Photochrome Camera Club

With a little fiddling I can compress movies to put them onto my iPhone.  This allows me to always carry a movie or two around with me one of which is always War Photographer.

Why?  The fact that it is a great documentary is one thing.  The fact that it is about a talented, eloquent, dedicated, mysterious and moral photographer is another.  However, if I had to pop this in the DVD player I would have watched the movie only a couple of times.  The fact that I carry it with me almost everywhere means that I have seen it many more times than that in small chunks.

If I’m feeling uninspired I’ll sometimes find a quiet corner and watch 10 minutes to get fired up.  If I think I’m getting too big for my boots I’ll watch another 10 minutes to remind myself how much work I still have to do.

I don’t want to be a war photographer or even a photo-journalist and yet I learn something every time I take a few minutes to watch a clip.  It’s not the technical stuff but the attitude, drive and commitment of Nachtwey that makes me want to watch this documentary over and over.  It is interesting to watch a real professional move and work in the field from a camera’s eye view.  It is also interesting to see how those captures become prints with a photo editor, or images in a magazine or on a gallery show’s walls.  The draw for me is Nachtwey’s utter conviction, commitment and sacrifice to what he does.  He shows the western world the uncomfortable truth about what is going on in the world.  To do that he has given up a normal life and normal relationships.  He has had success but the movie shows that what he has seen has changed and molded him.  Remarkably he doesn’t seem to have become a cynic and he’s not an adrenaline junkie but there’s something behind those eyes, something that makes those pictures, something created by the suffering and inhumanity Nachtwey has born witness to.

If you haven’t seen War Photographer, especially if you have an interest in photography, make time to watch this documentary.  It is the best film about a photographer and/or photography I have seen bar none.  I cannot recommend War Photographer enough but be warned, it doesn’t make a great date movie.

Our Judge at Junes meeting was Dick Stalhke. In addition to these images that he selected as favorites there was a slide selected too.

Garrett Griffin - Redwood Towers

Images and trip report from our member’s field trip to Muir Woods: Continue Reading »

We want to arrive at 10:00 AM so try to leave San Francisco around 9:00 AM. It may be sunny and warm so don’t forget to take a hat and water.

Website: www.ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood

Directions: 3400 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont. There are two routes you can take.

Bay Bridge Route:

• After crossing the Bay Bridge take CA-880 S (signs for San Jose/I-880/Alameda)
• Continue on I-880 S
• Take the exit onto CA-84 W
• Take the Newark Blvd exit toward Ardenwood Blvd
• Turn right at Newark Blvd
• Continue on Ardenwood Blvd to the farm

Dumbarton Bridge Route:
From San Francisco, go south on I-280 S (signs for I-280/San Jose)

• Take the exit onto I-380 E toward US-101
• Take the CA-101/US-101 exit toward San Francisco/San Jose
• Keep left at the fork to continue toward US-101 S and merge onto US-101 S
• Take exit 406 for CA-84/Marsh Rd. Continue to follow CA-84
• Turn right at Bayfront Expy/CA-84
• Take the Paseo Padre Pkwy exit
• Turn left at Paseo Padre Pkwy/Thornton Ave. Continue to follow Paseo Padre Pkwy
• Turn right at Commerce Dr.
• Turn left at Ardenwood Blvd. Continue to farm.

Entrance Fee: $2.00/adults, $1.00/children

Facilities: Restrooms located at entrance and Granary. The Farmyard Café serves snacks and drinks.

This is a great place for family picnics, but let’s shoot some photos first:
Arden Train Station, Patterson house built in 1857, chicken coop and animal pins with sheep, pigs, turkeys and chicken, Tankhouse with windmill, Hay barn with old farm equipment, Blacksmith shop with working blacksmiths hammering on anvils and cranking fires up in the forge. You will also see goats, rabbits, cows and horses in other areas of the farm. Walk around and you will see tractors plowing fields and farm workers caring for the crops.

All are welcome to attend. This is where we plan and discuss meetings, activities and general maintenance of Photochrome. The meeting is held in the Gallery Annex / Fireside Room upstairs on the main level of the Church and lasts about an hour and a half. Some terrific ideas come from the suggestions of members who just happen to drop in.