2016 FALL FLING PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

2016 FALL FLING PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

Wise Fall Fling OCTOBER 8-9, 2016

“Feeling Fine on Mountain Time”

PURPOSE: The purpose of the Fall Fling Photo Contest is to promote interest and fun in photography, to encourage excellence in the technical and artistic aspects of the medium, and to increase the appreciation for photography in general.

CATEGORIES: Categories include Nature; Pictorial; People/Pets; and our 2016 Fall Fling theme, Feeling Fine On Mountain Time. Black/White may be entered in any category. The nature category would be just nature, with very little that is manmade.

CLASSES: Classes include Youth, Amateur, and Proficient. The Youth category applies to entrants under 18 years of age. You must enter in Proficient if you sell your work, and/or regularly enter photography competitions.

Sizes: Prints may be form 5” x 7” to 16”x20” and must be mounted on mounting board or matted with a backing board. Please, no poster board or cardboard. Total size may not exceed 16 x 20 inches. Framed prints will not be accepted. Neither signatures nor titles may be on the front of the print. Winning entries from previous years should not be entered for competition.

Entry Fee: A non-refundable entry fee is $4.00 per prints for an adult, and $2.00 for a youth. Please make checks payable to Wise Business Association.

Prizes: Amateurs will be judged for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place honors in Nature, Pictorial, People/Pets, and Feeling Fine on Mountain Time. Proficient will be judged for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in one all-inclusive category. Youth will also be judged in one all –inclusive category. The following prizes will be awarded for the amateur and proficient classes: First Place, $50.00; Second Place, $25.00;
Third Place, $10.00; and Honorable Mention. The youth class will receive the following prizes: 1st place, $25.00; 2nd place, $15.00; and 3rd place, $10.00, and Honorable Mention. Best of Show will receive $50.00, and People’s Choice, $50.00. Also, again this year, will be the James L. Newton Achievement Award, in Memoriam.

To Submit Prints: Please leave prints at The Clapboard House, 207 W. Main St., Wise, Va. from Friday, September 30th, until Monday, Oct 3rd, 2016, 1 pm. Judging will be by professionals with extensive knowledge of photography. The entries will again be on display at Hodge Lodge #8, AFAM (Masonic Hall), 313 E. Main Street, Wise, Sat, Oct 8, from 12:00 till 4 pm, and Sunday, Oct 9, from 2-4 pm. Entries may not be picked up until 4 PM.

AWARDS/RECEPTION: A RECEPTION AND AWARDS CEREMONY FOR Photography ( and Art) will be Thursday, Oct. 6, 7 PM, at the Masonic Hall. Everyone is welcome. Bring your friends and family.

Return of Entries: Photographs may be picked up Sunday, Oct. 9 between 4-5 PM at the Masonic Hall or during business hrs at The Clapboard House until October 15, 2016. Any photos not picked up within this time will be donated to charity. Entries will be handles with care. However, the photography committee assumes no responsibility for loss or damage.

The Fall Fling Photography Contest is sponsored by The Clapboard House, and Charles W. Harris Wise Library Gallery Board. Info 276-328-8184, or aker.bonnie7@yahoo.com.

Name________________________                Name_____________________
Address_______________________              Address____________________
City__________________St_______            City__________________ST_____
Zip________________________                   Zip__________________________
Email_______________________                 email________________________
Title________________________                 Title__________________________
Proficient_____Amateur____Youth___         Proficient___ Amateur___ Youth____
Nature_____ Pictorial_____                           Nature __________Pictorial ______
People/Pets_____ Feeling Fine on Mt. Time  People/Pets _____ Feeling Fine on Mountain Time

Name________________________                Name_____________________
Address_______________________              Address____________________
City__________________St_______            City__________________ST_____
Zip________________________                   Zip__________________________
Email_______________________                 email________________________
Title________________________                 Title__________________________
Proficient_____Amateur____Youth___         Proficient___ Amateur___ Youth____
Nature_____ Pictorial_____                           Nature __________Pictorial ______
People/Pets_____ Feeling Fine on Mt. Time  People/Pets _____ Feeling Fine on Mountain Time

I'm Being Retired

No, not me.  This old Eastman Camera Club blog is being retired.  It has been replaced by a new website with many new features.   

