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Sol's Calendar of Events


  • Shows ( some dates are tentative)

    DATE

    NAME & LOCATION

    SPONSOR (and website if applicable)

    Sep 6 – 7

    Currituck Wildlife Festival         Currituck County High School          Hwy 158, Barco, NC

    Coinjock Ruritan Club

    Sept 12 – 13 &

        Sept 19 - 120

    Wake Forest Area Artists Studio Tour

    Wake Forset, NC

    Sol Levine -- naturpix@mindspring.com

    www.artistsstudiotour.homestead.com/

    Sep 27-28

     

    Quiet Waters Park Arts & Music Festival, Annapolis, MD

    Friends of Quiet Waters Park

    www.friendsofquietwaterspark.com

    Oct 11

    (tentative)

    Sertoma Arts Center Instructors Show Millbrook Road                            Raleigh

    Sertoma Arts Center/Raleigh Parks


  • Exhibits

    DATE

    NAME & LOCATION

    SPONSOR (and website if applicable)

    July 4 – July 27

    Nature of Art Gallery, NC Museum of Natural Science Raleigh

    Group exhibit with Carolina Nature Photographer’s Association

    July 6– Aug 17

    Sertoma Arts Center

    Millbrook Road, Raleigh

    Group Exhibit with Triangle Fine-Arts Photographers Society

    July 24 – Aug 24

    Page-Walker House

    Cary, NC

    Group Exhibit with Triangle Fine-Arts Photographers Society

     

    National Wildlife Visitor’s Center @ Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD

    Exhibit delayed due to construction at the site; watch for new dates

    Oct 1 – Nov 14

    Naked Swirl  @ Wakefield Commons Shopping Center; Raleigh

    www.nakedswirl.com

    October 1 - 31

    Holly Springs (NC) Cultural Center

    www.hollyspringsnc.us


  • Upcoming Nature Photo Workshops
    ( Contact Sol at naturpix@mindspring.com for further information and updated schedules )

    DATES

    LOCATION/SPONSOR

    REGISTRATION INFORMATION

    July 22 – Aug 12 (Tuesdays)

    6:30 – 8:30 PM for 4 weeks

    Sertoma Arts Center       1400 Millbrook Rd      Raleigh

    Info  & registration:   parks.raleighnc.gov

    at the Sertoma Arts Center,

    Sept 2 – Sep 23 (Tuesdays)

    6 – 8 PM for 4 weeks

    Durant Nature Park        Durant Road                 Raleigh

    Karen Berry                          (919-870-2871)

    Info & registration:  parks.raleighnc.gov @ Durant Park

    September 20 (Saturday)

    1-day session

    Durham Arts Council, Inc. 120 Morris Street             Durham

    Info & registration: http://www.durhamarts.org/classes.html

    Oct. 16, 23,  Nov 6 (Thursdays, 6:30 – 8:30 PM)

    Nov 1 – Shooting Session , 8 AM – 4 PM

    Sertoma Arts Center        1400 Millbrook Rd        Raleigh

    Info  & registration:   parks.raleighnc.gov

    at the Sertoma Arts Center,

    March 14, 2009 (Saturday)

    NC Estuarium

    Washington, NC

    Linda Boyer                          (252-948-0000)

    estuary@beaufortco.com

    Jul 22 – Aug 12  (Tuesdays)

    6:30 – 8:30 PM for 4 weeks

    Sertoma Arts Center       1400 Millbrook Rd      Raleigh

    Info  & registration:   parks.raleighnc.gov

    at the Sertoma Arts Center,

     

How are the workshops set up, how long are they and who are they for?

The outdoor photography workshops are usually set up and sponsored by an organization or group and taught by Sol Levine. The format of the workshops vary depending upon length, but follow the three outlines below:

  1. A one-day workshop starting between 7 and 9 am and lasting for 6-7 hours including a lunch break. There is some optional fieldwork following the classroom sessions.
  2. A 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 day workshop with fieldwork included on the afternoon of the first day. If at a sight where possible, arrangements for a shop to develop the film or print digital photos to be returned to the participants the next morning for review, critique and continuation of the workshop. A contest is even possible…….best photo as selected by independent judges.
  3. A full weekend workshop to include some introductions and general discussion on the first evening. The first full day will include classroom work, fieldwork, general discussion and some free time. The second day will include added fieldwork and the wrap-up of the classroom portions.

Past attendees have included beginners from teens to seniors, hobbyists and birders looking to improve their skills, artists and carvers seeking to improve on the gathering of reference material and nature lover's looking to expand their capabilities. A newspaper photographer, advanced photographers and a veteran indoor portrait photographer have been in the workshops. All walked out saying they gained something from the session.

 

What's covered?

The main themes in the first part of the workshop and applicable to film or digital include:

    • Equipment: Do you need all the stuff the magazines and manufacturer's tell you to buy? What is really needed, how to maximize capability at minimal cost and what to look for in used equipment.
    • The tradeoffs: f-stop vs shutter speed vs film/digital vs the light or motion conditions. How do they work together? Does the time of day matter?
    • Metering: automatic-metering systems on film or digital are easily fooled by a variety of conditions. How do you override or compensate for the automatic system to produce a better photograph? What is "opening and closing" a lens…..or using the EV and white balance controls on the camera.

The discussion points on these broad topics are applicable to film and digital photography. This is the "technical" part of the workshops:

    • A discussion of lenses and accessories; what's needed?
    • Depth of field (including hyperfocal distance), subject isolation and control of both
    • Metering; film latitude and avoiding unwanted silhouettes
    • Working in variable light conditions with moving subjects; warming & polarizing filters
    • Maximizing equipment for minimal costs
    • Miscellaneous accessories …. Pros and cons of some advertised products
    • The slide/print film debate and the film/digital debate

Another group of topics covered in the workshop

    • Digital photography (some items not covered above) including why the photo may look different on the camera vs a computer screen vs the printed photo ……..the digital workflow synopsized
    • Composition ….what is considered "good" and how you can "cheat" on it.
    • Be your own worst critic.
    • Places to shoot, how to get close and maximize your capabilities
    • A "quiz"
    • General discussion and exchange of ideas
    • Information availability
    • And much more!

    The workshop is informal allowing for open discussion and questions that are encouraged. This allows participants to get some specific questions answered ….and there is a free exchange of information and ideas has proven to be helpful to all participants. This is particularly helpful in the discussions concerning places to shoot since some participants have had varied experiences.

    What do you get?

    Each participant gets a binder containing the discussion notes, reprints of many articles to reinforce some of the discussion and other information. At least one roll of film is also provided for those who want to use film and other items as available. You'll have my email address if future questions crop up and individual reviews/critiques of some of their work can be scheduled.

    What do you have to bring to the workshop?

    Some enthusiasm for photography, a willingness to learn and some patience. Depending upon the venue, participants are asked to bring a bag lunch or support food vendors if available; depending upon the sponsor, lunch may be provided.

    Is a camera necessary? Most people do bring a camera (everything from disposables to the top-of-line have been in the same workshop) if they want some specific questions answered about it or if they plan to shoot as part of the workshop.

    Can you set up a workshop? What are the sponsoring organization's responsibilities?

    Contact me…….we'll work out the dates!

    Advertise the workshop……I do some via this website and flyers at camera stores and developing shops. Provide a room capable of being darkened, a projection screen and power for a slide projector.

    Some organizations register the participants; others leave that up to me.   One organization adds a fee to my charge as a small fundraiser; another has a fee for members and non-members, with the non-member rate including a year's membership in the organization. Another yet adds a fee and provides snacks and even lunch. If developing is used, the cost must be added to any fees.

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