Pacific Digital Photography Club 

Calendar of Events

Welcome to the 2011/2012 season. Once again, our Program Coordinator, Richard Hallman, will bring us excellent speakers from a wide range of photographic backgrounds.  Thank you Richard for the excellent content last season.  We will fill in the speaker details as they become known.

May 9th, 2012   Presenter: Paul McDermott

Topic: Interactive off camera flash covering the different looks flash can create. Paul will be bringing studio lighting, projector and screen with him.
Paul is a professional photographer and owner of pmd digital media. pmd digital media offers photography, cinematic videography and workshops with an "out of the box" approach. Each project is driven with a creative mindset yielding images and video that are truly unique. pmd digital media specializes in wedding and music photography, business introduction videos, wedding and cinematic lifestyle videos. pmd digital media also provides workshops ranging from beginner to advanced off camera flash for individual students to over 100. Over the years pmd digital media has developed a individual style that caters to the client looking for something distinctive and unique.
Paul's website is www.pmddigitalmedia.com
You can also become a Facebook fan @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/pmd-photography/40590900447

An e-book Paul wrote can be downloaded from our Members Only area here.
    
May 16th, 2012   Hands on Workshop #7   Derek Carlin    
May 23rd, 2012   Members' Night - Sharing Images  

September 14th, 2011      Bob Moore, "The Wedding Guy"

Topic: Flash Photography

Bob is back by popular demand after a great presentation last January with lots of new material and a focus on on-flash.  Bob Moore developed his passion for photography at the age of 11 years when he received his first camera as a Christmas gift. He has been rarely seen without a camera in his hands since that time. After leaving school he became a photographic journalist for a major newspaper in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but soon discovered his niche in photographing people. For the next 10 years he worked under several of the top child and portrait photographers in Alberta and BC, studying studio lighting and wedding photography. He began to feel restricted in the studio and decided to develop his studio lighting expertise on location with portable equipment.

At present he volunteers much of his time doing lighting workshops for local camera clubs in the Lower mainland, sharing his experience of "big light with small flashes", with aspiring photographers. About 10 years ago Bob and his wife Pat, who shoots alongside him at all his wedding events, decided to specialize in wedding photography, and now only does family and child photography for his existing bridal clients and friends.

 


September 28th, 2011      Christa LeCraw, Program Director, Digital Photography of VanArts

Topic: Digital Workflow for the Avid Photographer: How to use Lightroom to catalog, keyword, adjust and enjoy your images for years to come.

Christa has been working in the visual and production arts for 10 years, beginning with a BA from Queen's University. After her career in film and television production brought her to Vancouver she began her career in photography. She received her technical training from Langara College. In addition to freelance photography and teaching, Christa has worked as the Assistant Manager at Lens & Shutter. She is now the Program Director for Digital Photography at VanArts and a foundation instructor teaching Digital Workflow in the full-time program. Christa brings the complexity of digital photography to her students in a most accessible, comprehensive and inspiring environment for even the most techno-phobic amateurs.

Notes added to Members area.  Click here to view the notes.


October 5th, 2011              Executive Meeting


October 12th, 2011        Ivan Chan

Topic: Green Screen Technology, 360 Virtual Tours and 360 Product Photography.
 
This presentation will include the definition of green screen, the green screen layout that Ivan uses and some sample videos and still photo extractions. He will also discuss indoor and outdoor 360 virtual tour photography and 360 rotation product photography. His web site is: www.ivanchanphotography.com and you can see a short video about his photography here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHDFqKJvxKU
About Ivan:
Ivan Chan is a professional photographer based in Vancouver. Ivan provides a range of services including 360 degree photography, night photography, food photography, photo retouching, 3D rendering, portraiture, real-estate and product photography. Ivan has a passion in still life photography relating to architecture, scenery, products and signs



October 26th, 2011            John Lee

Topic: 2010 Winter Olympics  -stories and photos from John's exclusive access to the athletes village during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
 
In January of 2010, the IOC approached John Lee to be the Official Vancouver Olympic Athletes Village Photographer. On February 4th, 2010 John started a 28 day whirlwind project that resulted in tens of thousands of images being created. Apart from a special media day, John was the only photographer allowed to shoot inside the residential portion of the Village. Over the course of the Games the best of these images were displayed in the Village in two ever-expanding photography galleries. The images are now found in the Legacy Book as well as the IOC permanent library and in the archives of the Village daily newspaper. John is excited to share these images that offer rare glimpses into everyday life in the Olympic Village. 
 
