New Westminster Photography Club

To wind up our year, a pot-luck, silent auction and some entertainment. At Centennial Lodge in Queens Park (see links below for directions). We'll start around 6:30

Location:

• Queen's Park Centennial Lodge (same building as the Arts Centre)
• Link to PDF Map of Park Area
• Link to Google Map (you should see the lodge marked on the map).

Agenda: (subject to change)

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

This is your last chance this year to show your stuff to fellow members in a constructive, supportive environment.

We had originally planned an "outings and themes" focus for the meeting. But following the workshop at the April 20 meeting, we will add those results to the pot... And of course anything else that you want to show or discuss is welcome.

If you are sharing digital images, please e-mail them to photos@nwphoto.org by Sunday, May 2. Prints or slides may be brought that night. (If you have slides, let us know when you arrive so we can set up the projector). We will probably have time for 3 or 4 images each, depending on how many attend and how much discussion, so let us know if they are a set that has to be shown together. Otherwise, we will rotate so everyone gets a chance, and if we have time, we will view any extras that people bring.

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 each station, you can try your luck with the props and see what you come up with.

If you like, bring your own props.  Interest glassware, silk flowers, action figures, circuit boards....  sizes around 10 cm and smaller, depending on your lens.   And for sure, bring your camera, a selection of lenses and a tripod. 

Questions:  program@nwphoto.org.

Agenda: (subject to change)

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

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, so we will select our entry this evening.  This is a theme competition.  The theme is "Water in all its forms"  and the HOST club requests that, to encourage creativity, you avoid using the word "Water" in your title! 

This is a digital image competition (not prints).  If you shoot slides, please arrange to have them scanned to1024X768.  If you need more assistance, contact any executive member.

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). 

Maximim height 768 pixels and maximum width 1024, jpeg images.  Please make sure your image has a title and that your name or initials are part of the title also so that we don't lose track of who has what image.  We will have to rename them for the competition, but send your entry as something like "Black Clouds - John Doe".

ALSO, we will get a review of the winners of the Theme "Get Active".

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.

Agenda: (subject to change)

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

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.

Agenda: (subject to change)

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

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Member sharing: Show off, discuss and get feedback for your images.
• 5 minute presentation: Matte Cutting (Joan/Fred Greaves): A quick 5 minute presentation on how to cut your own mattes.

The North Shore Challenge will be held for the 26th year in 2010. Usually, about 40 clubs from BC compete. We participate as a club and usually rank around the middle of the pack. Not bad, considering that some clubs have entries from over 100 members to choose from.

This will be our selection night.  

At the meeting, we will use our usual competition entry method to select one of your three images.  We will then, if necessary, narrow the selection down to the number allowed by the competition, eg 10. 

"5 minute presentation" TBA

Agenda: (subject to change)

• NSC selection
• 5 minute presentation (TBA)

Many of the year end surveys from last year requested more members' nights.

And after all, we are a photography club, so sharing our successes and problems is a big part of belong to a club.

This is your chance to bring in photographs you  might be thinking of entering in future competitions, images that are experimental or anything at all that you would like some feedback on.

You may submit up to 3 prints, slides or digital images (in any combination but only 3 in total, eg 2 digital images and one print), but if we run out of time, we may not get through everyone's third choice. 

Send digital images to photos@nwphoto.org by the Sunday night prior to the meeting. Please include your name or initials and the order you would like them shown (1, 2 or 3) in the title if possible so that we can prioritize in the event we run out of time.

You may bring slides or prints to the meeting. 

Welcome to the second half of our program year. We will be showing and discussing some past CAPA competition winners. CAPA holds numerous competitions, in various categories, each year and entries are from all across Canada.

We will have a look at some of the entries and discuss why they were selected as winners. We hope this will help guide our selections in all the competitions we are entering for the second half of our program year (especially the big upcoming North Shore Challenge), as well as give us an opportunity to view images from CAPA club and individual members across Canada.

There should be some wonderful photography and inspiration.

Also, we will show some winning AV shows.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Library prints

In honour of the season (and mostly because we're all too busy with other things to actually worry about structured meetings in December), our only "meeting" is our Christmas Pot-Luck. Note it is a Wednesday (because our favourite venue seems to book up for Tuesdays years ahead…)

So, bring a spouse, friend, family member(s) if you wish, some food to share and (optional) an item to donate for the silent auction and (also optional) a donation for the Food Bank (a new tradition we started last year to replace the gift exchange).

Agnia will also be collecting $5 from each of us for decorations and miscellaneous stuff, like coffee or whatever comes up. There will be some entertainment too, in the form of photography of course. No dancing horses or anything like that....  (Shona and Justin will show some images from their recent trip through the UK, France and Italy on a 200 cc motorcycle.)

Always a good time and not to be missed.

