Year: 2026

UCSD Photography Interest Group > Blog > 2026

15 Jul 2026 Zoom Meeting Minutes

Posted on July 15, 2026July 21, 2026 by jrwilkinson

This is the Zoom AI’s summary of our meeting. The photo sharing portion does not seem to be covered. Perhaps when I start sharing my screen, the auto-note taking is reset. I’ll try to turn it back on next time.

Key Outcomes

The group reviewed Barb’s fair-entry photos, discussed smart telescope technology (Seestar), and shared experiences from the county fair — including the overcrowded awards ceremony and judging dynamics. Barb earned four ribbons total, including two third-place finishes and honorable mentions. The meeting also covered practical tips on astrophotography gear and fair logistics.

Decisions Made

Seestar smart telescope recommended for astrophotography beginners: easier target-finding, built-in light pollution filter, travel-friendly at ~2 lbs. 12
Planetary photography not ideal with Seestar S30/S50 (wide-field); better results use video stacking; longer focal-length models are in development. 3
Awards ceremony attendance deemed not worth repeating due to overcrowding; preference shifted to arriving early, skipping the ceremony, and viewing the gallery independently. 45
Duplicate photo entries: judges typically eliminate one if two near-identical images are submitted. 67

Photo Review — Barb’s Fair Entries

Convergence (Japan) — Black & white cityscape; Honorable Mention 8
Velodrome mechanical shot — Taken at club outing; entered in All Things Mechanical; texture and grain added in post; feedback advised keeping the dark bottom crop 910
Hush Cathedral (Kyoto misty hike) — Trees & Plants category; notable for all-day misty rain conditions 11
Living Echoes (Mount Fuji reflection) — 3rd place, Trees & Plants; refined via club feedback 12
GoPro fair ride shot — Background blacked out in Lightroom; 3rd place, Fair category 1213
Museum ladder/waterscape — Feedback: straightened ladder curve, removed stringy cloud; entered in Waterscapes; Honorable Mention 14
Japanese tree preservation (Karaoke/Kara pines) — Slight overexposure noted; Honorable Mention 1516

Fair Logistics & Judging Notes

Awards night was severely overcrowded two years running; attendees passed out in the room. 417
Alternative strategy: arrive early, skip ceremony, view gallery with wine — no crowd, same experience. 5
Parking/shuttle issues on July 3rd caused 2–3 hour delays; remote lots (La Jolla High, Torrey Pines) recommended. 1718
Visual fatigue sets in with too many entries; impact diluted after viewing hundreds of photos. 18
Judge critiques (when attended) provide useful per-image feedback, even if overall winner logic remains opaque. 19

Open Questions

Whether Gary will get a Seestar after seeing his friend’s results 320
Best post-processing approach to darken the sky in Barb’s pine tree image (AI masking in Lightroom suggested as possible solution) 16

Action Items

Gary: Request sample photos from friend who owns a Seestar 20
James: Queue Mickey’s falconry photos for review at next meeting (missed due to social engagement) 21
James: Review John’s photos next after Barb’s 8

15 Jul 2026 Themes 4th of July/America’s 250th: John

Posted on July 15, 2026July 20, 2026 by jrwilkinson

John shared some 4th of July/America’s 250th parade photos from Bristol, RI. The parade participants marched in wilting summer upper 90º heat (+100º heat index).
Bristol Rhode Island hosts America’s oldest continuous Fourth of July celebration, which began in 1785. The nearly two-week event spans from Flag Day on June 14 to July 4, featuring concerts, a parade, and fireworks.
John splits his time as docent between the Star of India Maritime Museum in San Diego and the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol.

15 Jul 2026 Themes Portfolio Project: Norm

Posted on July 15, 2026July 20, 2026 by jrwilkinson

Norm added standard panoramic images to his immersive 360 panoramas. Some of these are crops of his 360º panos, some rectilinear versions. He already has a nicely produced portfolio at his website normolsonphoto.com. So we’ll compile the images he’s shared during the meetings with links to 360cities.net and his website.

15 Jul 2026 Themes Portfolio Project: Cathy

Posted on July 15, 2026July 19, 2026 by jrwilkinson

Cathy shared more photos of San Diego Landmarks. This month’s iconic locales were landscapes.

15 Jul 2026 Themes Portfolio Project: Barbara

Posted on July 15, 2026July 19, 2026 by jrwilkinson

Barbara shared photos for her street photography portfolio. She uses her Nikon Zf’s black&white mode to improve the visualization of photos in black&white. A handy & useful feature of this camera.

15 Jul 2026 Themes Portfolio Project: Barb

Posted on July 15, 2026July 19, 2026 by jrwilkinson

Barb shared more architectural photos to add to her portfolio. Architectural photos are often great subjects for black&white so she’s exploring DXO Nik Collection’s Silver Efex post-processing. Stay tuned for black&white versions of the color photos if she likes the results.