Bio:
 
When I was 7 years old there was a lightbulb reflected in my bedroom window. It looked like a UFO hovering over the street outside. I borrowed my Dad’s Ektamatic 126 camera and took a picture of it. Four months later we got the film back. It looked like a lightbulb reflected in my bedroom window. I slept a little better that night.
When I was 10 years old Star Wars came out. I went 18 times. Serious. I took all my model spaceships outside, lit them on fire and recorded it on my Dad’s Boler Super 8mm movie camera. Four weeks later I got the film back. The movie looked like I was burning all my model spaceships.
When I was 14 years old a National Geographic photographer gave me his Polaroid SX-70 and told me to take a picture of him. I did. 45 seconds later he told me to never center your subject in the viewfinder. I then took a photo of the sky with just his ear in the side of the frame. 45 seconds later he said that looked better.
I went to photo school where I learned about lens refraction and chemistry. I even learned the Scheinflug Law and how to correct for parallax error.
I became a photo assistant and learned that I hadn’t learned anything in school. I became a photographer and learned I hadn’t learned anything as an assistant.
17 years later I’m still a photographer. I still look at reflections in windows. I still look at Star Wars in awe. I still shoot skies with people’s ears protruding into the frame. I still love Polaroid film, but it seems kind of slow. Most of all, I still love looking at things. I still love holding a camera. I still love capturing images and showing other people what I see. I love being a photographer, it's what I have been all along, and since I'm too small to play in the NHL, it's what I plan on always being.



November 2nd, 2011        Photomotion Jury of Shows


November 9th, 2011            Dave and Mary Martin (PDPC Members)

Topic: Finding the Photo Tour That's Right For You.

This summer Dave and Mary Martin took two photo tours. They began by spending a week in June in the Palouse area of southeastern Washington with Tim Grey and Wolfgang Kaehler. Then eight days later followed that trip up with an eighteen day excursion to the Galapagos Islands 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador.

Photo tours can be expensive and do require considerable research and planning to be successful. In the first part of their presentation, the Martins will discuss how to research a photo tour and will give you a number of practical suggestions that may save you a lot of money. They will also discuss topics such as what to expect from a photo tour, how to check out the tour leader, and how best to move your photographic equipment to the trip site. In the second part of their program they will share a number of images from their 2011 summer trips.

Come and discovery why tourism in the Galapagos is both one of the greatest threats to and best hopes for preserving the quality of life on these remote Pacific islands - for humans, plants and animals.


November 16th, 2011        Photomotion Dry Run (Nov 26th Photomotion)


November 23rd, 2011        Tony Dathan (PDPC Member)

Topic: Studio Setup and Lighting and Wildlife Photography
 
Bio: I have been involved in photography for 20+ years and used to have a small basement studio and colordark room. I put down the cameras for an 8 year period and when I came back to photography digital had taken over and my relearning had begun! My basement studio has grown to a portion of the warehouse my business needs and shelving on wheels rolls out of the way on weekends to give me a good size studio that in the winter I do model portfolio and portrait shoots with using a number of Alien Bee lighting equipment ranging from the B400 up to a couple of B1600 640 ws heads and numerous modifiers.
 
I also enjoy sports, motor-sports and wildlife photography and use some larger Canon lenses for this area. While I enjoy birds its the larger mammals I like and really love bears. I will often be found photographing the black bears on the North Shore but this past spring went into the protected Grizzly Bear sanctuary of the Khutzeymateen.


December 14th, 2011        Member's Night - Sharing Images

We have MEMBERS' NIGHT  giving opportunities for others to show their images along with a longer break time to mingle, chat and share thoughts,  In addition, we also provide "finger food" for this one special evening.

Members are asked to submit up to ten images to be displayed this night.  Follow the image prep guidlines and send your images to Hank Weverink


January 11th, 2012             Andy Clark - Senior Photographer, Reuters Vancouver, Canada

Topic: My life in photojournalism with plenty of images

 Bio: Andy Clark Photojournalist

Andy Clark began his career with The Canadian Press as a copyboy in 1970. Working his way up through the ranks he became a staff photographer, in 1974, transferring to the Ottawa bureau covering Parliament Hill. In 1978 left CP to join the staff of the Hamilton Spectator. Later that same year Andy returned to the wires signing on with United Press Canada working first in Vancouver and then again in Ottawa. In 1985 Mr. Clark briefly joined the newly created Reuters NewsPictures operation before accepting a position as Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s official photographer. In 1987 Andy re-joined Reuters and has been based in Brussels, London, Toronto and now Vancouver. Andy has traveled extensively throughout the world covering famines, disasters, world  summits, sporting events, the first Gulf War and conflicts in the Balkans.

