The Perseid Meteor Shower is coming, and it’s the biggest shower of the year, hitting its peak on the night of August 12-13, 2018. On or around the peak night, the Perseids can produce 80-100 meteors per hour or more under ideal conditions… meaning a dark, clear sky. You will need to find a viewing spot with little light pollution where you can view the northern sky.
Viewing the Perseid meteor shower couldn’t be easier. Simply go outside after sunset and look a little to the right of dead north (use the compass app on your phone if you’re not sure where north is). Perseus will be a bit low on the horizon at first, but as the night progresses it will march higher in the sky. You can also use the “W”-shaped Cassiopeia as a guide. Find the constellation and look down and to the left and you’ll see Perseus. On the 12th, in PA, as we hit sunset, the earth will be rotating directly into the path so the rates will steadily increase through the night and peak between 10:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m.
And the hard part, we will need a clear night! Cross your fingers!
To photograph the meteor shower, place your camera on a study tripod. Use a wide angle lens. Use manual focus and pre-focus on a distance light. Set your camera on Manual and set your exposure time to 15-30 seconds. Adjust the aperture after you do a few test shots.
Take a lawn chair. And don’t forget your bug spray!
Yesterday Mary Jane, our son Scott, and I had a great trip to Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland in Allenwood, PA. Cost is $16 for adults. $14 for children ages 3 through 11. Summer time hours are 9 am to 6 pm. Because of the heat, we decided to arrive at 9 am just as the doors opened. A good plan! It was relatively cool and we almost had the park to ourselves for photography. We decided to see the outside exhibits first while it was not too hot.
A typical tourist can see the zoo in about 2 hours. It may take longer for a photographer as there are so many photo opportunities.
If you go at 9 am on a weekday, you should have the place almost to yourself. One can photograph without distractions. I had good access to the animals. We did not see any signs restricting photography. Scott and I did not use a tripod or flash.
Enjoy your photo trip!
Dan Hyde
The best part of the park for me was the “Dinosaurs Come to Life” path with about a dozen life-size animatronics-run dinosaurs. Some dinosaurs move their heads, open their month, roar and may spray water on you!
I was impressed by how the dinosaurs are hidden in the vegetation along the path. Notice that the above dinosaurs have feathers as was discovered by scientists a few years ago.
The Emu is an example of a living dinosaur.
Several animals in the outside exhibits.
We attended the 30-minute live show “The Ruling Reptiles” at 10:30 am. We really liked the show! Mary Jane and Scott got to pet an alligator at the end of the show.
Above is the house for Parakeet Landing. We found it worth it to pay the $2 for a seed stick.
We had no trouble getting a parakeet to land on our sticks.
One can get very close to the parakeets for great shots!
I’m partial to the geckos and the poison dart frogs.
We hope you had a chance to watch/shoot Lewisburg’s fireworks display last night. If you missed it, there are still plenty of fireworks shows in the region in the next few days. Grab your camera and try to capture some fireworks!
Here is how I like to shoot fireworks. First I use a study tripod as I like to expose for 4 seconds. The longish exposure of 4 seconds captures the longer streaks as the bomb explodes. I use a cable release so I can start the exposure just when I detect a firework is starting, usually by the rocket’s ascending streak. Since it is easy to overexpose fireworks, I set my Camera 80D on the Manual setting, with an ISO of 100 and aperture of f-22. That usually produces nice colors on a black sky. You may have to adjust the aperture and/or shutter speed depending on your camera and how close you are to the action.
I used my “walk-around” Canon 18-200mm zoom lens. It’s important to set the lens to manual focus. I set the focus manually on a distant object before the show when there is more light and then don’t touch the focus ring! If you are like me and are prone to accidentally hit the focus ring in the dark, use a piece of artist tape to keep the focus ring in place. The artist tape will not leave any glue residue on your lens when you remove it. You can buy it at Brushstrokes. Since one is on a tripod, it’s best to turn off image stabilization.
We need images of Reflections for the next meeting’s Photo Quest!
The next meeting of the Lewisburg Photography Club is Thursday June 28, 2018 7-9 p.m. at the usual place – The Village Common.
During the first hour of the June 28 Meeting, we will have a panel of four “Experts” discuss the different lenses and filters they use. They will explain why they use a particular lens or filter and when. The four “Experts” are Photo Club members Penny Patterson, Charlie Guttendorf, Kyle Fawcett, and Dan Hyde.
