August 2020 Focal Points Magazine

Focal Points

Angeles Chapter Sierra Club Camera Committee Magazine August, 2020

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Focal Points Magazine

Contents

Due to current directives from The Sierra Club, we will be holding our August 13, 2020 meeting on-line. I will be contacting everyone soon with instructions as to how to access the live presentation via Zoom.

4. Cover Story 10. Meetings and Outings 16. Member Photos 80. Black and White Pages 88. Contributor's Bio's 97. Notes and Announcements 106. Photo of the Month

Focal Points Magazine

107. Parting Shot

Published monthly by the Angeles Chapter Sierra Club Camera Committee, John Nilsson, Editor.

Questions and comments can be directed to John at 213-266-2224

Leave nothing but footprints,

Cover Photo Credit:

"I don't think you're coming this way", @David DesRochers, 2020 All Rights Reserved 2

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take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time.

Notes from the Chairman

Well, we didn’t expect

to be stuck here at home this long, did we? Since around the 1st of April it has seemed like a country club prison sentence that continues to get more and more hum-drum with no immediate end in sight! This is the kind of thing that stifles our creativity – not a good situation for a photographer. We thrive on stimulation!

So what’s to be done? It is important that we all fight the urge to continue to hole up in our personal spaces. As creative people we need to create! So get out there and shoot! Even though we have to “social distance”, we can still find photographic subjects that stimulate us. If you can’t go on that exciting guided trip to Iceland to get world shaking photographs, you can probably find a keeper or two in your back yard if you look.

Challenge yourself to make something out of nothing! If you are a great nature photographer, try becoming a great still life photographer. If you thrive on photographing wild animals, try getting really good at shooting wild animals around your home (your pets or kids, for instance). Do something new that increases your overall skills.

Maybe get serious about finally really learning Photoshop. What about those photos sitting in your computer that you haven’t processed or that you can reprocess - turning water into wine?

We’ll get out of this, and when we do and you are free to find your inspiration in your normal haunts, you’ll find you are a better photographer for it.

Keep the faith. Keep shooting, and…wear your mask, dammit!

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Cover Story

The Magic of Silver Salmon Creek Story and Photos By David DesRochers www.desrochersphotography.com

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hotographing wildlife has been a passion of mine since I first visited Glacier National Park in the summer of 2000. In addition to capturing images of the magnificent landscape, I spent hours searching for anything with four legs. I recall the excitement I felt when I came upon a mountain goat grazing near Logan’s Pass. The subject was close enough that I was able to get a full frame shot with my 100 MM lens.

But that would be the only wildlife photo I would bring home. Over time, I realized that capturing great wildlife images was not going to be easy.

I studied the work of the great nature photographers such as National Geographic photographer Michael “Nick” Nichols who inspires me to this day. His incredible images are the result of his skill, patience, and dedication as he explores some of the most remote places on the planet.

For those who cannot devote months trekking through uncharted wilderness looking for elusive creatures, there are opportunities to photograph wildlife if you take advantage of one of the many photo tours available today. Tours to Africa and the Galapagos Islands will get you in close proximity to your subjects and I have visited 4

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both destinations more than once. But there is one destination that has stayed on the top of my list year after year, Silver Salmon Creek in Alaska.

Located in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve along the Cook Inlet, Silver Salmon Creek offers an outstanding opportunity to photograph coastal brown bears in the wild while providing a true wilderness experience. Sows and cubs can be seen grazing in the sedge meadows in late spring to mid-summer, fishing in Silver Salmon Creek during the salmon run in late summer, or digging for clams on the beach throughout the season. A few large males also roam the area in early summer, keeping the sows ever vigilant. Unlike many wildlife destination, the number of visitors is limited so there is a sense of solitude and peace as you stand in the presence of one of the most magnificent animals on earth.

Coastal brown bears are larger than the North American subspecies, the “Grizzly bear.� Brown bears are apex predators but are omnivores and their diet can vary widely. 80-90% of their diet consists of vegetation. Clams and salmon make up the balance of their diet and the clamming and fishing behavior makes for exciting wildlife photography.

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Getting There

Lake Clark

when the subjects are as interested in the photographers as we are of them and they will attempt to get a little too close.

In addition to the bears, there are opportunities to photograph other subjects as well. Eagles are often found nearby and the landscape should not be overlooked.

National Park and Preserve is located on the Alaska Peninsula north of Katmai National Park, about 120 air miles southwest of Anchorage. Like many areas in Alaska, Lake Clark is not accessible by road so a charter flight from Anchorage is the best way to get there. If you go with a photo tour, those arrangements should be included. The one-hour flight from Anchorage flies over magical landscapes and I always keep my camera handy and watch the land below as it presents one amazing composition after another.

Lodging:

Photo tour packages always include lodging and meals and there are two comfortable lodges located in Silver Salmon Creek.

My home away from home is the Alaska Homestead Lodge (www.alaskawildlife.com).

In addition to comfortable rooms, the friendly staff prepares delicious meals which often include fresh caught salmon and home baked breads and cakes. Also included is a trained guide who will escort you in a somewhat comfortable trailer pulled by an ATV. Silver Salmon Creek Lodge is the other facility and they offer both cabins and rooms in the main lodge.

