Focal Points Magazine 4/20/2020

Focal Points Sierra Club Camera Committee Magazine April, 2020

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Focal Points Magazine

Due to the Current Unpleasantness we will be holding our April 9 meeting online. I will be contacting everyone soon with instructions as to how to access the live presentation via Facebook Live. We are excited about this new technology developed by member Bob Beresh!

An Announcement:

It is with great pleasure that I can announce the Camera Committee has a new home for its meetings beginning with the February 2020 meeting.

Our new meeting place will be the Garden Room of the Culver City Memorial Complex, 4117 Overland Ave. Culver City, CA 90230

During 2020 we will be sharing this facility with the West LA Chapter of the Sierra Club on a rotating basis - West LA will have the space on odd months, the Camera Committee will have the space on even months of the year. Our new meeting night will be on the 2nd Thursday of even months.

Contents #. Coverl Story 10.

Meetings and Outings

16. This month's Member

Photos 64. Black and White Pages 74. Announcements 82. Photo of the Month 83. Parting shot

Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time.

Cover Photo Credit:

Š Monsoon over the Grand Canyon, Butch Mazzuca 2020 All Rights Reserved 22

Notes from the Chairman What more can be said of the change in our lives since last month? Sequestering at home has become the daily routine. Many of you have told me that your photography hobby/habit is sustaining you. I too confess that I spend much of my day working on my photo files, mechanics having to do with photos, and the production of this Magazine. I find I am filling the days comfortably and that I’m satisfied that I am improving myself in ways that will help me assimilate back into society when the opportunity comes – and it will come. I hope that you too are feeling the same and that you are practicing your “social distancing”.

This month we welcome seven new SCCC members! You’ll see examples of work from several of these new members on the following pages. Our Committee is growing nicely! Keep up the good work!

Best wishes and a speedy recovery

to long time SCCC member Vaughn Hart who seems to have picked up the bug on his recent trip to Spain! I hope you are back clicking the shutter very soon!

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Cover Story:

MONSOON IN THE GRAND CANYON

Photos and Story by: Butch Mazzuca © 2019 Butch Mazzuca All Rights Reserved

The Seven Wonders of the World demonstrate humanity's

most impressive creations such as the Taj Mahal, the statue of Christ the Redeemer and the Great Pyramids of Egypt. But Mother Nature has some pretty fantastic wonders of her own, and among them is the 277-mile long Grand Canyon in Arizona. The canyon itself measures up to a mile deep and is 18 miles wide at its broadest.

For years it was believed the Colorado River began carving out the canyon six million years ago. But a 2012 study revealed a significant change in this theory, with evidence suggesting the canyon began to form some 70 million years ago and with rocks dating back billions of years ago. But regardless of its origins, the canyon is, in a word, “magnificent.”

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Visiting the Grand Canyon is always an adventure, the everincreasing crowds notwithstanding. Elevation in the canyon ranges from 2,000 feet to over 8,000 and with temperatures rising about 5.5 degrees with each 1,000 feet loss in elevation; the temperature from the top of the canyon to the very bottom is sometimes more than 25 degrees. The North and South Rims are but 10 miles apart as a bird flies, but the drive between them is roughly 215 miles and takes about 5 hours – so don’t plan on seeing the entire park in a day.

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So several years ago I decided to visit during the late summer monsoon on these pages are eight (8) of my favorite lightning images taken a yea “solid” lightning shots over the course of five days. The next year I wa day pe

These photos, 365 days apart, are a result of two long 600 mile drive trip with either a Canon 70-200mm or a Canon 24-70mm lens, ISO 50, apertu secon

You can see more of Butch Mazzuca’s images 6

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© 2020 Butch Mazzuca, All Rights Reserved

My interest in the park as a photo site came about several years ago, but after my first two days shooting there I learned that getting interesting and dramatic photographs from the rim wasn’t as easy as I had imagined—I mean, how do incorporate dramatic clouds into your images when shooting down 5,000 feet?

