41. Glass!

Some assignments are timeless, and this is one of them. Use your imagination. Glass, in all its forms, in all its uses, in all its glory! Even the most ordinary day-to-day piece of glass can take on championship characteristics under the right conditions.

Digital Camera Special Interest Group (SIG) Our group met at Parkdale Library on February 24 with 12 enthusiasts attending. The subject SIGNs was selected for the March program. We are expecting a skimpy wildflower output this year due to dry weather, so will shoot wildflowers in March and April for presentation at the May meeting.

The assignment for February was Glass. We found the subject challenging and requiring experimentation and providing new lessons.

*Patty Beasley - Patty’s introductory slides were blocks of colored glass reflecting vary degrees of light and color. She had her bluebonnet cup with Dr. Pepper bubbling, condensation drops and frosting outside; blown glass tumbler; Dr. Pepper fizzing off the ice; glass dolphin art; lab tubing shot at an angle, glass screw threads standing out; Bamboo Garden dinner reflections.

*Ben Luna - a cut glass shot glass, delicate lines delineated, picking up muted colors from the background. A footed cut glass tumbler with "eyes," the lines reflecting background (or layered) color. He also "Photoshop-ed" a collage with vase and flower; jade and gold necklace, lines and surfaces luminous in dark blue back-ground; a desert mirage with superimposed martini foreground.

*Bill Draper - cut glass crystal, blue and red backgrounds colors accentuating lines and curves; a glass tree with pastel blooms and foliage; and a hanging stemware rack, mirrored, lit with the color of the setting sun.

*Bruce Switalla - a documentary of a stained-glass factory; showing the shop’s intricate stained glass signs; several gorgeous stained glass windows; etched glass windows; colorful sun catchers; all done with a professionally managed SLR.

*Buddy Stevens - glass top table with bottle, goblets and rose, picking up distinctive color and reflections of marbled gold background; the same photo dull in comparison, before tweaking Levels; Padre Island church stained glass, two angles; and the stained glass using the Kaleidoscope special effect.

*Brian and Drew Jacobs - Brian’s father’s avocation is stained glass - their resource is both beautiful and plentiful. Low light and full light color reflections; a gorgeous pole of multi-colored glass curls and shapes at museum entrance; Brian’s father’s stained glass panels and sun catchers of various themes, some southwestern.

*Mira Guion - a large collection of unusual beach glass, some the frosted surface from sand abrasion looking icy- like in light, others a cloisonné effect, Her own stained glass, in several styles and shapes, globes, dangles, and panels, are distinctive and colorful.

*Ken Parsons - a DVD presentation of a glass blower making a glass cat, tricky and interesting skill. Still image of the glass cat, poised to pounce is shown online.

*John Hoffmann - starts with a reflective blue-bottle tree; stained glass church window with organ pipes providing composition lines (thinking the shot); stained glass panels including church window; cognac goblets with and without the kick; cut glass and etched bowls.

Lesson on Composition - Bruce Switalla gave a presentation on The Rule of Thirds in photo composition, with examples and references to show desired effect.

Next meeting: March 21 7 PM, at Parkdale Library.
Public and novices invited.

For the Scribe: Bill Draper