From the Prez From the Editor On the Cover...Exposures Newsletter - Spring 2020 From the Prez Page 2-3 From the Editor Page 3 On the Cover Page 4 Who’s Who Page 4 “The Future of

Exposures Newsletter - Spring 2020

From the Prez Page 2-3

From the Editor Page 3

On the Cover Page 4

Who’s Who Page 4

“The Future of LCCC” Page 5-6

“Vacation Photography” Page 7-9

Upcoming Speakers Page 9

Recognitions Page 10

“Elliott’s Eaglets” Page 11-12

Club Links Page 13

© Lake County Camera Club, 2020

Website: www.lakecountycameraclub.org

Email: [email protected]

2


From the Prez...

These past two years have been an absolute pleasure serving as President

of your Lake County Camera Club (LCCC). With LCCC's 2019-2020 calendar

year nearing its end, the last months have remained daunting and unfamil-

iar due to Covid-19. As a consequence, the club has not been able to fulfill

its mission in programs, excursions, and/or competitions, as we've become

accustomed. The Board has recognized and accepted, that I relinquish duties as of June 30, 2020

vs. August 31, 2020. These additional two months will favor and prepare LCCC's new President, Tony

Roma, a smoother transition and advantage towards a more effective insight into the club's challeng-

es and continued concerns/conditions for the safety and well being of its members. As before men-

tioned, with Tony's [essential] profession, I have no doubt he will become an asset with CDC infor-

mation/guideline implementation.

Recently, CACCA has announced that competitions will be DPI online submissions, until at least

Christmas. Additionally, LCCC will not hold in-person meetings at the University Center , until at least

December 31st. LCCC asks that if you are not familiar with Zoom, now is the time to request assis-

tance and become comfortable. Even with my limited computer skills, was able to manage and enjoy

past lectures/programs. Do I need to mention, the pleasure socializing and seeing people! Please do

not be intimidated, we have all experienced a bump or two in setting up or not realizing the volume

was set at mute. Zoom benefits in offering speakers from outside our local area; members who share

a talent in a photography technique; on-line instruction on Photoshop, Lightroom, Post Processing

techniques, etc. Did I mention, the pleasure of socializing and seeing people.

As with any club/organization, LCCC needs volunteers = success! We all possess a gift, whether giv-

ing in time, or a skill to share with fellow photographers. I joined wishing to improve imagines and

avoid shooting in (P)program mode. When LCCC needed to fill the excursion chair, without any experi-

ence, members furnished me ideas in filling its calendar. When LCCC needed to fill President,

stepped up, with cooperation and direction from prior position representatives. Everyone has been/is

welcoming and helpful. While we all adapt toward our new normal, please consider supporting your

LCCC. Momentarily, we are seeking individuals with technology skills and in preparation, testing the

new DPI scoring, before our first CACCA competition.

In closing, would like to extend my appreciation and best wishes to Tony. This will not be a usual case

as LCCC President, to an everyday approach. Alone, finding a way back to any form of normalcy. Re-

assuring of its members. The commitment of any future gathering with safety in mind. The challenge

in retention of members due to unknowns and apprehension. All, and more, Tony and the club's

board members will need to undertake, with constant consideration and measure. LCCC may step

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forward, and three steps back. Therefore, I humbly ask for your patience and understanding as Tony ad-

justs to his position as LCCC President. We are all in this together!

A special thank you to Sue Baron for all her assistance. Never failing, Sue had all the answers to my ques-

tions - she makes all our assignments easier - and possibly, single-handedly run the show. To all volun-

teers, LCCC wouldn't be here without you and acknowledges your commitment. It's been an absolute

pleasure meeting the individuals who enjoyed their point-and-shoot, to those (we know who they are) who

could fill the pages of National Geographic. From beginner to professional, I have learned so very much

from each of you. Continue expressing your joy and passion through photography by capturing 'that' mo-

ment, which may never disclose itself again.