During the second hour after the break, Dan will show images submitted to the June Photo Quest. The theme is “Reflections.” Recall a Photo Quest’s purpose is to challenge you so you can grow as a photographer. Don’t just select two images from your past images, plan and take several new shots that you think would make a strong image with Reflections. Those who wish to participate should submit two JPEGs that typify “Reflections” to Dan <hyde@bucknell.edu> by 5 p.m. Tuesday June 26.
Announcement
Due to scheduling issues, the July meeting of the Photo Club is a week early on Thursday July 19. We will have a Critique Forum. The next Photo Quest will be in August.
Great website to explore that covers the extensive photography collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
Spend some time and browse.
Dan
www.vam.ac.uk/collections/photographs
The Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) in London has an incredibly varied collection of artifacts that span 5,000 years and includes architecture, furniture, clothing and textiles, sculpture, painting, jewelry, glass, ceramics, book arts, Asian art and design, and of course, photography. The V&A has been collecting photography since the very beginning of the medium in the mid-nineteenth century and its collection is especially strong in the work of early photographers. This is in part because approximately 270,000 photographs from the collection of the Royal Photographic Society, as well as camera equipment, books, and photographer’s journals, was transferred to the V&A in 2016. The V&A plans to open a new Photography Centre in October of 2018, making this website the best way to currently view its photos. A few examples are presented here, such as a 1953 official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton, or one of MIT professor Harold “Doc” Edgerton’s milkdrop photos. A great way to get a glimpse of the V&A’s photographic riches is a short video narrated by several photography curators, “Introducing the photography collection,” and a feature including video and images of early photographer Julia Margaret Cameron.
Enclosed are images of Mary Jane’s and my hike in Ricketts Glen State Park today. It was cool about 60 degrees. Cloudy but no rain.
Ricketts Glen State Park is about 50 miles northeast of Lewisburg, PA and has 22 named waterfalls. Be warned that it is a seven mile hike to see all 22 of them! Ricketts Glen State Park is named for R. Bruce Ricketts, a colonel in the American Civil War who owned over 80,000 acres in the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but spared the old-growth forests in the glens from clearcutting. Nearly all of the waterfalls are visible from the Falls Trail, which Ricketts had built from 1889 to 1893 and which the state park rebuilt in the 1940s and late 1990s. The Falls Trail has been called “the most magnificent hike in the state” and one of “the top hikes in the East”. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterfalls_in_Ricketts_Glen_State_Park
We only hiked the Falls Trail 0.3 miles down to the first waterfalls, Mohawk Falls which is 37 feet high.
Though not raining, the first series of stone steps down the trail were wet and muddy. Therefore, we decided to turn around and retrace our steps back to the car after the first falls.
I recommend you visit Ricketts Glen State Park when the trails have had a few days to dry, for example, after a stretch of dry sunny weather. Also, wear hiking boots with a good grip as the stone steps can still be wet from the spray of the falls. Mary Jane recommends taking a change of clothes (shirt and pants) to change into when you get back to your car. Mary Jane can attest to how easy it is to slip and get all muddy.
Dan
Mary Jane starts down the Falls Trail.
A tributary of Kitchen Creek.
Notice how lush and green it is after all of the rain.
A walk bridge over Kitchen Creek. Notice the hand railings!
Mary Jane with Kitchen Creek in background.
A fellow hiker took a picture of the two of us.
Kitchen Creek roaring down the glen.
The top of Mohawk Falls is in center of image.
View of the top of Mohawk Falls. 37 feet high.
It’s hard to get a good shot of Mohawk Falls with so many trees in the way.
Other waterfalls in Ricketts Glen State Park are more photogenic.
Shot with my Canon 80D digital camera with 18-200mm zoom lens at 18 mm.
Camera on my portable Manfrotto MKBFRA4-BH BeFree Compact Travel Aluminum Alloy Tripod
which folds to less than 16 inches and fits in my day pack. Weight only 3 pounds. Also, I used a cable release.
I set the ISO to 1600 and let the camera decide on the other settings – shutter speed 1/125 sec, aperture F7.1.
Same location as previous shot. I didn’t move camera or tripod.
However, I shot on Manual setting with ISO 100 and F22 to set the
slowest shutter speed possible of 1.0 seconds to achieve that smooth silky look.
