• Dave Richards delivered an engaging presentation on Travel Photography, explaining how he selects equipment that allows him to travel light without sacrificing image quality. He shared striking examples that demonstrated how careful attention to timing and location can elevate a photograph from good to exceptional. Dave also highlighted the importance of thoughtful post-processing and precise cropping to bring his images to their full potential. The Club extends its sincere thanks to Dave for an informative and inspiring tutorial, offering valuable insight into the often challenging world of Travel Photography.

• The results from our February Photo Challenge, “Architecture” were revealed. You can view all of the entries in the YouTube video below and see the top scoring shots on our Club Photos page.

• Jeff McDonald treated us to an entertaining slideshow featuring photographs he captured at various regional car shows. His images highlighted striking details such as elegant hood ornaments, unique door handles, polished hubcaps, gleaming chrome trim, and other distinctive automotive features. Thanks, Jeff — we thoroughly enjoyed your presentation!

• Mike Blazek led a thoughtful review of the printed images submitted for display. As always, Club members demonstrated their talent for capturing distinctive photographs that spark interest and lively conversation.

• Our next meeting will be held via Zoom on March 10^th at 7:00 p.m. Our guest speaker will be Dennis Ducklow of DoubleExposure.ca, presenting “Propel Your Photography with Projects: Understanding the Power of Projects to Deepen Your Photography.” Members are welcome to watch the Zoom session from home or gather at Grace Christian Reformed Church at 7:00 p.m., where we will view the presentation together.

“Look and think before opening the shutter. The heart and the mind are the true lens of the camera.” – Yousuf Karsh

• If you would like to join us, come out to any meeting. The first two are free so you can check us out. Memberships are pro-rated for the remainder of the season.

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Herman Giethoorn on February 14.

Herman was a cherished and dedicated member of the Chatham Camera Club for many years, and his presence will be deeply missed. He had a true passion for Nature photography, a genre in which he consistently excelled. Through his keen eye, patience, and deep appreciation for the natural world, Herman created images that inspired admiration and respect from fellow members and audiences alike.

Beyond his remarkable talent behind the lens, Herman was generous with his time and knowledge. We could always count on him to share his expertise through the many lessons, workshops, and tutorials he presented over the years. 

Herman’s contributions to the club extended far beyond his photographs. He fostered a spirit of learning, camaraderie, and encouragement that enriched our entire community. His legacy will live on in the skills he helped others develop, the inspiration he provided, and the many friendships he formed.

He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.

• Our guest speaker for the evening was Peter Baumgarten, who spoke to us, via ZOOM, about Landscape Photography.

Peter revealed, point-by-point, about the methods that he uses to capture his beautiful landscape photos on and around Manitoulin Island. He explained the thought process he uses and the decisions he makes before pressing the shutter button. His three main points were:
– Be Prepared
– Understanding the light
– Composition is everything

During Peter’s presentation he showed the club some of the remote and inspiring locations that are available in his neck of the woods, and how he uses the Golden Hour and the Blue Hour to bring out the best in each area. The Club thanks Peter for sharing his time and talents. He has given us some inspiration to get out and shoot even in the harsh winter conditions that we have been experiencing this year.

• Our next meeting will be a “live” meeting at Grace Christian Reformed Church on Tuesday, February 24^th at 7 Pm.

– Dave Richards will share his advice on Travel Photography.
– Jeff McDonald will be our featured photographer in What I Shoot.
– The results of our February Photo Challenge will be revealed.
– Our monthly feature Show And Tell will give you a chance to show any digital photos you want to share.
– Bring in a printed photo of any size, any subject for display and discussion

Trading up cameras without trading up craft is like swapping pens to improve handwriting. Ink isn’t the issue.

• Dave Noordhoff showed the group a new feature in Adobe Photoshop where we can use the Remove tool to eliminate distractions such as people and wires from a photograph. As usual, Dave’s clear and concise explanation made it easy for us casual users of post processing to understand so that we can put these methods in to practical use. Thanks Dave! Your presentation was awesome!

