SnapShotSOfficial Newsletter of the Capital City Camera Club

February 2008

What do Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Balloons, Old Time Villages and Indians all have in common? They’re all on

the 2008 Field Trip Schedule! Check it all out inside!

Photo by Barbara Bryan

Club OfficersChuck Rice – President - MARCHRobert Thomson – Vice PresidentOpen – SecretaryDon Ball – Treasurer

Club MembersJudy BarrancoRon (Bart) BartoszewiczSherry BeazleyAnna BishopDonna Blanks - NOVEMBERJessica BowmanBarbara Bryan -JULYSandra CampbellCarla CopelandMitford FontaineRobert FoutsAleah GoodeRhonda GoodeTim GoodeSandra M. HarrisLes HaylesFrank HeatherlyBeverly Henry - NOVEMBERJan HoffmanJeannine Keener - APRILRonald Klein - MAYFrancis KnightenAmanda KuykendallCharles KuykendallJesse KuykendallNathan KuykendallRobert Lake - MARCHWalter MayerLori Mercer - APRILClyde MillsCurtis MiyasakaJim PappanastosJudi Parks - SEPTEMBERDiAnna PaulkCarl (Snake) SaundersDiane SimsLeah SmithDarryl SpauldingLori SullivanEleanor ThomasDebbie Townes - JUNEMichael WareConstance Westover - OCTOBER*MONTHS IN RED ARE THE MONTH YOU

VOLUNTEERED TO BRING REFRESHMENTS.

I apologize to anyone mistakenly left off the list. Every effort is made to make sure it is correct, but mistakes can be made. Please let me know if there needs to be a correction.

A few words from the Club President

2008 Club Meetings Dates

January 14February 11March 10April 14May 12June 9July 14

August 11September 8October 13

November 10December 8

2008 business Meeting Dates

January 28February 25 (6:00 p.m.)

March 31April 28May 26June 23July 28

August 25September 22October 27

November 24December 22

Dates are subject to change. Attend meetings or visit the club website for the most up-to-date changes.

The Capital City Camera Club is as much a social organization as it is a technical one. Sure, we try to provide a learning experience and photographic

opportunities that members might not have without the club and the chance to compare our efforts with those of others in

regular competitions but as a byproduct of that process we also have the opportunity to form lasting friendships with others who

have similar interests to our own. Over my years as a member of this club I have gotten to know quite a large number of people that I would have never met otherwise. Many of them are still good friends and still part of the club but some have moved on to other cities and other interests. While I miss those that have moved, I’m excited about the new people that join us on a regular basis. The digital revolution that has swept the field of photography over the past few years has made quality photography accessible to almost everybody. As a result there are many people out there who have the equipment and the desire and now need help to move for-ward in their photography. The Capital City Camera Club is well positioned to be able to provide that help. We have a great amount of knowledge in the field and our members are only too happy to share that knowledge. Our members need to take this information and let their friends and relatives and co-workers know about the opportunities that the Capital City Camera Club can offer. Let them know that they are welcome to visit our meetings and our website and let them know what they would gain by membership in this organization. It’s up to you to get them visit the club. Once they visit, I believe that they’ll be back.

This month’s cover photo was taken by:

Barbara Bryan

COMING IN MARCHThe March 10th regular club meeting will include a program covering mounting and matting prints for competitions.

COMING IN APRIL The April 14th regular club meeting will be a competition night. Categories are: “Racing” and “Open”. Racing includes car, horse, motorcycle,dog, people, etc. Any kind of racing. Photo by Carl Saunders

February Club Meeting

Well, it was the first competition night of the year! Robert Fouts judged 36 prints that were entered into the Open and Old Building categories under the Novice and Advanced classifica-

tions. Winners of the competition are listed on the following four pages. We are happy to welcome three new members: Mitford Fontaine, Charles Kuykendall and Robert Fouts. We also had two visitors: Elly Seo and Barry Anderson. Robert Thomson was our lucky winner of the monthly doorprize: A $20.00 gift card to “Books-a-Million”. Rhonda Goode won our monthly on-line competition with the image shown at right. She received 14 of the 21 votes. Make sure you check out the Capital City Camera Club’s website,www.photoclub.org, to view our member’s galleries, enter the monthly competitions and see what’s coming up!

