MeetingMinutes
Date: February17,2016
By: JeanDavids,SecretaryMonticelloCameraClub
Themeetingstartedshortlyafter7pmandwaspresidedoverbyLynnAnderson,
president.Therewere18members(2ofthosehadjoinedthatnight)and8guestsin
attendanceforatotalof26.
AnymemberthathasphotorelateddisplaystheywouldliketoshareatthePhotoShow
shouldletBobSomerville,CraigStarrorJeanDavidsknowatthemeetingorbyphoneor
email.
BobandValSomerville,andJeanDavidsarrivedatthemeetinglocationat6:00pmtobe
availablefordrop-offsofphotoshowentries.Anumberofpeopledroppedofftheirphotos
between6and7pm.Note:asof2/22/16wehaveonly91photoentries.
BobSomervillemadesomephotoshowannouncements.MentionedthattheMonticello
schoolteacherthatdisplayedkidsphotocontestentriesfromlastyearwillonceagainbe
displaying.JeanmentionedthattheSherburneRefugewillonceagainhavetheirdisplay
butwillalsohavewinningphotosfromtheirkidsphotocontesttheyheldthisyearalong
withinformationaboutwhentolookforinformationtothe2016kidsphotocontest.
JeanDavidsaskedifthereareanyvolunteerstorunfortheofficesofPresident,Treasurer,
andBoardMemberatlarge(Arne’sposition).Noonevolunteered.However,Lynn
Anderson,KenKvamandArnearewillingtokeepthepositionsforanothertwoyears.
BobSomervillediscussedassignmentsforthenextmeeting.Sincewepostponedshowing
thismonth’sassignmentofboats/trains/planes,wecanusethatorthenightphotography
(orboth)forApril’sassignment.
WorkshopbyBryanHanselfollowedthemeeting(around8:30pm)forthesixpeoplewho
signedupandpaid.ThoseindividualsmetatthesouthparkinglotatBertramLakesPark
bythehorsebarn.Fromthosewhoattended,theysaiditwasagreatworkshopandthey
learnedalot.
TopicforthemeetingwasNightPhotographyandputonbyBryanHansel,GrandMarais
professionalphotographer(http://www.bryanhansel.com).Notesfromhistalkfollowatthe
endofthesemeetingminutes.
March-Nomeeting.AttendourAnnualMonticelloPhotoShow
April20
• Assignment:NightPhotography
• Photographerofthemonth:SanfordSmith
• Topic:UpcomingElectionsdiscussioninMay-NeedtovoteonPresident,Treasurer,
andBoardMember(Arne’sposition)
• Topic:PhotoShowsummary
WhatfollowsismyattempttotakenotesduringBryanHansel’stalk.Alsoincludedatthe
endofthisisinformationrelatedtohisworkshopsfor2016.
NightPhotographybyBryanHansel:
Anycamerathatis4yearsoldornewercaneasilyhandlenightphotography.Bryanshared
someofhisnightimagesmanyofwhichconsistofMilkyWayandAuroraphotosaswellas
otherstyles.Youcanseesamplesofhisworkathttp://www.bryanhansel.com. Canaddvariouslightstododifferentkindsofeffects.HeusesLEDlightpanelsthathehas
purchasedonAmazon.comforaround$23.Hasonethatis160LEDsandanotherthathas
210LEDsontinypanels.Worksgreatfordoinglightpaintingorlightingspecific
areas/buildings.
Lensesthatworkbest:
FXwidelens14-24mm.Thefasterthebetter.F2.8isthesweetspot.F1.4isbetter.
F4willwork.
DX1.5crop–10-16mmandmaybeupto24mm.
4/3crop–7-12mmupto17mm.
WantlownoiseatISOrangeof1600-6400.
NeedthefollowinginyourNightPhotographykit:
• Lights
o Colortemp–somearemorebluewhichgivesmoreofanindustriallook.
Yellowgiveswarmertone.
• Headlamp–freesyourhandsforcontrollingcamera
• Superduperbrightflashlight–usedforframingandfocusing.
• Tripod
• Lenspen
• Hotshoebubblelevel
• Shutterreleasecord
• Intervalometerfortimedexposures
Planning
• Moonphase–newmoon,crescent,quarter,gibbous,full,waxing,waning
• Moonriseandsettimes
• Planforstartphotographywhenmoonisnew,crescentorquarterormoonisset.
