Focal Points Magazine December 2020 Issue

Focal Points Sierra Club Camera Committee Magazine December, 2020

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Focal Points Magazine

Contents

Due to current directives from The Sierra Club, we will be holding our December 10, 2020 meeting online. I will be contacting everyone when the time comes with instructions as to how to access via Zoom.

4. Cover Story 10. Meetings and Outings 14. Member Photos 76. Black and White Pages 82. Contributor's Bio's 94. Notes and Announcements

Focal Points Magazine

108. Photo of the Month

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

109. Parting Shot

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

Cover Photo Credit:

"Raising Section of TBM DTLA R.C. 2018", Š2020 Ken Karagozian, All Rights Reserved 2

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Notes from the Chairman Food for Thought Well, we here in LA are locked down again. It’s getting harder and harder to keep busy when there is really no one on the street to shoot so I’ve been watching YouTube videos of Photography How-to’s I just completed watching a 30 minute expose’ on how to better finish Black and White photos. Here are a couple of notes I took from the video: «Be intentional and sure with your shot. Always visuallize what you want your finished shot to look like - to convey.....

When you compose your shot, try to get rid of all the things in your shot that detract from your vision of that shot...

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

Use the Clarity Slider to add contrast to your shot but don’t over-do it. Take it to the point that your shot doesn’t look real and then back it off a bit.

You never want to get too much clarity in your shot......

Always review your shot before finishing it by clicking the One-to-One View button.»

As I was reviewing my notes after the video, I realized that this whole thing could have a greater meaning by substituting the word «life» every time the word «shot» was used in each of the notes.

Photography becomes life.

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Cover Story Photographer Creates Deep Connections with Transit Workers By: Bridget M. Redman Some stories take time to tell, especially when they are still evolving without an end in sight.

Ken Karagozian first headed underground 30 years ago, having obtained permission for a one-time shoot of the miners who build Los Angeles subway system. That one-time shoot grew into three decades worth of work, numerous friendships and a lifetime of stories.

Those stories and his art are now being shared in a Metro Art exhibition called “Deep Connections,” which is being shown in the Union Station Passageway Art Gallery.

Karagozian has photographed the workers and the machinery they use on black and white film, which he typically processes himself.

“We are living in a digital world, but I still enjoy using film,” Karagozian said. “I like the look of film, especially black and white. I like to do my own developing and printing of my film.”

The exhibit features photos displayed in rectangular light boxes, something Karagozian said presented an initial challenge because so many of his prints are square.

The Passageway Art Gallery has been around since 2014 and its managers have curated artwork from landscapes to architecture to portraiture. With this exhibit, said Heidi Zeller, senior manager of the LA Metro Arts and Design, they are recognizing that they are part of a major transportation hub with Union Station being the gateway to Los Angeles.

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Reflection & Two DTL 4

“We have a broad section of society passing through,” Zeller aid.

“We always want something that appeals to everyone. In this particular case, there is a direct tie-in to transportation. We thought it would be of interest to people passing through a tunnel-like space to have these multiple layers of tunneling and to learn about the system. When you’re within this large metropolitan station, you can see what is going on down belowground all throughout the county through what Ken has been documenting all these years in such a creative manner.”

Karagozian’s photos often contrast the coldness of oversized machinery with the humanity of the workers who operate them.

“I try to put a human perspective to my images,” Karagozian said. “I’m not just documenting the construction, I’m also documenting the builders of the construction, the human labor force, the workers.”

When Karagozian was taking photography and art classes, his instructor told the students they should pick projects that are close to their home so they can go back as often as needed to see the lighting and plan times to work.

Living in Los Angeles, one of his first projects was the Pasadena Rose Bowl Swap Meet.

Then, every day as he drove to work along Hollywood Boulevard, he started to see fences go up for a federally funded project.

He contacted the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and said he’d like to get permission to photograph underground for a day.

That day turned into 30 years.