At Centennial Lodge in Queens Park, 6:30 pm.   The Lodge is very close to where the club meets, almost across 6th, but you can't enter from that road (it's one way) unless you're walking... so you have to go in the park entrance and work your way back.  I have included a link to the map that the City provides on their website.  They describe Queens park as being at 1st Street and 3rd Avenue.  Hopefully your GPS will recognize that.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Pot Luck

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Selection of prints: This isn't a "competition" so we will try to show off the diverse subjects that our members prefer.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Scrapbooking (Lisa Divers): Many of us believe that flipping through the photo album has it all over viewing images on a screen, and when it comes to saving memories for future generations, an archival photo album will likely last generations longer than digital media, unless every generation is conscientious about backing up and converting. Lisa will show us some of the logistics and fun of scrapbooking your photographs.
• Abstract (Shona LaFortune): Whether you love them or hate them, with abstracts, you can always learn a little more. Shona will talk about the what, why and how of this sometimes controversial art form. Although not an "expert", this is one of Shona's favourite subjects, and she will be presenting later in the month at the Delta Arts Council Arts Shots workshops.
• Bring Prints: As noted in "Preparation", if you had a print selected for the Delta Print Challenge, please bring it (or arrange for someone to bring it for you) to this meeting.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Selection: During the first phase, we will select one print from the two that each member has brought in. At that time, we will also comment as to what the judges look for in a competition image and why or why not one might do better than another. Your feedback is very welcome at this stage.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Give and Take (You be the judge):

  Come prepared to offer feedback on the images the members bring to show. We look for constructive comments that will help us all (not just the photographer presenting the image for comments) improve our photography.  We will rotate the entries so everyone will have a turn, and hope to see all images if time allows.

Photographers have many ways to share their work, and this meeting will feature some of them.  Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about the many features of our website and how you can use them.  And slide shows in the digital age are not your father's sleep-inducing carousel of travel photos.  Both short programs will leave you with some great ideas.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Slideshow Psychology (Derek Carlin): Most photographers are used to slideshows. Many now create digital slideshows of their work. But there's more to creating a slideshow that slapping a bunch of photos up on the screen and playing some music. How you treat your images affects how your audience interprets your "message". Derek will give us a teaser from his upcoming course: Storytelling in the Digital Age that starts in October
• The Club Website (Desmond Chen): The club website does more than just list our next meeting. Our webmaster will provide a brief refresher for returning members, and introduction for new members, of the many features and resources available to members, including their own multiple galleries.

An open night for sharing some photographs of what you did or photographed this summer. If you are a visitor, don't be shy. This is a great chance to show some of your work in a friendly environment where you can solicit comments or just show some of what you like to photograph.

We'll have a bit longer break to allow you to greet old friends and meet new ones.

Returning members: dues are payable also, so bring Tasha $30

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Summer Shots: Show us what you've been up to this summer. Members will share photos from the last few months, either for pure enjoyment, or the artist may solicit comments.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• BC Print Challenge selection: We will select our entry for this competition by (1) choosing one image from each member and (2) reducing the number to the allowable entry.
• Crescent Beach Black and White Competition selection: We will select our entry for this competition by (1) choosing one image from each member and (2) reducing the number to the allowable entry.
• Member 5 minute presentatiuon (TBA)

The year is winding down. Time to pick our executive for next year.

Cameras and technology are rapidly evolving, but there are also things that don't change. This evening will cover both aspects in an "equipment night". We will open with a representative from the well-known Surrey store "Camera Expert", showing us the latest in technology in cameras, flashes, scanners, printers etc. The second part of the evening will be a "Show and Tell". Bring in a piece of equipment, small or large, classic (like a tripod) or "gadget" (filter, reflector…?) or even your newest camera… that you find useful, practical, interesting or indispensible, and show us why.

Getting feedback from fellow photographers is a vital part of Member's night. It's not just about sharing our best work, it's about finding inspiration in the works of others, practiscing your critical eye with a goal of improving your own photography, and getting feedback from other eyes on your work as to what you can improve as well as what you're doing right!

NWPC prides itself on having productive critiquing sessions.

This evening is open topic, digital and prints will be reviewed

Selection night for these two competitions/

More details TBA

Peter, our program director, is a long time photographer as well as a CAPA judge. He has a knack for finding interesting compositions in what most people pass by everyday without noticing. Tonight he will share some of his knowledge and passion for photographing architecture.

There will be an architecture oriented outing on a weekend following this seminar, so you will be able to put what you hear in the classroom to practical use right away.

We will select our entries for the Pacific Zone Print Challenge (aka BC Print Challenge). Each member may bring in 2 prints, B&W or colour, any subject. Prints should be at least 8X10 so they can be more clearly viewed by all members. To save cost, you don't have to matt them unless they are selected, but it's better if you can. In any event, please mount them on something firm for selection night, so they can be leaned against the wall and easel.