Carefulplanningcangetyourshotswhengibbous.
• Shootfor30secondsorlesstopreventstarsstreakinginskys.
• TPE(ThePhotographersEphemeris)–softwareoninternetforplanningbesttime
fornightshots.Showswhentoplanmoonshots.Costs$5touseoniPhonebutsays
itismoneywellspent.
• Whenthemoonisup,can’ttakestarshotsbutcantakesomeothercoolkindsof
photos.
PredictingMilkyWayshots
MaytoNovemberisbesttimearoundhere.OkayinAprilandDecember.January
throughMarchisn’tasgood.TheMilkyWaymovesfromeasttowestinthenight
sky.InAugustitisstraightoverhead.Thegalacticcoreiswhateveryonestrivesto
shootandistheareaofbrightestlight.
CookCountyisoneofthedarkestareasinthecountry.Itrangesfroma1-3scale.
GrandMaraisisthedarkestareafromNorthDakotadowntoTexasandtotheeast
soisthebestareatobefornightphotography.
Outdoorlights–thebluerthelight(suchasstreetlights),themorelightpollutionit
causes.Theyelloweritisthebetterforreducinglightpollution.
Selectinglocationsforshooting
• Interestingforegroundorforegroundsyoucanlight
• Clearviewofnightsky
• Silhouettesoftreelines–likegunflinttrail
CameraSettings
• ShootRaw
• Basicprinciples
o useapertureof2.8orwider
o shutterspeed–30secondsorless
o ISO–3200-6400–turnoffautoISO
o Manualfocus
Histogramwillbeabouthalfwayacross.Wantthemtobemoreequalovertotherightside.
Thehighestqualityofimageistotherightsideofhistogram.First2/7ofimagequalityis
ontherightside.
Whitebalance–changesthecolorofthenightsky.Tungstenorincandescentgiveitabluer
look.
LENR–LongExposureNoiseReduction–camerasetting
Cameratakesaphotoandthentakesasecondphotowithoutopeningtheshutter.The
secondphotosamplesnoise.Thecamerathensubtractsthenoisefoundinthe2ndphoto
fromthefirstphototoreducetheoverallnoise.Takestwiceaslongtotakeaphotowhen
usingthismethodbecausesecondphototakesexactlythesamelengthoftimeasthefirstto
take.
Focusingatnight
• Liveviewfocusing
• Zoomintoastarandthenturnfocusringuntilstarissharp
• Turndistanceringonlenstoinfinity–however,onsomelensesinfinitychangesas
youzoom.Onothers,infinityisn’tcorrectlyindicated.
• Flashlightfocusedonobjectinthedistancesoitiseasiertofocus
• Tokeepfocus,turnoffautofocus,tapefocusringoncamerainplace.
Waystokeepsharpfocus
• Cablerelease
• Self-timer
• Mirrorlockup
Lightningphotography
• Safetyfirst
• ISO800,F8,cameraonbulb
• Useshutterreleasecable–holdopenfor30seconds
• Iflightningstrikesreleasecableandpressforanother30seconds
• Ifnolightning,releaseafter30secondsandpressforanother30seconds
• Continuethisprocessuntilyoufeelyouhavecapturedwhatthereistocapture
NorthernLights
• Spaceweather.comtofindoutKPnumbers.
• Generalprinciplesarethesame
• AuroralCircle-theauroraisacrownoflightthatcircleseachofEarth'spoles.It
dipsdownloweraftersolarflaresoccur.TheyarerankedinKPnumbers.KP3-5is
viewableupnorth(GrandMaraisarea).KP6isviewableinthemetroarea,ifyoucan
findadarkareatoseeit.
• Theyrotatearoundthemagneticpole,notthenorthpole.
• Happenmostoftenaroundtheequinoxforsomereason.
• Usethefastestshutterspeedyoucaninordertocapturetheshapeandrays.
Otherwiseitwilljustappearascoloredlight.
• Speeddependsonbrightnessofnorthernlights.
• Shootat1secondat8000ISOtogetshapes.
• KP3upatGrandMaraisisjustabovethehorizon.
