Women in Focus Meeting Minutes, 6/13/07

(as recorded by Christi Helms)

1. Call to order
   The meeting was called to order around 7:00 p.m.
2. Introductions
   The following new members introduced themselves: Denise Savage, Michelle White.
   Also in attendance were: 28 current members.
3. Current/future photography shows were announced:
   1. Susan Barmon is going to have a show, "Dead and Alive," at the Atlanta Botanical
      Gardens in November/December.
   2. Jan Kapoor, Gittel Price, and Vicki Hunt are in an RPS Show, "On the Edge," at SLM
      Studio/Gallery (
      www.sandarmilton.com
      ) in Roswell, GA, June 8­30.
   3. Teresa Sims has an exhibit at The Andrew Jessup Gallery
      (
      www.theandrewjessupgallery.com
      ) in Biloxi, MS.
4. Calls for Entries
   1. Slow Exposures, deadline Oct.30, 2007 (
      www.slowexposures.org
      )
   2. "A New Outlook on the World," The Shepherd Center Photography Contest
      (
      www.shepherd.org/photocontest
      )
      Juried by Julian Cox and Jane Jackson
      $3000 in cash prizes
      Deadline: October 5
      They would prefer nothing depressing.
      A series is not necessary (each image is judged individually) but you can submit a set of
      four to fit in the one frame if you want.
      Working prints should be submitted, and you can submit up to five. Try to size them so
      that they fit in a 9x12 in. envelope. Ninety to one hundred prints will be selected.
      Final prints should be framed no smaller than 11x14 in. and should not exceed 22x28 in.
      If you get into the show, consider your piece a donation; however, they will display names
      and contact information with the pieces.
      Remember to check the Women in Focus Web site (
      www.womeninfocus.us
      ) for more
      calls for entries and further information.
5. Gittel went over the information for the upcoming Women in Focus Atlanta Celebrates
   Photography (ACP) Shows:
   1. Ferst Center for the Arts Show (
      www.ferstcenter.gatech.edu
      )
      Dates of show: October 2­31, reception Oct. 2 from 7­9 p.m.
      Location of show: Ferst Center of the Arts at Georgia Tech
      Juried by: Susan Todd Raque (will design the layout and placement of our pieces, too)
      Reception: Cannot have it on a night when they're holding a play. We will need to provide
      the food for this reception and will form a committee. Please email
      gittelp@bellsouth.net
      if
      interested. More details to come.
   2. Artist's Choice Show
      Digital Arts Studio, Oct. 6­Nov 5, reception Oct. 13 from 7­9 p.m.
      Those interested paid $10 to have their name listed in the ACP Guide for this show.
      More details to come.
6. Votes
   1. We voted on whether to have speakers or critique judges in July and August. The
      majority wanted to have critiques since we are moving closer to our ACP shows. Some
      background image
      possibilities that came up were Corrine Adams, Kathy Wolfe, Stuart Horodner, Jan Fields,
      and Jerry Cullum.
   2. Gittel mentioned that we still have pieces by our friends in the Republc of Georgia left
      over from our GA to GA show; the majority voted in favor of having a section at each of
      our shows where we can hang these and sell them. All proceeds will go to our sister
      photographers in the Republc of Georgia.
7. Cindy gave the Treasurer's Report
   1. We are getting closer to saving enough money to put toward becoming a 501(c)(3)
      nonprofit organization.
   2. Cindy also explained that she tried to pay to make WIF a member of the Women's
      Caucus for the Arts, VANA, and the GA Lawyers for the Arts; however, you must join the
      Women's Caucus for the Arts as an individual, VANA seems to list only venues (but she's
      e-mailed to see if we can still be listed), and the PayPal process for GA Lawyers for the
      Arts failed to go through. She will continue working on these.
      
8. Our Speaker for the Month, Charles Needle (
   www.charlesneedlephoto.com
   ):

   Charles Needle lives in Alpharetta and holds many workshops at his home (he has a beautiful
   backyard garden studio, complete with a waterfall, where he and his students shoot!).

   As a side note, he is taking 11 photographers to Monet's Garden next spring. The trip is $3450 and
   includes all meals (airfare is separate).

   Charles loves macro photography. He suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome for many years and
   was even bedridden for a year. It took him over a decade to recover. He always loved photography,
   even as a child, but during that time of recovery he discovered an entirely new world as he was
   literally on his hands and knees.

   Charles has his own DVD, which he sells--"The Healing Power of Nature."It's used in recovery
   programs in hospitals all over the nation.

   He labels his style as somewhat impressionistic, and showed us a slideshow (accompanied by music)
   so we could see some of his photographs.

   Charles also teaches classes on software.

   Charles believes it's not so much the equipment but what's in your head and heart that counts when
   taking photographs.

   Someone asked how much he manipulates his photos in Photoshop, and he said not much--he just
   adjusts the saturation somewhat, but doesn't use filters. All of the effects are done in-camera.

   Charles showed us his camera equipment so we could better understand how he takes his photos.
   He went over a few lenses--the D2X Nikon, the 200 maco lens (or 105), and the 100 macro (or 180).

   He uses a close-up filter on occasion (500D Canon), which has a step-up ring and is attached to the
   end of a macro lens.

   Charles uses fill flash--he doesn't like a harsh flash because he really loves natural light. He probably
   only uses flash about 20 percent of the time.

   He went through many gadgets, explaining what he does with each.
   background image
   He went through a PowerPoint presentation and covered the following:
   • Multiple Exposure:
   Superimposing two or more related or unrelated images
     —repeated exposures of the same thing
     —repeated exposures of different things
   • Selective Focus:
     —Wide aperture
     —Lensbaby
     —Close-up filter
   • Zooming
     —Tripod
     —Always zoom from shorter focal length to longer
   • Panning
     —Horizontal
     —Vertical
     —Diagonal
   • Camera Swing/Rotation
     —Handholding vs. tripod
     —Importance of lens collar
   • Macro w/ telephoto and wide angle
     —Use of glass, Mylar, multi-colored flashlight, etc.