Author: fotohiker

webs are for spiders

Alaska-Bears & Beyond, August 12

The August meeting of the Pagosa Springs Photography Club will be held on Wednesday, August 12, at 6:30 p.m., at the Community United Methodist Church, 434 Lewis Street in Pagosa Springs. Our program this month is Alaska: Bears and Beyond presented by Doug Coombs. This will be a hybrid meeting, also available on Zoom. The Zoom link will be emailed to members; others who wish to attend may request the link by email to abulter@mac.com. If attending in person, feel free to arrive any time after 6 p.m. to socialize. The presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. Photography Club meetings are open to the public. 

Doug Coombs is a wildlife and landscape photographer based in Pagosa Springs, CO. He and his wife Miyuki have traveled to Alaska several times since 2009 as regular tourists and as enthusiast photographers. In his talk, Doug will begin with some useful information for those who might also want to visit Alaska someday.  He will illustrate the presentation with some of his best images from Alaska. These include many stunning photos of Alaskan wildlife, especially Coastal Brown Bears, as well as  landscape images. See Doug’s web site for more of his photography ( https://www.dougsview.com ).

August 2026 Virtual Shutter Challenge: Landscape Photography

Landscape photo of a Mountain Range refilled on a lake
Mountain reflection

Landscape photography, a particular talent in our club,  invites us to slow down and see the character of a place. Look beyond the obvious vista and consider light, weather, texture, and composition. Whether capturing sweeping mountains or a quiet neighborhood park, create an image that conveys the mood, beauty, or story of the landscape before you. Until September 6, share up to three photos by commenting on the post on this topic at the Photography Club Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/PagosaPhotoClub.  Like and comment on the work of your colleagues. This challenge is open to all photographers. 

Join the Photography Club

One of the goals of the Photography Club is to provide a  setting to learn how to improve your photography, from fellow photographers. The Club offers programs and outings designed to help photographers of all levels enhance their skills. Membership is just $25 a year ($35 for families). You can download a membership form from our website (https://pagosaspringsphotoclub.org/about/) and send it in with your payment (the form has all the details), or you can bring it to a Club meeting.

Mastering Action Photography Techniques, July 8

A skier races behind a horseback rider during a skijoring competition in Colorado. Photo by In Focus Photo Co.

The July meeting of the Pagosa Springs Photography Club will be held on Wednesday, July 8, at 6:30 p.m., at the Community United Methodist Church, 434 Lewis Street in Pagosa Springs. Our program this month is Action Photography, presented by Justin Treptow. This will be a hybrid meeting, also available on Zoom. The Zoom link will be emailed to members; others who wish to attend may request the link by email to abulter@mac.com. If attending in person, feel free to arrive any time after 6 p.m.; the actual presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. 

Justin Treptow is the owner of In Focus Photo Co. in Pagosa Springs. He specializes in action, event, and outdoor photography. During his presentation, Justin will share techniques for capturing dynamic action images, discuss camera settings and composition, and offer insights from photographing events such as skijoring, skiing, rodeos, and community activities throughout Colorado. The presentation is geared toward photographers of all skill levels who want to create more compelling and impactful images.

After Justin’s presentation, Photography Club members may share and discuss up to five recent photos with the group in our monthly Image Share session. 

July Virtual Shutter Challenge: Macro Photography

Small things often hold the biggest surprises. This month, slow down and explore the tiny details around you through macro photography. Capture textures, patterns, insects, flowers, droplets, or everyday objects from a fresh perspective. Reveal a miniature world that usually goes unnoticed and invite us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.  The challenge is open to all photographers. Beginning July 5, share up to three images by commenting on the post on this topic at the Club’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/PagosaPhotoClub . Please appreciate the work of others with a like or comment.

Join the Photography Club

The Photography Club is a great place to learn from fellow photographers and enjoy your photography journey. We offer programs and outings designed to help photographers of all levels enhance their skills. Membership is just $25 a year ($35 for families). You can download a membership form from our website (https://pagosaspringsphotoclub.org/about/) and send it in with your payment (the form has all the details), or you can bring it to a Club meeting.

Discover Nightscape Photography Tips & Techniques

The June meeting of the Pagosa Springs Photography Club will be held on Wednesday, June 10, at 6:30 p.m., at the Community United Methodist Church, 434 Lewis Street in Pagosa Springs. Our program this month is Nightscape Photography, presented by Photography Club member Andy Butler. This will be a hybrid meeting, also available on Zoom. The Zoom link will be emailed to members; others who wish to attend may request the link by email to abulter@mac.com. If attending in person, feel free to arrive any time after 6 p.m.; the actual presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. 