During that time, he’s gotten to know workers and their families, now into a second generation. He photographed one set of brothers decades ago and has since photographed them again with one of those brother’s sons, who is now carrying on his

Tunnels After Hole Thru LA R.C. 2018 5

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Back Ring InsideTBM & Eas Tunnel DTLA R.C. 2018

Hector Jr. & Hector Downtown Los Angeles Regional Connector 2018

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father’s work. There is a mother and son who work together underground.

or the tall cranes that pierce the skyscape, few people other than the workers and inspectors get to see what is being done underneath the ground. His work can bring those images to a wider audience and open a new world so they can see what is going on below them.

It’s a project that continues to draw him back in with new things to see and capture.

“The technology is constantly changing, and the locations are changing too,” Karagozian said.

“I consider myself a painter, but instead of art materials, I paint with light onto film,” Karagozian said. “That is one of the critical things when photographing—how is the lighting going to affect the image. When there are workers working, I try not to capture an image where all you see is the backside of the worker, but rather part of the face.”

“I started along Hollywood Boulevard, right along Hollywood and Vermont, the redline continued west along Hollywood Boulevard up through the Hollywood Hills and to the San Fernando Valley. The locations have been changing, the equipment has been changing and the process has been changing.

The modernization of the equipment has changed from the ’90s to now. I just enjoy it.”

Zeller, who has seen Karagozian’s work displayed elsewhere around the station for the past nine years, said the gallery welcomed this opportunity to collaborate with him.

The MTA helped him choose the name “Deep Connections,” a title that is figurative and literal. They also worked with him to choose which photos to use for this exhibit.

He worked with Allison Porterfield, a senior art program specialist, to choose images and figure out how to best present them in the lightboxes.

“Images that balance heavy machinery and the humanity and give that juxtaposition are really interesting,” Zeller said. “When you consider the large scale of these light boxes—you’re staging some as high as a person. It almost feels like you can step right into the image.”

Zeller said they are constantly brainstorming ideas about what artwork they can share in the Passage Gallery and for the past year, they’ve been talking about the possibilities of this exhibit.

There are 30 boxes in the long passageway, Zeller said. They are internally luminated boxes in a passageway that connects the historic part of the station built in 1939 and the section built in the ’90s. Interspersed between the light boxes are ramps leading up to the different train tracks.

“We thought it was an exciting way to share with the public the expanse of what MTA is working on,” Zeller said. “There is a whole world underground that most people do not get to see. We were just thinking about his work and looking at it. This is an amazing opportunity to share what is happening between us…and the landscapes are so otherworldly, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to share.

A dozen of the boxes are in sets of three, so that one image can be divided up among three boxes.

“That allows us to display artwork that is horizontal in nature,” Zeller says. “Each box is vertical, but three together is a triptych that gives us more flexibility and a horizontal view.”

After the holidays, he’ll release a book that features 50 of Karagozian’s images. It will be available in hard copy and online to view.

As a photographer, Karagozian brings images to patrons that most people don’t get to see.

While people are familiar with the endless orange cones on roads denoting construction

“We usually produce a publication for all of our exhibitions,” Zeller said. “It will focus not just on the works, but really amplify the exhibition, 7

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the heavy machinery and the broader space and more of the people (in the photographs).”

Karagozian, whose work has been featured in such publications as Life, Archeology Dig and the Los Angeles Times, says he plans to continue telling the stories of the people who make their living underground.

“It’s just rewarding for me,” he said. “It’s something I love, and I’ll be doing it for the rest of my life.»

Reprinted with permission from Downtown LA News

Editor’s Note:

Photographer Ken Karagozian is a long time member of the Sierra Club Camera Committee. His work is on display in the Transit Hall at LA’s Union Station thru 2021.