I took neutral density filters but didn’t need them as it was darkish from heavy cloud cover.
Moved camera and zoomed in on Mohawk Falls.
I set the ISO to 1600 and let the camera decide on the other settings – shutter speed 1/200 sec, aperture F7.1.
Same location as previous shot. I didn’t move camera or tripod.
However, I shot on Manual setting with ISO 100 and F22 to set the
slowest shutter speed possible of 1.0 seconds to achieve that smooth silky look.
Dramatic difference in look! Notice how the foreground rock on right now pops out!
Here is something you may be interested in, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources chose to feature Lewisburg Photography Club member Kyle Fawcett in the “Good Natured Pennsylvanian” section of their latest newsletter! To see, visit the following link: http://www.dcnr.pa.gov/GoodNatured/pages/Article.aspx?post=44
Additionally one of Kyle’s night sky pictures has been chosen to be one of the photos featured in the 2019 Pennsylvania State Parks calendar!
Photo Club member Owen Floody has a photography exhibit entitled “Trekking in South America” that will include 23 images from five treks: two to Patagonia and one each to Machu Picchu, the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Huayhuash. It will run May 29 – July 3 at the office of the Bucknell Institute of Lifelong Learning (BILL).
Note: In the summer, BILL office hours are limited to 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Also, the office is planned to be closed the first two weeks in June, 2018.
BILL’s office is located at 115 Farley Circle, Suite 302. One would get there by entering Brookpark Farm along Reitz Boulevard. Turn into the Spring Run Professional Park and take the 2nd left. Ahead of you will be two buildings. The longer and more distant is that housing BILL. There are several entrances to this building. The correct one (a) is between two hair salons, and (b) marked by signs for Bayda Home Health Care and the Lewisburg Prison Project. The exhibit begins immediately inside the entrance though you probably will have to first go to the corridor’s end to find a set of notes on the images.
The Regional Juried Exhibition 2018 will be at The Gallery at Penn College, One College Avenue, Williamsport, PA from May 29 – July 27, 2018.
Reception: Sunday June 3, 2018, 2-5 p.m. with awards presented at 3 p.m.
Experience fine art by emerging and established contemporary artists. This opened theme exhibition highlights recent work in a variety of styles and media by artists living within 100 miles of Williamsport, PA. The Gallery of Penn College is proud to showcase the diverse artwork produced in our creative community.
Today Mary Jane and I visited Keithan’s Bluebird Gardens in Sunbury, PA. The Rhododendron blossoms were gorgeous! Here are three shots I took this afternoon.
View the Fabridam on the Susquehanna River:
When you are at Keithan’s Bluebird Gardens walk across the street on the west side and up the bank to have a great view of the Fabridam on the Susquehanna River.
If you are a flower lover, a great photo opportunity!
Dan Hyde
Directions to Keithan’s Bluebird Gardens:
Drive south on Route 15 and cross the main bridge towards Sunbury. On the bridge get in the right hand lane for South 147 and Herndon. As you exit the bridge, bear right to go south. On this one-way street travel by the Weiss Market plant maybe a tenth of a mile and look for the above Keithan’s Bluebird Gardens sign on right. After the sign, turn right into a parking lot and park.
After visiting the gardens (FREE), exit the parking lot from the other end and turn right to go north. Follow this street north about one tenth of mile and it places you on the bridge going west towards Route 15.
ARTISTS WANTED for the Fourth Annual SELINSGROVE FINE ARTS STROLL in Selinsgrove, PA from July 1 to July 31, 2018.
Snyder County Arts Council (SCAC) is planning the fourth annual Fine Arts Stroll in Selinsgrove. We will match you with a local business so your family-friendly art will be on display to the public throughout the month of July.
Please complete the below form and email your information with a few jpegs of your work to ms.denise.moy@gmail.com by June 1st. The adjudication/participation fee is $10 per artist, which should be received by SCAC along with a paper copy of your registration no later than June 1st. If we are unable to match you with a venue, your check will be returned.
Please tell other local artists who may be interested in participating of this announcement. We hope to have all the matching of artists and venues done in early June so advertising and promotional flyers can go out within a month from now.
