Category: Club Meetings

Winners of Eighth Digital Photography Contest

The Pagosa Springs Photography Club held an Awards Celebration on October 8, to announce the winners of its Eighth Annual Digital Photography Contest. Members attending the Celebration viewed all the images entered in the contest by 14 photographers who took part. Club members and spouses socialized, enjoyed a pizza dinner, discussed the photos entered in the contest, and photography in general. This year the contest included four categories: Creative, Landscape, Nature, and people. Images in each category were judged on the basis of composition, impact, and technical quality. Judges selected the top 3 images in each category; and Honorable Mention (HM) was awarded to those images within one point (out of ten possible) of the top 3. In addition, Club members voted to determine “People’s Choice” winners for each of the categories. In this post are the results for the Creative and Nature categories. These were judged by Pagosa Springs photographer Kiersten Renner (https://www.wildcraftedphotography.com). A second post will highlight winners of the Landscape and People categories. 

In the Creative category, Doug Coombs won 1st place for his photo Goblin Star Trails. Second prize went to Andy Butler, for Desert Web Abstract. Moab Star Trails, by Coombs, received 3rd place. Three photographers received Honorable Mention in this category. These are Adrienne Disbrow, for Red Eye,  Scott Galabota for O’Hare Bathroom Shelf, and Chris Roebuck for Wallpaper.

In the People’s Choice voting for the Creative category, winning images were Contorted Cathedral, 1st place, by Dave Anderson; Goblin Star Trails, 2nd place, by Doug Coombs; and Moab Star Trails, 3rd place, by Doug Coombs.

Wallpaper, © Chris Roebuck
Red Eye, © Adrienne Disbrow
O’Hare Bathroom Shelf, © Scott Galabota
Moab Star Trails, © Doug Coombs
Goblin Star Trails, © Doug Coombs
Desert Web Abstract, © Andy Butler
Contorted Cathedral, © Dave Anderson

In judging results for the Nature category, 1st place was awarded to Andy Butler for Sunset Sow & Cub. Second was awarded to Dave Anderson for Perseverance. In 3rd place was River Reflections by Kathie Disner. Images receiving Honorable Mention in the Nature category were Disner’s Mom’s Fish; Curious Otter, by Adrienne Disbrow; The Yawn, by Doug Coombs, and Sugar Bowl, by Andy Butler

People’s Choice winners in the Nature category were Andy Butler’s Sunset Sow & Cub, 1st place; Lion Yawn, by Doug Coombs, 2nd place; and Perseverance, by Dave Anderson, 3rd place. 

The Yawn, © Doug Coombs
Sunset Sow and Cub, © Andy Butler
Sugarbowl, © Andy Butler
River Reflections, © Kathie Disner
Perseverance, © Dave Anderson
Mom’s Fish, © Kathie Disner
Lion Yawn, © Doug Coombs
Curious Otter, © Adrienne Disbrow

Congratulations to all the winning photographers! See Part 2 of this series for winners of the Landscape and People categories.

Protecting Dark Skies – September Meeting

The September meeting of the Pagosa Springs Photography Club will be held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.  The Club meets in the Community United Methodist Church at 434 Lewis Street in Pagosa Springs. The program will start at 6:30 p.m., but feel free to arrive anytime after 6 p.m. to socialize. Photography Club meetings are open to the public. Please use the side door near the parking lot to enter.

Our speaker this month will be Dena Laterza, from the Pagosa Sidewalk Astronomers. She will speak on Protecting Pagosa’s Dark Skies. As photographers, many of us prize the dark skies near Pagosa Springs for capturing nightscape images featuring starry skies over our Rocky Mountain landscapes. Dena  will discuss why it is important to preserve our night skies, and what is being done to protect  dark skies for future generations. Dena will also provide information on how each person in our community can make a difference.

Photography Club presentations are available on Zoom for those who can’t attend a meeting in person. For the Zoom link to this meeting, please contact abutler@mac.com

Following Dena’s presentation, we will hold our monthly Image Share session. Club members may bring up to 5 recent images to show and discuss with the group for this. 

Seeing in Black & White

The August meeting of the Pagosa Springs Photography Club will be held on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.  We will meet at the Community United Methodist Church at 434 Lewis Street in Pagosa Springs. While the program will start at 6:30 p.m., feel free to arrive anytime after 6 p.m. to socialize. Please use the side door near the parking lot to enter.

Our topic this month will be How to See in Black & White, which will be presented by Greg Holden , speaking via Zoom. Greg is a Colorado based photographer. He enjoys teaching others and sharing his passion for photography. He speaks around his home in the greater Denver area, but also continues to speak and judge virtually, at clubs throughout his former home in the MD and VA areas as well as in Colorado.

In this presentation, Greg will discuss why black & white images are still highly relevant in a world of ubiquitous color photos. He will explain why black & white images are often the better choice for showcasing certain images. By showing side-by-side color and black & white versions of his images, he will demonstrate how removing color from an image forces the viewer to focus on the shapes, lines, and lighting in the image. Throughout this presentation, Greg will discuss how he has learned to pre-visualize images for later black & white conversion. View Greg’s photos at his website, https://www.imagesunderfoot.com. 