Photo Captions, from upper left clockwise: 1. Close Up of TBM Cutting Head DTLA

R.C. 2018

2) Troy Miner Hollywood CA 1994 3) Miners Graveyard Shift Hollywood Red

Line 1994

4) TBM Hole Thru DTLA R.C. 2018

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Meetings and Outings

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Sierra Club Camera Committee --

December 10, 2020 Meeting Denali: The Land of Ice and Snow In the spring of 2018, with favorable weather, West LA Sierra Club member Michael Chamoun scaled the third most isolated peak in the world via the West Buttress. Join us as he shares his first-hand account of what he experienced through photos, videos, and a Q & A.

Zoom Link

Where:

In the comfort of your own home via Zoom

Provided before the Presentation

When:

See You There!

7:00 PM

What:

Climbing Denali: Land of Ice and Snow

The Zoom platform has recently been upgraded to provide high security and ease of operation.

Be certain to download or upgrade to the latest vesion before the presentation!

Who:

Presented by Michael Chamoun 12

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This Month’s Member Photos

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SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

This Month's Member Photos

MAY 2015

John Fisanotti © 2020, John Fisanotti, All Rights Reserved

Attached are m photos submitte for the Decemb newsletter. Th color imag were taken at th Japanese Garde in Portlan Oregon in 201 The B&W is cactus in th Desert Garden the Huntingto Gardens in Sa Marin

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SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

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my ed ber he ges he en nd, 19. sa he at on an no.

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© 2020, John Fisanotti, All Rights Reserved

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John Nilsson ©2020, John Nilsson, All Rights Reserved

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Rhyolite A recent trip to Death Valley found me venturing across the boarder into Nevada thinking that the town of Beatty might be a place of interest. Almost to Beatty, I was sidetracked by what appeared to be ruins on a distant hillside to the north of the road. The ruins proved to be what was left of the Town of Rhyolite, NV. Rhyolite was born in 1904 when a couple of prospectors named Shorty and E.L. found quartz all over the hillside. The quartz was full of gold. Soon there were over 2000 claims covering everything for a 30 mile radius and the town boomed. Within a year of the discovery there were buildings popping up everywhere. There was a 3 story high rock and concrete bank building, a stock exchange, hotels, stores, a school for 250 children, an ice plant, two electric power plants, foundaries, machine shops, a railroad station and a red light district that drew entertainers from far away San Francisco.

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The glory was short lived, however, and the to years later by the financial panic of 1907 when ev bustling town was abandoned. These photos pret

Š2020, John Nilsson

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own and the mines were pretty well done in only a few verything started shutting down. By 1916 the once tty much illustrate what remains.

n, All Rights Reserved

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Wiebe Gortmaker ©2020 Wiebe Gortmaker, All Rights Reserved

In October of 2016 during the last days of the Obama administration my wife Teri and I joined a group on a “cultural tour” of Cuba. Most of the time was spent in Havana but a short overnight trip to Cienfuegos and Trinidad gave us a glimpse of some of the island’s countryside. It was obvious that the country has not fared well under communist rule and everywhere are signs of poverty and decay. Stately old colonial mansions have been neglected over the last 70 odd years and some are in such bad shape that they have been fenced off for public safety. But the Cubans are a proud people and in the absence of wealth they find enjoyment in music and sports. One morning we spent a couple of hours at a dance academy watching a troupe rehearsing for a performance.

We also visited one of the many boxing gyms where young kids were learning the skills that continually place them high in international competitions. We found prople to be openly friendly and enthusiastic for the American lifestyle, 26

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totally in love with American cars.

Cab drivers are quick to show how they have managed, in spite of the U.S. embargos, to keep their precious relics running, sometimes with Russian carburators adapted to the U.S. engines. Outside the capital are many posters of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro and slogans denouncing the evil government to the north but the people in the street don’t seem to share the government point of view. The sunset shot was taken in Trinidad, a resort city on the southern side of the island. Probably built with Russian backing the hotel had air conditioning but none of it worked. The beaches were clean and the views beautiful As the last four years have seen a setback in the progress of normalizing relations between our two countries I am hopeful that the next four years may see some new progress. Cuba could use some major investment in its infastructure and tourism would be a benefit to both countries. Time will tell.

