P H O T O N E W S
February 2008

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

IN THIS ISSUE:
January Activities....Special Article...What's Ahead....Member Notices.... About Our Club....Parting Shot

Visit our club web site — www.WoodlandsPhoto.org for the latest in activity, images, galleries, and other things of interest to those who love photography.

Photo at the top: David Putney, won the January mini contest, he took the photo at  his home. She is a photogenic little girl. She was really excited to learn that the photo of her had won. Congratulations, David, excellent work! Congratulations!

January Activities
At our regular meeting in January, Autumn Teesdale, 2008 WPC President; lead her first meeting, she did a great and very enthusiastic job, WPC welcomes Autumn and all the new Board Officers. We had also a "Show and Tell"at the meeting; members brought favorite photography items, from a piece of equipment, gadgets, home made stuff that works for photography, They showed and told us about all these helpful gadgets and tips to teach us how they work.

NEW MEMBERS CORNER: We welcome Erin Brown, John O'Brien, David Putney, and Robert Wall and Deborah Wilson as new members to Woodlands Photography Club.

Special thanks go to Jeff & Jackie Rohling, Sue & Roger Wheatley and, Cecilia García for supplying snacks, cookies and drinks for our January meeting.

Field Trips -

Market Street Night Shooting Even though, it was freezing, some WPC had the courage to go out and take some photos at night. We had fun during our cold learning experience, sharing our hobby... Photography!

PHOTO TIPS: Dropping Out The Background

After you download the images to your computer, open up the final image and use the Pen tool in Adobe Photoshop to cut around the subject, and remove the background so that the subject will lay against a solid white background.
In Adobe Photoshop, the Pen tool is one of the most frequently used tools by photographers and visual artists.
The Pen tool allows you make precise selections of pixels within an image by creating paths.
The Marquee, Lasso and Magic Wand tools are also used to select areas within an image, but the Pen tool is a bit more sophisticated.
Consequently, it takes some practice to become proficient with it.
One common use of the Pen tool is to be able to "knock out" the background. Eliminating the background of an image allows great flexibility when placing your subject in a layout for either print or the Web. (Extracted by C García)

MONTHLY MEETING

Monday, February 11-- 6:30 - 9 P.M.

PROGRAM: Kathy Adams Clark, nature photographer, will be our presenter on "Advanced Nature Photography" For the nature photographer who has mastered the basics. We will have an overview on tricky exposures, advanced composition, low-light photography, silhouette, sunrises and sunsets, wildlife tracking, animals in motion and macro. 

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

SLIDE SHOW: Bring couple of your recent best images, if you want to share for the slide show or email Jim Kelly 5-8 of your favorite photos that you would like to share at the meeting

SPRING 2008 PHOTO CONTEST is coming. Get ready, check the rules and categories. Time to start shooting!

FIELD TRIPS
Saturday, February 9, from 9 AM to noon, Houston Blowing Glass Studio --Just for WPC Members. We will take pictures of the process. It takes 45 minutes to get things set up every day when they blow glass. Then they will create a piece & they can go over some finished pieces & explain the other processes of grinding, etching & caving some of the pieces Sign in and more info

Sunday, February 10, from 8:30 AM to 2 PM, North Lake Conroe -- Just for WPC Members, with Jerry Walls, target birds: bald eagle, osprey, White pelican, wood & other ducks, belted kingfisher, woodpeckers, etc. More info and sign in

Saturday, February 23, from 9 AM - 1 PM, Lake Houston Park "Off the Beaten Path Photo Safari" Just for WPC members will visit places in the wilderness park to take pictures of beautiful scenic areas and/or wildlife found in the park More info and sign in

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES

Through Feb. 5 -- Mardi Gras Galveston at Galveston Island becomes a sparkling spectacle with colorful parades, elaborate masked balls and outdoor concerts.
More info at http://www.mardigrasgalveston.com/

MONTHLY MEETING

Monday, March 10-- 6:30 - 9 P.M.

PROGRAM: Ted Washington, former official photographer for The Woodlands, will present "Night Photography". Come and learn from the masters how to take beautiful night shots.

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

SLIDE SHOW: Bring couple of your recent best images, if you want to share for the slide show or email Jim Kelly 5-8 of your favorite photos that you would like to share at the meeting

FIELD TRIPS
Sunday, March 2nd, from 8:30 AM to 2 PM -- North Lake Conroe -- Just for WPC Members, with Jerry Walls, target birds: bald eagle, osprey, White pelican, wood & other ducks, belted kingfisher, woodpeckers, etc. More info and sign in

SPRING 2008 PHOTO CONTEST is on the way be prepared with your photos. check the rules and categories. Keep shooting!

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES

March 3 through 22 -- Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at Reliant Stadium, 1 Reliant Park Houston, TX. This three-week showcase of Texas traditions boasts the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, thrilling rodeo action, superstar concerts, and family fun. More info http://www.hlrs.com

March 8 -- Buffalo Bayou Regatta Test your endurance in 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. More info

APRIL

MONTHLY MEETING

Monday, April 14-- 6:30 - 9 P.M.