Thanks for supporting the arts in Snyder County, Denise Moy, Snyder County Arts Council
ARTISTS WANTED for the Fourth Annual SELINSGROVE FINE ARTS STROLL in Selinsgrove from July 1 to July 31, 2018
Pieces should be family-friendly two-dimensional works ready to hang on the wall [includes photographs].
By mid-June, Snyder County Arts Council (SCAC) will match artists with businesses in Selinsgrove willing to serve as mini-galleries. If we cannot find you a venue, your participation fee will be returned.
Your art will be on display in a local business from July 2 to 31, at a minimum.
You must contact the venue to figure out the details of how, when, and where to hang your artworks, and if they will be for sale. SCAC will not do this for you!
Each participant will receive pdfs and Fine Arts Stroll flyers. You are strongly urged to help promote this event, especially via social media.
Businesses will also be given Fine Arts Stroll flyers and signs to display prominently.
The timing of the Fine Arts Stroll is designed to complement the other activities occurring in July – Hops, Wines and Vines; Antiques on the Avenue, and Selinsgrove’s Sidewalk Stroll – that bring many visitors to downtown Selinsgrove.
Please complete and return this registration form by June 1, 2018 to ensure you are included in the 2018 Fine Arts Stroll and the flyer.
E-mail it with a few jpegs of your work to ms.denise.moy@gmail.com, as well as mail it to SCAC with your registration fee.
SCAC is asking for $10 from each artist to participate, to help defray printing and advertising costs. Make your check out to Snyder County Arts Council and mail it to SCAC, PO Box 204, Selinsgrove, PA 17870 along with your registration.
Questions? Contact Denise Moy at ms.denise.moy@gmail.com or 570-374-5193.
=================================================== REGISTRATION FOR SELINSGROVE FINE ARTS STROLL IN JULY 2018 Name of Artist Mailing Address
The link contains a great 10-minute video where travel photographer and model Sorelle Amore tells you how to get it right…your posing that is. As she points out at the beginning of the clip, the right pose not only means a better portrait, it can also make us feel better about ourselves, particularly when the photo is of us.
These Are the Tricks Pros Use to Pose People So They Look Better in Portraits (VIDEO) by Dan Havlik
Do you like photographing people? A great photo opportunity is coming up on Sunday May 13, 2018 – The River Road Holiday. People will be walking, roller blading, riding their bikes, etc. on River Road from Lewisburg Community Gardens to RiverWoods. Last year a local bicycle shop brought a large collection of novelty bikes. Great fun!
Two thirds of a mile of River Road along the Susquehanna River north of Lewisburg will be closed to cars and open to pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair riders, and non-motorized vehicles of all kinds from 1 to 5pm. A portion of Water Street from St John St to St Anthony St and the stretch of River Road from the north end of Water Street to Winter Farm Lane (by the main entrance to RiverWoods) will be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic, allowing individuals, families, and groups to enjoy this scenic stretch of the Susquehanna River on foot or on (non-motorized) wheels.
Details of the River Road Holiday event can be found at
This is a friendly reminder that this year’s annual Columbia & Montour Counties Covered Bridge Photo Contest is currently underway, and there is approximately one month left to enter photographs in this year’s contest. If you have not already entered the contest, this year’s deadline is June 1st.
Photographers are invited to submit up to 4 images to the contest this year. Images must be high resolution (at least 1000 x 1000 pixels) to be considered for the contest. There is no cost to enter, and the winning photographer’s image will be featured as this year’s limited edition Covered Bridge Puzzle, the 8th in the series. For a full list of requirements and rules, please visit https://www.itourcolumbiamontour.com/photo-contest/ prior to submitting!
Even if you have submitted via our #CMVBPuzzle2018 hashtag on Instagram, I’d encourage you to send high-res images directly to me so that we can more appropriately consider you in the contest this year.
Entries can be emailed directly to me, Shane Kiefer. Thanks, and hope to see some of your images this year in the contest!
When I took a hike on Dale’s Ridge Trail this morning, I saw Virginia Bluebells (pictured); white, yellow, and purple Wood Violets; Hepatica; Dutchman Breeches; Bloodroot; and oceans of Spring Beauties! The Spring wildflowers are in full bloom!
If there is interest, I will schedule a Photo Walk along the trail and point out the wildflowers. I will try for a Saturday or Sunday morning or afternoon. $15 a person but FREE to paid up Lewisburg Photography Club members. Let me know if you are interested and tell me your preferred times in taking the Photo Walk.
