The Rim Country Camera Club meets from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 19 at the large meeting room of the Payson Public Library, 328 N. McLane Rd., Payson.
Refreshments and time for socializing is at 4:30 p.m., with announcements at 4:45 p.m.
By Betty Spence
If you have ever wondered who might be living among us in the wild Adirondacks and have yet to wander the woods to see for yourself, the place for wonder and discovery this summer is Elizabethtown’s Adirondack History Museum exhibit by wildlife photographer Larry Master. You’ll be greeted by birds large and small, including a saw-whet owl whose eyes fill nearly the entire frame, and a soaring great grey owl that would strike terror in the heart of the red squirrel on the adjacent wall. On one wall, a sizeable black bear stalks, while a brilliant blue bird, wings spread, shimmers from another. There are otters and warblers and bobcats, oh my.
When Master was growing up in Haverford, PA, his laissez-faire mother would open the door and shoo him out. He would ramble through field and woods with his box camera to photograph the critters whose paths he crossed – snakes, mammals, birds – spending hours observing them. At Haverford School, science drew him in; but outside, he developed the bird identification skills that today dazzle anyone fortunate to be outside with him.
Master’s love affair with the Adirondacks began during summer visits to his grandfather’s Lake Placid camp and increased during college years at St. Lawrence, whose campus he escaped on weekends to ski Whiteface and hike the High Peaks. He returned full time when he retired, while also traveling to the ends of the earth to photograph some of our globe’s other wild things: polar bears hunting in Svalbard, birds of paradise strutting in New Guinea, grizzlies fishing in Alaska’s Katmai National Park, jaguars crunching caimans in Brazil’s Pantanal, and the stunning and curious young cheetah that this year climbed onto his vehicle in Tanzania for her close up.
A925442c Common Loon. Lower St. Regis. Photo by Larry Master. Master Images website photo.
With a B.S. in biology and Ph.D. plus post-doctoral studies in biology from the University of Michigan, Master served as Chief Zoologist for The Nature Conservancy that included creating central zoological databases for the Natural Heritage Network, along with advanced
methodologies for tracking, mapping, and assessing the conservation status of elements of biodiversity. In 2000, he moved with TNC’s science division – now NatureServe, the source for biodiversity data in North America.
Q0I4272c Northern Saw-whet Owl- 2 year old male. Photo by Larry Master. Master Images website photo.
DSC4897c Great Blue Heron. Photo by Larry Master. Master Images website photo.
But one of his proudest achievements is here in the Adirondacks: the gorgeous 135-acre nature preserve called Intervale Lowlands along the west branch of the Ausable River, where he has monitored the biotic effects of climate change on its 1,000+ species, including 175 bird species.
This summer, people can take a short walk on the wild side — bug-free — at the Elizabethtown museum. It is open until October 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Master will speak about his photos at a special gallery celebration July 12 from 4 to 6 p.m., and he will offer a lecture on conservation photography July 25 from 7 to 8 p.m.
The Adirondack History Museum is located at 7590 Court Street, Elizabethtown, NY 12932.
To see his complete gallery of photos, please visit: https://www.masterimages.org/birds.html
Photo at top: A2Z6345c Baltimore Oriole- Adult female. Photo by Larry Master. Master Images website photo.
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The boy who grew up in Ceresville Mansion found himself awestruck by another architectural wonder as an adult: the castles of Ireland.
Of course, the historic Frederick site that Dave Reid called home was a little different in those days. His father, a radiologist who raised sheep as a hobby, bought the home in 1958.
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REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. – Pictures are now being accepted for the 2024 Rehoboth Reflections photography competition. According to the city, winning photos will be featured in the city’s 2025 calendar.
The annual contest is back again and is looking for entries up until Sep. 6. Some of the requirements to submit a photo include:
The nation’s summer capital reports that more than 300 photos were submitted through the Rehoboth Reflections competition last year. The winning pictures will be in a calendar, therefore the city encourages submissions be from various seasons, not just summer.
