November Iris
Volume 65 Issue 2
IN THIS ISSUE President’s Note October Speaker Highlights
Ossining Reception October Scores: Judge Laura Warren
November Theme: Textures The Board & Our Sponsors
Spotlight on Suzanne Carter
REMINDER
Next Competition is
on Saturday Nov 3rd.
Please submit your
images by Thursday
Nov 1st.
Our Theme for Nov.
is Textures.
What’s the most important thing in your camera bag?
What is that certain something you throw in your camera bag when you go out ? Loading
your camera may just be something you do automatically. You’ve done it so many times
that you instinctually just dropped things in the bag.
I was shooting in an abandoned place somewhere in Pennsylvania. I switched cameras.
FYI, I carry two bodies with two different lenses to avoid switching lenses in dusty and
sometimes moldy environments. So, I switched cameras so I can shoot wide with my 16-
35 mm. I thought I locked the camera in place, but I didn’t. As I watched my life, well my
camera’s life slowly fall to it’s death I thought I may have to decide on a new camera
system sooner than later. There were two other photographers in the area and everything
just stopped. I think I heard all of us hold our breathe and no one said a word. I bent down
and picked up my camera. My canon 5D mark III and my 16-35 lens survived. My $40 UV
filter not so much. RIP filter. You performed well to the very end.
I think someone a very long time ago told me to put UV filters on my lenses and I just did.
it. I never really thought about it and just bought filters. After that I just threw a case with
a few filters like and ND, UV and polarizer in my camera bag when I go out.
That dark Sunday afternoon standing in that
abandoned church looking at my still functioning
camera it all made sense to me. One, I was
definitely buying two more UV filters when I got
home. Having those filters in my bag made my
day. Two, never leave home without them. The
gadgets only work if you have them with you.
So, what’s in your camera bag?
This was my camera bag for the moon shoot with Peter Alessandria. My LCD lights, a 2nd
camera body, my 5D with 150-600 lens, 70-200 with teleconverter, a head light, and a
wired release cable. In the flap pockets not shown, lens wipes, extra memory cards, an
extra battery and FILTERS. I always pack lights with me. I can always use them as
flashlights if necessary. I guess I’m always prepared to shoot in a dark place.
Raquel
President’s Note
OSSINING SHOW RECEPTION
Thank You Annette for
organizing the catering!!!
Barb’s Guacamole
Food Pics by Raquel
Gonzalez & Gloria Abraham
Images by Sharon Gumerove
Above Image by Sharon Gumerove
Images by Gloria Abraham
Images by Sharon Gumerove
Images by Lisa Castro
Spotlight on Suzanne Carter
Her mantra is, “If it moves I shoot it. If it
Doesn’t move, I shoot it.” Her interests vary
from landscapes to sports to street
photography. She got bitten by the
photography bug when attending the
University of Pennsylvania. There she took
Classes in B&W photography. Where she
Learned the craft of composition as well as
the technical aspects of B&W film developing and printing. The
smell of fixer is an aphrodisiac. Suzanne has been a longtime
club member and has held various board positions. She first
became acquainted with the club when she met several
members who were shooting at the New York Botanical
Gardens. The congeniality and openness of the club members
remains its trademark today. As a licensed attorney in New
York, she serves as the board's de facto general counsel when
not running her own practice or venturing to places far and near
to photograph.
Images by Suzanne Carter
October Speaker: Peter Alessandria
As the featured presenter at the Bronx Photographic Society, Peter Alessandria was a terrific
speaker. He talked about his daring career change from giving up the law after 20 years to becoming a
professional photographer. He explained how much is career has grown in the past ten years by learning
on his own. He made the point that it is important for photographers to move away from being highly
critical of their own work and therefore their own worst enemy to gaining confidence and becoming
his/her own best friend. As the transition occurs, it allows people to improve their work and becoming
their own best friends to that they can move to the next level.
He talked about how he moved to being a successful commercial photographer, including being
named an Official Photographer for Fireworks by Grucci, one of the oldest and best known creator of
fireworks and pyrotechnic firms of its kind in the world. He has traveled all over the world to document its
displays, most recently to the Maldives Islands.
As part of the presentation, he shared some of the images that he has created for New York City by
taking the time and effort to photograph from venues that other photographers had not explored such as
knee-deep unattractive water in the Bronx to helicopters flying over the area. His work was awesome,
made more so by taking the time and effort to see the city from unusual and wonderful places. Many of
his photographs are included in his new book “New York Cityscapes,” which he did in conjunction with
several other photographers. It is available for pre-order from Amazon.
Peter is an excellent presenter, an excellent speaker, and a person who quickly and sincerely
creates a bond with his audience.
