NE OH Gathering May 14-16, 2010

[jp80874]

It is warm, sunny and breezy in North East Ohio today and an old man’s fancy turns to seeing friends, shooting film, gathering together to see winter’s work, climbing ledges, walking the OH & Erie Canal and having group fun at a gathering of like minded friends and hopefully new faces.

My wife Dolly, the girls two blond lady Labrador Retrievers and I would like to invite you to our home for a photography gathering starting about 5 PM Friday, May 14, Saturday May 15 and Sunday May 16th. We have been doing this for about a year and a half with attendance ranging from 10-25 photographers. It has been a blast for us. I hope you have enjoyed it as much.

In February I had the pleasure of visiting the Midwest Large Format Asylum’s annual print review at the Indiana Dunes. It was a great event with friendly people who take some pretty good pictures. I am inviting any of them who are willing to make the trip to join us. It should be good people meeting and enjoying good people.

The following is boiler plate based on earlier experiences.
Available options we have enjoyed before will be the Cuyahoga Valley National Park,
http://www.nps.gov/CUVA/index.htm

Within five miles:
Blue Hen Falls http://gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/bluehen.shtml
Buttermilk Falls http://gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/buttermilkCUVA.shtml
Brandywine Falls http://gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/brandywine.shtml
Virgina Kendall Ledges
http://www.nps.gov/cuva/planyourvisit/maps.htm

What has become boiler plate for each event.

The event will be in Bath, Ohio, between Cleveland and Akron, five miles south of the Ohio Turnpike and Route 77, meeting at a private home, two miles from the edge of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. For a rough estimate of distance use zip 44286 in Mapquest.com. If some visitors want to camp by the garden, they are most welcome. Others can stay at local motels. The Hampton Inn, Richfield, OH (1 800 Hampton) about five miles away is the most popular. Come as early as Friday, 5:00 PM. We usually have coffee & rolls each morning at 10:00 AM to allow for early shooters and late sleepers. We gather again about 5:00 PM to show prints, tell lies and go out to dinner. Sunset shooting is available, but previously showing prints and telling stories prevailed. While you are here the Lady Labradors will entertain with their splashing stick routines. One regular will try to convince you that Bacon ice cream is a bit of heaven. There is an orchard-home made ice cream business near by. When we learn how many are coming we can order a porta potty if there are enough to pay for it by contribution ($110). Our home stumbles through on an ancient septic system and well so we must ask you to endure this porta potty inconvenience.

We are trying to have a loose organizational shell under which all cats may be comfortably herded. The plan will evolve until the majority are happy and the protesters fall asleep.

All film shooters are welcome. Who is interested in coming? What information is needed?

If you have not been here before please PM me with name, address, phone, email and emergency contact in case you do something you shouldn’t have. I will return with directions.

Welcome to the Powers’ house.
Hosts, John & Dolly Powers
Labradors: Cindy and Savannah

 

[Lee L]

Some of the nearby facilities and photo opportunities:

http://sites.google.com/site/neohapug/home

Lee

 

[jp80874]

Thank you Lee. You really have worked on this since the earlier versions.

John

 

[davelam]

Hi John, i've just run across this actually.. Do you happen to go to Akron?
Your avatar picture does ring familiarity, well, especially the camera.

I believe I was in a class with you, some time ago now (2-3 years?) and returning back to photography as a minor.

Very interesting event you have planned! I will tell my friends and see who I can gather up.

 

[jp80874]

Welcome davelam,

Yes I am still taking photo courses at U Akron, this term shooting 8x10 and enlarging, last term 7x17 working on the canal project. Once a year I wheel in the baby jogger and do a demo with the 7x17 camera. The teachers use me to convince some of the students that carrying a 35mm and a small aluminum tripod may really not be all that bad.

I am glad the event still looks interesting. We have had lots of fun at earlier gatherings. It has not been so much about the items planned but the interaction of the people who come. That is what makes it good for me anyway. Every one gets a chance to do what they want, show their work and enjoy like minded people. Age difference really hasn't seemed a factor. Everyone makes an effort and it has been great. Hope we will see you.

John

 

[ic-racer]

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again. I'll try and get that weekend off.

 

[winger]

Depending on when I end up going to the pacific, I might be able to drive over Saturday. I won't be able to shoot, I don't think, but I can look at prints and talk. I'll have the little one with me (he now weighs more than my 4x5).