If your print is selected for the competition, the minimum print size is 80 square inches and the maximum is 16X20. Full edge to edge prints are accepted (they must be mounted), but otherwise all prints must be matted with a single paper matt and firmly attached to the backing to survive frequent handling. (No form core backing). On the back top right hand corner you must list the title, your name and address and the club's name and address. White or black matts are permitted this year. Full rules at www.capapac.org

Photography while traveling on vacation (or even on business) is the one time when almost everyone will be packing a camera. This seminar night covers some useful tips and techniques to pack in your travel bags.

This seminar night covers some useful tips and techniques to pack in your travel bags.

Our presenter will be Allen Bargen, CAPA Vice-President. Allen has been a dedicated CAPA volunteer. He has just completed a revised evaluator training program for CAPA and is past District Representative, past Northern BC Rep, and past President of the Richmond photo club.

He also has found time to get away on some great photo outings, and his recent travels have taken him to the Red Sand Dunes of Namibia and the Kalahari Nature Park, the amazing Chobe River Delta in Botswana, and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Reserve and Kruger National Park in South Africa. San Diego was a brief stop to chase away the winter blahs as well this past December.

One of the largest competitions we enter as a club each year. Tonight we select our club's entries for the annual North Shore Challenge.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• North Shore Selection:

  Members will consider and vote on member submissions to select our final 10 entries. (usually 2 rounds of voting)

People often forget about Black and White photography in today's colourful digital age. But B&W still has a place in photography and is often more capable of evoking emotion than the same image in colour. B&W can remove distractions, emphasize subjects and change the whole texture of the image's story. Tonight we will explore some of the techniques needed for successful B&W work. Black and White work often requires that you "look" at a scene with different eyes.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• B/W Techniques (Russ & Wendy Kwan):

  Russ and Wendy are certified CAPA judges as well as award-winning B&W artists. They will share some of their secrets to those who want to learn.

  If you need proof of their credentials, just visit their website which has galleries of their wonderful images.

An issue of policy has arisen that needs debate and resolution by our members. We are therefore pre-empting this meeting to deal with the issue.

We regret to our guests the reassignment of our guest speakers, and will have them talk at another date, please watch this space for developments.

Only dues-paid members will participate in this discussion, so while guests are always welcome, it may not be the most interesting for you. Please feel free to join us at a later, and more interesting, meeting.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Discussion (Executive):

  The executive will present the issue needing debate. Members will be invited to contribute their opinions and, if necessary, a vote may be taken to resolve any new club policies.

Our annual pot-luck christmas party. Open to paid members and their spouses (or invited guests).

Time: 6:30 PM
Location:

• Queen's Park Centennial Lodge (same building as the Arts Centre)
• Link to PDF Map of Park Area
• Link to Google Map (you should see the lodge marked on the map).

As usual, we will have our fund-raising silent auction. Proceeds go to offset operating costs and towards the equipment fund.

In Preparation:

• Bring a healthy appetite!
• Bring a food dish to feed other healthy appetites
• Bring a non-perishable food item as a donation to the local food banks.
• Bring in your best unwanted (photographic?) stuff for the silent auction.
• Bring cash to buy other members' best unwanted (photographic?) stuff at the silent auction.
• Members may bring in print portfolios if they wish to share what they've been doing with other members. These will be placed on a table for general browsing. We suggest folders or binders with 8x10 sized prints, preferably in some sort of protective covering to protect from sticky fingers!

Night photography is one of the more technically challenging areas for new photographers (and even for the old hands). Tonight's meeting will attempt to demystify some of this "dark art".

Our program director has decided we will do this in a "members teaching members" format to share some of the knowledge locked up in our members' heads.

If members have images that are somehow related to night photography we will be selecting a few for presentation as well. Some topic areas to get you thinking: city scapes, building lights, star trails, astrophotography, streets at night, fireworks, flames or other moving lights, holiday lights, low light portraits, painting with light, "ghost" photos, .......

Agenda: (subject to change)

• BTGS#5 - A Shot in the Dark (Derek Carlin):

  An abbreviated "Beyond the Green Square" session. Derek will introduce newer photographers who maybe haven't tried night photography yet to some of the challenges that face the aspiring nightstalker. The samples and discussions from other members will complete this overview of shooting at night.

• Practice Makes Perfect (Mike Hindle):

  Mike is leading an impromptu night photography practice session on saturday Nov. 8th (if you didn't get his email with time and location, contact him at outings@nwphoto.org)

  He will show images from that session shot by himself and the members who show up.

  This will be used to start a discussion of issues members are having in their work and will seque nicely into Peter's guided discussion later in the meeting.

• Sunset to Sunrise -- Keith's Way (Keith Griffiths):

  Vice president Keith (also president of Burnaby Photographic Society) Will take us into a more detailed look at night subjects using his own body of work as an example.

