Action Photo Program From NECCC

As promised at this summer's NECCC conference, those attendees who took in Jim Brady's Ten Tips for Better Action Photos can now view all the photos from the program via the BWPS Web site. Each photo has basic camera setting information published with it, such as ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and focal length. See the photos from the show.

Boston West Photographic Society is Tops in New England

The awards just keep rolling in for Boston West Photographic Society in its first year of existence. Since the beginning of the September - June season, BWPS members have submitted images that have impressed the judges in every competition the club has entered. The club's latest accomplishment is a first place finish for the season in both New England Camera Club Council (NECCC) competition categories: Pictorial and Nature. In NECCC Pictorial, which is a series of three separate competitions, BWPS literally blew away the competition, finishing 13 points higher than the second place club. Competition was much closer in the NECCC Nature category as BWPS tied for first place with a camera club from New Haven, CT.

BWPS is also doing very well in Photographic Society of America (PSA) competitions, which include clubs from all over the country. Competing in the highest level of PSA competitions and with one more competition remaining, BWPS is currently in second place in the Pictorial category behind a Michigan camera club. In the very competitive PSA Nature category, BWPS is currently in seventh place with one more competition remaining.

Last month, BWPS took top honors in the George W. Glennie Memorial Salon, a nature slide competition among 12 local camera clubs. Earlier in the season, BWPS member Deborah Guyer of Dover was the highest scoring New England entrant at the prestigious Greater Lynn International Salon, a competition that includes camera clubs from all over the world. As a club, BWPS finished in second place in the Greater Lynn, just two points behind the winning Stony Brook Camera Club.

Boston West Photographic Society meets at 7:30 pm on the first, third, and fourth Wednesdays each month from September through June at the Framingham Elks at 450 Union Avenue. Visitors are always welcome. For information on joining, visit the club's Web site www.bwps.org. The club offers PhotoShop lessons that are free to members as well as hands-on programs covering many aspects of film and digital photography.

Below are all of the BWPS images entered in this season's NECCC Pictorial and Nature competitions with the makers and scores. [Click on the thumbnail for a larger image.]

Jim Brady 24 (2nd place tie)	Frank Forward 24 (2nd place tie)	Mike Goodman 24 (2nd place tie)	Ed McGuirk 24 (2nd place tie)
Scott Ogelvee 28 (1st place tie)	Jim Brady 27 (HM tie)	Mike Goodman 27 (HM tie)	Ed McGuirk 26
Ed McGuirk 24	Jim Brady 24	Frank Forward 23	Michael Roman 23
Frank Forward 22	Mike Goodman 23	Greg Hunter 21	Ed McGuirk 25 (3rd place tie)
Frank Forward 24	Deborah Guyer 25	Greg Hunter 26	Ed McGuirk 28 (2nd place tie)
Frank Forward 26 (2nd place tie)	Deb Guyer 26 (2nd place tie)	Ed McGuirk 23

The Photo Essay - Practical Ways to Get Published
Presented by Mark Chester (www.markchesterphotography.com)

On Wednesday evening, April 19, BWPS has the pleasure of presenting the highly accomplished photo essayist, Mark Chester, who will present his program featuring practical advice for getting published.

Here's how the program will work:

1. Mark will present his program on Wednesday, April 19, 7:30PM.
2. Some time after the program those interested will independently go out "on assignment" and shoot a photo essay using the principles and techniques presented by Mark.
3. At a mutually agreed upon later date, we will gather again and review the photo essays. Mark will provide feedback and suggestions about submitting your photo essay for publishing.

Here is a detailed description of Mark's program.

The Photo Essay - Practical Ways of Getting Published

To publish a photo essay depends on two basic factors - an interesting subject that is visually exciting and finding the appropriate publication for that subject. In essence a photo essay is a "story" told with images. However, offering text with your photo essay may help persuade an editor to publish the "package" of photos and words. A photo essay can have two or more photographs, depending on the space the publication allots to the photographs (and/or text). A photo essay can be poignant, whimsical, it could be about a special travel destination, or a day in the life of - whatever. The important point is that the photographer be enthusiastic about the subject and "think" about the range of photographs in terms of composition, close-up/wide/medium focal angles, and lighting. Also, editing the photographs is another important element in assembling a photo essay. The subject, itself might dictate the particular publication: magazine, trade journal or local newspaper. The photographer needs to know ahead of time the kind of stories and subject of the publication, as wells as its submissions guidelines.