We have two great events we want you to know about this month.
The first is a contest in the Hespeler area that is an opportunity for you to practice and share your talents. There are separate contests for those 18 and over, and 18 and under. Check http://www.hespelervillage.org/ for more information and application forms, or drop into the Hespeler library.
The second is the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk in Cambridge starting at the StoneWorks Outlet Mall in Galt. Whether you're part of the group or not, if you are a photography enthusiast, we would love to see you there. You can sign up here: http://worldwidephotowalk.com/cambridge-on-ca/
4 Week Challenge
Our four week challenge is about encouraging us to reach further and expand our skills and creativity. Each four weeks, we have a new challenge, and an opportunity to share our pictures with each other. The photos have to be new and shot within those four weeks. We encourage you to take as many as you like (It's a digital world) and pick a few of your best, then bring them to our group on a media stick. We will display them and give a quick review for the benefit of all.
The Last Challenge
Our last challenge was macro photography. Brett tried out his new Macro lenses, and Gary decided to use the small sensor size of a Sony Point-and-shoot camera to advantage in taking the macro shots, but the clearly best images came from Rachel who impressed us with some really clear images of flowers and a well conceived image of a soccar ball.
Rachel definitely used her creativity in setting up this shot of a soccar ball, getting down to earth and framing the shot with a dandilion and nicely blurred background. Not only did Rachel get a great Macro shot, she did a fantastic job producing a well composed image.
Brett used his macro lenses and discovered that it reduced his depth of field to a very narrow range, but he still managed to get a really clear close-up macro shot of a dandilion - and a very scary image of his eye!
Gary took some interesting images using his point-and-shoot Sony camera, including this one of his cornet. and some nature shots of fungus from a walk in St. Jacobs. He also managed to stump everyone with a macro photo of condensation on a coke glass.Roy had some trouble with focus getting close up on his subjects, but we all enjoyed some of his shots from a vacation trip to Virginia Beech.
Our New Challenge: The Big Flash
No, not the kind you flip up from the top of your camera --- the kind that goes boom in the sky --- the kind that sparkles and rains fire back to earth --- the kind you see on a night of celebration. We have just such a night coming up on July 1st: A little thing we like to call "Canada Day". On that night, the sky will be lit up with Fireworks.
That's our challenge this month - taking images of the fireworks. See you there, bring a chair and don't forget your tripod.
There are some great tips for taking good fireworks photographs -- and some fantastic example photos -- on the dps website:
http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-photograph-fireworks
Here is another great set of tips:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Photography-Tips/Fireworks.aspx
And finally a page with lots more links:
http://reviews.photographyreview.com/blog/fireworks-photography-tips/
Mid-way Shoot-Out
Not only are the fireworks our challenge this month - the outing will also be our Mid-way Shoot-out. And not only is it mid-way between our regular meetings, it will also be at a midway. Meet us at The Dairy Queen on King Street up the road from Riverside Park on July 1st at 8:30pm. From there we can discuss vantage points and find our way back to the park. As twilight comes, the lights of the midway will make some interesting photos, and we'll be there to capture them.
Bring a deck chair and a tripod for the fireworks, and if you like, some snacks - unless you're good with the popcorn and candy floss from the fair. See you there!
Our next regular meeting: July 12th, 2009
Join us July 12th, 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the usual location (contact the blogger for details).
