• Meeting host Julie Faas introduced our guest speaker, Dave from Freaktography.com, who spoke to us about Urban Exploring Photography. Photographing the typically off-limits and unseen parts of civilization, Dave is a modern day explorer who chooses to seek out the wonders and mysteries of our own backyards through unconventional photography and adventurous Urban Exploring. His presentation took us through 80 minutes of photos, videos, stories, humour and intrigue as he took us into abandoned houses, power plants, mental asylums, and prisons that looked as if the prior owners just vanished, leaving all their belongings behind.

The Chatham Camera Clubs thanks Dave for his fascinating presentation. We loved it!

• Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go Urban Exploring in Chatham’s former Darlings plant? Now you can, without trespassing.

• Recently, our own Mike Blazek posted a YouTube video that shows his photo project called “The landscape in Flux” that was featured at The Chatham Cultural Centre last Spring. Congratulations Mike! We’re so proud to have you as one of us!

• This month’s featured club member is Bob Downey. You can learn more about him and his excellent work on our Photo In Focus page.

• Our next Zoom meeting will be held on January 11th 2022 when our guest speaker will be Peter Baumgarten of CreativeIslandPhoto.com who will talk about “Nature and the Natural World”.

You will never be criticized by someone doing more than you. You’ll often be criticized by someone doing less.

• Meeting host Julie Faas introduced our guest speaker, Ted Kloski from Henry’s in Windsor, who presented a tutorial on how to effectively use a flash to improve our photos. Ted showed us some of the limitations of natural light and on-camera flash before demonstrating how off-camera flash can introduce interesting shadows. He also showed us a variety of flash triggers and receivers as well as different types of light modifiers and studio strobes. The Chatham Camera Club wishes to thank Ted for sharing his time and his knowledge with us, and we look forward to seeing him at an in-person meeting in the near future.

• We reviewed our November Photo Challenge, with high scores in the Novice group going to Barb Delanghe (24 pts), Kim Charron (22.5 pts x 2) and Gord Myers (22.5 pts x 2) for their Reflections photos, while top marks in the Intermediate, Advanced and Salon divisions went to to Tere Deslippe (24 pts and 23 pts), Clarke Warner (23.5 pts), Linda Pepper (23 pts and 22.5 pts), Jim Pollock (23 pts and 22.5 pts), Carson Plant (22.5 pts), Martha Gillier (22.5 pts) and Debby Venne (22.5 pts). Thanks to all who submitted. We saw some excellent work across the board. You can see these top scoring shots on our Club Photos page.

Dave and Keith reviewed the “digital prints” that were submitted and led conversations with some of the makers on how they went about producing their images. This has proven to be a very popular feature and we thank Dave and Keith as well as all who participated.

• Our next Zoom meeting will be held on December 14^th at 7 PM when our guest speaker will be Dave from Freaktography.com, will speak to us about Urban Exploring Photography.

It’s exciting to set a photographic goal and then reach it, but as soon as you do, it’s time to set another goal.

Photography Aspect Ratio: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?

• Meeting host Julie Faas introduced our guest speaker, Steve Mallia of OntarioTelescope.com who presented An Introduction To Astrophotography. Steve gave us three main reasons to try astrophotography: It’s fun. You get to see more detail than the naked eye. You get some amount of bragging rights. He also told us what you don’t need to experience this type of photography: a big, powerful telescope. Steve went on to explain how a tracking system works and cautioned us that if we were to try astrophotography, we should not get caught up in all of the extra equipment that is available. That’s good advice no matter what type of photography you try. He ended his presentation by showing us some of his impressive photos of outer space. As an added bonus, Steve kindly donated a door prize of a cell phone holder especially designed for use in astrophotography, won by Debby Venne. The Chatham Camera Club would like to thank Steve for his wonderful presentation and we look forward to trying his methods and techniques as soon as we can.

• Jeff McDonald was featured in What I Shoot, where he showed us some of his more recent work. Jeff’s collection of wildlife, birds, nature, travel and scenic photos received high praise in our Zoom comments section. Thanks Jeff! That was a very entertaining display. In case you missed it or would like to watch it again, you can see Jeff’s YouTube video below.

• Our next Zoom meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 23^rd at 7 PM when our guest speaker will be Ted Kloski from Henry’s Photo in Windsor, who will speak about How To Use Flash.

• We will review the results of our November Photo Challenge and take a look at the digital prints that our members have sent in.

A “Natural Light Photographer” can be defined as someone who lets the light control them instead of them controlling the light.