Although visitors are limited to the guests of the two lodges and a small number of bear viewing day trippers, the local bear population have habituated to the presence of humans for generations so opportunities for frame filling shots are not uncommon.

Safety is always a priority and we always position our group a respectful distance from our subjects. There are times, however, 6

Gear:

I always pack a wide angle and mid-range zoom lens for landscapes and a telephoto lens for wildlife. In the past I, carried my Canon 7D with a 500 MM lens and a 5D with a 100-400 MM zoom lens.

I’ve often found myself working a subject that required my 500MM lens only to turn around to discover another bear close by that requires a shorter lens. Another option is a Sigma 150-600MM Contemporary zoom lens. This lens produced sharp images, is light weight, and can be purchased at an affordable price. I always support my long lenses with a gimbal head and carbon fiber tripod.

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Temperatures vary so dressing in layers is advisable. Boots will be needed to walk in the tall grass and over the mud flats. The Alaska Homestead Lodge provides rubber boots so you don’t need to bring them with you. A rain jacket and a pair of rain pants are a must as well as a rain cover for you gear. Days of rain can result in deep mud which my friend Phil Witt is attempting to navigate.

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A final note.

Over the past several years, I’ve been able to share my experiences with many of my friends and I would like to remember three who are no longer with us. This article is dedicated to the memory of Rob Haitmanek of Pennsylvania, and Jenny Harrington and Marie Kane of New Jersey.

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SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

Silver Salmon Creek has become one of the most popular nature photography destination and for good reason. My experience has always been enjoyable and I’ve always come home with a several keepers. Of all the wildlife destinations I’ve visited, this is the only one that truly feels like home.

© 2020 David DesRochers, All Rights Reserved

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Meetings and Outings

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Sierra Club Camera Committee August 13, 2020 Meeting Where:

In the comfort of your own home via ZOOM

When:

7:00 PM

What: When The Lights Come On In The

City: Night Photography In An Urban Environment

Just because the sun has set doesn’t mean you have to put that camera away!

No matter what time of day or night, you are only photographing how light is falling on your subject. At night, light is coming from angles and in colors that you don’t see during the day. Whether in your own quiet backyard or the center of a beating metropolis, there are photographic opportunities around every corner. The only limit to the images you can create is your imagination.

Join Brian Leary of Light Source Journeys as he shows you everything from the equipment you’ll need to the techniques and what to look for to make your night photos stand out.

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This Month's Member Photos

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SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

This Month's Member Photos

John Fisanotti

Comet NEOWOSE taken with a Nikon D810 and an 180mm F/2.8 lens, mounted piggyback on a telescope, tracking the sky. Photo taken from the Lockwood Valley in Ventura County on the evening of July 22, 2020.

180 Seconds at f/4, ISO 800

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MAY 2015

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

Comet NEOWISE taken with a Nikon D850 with 105 f/1.4 lens on a tracking mount. The photo was taken from Joshua Tree National Park, the morning of July 11, 2020. Forground is illuminated by the third quarter moon. Exposure was 8 seconds at f/1/7, ISO 1000 © 2020, John Fisanotti, All Rights Reserved

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Phil Witt Š 2020, Phil Witt , All Rights Reserved

On the drive up to Jasper, we stayed on the Icefields Highway, following glacially carved, U-shaped valleys, such as the North Saskatchewan River valley, viewed from a pass. [insert North Saskatchewan River valley] The mountain scenery in the Canadian Rockies is spectacular. [insert Mt. Rundle] 18

Canadian Rockies

In September 2019, my wife and I spent two weeks in the Canadian Rockies on a photo tour led by our friend, Roman Kurywczak. The Canadian section of the Rockies, having been heavily glaciated, is more jagged appearing than the US section of the Rockies.

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One of our trip goals was to photograph night sky over the mountains, Way at Two Jack Lake on a crystal clear night.

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, as in these images of Bow Lake with clouds closing in and the Milky Š2020Phil Witt, All Rights Reserved

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the mal

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Š 2020 Phil Witt' All Rights Reserved

No Canadian Rockies trip would be complete without good views of mountain wildlife, such as this juvenile Mountain Goat and a majestic le Bighorn Sheep.

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Wiebe Gortmaker Š2020 Wiebe Gotmaker, All Rights Reserved

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“Sometimes when traveling to foreign countries to photograph cultural and historical sites logistics suggest a photo tour is the most economical way to go. This was the case in November 2018 when my wife and I joined 5 other photographers and Martin Bailey for a tour of Moroccco for 16 days. I know John Fisanotti did a wonderful slide show several months ago so I won’t duplicate his program. I think John’s trip did not include the city of Chefchaouen so I have 4 images of the Blue City and several of the Erg Chebbi Dunes of the Western Sahara.

The old part of Chefchaouen is world renowned for its pastel blue painted houses and buildings. With the colorful flowers and flower pots everywhere it is quite a site for photographers. The sand dunes lie on the east side of the Atlas Mountains and are on the trade route from the south to the Mediterranean at the north end.”