For a review of Dave’s lesson, check out this YouTube video

• Club members were treated to a slideshow that was created by our former President, the late Paul Schmoldt. The presentation included several shots that Paul took around South-Western Ontario while traveling with his Camera Club friends.

• Entries from our January Photo Challenge were reviewed. The top scoring shots have been added to our Club Photos page. You can see Jeff and Wendy’s YouTube video below for all of the entries and their scores.

• We had a brief look at some member’s photos in our monthly “Show And Tell” feature. We encourage everyone to bring in a few of their favourite shots that you wish to share with the group in a non-judging format.

• Mike spoke about the photos that were brought in for our print display. Thanks to everyone who contributed. Your next chance to show us a print will be on Tuesday, February 24^th at our live meeting at Grace Christian Reformed Church at 7PM.

• Our next meeting will be a ZOOM meeting on February 10^th at 7 PM when guest speaker Peter Baumgarten will discuss Landscape Photography.

“I’m not interested in shooting new things. I am interested to see things new.” – Ernst Haas

• Our guest speaker for the evening was Susan Magnano, who spoke to the club, via ZOOM, about her Light Painting techniques.

The Chatham Camera Club extends its sincere thanks to Susan for her excellent tutorial. Based on the many thoughtful questions and enthusiastic comments she received, it’s clear that our members are eager to put her techniques into practice as they work toward creating high-quality images of their own.

• Our next meeting will be a “live” meeting at Grace Christian Reformed Church on Tuesday, January 27^th at 7 Pm when Dave Noordhoff will present Lightroom Adaptive Presets and other tips and tricks.
This meeting will also feature the results of our January Photo Challenge as well as Print Night. Bring in a printed photo of any size, any subject for display and discussion

“Never forget that all the great photographs in history were made with more primitive camera equipment than you currently own.” – Brooks Jensen

9 Tips for Beautiful Landscape Architecture Photography

Former Chatham Camera Club president Tom Townsend passed away on January 8, 2026, at the age of 84.

A passionate nature photographer, Tom played a key role in guiding the club into the digital era, sharing his extensive knowledge of computers, software, and photography with fellow members. He will be fondly remembered for his generosity, expertise, and dedication to the club. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends.

• Our featured photography lesson for this meeting was presented by Karl Taylor via a YouTube video. In it, Karl demonstrated how different lenses and varying distances from camera to subject will affect our portraits. You can review this tutorial in the video below.

• Club President Mary Craig read a brief tribute to our late friend, Paul Schmoldt, in which she described his many attributes and his long service to the Chatham Camera Club.

• Those in attendance were treated to a slideshow that featured photos of Club members, both past and present. It was great to see some familiar faces again. You can see a few pics from the evening on our Club Photos page.

• Our next meeting will be via ZOOM on January 13th, 2026 at 7PM when Susan Magnano will speak to us about Light Painting. Julie Faas will send out a ZOOM link in advance. If you are not a member or haven’t been receiving CCC e-mails, contact Julie at: cccmembershipdues@gmail.com

“Photography has no rules. It is not a sport. It is the result that counts, no matter how it is achieved.” – Bill Brandt

With profound sadness, we have been informed that former Club President Paul Schmoldt passed away on Friday, November 28, 2025.

Born in Denmark and emigrating to Canada in 1971, Paul was fluent in four languages and was well known throughout the CCC for his quick wit and zany sense of humour. As Competition Manager, he took on the significant responsibility of co-ordinating judging for both our Club and CAPA photo competitions. He also created several exceptional slide shows that showcased Camera Club outings and our year-end highlights.

At the conclusion of his presidency, Paul was awarded Honourary Lifetime Membership. A skilled and dedicated photographer, he was always generous with his time, eagerly sharing his knowledge of photographic techniques and software with others.

Paul was not only a mentor, but also a cherished friend to many within our Club. He will be fondly remembered and deeply missed.