Above: “Fired Rainbow” Abstract - Online Competition Winner

by Rhonda Goode

Club members waiting for the competition to begin. Club members listen as judge Robert Fouts provides feedback.

advancedCapital City Camera Club February print Competition

Above: “White Majesty” - 1st Place - Openby Carl Saunders

Above: “Soon to be Spring” - 2nd Place - Openby Judi Parks

Above: “Blue Hydrangea” - 3rd Place - Openby Chuck Rice

Above: “Winter Red” - HM - Openby Tim Goode

Above: “Here There Be Dragons” - HM - Openby Carl Saunders

advancedCapital City Camera Club February print Competition

Above: “Home Sweet Home” - 1st Place - Old Bldgsby Judi Parks

Above: “Hollywood Squares” - 2nd Place - Old Bldgsby Tim Goode

At Right: “The Balance of Trade” 3rd Place - Old Bldgs

by Tim Goode

At Left: “Little Wooden Church” HM Place - Old Bldgs

by Carl Saunders

Above: “The Old Homeplace” - HM Place - Old Bldgsby Chuck Rice

noviceCapital City Camera Club February print Competition

Above: “I Only Have Eyes For You” - 1st Place - Openby Rhonda Goode

Above: “My Biggest Fans” - 2nd Place - Openby Aleah Goode

Above: “Wind Swept” 3rd Place - Open - by Beverly Henry

Above: “Reelfoot Lake” - HM - Openby Mike Ware

Above: “Say Aweeee” - HM - Openby Sandra Campbell

noviceCapital City Camera Club February print Competition

Above: “Look In, Look Out” - 1st Place - Old Bldgsby Rhonda Goode

Above: “Faded Barn” - 2nd Place - Old Bldgsby Donna Blanks

Above: “A Quiet Place to Pray” - 3rd Place - Old Bldgsby Aleah Goode

Above: “Old Country Store” - HM Place - Old Bldgsby Donna Blanks

Above: “Katrina’s Window” - HM Place - Old Bldgsby Aleah Goode

What a day we had at the zoo!

2008 Field TripsFebruary 16, 2008 Montgomery ZooMontgomery, Alabama

March 15, 2008 Lowndesboro Spring Fling Lowndesboro, Alabama

April 19, 2008 Spring Festival Westville, Georgia

May 24/25, 2008 Balloon Festival Decatur, Alabama

June 14, 2008 Chewacla State Park and Auburn Univ

July 19, 2008 (PENDING) Black & White Workshop w/Andy Meadows Montgomery, Alabama

August 16, 2008 (PENDING) Photoshop Workshop w/Phil ScarsbrookMontgomery, Alabama

September 13, 2008 American Village Montevallo, Alabama

October 11, 2008 Pike Pioneer Days Troy, Alabama

November 8/9, 2008 Thunderbird PowwowNiceville, Florida Clip out and put on the fridge!

From left to right: Jim Pappanastos,

Don Ball, Debbie Townes, Jan Hoffman,

Rhonda Goode, Tim Goode, Aleah Goode,

Robert Thomson, Sherry Beazley, Chuck Rice,

Connie Westover, Carl Saunders.

1st Inset: Amanda Kuykendall, Charles Kuykendall

2nd Inset: Judi Parks 3rd Inset:

Nathan Kuykendall, Amanda Kuykendall,

Jesse Kuykendall

Total: 17 club members attended this field trip!

By Connie Westover

By Chuck Rice

By Carl Saunders

By Rhonda Goode

See more 2008 Montgomery Zoo Field Trip pictures at:http://www.pbase.com/cccameraclub/fieldtrips

Lowndesboro, Alabama

Lowndesboro Landmarks Foundations Spring

Fling - Lowndesboro, Alabama - March 15th.

Antiques and Collectibles Sale at the Historic

CME Church. Barbeque chicken plates available at

Marengo Plantation from 11 am-2 pm, $10.00 per plate.

Country store housed in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

with a variety of homemade treats for sale. Four historic

churches(circa 1800’s) open for viewing. The Lewis-

Smith Cemetery and the Oakview Cemetery will be open

as well.