I ask that you and your loved ones remain safe, alert and healthy,

Thank you for the opportunity,

Jeff Fisher

From the Editor...

This quarter’s edition of Exposures will be a little different than

usual. As we continue press on through this pandemic and try to find

some normalcy in our lives, we are reminded every day how quickly

things can come to a halt and change our way of life forever. With

the closure of facilities and cancelation of excursions and

competitions, the usual announcements of honors and recognitions will be gone. But don’t sweat it.

Big changes are forthcoming for the new season. In this issue, we hope to inform everyone of all the

changes and how we as a camera club will continue to thrive forward.

Changes will include how we meet every month, modified competitions, and how excursions will be

planned for everyone to enjoy.

One last change will be the passing of the torch as Jeff Fisher will step down as Club President after

two years and pass the torch on to me as your President Elect. I would personally like to thank Jeff for

all he has done as Club President and what he’ll continue to do as Past President. I only hope I can

continue to fill his shoes and do as good a job as he did. Thank you Jeff!

Stay safe and healthy!

Anthony Roma, Newsletter Publisher

Email: [email protected]

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The cover photo for this quarter’s issue of

Exposures is the photograph of “Wingless in

Milwaukee” that won an award in the May PSA

Travel competition. This photo was taken during

the LCCC August 2019 Excursion to Milwaukee.

The wings of the Art Museum had been taken

down for their annual maintenance.

“Wingless” continued on to PSA’s End Of Year

competition and won a Bronze Medal in it’s

division.

On the Cover...

Who’s Who...

The Lake County Camera Club could not operate without the fine folks who volunteer on the Board of

Directors. The Board of Directors for the 2019-20 season are…

Jeff Fisher - President

Anthony Roma - President-Elect

Kimberly Shadduck - Past President

Sue Baron - Secretary

Jim Ross - Treasurer

Gary Edwards - Vice President, External Operations

Bill Sullivan - Vice President, Internal Operations

Bob Kruzic - Competition Chair

John Rouse - Webmaster

Anthony Roma - Newsletter Editor

There are also a number of other club members who volunteer in the operations of our club as well.

Without their help, this club doesn't continue. Special thanks to all who volunteer! To volunteer for an

open position within the Board of Directors or Operations of the club, please speak to one of the

current board members.

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The Future Of LCCC

While Illinois and the rest of the world try to press on and reopen in phases, the Lake County Camera

Club finds itself in a unique situation. The Board of Directors have been meeting every month and

discussed several options for the club as we move into the 2020-21 season.

As most of you know, the University Center has been closed since the start of this pandemic and the

future of its reopening any time soon is still unknown. Because of the unknown immediate reopening

plans and availability of the auditorium, starting the new 2020-21 season in September would be

unknown as well on where to hold the meeting and yet continue to maintain social distancing to

protect the health and safety of all of our club members.

The Board would first like to say that their #1 priority is the health and safety of all of the members of

the Lake County Camera Club, their family and friends, and all those that our members interact with.

Therefore, the start of the 2020-21 season will see many changes.

Club Meetings: Until January 2021, the monthly club meeting held the first Thursday of every month

will be held online using a web based meeting medium. John Rouse has graciously purchased a

subscription to Zoom for the club to use. The Board has been using Zoom for the past few months and

it works very well. John Williams has given a presentation to several clubs over the past couple of

months and was very well received. We will continue into the immediate future using Zoom for our club

presentation speakers and photo competitions. Reminders will be emailed out to club members with

the link for the Zoom meeting prior to the nights program. The LCCC website calendar will also be

updated. For those of you not familiar with Zoom, don’t be afraid. Zoom meetings are extremely user

friendly and within minutes, you’ll be amazed at how smoothly a meeting and presentation can go.

Your Board of Directors can also help anyone on how to use Zoom and walk you through the steps.