Looking at the stars on a clear, dark night sky easily evokes a sense of wonder. With modern digital cameras, there is no reason to stop taking photos just because the sun goes down. Long exposures and high sensitivity can capture photos after dark, resulting in stunning “nightscape” images. In this type of photography, both the landscape and the sky are important compositional elements. In this presentation, Andy will be providing information on planning and capturing night time landscapes in which the moon, star trails, or the Milky Way are featured. For planning night sky photos, we will discuss the cycles of the moon and Milky Way, how to find dark skies, and tools for scouting locations. For capturing nightscape photos, there will be tips on gear that may be helpful, beyond just your camera, suggestions for focusing and composing in the dark, and use of both natural and artificial light to illuminate the foreground.  

During the next new moon phase in June, the Club will have a night photography outing, where you can put these ideas to work to create your own nightscape images. 

Following the presentation, members may share and discuss up to five recent photos with the group in our monthly Image Share session. 

June Virtual Shutter Challenge

Each month, the Photography Club holds a Virtual Shutter Challenge on its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/PagosaPhotoClub. All photographers are invited to participate, whether a Club member or not. The June Challenge is Intentional Camera Movement. Trade sharp detail for energy and surprise, and see what emerges from your lens. Use Intentional Camera Movement to create impressionistic or abstract images. You can use your iPhone on long exposure mode for this type of photograph. To participate, share up to three images on the theme by commenting on the post on this topic on our Facebook page. As always, like and comment on the works of others. 

Connect With Others in the Photography Club

The Photography Club offers opportunities to learn from others and have more fun with your photography. The Club has both programs and outings to help photographers of all skill levels improve their photography. Membership is just $25 a year ($35 for families). You can download a membership form from our website (https://pagosaspringsphotoclub.org/about/) and send it in with your payment (the form has all the details), or you can bring it to a Club meeting.

Photographing Motion: Creating Impressionistic or Abstract Images

The Pagosa Springs Photography Club will meet on May 13 in the Fellowship Hall of the Community United Methodist Church, located at 434 Lewis Street in Pagosa Springs. Feel free to arrive anytime after 6 p.m. to socialize; the program begins at 6:30 p.m. Photography Club meetings are open to the public. 

This month’s presentation will be by Chris Roebuck, on Photographing Motion: Creating Impressionistic or Abstract Images. Chris will discuss seven different approaches to photographing motion, as diverse as using fast shutter speeds to freeze motion, to long exposures coupled with intentional camera motion to create abstract and impressionistic images. Try out some of these techniques to add variety and interest to your photos. This promises to be a presentation unlike any other you have seen!

Chris Roebuck is a member of the Pagosa Springs Photography Club and is a student of digital photography. He has traveled widely through the western US and around the world photographing Nature’s wonders. 

This meeting will also be available on Zoom. Club members will receive the Zoom link via email, and if you’re not on the list, you can request it by emailing abutler@mac.com.

Image Share

Following the presentation, we will have our monthly image share session. Club members may bring up to five recent images to share and discuss with the group. 

May Virtual Shutter Challenge

The Photography Club holds a Virtual Shutter Challenge each month. You do not have to be a Club member to participate.; the Challenge is open to all photographers The topic for May is Environmental Portraits. An environmental portrait tells a story before the subject speaks. It shows a person in a place that matters to them. Balance subject and setting so neither overpowers. Seek honest light, quiet gestures, and details that hint to us who they are. To take part, share up to three images on the theme by commenting on the post on this topic on our Facebook page, at https://www.facebook.com/PagosaPhotoClub.

Connect With Others in the Photography Club

A great way to improve your photography is to get to know others who share your passion. The Photography Club offers opportunities to learn from others and have fun with your photography. The Club has both programs and outings to help photographers of all skill levels improve their photography. Membership is just $25 a year ($35 for families). You can download a membership form from our website (https://pagosaspringsphotoclub.org/about/) and send it in with your payment (the form has all the details), or you can bring it to a Club meeting.

Composition

At the April 8 meeting of the Pagosa Springs Photography Club, club member Kathie Disner will speak about Composition. The meeting will be held at the Community United Methodist Church, located at 434 Lewis Street in Pagosa Springs. Feel free to arrive anytime after 6 p.m. to socialize; the program begins at 6:30 p.m. Photography Club meetings are open to the public. 

