We had another great Photography Interest Group meeting via Zoom from 2-4:10pm August 19th. Seven participants shared photos, many fitting this month’s themes – “Perfectly Imperfect”: share a favorite photo with an intangible quality that breaks some photography rule, like placing the subject in the middle of the frame, or cutting off the top of someone’s head.
Most of us shared photos from the other themes – ICM (in-camera movement), panning, and motion. These types of images usually are long exposures using a neutral density filter or shot in low light to achieve a slower shutter speed.
As a result of the recent World Cup fan celebrations, I thought “emotions” would be a great theme. Some wonderful and poignant photos were shared. Heather embraces this theme cause her style of photography often captures people interacting with emotion. Sharon had a photo of a unhoused person but did not want to post it here. It did capture a poignant vulnerable moment very worthy of the emotions theme.
Here are the photos shared this month:

Barbara – Even though Barbara has been struggling a bit with settings on her new camera. She always manages to share photos that drive our discussions. Learning how to us a new camera brand is an issue for many of us. Different terminology, menus, button placement can take a while to get used to. But that hasn’t stopped her from taking her new Nikon ZF on her walks and continuing to make photos.

Barb Donovan – Barb shared photos fitting the emotions, motion, and “perfectly imperfect” interpreted as “mistakes”. Many of these wonderful photos were from the San Diego Fair or recent travels. She’s got a real instinct for figuring out where to setup. At the offloading of the sky cars at the SD Fair for example.

Cathy – Cathy is a member of the San Diego Poly Photos group and is very active with her camera. Much of what she does for that group is often shared with our group. It’s educational and enlightening to hear some of the feedback she gets from professional judges regarding many of the photos she share with us – critiques on technique, composition, and post-processing. We aren’t nearly as focused on compositional rules or technical perfection but more on creative expression.

Gary – Gary shared a great story about this family photos that was relatable & greatly appreciated by the group. His mountain goat image also came with a great backstory and that’s what our photo sharing is all about.
Gary also photographed the huge surf but had a technical issue with his camera that was difficult to remedy in post. Creatively, I want to know how you can simulate a photo taken by moonlight in the middle of the day using just a CPL filter.

Heather – Heather has an amazing eye for photographing people and their emotions. This, along with recent World Cup fan reactions, prompted the Emotions theme for this month. As predicted, she represented the category really well.
Her other notable images were of one from Idaho of skijoring, a fast-paced winter sport where a horse and rider tow a skier or snowboarder through a timed obstacle course of jumps, gates, and rings, and of a pride parade in Spain.

Sharon – Sharon shared two photos of an unhoused person that she requested I not post online. Although shot in public and probably fine to post, she wanted to respect the person’s vulnerable moment. We totally respect that. Street photography often captures people at fragile or embarrassing moments. A photographer faces two distinct choices: whether to take the picture and whether to share it later. In our small group, sharing such photos can be educational & promote discussion. But we filter what we post online, like that photo & photos of our grandkids.
The other photo she shared was something rarely (never?) seen by everyone in the meeting – a shed lizard skin. I have no recollection of ever seeing a shed lizard skin. I’ve seen plenty of lizards but never a skin.

Jim – Comic-Con is a San Diego institution and photographing people around the convention center can make for great street photography. Jim braved the chaos for the 1st time this year and shared a few moments.
One of Jim’s favorite things about photography, is the camera’s ability to freeze and blur time. In-camera movement, panning, and slow-shutter photography are perennial favorite styles. Panning is challenging but when done properly, but can result in unique images depicting motion. Photographing a non-moving subject amongst the fast moving is another fascinating & challenging style. Jim did not share any Emotions images unless Comic-con portraits count but photos with motion blur might be Perfectly Imperfect. Jim was photographing on the beach in Oceanside when Bruce, the Oceanside Trenchcoat Guy, happened by. It made for some great moments, supporting the idea of always having your camera when you are out.