By Udo Salters
On June 8th, 2024, Mike Monford presented Afrofuturism through discussion and sound at The National Jazz Museum on 129th Street in Harlem.
The Panel Discussion on Afrofuturism was moderated by Author, Journalist, and Historian Herb Boyd. Other panelists were Trumpeter, Composer, and Author Ahmed Abdullah, Guitarist and Composer Lu Fuki Ismaeel Dhul-Qarnayn, Griot, Community Activist and Historian Baba Mosi Humphrey. The discussion which linked past generations to current and future generations, touched on all aspects of life from better eating to the Black is Beautiful movement birthed during the ’60s through the African Jazz-Art Society & Studios (AJASS). A major theme of the discussion was institution building. Institutions like The East (a community education and arts organization in Brooklyn, New York focused on black nationalism), Detroit People’s Food Co-op in Detroit, Patrice Lumumba Coalition with Cinque Brath, Bronx Music Heritage, Sister’s Place, Avalon Village in Highland Park and Dream of Detroit were discussed. These institutions and others like it, play a critical in moving the people forward.
While the discussion could have gone on for hours, especially with the audience’s participation, it came to an end so that the music could start.
A riveting performance by Mike Monford & Innovated Strings had everyone on the edge of their seats. Mike Monford on Alto Sax, Josh Evans on Trumpet, Cutis Lundy on Bass, Sharp Radway on Piano, Jerome Gillespie II on drums Laina Martin on Violin, Brandan Callies on Cello, and Indira Edwards on Viola, and spoken word by Taraji Monford.
Songs were performed from Mike Monford’s catalog as well as songs by Charlie Parker, Lee Morgan, and Jackie McLean.
Bringing the beautiful event to a close, Mike pulled in Ahmed Abdullah and LuFuki to sit in and play to end the set.
Keep an eye out and an ear open, as Mike mentioned he is planning to have another event at The National Jazz Museum in Harlem in September 2024.
Udo Salters
Udo Salters was born and raised in New York City. His love for photography began as a youth when he started taking photos of friends and family at various events. In a natural transition, his passion turned from shooting images of fashion models and fashion shows to jetting around Harlem to Hollywood creating images of celebrities and socialites at some of the most exclusive hot spots. He has worked for many outlets locally with Harlem World Magazine, Fortune 500 companies, and many other various media outlets. He currently resides in NYC. Get more information at Udo Salters Photography.
Photo credit: by Udo Salters.
“It pains me to hear so many stories, but when you hear a mother talking about her child and her struggles, you feel that you are not alone. There are others who have given their children up for the country, and that is somewhat comforting. We are going to spread this worldwide, so they know who our children were,” she added.
Dr. Laila Abbas, mother of Major Jamal Abbas, a platoon commander in the 101st Battalion in the Paratroopers Brigade. Dr. Abbas is one of the mothers taking part in the “MomToo” initiative, which was born out of the pain of hundreds of mothers who lost their loved ones on October 7 and the consequent war, aimed at uniting mothers worldwide in the fight against terrorism.
Photographer Ifat Peer connected with several mothers and created the exhibition. “This is a project for mothers and their sons,” says Dr. Abbas. “Ifat photographed me, and I told her about Jamal, and she connected me with other mothers, and that’s how we started to get to know each other more and more. At first, I felt like only I had lost the most special and beloved son, and then I discovered how many stories there are. They are all good children, all the mothers share the hardest pain imaginable.”
“The great pain of October 7 moved me to share the stories through the perspective of bereaved mothers,” says Peer. “As a mother myself and as an artist, I took my camera and embarked on a journey across the country, where I arrived at the homes of 25 bereaved mothers. Through the lens of the camera, we documented together the pain they experience following the loss of their son or daughter.”
“At the exhibition, alongside a photo of the mother, I show the personal story of the one she lost. Their character, dreams, and message for the world, and when their last embrace was. We do everything to cherish and honor them, never to forget,” she added. The exhibit also includes the mothers of Noam Avramovich, Shalev Baranes, Idan Raz, Libby Cohen Meguri, Guy Bazak, Amit Cohen, Eden Moshe, Maya Bitton, Shani Louk, Raz Mizrahi and many more.
