New Westminster Photography Club

Each NWPC meeting is a little different. Meetings start at 7:30PM unless otherwise posted. But many people arrive a little early to have some social time. Meetings run on average until 9PM. We pride ourselves on our open, informal and friendly atmosphere -- at NWPC you actually get to know the other members! This doesn't always happen in clubs with 100+ members and which follow formal meeting protocols.

Meetings are often a mix of content, but there are some common "things" we do at meetings:

• "Member's Night": This is where members will bring in a photo or two for group critiquing (don't worry, we're friendly!). This helps you learn the strengths in your images, as well as get ideas and suggestions for improving them -- all opinions are helpful, you don't have to be an "old pro" to have an idea! Unless otherwise posted we typically review all media types: digital entries, slides and prints. Sometimes there is a "theme" (usually to bring images from a previous outing if you have them), other times the choice is up to the member.
• "Competition Night": The club enters number of invitational competitions during the year. On "competition nights", members bring in their candidate images and the club picks the entries to be submitted to the competition. (One of the benefits of being a smaller club, if you submit something, there's a good chance it will get chosen as a club entry!)
• "Workshop Night": this is where a speaker (a member or an outside guest) talks about a specific technique that can be practiced during the meeting. For these kinds of meetings, members bring their camera equipment to the meeting.
• "Seminar Night": these meetings will have one or more speakers who will talk in-depth about a photography related subject.

We usually have a short 15 minute break about halfway through the meeting for some cookies and coffee (guests don't have to pay!) to stretch your legs, your mind, and to socialize a little with other members.

Another type of learning opportunity are our "Members teaching Members" talks. These are for members who want to share a particular topic of interest to them with the rest of the club. It doesn't have to be long, even 5 minutes is enough to give you a chance to share (if you're shy). This gives you a chance at speaking to the club in an informal manner without the stress of having to prepare a lot of material. You can just talk, or illustrate your points with Powerpoint, prints, digital images or whatever visual aides you want to use.) Contact the program director if you have a short talk you want to give.

The main presentations are on a wide variety of topics including:

• specific techniques - such as macro abstracts,
• suggestions for particular subject areas - such as shooting wild flowers
• less technical photography related talks - for example, last year we had a city archivist give a talk about the role of photography in local community history, showing us photos of New West from the late 1800's

We strive for a mix of topic material so that all experience levels and formats (digital or film) can find something of interest.

We have two print competitions coming up:

1. Pacific Zone Print Challenge 
2. Crescent Beach Black and White Invitational

We will be selecting our entries for these two competitions. If your image is selected for one or both competitions, then you can worry about mounting and matting in accordance with the rules. (The rules for the Pacific Zone Print Challenge are on the home page (top right) of www.capapac.org. Baiscally, mounted and matted to 16X20, black or white matts accepted, any subject, NO FORM CORE backing.) We expect the Crescemt Beach rules to be similar, but will confirm as soon as we can.

In Preparation:

• Bring up to two prints, colour or monochrome, any subject, mounted on something firm. Best 8X10 or larger.

• Bring up to two prints. These must be black and white. Toned prints (eg sepia, warm, blue) are not acceptable. These are for selection only, so can be any size, but 8X10 or larger is recommended.  Please mount them on something firm so they stand on the easel.

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Agenda: (subject to change)

• Print Selection for Pacific Zone Print Challenge
• Crescent Beach Black and White Challenge selection

Every cinema complex has at least one 3D theatre now, and the movie effects are great.

But do you know how old photographic 3D really is, and how many different kinds of 3D images there are, and that you can create your own incredibly inexpensively (with your camera, a pair of scissors and an empty cereal box)? 

Our own member, Justin Ball, has been collecting and creating 3D photographic images for a long time, and will talk about the history and techniques.  He will also share with us some of his collection and resources.

In the second part of his program, he will set up and shoot some images right in the room, which we will print, and he will demonstrate how to crop and mount them for viewing.

At the next meeting, Justin will take a few minutes to look at any stereoviews you have created and comment on what you might have done right or wrong.

Also, see Agenda.  If your print was selected last week, you need to bring it in tonight, ready for the competition.

 

In Preparation:

• Bring your camera if you would like to try out a simple technique to create 3D images in your own camera.
• If you had a print or prints selected last meeting, remember to bring them in tonight, matted and mounted in accordance with the competition rules.

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Agenda: (subject to change)

• Lecture/workshop (Justiin Ball)
• Final competition prints due

This Invitational competition is open to all Pacific Zone clubs, and the judging night is always a lot of fun (great food, print exhibition, tons of door prizes).

But to partake of that, it's more fun if we have an entry.  This is a theme competition.  The theme is "Water in all its forms" (subject to confirmation). 

This is a digital image competition (not prints).  If you shoot slides, please arrange to have them scanned to at least 1024X768.  If you need more assistance, contact any executive member.

We will select our entry tonight.  Please send up to 2 images to photos@nwphoto.org as early as possible before the competition, and not later than the Sunday night (unless you check for an OK first).  

Check back for image sizing/rules.  We will post as soon as we have a formal invitation.

This meeting will be a hands-on, play in the mud type meeting where you have a chance to create abstracts or other special effects images.

We will have at least 3 stations set up for (1) black light close-ups (2) mylar (like really flexy mirrors) and (3) photography through glass sheets (aka the "corn syrup effect"). 

After a brief instruction session at east station, you can try your luck with the props and see what you come up with.

In Preparation:

• Bring your camera, some film or memory. A tripod is recommended as (1) most shutter speeds will be long and (2) it is better for critical compositions.

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Agenda: (subject to change)

• Workshop: Try your hand at creating abstracts and other strange effects.

This is your last chance this year to show your stuff to fellow members in a constructive, supportive environment. This evening has the theme "outings and themes". Bring some images that you worked through for a theme competition this year (or last) that didn't quite make the cut, or that you have trouble selecting, or didn't quite make it, or that you thought were great but didn't get picked #1.... and/or bring some images you have taken at club outings, that you may wish to discuss or just share with other members. Short slide shows are always welcome also; no more than 2-3 minutes, or the time it would take to show and discuss 2 or 3 images. Bring as many as you like, but be prepared to show 1-3 first. We will rotate so everyone gets a chance, and if we have time, we will view any extras that people bring.

Yes, another club season has come and gone. Tonight we select an executive for another year. Our club runs on its volunteers. We will be looking for officers, chairs and volunteers to handle President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Outings, Program, Editor, Refreshments, Webmaster, Competitions (print and projection) and Themes. Some of these jobs take more time and effort than others, but all are essential to our operations. We always have vacancies, so if you would like to contribute to the club, even in a small way, please raise your hand to nominate yourself or someone you feel might be good in a position. And for those of you who might think this is a boring night and want to skip it, we will arrange some not to be missed entertainment TBA.

To wind up our year, a pot-luck, silent auction and some entertainment. At Centennial Lodge in Queens Park (see December 9 Christmas party for directions).

In Preparation:

• agenda item preparation

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Agenda: (subject to change)

• Wind-up dinner: Bring some food to share and (optional) an item (or items) for the silent auction.