P H O T O N E W S
February 2007

Special Events You Won't Want to Miss...

January Activities
At our regular meeting on January: Special thanks go to Cindy Abbott and Joe Herz for the refreshments. We had a King's Cake, old French tradition, to find out who was going to bring snacks for February meeting, the winners were: Dianna Montoya & Susan Long!

We had a Show & Tell. Members brought their favorite photography items, from a piece of equipment, gadgets, home made stuff that works for photography, helpful books, magazines, software, and slides. Members showed and told us about all these. It was interesting, illustrative, fun and educational. Thanks a lot for sharing your secrets.

SPECIAL ARTICLE BY ERIC GUDGER : CAPTURING THE EXPOSURE
© E Gudger
The technical changes that have taken place in photography are truly amazing.  It seems that it was only yesterday that the first digital cameras were released.  Now, the market is filled with photographers shooting with digital medium.  Joining the digital medium is a multitude of easy to use software that can transform any photograph into one capable of winning international acclaim. Sounds nice doesn’t it...  read full article here

PHOTO TIPS: Basic Studio Light -- One option is to use studio lights that produce continuous light. These lights have a photoflood, quartz halogen or fluorescent lamp. An advantage of this type of lighting is the ease of previewing the effect you’ll get in the picture. Shadows, reflections and other characteristics are apparent before you shoot, so you can make the adjustments then. The color of light produced by these sources is different than daylight or electronic flash, but the white balance control on a digital camera lets you easily match the color for perfect balance. Unlike flash, there is no sync cord or accessories needed, and metering the exposure is no different than when shooting outdoors. (Extracted from Porter's News)

MONTHLY MEETING

Monday, February 12-- 6:30 - 9 P.M.

SPEAKER: WAYNE NICHOLAS --"Bird Photography"

We will have the opportunity to hear from a master in Nature Photography all kind of tips and tricks on how to photograph birds. Visit his website

MINI CONTEST: BUILDINGS Bring any two photos for the mini-contest.

SLIDE SHOW: Bring couple of your recent best images, if you want to share for the slide show.

Saturday, February 17 from 8 AM-10 AM
FIELD TRIP: Zoo Field Trip, just for members, we will have a special opportunity to photograph the animals behind the scenes, before public hours. Do not miss it! More info at more info

SPRING PHOTO SHOW & COMPETITION -- Time to start working on your pictures for the Spring Contest

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES:

FEBRUARY 3 -- "Behind the Scenes Photo Tour" at Lake Houston Park will be providing a guide and transportation to guests. Space is limited. Call for details 281 354 6881

FEBRUARY 21 – March 4 -- Mardi Gras! Galveston: Crowds of costumed and masked revelers fill the streets to see parades, musical performances, balls and parties. This year’s theme, “The Rainforests of the World,” indicates there will be plenty of wildlife – and that’s just the humans. Mardi Gras tip: bead there or bead square. For more information, call Galveston’s Visitor’s Center at (888) 425-4753 or go to www.mardigrasgalveston.com

FEBRUARY 27 – March 18--Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Reliant Stadium: Rope up some fun at the largest livestock exhibition on this round earth. Rodeo time starts with the downtown parade, 10 a.m., Feb.. 22. Then tie down an evening of fun and excitement by taking in competitions and live music. Rodeo tip: don’t eat anything called “chips.” For more information, call (832) 667-1000 or go to www.hlsr.com.

MONTHLY MEETING

Monday, March 12 -- 6:30 - 9 P.M.

SPEAKER: TBA
Join us to share your photography ideas, guests are welcome.

MINI CONTEST: ANIMALS Bring any two photos for the mini-contest.

SLIDE SHOW: Bring couple of your recent best images, if you want to share for the slide show.