The exhibition started on Ben-Gurion Boulevard in Tel Aviv on June 6. According to Oz Haim, Director General of the Zionist Council in Israel, “The project seeks to shine a light on the immense pain and strength of the mothers’ spirit who lost their most precious ones, yet chose to share with us their final embrace, so that as many people as possible will know and recognize the heroes who will never return. May we become worthy of them.”
They are one of Britain’s oldest and, in the view of those who know them, most “misunderstood” minorities.
But a photographer hopes his work will show travellers and Romany people in a more sympathetic light, dispelling the myths and negative connotations that have grown up around the community.
Sam Wright’s ambition may be about to be fulfilled. His work has been shortlisted for the British Journal of Photography’s Portrait of Humanity prize, one of the country’s most prestigious photographic awards.
Mr Wright, whose selected photograph titled Family at the Fair, Cumbria, UK – showing five young traveller girls posing on the steps and porch of their traditional caravan – told the judges: “Misrepresentation by the media has been damaging to these communities. I sought to counter this with an honest portrayal, challenging misconceptions and showcasing their passion and resilience.
“As mounting challenges threaten the traveller and gypsy communities, I believe it is time for a positive change in attitudes, and I hope this project contributes to that shift.”
Mr Wright spent two years with travelling families, attending numerous fairs and traditional gatherings across the country, including the famous Appleby Fair, which dates back to the 1600s.
“My experience was in stark contrast to the stereotype, and from that moment, I knew this was a story that needed to be told, and I wanted to invest the time to do it.”
He says that what began as a fact-finding mission evolved into a cultural exchange with a group pushed to the fringes of society.
When Mr Wright told friends and colleagues of his project he was met with what he said was a barrage of stereotypical responses.
“People would advise me not to go,” he said. “They told me there would be trouble. ‘Don’t take expensive equipment!’ I quickly saw the prejudice facing the traveller community before I even arrived.”
The assignment became personal for the Sheffield-born photographer after he discovered his great-grandmother was part of the community.
“I wanted to understand this aspect of my family heritage,” Mr Wright told the writer Gem Fletcher. “My uncle has shared some information, but her background isn’t discussed within the family. She lived on the road until she married a farmer and was forced to denounce her connection to that world. It’s a sensitive subject, but I felt I needed to delve into it to know her better.”
Also shortlisted for the award is a powerful portrait of an Indian woman blinded in an acid attack, taken by Erberto Zani.
Mr Zani said the woman, called Anumukherjee, had undergone 22 operations after being attacked by a female friend jealous of her beauty. The attacker was jailed for 10 years and has since been released.
Another work shortlisted is Shane Coughlan’s portrait of an old man, taken on a street corner in Dublin.
In his submission Mr Coughlan said: “I turned the corner onto a row of old cottages to see Patrick returning home from the shops. He has lived on the street with his brother and sister for 80 years. In his suit, shirt and tie, Pioneer and Holy Cross medals, he defines the old-world respect and dignity of a gentleman from Dublin’s north inner city.”
The British Journal of Photography describes its Portrait of Humanity Award as “a call for unity and an urgent reminder of the shared fight against humanity’s biggest challenges: to protect the environment, choice over our own bodies, and the right to be and love whomever we want”.
Planning a landscape photography session doesn’t always guarantee ideal conditions. Weather changes, plans fall through, and sometimes, the scene isn’t what you expected. How you handle these situations can make a big difference in the quality of your photos.
Coming to you from Christian Irmler – Landscape Photography, this insightful video explores the challenges and joys of improvisation in landscape photography. Irmler shares a recent experience in Italy, where his plans were thwarted by a lack of the expected wildflowers. Instead of the vibrant fields he anticipated, he found only green fields. Rather than giving up, he adapted his plan and focused on a nearby old town and castle, demonstrating the importance of flexibility.