If you didn't receive an email announcing the new site your email address may not have gotten moved over to the new site.  Go to the site, click blog and click the subscribe button.   Here's a shortcut that should work.

Subscribe

This is the last post for this blog.   I'll see you on the new site!

Eastman Camera Club Meeting - July 21

We have two topics for our July 21 meeting and a chance to win online video training.

Carla Olson will be coming to our July meeting.  Carla has been a professional studio photographer with Eastman for the past 12 years.   She is also the owner of Carla Olson Photography, specializing in portraits, weddings, and children photography.

Carla will tell us about tabletop photography of products or still life arrangements.   Tabletop

photography is a branch of still life photography that focuses on capturing items that can be placed on a table. The most common photographic subjects of this genre are food photography and product photography, i.e. photographing a product for commercial purposes.

Carla will be talking about and demonstrating equipment and techniques for composing and lighting small objects that can be placed on a tabletop.

We will be rolling out a new club website at the July 21 meeting.   The new site will be the way to get info on outings, rental equipment, share photos, buy/sell/swap, get training, etc.   Come out for the demo.


We will be giving away a copy of Becoming An Artist by Trey Ratliff at this meeting.  This is a new online training series on art, photography and life. This is unlike anything Trey has done before. Trey begins each episode with a personal story and then dives deep into post-processing back in his studio. He covers composition, color, light and inspiration. He'll show you tips & tricks for Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop and Photomatix.  It also includes a free trial and tutorial for his new favorite tool, Aurora HDR Pro.

- 15 episodes filled with inspirational stories, photo tips, and post-processing techniques
- Trey’s RAW image files you can use to practice with
- Free trial & tutorial for Aurora HDR Pro

Last Minute Photo Outing - FIreworks on Lake Watauga

About a dozen photographers went out for this last year and had a blast.  We're on again this year for the 

Fireworks on Lake Watauga

Lakeshore Marina

July 4 at Sundown

Joel Presnell is the leader for this trip.  The plan is to meet at the Food City in Elizabethton (map) at 7:30 PM and then car pool over to Lakeshore Marina (map).

You will want to bring a tripod for this.  Here's some good info on how to make great fireworks photos

http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-photograph-fireworks/

These photos were shot from the lakeshore using a 17-40mm wide angle lens.  You can also shoot from up the hill near the restaurant and will want a lens with a little longer focal length.

Eastman Camera Club Meeting June 16 is Outdoors

This month's meeting will be outdoors at the Eastman Bays Mountain Recreation area.   This was one of the most popular meetings when we did this a couple years ago.   After some brief instruction, everyone will have time to photograph around the area.  Some of our more experienced members will be on hand to answer your questions and provide some basic instruction.

Be sure to bring your camera and tripod.

6:30 PM June 16
Shelter 28 Eastman Bays Mountain Recreation Area
404 Bays Mountain Park Road, Kingsport, TN 37660

When you reach the entrance to Kingsport's Bays Mountain Park, bear right to enter the Eastman Recreation Area.   Drive past the lodge on your left and enter the picnic area.   Shelter number 28 is all the way in the back near the ball field.

Eastman Camera Club Photo Outing June 18 - Grayson Highlands State Park and Wild Horses

On June 18 we will be taking a road trip to Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia.   This is a pretty mountain park with high vistas, waterfalls, and historic buildings.  The best part is the wild horses that live on the balds.


We will meet at the Colonial Heights Ingles parking lot next to McDonalds at 8:00 AM.  We'll then carpool to the park.  It is 81 miles to the park and will take about 1 1/2 hours to get there.  We'll hang out at the park for a few hours before heading back.  

Getting to the horses will require a little hike up some rolling hills.  It's not difficult.   You will be walking through grassy fields so high socks and long pants are recommended due to fleas and ticks.