SPRING PHOTO SHOW & COMPETITION -- Be prepared with your pictures for the Spring Contest

Sunday, March 11, 5 pm - 8 pm --
FIELD TRIP --Horse Race Track at Sam Houston Race Park. Just for WPC members. Grab your cameras and get ready for the best action shots during a the horse race. We have limited room, please let us know if you are interested. More info

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES:

MARCH 2-4 -- River Oaks Garden Club’s Azalea Trail: Houstonians and visitors can view the spectacular azalea gardens at Bayou Bend and admire the breathtaking gardens at River Oaks’ exquisite homes. Trail tip: if you don’t immediately enjoy the flowers, stop and gaze at them longer. Eventually they will grow on you. For more information, call (713) 523-2483 or visit www.riveroaksgardenclub.org

MARCH 24 -- Texas largest kayak and canoe race! Whether you paddle competitively or just for fun, the Buffalo Bayou Regatta is a great way to see Houston from a whole new angle. Join in the fun at the 35th annual 15-mile canoe and kayak race through the heart of our city. www.buffalobayou.org/regattabayou.html

MARCH 29-30 -- Sam Houston Park and Tranquility Park: Called “Houston’s Official Family Celebration,” more than 100,000 people are expected to drop by. There will be 16 “Big Family Adventure Areas,” eight entertainment stages and more than 350 fun activities including music, crafts, exhibits, games, sports and rides. Children’s Festival tip: Feel free to kid around. For more information, call (713) 522-9723 or go to
www.festivalsofhouston.com/hcf

March 23 -April 1st -- Montgomery County Fair Photo Contest and photo opportunity. Photographs may be B&W and color, must be amateurs, no professionals accepted. Submitting entries due no later than March 7th. Find out about it at www.mcfa.org and www.mcfa.org/rules_adultphotography.htm

APRIL

Sunday, April 1st, 8 AM- 6 PM

GERLACH'S SEMINAR -- John & Barbara are accomplished speakers/teachers. They are Nature and Wildlife photographers published in calendars, magazines, stock photography and nationwide well known. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from the masters. Take a look at the program. For details contact More info

MONTHLY MEETING

Monday, April 9 -- 6:30 - 9 P.M.

SPEAKER: BYRON WILLIS -- Studio Lights and Flash Photography.
Join us to share your photography ideas, guests are welcome.

MINI CONTEST: Bring any two photos for the mini-contest.

SLIDE SHOW: Bring couple of your recent best images, if you want to share for the slide show.

Saturday, April 14 -- 9 AM-2 PM
EARTH DAY at The Woodlands High School, Woodlands Earth Day Festival, to celebrate Preserving Our Natural Environment. The event at Millennium Forest Dr. and 6101 Research Forest Dr, Woodlands High School, from 9 AM - 2:00 PM. Bring your pictures, share your hobby, photography, and have fun meeting all kind of people interested in photography. Please sign in as a volunteer.

Saturday, April 28 -- 12:30 PM-2:30 PM
SPRING PHOTO SHOW & COMPETITION -- Time to submit your pictures for the Spring Contest at the South Branch Library in The Woodlands. Please notice the time 12:30 PM until 2:30 PM at the South Branch Library in The Woodlands. Late entries cannot be accepted. We need volunteers for the set up exhibit.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES:

Sunday, April 1st -- Japan Festival. The tranquil Japanese Gardens in Hermann Park draw 22,000 people annually to a weekend celebration of Japanese culture. (713) 963-0121 www.jashouston.org

Saturday, April 21 -22 -- Fiesta Siciliana. A celebration of Italian culture, held at the Sacred Heart Church in Houston. www.theitalianfestival.com

Saturday, April 21 -- San Jacinto Day Festival and Battle Re-Enactment. A reenactment of the battle for Texas independence, won on April 21, 1836. More info (281) 479-2421 www.sanjacinto-museum.org

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PHOTO INFO

MEMBERS, Cecilia García is one of the winners at Lake Houston Park Photo Contest with her picture from Lake Isabelle. Congratulations!

