BLOOMINGTON – The Waldron Arts Center is excited to welcome the Bloomington Photography Club (BPC) for their 32nd Annual Juried Exhibition. The show features 75 photographs from 39 individual artists, chosen from hundreds of submissions. The exhibit will be on display in both the Rosemary P. Miller and Educational Galleries.

This Annual Juried Exhibition provides an opportunity for the diverse members of the BPC to submit work to a group of outside jurors from a variety of backgrounds, including academic, professional, and journalism photographers. Submissions are open to members of all levels and include images taken on cameras ranging from traditional SLR cameras to cell phones. New jurors are chosen each year, resulting in a fresh, new show depending on the personality of the jury.

Though in the past images were required to be printed before submission, the BPC has evolved its process, keeping with its mission statement to be welcoming to all. Submissions can now be made digitally, being printed and framed only after their acceptance into the show.

The Exhibition will be on display from September 1 to October 21, beginning with an opening reception on Friday, September 1 at 5 p.m. There will be an additional reception during the First Friday Gallery Walk event on October 6.

Club bio:

Gallery Hours:
Wednesday and Thursday 12-5
Friday 12-8
Saturday and Sunday by appointment only.
Galleries are also open during all Constellation performances!
To schedule a visit on the weekend, email gallery@seeconstellation.org by the Friday prior to the requested date.

The Bloomington Photography Club is a congenial group of people of all ages and levels of proficiency, united by a passion for photography. The club currently has about 150 members. The regular monthly meeting – the first Tuesday of each month – is now hybrid, with attendance both in-person and via Zoom. The meetings alternate between photo shares and guest speakers, and each also includes a short “tech tip” on various topics. The group hosts field trips each year to places of photographic interest, both day trips and weekend overnights. They also offer workshops on aspects of connecting audiences through world-class theater and film photography and processing software, such as Photoshop. All field trips and workshops are free to members. In addition, the club has several focus groups, smaller groups that meet monthly or bi-monthly through which members can pursue special interests, such as portraits, landscapes, sports, street, macro, video, and film photography. They also have volunteer mentors who are happy to answer questions and help you pursue your photographic interests. There are also free cameras, donated by the photographic community, to help BPC members get started or upgrade their equipment. If you’re interested in learning more about the club, check them out at bloomingtonphotoclub.org or on Facebook.

Staff

• Artistic Director: Chad Rabinovitz
• Managing Director: Gabe Gloden
• Development Director: John Armstrong
• Director of Film: Emelie Flower
• Marketing Director: Cassie Hakken
• Director of Operations: Jennifer Lloyd
• Production Manager: Topher Rohrer
• Education Director: Eric Shelley
• Audience Services Manager: Jordan Stephens
• Associate Artistic Director: Daniella Wheelock

Board of Directors

• Caroline Dowd-Higgins, Co-President
• Von Welch, Co-President
• Philippa Guthrie, Vice President
• Anna Jensen, Treasurer
• David Roberts, Secretary
• Sally Gaskill
• Brian Hathaway
• Ray Hedin
• Traci Jovanovic
• Erin Parks
• Angelo Pizzo
• Vi Simpson
• Kim Van Lue

About the Waldron Arts Center:
The John Waldron Arts Center is managed by Constellation Stage and Screen, with Sarah Nichols serving as Gallery Manager. The mission of the Gallery is to create opportunities for diverse audiences to experience impactful visual art. The gallery provides a vibrant venue in the heart of downtown Bloomington for local and regional artists from all stages of their careers to exhibit. Recent exhibits include Channels: Conjuring Unborn Futures, How Many Artists Does It Take to Name an Exhibition, Climate Shock, and Stone Soup. For more information visit www.waldronartscenter.org.

Hold on tight, my fellow photography enthusiasts, as we dive into the world of shutter speed! Get ready to unlock the five secrets that will make your photographs freeze time, bend reality, and maybe even make your subjects strike a pose like supermodels on a catwalk. So, grab your camera, put on your photography hat, and let’s embark on this adventure.