Users who attend Zoom meetings will need to download the program prior to attending. So for those of

you who have not yet used Zoom, allow yourself some time prior to your first meeting to download the

program and get familiar with it. To accommodate everyone in a timely manner for our meetings, we

ask that all who plan to attend, arrive promptly before the meeting’s scheduled starting time so that

the meeting can get started without delay. As we approach the end of 2020, the Board will reevaluate

the pandemic situation, the availability of the University Center, and the continued health and safety

measures practiced by our members and society to see how we as a club can move forward into 2021.

Excursions: LCCC monthly photo excursions will take on a whole new approach for getting our

members out there and shooting again. Each month’s excursion will now be for the entire month

instead of just going out on one day. In order to maintain the health and safety of our members and to

continue social distancing, members are free to travel on their own or in small groups as they feel

comfortable in to the designated excursion location of the month at any time during that month. Then

at the end of the month, members can submit photos to the LCCC website.

Competitions: LCCC will continue to hold its four competitions in October, December, February, and

April. These competitions will be held on Zoom. There will not be any prints this season. All photos will

be DPI format and judged by outside judges procured from other camera clubs. DPI honors winners will

move on to CACCA. CACCA has also announced that they will continue to hold their annual

competitions as well. The CACCA individual categories of nature, PJ, travel, etc will be DPI submission

only. All DPI submissions will continue to be submitted through the LCCC website.

LCCC Website: As we continue through 2021, the Lake County Camera Club website will be moving to

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a new home in February 2021. More details will be available in the coming months as things get fi-

nalized, formatted, and programmed. A special thanks goes out to John Rouse for his countless

hours on maintaining our website. The Lake County Camera Club would not be a success without

John and the tremendous work he has done throughout the years to keep our website going.

Shutter Café: In the ongoing effort to maintain social distancing and health safety, restaurants

across the country have closed their doors. As the reopening phases progress, restaurants will start

opening again with limited capacity. Due to this limited capacity and for the continued safety of our

members, the Board has suspended the Shutter Café breakfast meetings indefinitely.

Board of Directors: With the closing of the 2019-20 season, the Lake County Camera Club will see

some changes in the Board of Directors. Jeff Fisher will be stepping down as Club President and as-

suming the position of Past President. This will relieve Kimberly Shaddock of her position as Past

President. Thank you to Kimberly for her service to the club and the board. As Jeff steps down, Tony

Roma will step up as the new Club President on July 1st, 2020. Tony will serve as Club President

through the remainder of the summer and into the 2020-21 season. With the new changes, the club

is looking for your help. The position of President Elect is now open and needs to be filled. If you

would like to be part of this team, please notify a member of the Board with your interest.

Membership: The club has always had a reputation for being one of the largest clubs in the area.

With a roster of over 80 members last season, we hope to see most, if not all or more of our mem-

bers return for the new season. As the 2019-20 season comes to a close, please remember that

membership dues for the new season will being due in September. Membership dues have to be

paid in full in order to participate in competitions and have continued access to the club website

and Facebook Group page. The Board of Directors have also been working on updating the club by-

laws and other official club documents. The success of a new season is dependent on its member-

ship. We can’t have a successful club without you. We hope to see you all come back.

COVID19: As a reminder, COVID19 is still with us and still a very real threat. But you can do your part

by continuing with the CDC recommended precautions to prevent the spread. First and foremost,

wash your hands. Washing with soap and water prevents the spread of the virus across surfaces. An

alcohol based hand sanitizer is also recommended for when hand washing isn’t readily available.

Continue to wear your face coverings in public places in and while participating in larger groups of

10-50 people or wherever safe social distancing of at least 6 feet apart cannot be maintained. Re-

member the face covering is not there to prevent you from getting the virus, it is there to protect us

from your droplets that are expelled by a cough or sneeze that may be contaminated with the virus.

And of course, if you feel sick or are experiencing any flu like symptoms, especially a fever, STAY

HOME! Self quarantine yourself and help prevent the spread.

