Jared Fein

Exploration #14: “Suburban Life: Past and Present” 

October 13th – 7pm to 9pm                                                                    

DEADLINE - Images due by midnight October 11th

Most often, we emphasize taking photographs that are dynamic, unique and have high impact and creative expression. Less often, we use our cameras to record the day-to-day events and the people in our neighborhoods.  An important alternative to more traditional street photography, the genre of suburban imagery is seldom a specific subject for exploration except, perhaps, in online social media. It is seldom the subject of dedicated and focussed photographic investigation.

Suburbia, planned communities and the subject of urban sprawl around the world are often portrayed in popular media as boring, bland, depressing and sometimes even soul crushing. And yet, underneath there is a hidden treasure of age, gender, and cultural diversity in both rich and poor suburban environments where stories of interesting people, their lives, their values, and their daily events are overlooked and unrecorded.

This Exploration is about finding opportunities for elaboration, sharing and discussion. It will not involve the technical aspects of the images, rather it will be about sharing experiences and our observations of suburban life through each participant’s portfolio of images over the years.

A limit of three different images per submission (either colour or black and white) in .jpg format.

Please review Important background research for samples of style and content that can be found at:  https://billowens.com/photographs/suburbia-c

Exploration #13: “Paint, pigment, and powder”  

Wednesday September 8th - 7pm to 9pm

DEADLINE - Images due by midnight September 6th

The subject of this exploration is paint, pigment and powder: three highly flexible media that yield an extremely wide range of ways to express dynamic colour relationships. Each medium is available in a wide variety of forms that can be used in combination with numerous techniques and applied in diverse ways.

The challenge is to create a dynamic photograph that uses one or more of these three (either alone or in combination) using different application techniques and on a variety of surfaces. Only physical materials and not digital paint filters should be used to make it look “painterly” and please, no found object clichés such as graffiti, cracked paint, rusty cars etc.

Sometimes we all face the challenge of coming up with creative ideas.  Developing a multitude of ideas increases the possibility of identifying a few that spark our imagination and can lead to new and exciting directions in our work.

During the introduction to this Exploration on August 10^th, we used a matrix technique to develop one thousand possible ideas as potential solutions to this Exploration and as a springboard for creative investigation. I hope you tuned in to the session, but if not, contact Robin for a sample matrix of one thousand possible solutions.

Of course, you may also take an intuitive approach - as long as it’s within the general guidelines of the Exploration. Have fun, experiment!

A limit of three colour/monochrome images per submission in .jpg format.

Picture Credit:  Robin King

Spring Challenge 2022 Themes

1.  Shadow Photography (any subject)

2.  Go outside and capture a winter storm

3.  Express yourself:  Tell us something about what excites you about your work or a favourite hobby.

More information to follow.

Photo Credit:  Michael Osborne

Fall Challenge Themes:

1.  Create a focus stacked image (any subject)

2.  Use an element in your scene to frame your image  (e.g. doorway, rock archway, etc.)  (any subject)

3.  Night Photography (any subject)

Image submission deadline: Nov. 1 at 11:59 pm

Judging Night: Nov. 29, 2021 (WebEx)

Photo Credit:  Jared Fein

Exploration #12: “Small is Beautiful”” 

Tuesday August 10th – 7pm to 9pm

DEADLINE - Images due by midnight August 8th

It’s often very tempting to create images in the style of the great masters of the medium. Inspired by excellent photographers and their exceptional images, we can learn a great deal from studying their approach, their techniques, their work and their resulting impact. While we may be able to improve our own work by copying them, trail blazers don’t create commonplace content -subjects, tropes and approaches we have seen repeated all too often.

We should try to avoid the most traditional, conventional and cliché pictures if we want to develop an independent and personal photographic voice. This is difficult and demands our creative spirit and thoughtful execution.

So, instead of a specific subject or situation, this exploration is about interpreting and illustrating a concept - “small is beautiful”.  The choice of content is yours, reflecting your idea of demonstrating photographs that communicate visual and aesthetic pleasure. Beautiful has many possible meanings - alluring, appealing, attractive, delicate, elegant, exquisite, graceful, stunning, gorgeous, enticing, etc.  Small is also a contextual term because size is relative to the subject matter. It doesn’t necessarily mean a close-up or macro shot but instead can also be interpreted in many divergent and interesting ways.

Aesthetics is subjective and contextual. We won’t all agree and each of us may well have our own interpretation. However, we all need to find out if others value what we see as “small and beautiful.”