Bring some snacks and water with you.  We will arrive around 9:30 and stay until around noon.   If anyone is interested we can stop for lunch on the way back.

All photos taken June 6, 2014

You won't need a long telephoto lens to photograph the horses.  They will right up to you looking for a handout and will chew on your pack, clothes, etc.  Expect for a cuteness overdose when you see the little foals.

Richard Siggins will be your leader for this outing.  Contact him at r.siggins@charter.net or 423-416-1258 if you have questions.

The foals learn the art of begging quickly

Fun Photo Outing - Vintage Baseball Game

Here's something the club has not done before and should be a lot of fun.   The Tennessee Association of Vintage Base Ball will bring a regulation game following the 1864 rules of play to Rocky Mount. This will be a fun outing and a unique way to practice your sports photography.  Come out and cheer on the Knoxville Holstons and the Emmett Machinists of Knoxville as they face off at Rocky Mount in Piney Flats Tennessee.

Jun 4th 11:30 am - 2:30 pm.  The game begins at noon.

Meet at Rocky Mount in Piney Flats between 11:30 and noon.

Free admission for game, donations will be accepted to support this event.

You will want to bring your long and fast lens for this event.

The game takes place on the lawn.  As in 1864, there are no bleachers or hot dog vendors.  Bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets and maybe shade umbrellas.

Visit the Tennessee Vintage Base Ball Association web page to learn more about their games: http://tennesseevintagebaseball.com/

- See more Rocky Mount Museum 

Contact Richard Siggins for information.

Koustubh Kulkarni takes second place in national photo contest.

Koustubh Kulkarni, an Eastman employee in Kingsport and a member of the Eastman Camera Club, has won a prestigious national photography award.   His entry in the “Share the Experience - The National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Photo contest” has won the 2nd Place!

Big Horn Sheep, Joshua Tree National Park, California

Announcing the 2015 Share the Experience Contest Winners

Throughout the year, amateur photographers capture stunning imagery from across millions of acres of public lands and enter the Share the Experience photo contest for an opportunity to win $30,000 in prizes and be featured on the America the Beautiful — The National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Annual Pass.

Do checkout the other winning pictures as well as the entries. Some really cool pictures in there. See the announcement on CBS This Morning.

May 19 - Studio Photography Hands On Workshop

Bring your camera and spouse, best friend, children or anyone you want a photo of to the May meeting. We will have the new studio lights set up and after some instruction, you will be able to take their photo using the lights. This will be a great way to learn about using the lights and to get some awesome photos fo your favorite subject.

The studio lights are now available to be rented through the Eastman Employee Center.

Rental Rates

$8/day

$15/weekend

$25/week

This professional studio light kit was designed to meet a variety of photographer needs. This three-light setup includes two AlienBees™ B800 units for the main and fill lights, each with a 13-foot heavy-duty stands. You can use the 47-inch Octabox on your main light for portraits with the Soft Silver PLM™ umbrella as your fill. The lower-powered B400 unit with the 20º honeycomb grid will work perfectly for a hair light (positioned on the 10-foot general purpose stand). Connecting just one CyberSync™ CSR Receiver to one flash unit will allow you to wirelessly fire the entire setup from camera position with the CST2 Transmitter as the remaining two flashes will fire via their built-in slave trippers.

More information about the light kit is available online -
http://recreation.eastman.com/Tennessee/Clubs/Camera/Pages/Rental_Equipment.aspx

We will be in Room 223 this meeting, not the normal room.

Eastman Camera Club Meeting - April 21

The next monthly meeting of the Eastman Camera Club is Thursday, April 21 at 6:30 PM.  We will be in Room 221, of the Eastman Employee Center on Wilcox Drive in Kingsport.   Topics for this month are

Using the Nik Photo Editing Tools
Techniques for Removing Objects From a Photo

Google bought the Nik software company a couple of years ago and since then the price has been steadily going down.  Recently Google made the entire suite of Nik software available for FREE.   We will run through the Nik suite of tools and talk about how they can complement photo editing tools you already have.