• Urban Nights (Shona LaFortune):

  Our Theme Director, CAPA-certified judge, and long time photographer Shona will tell us about taking her love of urban and street photography to the "dark side".

  How to shoot urban scenes at night: what equipment to use, techniques available to you, and some ideas for composition to get you started.

• Night Photography - Architecture and a guided discusssion (Peter Ellis):

  Using his own work plus images that you submit, Peter will round out the evening leading a discussion on architecture at night, as well as discussing member submitted images.

Earlier guest speaker Betty Andres dicussed what judges are looking for in competition. Tonight will be a "practice run" to put what she taught us into action.

Members are invited to submit images for a mock competition. The group will critique the images but this time with a stronger emphasis on what strengths and weaknesses the images have when it comes to being entered in competition.

There will be general discussion of how to select for competition as well as brainstorming for ideas to help get the creative juices flowing for less experienced photographers.

We have in our membership CAPA certified judges, now is the time to learn from them.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• The Mock Challenge:

  Member images will be critiqued with an eye to how they might fare in competition.

  Members should be prepared to tell us what they think are the strengths in their images, to help practice your self-critical eye.

Last year we held our first club Halloween party and it was so popular, we decided to do it again.

We also need to select images for the upcoming delta print challenge.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Delta Print Challenge:

  We will select prints for the club submission to the Delta print challenge. Prints are to be plain white single matted, with plain board backing, no foamcore. Minimum size is 8"x10", all matts should be 16x22 regardless of image size.

• Photograph or Photoshop? (Derek):

  Halloween is a time when things are not always what they seem. With people in masks and costumes being something they're not, let's do this with photography.

  Most people by now are used to faked photos arriving in their mailboxes making outrageous claims. Yet a lot of people still believe "photographs don't lie". Are you good at spotting hoaxes?

  We'll have a look at some images, some are fantastic, but real. Some are completely bogus — but can you use your knowledge of photographic manipulation to spot the fakes? Is it a Photograph or Photoshop In some cases these photos have been used to support conspiracy theories, but a little knowledge of photography and the truth shall set you free! — well, enlightened anyway.

• Party!!:

  An extended break and party time. Those wearing costumes will strut their stuff and members will judge and select their favorite costume.

  Some goodies (more than our usual fair of tea/coffee/cookies) will also be available.

Theme competitions (ie “assigned subjects”) can be a challenge, particularly if you have a preferred area of photographic interest. But don’t avoid them! They can also be a valuable tool to help you see more creatively and improve your photography.

Shona L, our “theme coordinator”, will briefly review how our in-house Theme competitions work, and will present some suggestions on how you can interpret themes and come up with strong, unique photographs.

Some evaluation practice will be included, to help you comment on images and select your own entries.

We welcome guest speaker Betty Andres (North Shore Photographic Society and long time competition judge).

Betty is past president of the North Shore Photographic Society, and also the North Shore Challenge co-ordinator. She is the CAPA Club Services Director, and National Competition Co-ordinator (5 yrs). A long-time CAPA judge and slide-essay maker, she has a special interest in landscapes and travel subjects.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• What Judges Look For... (Betty Andres):

  Betty Andres will give us insight on just what are judges looking for when evaluating images in competition.

This meeting will be a "seminar" style meeting, with a couple of presentations by club members.

We will also be doing our selection of prints for Surrey's annual Photo Expo

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Welcome to nwphoto.org (Derek):

  The website has a growing role in the running of the NWPC. It is our appointment calendar, photo album, as well as a growing resource centre.

  Derek (our club webmaster) will briefly go over key features of the website for the benefit of our new members, showing you how to get the most out of this tool. Some of the changes for the coming year will also be discussed.

• BTGS#4 - I've been framed! (Derek):

  "Beyond the Green Square" is a series we started last year. It is aimed at newer photographers who need help learning how to go beyond the automatic settings of their camera and explore the wider world of photography. We explore both "mechanical" and "artistic" aspects — concepts that older hands may consider basic but that newer photographers still need to learn. They are typically short, 10 to 15 minutes in length

  In this session we continue our look at the basic rules of composition with a look at framing and how it can enhance your images; and we don't mean wooden ones!

• Enhancing your image (Keith):

  We strongly encourage photographers to "get it right" in-camera when composing a photograph. But in this digital age, there's almost always a need (or at least desire) to "tweak" that image to bring out the best in it.

  Keith will review one post-processing technique that has gained greatly in popularity in the last few years: HDR (or High Dynamic Range). Keith will show the dramatic effect this technique can have on your images in situations that are often difficult to capture on film. There are a variety of software packages out there now for HDR, some of them very affordable.

  Keith is the club's vice-president as well as acting president for the Burnaby Photographic Society. He has years of experience (he won't tell us just how many) and is always willing to share what he has learned with others, even when he's the lone Nikon surrounded by Canons!