2008March 15th Field Trip

Paige Brennan, DiAnna Paulk, Darlene Benway, Judi Parks and Connie Westover participated in the 2006 Capital City Camera Club field trip to the Lowndesboro Spring Fling.

“Abandoned Home in Spring”BY DIANNA PAULK - 2006

In the past, club members have met in the local area and

carpooled to field trip locations. The meeting location

and time will be decided upon at the March meeting.

Location: ____________________________________

Meeting Time: ________________________________

Never Safari Alone!

(Safaris require 3 or more club members)

First Safari of 2008: Carl “Snake’ Saunders, Francis Knighten and Michael Ware went to the Montgomery Zoo for a January safari. Check out the Safari gallery the club’s website for more photos.

Membership in the Capital City Camera Club is open to anyone having an interest in photography regardless of skill level. The Club offers members an opportunity to learn more about their hobby or craft and to share individual photographic knowledge or experiences with other members.

We are an active group, with bi-monthly competitions, programs, and monthly field trips to places that offer us the chance to photograph things of interest. The Club, which currently has around 50 members, meets on the second Monday of each month at the Eastmont Baptist Church, 4505 Atlanta Highway at 7:00 p.m.

Photo by Carl Saunders

Photo by Mike Ware

Photo by Francis Knighten

Call your fellow club members up and plan a safari today!

Several club members have registered or plan to register for this seminar. The information provided here is from their website, www.gerlachnaturephoto.com This information is being provided to assist you in finding photography training locally and is not connected to the Capital City Camera Club.

ABOUT THE SEMINAROur intensive one-day seminar teaches the most important things we have learned since becoming full-time profes-sional nature photographers in the early eighties. We have shot more than two million nature photographs with film and digital cameras and switched to all digital in 2003. This seminar is a blend of film and digital information. Most of the topics we cover such as composition, lenses, closeups, and light are equally appropriate for both film and digital.

THE SEMINAR SCHEDULE

9:00 AM INTRODUCTION

9:10 EQUIPMENT FOR THE

NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER (SLIDE PROGRAM)There is a bewildering array of photographic equipment in the marketplace so it is hard to decide what works best. We’ll show you the equipment we use to shoot many thou-sands of images each year. We’ll point out all of the features you must have to easily shoot outstanding nature images in the field. We’ll share our opinions of all the latest innova-tions including auto-focus, matrix metering, auto-bracket-ing, zoom lenses, back focus, digital capture, fill-flash, and much more. This is a comprehensive program that covers cameras, lenses, tripods, film, digital memory devices, camera bags, field guides, blinds, and teleconverters.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN...• Whattolookforina35mmordigitalcamerasystem• Howtouseyourlensesastoolsandgetthebestquality• Thefivethingstolookforinatelephotolens• Howlenseswork• Howtouseteleconverterseffectively• Howtogetthebestqualityfromyourlens• Thetripodsandtripodheadswefindmostusefulfor

field work• Greatquickreleasemechanismsfortripodheadsand

why they are so important• Howtocarryequipmentinthefield• Photobagsthatworkwellinthefield• Threegreatwaystogetalongtelephotolens• Blindsforbirdandmammalphotography• Filmselectionanduse• Whybecominganaturalistmakesyouabetternature

photographer• Threegreatwaystogettheeffectofalongtelephoto lens

BREAK

10:20 A.M. MASTERING EXPOSURE (SLIDE PROGRAM)Learn how to shoot perfect exposures every time and do it fast. We use a method to determine exposure where we meter manually with our through-the-lens spot meter and compensate for subject reflectance. Using many photo examples, we’ll show you how to perfectly expose slide film and digital images too. This is an important program that every photographer who really wants to control exposure needs to see. Very detailed information from this program is included in your set of notes!

