Founded in 1953 - Dedicated to the art and fun of photography!

The Newsletter of the New York Botanical /Zoological Photographic Society

Lisa Cuchara, PhD, MNEC, HonNEC is very passionate about pho-tography, and she enjoys both being behind the lens and in the digital darkroom. She loves to photograph nature, but finds many subjects equally intriguing. From birds and flowers to babies and HDR, she appreciates the world around her and embraces the challenge of interpreting what her eyes see and her heart feels via the camera lens. Lisa says that photography allows her to pay at-tention to the details, to be mindful, to slow down and appreciate all of the beauty, details and nuances of everyday life. Lisa and her husband Tom are both very active in many local, national, and international photography organizations. Lisa and Tom have been photographing people professionally for over 15 years and have their own Photography Studio in Hamden CT. Their portrait philosophy is based on “We do not remember days, we remember Moments.” They have had many successful gallery

exhibitions and their photographs have appeared in Adirondack Life, Wild Bird, Birder’s World, in calen-dars, and on the cover of a paperback novel. Lisa and Tom also teach photography a variety of camera and post-processing workshops, in the classroom and in the field (www.meetup.com/Image-Enhance-ment/).We love to teach and share and inspire. “It is an illu-sion that photos are made with the camera... they are made with the eye, heart, and head.” -

Henri Cartier Bresson

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:Season Calendar & Monthly ThemesWhat Did YOU Do Over the Summer?

Winning Images

THIS MONTH:Sept. 12:

Opening Day - Lisa CucharaRaffle & Refreshments

Sept. 26:Competition #1 / Altered Reality #1

Theme: Window(s)Judge: Roz Rosenblum

continued on pg 2

Volume 62 Issue 1 Summer 2015~ Celebrating 62 Years: 1953 - 2015 ~

2015-2016 Season Opener:“Creativity”with Lisa Cuchara

Executive Board President .......................................................................................Conrad Tinney1st Vice President & Competition Chair ................................Harvey Augenbraun2nd Vice President & Program Chair ...................................... Veronica Saunders3rd Vice President & Membership Chair & Webmaster ........... Sharon Gumerove4th Vice President at Large, PFLI Representative ................ Anastasia TompkinsSecretary ............................................................................................. Frank FotoTreasurer .......................................................................................... Martin Lewis

Iris Editor: Linda Tommasulo-2-

Announcements: Movin’ UpCongratulations to the following winners who are moving up this season:

Raquel Gonzalez and Elaine Kirchen: Digital Color B to A; Jennifer Dooley: Digital Color A to AA

Dues are DUE!Dues must be paid by October 3rd to compete. $40/person or $70 for two people sharing the same address.

Also be sure to complete a new Member Application so we have your current contact information.

“Creativity” with Lisa Cuchara - Continued from page 1...

WHAT THE NYBZPS IS ALL ABOUTWelcome to the 62nd season of New York Botanical/Zoological Photographic Society. I hope that everyone had a wonderful summer, and that you were able to get out and make a few amazing images.

The NYBZPS prides itself on being an informal, enthusiastic and FRIENDLY club, which extends a warm welcome to anyone with an interest in photography. We provide a positive environment for both members and visitors to learn about photography and develop photographic skills. This is accomplished through non-confronta-tional competition, presentations, social activity and the sharing of information.

Membership registration is officially open. You can go to the website and print out your membership form and mail it or bring it with you to the opening day, which is September 12th 2015. Don’t forget that the meeting starts at 9:45AM sharp.

Looking forward to another great season,

Creativity in camera and in post-processing (plug-ins, HDR, and textures)

Creativity is contagious, pass it on! Learn how to be creative in your camera and in your post-processing: Long exposures, multiple exposures, overall creativity in camera and in post-processing (plug-ins, HDR, and textures); creative focus-ing (Bokeh, soft focus, focus stacking); camera movement (panning, rotate); overall creativity in camera and in post-processing (plug-ins, HDR, textures, etc.); neutral density, Bulb setting, white balance, filters, panoramas, perspec-tive, composites, plug-ins, HDR, double tone mapping, textures, and more!