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©2020 Weibe Gortmaker,

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, All Rights Reserved

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© 2020 Weibe Gortmaker, All Rights Reserved

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Velda Ruddock

Flowers in a time of Q

Flight of the Damselflies

Orchid array

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Quarantine

Š 2020 Velda Ruddock, All Rights Reserved

Pearl offering on a platter 31

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Thoughts of Ophelia

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Pas seul ballet

©2020 Velda Ruddock, All Rights Reserved

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Bridal cascade

Butterflies in flight

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Š 2020, Velda Ruddock, All Rights Reserved

Dustjacket portrait

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Larry Miller

Š 2020,Larry Miller, All Righs Reserved

Fringed indian pink in Latigo Canyon, Santa Monica Mountains NRA

Humboldt lily in Latigo Canyon, Santa Monica Mountain 36

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I captured the following 4 images in June and July while photo hiking in our local area:

ns NRA 37

Š 2020 J W Doherty

Pine cones alongside the Mt. Waterman trail, San Gabriel Mountains NM 38

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y, All Rights Reserved

Rocky shoreline at Royal Palms State Beach, San Pedro 39

Butch Mazzuca

Thirty Hours in Mo

This was the first shot I took on my adventure at 7:15 PM using a Canon 1

20mm art lens @ ISO 400 - f16 - 1/2 second exposure. Note, all images were shot with a Canon 1DX and a Sigma 20mm art lens.

Š 2020, Butch Mazzuca, All Rights Reserved

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oab

1DX, and a Sigma 1.4 s in this pictorial

On April 12, 1929 President Herbert Hoover signed the legislation creating Arches National Monument, thus protecting the arches, spires, balanced rocks, and other sandstone formations in the largest density of natural sandstone arches on earth.

I traveled to Arches N.P. last September to light-paint and photograph a few of those arches, spires and balanced rocks before the light-painting ban went into effect on January 1st. And I’m glad I did because it was a great shoot that I’d like to share with the readership.

Immediately after arriving in Moab and checking into my motel in the late afternoon I set out for the park. During late September the Milky Way is visible almost immediately after sunset so there were a few folks who came to capture the park’s “money shot” which of course is nighttime photo of Delicate Arch in juxtaposition with the Milky Way. However there were several other locations where the Milky Way would make a prominent backdrop so I had to decide where to begin.

There were a few clouds the day I arrived so I decided to wait until the next night shoot the Delicate Arch when the weather forecast was for clear skies. To start my photo adventure I pulled off the road near Turret Arch to lay out my gear and try out the Sigma 20mm art lens I had rented.

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As the sun was setting the s took this shot of Turret Arch at 7:30 PM

Š 2020 Butch Mazzucat, Al

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sky began to light up and I h just a few minutes later

ll Rights Reserved

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As the Milky Way began to deepen in the night sky I decided to try and frame the center of our galaxy between Turret Arch and a rock formation to it’s left and captured this image shot using ISO 6400 - f2.2 - 30 second exposure at 8:37 PM Š2020, Butch Mazzuca, All Rights Reserved

About an hour later around 9:30 I captured this image of Turret Arch with the M in the background using a slightly different method, i.e., I focused stacked 25 imag when processed with Starry Landscape Stacker software reduces the noise by the root of the number of stacked images. E.G. - ISO 12,800 reduced by 5 stops gives equivalent of ISO 400. This shot taken using ISO 12,800, f2.2 - 20 seconds each 44

Milky Way ges, which square s the h exposure.

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After shooting Turret Arch and the Milky Way I “moseyed” over to “The Spectacles” to capture this image at about 10:15 PM, using ISO 400, f/2.8 for 15 minutes and 20 seconds

© 2020 Butch Mazzuca, All Rights Reserved

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I’m not a young man anymore and I was beginning to fatigue but I had to get the “other” money shot in Arches, Balance Rock, but had to wait until the Milky Way lined up with it. This was another focus stacked shot of 25 images using ISO 12,000 - f2.2 - 20 seconds per exposure. Image shot around 11:15 PM - after shooting Balanced Rock I was hot, tired, thirsty and hungry so I headed back to Moab and a good night’s sleep.

o O

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The next day I aw waiting for sundown t round trip with an ele consider weather cond rangers are frequently is categorized as mode Arch and are approxim descending are always

This is another fo twenty-five 15 second Way; all of my other s and a high powered fla

It took about an hour and forty-five minutes to hike down in the dark and came across this old cabin near the bottom of the Delicate Arch Trail. Even though I was tired and it was getting late, I just had to capture this last shot around 11:30 PM before leaving the park. Please note, I no longer use a Clicky daylight balanced flash light to light paint; all the images were shot using either one or two light panels.

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woke and just hung around Moab and did some post processing in the motel the hike up to Delicate Arch. The trail to the Delicate Arch is roughly 3 miles evation gain of about 500 feet. The trail is a steady uphill climb and it’s wise to ditions before heading out (summer heat or winter ice) and one’s own fitness, as y called upon to rescue people who underestimated the trail's difficulty, which erately difficult. There are a few drop offs where the trail narrows close to the mately the width of one and half adults carrying gear; but visitors ascending and s very good about alternating at those choke points.

ocus stacked image, 25 images shot at roughly 9:30 PM, ISO 12,800, f2.5 using d exposures. And that was it, I got what I came for, Delicate Arch & the Milky shots were a bonus so I headed back down the hill in the dark with a headlamp ashlight.