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© 2020 Wiebe Gortmaker All Rights Reserved

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© 2020 Weibe Gortmaker, All Rights Reserved

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Madrona

I began photogra once been so pre communities hav and man’s never

Madrona Marsh on land that was up around it leav

Madrona Marsh or rivers, instead their winter stor 36

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Peter Bennett Š 2020, Peter Bennett, All Righs Reserved

Marsh

aphing Southern California wetlands a few years ago, I became fascinated by how something that had evalent could diminish to a scattering of just a few small pockets and enclosed areas. Although some ve made great efforts to protect them, wetlands are still under constant assault by development, pollution ending encroachment on nature.

Preserve is an enclosed seasonal wetlands comprised of 43 acres in the city of Torrance. It is situated s meant for oil production in the 1920s, but it was never developed. The city grew ving an oasis and natural habitat for many birds, reptiles and other small animals.

is a vernal (Spring) marsh. There is no specific water source like other wetlands that are fed by streams d the marsh is located at the lowest point in the area and the higher slopes shed rm waters into the marsh as a temporary collection pool.

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Š 202 Peter Bennett, All Rights Reserved

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Editor’s Note:

SCCC welcomes our newest member, Peter Bennett.

Peter is an Environmental Photographer who lives in Culver City and uses his camera for the promotion of Environmental efforts.

Peter’s website is http://CitizenofthePlanet.com

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Susan Manley PELICAN

When I retired, I bought a Nikon DSLR. With my

camera in hand, I was at Marina del Rey. I was walking on a boardwalk when I saw a pelican swimming in colored water. At first I thought it was an oil spill or chemicals and was worried about the pelican. Then, much to my relief, I realized the colors were from reflections of a nearby boat. I thought they would make a unique background for the pelican, especially since they were complimentary red and green colors.

Due to the encouragement of a friend, award-winning

photographer Tin Man Lee, I posted my pelican photo on North American Nature Photography Association’s (NANPA) Facebook site. Much to my surprise, I had many responses!

I was flabbergasted to learn that several people live in various areas in America where there are pelicans. I was amazed to see where one person was inspired to use a similar technique as mine to photograph pelicans in boat reflections. And it was interesting to see a variety of comments, such as «it looks like a painting» or an «abstract.» And some people even shared my photo in Audubon clubs! There were so many more responses than usual on the Facebook page, that NANPA requested to interview me for an upcoming blog. I am humbly honored that this photo would evoke so much favorable attention.

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© 2020, JW Doherty, All Rights Reserved

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JW Doherty We took a four-week roadtrip from mid-October into November, spending two weeks along US 50 in Nevada and the last four nights in Yosemite Valley. The fall colors came all at once in Yosemite, not the usual sequence according to a friend of ours who lives in Coarsegold. Early November saw the oaks, the cottonwoods, the dogwoods, the aspens, and the grasses all glowing at once, and then it snowed.

We had some long days.

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© 2020 JW Doherty, All Rights Reserved

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© 2020 JW All Rights R

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W Doherty Reserved

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SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

LARRY MILLER © 2020 Larry Miller, All Rights Reserved

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MAY 2015

SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

MAY 2015

I captured these 4 images while photo hiking during the month of November. The first photo shows a honey bee on a Datura flower in Point Mugu State Park. The remaining 3 photos are from Red Rock Canyon State Park.

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SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

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© 2020, Larry Miller,

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SIERRA CLUB ANGELES CHAPTER CAMERA COMMITTEE

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, All Rights Reserved

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John Clement Some Recent Local Ramblings:

Deer Creek Lane-On our way to the Oregon coast last month these show stopping reds would cause anyone to brake and make a u-turn. Š2020, John Clement, All Rights Reserved

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Beach Lines- on the Oregon coast after a stormy morning.

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Blue Hills- as a light dusting of snow covers the furrows in the Palouse Hills this week.

