball

Jack Milner

Wine Press

Carol McCreary APSA

Bikers’ Flare

Debbie Devonshire

Safe!

Jan Lee PPSA

On the Move

Robert Green

King of Beasts Poster Edges

Brad Smith

Flames of a 57’

Brad Smith

of 14

HypoCheck

When gifts

are given to me

through my

camera, I

accept them

graciously.

~ Minor

White


Yellowstone in the Winter

Robert Green

Behind the Bloom

Jan Lee PPSA

Three Towers

Jan Lee PPSA

Door’s on the Latch

Aloma Anderson

Tiger Stare

Ward Conaway

of 14

HypoCheck

Our first

teacher is our

own heart.

~ Cheyenne

Proverb

January Competition

You Lookin’ at Me?

Robert Green

Skinn’n

John Key

Home from the Sea

Aloma Anderson

Photo Ops: Feb 5 Ponca City Fly-in, Regional Airport, Ponca City, Go early enough for breakfast.

Feb 5, 6, Heart of America International Finals Youth Rodeo, Expo Center,

Shawnee, Includes activities from Bull Riding to Goat Tying. 405/447-3623

Feb 5, 19, Eagle Watch, Lake Thunderbird State Park, Norman - Eagle lovers gather

at the nature center and caravan by car to designated spots aground the park. 405/321-4633.

Feb 11-13, OK Horse Fair, Duncan. Trial and ranch horse show. 405/226-0630

Jan 18,19, USS Batfish (submarine) Living History Display, Muskogee

Feb 18-20, Battle of Round Mountain Reenactment, Jim Thorpe Park, Yale - Firing

cannons and smoking guns puncture the air in this Civil War-era winter encampment, created by

the townspeople where Union and Confederate soldiers square off.

Mar 2-6 OKC International Auto Show, State Fair Park, OKC

Mar 4-6 Timed Event Championship (rodeo), Lazy E Arena, Guthrie

Mar 5 Mardi Gras Parade, downtown Norman

Egret with Stick

Wally Lee PPSA

By: Lee Donlon

of 14

HypoCheck

Gulf States

Convention in

OKC

April 14 - 16

2011

Announcements

The Gulf States Camera Club

Council Convention

here in “Oklahoma City” mark your calendars!!!

“Sores of 15”

Randy Carr, “Hey_Mon”

Monochrome Pictorial Prints,

Class A.

Carol McCreary APSA,

PPSA, Sand Carver at Work,

Color Prints, Class A.

Tom McCreary PPSA,

Flamingo Portrait, Nature Prints.

Congratulations Guys - Well Done!!!