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Ed Ogawa

© 2020, Ed Ogawa, All Rights Reserved

Flowers at Wattles Mansion

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Three photos I've taken in the last 3 months....

Perfect Camoflage for Pheasant in SMM

Two Photographers in the Alabama Hills

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John Clement

Super Sto

Lavender 52

orm Series

Š 2020 John Clement, All Rights Reserved

Hills Strike 53

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Devel's Tower Strike

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Electric Moon

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Blue Bolt

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Bull Bolt

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Black Sea Strike 58

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Shari Maron Springtime in Quarentine...

2 Š 2020 Sheri Maron, All Rights Reserved

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Š 2020 Sheri Maron, All Rights Reserved

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Paul Reinstein © 2020, Paul Reinstein, All Rights Reserved

Acorn Woodpecker - Irvine RP

I’ve heard it said that there are over are just a few of them. I’ve barely begun for them in. All these birds are wild in L passerine birds like sparrows and finche much excruciating detail as possible. So

American Coot Baloona Freshwater Marsh

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r 500 species of birds that live in, or pass through, Los Angeles. These n to spot them all, let alone know what season or what habitat to look Los Angeles, not baited. I try to capture behaviors when i can, small es, and i love to shoot birds in flight. My goal is always to capture as o far, their colors and variety continue to astound.

Allen's Hummingbird Kenneth Hahn SP

Anna's Hummingbird Kenneth Hahn SP

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Barn Swallow - Malibu SP

Black Crowned Night Heron (juvenile) Baloona Fresh Water Marsh 66

Š 2020 Paul Reinstein

Black Crowned Night Heron Baloona Fresh Water Marsh

n All Rights Reserved

Black Crowned Night Heron Baloona Fresh Water Marsh 67

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Black Headed Grosbeak - Kenneth Hahn SP

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Black Necked Stilt - Balonna Fresh Water Marsh

Š2020 Paul Reinstein, All Rights Reserved

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John Nilsson

Trona Pinnacle

Š 2020, John Nilsson, All Rights Reserved

I had the pleasure of attending a Blood Moon shoot at the Pinnacle spectacular upon arrival in the afternoon but around 4:00 PM the wind morning. While quite uncomfortable, the air was crystal clear. Amazin

A bluebird afternoon greets visitors to Trona Pinnacles. I arrived in the earl afternoon to set up for the evening display of the Blood Moon. The beautiful afte continued until 4:00 when an ominous wind suddenly made itself evident. Wind sustained and increasingly strong over the next few hours. Suprizingly, there wa dust in the air!

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es and the Blood Moon

es last year with Jeremy Evans and Allen Der. The weather was d came up and did not quit it's howling ferocity until 4:00 the next ngly there was no dustdust in the atmosphere at all!

ly ernoon ds became as little

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© 2020 John Nilsson, All Rights Reserved

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Sunset produced beautiful light and an almost "alpenglo"- like event. Just before moonrise, the sky became clear allowing quite a show of the Blood Moon for those who braved the nearly 40mp gale enveloping the area.

(Left) The town of Trona from The Pinnacles under the light of the Blood Moon.

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Around 4:00 the next morning I was awakene wind storm - just in time to see the now norm sleeping giant!

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ed by the sudden dyling of the brutal mal full moon setting into the mouth of a Š 2020 John Nilsson, All Rights Reserved

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Susan Manley © 2020 Susan Manley, All Rights Reserved

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MORO BAY

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The Black and White Pages

Early summer downpour from Bailie's Harbor, Wisconsin

John Fisanotti

Š 2019 Fisanotti, All Rights Reserved

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Nikon D810 Nikor 24mm-7-mm @ 38mm 1/1000@f/8, ISO 500

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White Orchid Series Cotillian Velda Ruddock

Š 2020 Velda Ruddock, All Rights Reserved

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Mt. Moran in the Tetons, with the Grand Teton in the shadows to the left.

Taken end of May, 2016.

Thomas Loucks

© 2020 Thomas Loucks, All Rights Reserved

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Trona Pinnacles, CA

John Nilsson

© 2020 John Nilsson, All Rights Reserved

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Sony 7R MII Sony 24mm-70mm, f/4 @ 150mm 1/8 @ f/8, hand held

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Notes and Announcements

Contributor Bios

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Steve Anderson

John Clement

Steve worked primarily in the

John began his career in photography in the early 70’s after graduating from Central Washington University with a double major in Geology and Geography. Since then he has earned a Masters of Photography from the Professional Photographers of America.

He has received over 65 regional, national and international awards for his pictorial and commercial work.

His photographs grace the walls of many businesses in the Northwest and has been published in numerous calendars and coffee table books.