Birch Dreams-I heard the birch tree in the White River Valley east of Wenatchee Wa. were putting on a show. A short 4 hour drive to confirm the rumors.

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Š 2020 John Clement, All Rights Reserved

Blue Barn- in the Palouse after delivering 1700- 2021 calendars to my client there.

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Gentle Light-from underneath the overcast as suns rays gently cut holes thru the clouds.

Harvest is Done - in the Horse Heaven Hills just south of my home.

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Magenta-Blue Sunrise-Out my back door at 22 degrees last week. The first red sunlight lit up the frosty hilside. Š 2020, John Clement, All Rights Reserved

Sunrise from Above the Fog- 5 min. from my home to overlook the Columbia Basin shrouded in fog.

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Bob Beresh

Just a few shots from else. Big squirrels with p and recently as they’ve b let me get pretty close to

Š 2020 B All Rights

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m Colorado. I know, here in Colorado, Mule Deer are like squirrels anywhere pointy things coming out of their heads! Either way, I think they’re pretty cool been foraging for the last of the nutritious plants and fallen leaves, the deer have o observe them. Additionally, from a road trip to Aspen in early October.

Bob Beresh s Reserved

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Editor’s note: Bob and his wife are moving on to the Third World but Bob will continue to be a member and contributor to SCCC.

Best of luck to the two of you in Addis Ababa Ethiopia! Š 2020 Bob Beresh, All Rights Reserved 62

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o a,

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Paul Reinstein Š 2020, Paul Reinstein, All Rights Reserved

Morning Dove - Kenneth Hahn SP 64

pa spo Al wh bir po

I’ve heard it said that there are over 500 species of birds that live in, or ass through, Los Angeles. These are just a few of them. I’ve barely begun to ot them all, let alone know what season or what habitat to look for them in. ll these birds are wild in Los Angeles, not baited. I try to capture behaviors hen i can, small passerine birds like sparrows and finches, and i love to shoot rds in flight. My goal is always to capture as much excruciating detail as ossible. So far, their colors and variety continue to astound.

Northern Harrier -

Baloona Freshwater Marsh

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Northern Harrier Chasing Osprey Baloona Freshwater Marsh

Pied Grebe Baloona Freshwater Marsh 66

Red Cropped Parrot Irvine Regional Park Š 2020 Paul Reinstein All Rights Reserved

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Red Necked Phalarope Baloona Freshwater Marsh

Red Winged Blackbird Ballona Freshwater Marsh 68

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Ridgeway’s Rail -

Baloona Freshwater Marsh

Ruddy Duck Baloona Freshwater Marsh

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Sanderling Malabu Lagoon State Park

Short-billed Dowhicher Baloona Freshwater Marsh 70

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Snowy Egret Baloona Fresh Water Marsh

Snowy Egret Baloona Fresh Water Marsh

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Sora -

Baloona Fresh Water Marsh

Spotted Sandpiper -

Baloona Freshwater Marsh

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© 2020 All Rig

Tree Swallow -

Baloona Freshwater Marsh

Paul Reinstein, ghts Reserved

Western Grebe San Joaquin Marsh

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Allen Johnson

Autumn Sunrise

Sky and Water 74

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©2020 Allen Johnson, All Rights Reserved

Fall Islands with Moon and Geese

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Early Mor

Š 2020 Allen Johnson, All Rights Reserved

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rning Fog

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Mirror Painted

Š2020 Allen Johnson, All Rights Res

Flowering Haworthia Limifolia 78

Tiger Lillies

served

Denver Botainical Gardens

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The Black and White Pages Crested San Pedro Cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi f. cristata) in the Desert Garden of the Huntington Gardens, San Marino, CA.