People have asked how to remove unwanted objects from a photo.  We'll talk about a few tools and techniques to do that.

Calibrating a Lens/Camera

Last minute additions!   We will have a demonstration on how to calibrate a lens.

Monthly photo challenge returns!

We will be restarting the monthly photo challenge.  Each month members are given a topic and asked to go out a make photos according to the monthly topic.   We then share those photos in the monthly meeting.  We will discuss what we like about each photo and what might make it better. The objective is to force us to try new things and learn from each other.

Shooting Stars

The topic for the April meeting is wildflowers.   Those that went on the Smokies wildflower trip have a good collection.  There are still many opportunities.

Here are the rules/steps

1. Pick out your favorite THREE photos for the topic.
2. Save those a JPEG format that is 1 MB or smaller.  You can lower the resolution (1280 pixels on longest side), change the JPEG quality setting to less than the maximum, or both.  
3. Email those photos to rcsiggins@gmail.com   If you want your photos to be anonymous let me know and we won't reveal who they belong to.  

Please try to get those entries in by April 19.

Here are the photo challenge topics for the next several months

April - Wildflowers
May - Speed
June - Portraits (people or pets)
July -Color contrast (see http://digital-photography-school.com/colour-contrast-making-the-most-of-orange-and-blue/ )
August - Landscapes

Nik Collection of Photo Editing Tools Is Now FREE

At one time, Nik software was one of the premier photo editing packages on the market.   Lately development on the Nik suite has slowed up.   The writing was on the wall -- Google was investing in the mobile and web apps and not the Nik suite.
I bought a copy three or four years ago for a couple hundred dollars and have used it with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop ever since.   Then, a couple years ago Google bought the company to get the mobile app Snapseed.  

Today, Google announced that the Nik suite of software is now free to all.  You can download in here.

Here is a list of all the tools in the suite:

• Analog Efex Pro - converts photos to the look of classic cameras, films, and lenses.
• Color Efex Pro -  a comprehensive set of filters for color correction, retouching, and creative effects.
• Silver Efex Pro - black-and-white conversion with darkroom-inspired controls.
• Viveza - selectively adjust the color and tonality of your images without complicated masks or selections.
• HDR Efex Pro - powerful HDR conversion tools
• Sharpener Pro - professional sharpening tools
• Define - noise reduction software that takes into account the camera, ISO and exposure

All these tools work with Lightroom, Photoshop, and Photoshop Elements as external editors or filters.   They are available for Windows and Macs.

Nik Color Efex Pro continues to be the tool I go to when I want to selectively apply edits.   The u-point technology in the Nik software makes it easy to select areas of a photo based on luminosity and color without the need to create complex masks.   Silver Efex Pro is my favorite B&W conversion tool.  HDR Efex Pro is the HDR software I use.    I have found the noise reduction in Lightroom to be as good as Deine and don't use that tool as much as I used to.

Should you download the Nik suite of software?   Well, it's certainly worth the purchase price.   I'm not sure it's worth the time it will take to learn the tools.  In my opinion, Google making the tools free is the final step before killing them off.  It has already been some time since the last software update.

What's the alternative?   I also have the On1 software suite that does many of the same things as Nik. I have not learned more than the basics of the On1 tools because I kept going back to the Nik tools I know.  Now I'm going to spend more time with On1 and move off the Nik tools.  

On1 is investing in their development and will continue to improve the tools.  They are running a Spring Special right now and you can get the suite of On1 tools for $79.

Smoky Mountain Wildflower Hike and Photo Outing

We will be taking a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Saturday, April 2 to photograph spring wildflowers.   Our destination is the Porters Creek Trail.  This is an easy - moderate hike of 3 - 4 miles round trip, depending on how far you want to go.  We will find wildflowers, Porters Creek, old buildings, a graveyard, and a waterfall.   This is my favorite wildflower hike in the Smokies.  If we're lucky, these Lady Slippers will be blooming

More info on the hike - http://www.hikinginthesmokys.com/porters.htm

We will meet at the Colonial Heights Ingles parking lot next to McDonalds at 7:30 AM on Saturday, April 2. We'll carpool from Ingles.  The drive is 104 miles and will take about 2 hours to get there (Google Map).     Leave your Corvette at home - the Greenbriar Road to the trailhead is dirt and there may be some spring potholes.  Bring a picnic lunch and drinks.  There are a couple picnic areas along the Greenbriar Road and we'll stop for lunch after the hike.

