Sept. 1999
President's
Message
Rocky Mountain High
Portrait of ...
Conference Report
Conference Reports
This month we have two reports:
Amherst Photographic Conference Report
- Contributed by Karl Leck
One of the reasons for my visit to Amherst this year was to meet Ctein and see his prints up close. His medium is dye transfer color prints. He probably is the best current practitioner in a very small group of people since Kodak no longer makes the materials. His photos are ordinary looking at first glance but capture wonderfully subtle nuances of color. Many have a zen quality or show things we would have great difficulty in capturing (e.g. aurora, total eclipse of the sun up close, newest moon over Haleakula Crater). He likes to print for very subtle shadow detail and extended tone/color range.
His web site (I just surf for Ctein with any web browser) has a lot of his images, info, and intelligent talk. The guy looks like a skinny, long beard/hair hippie who just stepped out of the field at Woodstock. But having met the guy, I agree he is a genius and the most technically aware darkroom worker I've ever met. I bought his book and am happy to share it with anyone interested. Be sure to see his web site.
I thought this year's Amherst Conference was the best I've attended. EXCEPT for the Saturday night travel ad for cruising that was Too many boats, Too much hype and Too much noise. Laurie Edison's nude "Women en Large" and newer male nude environmental portraits were a wonderful counterpoint to the great travel photography of Lisl Dennis, Rick Sammon and others. And 17 year old Jillian was the best model Amherst has presented in my memory. You will see her in print competition this year.
54th Annual Photo Conference of the New England Camera Club Council
- Contributed by Bob Coffey
There were 1252 attendees at the 54th Annual Photo Conference of the New England Camera Club Council, July 16-18, 1999. The Delaware Photographic Society was well represented by 25 members. Congratulations to members Karl Leck and Lilian Fulde for their outstanding achievements.
Lilian won a medal for “Best Ornithology” (The Strindberg Award) with her nature slide Courting Ritual and an Honorable Mention Ribbon for her pictorial slide, String Symphony.
Karl was awarded the NECCC Medal “Best of Show” in the Slide Category for Willi, Honor Award Judges Choice Medal for Lost Rider in Color Prints, and an Honor Award in the Black & White Print Category for Fountain Fun.
For those who have never attended, the conference is a veritable smorgasbord of lectures, presentations and workshops conducted simultaneously in various locations around the campus. There is something of interest for every level and more sessions than anyone can possibly attend. Numerous vendors have booths selling photographic equipment and supplies, many at bargain prices. As a first year attendee I was very impressed with the quality and diversity of the programs and I highly recommend this annual event to other club members.