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN...• Whyexposuremetersdon’ttellyouhowtogetproper

exposure• Whycamerametersareprogrammedfor18%reflec-

tance• Whatproperexposurelookslikeonslidefilm

• Howtojudgesubjectreflectance• Whenandhowtouseapertureandshutterpriority

modes.• Howtoproperlyexposesnow,fog,scenes,lightanddark

subjects• Whyevenwithautomation,youstillhavetounderstand

the language of stops• Howfilmspeeds,shutterspeeds,andF-numberswork

together• Whyyourthrough-the-lensmeteristhefastestandmost

accurate way to determine proper exposure• Whyyourcameramanualnevertellsyouhowtoprop-

erly use your through-the-lens exposure meter• WhenandhowtouseAEB(automaticexposurebrack eting)• Exposuretechniquesforthedigitalcamera(It’seasier!)• Howtoreadahistogramandunderstandhighlightalerts• Avoidingthefivemostcommonexposureerrorsdigital

shooter make (Hint! these problems involve the LCD monitor, computer monitor, luminance histogram, auto exposure defect, and exposure compensation button)

12:00-1:30 LUNCH

1:30 P.M. HOW TO SHOOT

GREAT NATURE CLOSEUPS (Slide Program)Wildflowers, frogs, insects, mushrooms, butterflies, and dew-laden dragonflies are all small so special close-up tech-niques must be used to make outstanding photographs of these tiny subjects. With the aid of through-the-lens light meters and modern optics, closeup photography is very simple if you have suitable equipment and effective work-ing methods. We’ll show you everything that works well in the field and how to use it.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN...• Howtoshoothighqualityclose-upswithnaturallight under field conditions• Whyyoudon’tneedtoknowanyclose-upformulas• Thethreereasonswhythewidelyused50mmmacro

lens is not the best lens to use for most subjects• Whylongerfocallengthlensesworkbest• Thebestwaytoshootclose-upswithzoomlenses• Howtouseteleconvertersforhighqualityclose-ups• Howtousereflectorsanddiffuserstogreatlyimprove

the light• Howtoshootproperclose-upexposureseasily• Howtomaximizeyourdepthoffield• Whentouseyour50mm,100mm,200mm,or300mm

lens in close-up photography• Whyworkingdistanceandangleofviewissocriticalto

getting quality photos• Howtoget“flaton”andwhyitissoimportant• Howtouseextensiontubesandwhytheyaresouseful• Whycloseupfiltersworkwellonzoomlenses• Thebestchoicesinhighqualitycloseupfilters• Usingplampstomakethesubjectholdstill• Fill-flashtechniquesforcloseups

BREAK

2:30 LIGHT IS EVERYTHING (SLIDE PROGRAM)Light is the essence of photography. We’ll show you how the characteristics of light such as color, contrast, quantity, and direction make or break your photographs. Dozens of slide sequences are used to show good and bad examples of light. It’s a fun program that is incredibly revealing. One thing we learned early in our careers was photographing anything in bad light normally lead to lousy images. You must use the best possible light to make your images pop!

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN...• Whycolor,contrast,anddirectionoflightismuchmore

important than the quantity of light• Howtoseelightlikethefilmordigitalsensorsdo• Howdigitalcapturediffersfromslidefilminitsresponse

to light• Whenlightcontrastmakesorruinsyourphotographs• Howtousethecoloroflighttogreatlyimproveyour

images• Whentouseback-lightingandside-lighting• Howtousereflectorsanddiffuserstomodifythequali-

ties of light to improve your images• Howtomakeblueflowersrecordproperly• Whentousefilterstoimprovethecolor• Theonefilteralldigitalshootersneedtousemostofthe

time and how to use it

BREAK

3:20 HOW TO MAKE STRONG COMPOSITIONS (SLIDE PROGRAM)Anyone can learn to compose well. We’ll show you many examples of good and bad compositions and provide you with guidelines that make it easy for you to use lines, shapes, and colors to shoot much stronger compositions.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN...• Howtomakestrongcompositions• Whysubjectplacementiscritical• Whentouseverticaland/orhorizontalcompositions• Howtouselinesofforceandpointsofpower• Whyitiscriticaltocomposehand-held• Whyfillingtheframewithyoursubjectisn’tcomposi-

tion• Thetworeasonswhylearningtocomposestrongerim-

ages makes wildlife photography so much easier• Whytherearenorulesofcomposition• Theguidelineofthirds• Thethreekeyfactorsthatmakeagreatnaturephoto-

graph• Howtoseebetter• Howtoseethewholepicture• Whentoslowdownandreallylook• Howstrongcompositionschangeasanimalsmoveabout

in their habitat and what to do about it• Howtosimplifyyourcompositions• Thedifferencebetweenclinicalandpoeticcompositions• Thecriticalrolebackgroundsplayinyourimages• Howdigitalcapturemodifiessomecompositionalideas