John Fisanotti

Nikon D850 Nikor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 55mm f/2.8 @1/750 ISO 800

Š 2019 Fisanotti, All Rights Reserved

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Half Dome

Yosemite Valley JW Doherty Nikon D850 Tamron SP 24-70 F2/8 DiVC @52mm f/8 @ 1/250 ISO 64

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© 2020 John Nilsson, All Rights Reserved

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Daisies

LA Flower Mart

John Nilsson Leica M10 Monochrom Zeiss Planar 2/50 ZM 50mm f/8 @ 1/500 ISO 800

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Contributor Bios

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 88

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. I 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 from 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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Thomas Loucks

Tom has been a longstanding amateur photographer, but only in recent years has he had more serious time to devote to the hobby. 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. He is also the incoming President of Mile High Photo Club in Denver (2021-2022) where he currently serves as VP and as a Director.

His photographic interests are landscape, wildlife, and travel photography, though his favorite subjects are alpine landscapes.

Recently retired, Tom is looking forward to spending more time on photography and other outdoor activities. He recently signed up as a volunteer with Denver Audubon to assist with field trips and hopes that those will soon resume.

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Basil Katsaros

A native of Denver, Colorado, I first attended Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Not understanding humidity or seeing the sun for 30 days, I transferred to the University of Colorado. During my junior year, a roommate needed money and sold me his Pentax 35mm camera. That moment launched my interest in photography. My interests and knowledge were expanded by the Nikon School of Photography.

In the earlier days, subject matter centered around my twin sons with travel photos and Christmas cards. As a real estate appraiser, I used photography in much of my work. I must admit, however, the 70’s primarily utilized a Polaroid as film was too time consuming for client demands. I have since graduated to two Nikon digital cameras and too many lenses.

While attempting to downshift in work, I occasionally use my photography skills to testify as an expert witness in real estate.

My interests include travel, landscape, and wildlife photography. I’m not smart enough to have a website, maybe someone can show me how. Most images are for personal enjoyment and mainly remain in my computer. My goal at this time is too not only become a better photographer, but to conquer Photoshop!!!

Ansel Adams - 1971 Shot by Ken Karagozian on a High School Field Trip 97

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Causes, Notes, and Announcements

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Notes and Announcements Joe Doherty Writes:

I’ve published a book of photographs selected from those I posted on social media from March to August this year. I initially posted them as a way to cope with Covid-19 and everything else 2020.

The series of images resonated with many of my friends, and some of them asked for a book. I’m selling it as a fundraiser for the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at UCLA School of Law, where I used to work. Proceeds will benefit the mission of the Institute. You can read more about it here:

https://joe-doherty.squarespace.com/daily-calm

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My annual calendar, «The Public’s Land,» is for sale on my website at

https://joe-doherty.squarespace.com/calendar The calendar is 8.5 x 11 inches, spiral bound, and $18 apiece.

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David DesRochers Writes: I am happy to pass on two exciting offers for two of my favorite editing programs: NIK Collection and Topaz AI. Please share with your club members.

From November 26 to 30, 2020 the entire shop will be on discount of up to -50%.

The awesome Nik Collection -50%, at $74.90 from 149$ The new PhotoLab 4 Elite -40% , at $119.90 from 199$ The Filmpack collection -50%, at $64.90 from 129$ The Viewpoint software -50%, at $24.90 from 49$ Starting Friday, November 27th, take advantage of the lowest price you’ll ever see for any Topaz products.

Use code david15 at check out for additional savings.

Click Here to Buy: https://www.dxo.com/?utm_source=affiliation&utm_ medium=awin&utm_campaign=black-Friday-2020&awc=18170_160 6349541_8be317bbeab1ad39577da68b3404a8a1

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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 105

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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

Grand Canyon Thomas Cloutier

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Tamron 16-300 @ 55mm F/13 at 1/100 ISO 100

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The Parting Shot

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

Steve Anderson, Leader

sandersonimagery@outlook.com

Carole Scurlock, Leader

213-266-2224

cscurlock@charter.net

Allan Der, Leader, ader@sprynet.com

714-962-2054

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

714-892-4857

Ed Ogawa - Treasurer

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

626-794-5207

Peter Mason, Leader

323-828-8334

peter@petermason.com

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530-265-2528

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