Detroit Monthly Report (February)

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

We had a great time in Detroit last night!

We started with the program which was the PSA traveling salon.  Stereo 
photography at its best!  As always, we might not agree with the judges'
choices but picking the best slides from such great group is not an easy
task!

Regular monthly competition followed.  The subject was "Patterns", in my
mind a rather difficult one.  I was surprised by the quality of the images,
especially the pictures taken with a Realist-format camera.  The quality of
work in Detroit has improved tremendously from two years ago.

One of my slides, "Roll of the Dice", tied in first place with one of Bill
Battle's computer images.  The "dice" idea occurred to me when I saw a 2d
picture of dice arranged in a pattern.  I first tried the regular B&W dice
but the image left something to be desired.  I looked around and found
colored  dice.  I bought at least 100 of them!  I then put them in a square
pattern at the top of a mirror (for added depth).  I took one roll with my
SLR and macro lens using natural (window/cloudy) light and different
configurations.  This resulted in visually appealing stereo pictures with
color and depth.  I selected one (not an easy job!) Iand am glad that 
people (especially the judges ;)) liked it!

Bill Battle's first place picture was outstanding!  For the first time I
was fooled into thinking that this was a regular table-top and not
computer-generated!  It showed a bunch of pencils arranged in a very
symmetric balancing configuration.  I was impressed and puzzled by the
precise arrangement that did not seem to be supported from anywhere. 
Hearing that this was computer-generated solved the mystery and gave a
taste of how computers could beat the most patient table-top worker.  But,
I guess, even computer work requires lots of patience.  Great job Bill!

Bill and I also had one picture each tied for second place.  My picture was
a close-up of a sunflower showing remarkable (IMO) natural pattern/symmetry.

As an indication of the quality of the images we saw last night, 9 slides
tied for 3d place and we needed to eliminate a few to be within the limits
dictated by the regulations.  All 9 slides were excellent, IMO, deserving
an award.  At the end, I think 3 of them were voted out (unfortunately,
including one of mine, a Realist slide of a man-made configuration in
Galleria in downtown Cleveland).  Jim Motley also had two 3rd place
winners.  Another good night for the Cleveland chapter of the Detroit club!

The competition subject next month is "Roadside images".  This is the only
category for which I have nothing in mind and made no effort to cover.  I
just hope that going through my collection I will find a few suitable
pictures since, the way I read this, anything by the side of the road will
be acceptable.  Right now with all the snow around it is impossible to take
a good picture.  I have learned (the hard way) that by March the judges in
Detroit are very tired of snow!

Reporting from Cleveland -- George Themelis


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