Check out Lisa and Tom’s website at: www.breaphotos.com/

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Andrea Nelson’s “Lily” was the only NYBZPS winner in last season’s PFLI’s Leonard Victor Awards...garnering a Third Place Finish in the

Digital B/Plants competition.

WINNING IMAGES...

© Harvey Augenbraun

© Andrea NelsonLinda Tommasulo’s “Balloon Silhouettes” won an HM

at this summer’s NECCC digital competition.

© Linda Tommasulo

MEMBERS’ SUMMER IMAGES... Veronica Saunderscaptured this

beautiful image (and some wonder-

ful hummingbird photos which we’ll

see in a future edition of the Iris)

in Seattle,Washington.

Wing Lui got these great shots - and many more, I am sure - on his trip to Alaska.

Elaine Kirchen stayed “local” and caught this beeat the New York Botanical Gardens.

© Elaine Kirchen

© Wing Lui

© Veronica Saunders

© Wing Lui

The New York Botanical/Zoological Photographic Society invites photography enthusiasts of ALL LEVELS to join us at our bimonthly meetings (Saturdays at 9:45 am), Sept. thru June, at Fordham Prep, Room 243/244 (on the campus of

Fordham University, Bronx, NY). Check the web site (www.nybzps.org) for program details, photo shoots and more!

Photos/articles/comments/suggestions for future editions of The Iris are always welcome. E-mail text and photos (approx. size 4”x 6” at 200 ppi min.) to: iriseditor@LindaTommasulo.com.

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Mark your calendars for the 61st season of the NYBZPS.As previously, there are five (5) Altered Reality Competitions.

Please check the website for updates and cancellations due to weather.

2015

September 12..... Opening Day/Lisa Cuchara “Creativity - In Camera and Post Processing” Raffle / Refreshments September 26..... Competitions: Digital #1 Altered Reality #1 Theme #1: Window(s) Judge: Roz RosenblumOctober 3........... Competitions: Digital #2 Theme #2: Water Drop(s) Judge: Chuck PineOctober 17......... Presentation: Chuck Pine: “Macro and Close-up Photography”November 14........Competitions: Digital #3 Theme #3: Square(s) Judge: Vinnie KempfNovember 21....... Presentation: Jim Christensen “Acadia National Park and the Bold Coast of Down East Maine”December 5........ Competitions: Digital #4 Altered Reality #2 Theme #4: Musical Instrument(s) Judge: Dennis ThorntonDecember 19...... Holiday Party/Business Meeting & Slide Presentation: “The Best of the NYBZPS” 2014-2015 Season

2016January 9......... Competitions: Digital #5 Theme #5: Skyline(s) Judge: Phil Echo January 23........ Presentation: TBAFebruary 6......... Competitions: Digital #6 Altered Reality #3 Theme #6: Steps/Stairs/Ladders Judge: Martin JoffeFebruary 27....... Presentation: TBAMarch 19 ...........Competitions: Digital #7 Theme #7: Boat(s) Judge: TBAMarch 26 ...........Presentation: TBAApril 2 .............. Competitions: Digital #8 Altered Reality #4 Theme #8: Sports Photography Judge: Walter KimmelApril 23..............Ridgewood International ShowMay 7.................Competitions: Digital #9 Altered Reality #5 Theme #9: Central Park Judge: TBAMay 14.............. End-of-Year Competition Judges: TBAJune 4................End-of-Year Party, Awards Luncheon & Slide Presentation: “The Best of the NYBZPS’ 2015-2016 Season”

Themes ’15/’16 Season

Schedule - NYBZPS 2015-2016

September 26: “Window(s)”October 3: “Water Drop(s)”November 14: “Square(s)”

December 5: “Musical Instrument(s)”January 9: “Skyline(s)”

February 6: “Steps, Stairs or Ladders”March 19: “Boat(s)”

April 2: “Sports Photography”May 7: “Central Park”

(Must be identifiable as beingtaken in Central Park, NYC)