n season and brought my lightning trigger with me. What you’ll see ar apart. The first year I visited the Canyon I was able to capture five as only able to garner three more “solid” shots; this time over a foureriod.

ps and 9 days at the Canyon. All images were shot using a Canon 1DX ure settings ranging from f9 to f16 and shutter speeds of 1/8th to 1/4th nd.

s on his website at www.butchmazzuca.com 7

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SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

Bio - Butch Mazzuca

MAY 2015

Born in Chicago IL I attended the University of Dayton and 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. 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. © 2020 Butch Mazzuca, All Rights Reserved

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Meetings and Outings

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Sierra Club Camera Commit April 9, 2020 Meeting

Where: In the Comfort of your own home Live!

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When:

7:00 PM

What:

A Journey Through Morocco with

ttee

e via Facebook

h John Fisinotti

Long-time member John Fisinotti will treat us to a slide presentation of his recent trip to Morocco.

The color and culture of the region make this the go-to spot on your bucket list!

John's spectacular photos have appeared often in Focal Points. He has been a winner of the Focal Points Photo of the Month Contest multiple times.

Bob Beresh has perfected a method of broadcasting John’s presentation live on Facebook Live. ________ Everyone can see it - even without a Facebook Account.

More information to come soon! See you all April 9 13

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Outings O: Iva Bell Hot Springs Backpack Date and Time:

Wed, Jul 8, 2020 7:00 AM (Local Time) - Sun, Jul 12, 2020 9:00 PM (Local Time)

These Trips are still "unofficially" on.

Let's hope we will get back in the hills by July/August!

Organized By: Angeles Chp Backpacking Comm Event Organizers: Mark Jacobs guitarpack@aol.com (818) 783-4882 Jeremy Evans jceevans@me.com (818) 749-4998 Moderate 22 mile, 1000' gain backpack to Iva Bell Hot Springs, one of the few undeveloped, natural hot springs in the Sierras. We'll head out from Reds Meadow for a two day backpack to the hot springs, layover one day and then take two days hiking out; camping on Fish Creek along the way. A beautiful canyon with several hot springs to soak in should make this trip a relaxing and memorable trip. Send check for $50 (refundable at trailhead) payable to the Sierra Club Backpack Section, 2 SASE, H & W phones and recent backpacking experience/ conditioning and carpool info to Leader: MARK JACOBS, 15300 Ventura Blvd Ste 502Sherman OaksCA91403-5836 Level: Moderate(O-2) Signup Instructions: Send check for $50 (refundable at trailhead) payable to the Sierra Club Backpack Section, 2 SASE, H & W phones and recent backpacking experience/ conditioning and carpool info to Leader: MARK JACOBS, 15300 Ventura Blvd Ste 502Sherman OaksCA91403-5836 Cancellation Policy: Participants who fail to show up at the trailhead, lose their deposit 14

Photos courtesy Jeremy Evans

Š2020 Jeremy Evans, All Rights Reserved

O: Mineral King Backpack Date and Time: Sat, Aug 8, 2020 6:00 AM (Local Time) - Sun, Aug 16, 2020 8:30 PM (Local Time) Organized By: Angeles Chp Backpacking Comm Event Organizers: Mark Jacobs Jeremy Evans

guitarpack@aol.com jceevans@me.com

(818) 783-4882 (818) 749-4998

Moderate 41 mile, 4200 gain backpack through the extraordinary Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park. With one layover day, well start this loop trip heading through the Franklin Lakes, Little Claire Lake, Moraine Lake, Big Five Lakes and Columbine Lakes with a spectacular finish crossing Sawtooth Pass for an exciting glissade back to our trailhead.

This beautiful foray into the Great Western Divide area should prove both invigorating and refreshing with high snow peaked ranges and pristine alpine lakes. The trip also coincides with the famous Perseid Meteor Shower.