Elaine
For more information, please follow him on Social Media and visit his websites: Instagram: @peteralessandria Facebook: @peteralessandriaphotography www.peteralessandriaphotography.com www.superstarheadshots.com www.greatproductshots.com
Altered Reality
FIRST LAST SEASON
TOTAL AR of
the month
Anastasia Tompkins 36.5 IOM
Gloria Abraham 34.0
Barbara Kapetanakes 34.0
Rudy Finelli 33.5 HM
Ray Green 32.5
George Hansen 31.5
Chris Moore 31.5
Lisa Castro 31.0
Kenric King 29.0
Raquel Gonzalez 23.0
Hec Stephens 22.0
Suzanne Carter 20.0
Annette Collazo-Comito 17.0
Paula Pillone 15.5
Honorable Mention
LIGHTHOUSE
RUDY FINELLI
Image of the Month
MELTING IBIS
ANASTASIS TOMPKINS
FIRST LAST SEASON
TOTAL Theme of t
he Month
Anastasia Tompkins 39.0 IOM, HM
George Hansen 34.0
Suzanne Carter 32.5
Bob Feldman 31.5
Barbara Kapetanakes 31.5
Lisa Castro 31.0
Rudy Finelli 31.0
Ray Green 30.0
Gloria Abraham 29.5
Andrea Nelson 29.5
Raquel Gonzalez 24.0
Chris Moore 22.0
Paula Pillone 16.0
Annette Collazo-Comito 15.0
Sharom Gumerove 15.0
Kenric King 13.5
Theme: Zoo Animals Judge Laura Warren
Image of the Month
TIME FOR A MANICURE
ANASTASIA TOMPKINS
Honorable Mention
3 BRONX BUDDIES
ANASTASIA TOMPKINS
FIRST LAST SEASON TOTAL "B" of the Month
Kenrick King 33.5 IOM
Hec Stephens 32.0
Paula Pillone 25.5 HM
Nate Williams 15.5
David Feldman 15.0
Digital Color B
Image of the Month
INTIMATE GAZE
KENRICK KING
Honorable Mention
MOONSTRUCK
PAULA PILLONE
Image of the Month
SUNFLOWER
ANDREA NELSON
Honorable Mention
DESKTOP TULIPS
GEORGE HANSEN
Digital Color A
FIRST LAST SEASON
TOTAL
A of the
Month
Andrea Nelson 35.5 IOM
Chris Moore 33.5
Gerald Liddelow 33.0
Lisa Castro 32.5
Barbara Kapetanakes 31.5
Ray Green 31.5
George Hansen 31.5 HM
Rudy Finelli 28.5
Annette Collazo-Comito 27.0
Digital Color AA
FIRST LAST SEASON
TOTAL
AA of the
Month
Anastasia Tompkins 38.5 IOM, HM
Raquel Gonzalez 34.5
Bob Feldman 34.0
Sharon Gumerove 34.0
Veronica Saunders 32.5
Harvey Augenbraun 32.0
Suzanne Carter 24.0
Elaine Kirchen 18.5
Honorable Mention
KINDERDIJK NETHERLANDS
ANASTASIA TOMPKINS
Image of the Month
LUSCIOUS LOTUS
ANASTASIA TOMPKINS
Digital B & W [CITE YOUR SOURCE HERE.]
FIRST LAST SEASON
TOTAL
B & W
of the Month
Anastasia Tompkins 36.5 HM
Raquel Gonzalez 35.5 IOM
Harvey Augenbraun 32.5
Chris Moore 32.5
Barbara Kapetanakes 32.0
Hec Stephens 32.0
Ray Green 31.5
Bob Feldman 30.5
George Hansen 30.0
Rudy Finelli 29.0
Kenrick King 28.5
Annette Collazo-Comito 26.0
Lisa Castro 24.0
Paula Pillone 24.0
Elaine Kirchen 17.5
Gloria Abraham 17.0
Suzanne Carter 16.5
Gerald Liddelow 14.5
David Feldman 8.5
Image of the Month
CALLA LILY
RAQUEL GONZALEZ
Honorable Mention
TANZANIA TOT
ANASTASIA TOMPKINS
The Board and Our Sponsors
Raquel Gonzalez- President/ Newsletter Editor
David Feldman- 1st VP/ Competition Chair
Veronica Saunders- 2nd VP/ Programs
Sharon Gumerove -3rd VP/ Membership
Elaine Kirchen- 4th VP at Large/ & Field Trips
Martin Lewis- Treasurer/ Corp Secty
Suzanne Carter- Recording Secty/ Legal Expert
Thank you to our Sponsors!!!