Photo club has strong following with beginners, professionals
The Academy of Science and Art of Pittsburgh was formed to keep alive societies consisting of art, engineering, architecture, iron city microscoptical, botanical and photography.
Today, however, that permanent spot only has one resident: The Photographic Section.
Meeting on the second, third and fourth Tuesdays from September through May, the group of about 130 people – ranging from many South Hills and other surrounding neighborhoods – gather to learn and hone photography skills at the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center.
Combining all skill levels, ages and professions, the Photo Section focuses on improving picture taking from the least experienced members to those who take pictures professionally through classes and competitions.
“We have members from all over the place but most come from the South Hills, said Frank Fabus, who recently took over the media director role after being with the group since 2001. “From doctors and lawyers to people that are retired, when we are at our meetings we are just photographers. That’s what is great about it.”
The club features several learning opportunities from the other members, three digital competitions, three print competitions and from other presenters that visit the recreation center to give presentations on how to frame, compose, edit and perform other intricacies of the profession.
With the goal of every program having a takeaway, the club is presenting Irene Hinke-Sacilotto to share her personal experiences. “A Passion for Wildlife Photograph, The Stories Behind the Images,” is based on her more than 30 years of experience of photographing animals and will be presented at 7:30 p.m. March 21 at the recreation center. The event, free to the public, will feature Hinke-Sacilotto discussing the knowledge, strategies, techniques and equipment needed to capture wildlife images, which she has shared in other tours in the United States and abroad.
“I think it’s important because we are learning somebody else’s side of photography,” Fabus said. “What we know within the group we teach each other but then these people that visit are coming in at a much higher level than many have ever gotten to. It’s a learning process.”
From properly setting aperture, ISO and shutter speed, some aspects of photography have remained the same; however, the days similar to Ansel Adams having glass slides and developing pictures on site are merely an ancient art form.
“Digital photography has changed for everyone,” former group president Nancy Barnard said. “You look back to the turn of the 20th century when a majority of the pictures you saw at that time period were posed. Today, with the equipment we have, a photo can be taken from anywhere. The equipment still doesn’t make the photograph. The photographer does.”
For Fabus, who is retired from the postal service, it’s about taking the information he learns from competitions or the meetings to use it for that next shot.
“The competitions just bring out the passion even more,” he said. “When they finish, I just want to grab my camera and go out and shoot. “It’s all about keeping a memory and preserving an event that is no longer there. Photography is a moment captured that will not happen again and sometimes lost forever.”