Read the brief carefully. Please don't select photographs from any of your previous work.

A limit of three different images per submission (either colour or black and white) in .jpg format.

Exploration #11: “Further Adventures in black and White”

Monday July 12^th 7pm to 9pm

DEADLINE - Images due by midnight July 10th.

In the last exploration we started a journey into the powerful visual and emotional possibilities of black and white images.  Putting this into practices requires making sound judgements about the translation of the technical and evocative characteristics of the image into an impactful image that elicits the strongest response from the viewer.

We often find it difficult to assess the potential of a photograph to evoke a strong reaction because of our own response to the image - our personal experience of the place, the circumstance, and our relationship to the subject matter. So, we should carefully think about the translation of the captured image through post-processing in order to accomplish our personal vision and its impact on the viewer.

This exploration requires that you carefully reflect and consider the whole process of “image taking” to “image making” and be prepared for a more intense critique and discussion of your work in so that you may improve, grow, and benefit from constructive analysis and feedback.

1. Submit one black and white photograph of a formal or casual human-interest portrait that illustrates a clear aspect of the subject’s personality.

2. Submit a black and white photograph of a person or people in a street or outdoor scene where you believe the image illustrates an impactful context with that environment or relationship among individuals.

Be prepared to talk about your post processing as well as your thoughts and feelings about your images and why you feel it is compelling to you and especially to your audience. Shoot in RAW if possible.

A limit of two images per submission in .jpg format.

Program Objectives:

• Built on our successful summer challenge program
• Designed to encourage personal photographic creativity and exploration.
• Practical explorations achievable in our Covid-19 environment.
• Create better images by sharing your work and getting feedback.
• Open to all OCC members at any level of experience.
• Share personal work or participate in exercises.

Participant information:

• You may submit up to 2 images for this session
• Images must be submitted to robin@imaginacorporation.com as .jpgs - any size greater than 1 mb accepted.

DEADLINE - Images must be submitted by midnight July 10th

Note that we will once again be utilizing our WebEx online meeting system that will allow you to use your computer or smartphone to view the presentation as well as allow you to call in for the audio and participate with questions or comments.

If you have any questions or need any further information, please email challenges@oakvillecameraclub.com or robin@imaginacorporation.com

We hope to see you on Tuesday July 12^th

Regards,
Robin King, Education Director & Jared Fein, Challenges Director

Photo credit:  Robin King

Exploration #10: “Adventures in Black and White”

DEADLINE - Images due by midnight June 5th.

 Black and white photographs are a very powerful way of translating the visual or emotional core of a scene or situation. This exploration is the start of that journey for those who are new to black and white photography. For others it will be an ongoing investigation and discovery.

Black and white images use the evocative strength of the basic elements of composition, contrast, line, form, tone, texture, and shadow and also, in some cases, the impact of the human condition and social interactions.

Black and white photography is a journey into seeing and visualizing the world in a different way. It strengthens a photographer’s decision-making by focusing the mind on evaluating the core elements of a scene and a subject’s characteristics in a single image. This increases the opportunity for translating a scene’s core attributes into a high-impact experience for the viewer.

Shoot in RAW if your camera allows to retain the full dynamic range - otherwise shoot in the .jpg format. Post processing is encouraged but the first step of this exercise is to investigate this special form of photographic interpretation and expression. The subject matter is your choice but choose carefully for content that has the greatest potential for powerful black and white imagery.

A limit of three images per submission in .jpg format.

Program Objectives:

• Built on our successful summer challenge program
• Designed to encourage personal photographic creativity and exploration.
• Practical explorations achievable in our Covid-19 environment.
• Create better images by sharing your work and getting feedback.
• Open to all OCC members at any level of experience.
• Share personal work or participate in exercises.

Participant information:

• You may submit up to 3 images for this session
• Images must be submitted to robin@imaginacorporation.com as .jpgs - any size greater than 1 mb accepted.

DEADLINE - Images must be submitted by midnight June 5th

Note that we will once again be utilizing our WebEx online meeting system that will allow you to use your computer or smartphone to view the presentation as well as allow you to call in for the audio and participate with questions or comments.

If you have any questions or need any further information, please email challenges@oakvillecameraclub.com or robin@imaginacorporation.com

We hope to see you on Tuesday June 7th

Regards,
Jared Fein, Challenges Director & Robin King, Education Director

Photo credit:  Robin King