Signup Instructions: Send check for $50 (refundable at trailhead) payable to the Sierra Club Backpacking Section, 2 SASE, H & W phones and recent backpacking experience/ conditioning and carpool info to Leader: MARK JACOBS, 15300 Ventura Blvd Ste 502 Sherman OaksCA91403-5836 Cancellation Policy: Participants who do not show up at the trailhead will lose their deposit

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This Month's Member Photos

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This Month's Member Photos

Steve Anderson © 2020, Steve Anderson, All Rights Reserved

Steve worked primarily in the 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 Viewing website: www.pbase.com/spanderson 18

I have been to this locatio always found it extremely ch of the moment. Our trip make this image of the sun se Alpha7 II with 24-105 m

on in the Alabama Hills many times in different lighting conditions and hallenging to come away with something that captured the atmosphere p to this location lead by John Nilsson and myself was no exception. To etting over Mt. Whitney I used the in-camera HDR settings on my Sony mm lens. Additional Photoshop corrections produced something I liked.

Sun setting over Mt. Whitney Š2020 Steve Anderson All Rights Reserved

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John Fisanotti © 2020, John Fisanottti, All Righs Reserved

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: the landscape, travel and astronomical images are at http://www. johnfisanottiphotography.com; and the 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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Panamint Valley Sunrise

© 2020 John Fisanotti, All Rights Reserved

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Susan Manley © 2019, Susan Manley, All Rights Reserved

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Bio: Susan Manley 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.

Š 2019 Susan Manley, All Rights Reserved

Eagle - Alaska

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Burrowing Owl - Ontario Airport

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© 2020 Susan Manley, All Rights Reserved

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JW Doherty Š 2020 JW Doherty, All Rights Reserved

I’ve been going back through m momentary

Bio Joe Doherty 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.

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my catalog and finding photographs that might bring y calm to people who see them.

Sunrise at Huntington Lake.

Winter sunrise in the Lamar Valley, Yellowstone.

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Sunrise at Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe.

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©2020, JW Doherty, All Rights Reserved

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Š 2020, JW Doherty, All Rights Reserved

Early morning springtime, Malibu Creek State Park

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Early Morning at Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve

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Phil Witt In February 2020, my wife and I took a photography workshop in Ecuador with one of our favorite photo tour leaders, Greg Basco. Greg is one of the best bird and wildlife photography guides we know, and he was assisted by herpetologists from Tropical Herping to manage the reptiles and amphibians. We had been to Ecuador before, to the Galapagos, the Andes, and the lowlands. We wanted to revisit the Andes and the Amazon Basin, but slightly different areas than previously. We first flew from Quito to the Napo River, a tributary of the Amazon, where we had a four-hour boat trip, the last hour or so by paddled canoe, to the lodge. There we photographed a variety of tropical birds, reptiles and amphibians.

The Hoatzin is an evolutionarily primitive tropical lowland bird, the only bird that ferments its food like a ruminant. Its diet consists of otherwise difficult to giving us a wonderful display in the rain.

We flew back to Quito and then by van to a lodge in the Mindo area, at about 8,000 feet in the cloud forest. There we photographed gorgeous hummingbirds that frequent that altitude, including the Violet-tailed Sylph and the [2] Booted Rackettail.

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We visited a clay lick near the Napo River where parrots come miss. We waited not-so-patiently for three hours with no bird act cooperatively drank individually and in groups. I was thrilled w background with drops of water lit by the sun.

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e to drink the salty and mineral-laden water. This can be hit or tivity, and then we got lucky. Scarlet Macaws descended and when able to capture this Scarlet Macaw against a dark cave

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Returning in the canoe from the clay lick, the sun was low, glinting off the Caiman, laying mostly submerged.

One day, we went out in the pouring rain to search for the [1] Andean Cock of the Rock. This is a species I had never seen and had never really expected to see. But we were lucky—we found a number of these birds displaying at a breeding lek, and although distant (and rain-shrouded), the bird was visible enough for me to capture one image (out of scores that I attempted).

