Owen Biddle
Photo School
photo by Mary Stamper
January Photo Newsletter
On a Winter's Day
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January Two-Part Photo Workshop
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By minimizing distractions and accentuating the abstract, black and white photography has a magical way of adding depth and feeling to our pictures. In this workshop we will explore how B&W can be used to bring unexpected dimensions to all kinds of images: landscape, portraits, still life. Here is a chance to develop your sensitivity to tone, texture, and contrast while creating some truly arresting pictures.
First session: discussion of technical and formal issues
Thursday 1/14 7:00 - 8:30
Second session: share your work from intervening week for feedback
Thursday 1/21 7:00 - 8:30
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January Photo Field Trips
Saturday 1/9 10:00 - 12:00
An unusual choice of setting, perhaps, but one that is especially evocative in the winter light. The mausoleums, obelisks, angels and arching trees are the elements for creating uncommon compositions. A great chance to try out your tripod and wide-angle lens.
Location: Bala Cynwyd, PA
Saturday 1/16 10:00 - 12:00
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Manyunk, this special part of Philadelphia, is a favorite with artists with its hills, canal, cathedrals, railway trestles and power lines. We will learn how to exploit these elements in creating images, black and white and color, that both capture a unique neighborhood and at the same time make an abstract statement about line, shape, and texture
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Saturday 1/23 10:00 - 12:00
Chestnut Hill, arguably the most charming part of Philadelphia, is a feast for the photographer's eye. As cobbled Germantown Ave winds up the hill intimate scenes are discovered, one after the other. Pedestrians, shop windows, front steps, wrought iron fences, old churches and small tucked-in gardens all add to the atmosphere and make exciting subjects. Leave your tripod at home and get ready to be on the move, all you photojournalists!
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photo by Owen Biddle
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Brett Weston - a master Black & White Photographer. Check him out!
Upcoming DSLR Fundamentals Classes
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Below are descriptions of some of our classes. Respecting social distancing requirements for now, scheduling of group classes has been suspended. If any of the levels described match your interests and needs, give us a call and we will set up individual sessions to keep you moving forward with your photography.
Call (610)-626-7854 for details.
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(click on links for more information)
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Fundamentals 1: Camera Operations is for students who are just starting out, or want a good review of the basic camera functions.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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Photo Assignments from Photo History - A great way to learn about - and from- the masters of our field. Please check in with Owen to discuss enrolling and scheduling. (610) 626 - 7854
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Advanced Photography - Using self-generated assignments and in-depth critiques we will help you move forward in your work.
TBD Please call us to discuss dates (610) 626 - 7854
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In-person Photo Salons are on hold right now, but we are very excited about our new online options
1. Check out this facebook link and join the group. 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. What do you say???
Special thanks to Jonathan Prusky, whose technical skills have saved us more than once and made this whole endeavor possible.
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2. Sunday 3:00 - 4:30 1/17/21 Real-Time Zoom Photo Sharing session. Limit of 6 participants, so RSVP soon. First come first serve!
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Photographer of the Month
Mary Stamper
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Here's what Mary has to say:
"When I was a child, I always wanted a camera. My father’s sister and my mother had them, but neither of them had an eye for composition and my mom in particular, had the photographic equivalent of a black thumb! Also, for some reason, I had an instinctive prejudice against “easy-to-use” automatic cameras. During my school years, my interest in music eclipsed my interest in photography. About a year into my first job in computer programming, I went to Mid-City camera in Center City, Philadelphia and bought a Nikon FE2. That shopping trip not only started my now-lifelong photographic adventure, but the salesman is to this day my photo-buddy.
I am largely self-taught. I learned out of an old book called Understanding Photography by Carl Shipman. It had loads of text and almost no photos except for black and white mathematical charts. I shot only color slide film and liked to photograph pretty much everything except people (though the occasional humanoid slips into a shot!). I learned that I had a natural eye, which may have come from my father’s other sister, who was a wonderful water-colorist who loved to paint landscapes of the countryside. The only art class that I ever took was a mandatory class taught to us in 8th grade. The teacher focused almost entirely on 20th century art movements. I didn’t take the class too seriously back then, because music took up most of my non-academic time, but in retrospect, I realize just how much I owe to that class. I cannot draw or paint to save my life, but the camera seems to provide ample alternatives. Some favorite influences are the flower paintings of Georgia O’keefe, the landscape work of the Hudson River School painters, the Czech photographer Josef Sudek, the so-called “pictorial” photography of Alfred Stieglitz and his “Photo Secessionist” movement, and of course, the black and white landscape work of Ansel Adams, who by the way, was also a pianist.
When digital “happened”, it was still very expensive, so I took a hiatus from photography until the relatively affordable Nikon D70 was released in around 2005.
I do both black and white and color work, but have come to appreciate the value of black and white in highlighting the abstract elements of composition. I enjoy the technical aspects of photographing with digital equipment, as well as the classic science of optics. Photography has kept me sane during all sorts of trying times such as the illnesses and deaths of loved ones and during this COVID crisis."
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Mary is the perfect choice to share with us how black and white can capture the mood of winter: cold, still, stark and beautiful.