 

[jp80874]

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again. I'll try and get that weekend off.

Dale,

Great that you are coming. Bring prints to show.

Is your friend/co-worker Bill Jones reading APUG? If not would you please tell him about the event and invite him.

John

 

[Jeff Bannow]

Shoot - bad timing for Eva & I. We'll be out of town that weekend and can't make it! Everyone try not to have any fun without us.

Keep me posted on the next gathering though. And of course you are all welcome up here in Michigan as well.

 

[jp80874]

Depending on when I end up going to the pacific, I might be able to drive over Saturday. I won't be able to shoot, I don't think, but I can look at prints and talk. I'll have the little one with me (he now weighs more than my 4x5).

Bethe,

We would love to have you and the new munchkin. Remember Dolly and I are absentee grand parents. Denver is too far. We may be disgustingly enthusiastic.

I think Dale mentioned one time that he has a Minox. Maybe that would be a good starter size. Probably a little too age/technical, but what the heck.

John

 

[Shawn Dougherty]

John,
I'm heading out to Phili for a workshop at the end of May so I'm going to be busy - probably won't be able to make the whole weekend but I sure miss everyone (especially our most gracious hosts!!!) and will figure out a way to make it for at least one day/night. Thanks so much (and I've been voting for CVNP ALMOST every day =)
Shawn

P.S.
Click Dead Link Removed to vote for (and send a little $ to) Cuyahoga Valley National Park - which has been so good to our group!

 

[jp80874]

Shoot - bad timing for Eva & I. We'll be out of town that weekend and can't make it! Everyone try not to have any fun without us.

Keep me posted on the next gathering though. And of course you are all welcome up here in Michigan as well.

Bummer,

I was just going to mention that Dolly and I had just discovered yet another home made ice cream business only 16 miles from our house. I can report that their cappuccino–fudge is definitely worth the trip.

Do make the next event. Your friend Andrew Moore’s photo exhibit “Detroit Disassembled” runs June 5 - Oct 10 at the Akron Art Museum.

Something very delicious will be eaten in your honor and absence.

John

 

[jp80874]

John,
I'm heading out to Phili for a workshop at the end of May so I'm going to be busy - probably won't be able to make the whole weekend but I sure miss everyone (especially our most gracious hosts!!!) and will figure out a way to make it for at least one day/night. Thanks so much (and I've been voting for CVNP ALMOST every day =)
Shawn

P.S.
Click Dead Link Removed to vote for (and send a little $ to) Cuyahoga Valley National Park - which has been so good to our group!

Shawn,

Thank you so much for the kind words and making time to come visit. What is the workshop? We can all drool even if we aren’t at that level or can’t afford time or money.

Thanks for the reminder about the CVNP $5,000 grant. For those not aware of it, here is earlier text. Please help fund the place we enjoy.

The second place park is beginning to catch up. Unless we vote and vote every day (I know, such a bother, but it is a free $5K).

Here is the earlier post and the details.

"We have the opportunity to give something back without it costing us a dime. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park has a chance to win a $5,000 grant if they can get more votes than four other parks. Our photo hikes plus all the other people who use the park could gain from this. Dolly and I would be grateful if you read the following and hit the vote button often. We have also asked the same of our Hiking Hounds group. Every vote can pay.

Thanks,

John & Dolly Powers"

CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK ASSOCIATION
NEEDS YOUR HELP!
No money, just one vote a day

CVNPA is a candidate for a $5,000 grant from Tourism Cares, which has created an initiative called Save Our Sites, a grant opportunity specifically focused on national parks.

We are in competition with four other national parks for this grant. Our grant
will support scholarships for students who otherwise could not afford to attend our nationally renowned Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center. Please help us win this $5,000 competition! Help area school children experience Cuyahoga Valley National Park!

Here's what you need to do: between now and May 14, 2010 vote ONCE A DAY, every day. It's a fast and easy way to help CVNPA fund our great environmental education programs.

The park with the most votes by May 15 wins! Ask your friends to help too!

Dead Link Removed

 

[Bob Curtis]

John-
Got the dates on the calendar. Will be there for as much as possible. Thanks for doing this again.

Bob

 

[Shawn Dougherty]

John,
I'm going out to the Michael and Paula Vision & Technique workshop - after which my buddy Richard and I are going to spend a couple of days in and around Centralia, PA.