He has provided photographs for Country Music Magazine and for Northwest Travel Magazine. He has supplied murals for the Seattle Seahawks Stadium and images for The Carousel of Dreams in Kennewick, WA. Current projects include 17 – 4x8 foot glass panels featuring his landscapes in Eastern Washington for the Pasco Airport Remodel. Last year he finished a major project for the Othello Medical Clinic where almost 200 images were used to decorate the facilities ranging in size from 24” to 35’ in size. His work can be viewd at:

conventional medium of Black and White silver-based photography for many years as he explored the natural landscape of the local San Gabriel Mountains and his beloved High Sierra in California. In the last 20 years he has engaged in digital photography as it has opened up new avenues and excitement about making images of the natural scene.

His interest in photography began in junior high school when he developed his first roll of film from a Kodak Brownie camera. He became very interested in combining photography and traveling adventures as a member of the Highlanders, a mountaineering club at Pasadena City College. His work turned more serious during military service as the landscape became his focus of attention.

Steve’s interest in the environmental movement, starting in his college days, led him to actively seek ways of using his photography to help in a personally significant way. He joined the Mono Lake Committee 40 years ago and has been an active leader in the Sierra Club since 1981.

He served as the chairperson of the Camera Committee of the Angeles Chapter for 5 years.

Steve’s images have appeared in Sierra, the Southern Sierran, Images of the West, A Portrait of Bodie, and the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter Schedule of Activities. Some of his monochrome images were significant contributions to help save Mono Lake. He has had work shown in a number of local galleries. Steve was the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Artist in Residence in 2015. Steve has published four photography books that are available through Blurb.com.

“My images sum up my feelings about the grandeur of nature. It is never just one thing that touches me when I try to capture a moment, but always a vast array of emotional and photographic textures. Most of my images are therefore complex and detailed.”

Email: sandersonimagery@outlook.com Viewingwebsite:www.pbase.com/ spanderson 90

www.johnclementgallery.com John Clement Photography Face Book Professional page The Kiona Winery in Benton City, and at Allied Arts Gallery in Richland, WA.

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JW Doherty

John Fisanotti

Joe Doherty grew up in Los Angeles and developed his first roll of film in 1972. He has been a visual communicator ever since.

He spent his teens and twenties working in photography, most of it behind a camera as a freelance editorial shooter.

He switched careers when his son was born, earning a PhD in political science from UCLA specializing in American politics and research methods.

This led to an opportunity to run a research center and teach at UCLA Law, where he became best known as an empirical bankruptcy scholar.

After retiring from UCLA in 2016 he continued to consult, but now he and his wife Velda Ruddock spend much of their time in the field, across the West, capturing the landscape.

As a youth, John’s interest in photography stemmed from an interest in astronomy. His first photos were attempts to photograph the night sky using a folding Kodak camera, that once belonged to an uncle. Later, John used a 35mm rangefinder camera to photograph nature, particularly the San Gabriel Mountains above his home in La Crescenta. After high school, John sold his telescope to purchase a 35mm SLR camera outfit.

John was a photography major in his first three years of college. He has used 35mm, 2-1/4 medium format and 4x5 view cameras. John expected to be a commercial photographer.

His personal work leaned heavily to shooting landscapes and outdoors. In 1977 John changed majors. After graduating from California State University Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Urban Studies in 1979, John’s first post job college was in a commercial photo laboratory.

In 1980, he pivoted from photography and began his 32-year career in public service.

John worked for four Southern California cities in city planning, community development and redevelopment, and concluded his career as a Project Manager for the Culver City Redevelopment Agency. During these decades, he continued to shoot outdoor scenic images whenever possible.

After retiring from public service in 2012, John has pursued his astronomical and photographic interests. Beginning in 2013, John has been a telescope operator for the 60" reflector telescope at Mt. Wilson Observatory.

And John has increased his photographic portfolio concentrating on outdoors, landscape, travel and astronomical images. Beginning in 2018, he has expanded his repertoire to include architectural and real estate photography.

Occasionally, John has been fortunate to have photographs selected for various exhibitions or publications.

He currently shoots with Nikon DSLR cameras.

John’s photographic websites: Landscape, Travel and Astronomical images http://www.johnfisanottiphotography.com; Architectural and Real Estate photography are at http://www.architecturalphotosbyfisanotti.com.

Contact John at either

jfisanotti@sbcglobal.net or fisanottifotos@gmail.com.

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Jeff Gottesman

Wiebe Gortmaker

I first became interested in photography back in high school sometime in the last century. My father worked for many years in a professional camera store in Pittsburgh (Kadet Photo Supply) where he did the picture framing.

I spent a few summers working in that camera store mostly doing shipping and receiving but every chance I got, I would be talking with and learning from the salesmen who knew everything about cameras and photography.

At the end of the summer they gave me a used Pentax Spotmatic 500 and there began my love of photography. I did all the shooting and darkroom work for my high school yearbook and later as a photographer and writer for college newspapers. At the same time, I developed a love of nature and graduated college with a degree in Geology (with several electives in Photography). That was where all the environmentalists spent their time.

The love of nature and photography were a perfect match and after retiring from IT a few years ago (there was a career change somewhere in there) I’ve returned to those early loves and am able to spend a lot more time on photography, enjoying workshops and especially the Sierra Club trips :).

I am based in Boulder, Colorado and consider myself a full-time hobbyist. After retiring from the airlines, I have devoted a high percentage of my time to travel and learning photography.