• Protonbeamlightsuptheskyandprecedesmanyofthenorthernlights
occurrences.
Composition
• Mainlysky-2/3,3/4skywithabitofforeground
• Visualweightandbalance–brightareas,silhouetteswithhighcontrastusing
humanforms,areasofaction(anglesandlines)
• Balance–afterdefiningvisualweight,balanceoverallimage.Wantsameweighton
bothsidesofimage.
GoodspotfortakingNorthernlightsisMudCreek–PineMountainRoad,GrandMarais.
Dirtroadtogetthere.
Enhancements
• BryanHanselhasasetofpresetsforsaleforuseinLightroomfornightskyphotos
for$19.99(http://www.bryanhansel.com).
• NeedtoenhanceMilkyWayimagestobringoutthebrightness.
• Hastode-saturatesomeoftheaurorashotsorthecolorscanappeartolookfake
eventhoughitiswhathesaw.
• Hasanorthernlightsworkshopeachyear.In2016thereare2inAugustand1in
September(onlabordayweekend).Otherwisedoes1eachinJuly,Augustand
September.
BRYAN HANSEL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS - WWW.BRYANHANSEL.COM
I offer Lake Superior photography workshops, photography courses and one-on-one and small group
photography instruction in Grand Marais, Minnesota. I also offer workshops in the Badlands and the Smoky
Mountains. In 2016, I'll add new destinations as well.
My workshops combine classroom time, field time at the most stunning locations and an image review. Using
this combination, I teach you how to master your camera, how to see and how to capture better photos. If
you're an advanced shooter, my workshops get you to the right locations at the right time for the best light. The
small group size ensures that you'll get plenty of one-on-one time. If you want more one-on-one time, I offer
personal and small group workshops for you and your friends. I also make sure that my workshops are fun,
because learning should be fun.
Find this year's workshops below, and if you have other questions email me at [email protected]. I
personally answer every email I receive.
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February 12 to 14, 2016 - Lake Superior Winter Photo Workshop- Sold Out- Waiting list available
February 19 to 21, 2016 - Lake Superior Winter Photo Workshop- Sold Out- Waiting list available
April 16-17, 2016 - Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge Photography Workshop- Filling up
April 22 to 24, 2016 - Spring Waterfall Photography Workshop- Sold Out- Waiting list available
April 29 to May 1, 2016 - Spring Waterfall Photography Workshop- Filling up
May 19-22 - Spring in Theodore Roosevelt National Park Photography Workshop- Sold Out- Waiting
list
June 17 to 19, 2016 - North Shore Wildflower Photography Workshop- NEW -Filling up
June 22 to 26, 2016 - Badlands and the Black Hills Photography Workshop- NEW- Nearly full
August 3 to 7th, 2016 - Northern Night Skies: Night Photography Workshop- Sold Out- Waiting list
available
September 1 to 3, 2016 - Night Skies of the Gunflint Trail- Half Full
September 7 to 11, 2016 - Grand Teton National Park Photography Workshop- One space left
September 14- to 18, 2016 - Grand Teton National Park Photography Workshop- Sold Out- Waiting
list
September 27 to October 2, 2016 -North Shore of Lake Superior Fall Photography WorkshopRegistration open
October 20 to 23, 2016 - Great Smoky Mountains National Park Fall Photography Workshop- Half
Full
November 4 to 6, 2016 - Gales of November Photography Workshop- Half Full
November 12-13, 2016 - Achieve Your Vision: Processing Photos in the Digital DarkroomRegistration opens
March
December 2 to 4, 2016 - Badlands National Park Photography Workshop- Filling up
One on one, small group and photography club classes are available as well. I also have many one-hour
presentations that I give. Both about photography and adventure.
2016 NORTH HOUSE FOLK SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES- 1.5 DAY CLASSES
March 11-12,2016: Capturing the Frozen Shoreline (Note: register via the North House)
May 13-14, 2016: Just the Camera Basics (Note: register via the North House)
June 3-5, 2016: Northern Landscape Photography workshop (Note: register via the North House)
October 8-9, 2016: October Skies: Night Photography Workshop (Note: register via the North House)
For more information visit: www.bryanhansel.com, call 218-370-8351 or email [email protected]