Owen Biddle
Photo School
photo by Eugene Harris
April Photo Newsletter:
The Family of Man
“There is only one man in the world, and his name is All Men. There is only one woman in the world and her name is All Women. There is only one child in the world and the child's name is All Children" ~ Carl Sandburg
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March Photo Contest:
Welcome, Spring
This month we got so many wonderful entries, we couldn't decide on a set of winners so are giving you a whole bouquet of spring flowers!
Click on thumbnail to see full image
photo by Shelley Friedman
photo by Eloise Boccella
photo by Brian Dean
photo by Jeffery Kleger
photo by Joe Strode
photo by Steve Kalish
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Dear Reader,
This month we feature the book, The Family of Man, the publication that resulted from Edward Steichen's exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1955. It seems like something we can turn back to and learn from in 2026.
Photography is one of the arts that can remind us of our shared humanity with all people across the globe.
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A Discussion of the Roles and Messages of Mid-20th Century Photography
photo by Richard Harrington
We invite you to join a discussion on photography from this period of history and its role in documenting and responding to world events. The work of Magnum photographers captured the realities of warfare and forced us to confront mankind's insane potential for violence and devastation. The creators of The Family of Man strove to provide a healing response for a world utterly dismayed by the evil man is capable of by showing us the undefeated humanity in the everyday lives of everyday people.
This will not be a formal lecture, but we will look at pictures and encourage reactions, thoughts, and questions.
Wednesday, 4/15 7:00 - 8:30, Haverford
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Photo Field Trips
A city crowded with historical sites challenges us to capture the unique personalities of these buildings. I will guide students in discovering new viewpoints to isolate the structures making use of the perspective distortion of wide-angle lenses to enhance the sense of three dimensionality.
Thursday, 4/9 1:00 - 3:00
photo by Owen Biddle
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Not a photo but....
the poem "Song of Myself" by Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892) celebrates our common essence. Here are the opening lines:
I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
April Photo Contest:
Photography as an Antidote
In a time of uncertainty, what photographs can you offer that speak of your own concept of peace?
Email your images to: owenbiddlephotography@gmail.com Limit three images per entry.
The winning photos will be featured in our next Photo Newsletter.
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Sunday, May 17 2:00 -3:30
These are very friendly, relaxed get-togethers in our apartment in Havertown. (Please note: this is a new location - be sure to RSVP to get address and directions) Photographers of all levels are welcome to share pictures, get photography tips, and discuss camera equipment. You can also get ideas for entering photography contests, submitting to photography magazines and having photo shows. Feedback from the group provides encouragement and inspiration to go out and take more pictures. These informal photography critiques offer an excellent opportunity to start identifying themes in your work and to get ideas for new directions. Group size is limited, so if you can come an RSVP is required by email or call (610) 626-7854. Cost is $10.
Check out our online Photo Salon
https://www.facebook.com/groups/owenbiddlephotosalon
Our purpose is to provide an online place for our community to stay in touch, stay inspired and get out there and keep snapping. You can post pictures and get feedback, ask photo questions, make suggestions etc.
DSLR and Mirrorless Fundamentals Tutorials
Below are descriptions of the basic units of our curriculum available to students ranging from beginner to advanced. Most units are five lessons and include a set of assignments designed to give practice in targeted skills with opportunities to get feedback from the instructor so that you learn from your experiences.
Just give a call and we can set up individual sessions to keep you moving forward with your photography.
Call (610)-626-7854 for details.
(click on links for more information)
Fundamentals 1: Camera Operations is for students who are just starting out, or want a good review of the basic camera functions.
Fundamentals 2: Applications is for students who have some comfort with the camera and want to start applying their skills to expand their photographic range.
Fundamentals 3: Composition takes photography beyond the subject, and encourages you to see the artistic and compositional opportunities in everyday life. Here is a chance for your right brain to come out and play!
Fundamentals 4: Lighting Across the Genres is for students who are ready for the next critical step: lighting. Explore sophisticated means of controlling both natural and artificial light for portraits, landscape and still life to get just the mood and effects you want.
Advanced Photography - Using self-generated assignments and in-depth critiques we will help you move forward in your work.
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Photography Book of the Month
The Family of Man
I was in high school when my sister gave me a book that sits on my bookshelf still, and all these years later is one of those most-important books I feel the need to revisit every once in a while. It is the result of an exhibition in 1955 at the Museum of Modern Art, incorporating 503 photographs by 273 photographers (both professional and unknown).
The impetus for the exhibition grew from the shattered world left over from two world wars. Edward Steichen, the creator and a photographer himself, had the inspiration to use photography "as a mirror of the universal elements and emotions in the everydayness of life - as a mirror of the essential oneness of mankind throughout the world." The pictures are organized around themes such as birth and parenthood, play, fighting, music, death, war, love, loneliness and family and they remind us that, indeed, we are one family sharing the joys, the pains, the fears, the delights, the confusions, the agonies and the excitements of being human beings on this planet.
The year 2026 seems like a time to get out The Family of Man; even though the images are clearly from a specific decade the universal message for our own times is unmistakeable. I had no particular strategy in selecting the images below - I just picked out some of my own personal favorites. My hope is they help us reconnect to our shared experiences across the globe that make us all part of The Family of Man.
~Rachel