In the past few years I have moved from travel photography to primarily wildlife and landscape photography. Prior to the airlines, I spent considerable time in remote areas of Alaska and Central and South America. I am now able to revisit those places with a focus on photography.

I have lived in Colorado since college and spent a lot of time flying, hiking, and climbing in the wild places in my back yard.

With my new hobby I am looking at these places in a new way, trying to preserve the image and feelings I have of the wildlife and landscape. This process motivates me to learn and discover.

Wiebe is concentrating on his photography at this time and is not currently active on social media. He does plan to have a website together in the near future.

My photos can be seen at https://www.jeffgottesmanphotography. com/

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Joyce Harlan I have always loved photography! First to document and save photos of my sons. We had little to no money for film developing in the beginning but I kept shooting. Every year my husband would ask me what I wanted for Christmas/birthday and I would always say “develop my film”!! After several years he finally did, but everything was yellow but the memories were there.

From there, when I was coaching downhill skiing for Westside Special Olympics, I took photos of my athletes and created a book for each of them. The pure joy I saw on their and their family’s faces was priceless!

Finally, I was at Mammoth skiing with my family (grandkids!!) and we had lunch at Bergers Burgers. They had the most gorgeous landscape photos on they walls. I asked the waitress about them and she said they were by Vern Clevenger and that he often came in for lunch after skiing and she would point him out for me. She did, I asked about workshops and he said “absolutely”.

That was it!! I took one workshop from him and many, many more with Mountain Light in Bishop with Jack Dykinga, John Shaw, Jerry Dodrill, David Meunch and Jeff Foote. One of the most memorable was their ten day inaugural rafting the Grand Canyon trip with Jack & Jerry.

Over the years I have been blessed to travel the world with Muench Workshops (Cuba, Yukon, Mongolia, Alaska) Visionary Wild (Botswana, Kenya, Patagonia, Greenland), Aurora Expenditions (Antarctica), and Nathaniel Smalley (Iceland, Maine fall color).

Photography mixed with travel has been my favorite soul food for a long, long time.

And will continue to be for as long as I am able. Sadly, I am missing a trip to China in April and Uganda in June to see the gorillas.

But I’ll get there as soon as it is safe again.

Allen Johnson

I'm a PhD in psychology with

a passion for photography. I'm also the author of several books: a memoir on France entitled "Pardon My French" and two novels: "The Awakening" and "Spike, Benny, and Boone."

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Butch Mazzuca

John Nilsson

I was born in Chicago IL and attended the University of Dayton. After graduation I served four and half years as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps.

My last official ‘work' position was President & CEO of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co-Denver.

Retired in 1999 and moved to Vail where I taught skiing, a “fundamentals of photography” class at our local community college and wrote (still do) commentary for the Vail Daily Newspaper.

I Started taking pictures in 2008 when my wife Bobbi “talked me” into traveling to Africa (we returned seven more times! ) My images have been published in Shutter Bug Magazine, Sarasota Magazine, Travel Africa Magazine (5 times) and Africa Geographic (6 times including two photo essays) I consider myself a generalist although African wildlife and landscape photography are my favorites.

I have a fond memory of my early years of my father dragging me to the Denver Museum of Natural History on a winter Sunday afternoon. He had just purchased a Bosely 35mm camera and had decided he wanted desperately to photograph one of the dioramas. I distinctly remember the display was of several Seal Lions in a beautiful blue half-light of the Arctic winter that required a tricky long exposure. The transparency he showed me several weeks later was spectacular and mysterious to my young eyes. Although the demands of Medical School made this photo one of the first and last he shot, at 5 years old I was hooked.

The arrival of the digital age brought photography back to me as a conscious endeavor - first as a pastime enjoyed with friends who were also afflicted, and then as a practitioner of real estate and architectural photography during my 40 years as a real estate broker. Since retiring and moving to Los Angeles, I have continued my hobby as a nature and landscape photographer through active membership in the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter Camera Committee and my vocation as a real estate photographer through my company Oz Images LA. The camera is now a tool for adventure!

www.OzImagesLA.com dtlanow@gmail.com

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David DesRochers

Larry Miller

David is an accomplished speaker, instructor and writer and his wildlife and landscape photographs have been published in books, magazines and on calendars. As an Associate Naturalist with the New Jersey Audubon Society, he has been leading workshops and tours for over 10 years. In 2014, David was awarded the New Jersey Federation of Camera Clubs Citation in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of the art and science of photography in the State.

I bought my first SLR camera in 1985 to document hikes in the local mountains that I did with friends. My first Sierra Club Camera Committee outing was a wildflower photo shoot in the Santa Monica Mountains led by Steve Cohen in 1991. Since then the SCCC has introduced me to many other scenic destinations, including the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, the Gorman hills, Saddleback Butte State Park, East Mojave National Preserve, the Eastern and Southern Sierras, Point Reyes, the Big Sur Coast, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Red Rock Canyon State Park, Tejon Ranch, and Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. At the same time, my own photography trips gradually expanded in scope over the years to include most of the western National Parks and National Monuments, with the Colorado Plateau becoming a personal favorite.