Be sure to bring your camera, a macro lens or a lens that can focus close up, a tripod and shades/diffusers if you have them.

Richard Siggins is your leader for this trip.  You can contact him at r.siggins@charter.net or 423-416-1258.

Eastman Camera Club Events

The temps are up and things are blooming.  Time to get out and take some springtime photos.  The program for the Eastman Camera Club meeting this Thursday evening is:

Photographing Wildflowers

We will have an abbreviated program on macro photography and how to photograph wildflowers. This will be a good preparation for the outing to the Smokies to photograph wildflowers on April 2.

New Studio Lighting Demo

The club purchased a high-quality set of studio lights, stands, and modifiers.   We will demo these and talk about how they can be used.  These will be available for club members to rent.

The meeting will be in the Eastman Employee Center, Room 219 at 6:30 PM on March 17.

We want to hear from you.  Tell us what you want to see for programs and outings.  Give us your feedback and suggestions.   Fill in this very short survey to send us your input.

Eastman Camera Club Meeting Thursday February 25 -

Don't forget the monthly meeting is this Thursday, which is not the normal 3rd Thursday.   

February Camera Club Meeting

Editing Photos

6:30 PM, Thursday, February 25

Room 219, Eastman Employee Center on Wilcox Drive

This was the program we had planned for the January meeting that was canceled due to snow.  I just checked the weather forecast and it looks like we may have snow AGAIN this Thursday.  Please monitor this blog and the club Facebook page for schedule change announcements.

It's not too late to join in on the fun and send in a few edited photos.  Here's the info on this assignment

http://eastmancameraclub.blogspot.com/2015/12/assignment-for-january-21-camera-club.html

Please come ready to discuss how you edited your photos and why you made the choices you did.   A sharing session like this is a great way to learn a lot very quickly.   I will also have the photos and can demonstrate some editing techniques using Lightroom.

Two Great Travelogue Programs Coming Up

If you haven’t made it, we have had two good Travelogues so far.   There are two more

2/18 – Yellowstone in the Winter by Chris Duncan

3/3 – Patagonia by Paul Hassell

Chris Duncan always does a great job presenting at these Travelogues.   He has been to Yellowstone National Park in the Winter multiple times and will be sharing his experiences with us next Thursday night. 

You’ll really want to be there on March 3^rd.  Paul Hassell is a professional photographer from Knoxville.   He founded ALIVE.photo in 2014 (check it out).  He leads photo tours and workshops around the world.   He has been published in National Parks Magazine, Time-Life, Nature's Best, National Wildlife, and National Geographic books.  Here’s an example of Paul speaking.   http://www.lightfinds.us/page/hear/

As with the first two Travelogues, these next two will be at 7:00 PM in the Banquet Room at the Eastman Bays Mountain Lodge.   We have been filling up so come early to get a good seat.   We will make some changes to get more seats in the room.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION---CANON EXPLORER OF LIGHT in Knoxville Area 3/22

SPECIAL PRESENTATION---CANON EXPLORER OF LIGHT--
Knoxville area

What:  Canon Explorer of Light Parish Kohanim,, will be giving a free presentation

When:   Tuesday March 22 at 7pm

Where:  Goins Auditorium at the Hardin Valley Campus of Pellissippi State.
               (About 2 hours from Kingsport)

Who:  Everyone...Public Invited All are welcome to attend.