Some interesting information about Andy Clark and some of his images on the web:
      
http://clarkfoto.ca/index.php
http://blogs.reuters.com/andy-clark/feed/
http://www.redbullillume.com/people/judges-2010/judges/andy-clark.html
http://npac.ca/?p=10991


January 25th, 2012  

First half Speakers: Don Filmer and Hank Weverink of 'The Magnificent Seven'

A few years ago a group of PDPC and TCPC (Tri City Photography Club) members  formed a group they call ‘The Magnificent Seven’ (M7).  In the ‘early days’  M7 put on a very entertaining  free afternoon show in the Port Moody Inlet Theatre. Don Filmer will introduce and show a presentation about a trek to the Rainbow Mountains near Anahim Lake. This presentation was developed by Sigmund Dezski, a member of the M7, who along with other PDPC members participated in this arduous trek.  Hank Weverink will then discuss some of the interesting things some of the membership of the M7 actually gets involved in. 

Second half Speaker: Allan Liggins

In 2007, before he was a PDPC member, Allan Liggins was invited to ride along as boat was moved from the Fraser River to Burrard Inlet.  The "CAPE PINE" is a 110 foot wooden hull built in 1942 for use as a mine sweeper in World War II.  After the war, it became a fish packer on the coast of B.C., until it was bought for pleasure and tourism use.  It is an unglorious old tub with loads of character, if you appreciate times past.  The first attached image is the title slide of the presentation. 

The second attached image is a map of the move between the purple numbers 1 and 2.  To avoid a long walk, it was then necessary to travel by Zodiac to a third marina (#3 on the map) in False Creek.  The third attached image proves the heritage of the boat.  The fourth attached image is the final slide of the presentation, with is not a sunset, but does show that some people who live in marinas do appreciate the finer things of life.

The images are shot hand held from a moving boat, so do not expect to see a North Shore Challenge on water.  However, they will weave a story which will hopefully be of interest.  There are views you do not see from your car.

Allans like to pretend  that he is an old "Art Photographer", but most folks would put an "F" in front of that title. 

There is no doubt about the "old" part, for he bought his first camera in 1957, about 55 years ago.  He is still trying to figure it out.  The show, "Moving the Cape Pine", will demonstrate that Allan does, on occasion, take pictures other than in Saskatchewan.


February 8th, 2012   Vladimir Jan  (PDPC member since year one)

Topic:    File Preparation for Photomotion  

Some of the shows submitted for Photomotion have had some issues. This presentation is intended to guide club members in how to properly save their shows as executable files as well as how to use two or three pieces of music in the same show effectively with audio joining etc. Vladimir has been receiving the Photomotion shows for the PDPC for the last three years.  

 If time will permit he will also show some of his shows and some mixed images. 


February 22nd, 2012   Presenters: Members of the West Coast Animatography Group
  Topic: Digital Story Telling (with Proshow)
 

The PDPC club meeting on Feb 22 will be something a little different.  We have invited the West Coast Animatography Group founder, Derek Carlin, along with a few group members to present some of their shows on a variety of topics.
 
Derek describes the group as being different from a photo club. Rather, even though most of the members belong to photo clubs the emphasis of the group is on improving audio/visual skills, AKA, “digital storytelling”. Their thrust is mostly directed at the flow and message of the show, rather than the technique on individual images.
 
Derek says that the main group approach is a mix of sharing technical tips (including audio and video editing) and the peer review of each other's shows. While the current members are photographers, storytelling encompasses all forms of audio/visual media, and as such they’re also seeing the emergence of shows blending videography with photography and even the occasional bit of CGI (computer generated images). They seek to tell their stories in a manner that engages the audience, both visually and emotionally.
 
On Feb 22 the group will present a series of shows with the intent to share some of their more interesting work, but also some "concept shows" (where the artist was trying something a little different). So you will see shows that are traditional to photo clubs as well as those a bit outside the box. True to the spirit of the group, after each show they’ll take a few minutes to get the audience's critique of what was seen in the hope to get it thinking more along the lines of "story telling" in addition to appreciation of individual images.
 
And Derek adds the following:
For those interested in Trivia: the term "animatography" was an attempt to denote that we are not just about photography even though most of us are deeply rooted in that art. The term was derived from "animated photography", though we later found out that the term existed back in the early 20th century and was used to describe the then emerging sensation of "moving images". What goes around comes around!
Overall, it will be a very entertaining evening and will give all of us a chance to see other people’s original shows and have a chance to participate in a group discussion about each show.
 