BREAK

4:00 STORIES BEHIND THE IMAGES (SLIDE PROGRAM)It’s been a long day and your brain has been doing over-time. You’ll be able to mentally relax while we tell you the revealing and often humorous stories behind many of the more interesting images we’ve shot during the past two years. It’s a fast paced program that covers 80 images in 35 minutes. Subject we are certain to cover this year include Kenya wildlife, hummingbirds, Yellowstone, Michigan closeups, and autumn color. It’s a great program you’ll love viewing.

4:45 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSThis time has been set aside to answer any questions you may have from viewing our instructional programs. We do answer many questions during the program too!

Gerlach Nature Photography Seminar Coming to Atlanta (Saturday, March 29) and Birmingham (Sunday, March 30)

If you know of training scheduled for the local area, let us know. We will include it in the newsletter.

Prattville Mardi Gras Parade

By Connie Westover, Editor

Not growing up here in Alabama, I haven’t really understood the at-traction of Mardi Gras. I saw these funny looking bread/cake things in the store in weird colors along with masks and beads.

Having “cabin fever”, I decided to attend my first Mardi Gras parade in the hopes of getting a couple good shots. Rodney was working so I ended up stand-ing in the street by myself with camera and tripod. As soon as the parade began, I enjoyed every minute of it. The kids were the funniest, all dressed up in big hats and bright colors. Moon pies and beads were flying and everyone was getting a kick having their picture taken. There were plenty of floats and beauty queens to photograph. I got more experience at “shooting moving targets” as not every float stopped. It was great seeing the community celebrating and having a good time, either by participating in the parade or as a bystander. I can’t wait till next year!

Go to www.popphoto.com and select the contest tab.

Do you work magic with image-editing software? Think you can spin photographic dross into pure gold using Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paint Shop Pro, Microsoft Picture It!, or other programs? Here’s your chance to put your creativity to the test with Pop Photo’s 2008 Digital Wizard Contest. You could win the $1,000 grand prize and have your work published in the magazine -- and there are cash prizes for runners-up, too! But hurry up -- the contest ends March 31!

Download these 12 photos and then prove your wizardry. You must use elements from at least 4 of the shots. You can’t add any other images, but you can apply any filters or plug-ins your software can handle. Please read all the contest rules and details. You may begin uploading your entries starting on February 1, 2008.

You can enter as many times as you like. The deadline for entries is midnight (ET), March 31, 2008. The winners will be published in the July 2008 issue and on PopPhoto.com.

2008 Digital Wizard Contest - Pop Photo

Photo by DiAnna Paulk

Photo by Aleah Goode

Photo by Barbara Bryan

The Photographer

A little girl walked daily to and from school. Though the weather one morning was question-able and clouds were forming, she made the daily trek to the elementary school. As the day progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother was worried that her daughter would be frightened walking back home from school, and she herself feared the electrical storm might cause her harm. Follow-ing each roar of the thunder, lightning would cut through the sky like a flaming sword. Being very concerned, the mother got into her car and drove along the route to the school.

Soon she saw her small child walking along. The thunder would boom, and then, at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look and smile. One followed another, each time with her child stopping, looking up at the streak of light and smiling. Finally, the mother called out and asked, “Honey, what are you doing?” Her little girl an-swered, “God keeps taking pictures of me!”

Snow Days

Photo by Chuck Rice

Photo by Anna Bishop

February On-Line Competition“White-on-White”

Enter by February 29.(Members Only)

February 25th BUSINESS MEETING

6:00 p.m.

We would like everyone to try to attend the February business meeting.

This will be a great opportunity for you to become involved in issues that help the club grow.

As a special treat (and as an incentive), pizza will be purchased for this event.

Visit wwww.photoclub.org to review the 2008 competition rules!