SEMINARS & CONFERENCES

February 10 --NIKON SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY, Introduction to Digital SLR Photography ($119)

February 11 --NIKON SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY, Next Steps in Digital Photography, Steamlined Workflow Techniques ($159)

Visit WPC resources to ask our Consulting Photographers
Basic Photography · Digital Photography · Matting & Framing · Nikon Capture · Photoshop · Underwater Photography · Website Design ·

CAMERA CLUBS:

The Woodlands United Methodist Church Camera Club TWUMC for all skill levels gathers the first Monday of every month, except holidays from 7 PM to 8:30 PM at 2200 Lake Woodlands Dr. More info

CLASSIFIED ADS

CAMERA EQUIPMENT

1) CANON EOS 1N RS - professional 35mm film camera. This is the rare one built with a pellicle mirror which means that there is no blackout during exposure since light travels through the mirror to the film and the mirror does not need to flip up during the exposure. This allows the camera to have an incredibly fast shooting rate of 10 frames per second when set on continuous high, great for sports and action shots. This camera is no lightweight since the body and motor drive are built as one unit. Camera body is in great shape but is missing the rubber eyecup. This camera sold new for $2700.00. It has been a great camera but I don't use it now that I have my digital bodies. Best offer gets it but I would like to get $500. Contact Jim Stoner 936-273-4388

2) Medium format 4X5 Sinar camera. Sinar camera body with complete system....excellent condition, great price. $1500
Contact Robert Mathias If interested, will e-mail pictures of each component.
*One 210 mm Schneider lens in lens board
*One focusing magnifying hood
*One wide angle bellow bag
*One focusing loupe
*One Polaroid film back
*One 4x5 camera bag
*One filter holder or call 281-350-5292

3) Canon EOS Digital Rebel 6.3 Megapixel, $1,200. This camera was bought because of a job I was taking w/ a newspaper. I ended up not getting it, so it has been waiting for someone to use it. It works great and comes with TWO lenses: The 18mm-35mm and Canon Zoom lens EF, 75-300mm, f4-5.6 with image stabilizer. This is a great camera. Contact Gabriel García for details.

STUDIO FOR RENT Clark Lara has a full studio with Norman Lights, High Key white wall, as well as 3 different muslins. No props you would have to supply your own. SPECIAL PRICE $50 an hour. The high key is great for everything from product shots to high fashion.

PHOTO WORKSHOP Costa Rica Photo Workshop Adventure with Kathy Adams Clark She is a professional nature photographer. www.kathyadamsclark.com More info at Strabo Tours 607-756-8676 www.phototc.com

LOCAL EXHIBITS: Seeing the work of other artists and photographers can give new insights and ideas for our own work. Check out the following local exhibits:

February - For Several Months -"Window Shopping on Main Street, 1920-1930," uses historic photography from the Story Sloane Collection to give visitors a glimpse of downtown's heyday as a shopping destination. http://www.ghpa.org/windows2.html

Through February 18 --Where Rivers Join the Sea: Photographs by Robert Adams and Marcos Zimmerman.The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. (713) 639-7390; www.mfah.org

Through March 3rd --De Santos Gallery is proud to present an exhibition of recent work by Andrew Taylor and Ariane Roesch. De Santos Gallery 1724 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77004, ph 713-520-1200 Fax: 713-520-1202 www.desantosgallery.com

Through March 11 -- Contemporary Danish Photography
Some of the strongest contemporary photography in Europe today is coming from Denmark. This exhibition presents contemporary mixed-media work by thirty-nine of Denmark best-known photographic artists. More info www.fotofest.org/

Through June 3rd -- "Wildlife Photographer of the Year" is a photo exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Address: One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX 77030, 713.639.4629 www.hmns.org

HELP US SHOOT OUR ACTIVITIES

We need club members who have digital cameras to volunteer to document our field trips and special events. Our friends John Masters and Nolan Braud have been providing digital images of our meeting presenters and other activities but could use some help.  If you are willing to help, please e-mail to our newsletter editor.

YOUR GALLERY AWAITS YOU

Each member of our club gets a free online gallery of your favorite images. For details on how to get yours set up, contact Nolan Braud (njbraud@hotmail.com)

WE WANT YOUR IDEAS!

Help us continue to have the most interesting and informative activities by sharing your ideas for the best experiences you've had. E-mail your ideas for each activity below to the club officer in charge of that activity:

Presentations - Jerry Costin
Other Activities - Jim Kelly
Web Site, Newsletter - editor@woodlandsphoto.org