Finally, our herpetologists were able to arrange for some photographic opportunities with reptiles and amphibians, such as this [3] Glass Frog. We had to be careful, using soft boxes to diffuse our flashes, so that we didn’t harm this delicate creature.

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BioPhil Witt 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.

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When not birding or photographing, he is a (mostly retired) forensic psychologist, specializing in legal cases and court testimony.https:// philwitt.smugmug.com

Wiebe Gortmaker Š 2020, Wiebe Gortmaker, All Rights Reserved

About Wi

I am based airlines, I ha

In the pas photography South Ameri

I have live places in my

With my n feelings I hav 38

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iebe

d in Boulder, Colorado and consider myself a full-time hobbyist. After retiring from the ave devoted a high percentage of my time to travel and learning photography.

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

ed in Colorado since college and spent a lot of time flying, hiking, and climbing in the wild y back yard.

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

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© 2020 Wiebgotmaker, All Rights Reserved

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John Clement © 2020 John Clement, All Rights Reserved

Kubota Gardens -"Bridge to Light" Seattle Wa

"Blizzard Conditions-Badger Canyon Rd." 42

On a Clear Day-Mt. Adams" from the Yaki

ima Valley, Wa.

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"Camas

"Over The Edge" Rond

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s Mist" near Leavenworth Wa.

Bio – John Clement 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 Th 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

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

da, Spain last November.

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"Art of the

Hotel Lobby Cordoba Spain, vertical ce

e Drift" a day long blizzard roared into Eastern Wa.on March 14th 2020. With winds gusting to 45 mph the swails in the hills south of my house quickly filled with 4-5' snow drifts.

ell phone panorama last November.

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Beverly Houwing

I feel very luc weeks in Februa mammals, birds

Š 2020 Beverly Houwing All Rights Reserved

Red-Eyed Tree Frog perched on a leaf.

Right Above: A Green Hermit Hummingbird hovers as it comes to feed from the nectar of a Taken with a high-speed synched flash.

Right Below: An Eyelash Viper coiled on a branch.

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cky now that I was able to go to Costa Rica for 2 ary. It was my first trip there and was amazed at the s, reptiles and amphibians I got to photograph.

a flower.

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A rare sighting of a Quetzal. An adult male with long tail feathers.

Right Above: A Jamaican Fruit Bat drinking nectar from a flower at night as another flies by. Taken with a high-speed synched flash.

Right Below: “Love Birds” — A pair of Keel-billed Toucans.

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Joyce Harlan Š 2020,Joyce Harlan, All Rights Reserved

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Here are sev I am so grateful that I was able to ta on 4/15!! It was a wonderful experie Had to connect thru Las Vegas!!! Tri feeding and sustaining me - finding a of my Africa photos looking for bird ments and critiquing so we can all co

veral of my shots from White Sands 3/8-3/12/20 ake this “China Consolation” trip - I was scheduled to leave for Bejing ence - very grateful that I made it home before everything got so scary! ied to find a burka, but no success. I’m finding that my photography is and shooting beauty on my many walks and yesterday I went thru all d pix to post on Meunch University. They are giving us weekly assignontinue to learn.

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© 2020 Joyce Harlan, All Rights Reserved

Bio - Joyce Harlan

I have always loved photography! First to document and save photos of my sons. We had little to no money for film birthday and I would always say “develop my film”!! After several years he finally did, but everything was yellow but 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 pric

Finally, I was at Mammoth skiing with my family (grandkids!!) and we had lunch at Bergers Burgers. They had the Clevenger and that he often came in for lunch after skiing and she would point him out for me. She did, I asked about Mountain Light in Bishop with Jack Dykinga, John Shaw, Jerry Dodrill, David Meunch and Jeff Foote. One of the mos Over the years I have been blessed to travel the world with Muench Workshops (Cuba, Yukon, Mongolia, Alaska) Visio (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 l as soon as it is safe again.