Photography is an avocation that took a backseat to my career during the 32+ years that I worked as a radar systems engineer at Hughes Aircraft/Raytheon Company.

Since retiring in 2013, I’ve been able to devote more time to developing my photographic skills. Experiencing and sharing the beauty of nature continues to be my primary motivation.

As nature photographers, we love to be outdoors, exploring and photographing our natural world. While stay-at-home and social distancing orders are keeping us indoors, what’s a NANPA member to do?

David’s program will show you how to bring nature indoors by creating beautiful images of plants and flowers on your dining room table. Topics include equipment, camera settings, set ups, composition, and editing.

www.desrochersphography.com

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Phil Witt

Velda Ruddock

Phil Witt has been photographing nature since he got his first SLR camera in the late 70s.

An avid birder, he is a volunteer at the Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary of NJ Audubon in Bernardsville, where he coleads the photography workshop series.

He is currently on NJ Audubon’s Board of Directors. He is a past president of the Camera Naturalist Photo Club, and program chair of the Somerset County Camera Club. He judges photography competitions and presents instructional programs at photography clubs throughout New Jersey. He received the NJ Federation of Camera Club’s 2017 Citation for service to photography in the state.

He and his wife enjoy traveling the world for photography--Antarctica, the Galapagos, Tanzania, Iceland, Costa Rica, among others.

When not birding or photographing, he is a (mostly retired) forensic psychologist, specializing in legal cases and court testimony.

Creativity has always been important to me. I received my first Brownie camera for my twelfth birthday and I can’t remember a time I’ve been without a camera close at hand.

I studied the social sciences and art, and later earned a Masters degree in Information and Library Science degree.

All of my jobs allowed me to be creative, entrepreneurial, and innovative.

For the last 22 years of my research career I was Director of Intelligence for a global advertising and marketing agency. TBWA\ Chiat\Day helped clients such as Apple, Nissan, Pepsi, Gatorade, Energizer, and many more, and I was considered a leader in my field.

During our time off, my husband, Joe Doherty and I would travel, photographing family, events and locations. However, in 2011 we traveled to the Eastern Sierra for the fall colors, and although we didn’t realize it at the time, when the sun came up over Lake Sabrina, it was the start of change in our careers.

By 2016 we had both left our “day jobs,” and we started traveling – and shooting nature – big and small – extensively. Our four-wheel drive popup camper allowed us to go to areas a regular car can’t go and we were – and are – always looking for our next adventure.

https://philwitt.smugmug.com

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Susan Manley

Paul Reinstein

Susan Manley has more than 35 years experience as a photographer.

Her career consisted mainly working in a Communications Department writing and shooting a wide variety of public relations and photojournalism photos.

Since she retired approximately ten years ago, she switched her focus onto nature photography including landscapes and wildlife in America.

I have two lifelong hobbies; photography and fine woodworking. My father fostered both those interests. At 14, right before I went on a 1 week backpacking trip around Yosemite Valley with my friend Joe (16) who could drive, my father taught me the basics of using a camera on an Olympus camera that shot half frames on 35mm film. Can you imagine allowing a 14 year old to do that in today’s world? By 20, I was fully independent. In my 20s, I bought a Minolta SRT-101, and I also started dabbling in woodworking as a way to have simple furniture while working my way through college (Biochemistry, UCLA). I even had a simple B&W darkroom for a while.

I shot mostly landscapes. After getting my degree, I decided I didn’t like working in that field, so I went back to school, and worked my way through a masters degree (Electronics Engineering, CSULB). I spent the majority of my career at The Aerospace Corp, working mostly on electrical power systems for rockets and satellites for the Air Force, NASA and the NRO. During that time, when not working, I began focusing mostly on fine woodworking, shooting occasional snapshots.

By 50, my woodshop was enviable, my wife and I were flipping homes on the side, I was a manager at work, and digital cameras reignited my interest in photography. When the music stopped in real estate, we built our own home in Mar Vista. Then, my boss, and his boss both died unexpectedly (and independently), a huge layoff was announced, and I was retired. I got my general contractor’s license, and tried that for a couple of years. I retired fully at 60, earlier than I would have imagined.

By 2016, I had amassed a number of bird photos, just by happenstance, so I decided to see what I could get that number up to, just for fun. That turned out to be eminently satisfying, albeit expensive, and now I spend much of my time shooting birds locally or travelling worldwide to do so. My big birding trips so far include the Galapagos and the UK, and my list is presently up to about 350 species, and I have a small presence on Instagram and on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/preinstein54/.

I’ve sold a few images upon request, several of my friends have my images on their walls, and I still dabble in woodworking, including making my own frames.

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Notes and Announcements

Notes and Announcements

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Notes and Announcements Paul Rienstein Writes: An interesting story coming out about John Muir this morning. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-22/ sierra-club-calls-out-the-racism-of-john-muir

Steve Anderson Writes: Hi Folks, I hope this little note finds all of you healthy. I know many of you are out there doing your photography thing and I think it's great to get away. The idea of going out freely one of these days helps me to stay sane.

