Calendar
The meeting will start promptly at 7 pm, but we’ll open the building at 6 pm for setup and social hour.
Join us for our Monthly Critique Night!
Our judge for March will be Jim Selkin
Members bring prints for critique on the third Wednesday of each month. Prints accepted by the Judge will hang for up to 2 months in the Photographic Arts Building gallery.
Visitors are welcome, however, submitting images for critique is available for members only. If you’d like more information about joining Darkroomers, please check out our membership page and email us if you have any questions.
About Jim
I was in photographic diapers when I was handed a Brownie Instamatic by my dad at the age of 4 and never looked back.
At 6, I was being taken to photo conventions in NYC.
Still have the camera today!
In college, I was fortunate to study under Walter Rosenblum, who coalesced my photographic vision. https://www.rosenblumphoto.org/about
While doing graduate work in architecture at Columbia University, I ventured to Tahiti to study where my favourite Impressionist artist, Gauguin, lived and worked. Returning from that trip, my photo eyes were opened to the world. Through fortuitous opportunities, I was hired as a contract photographer for Air France based in New York. I handled a variety of assignments, including being the official AF photographer for the inauguration of the Concorde. A 3-month international assignment brought me to Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Paris, with subsequent trips through France.
My travel work was represented at first by the Image Bank and subsequently became a member of Getty Images. My images have also appeared in Travel & Leisure, Nat Geo Traveler and for a number of Japanese agencies.
Switching roles, I worked as an art director with major agencies in New York, concentrating on travel and cosmetic accounts. I also served as a judge for the One Show in photography and commercials. I had the privilege of working with such luminaries as Henry Wolf, Hiro, Anthony Edgeworth and Pete Turner.
A subsequent move to the west coast led to work with Tourism Fiji, Tourism New Zealand, throughout SE Asia and full circle, back to Japan. I lived and worked in Saigon for 3 years [pre and during the Pandemic] where I created photo-stories covering various aspects of life in the city through the eyes of an ex-pat. I am sent on assignments to capture images “in real time” for tourism boards and travel related companies.
I have judged for photo associations around California including PPA, PSA, County Fairs and local photo groups but put more emphasis on helping photographers develop their vision.
I was a Canon Pro but have subsequently switched to Fuji, where I mentor photographers across different countries. I also have led photo tours to France and Vietnam and am
planning trips to photograph both Indigenous cultures and off-the-beaten-track places in Japan in 2025 [more on that as it is finalized].
I have learned many valuable lessons. One that always resonates is:
“Photography teaches patience.” Be at one with your camera.
Discover the ultimate Photoshop workflow designed exclusively for professional artists—an award-winning system that transforms your creative process. This course unlocks insider secrets, time-saving techniques, and advanced tools used by top-tier designers to elevate your artwork to new heights. Whether you’re aiming to refine your skills, boost productivity, or create stunning, polished projects, this class will empower you with the knowledge and confidence to excel. Sign up now and join a community of passionate artists mastering the art of digital creation—because your next masterpiece deserves the best workflow!
About Stephen Burns
Stephen Burns (www.chromeallusion.com) is a digital artist and author of books on being creative with your digital tools. He is an Adobe AEL (Adobe Educational Leader) as well as an Adobe Community Expert and has taught digital creativity internationally. He is an Instructor at Goldenwest College and Santa Monica College and Coast College and Studio Arts of Los Angeles. He worked as a Pro-Artist for WACOM Technologies and he is the president Of Photoshop Users Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoshopusersgroup) which is currently the largest Adobe Photoshop Users group in the country.
He is guest writer for a number of magazines to include the feature article and front cover of Photoshop User Magazine (http://www.chromeallusion.com/articles_index.htm). In addition, Stephen is the author of the following books (http://www.chromeallusion.com/books.htm):
- “3D Photoshop For Creative Professionals”
- “Photoshop CS5 Trickery & FX”
- “The Art Of Poser & Photoshop”
- “Advanced Photoshop CS4 Trickery & FX”
- “Advanced Photoshop CS3 Trickery & FX”
- “Advanced Photoshop CS2 Trickery & FX”
- “Photoshop CS Trickery & FX”
He has discovered the same passion for the digital medium as he has for photography as an art form. His background began as a photographer 28 year ago and in time, progressed toward the digital medium. His artistic influences include the great Abstractionists & the Surrealists including Jackson Pollock, Wassily Kandinsky, Pablo Picasso, Franz Kline, Mark Rothko, Mark Tobey, and Lenore Fini, to name a few.
Stephen Burns has been a corporate instructor and lecturer in the application of digital art and design for the past 29 years internationally. He has been exhibiting digital fine art around the world at galleries such as Durban Art Museum in South Africa, Citizens Gallery in Yokahama, Japan, and CECUT Museum Of Mexico to name a few. Part of his exhibiting won him 1st place in the prestigious Seybold International digital arts contest.
He teaches Digital Manipulation Workshops online and privately. He is an instructor on http://training.xtrain.com/faculty/show/Stephen+Burns , Photoshop Café (http://www.chromeallusion.com/dvd_index.html), Layers Magazine (http://www.chromeallusion.com/tutorials_3d_layersmag.html).
Details coming soon!
A strong portfolio is more than a collection of good images—it’s a body of work with purpose and intent.
In this presentation, Andrew Hertel explores how photographers can build clear, cohesive portfolios across multiple formats, including websites, print portfolios, books, and smaller, goal-specific collections. Rather than focusing on trends or specific platforms, the talk looks at why portfolios matter, how galleries and portfolios serve different roles, and how thoughtful editing shapes the way work is seen and understood.
This session is practical, approachable, and relevant for photographers at many stages. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how to evaluate their own work, make stronger editing choices, and create portfolios that communicate clearly—no matter the format.
About Andrew
Andrew Hertel is a fine art photographer specializing in black and white landscapes, wildlife, and nature photography. He is drawn to the way light, shadow, shape, and texture come together to define a scene, creating images that reflect the quiet beauty of the natural world.
Beyond photography, Andrew has a deep love for adventure and exploring remote landscapes. Whether on foot, motorcycle, or bicycle, he finds inspiration in the wild places he visits and the ever-changing conditions that shape them. His work has been exhibited at fine art shows and galleries, and he leads photography workshops in places like Death Valley and Kyrgyzstan, helping others experience and capture the landscapes in their own way.
For Andrew, photography is more than just creating images—it’s about being out in nature, embracing the journey, and sharing that experience with others.