Parish will take you on a journey, exploring his diverse and striking body of work, composed of his award-winning commercial assignments, stunning painterly-style portraits, landscapes and his fine art imagery.  Parish has been a Canon "Explorer of Light" since l994, when this elite program began.  He has been named "One of the World's Top 100 Photographers" for three consecutive years by Graphis and he is an X-Rite Coloratti Master. For Parish, the heart and soul of his photography is that of an artist and what inspires and motivates his creative process is the focus of what he will share with you during his presentation.

Embracing the trends of our technological advancements and change, Parish will show you his experimental videos that resulted in new assignments. He also will be discussing the importance of proper composition, unconventional lighting, techniques for creating dynamic visual impact, and getting the most naturally posed portraits.  Throughout his presentation, he will point out and share some simple and fresh techniques and tips on how to make your pictures stand out from the crowd.  He will take you behind the scenes of some of his major assignments and discuss his approach and methodology for making any assignment or shot a success.

Parish also shares his philosophy and his passion about the ART of photography.  His presentations are educational, as well as inspirational with a focus on finding the beauty that surrounds us in our own environment and having the vision to expand one's personal horizons.  He will give you unparalleled access, revealing his production methods for his most unique and up-coming book "Luminosa" with Cirque du Soleil's extraordinary performers, which has taken five years to complete.  These one-of-a kind shots are taken at 1/5000 second, hence the "frozen moments" of their spectacular performances.

Recognized internationally for his superb imagery, imaginative lighting and a truly artistic approach that focuses on the beauty that inspires him. Whether you shoot portraits, weddings or landscapes, this is a must-see presentation that will help enhance your creativity and vision.

A reception will be held at 6pm outside the Goins Auditorium in the Rotunda before the presentation.

For more information contact:

Ron Goodrich
Photography Program Coordinator
Pellissippi State Community College
865-539-7171

Aerial Photography Job This Week

Here's a photography job for someone with a drone.   

The following came from Richie Hayward.   His contact info is below.

The company I shoot aerials for needs a job in Morristown

It pays $300 and very easy.  Needs to be done within the week.

I'll have all the details even how to.

Has to be high-quality camera, I'll explain if anyone contacts me.   Also good DSLR for ground shots.

Richie Hayward

Richiehaywardphotography.zenfolio.com

305-216-6666

January Eastman Camera Club Meeting Rescheduled

Mother Nature canceled our January meeting.   We've rescheduled to February 25.   We will review the Edit It photos in that meeting.

If you ran out of time to edit photos this is your chance to participate.   Here's the instructions -
http://eastmancameraclub.blogspot.com/2015/12/assignment-for-january-21-camera-club.html

The February Meeting 

Editing Photos

6:30 - 9:00

Room 219 (top of the stairs)

Eastman Employee Center

Wilcox Drive, Kingsport, TN

January 21 Meeting CANCELED

Due to poor weather conditions, the Employee Center will be closed tonight.  The January 21 Eastman Camera Club meeting is canceled.

Watch this space for information about a makeup meeting.

Eastman Camera Club Meeting - Snow Day?

Some have already asked what the plans are for the Camera Club meeting on Thursday night.   It's

not looking good in Kingsport right now, but the snow should end tonight.   There is little chance of additional snow on Thursday and the temps should be back into the 40s.   

The meeting is still on for Thursday.   If that should change, we will post the change on this blog and facebook.   Please check those websites for updates

Blog - http://eastmancameraclub.blogspot.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Eastman-Camera-Club-351468459021/

There's another chance for snow on Saturday.   Get out there and make some snow photos!

2016 Travelogues

2016

World Travel & Adventure Travel Logs

 All shows begin at 7:00 PM

Eastman Lodge Banquet Room  (Map)

Eastman Bays Mountain Recreation Area 

No Charge

 

What is a Travel Log?   These are events where professional photographers and very accomplished amateur photographers use digital slides shows and stories to share their adventures and travels to a specific place.  Think of it as our version of the Travel Channel, only live and in person. Come and enjoy an evening of wonder and adventure.