• Surrey Show, print selection:

  We've been invited to take part in the print portion of Surrey Club's Photo Exhibition show (see our announcement on this.

  Members, please bring your prints to the first meeting! Prints should be matted (minimum 8"x10", max dimensions: 16x20 overall). Images may be on any topic, B&W or colour. We will review, critique and select those to be sent to Surrey. Images will be professionally judged at the expo as well as "People's Choice" award to an image selected by audience votes.

Our club has been enjoying the summer holidays, but now it's time to get "back to work" on our photography! Our program director is hard at work coming up with the program for the coming year and you can already see some of what's coming up here.

As is always the case in these situations, all meeting content is "subject to change", but we aim to keep the program on the website as accurate and up to date as possible, always check back for last second changes!

Our typical first meeting is a chance to get reaquainted and share some images from our summer photography. In this case we also have a last minute participation in Surrey's Photo Expo.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Welcome Back!!
• Officer Reports
• Announcements
• Going Digital (Derek):

  Most of our members have gone digital at this point, but this short 10 minute talk is aimed at new members and guests

  In particular for those still shooting film or who maybe have a lower end digital camera and are thinking of "moving up". What sorts of features should you look for?

  But for those who have already gone digital, you're not off the hook. There are still some cases where film is still the better choice, and the debate rages on: is digital better than film at this point?

• Themes (Shona):

  Last year we started our online "Themes", part artistic challenge, part judging exercise, part intra-club competition. Shona will remind us just how Themes can help you improve your photography and offers a few tips on how to critique an image when you don't know where to start.

• Photo Viewing - Digital and Prints:

  We'll get the year rolling by reviewing some photos from the past summer. This won't be a full critiquing session, but people will be invited to make comments on images if they see particular strengths or areas that could be improved.

• New Agenda Item!!: agenda item preparation
• New Item 2 (Mr. Incredible): agenda item preparation

Our members and invited guests celebrate the end of our program year with our annual pot-luck party.

Location:

• Queen's Park Centennial Lodge, New Westminster
• Link to PDF Map of Park Area
• Link to Google Map (you should see the lodge marked on the map).

Time: 6:30PM

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Party: Potluck Dinner -- vittles supplied by our members.
• Silent Auction: Bring something you would like to donate to our auction. This is always a popular way to help raise money for the club's operating costs and helps keep member fees low. You may specify a starting bid. Please remember if your item doesn't sell, that you are responsible for taking it back home!
• Party Fun: We will be having some sort of party activity ... these vary from year to year but should bring a smile to your face.

As our official year starts to wind down, we hold our annual general meeting to elect officers for the coming year.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• AGM:

  Candidates for the various club offices will come forward and next years officers decided by member vote.

• The Year in Review:

  We'll have a look back at selected member images set to some toe-tapping music from our various outings over the past year. A fun way to wind down our program for the year -- this is for nostalgia, not critiquing or competitions, so just sit back and enjoy!

  A DVD of the slideshow video will be for sale to members. Proceeds from the sales will go to our equipment fund -- a kind of photographic "bake sale"

  To those members who want a corrected version of the DVD cover, you can get it here (PDF document). Print the page on a sheet of legal paper, then trim to the fine black lines to fit your DVD cases. If you use the thicker, older style of DVD case, trim to the black crop lines on the top and bottom, but to the outside of the printed cover on the left and right. This will fit those thicker cases. My apologies to Lou for the misspelling of his name, and the even more evil mistake of leaving Shona off altogether from the artist list on the back!!

This meeting is a member's night (just in case we didn't get a chance to get to everyone at the March 4th meeting. Members may bring in their images (slides, prints, digital) for review and critiquing by fellow members. Guests are welcome to participate. Don't feel intimidated if you are new to photography! Anyone can have an opinion, and the old adage is true: I may not know art, but I know what I like. What you "like" is usually a well composed image!

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Beyond the Green Square: #3 - What's my line?:

  (15 minutes) Derek will continue his series of short presentations for the "less confident" photographer. We continue our exploration of the "Rules of Composition". If you're a novice photographer, learning the rules of composition will definitely help improve your images. This session we'll deal with one of the most powerful rules a photographer can have in their kit. Lines in an image can greatly influence how the viewer of your photograph feels about your work. We'll briefly discuss some of the most common line elements in photography and their psychological effect on the viewer.

  Since this is also a member's night, you can put your new knowledge to work right away!

• Critiquing session:

  Members view the offered images, offering critiques on what works and what could be improved. The intent of critiquing sessions is to help our members improve their compositional skills by evaluating other peoples' works and receiving feedback on their own.