The ‘Freeze Frame’ Secret: Capturing Those Unforgettable Moments

The first secret to mastering shutter speed is to unleash your inner superhero and freeze time itself! With the right shutter speed, you can capture those split-second moments that make us go, “wow!” Whether it’s a crashing wave, jumping squirrel, a flying bird, or your best friend’s epic dance move, freezing the action requires lightning-fast reflexes and a shutter speed set to warp speed. So, channel your inner Flash, keep your finger on the shutter button, and prepare to capture the world in all its glorious motion-freeze goodness. Just be careful not to get a cramp in your finger from all that rapid clicking! A good practice here is to set your camera to high speed continuous shooting and ensure that your shutter speed is above 1/500 of a second. If the light allows, you could even try getting up to 1/1,000 of a second to ensure that you truly freeze time, but ensure now also that you are nailing focus on your subject.

The ‘Motion Blur’ Secret: Blending Artistry with Reality

Ah, the art of motion blur. The second secret is to embrace the blur and let it paint your photographs with a touch of artistic magic. By using a slower shutter speed, you can create a motion blur that gives your images a sense of movement and dynamism. It’s like capturing the graceful flow of a river, incoming wave, or the streaking lights of passing cars in a cityscape. So, slow down, take a deep breath, and let your camera work its magic. Just be sure to hold steady and brace yourself for the occasional accidental blur of your hand, which can also sometimes result in a good shot as it adds something different to what would normally be expected. A good speed to achieve this motion blur is anything over 1/4 or a second. However, if your subject is a sloth, then, of course, you will need longer, as their movement can quite delayed.

The ‘Light Trails’ Secret: Leaving a Trail of Photographic Awesomeness

Now, let’s talk about the secret of light trails. With the right shutter speed and a bit of creativity, you can capture mesmerizing trails of light that will make your photographs shine brighter than the crown jewels. Whether it’s car lights streaking through a city street or sparklers swirling in the night sky, light trails add a touch of magic to your images. So, grab your tripod, find a spot with some stunning lights, and let your shutter speed work its enchanting wonders. Just remember, when photographing light trails, it’s important not to get mesmerized and start juggling glow sticks yourself. Stay behind the camera and allow your creativity to flow, just like the light that is flowing in your images. In recent times, we have seen many artistic images of electronic light bars, which add not only movement but also a myriad of colors as you hold that shutter open and let them create their magic on your sensor. The key here is to experiment and make mistakes, as each mistake should teach us something until we are nailing those shots each time. 

The ‘Dramatic Long Exposure’ Secret: Unleashing Your Inner Magician

Prepare to be amazed, my friends, as we unveil the secret of dramatic long exposures! By using an ultra-slow shutter speed, you can transform ordinary scenes into ethereal masterpieces. Capture the soft, dreamy movement of clouds, turn rushing waterfalls into silky ribbons, or make bustling city streets look like a deserted ghost town. It’s like wielding a magic wand and creating visual illusions that will leave your viewers in awe. So, set up your tripod, select a sloth-like shutter speed, and let the magic unfold before your eyes. And remember, the longer the exposure, the more time you have to come up with witty one-liners to entertain your patient subjects! To achieve this, you need to ensure that your long shutter speed doesn’t result in an overexposed image or even a totally white image due to the excess amount of light hitting the sensor. ND filters are a fantastic tool to achieve these types of shots if the ambient light is too much, or you could always wait until dawn or dusk, when the light levels are lower, allowing you to keep that shutter open and allow the moving element the freedom to create that intended shot.

The ‘Double Exposure’ Secret: Embracing the Unexpected

Last but not least, we have the secret of double exposures. With the right shutter speed technique, you can combine multiple images into one, creating a whimsical mash-up of reality and imagination. It’s like playing a game of photographic fusion, where two worlds collide and sparks of creativity fly. So, get ready to experiment, have fun, and let your imagination run wild. Combine landscapes with portraits or flowers with animals. The possibilities are endless, and the results are often delightfully unexpected. Just remember, in the world of double exposures, the more eccentric and quirky, the better! It’s not enough to capture the shot; you need to know how to process the image, as this can make the final shot all the better. Remember, post-processing is all about subtle movements of those sliders, not bringing them up to Spinal Tap 11. Most of all, like other methods, just experiment and have fun. There is no right or wrong in this approach, as it is a creation of your own vision, and if it looks right for you, then it is right at the end of the day. It can be improved or deteriorated by using the editing software or going back and shooting the vision again.