The glowing white appearance comes from marble chips blown into the exterior stucco plaster

15 Jul 2026 Themes: Portfolio Project; 4th July/America’s 250th/SD Fair

Posted on July 15, 2026July 21, 2026 by jrwilkinson

Another lively Zoom meeting with the several regular and semi-regular participants. We discussed the SD Fair and the photos members of our group had accepted. I compiled the photos three members of the group had accepted, some winning ribbons or honorable mentions: https://ucsdphoto.group/2026/07/2026-san-diego-fair-photos-from-ucsd-phig/

This month’s theme is the third & final installment of the Portfolio Project. The idea was to compile 30 or more images of similar style, subject, or technique. The portfolio theme can continue if participants want to keep working on the project.
The alternate themes were Fourth of July, America’s 250th birthday, and SD Fair. Many of us visited the SD Fair to check out the photography exhibition, take photos, eat fried Oreos, people-watch and go to photography workshops. The photos we had accepted into the exhibition are here.

Barb – shared more architectural photos to add to her portfolio. Architectural photos are often great subjects for black&white so she’s exploring DXO Nik Collection’s Silver Efex post-processing. Stay tuned for black&white versions of the color photos if she likes the results.

Barbara – shared photos for her street photography portfolio. She uses her Nikon Zf’s black&white mode to improve the visualization of photos in black&white. A handy & useful feature of this camera.

Cathy – shared more photos of San Diego Landmarks. This month’s iconic locales were landscapes.

Norm – added panoramic images to his immersive 360 panoramas. Some of these are crops of his 360º panos, some rectallinear versions. He already has a nicely produced portfolio at his website normolsonphoto.com. So we’ll compile the images he’s shared during the meetings with links to 360cities.net and his website.

John – shared some 4th of July/America’s 250th parade photos from Bristol, RI. The parade participants marched in wilting summer upper 90º heat (+100º heat index).
Bristol Rhode Island hosts America’s oldest continuous Fourth of July celebration, which began in 1785. The nearly two-week event spans from Flag Day on June 14 to July 4, featuring concerts, a parade, and fireworks.
John splits his time as docent between the Star of India Maritime Museum in San Diego and the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol.

Sharon – shared more of her favorite backyard decorticating eucalyptus tree bark photos. These become a humorous Rorschach test.

Jim – continued his Japan portfolio with 16×9 crop/style. Inspired by Cathy’s San Diego Iconic Locations, Jim added more iconic locations in Japan. His multiple trips from 2007-2023 have been limited to southern Japan, visiting Tokyo, Yokohama, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara (deer city), & Kagoshima.
His photos of Diabutsu of Kamakuri were from 2010. Photos of Kagoshima & its volcano, Sakurajima, were taken in 2007. Sakurajima, one of the world’s most active volcanoes erupts hundreds of times a year, sending dramatic ash clouds into the sky on an almost daily basis.
If you visit Japan in April, the cherry blossoms are blooming, especially around Kyoto, adding to its charm.

15 Jul 2026 Themes Portfolo Project: Jim

Posted on July 15, 2026July 20, 2026 by jrwilkinson

Jim continued his Japan portfolio with 16×9 crop/style. Inspired by Cathy’s San Diego Iconic Locations, Jim focused on iconic locations in Japan. His multiple trips from 2007-2023 have been limited to southern Japan, visiting Tokyo, Yokohama, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara (deer city), & Kagoshima.
His photos of Diabutsu of Kamakuri were from 2010. The Diabutsu Buddha was cast in 1252 and weighs over 200,000lbs.
Photos of Kagoshima & its volcano, Sakurajima, were taken in 2007. Sakurajima is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, erupting hundreds of times a year, sending dramatic ash clouds into the sky on an almost daily basis.
In Nara Japan, ~1687 wild sika deer roam freely around the city. I have a vague memory of my visit in 1970 so we had to make the 30min train ride from Kyoto east. They are plentiful throughout the parks, temple grounds, and many green area in the city. Tourists can buy packets of special “deer crackers” (shika senbei, rice crackers) sold by local vendors to feed them. The deer can be aggressive if they know you have crackers to give, even in pockets. They will bow “politely” to earn a cracker, if prompted by you bowing as well. If you love seeing or being around deer, this is a unique and wonderful place.

15 Jul 2026 Themes Portfolo Project; 4th of July: Sharon

Posted on July 15, 2026July 20, 2026 by jrwilkinson

Sharon shared more of her favorite backyard decorticating eucalyptus tree bark photos. These become a humorous Rorschach test which can be her portfolio theme.

2026 San Diego Fair Photos from UCSD PhIG

Posted on July 5, 2026July 21, 2026 by jrwilkinson

We had a total of 23 photos accepted out of over 4000 entries. Getting accepted is awesome but winning a ribbon in your category is even better. Here are the entries from Cathy, Barb, and Jim that were accepted. The ribbon winners are at the top.

Cathy 1st Place “Mechanical” Category

Cathy’s 2nd Place “At The Fair” Category