This meeting will be a teaching night, but with a bit of a twist -- we are asking our members to come forward and teach the rest of us about some of their special interests. We have lots of expertise hidden in the brains of our members, this is a chance for them to share. Each session will be relatively short, 5 to 15 minutes.

We are still working on the agenda, so check back in the days leading up to the meeting for details

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Do you archive? (David Emery (editor)):

  Many of us have gone digital now. We have hard drives stuffed to the brim with all our wonderful photos.

  But how many of you back that information up? If your hard drive crashed tomorrow, how much of your work would you lose? This segment will cover some tips on creating your own archival process so that a power surge doesn't wipe out your "life's work"!

• Photography Workflow (Jason Hollister (president)):

  With so many people doing digital photography these days, we're probably all in the situation of having a hard drive full of digital photos. Could you quickly find that great sunset image you captured at cousin Bob's wedding reception last summer?

  Jason will walk us through some ideas on how to organize our collections, with some live demos of one such workflow tool: Lightroom.

• Shooting Raw (Jason Hollister (president)):

  Ok, you've bought that new digital SLR, you've picked up a decent lens, and you're shooting the best images of your career. But are you still shooting in JPEG? If so, you're not getting the most out of that camera. Jason will go over why you should consider ALWAYS shooting in Raw mode and what benefits you get from Raw when you get back home and step into the darkroom (or in this case Adobe's Lightroom).

• In the Zone (Keith Griffiths (VP)):

  Years ago when everyone was worshipping Ansel Adams, everyone used the Zone method of exposure that he endorsed. Years later, many people have forgotten about using zones for exposure. Keith will remind us of this very practical approach to photography when you want to get your exposure "just right".

• Your Best Tips and Techniques... (YOU):

  Now's your chance to shine ... we're still looking for members to step up and talk about their favorite topic. Or maybe something new they've learned recently that they would like to share. This is your chance to educate us! Fancy multimedia presentations are not required. If you're passionate about something, just stand up for 5 minutes (or 10, or 15?!) and tell us about it.

  Members wishing to discuss a topic should contact Jason (info@nwphoto.org) ASAP (we know this is short notice this time). If we get more submissions than we have time for, well maybe this will become a semi-regular idea for future years.

Our club vice-president, Keith Griffiths, will tell us something about one photographer's search for a "style".

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Beyond the Green Square: #2 - The Golden Rule:

  (15 minutes) Derek will continue his series of short presentations for the "less confident" photographer. Tonight we begin to explore the so-called "Rules of Composition". If you're a novice photographer, learning the rules of composition will definitely help improve your images. This session we'll start with what is probably the most fundamental and well used rule in photography. This "rule" was discovered by almost every ancient culture on Earth, and has influenced architecture and paintings for centuries ... but just what do credit cards and the reproduction of rabbits have to do with photography? Come and learn!

• Keith's take on Photography:

  Keith will treat us with samples of his photographic works and anecdotes about his own path through the world of photography. Keith is vice-president of our club, and also president of the Burnaby Photographic Society with decades of experience (he won't tell us just how many) with the various technologies arising from photography's evolution. It promises to be an interesting talk.

This night is scheduled as a competition selection night for the upcoming Fraser Valley Invitational competition.

We will also select our candidates for Crescent Beach B&W Print Competition.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Selection for Fraser Valley Invitational:

  We will select for the Fraser Valley Invitational. This year's theme is "Light". Those images best interpreting that theme will score better with the judges (or so one would hope?!?!)

  Images should fit a 1024 (max horizontal) by 768 (max vertical) pixel frame.

• Selection for Crescent Beach B&W Print Competition:

  We will select for the Crescent Beach B&W Print Competition.

  • Prints must be Black and White only, no tinted or toned prints, subject is choice of the photographer (inappropriate nudes will not be accepted)
  • Minimum print size 64 square inches (e.g. 8x8" prints minimum). Maximum print size is 16x20"
  • Outside dimensions of mat and backing must be 16x20". Smaller or larger entries are not accepted
  • Mats must be single white window mats. No frames. No foam core backing.
  • Prints must be mounted on firm 4 ply backing to stand up to frequent handling
  • No artist identification on front of print; label with title and photographer's name on upper r/h back of mat.
  • For complete list of rules, see this pdf file.

  Guests need not shy away from selection nights. This is the time when our members trot out their very best images.

This meeting is currently scheduled to be a workshop night. We will practice the technique of working with mylar to create abstracts and distorted images.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Mylar Images:

  Mylar, it says... but what is that, and what's it got to do with photography? Mylar is thin plastic sheet, with a polished metallic coating. Objects placed on it, or seen at the end of a tube, will appear to twist and warp into fantastic shapes.

  Change the lighting, distort the sheet or tube, and you have a totally different image. It's like magic, and the picture possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Peter says don't miss this one...

  You can see a couple of examples of mylar photography online in an article/gallery on Ira Cohen, considered the father of mylar photography.