February 4

Alaska:  Anchorage to Denali to Seward at Points Between

Presented by Richard Siggins

The State of Alaska is a land of superlatives.  It is BIG, more than twice the size of Texas. It’s also the 48^th state in terms of population.  It has more coastline than all the other states combined.  Seventeen of North America’s tallest mountains are in Alaska, including Mount McKinley, which is the tallest in North America.   During the fall of 2015, Richard and June traveled by car over a small slice of this huge state.  We traveled by car and bush plane from Anchorage to Denali, spent several days in the interior of Denali National Park, and then traveled down the coast around Turnagain Arm to the fishing village of Seward.   We hiked around lakes and streams, climbed mountain ridges, and even hiked to the top of the Harding Icefield.  We visited eclectic small towns and roadside attractions.   Join us as we relive that trip through interesting photos and tall tales.

“An avid outdoor photographer, Richard has been traveling and taking photos of nature since 2006.  He has made award winning photos of subjects in national parks in the US, Canada and even South Korea.  He has even made a few in our region and his own backyard.  Photography is his favorite subject and he is always happy to share his experiences to help other photographers.

www.thesiggins.com                           http://www.thesiggins.blogspot.com

February 11

Off the Beaten Path in the Southwest

Presented by Belinda Bridwell

The American southwest is home to beautiful mountains, desserts, canyons, and geological formations. Many of these areas are well-recognized scenes that if we have not visited, we have seen images of the area many times.  This travelogue is from two trips that my husband, George, and I made to the southwest in 2015.  Both trips were very different. We visited the parks and Bureau of Land Management land near Moab, Utah, and the mountains surrounding Ouray, Colorado, with a group of Toyota FJ owners for an off-road jamboree. The other trip was an adventure photo tour of Utah, Arizona, and California. The one thing in common was that both tours were mainly in land only accessed with 4 x 4 vehicles.  Join us to hear our adventures on sand, rocks, and snow and see beautiful scenery of the southwest that is off the beaten path.  

Belinda is a retiree from Eastman Chemical Company. After retirement she decided that photography would be the perfect hobby for her, marrying her interest in technology with her love of art. Her original interest of landscape and travel photography has expanded and she is now doing real estate photography and family portraiture professionally. She is a member of the Professional Photographers of America. You can see more of her work at www.belindabridwell.com or follow her on facebook and instagram.

February 18

 Yellowstone in the Winter

Presented by Chris Duncan

 Yellowstone is a majestic and unbelievable place in the winter. Beautiful scenery coupled with the drama of animals fighting for their survival in many feet of snow, brutal cold, and the prime season of the wolf. Winter in Yellowstone is a tremendous time to visit, whether you enjoy landscape or wildlife photography. Chris’s presentation will review where to go, what to expect and what to photograph.

Following his passion for photography, Chris has traveled all 7 continents, 50 states, 40 countries and over 47 National Parks—always with his camera nearby.

 www.chrisduncanphotography.com       

March 3

Patagonia

Presented by Paul Hassell

Patagonia is a photographer's paradise!

If you love mountains, the outdoors, and travel, then chances are you already aspire to visit Patagonia. You probably subscribe to the Patagonia clothing catalogue just to enjoy the background images. I do. And if you love photography too, then you don’t want to miss this travelogue. 

The 2017 tour will mark my tenth week down there, and I’m just as excited for this time as ever. I've been visiting Chile's Torres del Paine National Park and Argentina's Los Glaciares since 2009. Bring a jacket and some sunscreen; be prepared to feel the pounding wind, cold, and glorious warm sunshine on your face as you journey with Paul through one of the most unpredictable and magical landscapes on planet earth.

Though you might see his signature in the corner of a photograph of a black bear cub in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Paul Hassell isn't strictly a photographer. Paul is in the light business. Paul has been published in National Parks Magazine, Time-Life, Nature's Best, National Wildlife, and National Geographic books.

Paul founded ALIVE.photo in 2014 to celebrate how photography awakens us to the experience of being ALIVE. ALIVE.photo influences people's lives by creating space for them in the wilderness through photo tours and workshops. We encourage them to slow down and look deeper -- allowing the camera to train their eyes to see light. We believe photography is more about receiving light than it is capturing images.