To sum it up… the new 2020-21 season for the Lake County Camera Club will definitely be unique in

many ways. But as it has been said so many times these past few months… WE’RE ALL IN THIS TO-

GETHER! See you all soon! Stay healthy.

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Vacation Photography

Written by Gary Edwards

Summer is here and vacations are being planned. Whether it

is far-away places or locations closer to home, you want to

get out and enjoy what life and nature has to offer. Wherever

you plan to travel to, you will want to come back with interest-

ing photographs, not just documenting what you saw and did,

but to capture the spirit of what you experienced. Unless you

have all the time in the world, you’ll have to plan your trip to

fit the time you have. Figure out the places you want to visit,

keeping in mind that you may not be going on this trip alone.

Leave time for sightseeing but also block out opportunities

for your photography. Unless you’re just snapping pictures,

you’ll need stretches of time to focus on your photography.

Consider your travel partners. If you’re traveling with a friend, a spouse or your family, check if they

want to come along or would rather go their own way while you go off on your photographic pursuits.

Even if they opt to come along, advise them to bring a book or game if they don’t share your enthusi-

asm for photography. These kinds of plans make for happier campers all around and prevent your

road adventure from turning into a guilt trip.

Once you have arrived at your destination, you will want to begin by following these basic aspects

when capturing your images.

Establish your Location. It’s the oldest trick in storytelling -

establish where you are by setting the mood, describing the

scene and painting a picture of this new place. Contrary to

what you might think, an establishing shot does not need to

be an extremely wide angle landscape shot (though that can

be quite nice, of course), all you need to do to establish that

you are on vacation is get something in your new environ-

ment that catches your eye and looks different than where

you’re from. This is a shot from our boat looking at the cab-

ins we were staying in on the lake’s edge.

The Family Candid. It’s your vacation, no one else’s, so a fair amount

of your images should star you and your family. My suggestion is to, as

much as possible, get people during the little moments. Not all shots

need to be epic and perfect. Remember, these images are 99% for

your own memory of your trip. That quiet, serene moment while walk-

ing through the woods on a forest trail or the interaction in the pool

with your kids and grandkids … those kinds of memories fade com-

pletely without the shot to remember it by. The “who was there” and

“how old were you when” or “how were people feeling” is all wrapped

up in your image. So, remember to tell the story of the little moments

you shared with your family, for posterity, because that’s really what it’s about.

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Go Exploring. If you like finding the unexpected, plan some

time for driving around looking for smaller roads or out of the

way locations. Stop and ask locals about scenic roads or spe-

cial features to see in the area. Be adventurous and take that

unpaved road or just follow your instincts and don’t be afraid

to get lost. Exploring is part of the fun and the payoff is to find

something worth stopping for. There have been countless

times when something unexpected popped up while I was on

the road; a beautiful rainbow, a field in perfect light, a colorful

area of wildflowers carpeting the area beyond the shoulder or

an old log cabin sitting within a stand of trees. You can’t count on seeing anything comparable later on

because these things are a matter of serendipity. Just stop the car in a safe spot and get the shot while

you can.

Plan for sunrise and sunset shots. Everyone loves photo-

graphing at sunrise and sunset, but you won’t be where you

want to be unless you plan ahead. Nowadays, you can use the

Internet or various apps to look up the times of sunrise and sun-

set no matter where you are. You can even search for sunrise

and sunset photos taken at your various destinations. Once you

know the exact time, plan to get to the location 1/2 hour before

sunrise or one hour before sunset (and plan to stay at least 1/2

hour after sunset, especially if there are clouds in the sky). Of

course, you may need to hike in to get the shots you really want,

so be sure to allow time to walk in if you want to be there before

sunset. Also, if sunset conflicts with dinner time, think about

eating early or packing along a picnic so hunger pangs don’t force you to quit too soon.

