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Our judge this month, for "Heat" is Gerald Emmerich. We was awarded the 2017 PSA LIfetime Achievement Award.
Here is a sketch of his photographic bio:
The Photographic Society of America established the PSA Lifetime Achievement Award as one of the Society’s most prestigious awards in 2012. It is given annually to a long-time member of PSA who has made significant contributions to photography and to the Society. The Society is proud to present the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award to Gerald H. Emmerich, Jr., Hon PSA, GMPSA/B, a member for almost four decades.
Gerry has been an active photographer since the early 1970s and has over 7,600 acceptances, including over 250 Medals and 41 PSA Best of Show Gold Medals in PSA-recognized International Exhibitions. Over 600 of his photos have been published in books, magazines, calendars, and newsletters.
He is also a frequent photographic program presenter and a frequent judge of photographic exhibitions. He has generously shared his knowledge of photography through lectures and hands-on instructions to groups from beginning amateurs to seasoned photographers wishing to acquire new skills to advance their work.
HEAT as a Topic to photograph:
When approaching this topic, consider experimenting with different lighting conditions, times of day, and locations to capture various aspects of heat. Remember to protect yourself and your equipment from extreme temperatures while shooting, and be mindful of potential heat distortion when using telephoto lenses. By exploring the following creative approaches, you can produce some unique and compelling images that effectively convey the theme of "Heat" to win in the August competition.
Here are some creative approaches for photographing "Heat" as a topic for August competition:
1. Capturing heat distortion: Use a telephoto lens to photograph distant objects on a hot day, capturing the shimmering effect caused by rising heat waves. This can create an ethereal, dreamlike quality in landscapes or cityscapes.
2. Macro photography of heat-related phenomena: Get up close to photograph sweat beads, melting ice, or steam rising from hot surfaces. These intimate details can convey the sensation of heat in a visually striking way.
3. Infrared photography: Utilize infrared-sensitive cameras or filters to capture the heat signatures of various objects and living beings. This technique can reveal hidden heat patterns and create surreal, otherworldly images.
4. Silhouettes and harsh shadows: Photograph subjects against the intense light of a scorching sun to create dramatic silhouettes and long shadows, emphasizing the power of heat and light.
5. Documenting heat's impact: Capture the effects of extreme heat on people, animals, or the environment. This could include wilted plants, cracked earth, or people seeking refuge from the sun.
6. Heat-induced color transformations: Photograph objects or materials as they change color or form due to heat exposure, such as mood rings, thermochromic materials, or heat-sensitive paints.
7. Lens flares and sun bursts: Intentionally incorporate lens flares and sun bursts into your compositions to convey the intensity of heat and light.
8. Reflections and mirages: Capture heat-induced optical illusions like mirages on hot roads or distorted reflections on water surfaces.
9. Time-lapse photography: Create a series of images or a time-lapse series of superimposedimages to showing the progression of heat's effects over time, such as ice melting or plants wilting.
10. Conceptual interpretations: Use creative props, lighting, or post-processing techniques to convey the concept of heat in abstract or symbolic ways. This could involve warm color palettes, fire-inspired elements, or visual metaphors for heat.
11. Portraiture in extreme conditions: Photograph subjects in challenging hot environments, capturing their expressions, body language, and the physical effects of heat on their appearance.
12. Heat-related activities: Document activities associated with hot weather, such as people cooling off in water, fans blowing, or air conditioning units in action.
13. Heat-Induced Phenomena: Photograph natural phenomena caused by extreme heat, such as mirages in deserts, heat lightning, or wildfire smoke. These dramatic manifestations of heat can create powerful and evocative images
Some useful websites for reference:
[1] https://blog.davidjulian.com/favorite-tips-for-photographing-at-burning-man/
[2] https://greatbigphotographyworld.com/countering-for-heat-distortion-in-images/
[4] https://artrepreneur.com/opencall/sizzling-summer-commercial-projects-open-call-june-2024