So the reason I'm sending this out is just a simple question. I have a stack of "Print File" brand 4x5 size archival sleeves. There are four to a page, there are about 50 pages, and the edges are three hole punched.

I hardly ever do 4x5 film photography anymore and want to give these to someone who could use them.

Even if you don't need them maybe you know someone that might?

Keep safe Steve A.

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Jeremy Evans Writes: I'd like to submit some info about virtual programs. Joan and a few others have asked me if the Sierra Club’s home in Yosemite would be doing any virtual programs in place of our canceled live programs in Yosemite Valley.

It took some time to get things figured out but we finally have a plan. I will be giving a talk called:

“Yosemite’s Landmarks: Origins and History of Yosemite’s Places & Names”

Did you wonder who explored and named Yosemite’s iconic landmarks? Saunter with Jeremy on this evening of historic discovery.

Presented by Jeremy Evans, Nature Photographer/ Filmmaker/Sierra Club Outings Leader August 27th, 2020 @ 7:00PM

This is a new program that I’ve given twice in Yosemite and I was asked to give it again via Zoom. Anybody interested can sign up via this link: https://www.sierraclub.org/ychc/virtual-programs-mailinglist

More info about what we do in Yosemite is on our home page https://www.sierraclub.org/yosemite-conservation-heritagecenter

There are other presenters and it all begins weekly on August 6th so anybody that signs up via this link will be notified of the programs with Zoom links

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The Member’s Choice Photo Contest What’s your favorite photo in this Focal Points? Continuing with this issue I am asking all members to vote for their favorite photo. Here’s how: 1. Please e-mail me at dtlanow@gmail.com (Heading: Member’s Choice) and let me know your choice for the best photo by the 20th of the month in which the issue is published.

2.

In your e-mail, give me the page and the name of the photographer and a brief descrip- tion so I can identify your choice.

I will tally up the votes and announce the winner in the next issue and republish the photo with a paragraph from the photographer about how it was captured, where, when, and even the dreaded mire of camera, settings and lens.

This should be a fun feature!

..........John Nilsson, Publisher

Wanna Go on a Hike?

Just in case you didn’t realize it...........

The Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club has litterally 100’s of outdoor activities that Sierra Club Camera Committee members can attend.

You can find these activities at http://angeles.sierraclub.org/activities If you have an idea for a trip that the Camera Committee might like to plan for, tell a leader.

They are always open to ideas of new places to go, new places to shoot. See the end of the newsletter for a list of contact information for the leaders.

CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. All participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. To read the liability waiver before you participate on an outing, go to: http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms

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Do you enjoy receiving your monthly copy of Focal Points?

If your answer is "Yes" and you want to continue receiving Focal Points, please send us your check for $15.00 and your full name and email address for a yearly subscription to: Sierra Club Camera Committee c/o Wesley Peck 3615 Gondar Ave. Long Beach, CA 90808-2814

As a bonus, you will enjoy: An invitation to contribute your photographs to Focal Points for publication Full membership in The Sierra Club Camera Committee and access to our extensive programming and trips 103

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Get out there and get involved!

Our natural world is under attack and we all need to fight to preserve the things that we hold dear.

CONTRIBUTE

YOUR TIME, YOUR DOLLARS....

OR BOTH! Do you know anyone who would like to become a member of the Sierra Club Camera Committee?

We are seeking new members to share their outdoor experiences and photographs.

If you have a friend or acquaintance whom you feel would benefit from and add to our membership, please ask them to join us at our next meeting.

Membership costs only $15.00 per year - a tremendous value!

To join or renew, please mail a check for $15 (payable to SCCC): Wesley Peck, SCCC Membership 3615 Gondar Ave. Long Beach, CA 90808-2814

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Photo of the Month

John Clement Angel Strike Super Cell Storm that ran in front of and behind me for 2 hours and produced 100's of lightning Strikes.

Olympus E-M5, Mark II Olympus M.12-40mm F2.8 1/25 @ 12mm, ISO 200 Lightning Trigger by Stepping Stone Products 106

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The Parting Shot

You're on you own, Bud.

Š 2020 John Nilsson, All Rightrs Reserved

Leader Contacts John Nilsson, Chairman

213-266-2224

Carole Scurlock, Leader

626-794-5207

Steve Anderson, Leader

714-962-2054

Allan Der, Leader, Instructor

714-892-4857

dtlanow@gmail.com

sandersonimagery@outlook.com

cscurlock@charter.net ader@sprynet.com

Ed Ogawa - Treasurer

Alison Boyle, Leader, Co-Chair: Outings alisoniboyle@icloud.com

John Boyle, Leader jboyle6300@gmail.com

ed5ogawa@angeles.sierraclub.org

310-994-1019

Wesley Peck, Membership

562-420-8543 wesdpeck@gmail.com NOTE: Send Membeship Checks to Wesley at 3615 Gondar Ave., Long Beach, CA 90808-2814

310-828-6300

Joan Schipper, Leader, Co-Chair: Outings joanschipper@ix.netcom.com

Peter Mason, Leader peter@petermason.com

323-828-8334

John Nilsson, Leader, Focal Points Editor dtlanow@gmail.com

530-265-2528

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213-266-2224

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