Photography Club presentations are available on Zoom for those who can’t attend a meeting. For the Zoom link to this meeting, please contact abutler@mac.com

Club members may bring up to 5 recent images to show and discuss with the group following the presentation, in our monthly Image Share session.

Virtual Shutter Therapy

The Photography Club’s current Virtual Shutter Therapy topic is “Golden Hour, Sunsets and Sunrise”, through September 7. During this time of day, colors are richer and shadows longer—perfect for capturing mood and texture. Explore how this fleeting light transforms ordinary subjects into something extraordinary. Please take part in this challenge by sharing up to three photos on the topic, as comments to the post about this topic on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PagosaPhotoClub . Virtual Shutter Therapy is open to all photographers. Like and comment on the works of others. Thanks to Barbara Jetley for the topics!

Photography Club 2025 Digital Photography Contest

The Photography Club’s annual photography contest is now underway. Don’t wait until the last minute to pick your favorite photos to enter! The entry deadline is September 10, 2025.  Photography Club members may enter up to 6 images, among 4 categories (Nature, Landscape, People, and Creative). Winners will be announced, and awards presented, at our October 8 meeting. For contest details and entry form, see our website at https://pagosaspringsphotoclub.org/2025/07/01/eighth-annual-digital-photo-contest/ .

Sidewalk Astronomers Astrophotography Contest

The Pagosa Sidewalk Astronomers are holding a photo contest to promote astro tourism and raise awareness about dark skies in the Pagosa Springs area. This contest will run from July 1st to August 31st. Winners will be announced on Sept. 10 at the Pagosa Springs Photography Club meeting. For details on taking part in this contest, see the Sidewalk Astronomers web page: https://pagosasidewalkastronomers.org .

Photography Club Membership

Looking for ways to improve your photography? Want to hang out with other photography enthusiasts? Then consider joining the Pagosa Springs Photography Club.  We welcome anyone who enjoys making and appreciating great photographs. Club meetings and outings provide valuable insights into composition, light, and technique from experienced photographers. Regardless of the type of camera you use, Club membership can help you take better photos. Membership benefits include educational programs, image sharing and discussion, photo outings, and contests to foster improvement in photography. The annual membership fee is just $25. You can apply for membership on our website at https://pagosaspringsphotoclub.org/about/ or at one of our meetings. 

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July Photo Club Meeting

The next meeting of the Pagosa Springs Photography Club will be held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.  We will meet at the Community United Methodist Church at 434 Lewis Street in Pagosa Springs. While the program will start at 6:30 p.m., feel free to arrive anytime after 6 p.m. to socialize.  Photography Club meetings are open to the public. Please use the side door near the parking lot to enter.

Our topic this month is Learning Photography From the Pros, presented by Herb Grover. We are lucky to live in a time when tips and tutorials on any number of subjects, including photography, are available on-line. Many pro photographers post regular articles and YouTube videos providing information on photographic topics. Some are better than others. Herb will introduce video tutorials by several of his favorite pro photographers, who are also very good at presenting information in a clear and useful fashion. The photographers Herb will discuss include tutorials from both landscape and wildlife photography, as well as topics related to post-processing. Most nature or landscape photographers will learn something from these presentations. Who are YOUR favorite pro photographers for learning more about photography? 

Herb Grover is a retired University professor who spent more than 40 years teaching university courses in ecology, plant biology, and environmental science. He is now retired, living near Pagosa Springs, and focusing his creative energies on nature photography and videography.

Photography Club presentations are available on Zoom for those who can’t attend a meeting. For the Zoom link to this meeting, please contact hgroverco@gmail.com .

Photography Club members may bring up to 5 recent images to show and discuss with the group following the presentation, in our monthly Image Share session.

Virtual Shutter Therapy

The Photography Club’s current Virtual Shutter Therapy topic is Spring Flowers, through July 6.  Our Pagosa Springs area wildflowers are attracting both pollinators and photographers. Vibrant colors and a variety of sizes from tiny to bold grace our hillsides. Please take part in this challenge by sharing up to three photos on the topic, as comments to the post about this theme on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PagosaPhotoClub . This topic is open for entries until July 6, and is open to all photographers. Like and comment on the works of others. 

Sidewalk Astronomers Astrophotography Contest

The Pagosa Sidewalk Astronomers are holding a photo contest to promote astro tourism and raise awareness about dark skies in the Pagosa Springs area. This contest will run from July 1st to August 31st. Winners will be announced on Sept. 10 at the Pagosa Springs Photography Club meeting. For details on this contest, see the Sidewalk Astronomers website at: https://pagosasidewalkastronomers.org .

Photography Club Membership

If you are looking for ways to improve your photography, consider joining the Pagosa Springs Photography Club. The Club welcomes anyone who enjoys making and appreciating great photographs. Our club meetings and outings provide valuable insights into composition, light, and technique from experienced photographers. Regardless of the type of camera you use, Club membership can help you take better photos. Membership benefits include educational programs, image sharing and discussion, photo outings, and contests to foster improvement in photography. The annual membership fee is just $25. You can apply for membership on our website at https://pagosaspringsphotoclub.org/about/ or at one of our meetings. 

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