On November 27 we had our first Technical Series meeting with a new format specifically designed to draw on the collective knowledge and expertise of the diverse BCA membership. The evening was divided into three time slots. In each section a group member gave a short prepared introduction to a topic that was of interest both to that person, and to the group in general. The presentations and the ensuing discussions were highly participatory, with members in the audience either asking questions or adding their own thoughts on the topic.
William Feiring led off with a discussion of online learning resources. He focused initially on Lynda.com, a rich source of professionally prepared courses. While Lynda is normally a fee-based site, virtually anyone can get free access either via their home town library or with a Boston Public Library eCard. William and other members also mentioned a number of other resources that they use, including Adobe, Scott Kelby, Julianne Kost, Tim Grey, and others. Instructions on accessing Lynda.com and links to the above resources and more can be found in William’s summary.
Ann Sluder talked about custom photo calendars as a means for sharing themed collections or portfolios. She uses this personally as a way to preserve and share her work, as an alternative to hanging prints or seeking gallery space. Ann brought in several of her past calendars. Some of the ways she uses these - document a trip; capture favorite places; select images that will be meaningful to someone she gives the calendar to as a gift. The possibilities are endless. Other members then talked about other ways to share work - photo books, greeting cards, jigsaw puzzles, printing on fabric or tile, clothing, and more. Ann’s slides include links to several providers that she has used for calendar creation.
Mark Levinson gave an informative presentation on inkjet printer papers. He covered Base Materials (paper types), Surfaces (glossy, etc.), Color/Brightness, Ink Types, Longevity, and Sizes. Mark brought along prints of two images - one color, one black & white - as examples. Each had been printed on quite a few different paper types so that members could compare the appearance for themselves. More info in Mark’s slides.