Tag: Inspiration

Landscape Photography, Oct 14

October Pagosa Springs Photography Club Meeting

The Pagosa Springs Photography Club will next meet on Wednesday, October 14, at 6:30 p.m., at the Community United Methodist Church, 434 Lewis Street in Pagosa Springs. Our program this month is Landscape Photography. Using a video by Joel Sartore on this subject as a starting point, we will discuss tips and techniques for making great landscape photos. Sartore is a National Geographic photographer, well known for his National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort dedicated to documenting threatened, endangered, and lesser know animal species in the world’s zoos and wildlife sanctuaries. Sartore is also noted for his educational programs on learning the techniques of photography. 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. 

Pagosa Springs Photo Club Digital Photography Contest

The 2026 Pagosa Springs Photography Club Digital Photography Contest is now open for entries! Any Photography Club member can participate, and new members can join the Club at the time of entry. The submission deadline is October 14, 2026. There are four themed categories: Nature, People, Landscape, and Creative. You can submit up to 6 photos (no more than 2 per category) for a flat fee of $10. Just send in your digital image files, not prints. Independent judges will evaluate the images, and cash prizes will be awarded at an Awards Celebration on November 11. There will also be a “People’s Choice” voting on the images entered. See our web page, for complete information and an entry form: https://pagosaspringsphotoclub.org/2026/08/29/2026-pagosa-springs-photography-contest-enter-now/ .

October 2026 Virtual Shutter Challenge

The Photography Club sponsors a monthly challenge on its Facebook page. This challenge is open to all photographers. The theme for October is Window Light. Demonstrate the beauty of natural window light through photography. Capture a subject illuminated by soft, directional light entering a window. Experiment with shadows, highlights, silhouettes, reflections, and different times of day. Focus on mood, composition, and storytelling. Create a compelling image showing how window light transforms an ordinary scene. Share up to three compositions by commenting on the post about this topic at https://www.facebook.com/PagosaPhotoClub . Please like or comment on the images posted by others, as well. 

Join the Pagosa Springs Photography Club

The Photography Club aims to provide a  venue for its members to learn how to improve their 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). The Club sponsors both educational presentations on photography, outings to photogenic locales, and regular opportunities to share and discuss images with one another. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Top Ten

January 14 Photography Club meeting

The Pagosa Springs Photography Club is getting together on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Community United Methodist Church, located at 434 Lewis Street in Pagosa Springs. Feel free to arrive anytime after 6 p.m. to chat and mingle; the program kicks off at 6:30 p.m.

For our January meeting, we’re having a Top Ten: Show and Tell session. In this fun event, Club members can bring up to ten of their favorite photos from the past year to share and discuss. It’s a great way to pick out your best images of the year—maybe they’re your absolute favorites, the most interesting ones, or the ones that challenged you the most. The aim is to spark some inspiration by discussing what makes a great photo, like composition, impact, and how well it’s done technically. Please bring your photos to the meeting on a flash drive.

This meeting will be a mix of in-person and online, with a Zoom link available too. 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.

Bosque del Apache Photography Outing, Jan 9-12

Doug Coombs is leading a Photography Club trip to Bosque del Apache from January 9-12. We’ll be focusing on observing and photographing the Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese that spend the winter there, along with other birds and mammals. Bosque del Apache and Ladd S Gordon wildlife are refuges near Socorro, NM, south of Albuquerque. If you enjoyed Doug’s presentation at our November meeting, you’ll have a good idea of the amazing photographic opportunities these refuges offer. Socorro has several motels, and is conveniently located between the refuges. If you’re interested or want more details, please reach out to Doug at dfcoombs@gmail.com.

Doug has also shared some videos from a recent trip to Bosque here: https://www.dougsview.com/Custom-Pages/Video. Be sure to turn your sound on when watching these!

January Virtual Shutter Therapy

This month, the Club’s online challenge is all about For the Birds! Try to capture the unique personalities of birds in their natural surroundings. Look for little details like preening, feeding, flying, or just being still. The goal is to show off their personalities or the habitats they call home. Join the Club for a trip to Bosque del Apache this month to get some fantastic shots, or watch the birds in your backyard. Please participate in the challenge by commenting on the post about this topic on the Club’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PagosaPhotoClub. All photographers are welcome to share up to three photos. And don’t forget to like and comment on the work of others.

Join us for Photography Adventures

Did you get a new camera or lens for Christmas? Or are you looking to get better at photography? Either way, learning from others is a great way to do it improve your skills. The Pagosa Springs Photography Club offers a fantastic chance to connect with like-minded people who love photography. The Club has both learning sessions and fun outings to help photographers of all skill levels grow. Membership for 2026 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.

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.