Owen Biddle
Photo School
photo by Bob Turner
October Photo Newsletter
America
No one can claim that these are simple times; we are living through momentous, historic days, and as things unfold in our country, we may experience a seemingly endless range of feelings about what we see, hear, read and live - encouraged, worried, inspired and pained. Conflict, fear and anger often seem to be the order of the day. So, we decided to take a minute to focus on our America - not only all the problems and hardships, but also the idealism, the history and the spirit that are our foundation and legacy.
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October Two-Part Photo Workshop
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Fridays 7:00 - 8:30 10/16, 10/30
Strong pictures, well composed and with compelling subject matter have the power to convince. Using what you know about photography and applying it to something you care about, you have the chance to make people stop and think about things they may have never considered before. This is really a remarkable thing!
October's workshop provides an opportunity to use your photography to communicate your personal responses to the things that are important to you. Here is a chance to explore your own values and opinions and then to create pictures that illustrate your point of view. What do you care about? The environment? Racism? How people treat each other? Poverty? Treatment of animals? Health matters? Family relationships? Generational issues? Pick one issue and create a series of photographs that make it clear to the viewer what you believe. Your pictures may be negative, showing what you don't like, things that most people either don't notice or choose to ignore. Or the pictures may be positive, showing examples that we can all learn from.
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The first session will be to take a look at how some master photographers have approached this kind of challenge, and to discuss tips for making effective pictures. The second session you can share your work from the intervening week
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October Photo Field Trips
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Saturday 2:00 - 3:30 10/10
Colonial Plantation is a great photo destination. This period farm setting has gardens, farm house, barns, animals, and guides in period clothes demonstrating an earlier, simpler way of life.
Newtown Square, PA
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This is a small nature sanctuary in Lansdowne, PA that offers a surprising variety of photographic subjects. The changing colors of foliage against the textures of old logs, rocks, moving water and a sandy bank provide a great chance to celebrate the season in this little-known gem. Location: Lansdowne, PA
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*******An OBPS Star******
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So proud of Alan Simpson
voted one of ten best fashion photographers in Philadelphia!!
Go Alan!
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Upcoming DSLR Fundamentals Classes
Upcoming DSLR Fundamentals Classes
Below are descriptions of some of our classes. Respecting social distancing requirements for now, sessions will be online via Zoom.
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Please note: Private individual classes are always another option. Call (610)-626-7854 for details and scheduling.
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(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.
Saturdays 10:00 - 11:30 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31
Tuesdays 7:00 - 8:30 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27
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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.
Thursdays 7:00 - 8:30 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29
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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!
Wednesdays 7:00 - 8:30 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28
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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.
TBD
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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 10/18. 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
Bob Turner
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Here's what Bob has to say: "On my twelfth birthday my parents gave me a gift of a Kodak model 620 Target camera.
Never did I think that little box would lead to a lifetime career and hobby. I would take photos of everyone in the neighborhood. I constructed a darkroom in the basement of our home where I spent hours developing the rolls of film that my paper route funded.
Upon graduation from high school I enlisted in the Navy where my zeal for photography was enough to merit being sent to the Naval School of Photography at Pensacola Florida. After the Naval School I was sent to The Atlantic Fleet Camera Party. My best assignment came in 1958 when then President Eisenhower came to Newport for vacation. The regular Navy Photographer that was assigned as his personal photographer had to take leave due to death in his family. It was my duty to replace him until he returned. At twenty years of age here I am on the White House Staff, taking photos of the president of the United States.
Later on I was employed at Elwyn Institute for 32 years as Director of Audio/Visual services where I operated and maintained a Closed Circuit TV system and provided photographic services to the entire facility.
I retired to Florida, where I freelanced part time for two newspapers and several organizations.
My wife of 57 years died in 2016, I remarried and now live with my wife in Cape May , New Jersey. I just take photos for my own pleasure now. I guess you might say photography is in my blood!
By the way, after all those years with film it was hard for me to transition to digital!
Photography to me has always been to capture the moment. My work over the years has been to tell a story though the lens. I enjoyed going along with a journalist/writer and getting that one shot that conveyed what he or she was writing about.
I do appreciate those that use the camera as an artistic tool. I would often get into discussions with a photographer friend of mine that had fantastic creative ability. He would take hours to do studio set ups before ever thinking of making the exposure.
Myself, I like to get in, get the shot and get out!"
Bob is actually a very special Photographer of the Month and we are honored to feature him this month. He was my first photography teacher and mentor when he was my supervisor in the Audio/Visual Department at Elwyn's Davidson School, many years ago. As the images below show, his love of photography has never faded and he continues to bring freshness to his work. He also is a perfect fit for our theme this month, America, as he depicts many sides of this country that he clearly loves.
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Click on thumb nails to see full images.
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