Tag: photography

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.

Exploring Costa Rica: A Photographic Adventure

At the Pagosa Springs Photography Club’s September 9 meeting, club member David Lenderman will speak about photo opportunities in Costa Rica. 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 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.

David Lenderman is an avid photographer specializing in underwater, wildlife, and travel photography. He traveled to Costa Rica on photography trips in 2021 and again in 2025. A popular destination for nature lovers, Costa Rica offers many amazing opportunities for photographers. Seascapes, mountain scenes, waterfalls, birds, monkeys, and amphibians are just some of the photo subjects found in Costa Rica.

David’s presentation will begin with a PowerPoint overview of Costa Rica, including its diverse climate zones, seasons, and special photo destinations. David will share detailed itineraries and photography gear suggestions based on his two wildlife photography trips to Costa Rica. The second part of the program will be a music-synced show featuring some favorite video and photographs from his time in Costa Rica.

If you are considering a trip to Costa Rica, or if you simply appreciate beautiful nature photography, come out and enjoy the meeting on September 9.

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

September 2026 Virtual Shutter Challenge

This month, photograph art in an unexpected way. Explore paintings, sculptures, murals, architecture, or everyday creative details. Experiment with perspective, shadows, reflections, texture, and framing. Your photograph should interpret the artwork rather than simply record it. Show us something about the artist’s vision through your own photographic perspective. Before October 4, show us up to three photos by commenting on the post on this topic at the Photography Club’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PagosaPhotoClub.  Give feedback to you fellow photographers. All photographers are invited to participate, not just our members.

2026 Pagosa Springs Photography Contest: Enter Now!

The 2026 Pagosa Springs Photography Club Digital Photography Contest is now open for entries! Any Photography Club member in good standing can participate, and new or renewing members can join the Club at the time of entry. The submission deadline is October 14, 2026, and members can submit up to 6 photos (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 prizes will be awarded at an Awards Celebration on November 11. The top three images in each category will receive ribbons and cash prizes at the Awards Celebration, and all entries will be displayed. Plus, there will be a “People’s Choice” voting on the images entered.

There are four themed categories: Nature (think flowers, wildlife, animals, birds, or insects); People (sports/action, candid, portrait, wedding, street, photojournalism); Landscape (scenery is the main focus, including cityscapes and nightscapes); and Creative (an obvious departure from reality, like photo painting or abstract photos). Check out the contest guidelines and entry form below for more details.

If you haven’t entered the contest before, this is a fantastic chance to get feedback from the judge and other Club members about your images. Our aim with this contest is to celebrate members’ talent and encourage everyone to share their best work with the group. So, pick your best images and submit them!

For contest guidelines and directions on entering your images, click here. The guidelines will show you how and where to submit your files. Then, download the contest entry form and fill it out with your entries. Just a heads-up: you should be able to fill in the information on the entry form using the text tool of Adobe Acrobat Reader or Mac Preview. The easiest way to submit your images is through the Dropbox link in the entry form, but you can also bring entries on a flash drive to the PSPC meetings on September 9 or October 14. 

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.