This meeting is a mixed critiquing bag. Scheduled to be a member's night as well as a competition selection night.

For the member's night portion we discuss images (digital, prints, slides) submitted for critique. The benefit is to learn strengths and weaknesses of our images when being considered for competition (or hanging on our walls!).

We will also be selecting our entries for the BC Print Challenge.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Critiquing Session:

  Now it's time to bring and show the pictures you've had hiding in your memory cards, stored away in your digital archives or in print form. You're invited to bring up to 6 images, in whatever form and tell us about them, if you wish. Then, if you would welcome some of our comments on them, they would be available too.

  This will be your show, and your opportunity to see what pics the rest of us have been taking. We have several competitions and challenges to select for soon, so why not give us a preview of your work?

  Guests are welcome to participate. Don't feel intimidated if you are new to photography! Anyone can have an opinion, and the old adage is true: "I may not know art, but I know what I like". Well, what you "like" is usually a well composed image! Taking part in the critiquing process, you'll quickly learn all the buzzwords that help you explain to others what there is to "like" about a composition.

• Selection for BC Print Challenge:

  We will select for the BC Print Challenge.

  • Prints may be B&W or colour, subject is choice of the photographer
  • Minimum print size 80 square inches (e.g. 8x10 prints minimum). Maximum print size is 16x20"
  • Outside dimensions of mat and backing must be 16x20". Smaller entries are not accepted
  • Mats must be single white window mats. No frames. No foam core backing.
  • No artist identification on front of print; label with title and photographer's name on upper r/h back of mat.

  Guests need not shy away from selection nights. This is the time when our members trot out some of their very best images.

  Want to come see our chose entries at the Print Challenge? See our news page for time and location of the BC Print Challenge.

Siggi Rohde will give us a session on collectible cameras. Have old cameras gathering dust now that you've gone digital? Maybe they're not junk, they're collectibles!

Siggi will bring examples and give advice. If you have any old cameras lying around that you would like an evaluation on, bring them in.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Collectible Cameras (Siggi Rohde):

  Siggi Rohde will talk to us about the history of our art, as seen through the "lens" of collectible cameras.

  Siggi is vice-president of the Western Canada Photographical Historical Association, and Show-Chairman of their annual Camera Swapmeet, with 40 years of know-how and an avid interest in collectible photo equipment.

In this meeting we launch two new series. In the future they will typically be 15 to 20 minutes in length focusing on a single topic. You will often see them as a "warm up act" for our main speakers at a meeting.

These series will be designed to follow our ideals of "a little something for everyone" over the course of the year -- tidbits for both beginners and more experienced photographers.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Beyond the Green Square (Derek Carlin):

  Derek will launch this series aimed at photographers who are getting started and are still a bit unsure of themselves when it comes to taking control of their camera.

  The thrust of this series will be taking your camera off automatic (the "Green Square" on many Canon models).

  Tonight's first session will start at the beginning. "Taking Control" -- a quick concentrated look at the basics of exposure, and how each of the basic controls of your camera affects the final image and understanding just what all those automatic modes are doing.

  Future shorts will cover basic compositional "rules", case studies of tricky subject matter and all those things the older members sometimes take for granted and forget that the rest of us haven't learned it all yet! Learning these topics also helps you to understand the comments and critiques given to your photos when they are reviewed at the club or in competition (if a judge tells you to "open up a half stop", do you know what settings you can change to do this? --- there's more than one way!)

• The Outer Limits (Shona LaFortune):

  Shona will be leading a second series, for those photographers who are looking to try new techniques.

  The focus (pardon the pun) of this series will be "altering reality" in a variety of ways with an emphasis on better expressing the "art" aspect of your photography.

  This first session, by way of introduction with examples will show various in-camera, on-camera and PS techniques to alter reality.

For more information about the North Shore Challenge, see the item on our announcements page.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• North Shore Challenge Selection: Images will be reviewed by the club, voted on by members and our 10 entries selected.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Table Top Images (Graydon Roberts):

  Graydon Roberts to give a hands-on talk on Table-tops/Close-ups/Glassware photography.

  Graydon is planning to bring lights and set-ups. If Graydon's past workshops are any indicator, participants should be prepared to get some knockout images.

• North Shore Challenge: If you wish, we will be starting to collect candidates for our entries in the North Shore Challenge.
• North Shore Challence Tickets: Peter will be taking names and money for North Shore Challenge tickets for those who want to attend. $15 per person

Our annual Christmas party. Open to guests and members. Contact Tatia (treasurer@nwphoto.com) to sign up. Cost: $30/person

Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Queen's Park Centennial Lodge (same building as the Arts Centre)

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Eating: Our catered meal out. Details TBA.
• Gift swap: A fun little anonymous exchange of presents.
• Silent Auction: One of our annual fundraisers
• I Didn't See What You Saw (Grace, David, Agnia): Three short slideshows showing London, England (& beyond) from different perspectives. This alone is worth the price of admission!

