Bumblebee by Dawn Dingee



Daises by Dawn Dingee



Royal Terns #1 by Karen McMahon



Royal Terns #1 by Karen McMahon



Lupine by Dawn Dingee



Rhodadendrum by Dawn Dingee

President's Message by Dawn Dingee

Our season is coming to an end. Our season is coming to an end. The HCC Committee is working together to schedule another great selection of speakers, field trips, and salon shows for next season. But first, we need to finish up this season. We will have a picnic at Kent Falls, CT. The meeting date is to be determined due to some scheduling conflicts. The firm date will be sent out as soon as possible. We hope to settle on a date that allows for the greatest majority of member participation. Although the season is ending, we plan to schedule some events over the summer. In August, we will have our booth at the Sharon Fair. Emails will follow with details, as well as a request for volunteers who are needed to show their work in the booth, greet guests for 2-hour intervals, help with set-up, and help with take-down. Your help is essential to making it a successful day. In the past, we have signed up many new members so this is an important event for our club. I hope you can help in some capacity! For next season, we are working on scheduling at least 3 salon shows where we’d like to present new work so continue shooting throughout the summer. I look forward to seeing your photos.
Dawn

MAY 2024 MEETING by Dawn Dingee

In our May 21st meeting, Tom Blagden gave us a presentation featuring photos taken mostly during the pandemic. With the COVID lockdown, he became immersed in photography in the place of his childhood and became reacquainted with it intimately. His fantastic photos featured many local lakes, waterfalls, and wildlife. Tom has been a conservation-related professional nature photographer since 1975. That same year, he married his wife Lynne. They have a daughter Sarah. Tom's photographs have appeared in most national conservation calendars, numerous exhibits, and magazines, and also graced the covers of Smithsonian, Audubon, Outdoor Photographer, Nature Conservancy, and Sierra. Tom is also the author of many books. Tom is also a member of HCC.

A visit to the Norton Museum in West Palm Beach by Pamela Peeters

Unexpectedly hidden amidst mansions, palm trees, interior design stores and basking in fantastic temperatures that we from Sharon and surrounding areas will have to wait for a little longer, is a gorgeous museum that hosts fantastic art.
Whether you’re a fan of Asian art, modern art or more tribal art, it’s all there for you at the Norton Museum, including a swirling staircase adorned with a waterfall of amazing glass sculptures that brings you three flights up.
The most remarkable statues I was able to discover on the ground floor came from Rose B. Simpson: an Illini woman, artist, mother and daughter of a matrilineal line of ceramicists and potters spanning nearly 70 generations. As a member of the Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico she combines her ancestral and contemporary knowledge through her clay and mixed media. These statues, a blend of earth colored terracotta and audacious clothing items reminded me of Tribal African art .
The circular podium with a standing Earth Woman was very impressive to observe and called for a picture. The artistic spread was, if not mistaken, also inclusive of her mother’s work. Check out the website link below for more information on the exhibit that runs until September 1st.
For the ones who need a little break from air conditioned exhibit halls and rooms, there’s also, of course, a sculpture garden.
A trip to this museum, should include a stop at the meticulously managed souvenir shop as it is accessible to all budgets, is a definite recommendation and I wish everyone who heads to Palm Beach anytime soon, a fantastic journey into a refreshing exploration of old and contemporary art.
More on : https://www.norton.org/exhibitions/rose-b-simpson

Connected



Light art



Mama



This is me



Trash art

A few tips on digital infrared photography by Lazlo Gyorsok

Digital infrared photography offers a surreal and captivating perspective of the world, revealing unseen wavelengths of light. To embark on this journey, choose between two primary methods: using an infrared-converted camera or attaching an infrared filter to your lens.

For an infrared-converted camera, options range from full spectrum conversion, capturing visible light and infrared, to specific infrared wavelength conversions like 720nm or 850nm. Alternatively, infrared filters block visible light, allowing only infrared to reach the sensor. Experimentation with different conversion types will yield varied results, influencing image contrast and color rendition.

In post-production, software like Adobe Photoshop offers extensive tools for refining infrared images. Start by swapping red and blue channels to correct the color balance. Adjust contrast to enhance the ethereal quality of infrared light. Utilize channel mixers or hue/saturation adjustments to fine-tune colors, achieving the desired aesthetic.

Explore presets or create custom actions to streamline your workflow. Remember, mastery in digital infrared photography requires patience, experimentation, and a keen eye for composition to convey the surreal beauty of the unseen spectrum.

Here is the original capture of a summer pond in Cornwall using a converted Nikon D90 camera with infrared wavelength conversions of 720nm.



This is what it looks like after using Channel mixers in Photoshop and swapping the Blue and the Red Channels and adjusting contrast.



The same image after further adjustments with Hue/Sat sliders in Photoshop.



Infrared pictures are tend to be of high contrast images, so they naturally great for Black and White photography.



....or high contrast color photography as well.

Driving the 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach CA by Dawn Dingee

The 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach, California, is a quintessential coastal journey renowned for its breathtaking vistas, serene atmosphere, and rich biodiversity. The drive was established in 1892! As you embark on this scenic route, you're instantly enveloped by the tranquil beauty of the Pacific coastline and the rugged charm of the Monterey Peninsula. The drive winds its way through iconic landmarks, including the world-famous Pebble Beach Golf Links, Cypress Point Lookout, and the Lone Cypress Tree, offering glimpses of nature's splendor at every turn.

The Lone Cypress Tree

The Lone Cyprus Tree has braved the elements for 250+ years. The tree is the half-way point along the drive.
Along the rugged coastline and pristine beaches, you can often catch sight of seals lounging lazily on the rocks, sea otters floating effortlessly in the kelp beds, and cormorants and pelicans amongst various other birds soaring overhead. One of the stops along the way is called “Bird Rock”.

Crashing waves

Waves

Waterfall on rocks

Seagull

There are several pathways along the coast where one can exit your car to enjoy the sea air, flowers, and the sandy beach. Several dogs were on the beach and it was so much fun to watch them running in and out of the water and frolicking about. Watching them, I instantly missed my doggies at home.

Flowers by the Beach

Dog on the beach

How Much is that Doggie in the Window

Rock Pile on the Beach

Admission to 17-Mile Drive is $12 per vehicle but the cost is worth the natural beauty, wildlife, and beautiful sunsets you are bound to see. I’ve been twice and each time, you see things you didn’t notice the first time. It never gets old.

Sun Flare on the Beach

Pelicans