Mark down Wednesday, February 22 on your list of “must see” events!



March 7th, 2012   Members' Night - Sharing Images. Back on!

Members are encouraged to share their PHOTOGRAPHY with other members by submitting up to 10 images (on any topic). It would be appreciated if you would be willing to comment briefly on image highlights.  
Submit your images in order of importance from 01 - 10 since ,depending on the number of members participating and the time frame available, not all images are guaranteed group exposure.

REGISTRATION:
 
Title your slides in valued order with no spacing. (example 01york  02york  03york etc.)
 
SIZING:
 
If you know how to resize send your images as 1400 by 1050. If your not familiar with resizing send your images as you usually send images via email. If you need help contact Hank Weverink at the address following.
 
SENDING IMAGES:
 
SEND YOUR IMAGES TO HANK WEVERINK AT        hweverink@shaw.ca

 
March 28th, 2012   Ronnie Miranda

Topic:
Gigapixel Panorama Photography

This presentation will show you how to easily shoot and create high resolution panoramic photos. Gigapixel images are composed of billion pixels (1,000 megapixels), more than 100 times the information captured by a 10 megapixel digital camera. They images can be shared online where people can zoom in and explore the photos in stunning detail.
 
Bio: Ronnie Miranda is the owner and CEO of Active Computer Services which specializes in gigapixel photography. His company is also the distributor of Clauss Rodeon VR Panoheads, GigaPan System and GIGAmacro. Ronnie graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. He has an extensive 25-year background in various fields of computer technology ranging from digital imaging and photography, computer visual effects, 3D animation, website development, computer hardware, networking and more. His gigapixel images have been recognized worldwide by various news organizations, websites and blogs. In particular, the 2.1-gigapixel image of the Game 7 Canucks Crowd on Georgia St before the riot has received international attention. Other photos he created include a 12-gigapixel 240-degree view of Vancouver from the top of the Shangri-la Hotel, and a 4-gigapixel image of the opening of BC Place.

 
April 11th, 2012  
Jonathan Lee
Topic: Collection of Images


Jonathan is a Vancouver based fine art and commercial photographer specializing in documentary, portrait and theatrical photography. Jonathan graduated from Emily Carr University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, specializing in Photography. He then attended UBC and completed a Bachelor of Education degree. He runs a studio in East Vancouver and teaches fine arts for the Delta school district and for FOCAL POINT Visual Arts learning Centre.

Jonathan’s passion is street photography and portraits of sub-cultures in society.

Jonathan works in a variety of formats, ranging from digital to large format cameras and has a vast knowledge of all makes and models.

On Wednesday, April 11, 2012, Jonathan will be showing a selection of his documentary photography from Chaplin Sask., his work from Berlin, his local portraiture and some of his fine are work with a description of how he works towards the final piece. He will be discussing the choices he makes as a photographer (lighting, background, point of view, etc.) and how these work together to effectively tell the story he wants to share.

His presentation will be broken into two parts, the first on the documentary side of his work and the second on the more “fine art” end of the spectrum.

WWe encourage everyone to check out Jonathan’s website:
http://www.jonathanleephoto.com/
 
April 25th, 2012  
Craig Hodge, Tri-City News Photographer
 
Topic: My 37 years as a News Paper Photographer
 
The following is from the July 8th, 2011 Tri-City News article about Craig's amazing photographic career:
 
"And if you’re Craig Hodge, a dedicated Tri-City News photographer who once famously shot an assignment while rushing his pregnant wife to hospital, you’re going to capture those moments no matter what. And so, after more than 18,000 photos published, 380,000 kilometers travelled, 14 national and 22 provincial
photo awards and two brushes with flying bullets, we’re taking a quick look back through the lens of one of the most distinguished news careers in the Tri-
Cities. Hodge is retiring, but not, he says, leaving his community involvement. What began humbly while working on the yearbook in eleventh grade at Coquitlam’s Centennial secondary, where a teenage Hodge first had a camera thrown into his lap — because his typing skills were so lacking, he says, and we in the newsroom agree — soon became a budding career when he was hired on as a summertime shutterbug at the now-defunct Columbian newspaper.
 
At 16, he was by far the youngest shooter at the province’s oldest newspaper. And when that paper went under a decade later in 1983, the still-young Hodge was snapped up to head the photo department at the new paper that would rise in the Columbian’s wake, The Tri-City News."