PROGRAM: TBA

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

SLIDE SHOW: Bring couple of your recent best images, if you want to share for the slide show or email Jim Kelly 5-8 of your favorite photos that you would like to share at the meeting

SPRING 2008 PHOTO CONTEST is almost here, be ready with your photos. Check the rules and categories. Keep working!

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES

April 5-6 -- Annual Japan Festival This annual event in Hermann Park’s beautiful Japanese Garden draws more than 20,000 people. The Japan Festival celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Japan with two stages showcasing music, traditional and folk dance and martial arts, as well as demonstrations of Ikebana flower arrangement, tea ceremony, origami and bonsai. More info

April 25-27 -- The Grand Prix of Houston will roar back to JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park on April 25 - 27th, 2008, and will once again feature a thrilling double-header weekend with the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) on Saturday and Champ Car World Series on Sunday more info

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PHOTO INFO

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

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:

January - 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 13 --HCP 26th Anniversary Print Auction at the Junior League of Houston, 1811 Briar Oaks Ln. Houston, TX 77027, auctioneer: Rick Wester. More info

March 8 through April 20 -- Habitat 7 - Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao
at HCP. Four of the earliest major civilizations were formed in river valleys. The fertile lands provided surpluses of food that allowed for the growth of populations more info www.hcponline.org

March 8 through April 20 -- Houston Chinese Photographic Society. An exhibition of landscapes by the members of the Houston Chinese Photographic more info at www.hcponline.org

CLASSES, CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS:

February 12 -- Babies and Bellies Photo Workshop, one full evening in Houston. More info at www.bellies-babies.com or 303 7130 8638

February 15 -- Bert Monroy and the NAPP team for the Adobe Photoshop CS3 Creativity Tour at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX. After this one day of training you'll be more efficient, and more creative than ever. Guaranteed! This is your chance to learn the hottest tips, tricks, and techniques that will take your Photoshop skills to the next level! More info

March 1-3 -- American Color Imaging Seminar in IOWA. More details 800-728-2722 www.acilab.com

March 15 -- National Geographic Traveler Photo Seminar from Sta. Fe Workshops; one full day seminar. More information or call (505) 983-1400

April 2-4 -- Photoshop World Conference & Expo, Orange County Convention Center. Orlando, Florida More info 800-738-8513 or visit their website

HCP and LLU are offering photo classes on regular basis, take a look at our calendar

SPECIAL REQUEST
Joe Cusack, a member of The Woodlands Photography Club, teaches middle school students about photography and is requesting the donation of non-functioning cameras and camera lens. He would like to use these broken cameras to show the students different parts of a camera during his lecture. Email Joe Cusack if you can help.

CLASSIFIED ADS

BOOKS
1) Unused, new work book for $10.00:The Artist's Marketing and Action Plan Workbook (Paperback) by Jonathan Talbot, Geoffrey Howard ( $16.95 on Amazon.com) If you are interested please email Barbara at pix-shooter@att.net

CAMERA EQUIPMENT

1) Manfrotto by Bogen Model 3030 tripod head with quick release plate for $50. Contact Barbara Edmondson at  phone: 281-251-0000

2) Nikon Lenses and Sony Alpha System for Sale Cesar Vargas is selling his well cared equipment. Sony Alpha Syst with 3 lenses. One of them is the 18-200mm. If you are interested in please contact him at 713 822 8453. You can see this equipment at http://www.phototimeblog.blogspot.com/

4) 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 $250. Contact Jim Stoner 936-273-4388

5) CANON EOS 1D-Mark 2, professional Digital SLR. This camera is a great one for sports shooting, portraits, weddings, nature etc. and is in excellent shape. It's 1.3 crop factor will allow wider angle shooting with your lenses than most DSLR's. A fast shooting speed of 8.5 fps made it the fastest DSLR for the past 3 years. With 8 megapixels I have made 30x40" prints with no problem. Will sell for $2300. Contact Jim Stoner at 936-273-4388.

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 Ecuador, Ireland, Costa Rica, North Carolina or Big Bend Photo Workshop Adventure with Kathy Adams Clark. She is a professional nature photographer. More info at Strabo Tours 607-756-8676 www.phototc.com

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

The 1960 Digital Photography Special Interest Group meets the first Thursday every month at the Cypress Creek Christian Church on 6823 Cypresswood Drive, a diverse group of photographers seeking to improve photography skills with a motto of “members helping members” More info

The Kingwood Photo Club gathers photographers, who share a love for the capture, preservation and sharing of God's creations through
photography. Meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of every month at the Kingwood United Methodist Church, 6:30 pm. More information

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 Nolan Braud, Susan Long and Cesar Vargas 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) or read the procedures

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 - Autumn Teesdale
Other Activities - Pam Moore
Web Site, Newsletter - editor