THE CAMBRIDGE PHOTO GROUP
Be sure to read through to the end of the blog this month as there is a date change, and a special announcement regarding an upcoming event!
Surprises! Yes, it’s great to be able to set up a shot just the way you want it and have it turn out just the way you planned, but sometimes it is capturing an unexpected moment or an almost missed opportunity that is the most thrilling when it comes to photography.
Don’t you wish you had your camera handy all the time to catch those moments? Well, for those of us who went on Scott Kelby’s World Wide Photo Walk on July 24th, we had a great opportunity just like that.
Shoot Out: Scott Kelby World Wide Photo Walk
Well, it wasn’t an official “shoot out”, but it was a good chance to get out and socialize and meet some other photographers. Thanks to Scott Toman for organizing the event this year in Hespeler.
Not long after we began the walk, we ran into our surprise. We met Shawky Fahel who is developing the old American Standard building, which closed in 2007, to become riverfront condominiums. He kindly offered to take a group through the building. Many of us grabbed the opportunity to shoot some awesome photos inside what will soon become history.
Check out the Flickr Group for pictures from our photo walkers, and the Scott Kelby site for photo walk images from around the world.
4 Week Challenge
Every month, we challenge each other with a task – try our challenge and bring your photos to the next meeting on a memory stick to share with everyone. We’ll tell you what we like about them. If you don’t do Digitial, bring a print! We’d love to see your images.
The Last Challenge: 50mm
Our challenge this month was to take an image using your 50mm lens only – or with a fixed focal length. Here are some of the shots we looked at.
Gary used an extension tube on his 50mm lens to get some close up shots of bugs – of course, the extension tube removed any in-camera lens communication, which made taking these pictures an interesting challenge, moving forward and back to find just the right focal point.
Tammy was the “official photographer” at her church event where she practiced some of her 50mm shots. The angle and focal point of this shot was very interesting. Don’t you just want to reach out and pop that bubble?
Rachel had an opportunity to travel to Northern Ireland, where she had a great time and took some great photos. Being Rachel, some of her best images were of 
the local flowers, like this one of the buttercups.
This month we welcomed two new folks to the meeting who were at the photo walk – unfortunately, they did not have any of their shots with them, but we look forward to seeing some of their work in the future. You can also view some of their photos from the photo walk.
Our Next Challenge: Old Barns
Everyone loves the look of those old boards, the barns and the livestock roaming through them. This month’s challenge is to go looking for some of those great old scenes, time the light right, and grab a great image of an old barn. Here is a flickr search for inspiration:
As always, bring some of your best shots to the meeting next month, along with any other shots you would like to share – we love to view them and comment (typically encouraging comments with a few helpful tips).
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: OPEN HOUSE
Be sure to plan on coming to the September 26th and October 24th Photo Group meetings as we will be having a very special event I know you will all want to participate in. We are planning an "Open House" event where you will be able to bring and display your favorite photos in a Gallery set up in the Video 99 store!
This is an opportunity to share your talent with All of Cambridge. There will be a contest too, but don’t worry if you don’t think your photo will win – it’s not just about the prize money, though we want to encourage those who do win, we also want you to have an opportunity to show your talent.
On September 26th, Tammy will be firing up the barbeque out back - bring your own food and a little for someone else to share. We'll be enjoying a mix and mingle time and be displaying your images.
Entry to the contest is $5.00 per photographer and the total of all entry fees will be returned to the winning photographers in two categories: 50% will go to the best "local" image (Cambridge and area), and 50% will go to the best image in an "open" category.
To enter, bring between one and three 8x10 printed images that we can display at the Video 99 store between the Open House on the 26th and our closing date of October 24th (the following meeting). During that time, Customers at the Video 99 store will be able to leave an anonymous ballot with the number of their favorite image in each of the two categories. In October, the ballots will be counted and the prizes awarded accordingly.
Sound exciting? I know I’m looking forward to being able to display some of my work, whether I should win the prize or not, and I hope you are too!
Next Regular Meeting: August 15th, 2010 – 4-6pm
Be sure to update your calendar if you have already booked the 22nd – there were a number of people who could not make that date and asked that it be moved to the 15th – so, as always, bring your photos and meet us at the back of the Video 99 store in Hespeler – see the side panel for a map to the location.
Upcoming Meetings
September 26th – Open House
October 24th – Contest Closing