Try something new. Get off the beaten path and bring yourself into places

that can’t even be glimpsed from the road. That’s your opportunity to have a

very personal connection to the environment you’re in and to create images

that are unique to your vision. Another way to come up with singular images

is to push yourself to find new perspectives or different ways of portraying

the places you’re in or the things you see. Take yourself to the limits of your

capabilities and stretch yourself. Shoot in

those not so great conditions and work your

camera and/or filters to see if you can im-

prove. This shot of the Powderpuff Mimosa

plant was taken in the harsh midday sun on a trail I was walking along.

Using different filters and honing my post

processing skills I was able to make it

look halfway decent in spite of the condi-

tions. I also practiced my macro photog-

raphy, working low, in shadows, and playing with different settings to see

which shot would come out looking the best as I did with this Ramshorn

snail.

Finally, take the time to enjoy your photography. Slow down and examine

your subject thoroughly. Examine the scene for several minutes. Soak in

the atmosphere and beauty of the subject before you ever take up your

camera. Survey the scene for several minutes or longer, either taking

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mental notes or writing them down in a notebook, taking

time to walk here or there, climbing high or stooping low to

find a choice angle and location from which to shoot from

before even shooting a single picture and then deciding to

return later for the beautiful colors of early evening lighting.

Don’t be afraid to crop in your viewfinder, defining your real

subject and capturing that only. It’s very tempting to include

too many elements (trees, mountains, rivers, lakes) in a pic-

ture because you are overwhelmed by the beauty of a scene.

Being selective often makes for a more dramatic image.

Think about making a picture rather than taking a picture.

Look for different angles in your shooting. There’s no rule

that states that all photographs must be shot from eye level,

so shoot some from low angles, even ground level if you’re willing to get down on your hands and

knees. Place colorful flowers in the foreground. Check the view from building tops and shoot from

your hotel window. Along with changing photo angles, switching lenses will also change your photo-

graphic view as well. Break the rules and dare to be different. “The so called rules of photographic

composition are, in my opinion, invalid and immaterial.” Break all the rules and be creative. Shoot

your pictures from the heart! Have fun and enjoy the process.

Upcoming Speakers

The following speakers are scheduled for our upcoming monthly meetings…

July 2: Jim Pierce - Post Processing and Compositing

http://cldowntownphoto.com/httpsbluehostweeblycloudcomeditormainphp.html

August 6: Nick Page

https://www.nickpagephotography.com/

September 3: John Gregor - Shooting For Fine Art Printing

https://coldsnapphotography.com/

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Written by Bob Kruzic

Living with the Covid-19 pandemic the past couple of months, everyone has been trying to adapt to

life with many changes. Lake County Camera Club, likewise, has been trying to adapt to the new

”normal” of our world.

As of now, our club has cancelled numerous meetings, with the final April competition among them.

This was done with an abundance of caution in mind, with the safety of our members being of high-

est concern. The gathering of our members in the close quarters of the university auditorium was

deemed as just too risky for all of us.

As competition chair, I approached the Board of Officers with several options and asked them to dis-

cuss how we, as a club, should proceed with the resolution of the 2019-2020 competition season.

Later, I was directed by the Board to “end the season now”. Determination of the final standings in

all year end award categories would be based on the scores that existed at the end of our February

competition. The minimum number of entries needed for eligibility would be adjusted as follows. For

individual category awards, the minimum number of entries needed for eligibility shall be four in-

stead of six. For the Photographer of the Year award, the minimum number of entries shall be twelve,

not sixteen., with each of the three competitions having four entries each.

Therefore, based on that directive, the year end awards are as follows:

DPI: Sue Matsunaga 5 entries 23.4 average

Large Color: Bob Kruzic 6 entries 24.5 average

Large Mono: Linda Kruzic 4 entries 24.25 average

Small Color: Sue Matsunaga 4 entries 24.0 average

Small Mono: Mike Burgquist 6 entries 23.33 average

Rookie of the Year: Tim Elliott 12 entries 23.67 average

Photographer of the Year: Bob Kruzic 12 entries 24.08 average

Hopefully, as the months slip by, we will all be seeing each other again for the start of a new competi-

tion season in the Fall.