As we reach the end of this journey through shutter speed secrets, it’s time to go forth and put your newfound knowledge to the test. Freeze time, blur reality, create light trails, unleash dramatic long exposures, and embrace the whimsy of double exposures. Let your photographs be a testament to your unique sense of humor and creativity.

Remember, photography is not just about technical settings and serious faces. It’s about capturing moments, telling stories, and having a good time along the way. So, go out there with a skip in your step, a camera in your hand, and a smile on your face. Embrace the unexpected moments, laugh at your blunders, and let your photographs be a reflection of the joy and humor that life has to offer.

And as you venture forth, may your shutter speed be swift like a cheetah, slow like a sloth, and everything in between. May your photographs bring a smile to people’s faces, ignite their imaginations, and perhaps even induce a good old-fashioned chuckle if that was your intention of course. 

What are your thoughts on this topic? Let’s continue the conversation below.

EXCLUSIVE: Help! Climate change campaigners SHUT DOWN Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney’s photography exhibition after targeting it over Bank of America sponsorship

• Dozens of climate protesters took to the National Portrait Gallery this afternoon
• The group targeted the Paul McCartney exhibit in protest of Bank of America
• It comes just months after the gallery was reopened, supported by the company 

By Jessica Hamilton and Kirsten Murray

Updated: 12:16 EDT, 28 August 2023

Over a dozen climate protesters equipped with wigs and a large yellow banner took to the Paul McCartney exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery today in protest of Bank of America. 

The group targeted the exhibit in London, which shows never-before-seen photos taken by the legendary musician. 

Protesters changed the lyrics to popular Beatles songs and some dressed as makeshift versions of the band members. 

Visitors of the gallery were promptly shooed out, while campaigners could still be heard singing behind closed doors. 

The whole incident reportedly lasted for 45 minutes, before visitors were allowed back inside and the gallery resumed as normal.   

Adapting the lyrics to the song ‘Help!’, the protesters can be heard chanting: ‘We’ll fight against climate change and oil in any way.’ 

The new lyrics seemed to have been printed on an A4 piece of paper, the back of which read: ‘Fossil free London’.

The campaigners were quickly taken behind a screen by security, while a spokesperson attempted to argue their case before a crowd. 

He shouted: ‘We love this art, we think it should be here for everyone to enjoy and it should not be used to justify the climate activities of Bank of America. 

‘We think the values of these songs should be about preserving the planet.

‘Shame on the National Gallery for taking the oily money of Bank of America. 

‘We’ll fight against climate change and oil in any way.’ 

Speaking to MailOnline, a National Portrait Gallery spokesperson said: ‘This afternoon, members of a climate protest group demonstrated by singing songs within the Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm exhibition. 

‘The exhibition was temporarily closed for around 20 minutes. In line with our security procedures, the Gallery contacted the Police who arrived and led the protesters out of the building.

‘No exhibition photographs were targeted during the protest. Visitors who experienced disruption were compensated with replacement exhibition tickets.’

It comes just months after the Gallery’s reopening this year, in June which is supported by Bank of America alongside Bloomberg Philanthropies, CHANEL Culture Fund, Herbert Smith Freehills and Taylor Wessing. 

The exhibit, named Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm opened exactly 2 months ago and will run until Sunday, 1 October. 

It is described as ‘an extraordinary archive of rediscovered and never-before-seen photographs taken by Paul McCartney,’ and is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. 

The exhibit was opened by the Princess of Wales and attended by Paul McCartney himself.  

The National Portrait Gallery website says it is ‘uniquely personal’ and offers some perspective on ‘what it was like to be a Beatle at the start of Beatlemania,’ through the eyes of Paul McCartney. 

The exhibit was launched shortly after its first exhibition ‘Yevonde: Life and Colour’, which lasts until Sunday, 15 October. 

Two more exhibits will be shown this year, including ‘David Hockney: Drawing from Life’ and ‘Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize’, while a further two await in 2024. 

This is not the first time the National Portrait Gallery has been targeted. A year prior to its temporary closure in June 2020, Extinction Rebellion activists covered themselves in fake oil in protest against its sponsorship by BP. 

Topless activists curled up in a foetal position as others coated themselves in the ‘oil’ in front of a BP-sponsored art display. 

The unauthorised stunt capped a two-week wave of actions by the civil disobedience movement, which led to more than 3,300 arrests in London and cities around the world, the group said.