Agenda: (subject to change)

• How to Improve your Image:

  Guest speaker Wes Bergen, who writes a PhotoShop column in Canadian Camera will present "How to Improve your Image" - showing simple ways to tweak your pics.

  Most of what he will show us can be done in Photoshop Elements as well as the more advanced versions.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Officer Reports
• Announcements
• Delta Print Challenge: The club will be selecting its entries for the DPC.

It's halloween (well, almost). Time for some good fun and fright. Members, bring out your "scariest" shots that will send people running for the door! All media welcome (prints, digital, slides)

Come as your favorite ghoul, phantom, bunny, or (dead!) photographer. (it's been hinted that there might even be a door prize for best costume!)

The gruesome twosome have been stirring their cauldrons and are promising thoroughly upsetting treats at break time. (watch out for missing fingers!)

So come one, come all ... but remember to bring your heart medication!

If you have prints for entry in the Delta Print Challenge, you may bring them to this meeting. Final club selection will happen during the Nov. 6 meeting.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Officer Reports
• Announcements
• Photo Forensics (Derek): This will be a kind of pop quiz in keeping with the Halloween spirit. Ghosts and spirit photographs have been turning up for years. Are they real? or wild imagination? We'll look at a few images that claim to be those of real spirit energies at work. We'll practice our detective skills and our knowledge of photography to see if we can determine the truth. By the way, not all of the images have definitive explanations (ooooh!! spooky!) -- draw your own conclusions.
• Scary shootings: Be prepared to be terrified (or mildly amused?) as our members bring out their "scariest" creations. Who knows what sort of Franken-graph Monster will appear this night.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Officer Reports
• Announcements
• Member Projection: Having had a night for prints, tonight's meeting will focus (pun intended) on projected media. Members may bring in slides for projection. Members may submit up to 3 images for projection.
• Tech Spot (tentative) - Making Panoramas: If time permits, Jason will review the process of creating (seamless!) panoramas.

Many of you asked for more chances to show and discuss your work. We hear you, and this is the time to bring out some (2 or 3) of those prints you’ve been keeping to yourself since last season. This time there will be comments - come and find out what other members have to say about them.

Note: this session is specifically for prints -- which can have quite different qualities from projected images. So if you have digital images for review, take them to WalMart or CostCo for printing if you don't have a photo printer at home. 8x12 prints are quite reasonable in price these days, many places charging less than $5.00.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Officer Reports
• Announcements
• Tech Spot: TBA
• Print Night Presentations (club members): Prints will be shown, appreciated and evaluated. Practice your critiquing skills as well as see what others are doing with their photography.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Officer Reports
• Announcements
• Styles of Image Evaluation (Shona LaFortune):

  Shona has offered to give us a presentation on the Styles of Image Evaluation. I’m sure that won’t be as heavy as it sounds, but more a way of helping you comment on other members’ work.

  For instance, what you might say to point out the strengths and weaknesses of an image - how to suggest what you think could have made it stronger, without judging it as "good or bad, right or wrong". Comments of this kind can help you improve on your own work.

  Shona is a photographer with years of experience. But she also puts on programs for, and volunteers as, an evaluator for various camera clubs in the lower mainland and BC. She also coordinates the CAPA "Learn to Judge" evaluator training program.

• Photos on Canvas (Mary Ann):

  New member Mary Ann has discovered the new technology of printing photos on canvas. Depending on the process used, the images can be much more vibrant and alive than traditional prints. She will do a "5 Minute Talk" to tell us a little about her experiences so far with this new print medium.

Have you traveled to "far-away places" in the three months since we took our summer break? Did you stay local, heading for the lake or cottage at weekends - or did you just hang around the garden or the neighbourhood, soaking up sunshine?

Whatever took your fancy I’m sure your camera wasn’t on vacation, so let’s see some of those summer shots, wherever they were taken. Prints, digital or slides - it makes no difference. Four to six would be about right.

This won’t be a critiquing session, so we promise not to comment on them unless you invite us to do so.

Agenda: (subject to change)

• Welcome Back!!
• Officer Reports
• Announcements
• 5 Minute Tech Spot (Jason): Camera and sensor cleaning.
• Themes (Shona and Peter): With all the changes in our website this summer, you may have noticed we’ve updated an old learning technique with an online twist! Shona and Peter will remind us about "assignment shooting" (now called "Themes"), what it’s all about, what are its goals, and how we plan to use our web site to have some fun.
• Web site updates (Derek): Our club web site has gone through a bit of a transformation over the summer (and more changes are coming!) Derek will briefly update us with how to use some of the new features to our best advantage.
• Photo Viewing - Digital
• Photo Viewing - Slides and Prints