Basic Tips For Super Easy Flash Portraits, Indoors And Out

• Club members watched a video by Chris Niccols from TheCameraStore.com in Calgary that showed us The Best And Worst Ways To Carry Your Camera Gear. If you missed it, you can check it out below.

• Since we are not currently meeting in person, our Print Display was done via ZOOM with Dave and Keith leading a discussion on each one. Thanks to all who participated.

• Entries from our first CCC Photo Competition of the season were reviewed with the Novice Division showing their Open, Colour photos and the Intermediate, Senior and Salon groups displaying their Reflections shots. The top scoring shots in the Salon division were submitted by Jim Pollock – 22.5, Tere Deslippe – 22pts x 2, Linda Pepper – 22 pts, Carson Plant – 22 pts. High marks in the Intermediate and Advanced group were attained by Wendy McDonald – 23.5 pts, Jeff McDonald – 23. 5 pts, Gavin Stuart – 22 pts. The Novices were led by Pat Beaton – 23 pts, Penny Rintoul – 22 pts, and Gord Myers – 22 pts. Several other entries were deserving of high praise as well. Congratulations to all who entered. You can see the top scoring shots on our Club Photos page.

• Penny Rintoul was featured in What I Shoot, where she showed us her impressive collection of photos from her trip to Greece. Thanks Penny, we loved your show!

• Our next meeting will be held via ZOOM on November 9^th and will feature Steve Mallia of OntarioTelescope.com who will introduce us to Astrophotography.

The equipment you’ll leave at home will be the equipment you’ll need the most!

Here are the Best Free Alternatives to Photoshop and Lightroom.

• We joined a Zoom meeting with award-winning photographer Lisa Langell for a presentation called An Artistic Photographer Lies in ALL of Us.

Lisa pointed out that creativity can be learned, and that we can get past boring, repetitive photos and strive for something more creative using skills we already have. She also showed us how light and contrast can be used to draw the viewer’s eye where we want them to look.
The Chatham Camera Club wishes to thank Lisa for allowing us to join her pre-scheduled zoom meeting, and for sharing her remarkable talent with us.

• We remind everyone that this season’s dues are to be paid no later than Sunday, October 24^th.

• Reviving a feature that we haven’t been able to do for the past three years due to time constraints, we are reintroducing Photo In Focus. This month’s featured photographer is our new president, Cindy Taleski.

• Our next Zoom meeting will be held on October 26^th at 7 PM.

• Meeting host Julie Faas introduced Past President Jim Pollock who acquainted The Club with our new President, Cindy Taleski. Cindy reminded us of our current Club Executives, Pat Beaton – Vice President, Julie Faas – Treasurer, Barb Ferren – Secretary, Tere Deslippe – Photo Challenge Manager, Wendy McDonald – Executive Assistant, Jeff McDonald – Executive Assistant, Linda Pepper – Executive Assistant, and Mary Craig – Executive Assistant.

• As The Chatham Camera Club enters its 86^th year of operation, here is a photo of the group’s picnic at Rondeau Park in the early 1950s.

• A certificate of appreciation for his three years as Club President was presented to Jim Pollock, who thanked the Executive for that honour.

• Julie Faas presented a clear and concise report on The Club’s finances. All is well.

• Tere Deslippe outlined the new photo challenge guidelines as well as showing some software programs that can be used to get the most out of our photos. She also explained how to size our entries to the required dimensions using Photoshop, Elements, Lightroom and Faststone. An overview of these guidelines is available on our About Us page, near the bottom. The Club wishes to thank Tere for her hard work in establishing these instructions.

• We remind everyone that this season’s dues are to be paid no later than Sunday, October 24^th. For instructions on payment methods, kindly e-mail Julie Faas at julie.faas@teksavvy.com

• Although we weren’t able to meet in person as often as we would have liked over the summer, some photos from our Walk-Abouts were presented in a slide show assembled by Linda Pepper.

• Our next Zoom meeting will be held on October 12^th at 7 PM when our guest speaker will be London’s James Cowie from PhotoTrekkers.com, who will speak to us about travel photography.

How many photographers does it take to change a lightbulb? One hundred… One to actually change the bulb and ninety-nine to tell him how he could have done it better.

After polling our membership regarding their willingness to attend live meetings this Fall, the CCC executive committee has decided to return to ZOOM meetings for the rest of the calendar year. We will revisit this decision in December and plan the rest of our season accordingly. We know that on-line meetings are not ideal, but until the majority of our members consider it safe to meet in person, ZOOM meetings are our best option.

Our July Walk-About will be on your own schedule. We are suggesting a trip to Greenhill Gardens on Wilksport Line, St. Clair Twp.