InstabiliTea, © Kathie Disner

Kathie Disner is an oil and watercolor painter, and photographer. She is based in the Pagosa Springs area. Kathie initially purchased her first SLR camera to capture images of her artwork for shows and competitions, but it quickly became an indispensable creative tool. Today, she integrates painting from life together with digital photography to design her compositions. Much of her work is rooted in Realism, particularly still lifes that explore the tension between delicacy and danger. She also draws on her wildlife photography to create paintings with a more Impressionist style. You can view more of Kathie’s art at her website, https://www.kathiedisner.com .

Kathie will be talking about the principles of composition in historical artwork and how those principles apply to modern photography and editing to take us beyond the “rule of thirds” to achieve more creative images.

All photographers are encouraged to attend. No matter your experience level, you will learn tips about composition that will improve your photography.

Image Share

Club members may bring up to five recent images to share and discuss with the group following Kathie’s presentation. 

This meeting will also be available on Zoom. Club members will receive the Zoom link via email, and if you’re not on the list, you can request it by emailing abutler@mac.com.

March 2026 Virtual Shutter Challenge

The March Challenge is Color; this topic is open until April 5. Let color lead the eye. Chase bold primaries or whispering pastels. Explore harmony, clash, saturation, and restraint. Let a single hue dominate the frame, or let colors argue at the edges. Photograph emotion, mood, and meaning through color alone.  Any photographer is welcome to participate in the challenge by sharing up to three photos as comments on the post about this topic on the Club’s Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/PagosaPhotoClub. And don’t forget to like and comment on the work of others.

Join us for Photography Adventures

A great way to improve your photography is to connect with others who share your passion. The Photography Club offers a great opportunity to learn from others. The Club has both programs and fun outings to help photographers of all skill levels grow. Membership is just $25 a year ($35 for families). You can download a membership form from our website (https://pagosaspringsphotoclub.org/about/) and send it in with your payment (the form has all the details), or you can bring it to a Club meeting.

Getting Sharper Images

At the March 11 meeting of the Pagosa Springs Photography Club, club member David Lenderman will present a practical talk on a frequently requested topic: how to consistently get sharper images. The meeting will be held at the Community United Methodist Church, located at 434 Lewis Street in Pagosa Springs. Feel free to arrive anytime after 6 p.m. to socialize; the program begins at 6:30 p.m. Photography Club meetings are open to the public. 

This presentation goes beyond simple camera settings. David will walk through real-world techniques for improving sharpness in the field, including camera settings, focus methods, camera stability, dealing with environmental issues, lens considerations, and common mistakes that quietly rob images of detail. The emphasis will be on shooting techniques, but David will also touch on editing tips to increase sharpness and image quality. The techniques taught will apply whether you shoot landscapes, wildlife, travel, or everyday subjects.

Prior to the technical program David will share a three to four minute music synced slideshow featuring a collection of his favorite wildlife and nature photos. If you enjoy images of birds, flowers, coral reefs, and other wildlife you will not be disappointed.

Photographers of all experience levels are encouraged to attend. You’ll leave with clear, actionable tips to help your photos look crisper, cleaner, and more professional.

Club members may bring up to five recent images to share and discuss with the group following David’s presentation. 

This meeting will also be available on Zoom. Club members will receive the Zoom link via email, and if you’re not on the list, you can request it by emailing abutler@mac.com.

March 2026 Virtual Shutter Challenge

The March challenge is Color. Let color lead the eye. Chase bold primaries or whispering pastels. Explore harmony, clash, saturation, and restraint. Let a single hue dominate the frame, or let colors argue at the edges. Photograph emotion, mood, and meaning through color alone.  Any photographer is welcome to participate in the challenge by sharing up to three photos as comments on the post about this topic on the Club’s Facebook Page t https://www.facebook.com/PagosaPhotoClub. And don’t forget to like and comment on the work of others.

Join us for Photography Adventures

Would you like to improve your photography? Consider joining the Pagosa Springs Photography Club. The Photography Club offers a great chance to connect with others who also love photography. The Club has both learning sessions and fun outings to help photographers of all skill levels grow. Membership is just $25 a year ($35 for families). You can download a membership form from our website (https://pagosaspringsphotoclub.org/about/) and send it in with your payment (the form has all the details), or you can bring it to a Club meeting.