developing in the beginning but I kept shooting. Every year my husband would ask me what I wanted for Christmas/ the memories were there. From there, when I was coaching downhill skiing for Westside Special Olympics, I took celess!

most gorgeous landscape photos on they walls. I asked the waitress about them and she said they were by Vern workshops and he said “absolutely”. That was it!! I took one workshop from him and many, many more with st memorable was their ten day inaugural rafting the Grand Canyon trip with Jack & Jerry. onary Wild (Botswana, Kenya, Patagonia, Greenland), Aurora Expenditions (Antarctica), and Nathaniel Smalley

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

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John Nilsson Š 2020, John Nilsson, All Rights Reserved

Trip Report: Alabama Hills In the steps of Ansel Adams.

The weekend before the current Unpleasantness was unleashed, I was pleased to have the opportunity with Steve Anderson to co-lead a trip of intrepid photogs to The Alabama Hills. Although the weather was astoundingly awful on Friday and most of Saturday, we managed to have a terrific time. Lots of spectacular photos were taken, many tall stories swapped, and we managed to find the exact locations of four Ansel Adams tripod sites with only the fifth one alluding us!

Sunday dawned warm and clear and we made up for our challenging Saturday.

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Mt. Whitney in the spotlight

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Bio John Nilsson 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

Š 2020 John Nilsson, All Rights Reserved

The White Mountains in spectacular evening light

Š 2020 John Nilsson, All Rights Reserved

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Bowling Ball and Pins - Alabama Hils

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Larry Miller Š2020 Larry Miller, All Rights Reserved

Bio - Larry Miller

I bought my first SLR camera in 1985 to document hikes in the local mountains tha photo shoot in the Santa Monica Mountains led by Steve Cohen in 1991. Since then t Valley California Poppy Reserve, the Gorman hills, Saddleback Butte State Park, Eas Coast, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Red Rock Canyon State Park, Tejon Ranch gradually expanded in scope over the years to include most of the western National P

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Photography is an avocation that took a backseat to my career during the 32+ years Since retiring in 2013, I’ve been able to devote more time to developing my photograp motivation.

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The coronavirus lockdown, combined with a dry winter, has severely curtailed my photography of spring wildflowers. The two attached photos were taken pre-lockdown at South Coast Botanic Garden.

at I did with friends. My first Sierra Club Camera Committee outing was a wildflower the SCCC has introduced me to many other scenic destinations, including the Antelope st Mojave National Preserve, the Eastern and Southern Sierras, Point Reyes, the Big Sur h, and Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. At the same time, my own photography trips Parks and National Monuments, with the Colorado Plateau becoming a personal favorite.

that I worked as a radar systems engineer at Hughes Aircraft/Raytheon Company. phic skills. Experiencing and sharing the beauty of nature continues to be my primary 63

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The Black and White Pages

Sentenal of Time The Alabama Hills John Nilsson

© 2019 John Nilsson All Rights Reserved

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FugiFilm X100V 23mm 1/220 @ f/16 65

This monochrome image was made with my Samsung G10 phone camera with B&W conversion in Photoshop. Some dodging and layer masks helped to bring out what I had envisioned at this unique arch."

Steve Anderson

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Š 2019, Steve Anderson, All Rights Reserved

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1000 Island Lake, 2015. My friend Mike and I had planned to hike on the John Muir Trail from Tuolumne Meadows to Florence Lake. When we reached Rush Creek the weather turned uncharacteristically cold, and by the time we hit Island Pass we were both chilled to the bone.

A bowl of soup and some hot food later, we retreated to shelter and slept a fitful night. It began raining in the early morning, which eventually turned to hail. We didn’t know it, but Tioga Road was shut down by the unexpected snow. As the morning progressed the sun remained hidden, which made for some dramatic skies over Mt. Ritter and Banner Peak. At noon we decided to end the trip early by bugging out at Agnew Meadow.