Recognitions

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It’s not everyday that one of our own gets featured. Our very own Tim Elliott was featured in June for

his photography of a bald eagle nest and the eaglets inside in an article in the Daily Herald. The arti-

cle read…

Amateur photographer chronicling growth of bald eagle family in Lake County

Amateur photographer Tim Elliott always has had

an interest in birds, but it wasn't until recently

that circumstances led him to one of Lake Coun-

ty's most majestic avian residents.

"We saw them for the first time back in spring,

before the babies," the Grayslake resident said of

a nesting pair of bald eagles on the Fox River in

southern Lake County.

"We decided we'd go back periodically and watch

the progression."

From first sight to the emergence of a trio of ea-

glets in May, Elliott has chronicled the family's

growth through a powerful magnifying lens.

"I finally bought a lens that was long enough to seriously take pictures of birds," said Elliott, a retired

IT professional who for the past few years has been an official volunteer photographer for the Lake

County Forest Preserve District.

He was directed to the eagles' nest as part of the dis-

trict's volunteer partnership.

"It was exciting," said Elliott. "They're such large birds

and majestic birds."

With a wingspan that can reach 8 feet, the bald eagle

was designated the national bird in 1782. However,

by the 1960s it faced extinction and in 1978 was

listed by federal authorities as endangered in most

states.

Fortunes changed due to a ban of the pesticide DDT,

habitat protection and other measures. The bald ea-

gle population has since flourished.

What's notable about this family is that all three eaglets have survived. According to the U.S. Fish &

Elliott’s Eaglets

Wildlife experts say it's unusual for three eaglets to survive in a single

nest, as has been occurring along the Fox River in southern Lake

County. Amateur photographer Tim Elliott of Grayslake has been

chronicling the eaglets young lives.

Amateur photographer Tim Elliott of Grayslake is documenting the

young lives of three eaglets being raised in a nest along the Fox River

in Lake County. A nesting pair usually raises one or two young per

brood but only occasionally three.

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Wildlife Service, successful eagle pairs usually raise one

or two young per nest, but less often three.

"I don't recall seeing three survive that long," said Gary

Glowacki, who has been a wildlife ecologist with the for-

est preserves for 16 years.

"Could be weather. Could be coincidence. Could be hu-

mans staying away. Whatever, it's good," added Allison

Frederick, public affairs assistant manager for the for-

est preserve district.

The nest is one of two known on and around forest pre-

serve properties and there may be others in Lake Coun-

ty, according to Andrew Rutter, a wildlife ecologist with

the district, who updates the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser-

vice on nest status. One eaglet fledged from the same Fox River nest in both 2018 and one in 2019, Rut-

ter said.

"Always happy to hear about additional nests if the public knows about them," he said.

Meanwhile, Elliott tries to return to the nest area once a week and regularly sends images to the forest

preserve district for use online or in publications.

"They're fascinating," he said of the bald eagle family. "We're still waiting to see an eagle with a fish.

That's the goal."

Photos courtesy of Tim Elliott

Article courtesy of the Daily Herald, Published 6/10/20

https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200610/amateur-photographer-chronicling-growth-of-bald-eagle-family-in-lake-county

A bald eagle carries nesting materials to the top of a tree along the

Fox River in Lake County. Amateur photographer Tim Elliott of

Grayslake is documenting the young lives of three eaglets being raised

in a nest along the Fox River in Lake County.

https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200610/amateur-photographer-chronicling-growth-of-bald-eagle-family-in-lake-county

13


Club Resources...

http://caccaweb.com

https://www.artscameras.com

https://www.huntsphotoandvideo.com

https://psa-photo.org

https://www.redrivercatalog.com

http://www.stevegettle.com

http://caccaweb.com

Documents

From the Prez From the Editor On the Cover...Exposures Newsletter - Spring 2020 From the Prez Page 2-3 From the Editor Page 3 On the Cover Page 4 Who’s Who Page 4 “The Future of