I have only one request - I've yet to make it to Jeff's Ice Cream Central - can someone show me the way? I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
Shawn

 

[jp80874]

John-
Got the dates on the calendar. Will be there for as much as possible. Thanks for doing this again.

Bob

Thanks Bob,

Glad to have you coming. We should have some fun with the way the group is building.

John

 

[jp80874]

John,
I'm going out to the Michael and Paula Vision & Technique workshop - after which my buddy Richard and I are going to spend a couple of days in and around Centralia, PA.

I have only one request - I've yet to make it to Jeff's Ice Cream Central - can someone show me the way? I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
Shawn

Shawn,

I have heard wonderful things about that workshop. My own experience was with a critique from them at the Toronto APUG meeting as well as a half day with Michael talking up Azo. Except for the egos, very healthy feedback and useful information.

Warning if you are a heavy meat eater, Paula cooks vegetarian and I hear very well. If you need meat, better get a burger on the way.

As to the ice cream, now that we know Jeff is not attending, but still reading, I think we should plan some ice cream outings in his memory. Dolly mentioned that the new place we have found has some 25 flavors. I don’t suppose you would want to try them all in one day, (did you read that Jeff?) but we could go back.

John

 

[CGross]

John, I am going to try to get up there finally. I'll keep you posted as the dates draw nearer.

 

[jp80874]

John, I am going to try to get up there finally. I'll keep you posted as the dates draw nearer.

Cody,

Love to have you visit. We had a great time at Bill’s three years back. By now I expect you will be giving me view camera lessons and I will enjoy that. It looks like some fun people are planning to come. You will fit in perfectly.

John

 

[Jeff Bannow]

Bummer,

I was just going to mention that Dolly and I had just discovered yet another home made ice cream business only 16 miles from our house. I can report that their cappuccino–fudge is definitely worth the trip.

Do make the next event. Your friend Andrew Moore’s photo exhibit “Detroit Disassembled” runs June 5 - Oct 10 at the Akron Art Museum.

Something very delicious will be eaten in your honor and absence.

John

I'm missing out on seeing everyone, and new ice cream to boot! Now I'm really sad!

We'll be coming down for Andrew's show for sure, and hopefully can meet up with some of you at that time.

 

[jp80874]

Speaking of food as we often do, I should mention that there is a good place to have breakfast, the Richfield Family Restaurant, across the street from the two motels at the Turnpike entrance, roughly five miles north of our house. It is not a gorgeous restaurant but it is cheap, wholesome, tasty and pretty quick.

John

 

[jp80874]

I am happy to report our first Midwest Large Format Asylum member, Colleen Kumrow from Jackson, WI has said she will join us. That is a long ride. I hope the regulars will make her feel welcome.

John

 

[jp80874]

There is a concurrent thread running on the Midwest Large Format Asylum. Jim Thompson of Kalamazoo, MI posted that he will join us. Several more are thinking about it. Jeff, tell them about the ice cream.

John

 

[jp80874]

Last gathering Peter Spangenberg performed an excellent platinum printing demonstration that was gratefully applauded by those attending. The pictures had the added interest of being from his trip to China. If someone would like to do a demonstration of something to do with our hobby it would be greatly appreciated. I want to apologize to Dale Marsh who offered to do a lith printing presentation this event. Because our house is serviced by a well and a somewhat fragile septic system, Dolly and I were afraid we might end up being thoroughly toned, inside and out. We would be most happy to drive up the street to your house and see it there.

We are open to any volunteers or suggestions. If you have an idea that needs some support from our end please suggest the idea and we can attempt to work out the details. For those who have not been here before, we have an 11x13 foot B&W darkroom in the basement with electricity, ventilation and plumbing. At an earlier event Nicholas Lindan used the darkroom to show his company Darkroom Automation’s F-stop timer. This was so well received that over time at least half of the regulars, maybe more, have bought and happily put one to use.

At another event we had a show and tell of LF cameras lined up between the house and the pond. Then several shooters spread out about the edges of the pond (100’x 200’) to take pictures. Dorothy Kloss’ efforts to be artistic were being frustrated by a stubborn resident bush which was quickly chainsawed into sawdust. Bill Schwab brought his trailer and entertained us with the ever portable wet plate process.

Make a suggestion and let’s see if we can make it happen.

John

 

[jameswilliamjones]

Looking forward to seeing everyone again. This time I'll try to bring prints. Will try to get the weekend off work.

Bill