Irmler explains how he used the conditions to his advantage, such as hiking up a mountain for a better vantage point. He captures the unpredictable light, with a mix of shadow and light adding depth to his shots. This video underscores the importance of making the best of the situation, even when it’s not what you planned. Improvisation isn’t just about finding new subjects; it’s also about technical adjustments. Irmler discusses using a black mist filter to soften harsh sunlight and enhance the quality of his photos. This tip is particularly useful when dealing with unpredictable lighting.
Irmler also touches on the significance of handheld shooting in certain scenarios. While tripods offer stability and precision, there are moments when quick handheld shots are necessary to capture fleeting light conditions. In addition to the technical aspects, Irmler shares valuable insights on the mental approach to landscape photography. He emphasizes the importance of not giving up when things don’t go as planned. Landscape photography often involves dealing with the unexpected, and having the right mindset can lead to stunning results. Irmler’s ability to find beauty in unexpected places is a testament to this philosophy. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Irmler.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, “Photographing the World: Japan With Elia Locardi!”
They are one of Britain’s oldest and, in the view of those who know them well, most “misunderstood” minority communities.
But a photographer hopes his work will finally show Britain’s Travellers and Romany people in a more sympathetic light, dispelling the damaging myths and negative ideas that have grown up around the community.
Sam Wright’s ambition may be about to be fulfilled, as his work has been shortlisted for the British Journal of Photography’s Portrait of Humanity prize, one of the country’s most prestigious photographic awards.
Mr Wright’s selected photograph, titled Family at the Fair, Cumbria, UK, shows five young girls posing on the steps and porch of their traditional caravan.
He told the judges in his submission: “Misrepresentation by the media has been damaging to these communities. I sought to counter this with an honest portrayal, challenging misconceptions and showcasing their passion and resilience.
“As mounting challenges threaten the Traveller and Gypsy communities, I believe it is time for a positive change in attitudes, and I hope this project contributes to that shift.”
Mr Wright spent two years with travelling families, attending numerous fairs and traditional gatherings across the country, including the Appleby Fair in Cumbria, which dates back to the 1600s.
“My experience was in stark contrast to the stereotype, and from that moment, I knew this was a story that needed to be told, and I wanted to invest the time to do it,” he said.
Mr Wright added that what began as a fact-finding mission evolved into a cultural exchange with a group pushed to the fringes of society.
When he told friends and colleagues of his project, he was met with what he said was a barrage of stereotypical responses.
“People would advise me not to go,” he said. “They told me there would be trouble. ‘Don’t take expensive equipment!’ I quickly saw the prejudice facing the Traveller community before I even arrived.”
The assignment became personal for the Sheffield-born photographer after he discovered his great-grandmother had been part of the community.
“I wanted to understand this aspect of my family heritage,” Mr Wright told the writer Gem Fletcher.
“My uncle has shared some information, but her background isn’t discussed within the family. She lived on the road until she married a farmer and was forced to denounce her connection to that world. It’s a sensitive subject, but I felt I needed to delve into it to know her better.
Also shortlisted for the Portrait of Humanity Award is a powerful portrait of an Indian woman blinded in an acid attack, taken by Erberto Zani.
Mr Zani said the woman, called Anumukherjee, had undergone 22 operations after being attacked by a female friend jealous of her beauty. The attacker was jailed for 10 years and has since been released.
Another work shortlisted is Shane Coughlan’s portrait of an old man, taken on a street corner in Dublin.
In his submission, Mr Coughlan said: “I turned the corner on to a row of old cottages to see Patrick returning home from the shops. He has lived on the street with his brother and sister for 80 years. In his suit, shirt and tie, Pioneer and Holy Cross medals, he defines the old-world respect and dignity of a gentleman from Dublin’s north inner city.”
The British Journal of Photography describes its Portrait of Humanity Award as “a call for unity and an urgent reminder of the shared fight against humanity’s biggest challenges: to protect the environment, choice over our own bodies, and the right to be and love whomever we want”.