of 14

HypoCheck

Ward Conaway Mabry Mill, Virginia 2 Fall, Linville River HM

Competition Results - Prints

January 11, 2011

Name Entry No. 1 Place Entry No. 2 Place

Color Prints - Class A

Randy Carr Indian Air 2 THOR 2

Charles Taylor Elder Wisdom 2 Lily After Rain HM

Carol McCreary Sand Carver at Work 1 Taos Cross 3

Tom McCreary Cemetery at Christmas — Red Surf Boards 3

Jack Melton Dream Boat HM Grand Lake Sunset —

Color Prints - Class B

Vickie Jenkins Beautiful Butterfly 2 Fenced in Fun 2

Jerry Duncan Zion National Park - Utah 1 No Entry —

Monochrome - Class A

Jack Melton Bench on the Beach — Backyard Gazebo 2

Carol McCreary Out of the Frame Photographer 3 Coastal Ship Vignetted HM

Charles Taylor Another Time, Another Place 3 Taosino 2

Randy Carr Fight Time HM Hay Mon 1

Monochrome - Class B

Vickie Jenkins Union Station, Kansas City, MO 1 Grandma‟s House 2

Jack Melton Red Head — Nature Re-Grows Nature‟s Fire —

Jaci Finch Lion in Shade 3 African Warthog 3

Tom McCreary Flamingo Portrait 1 Hoof & Mouth Rhino 2

Vickie Jenkins Nature‟s Multi-Colored Beauty HM Bug - Off —

Nature

Vickie Jenkins Just Me and the Fish HM Just Chilin‟ in Bricktown HM

Jack Melton Celebration of the Score 3 Rub My Tummy HM

Carol McCreary Yellow Soccer Kicker with Eyes

Closed

3 Agony in the Dirt 1

Randy Carr Spiderman 1 Cat Walk 2

Photojournalism

John Key Floridians HM Red Eye Reef 2

Vickie Jenkins Eli 3 Pops 2

Bob Green Procession of Pronghorns 3 Yellowstone in Winter 1

Ward Conaway Wolf #1 3 Tiger Stare 2

Vickie Jenkins The Colors of Fun (2) 3 Adorned Horse HM

Carol McCreary Amanda Sketch 2 Leah Dancing 2

Brad Smith King of Beasts Poster Edges 1 King of Beasts Glowing Edges —

Jack Melton Dreams of a Pony 3 Flames of a “572 2

Jan Lee Behind the Bloom #2 1 Early Fall in the Smokys 2

Debbie Devonshire Biker‟s Flare 1 Hyena 2

John Key Old Old Cabin 3 Soo Line Steam Engine 2 2

Carol McCreary Shannon‟s Eye Contact HM Mission with Light Ray 2

Bob Green Winter Bison 3 Ghost Tree HM

Jan Lee Three Towers 1 Snug at Home 1

Aloma Anderson All Eyes 2 Old Porch Rocker 2

Vickie Jenkins Cute, Clueless and Carefree HM Waiting on Parole —

Jack Melton Cute Little Bird 2 Eyes of the Predator 3

Wally Lee Hot Springs Scenic #2 Mono 2 PInnacle-Col Nat Monu-Mono HM

Debbie Devonshire Forest Ceiling HM Wanting Out 3


Competition Results - Digital

January 25, 2011

Continued Page 14

Beginning Color

Creative

Monochrome

We‟re on the web!

www.Oklahomacameraclub.com

HypoCheck of 14

HypoCheck of 14


Advanced Color

Wally Lee Chilhuly Onions in the Park 3 Water Lily Opening 3

Brad Smith Azalea 4729 HM Shady Hook Overlook 3

Aloma Anderson Door‟s on the Latch 2 Home from the Sea 3

Jack Melton Grand Disney 2 Little Purple House 2

Debbie Devonshire Sibling Affection — Baboon Togetherness HM

Carol McCreary Wine Press 1 Old Mementos 1

Jan Lee After the Last Flight 1 Bumble Bee on Comfrey Blooms 3

Competition Results - Digital

January 25, 2011

Nature

Ward Conaway Sleeping Alligator 2 Red Panda —

Vickie Jenkins Deadwood HM The Tree Stands Alone HM

Jan Lee View from Potash Road 2 Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone 2

Brad Smith Saddleback Portrait 0122 HM Young Gorilla Sitting HM

Jack Melton Three-leaf Clover on My Head 3 Wild Turkey HM

Bob Green On the Move 1 You Lookin‟ at Me 2

John Key Srooms — Timber Wolf 2 HM

Debbie Devonshire Red Panda in Tree — Sibling Rivalry 3

Wally Lee Egret with Stick 2 Taking a Snooze #2 —

Vickie Jenkins All that Jazz in Kansas City, MO — Charlie Brown‟s Christmas —

Carol McCreary All Eyes on the Volleyball 2 Runner and Tongue Action HM

Debbie Devonshire Skateboarder in the Air HM Passing Through 2

John Key Chow‟n Down 3 Skinn‟n 2

Jan Lee Mountain Men Manicure HM Safe! 1

Jack Melton Size Matters in Basketball 1 Cross Country 3

Photojournalism

of 14 HypoCheck

Editors

Doug Finch APSA

Jaci Finch APSA

[email protected]

Photographic Society of America

Pictorial Print Division

INTERNATIONAL CLUB PRINT COMPETITIION

Annual Club Certificate of

Award for

Highest Points

Presented To

The Oklahoma Camera Club

315 points

Large Color, Class “LC”

2009-2010


Award for

Highest Points

Presented To


297 points

Small Color, Class “SC”

2009-2010


Award for

Highest Points

Presented To


304 points

Large Monochrome, Class “LM”

2009-2010


Award for

Highest Points

Presented To


308 points

Small Monochrome, Class “LM”

2009-2010


Award for

Highest Points

Presented To


306 points

Creative Altered Reality,

Class “CAR”

2009-2010

The Oklahoma Camera

Club Excels!!!

First Place in All Five

Pictorial Print Divisions

Photographic Society of

America

International Club Print

Competition

Wow - Well Done!!!

someone’s picture by jon fishback€¦ · the few minutes leading up to the analysis may seem...

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