JW Doherty

Š 2020 JW Doherty, All Rights Reserved

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Falcon Tom Loucks

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BioTom Louchs Tom has been an amateur photographer for over 40 years. While photography had been more of a favored hobby until recently, he did maintain a black-and-white darkroom for some years. More recently, he has taken some photo-workshops and joined two Denver-area photography clubs to raise hisskills. Critiques and contests have opened his eyes, and he is very flattered to have been invited to join Butch's nascent Vail Valley group.

Tom had images published in Vermont Life magazine in the 1970s but didn’t start entering contests till this century (!). He garnered first place in National Audubon's 2004 Nature's Odyssey contest and has placed well in several contests by Nature's Best, Denver Audubon's Share the View, and the Merrimack Valley's George W. Glennie Nature Contest. He has two images of "Alumni Adventurers" on permanent display at Dartmouth College and regularly places in monthly competitions held by the Mile High Wildlife Photo Club. He is also the incoming President of Mile High (20212022) and currently serves as VP and as a Director. His photographic interests are landscape, wildlife, travel, and "street" photography. He has traveled widely and lived and worked in several countries. Tom is recently retired as a corporate executive and is looking forward to spending more time on photography and outdoor activities. He has just signed up as a volunteer with Denver Audubon and will be assisting with field trips as well as administrative activities at HQ.

Š 2020 Thomas Loucks, All Rights Reserved

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The Panament Valley in Black and White

Š 2020 John Fisanotti, All Rights Reserved

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John Fisanotti

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Announcements

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Notes and Announcements Wiebe Gortmaker Writes:

Check out: 24 Inspirational Nature Photos for These Trying Times http://www.nanpa.org/24-inspirational-nature-photos-for-thesetrying-times/#more-25982

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Basil Katsaros Writes: Attached is a link to a Sean Bagshaw video covering the situation of stay-at-home. I have subscribed to Sean for a few years now. The content of the video is a resource of other photographers that we might want to explore for expanding knowledge.

Wiebe and I use the TK7 add on that Sean discusses in his other videos.

Be safe and stay well

https://youtu.be/bCRWVGVBJCo

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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!

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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Focal Points

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

Sierra Club Camera Committee Newsletter

Focal Points Sierra Club Camera Committee Newsletter December, 2019

Focal Points Sierra Club Camera Committee Newsletter

January 2020

November 2019

1

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 79

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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

More members - More to share 81

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Photo of the Month

This was taken on the Camera Committee photo trip to Valley of Fire State Park, this past January. Late Saturday afternoon we went to the area called the Fire Wave for its stunning rock formations. Unfortunately, we found it overrun with people, thus making it a challenge to come up with worthy images. I decided to look for more remote areas that were less populated. It was while searching for alternative views that this scene caught my eye. Looking off in the distance, the canyons and rock formations illuminated by the late afternoon sun was an interplay of light and shadow . For this scene, I used a 300mm f/4 lens. I’m certain I used a polarizing filter.

John Fisanotti

Nikon D-850, Nikon 300 mm Lens 82

f/11 @ 1/90 ISO 320 82

The Parting Shot

"Imagine..... the stores are now out of peanut butter! O, quel douleur!" Š Thomas Loucks

Leader Contacts John Nilsson, Chairman

213-266-2224

Steve Anderson, Leader

714-962-2054

dtlanow@gmail.com

sandersonimagery@outlook.com

John Boyle, Leader jboyle6300@gmail.com

Peter Mason, Leader peter@petermason.com

Allan Der, Leader, Instructor

714-892-4857

ader@sprynet.com

Ed Ogawa - Treasurer

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

626-794-5207

cscurlock@charter.net

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

Carole Scurlock, Leader

John Nilsson, Leader,Focal Points Editor

323-828-8334

dtlanow@gmail.com

530-265-2528

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213-266-2224