Tag: presentation

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.

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. 

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. 

Journey to Africa, April Meeting

The Photography Club’s April meeting will be on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 6:00 p.m.,at the Community United Methodist Church located at 434 Lewis Street.  Our program this month will feature Club member, Doug Coombs, who will take us on a Journey to Africa. Arrive any time after 6 p.m. for socializing; the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Please use the side door near the parking lot to enter.

Photography Club meetings are open to the public. This will be a hybrid meeting, live, in person, as well as by Zoom. If you need the Zoom link, please contact Andy Butler.

In his presentation, Doug will be discussing photographs he took in Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, and Botswana on four different safari trips. His photos will include the Big 5: Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Hippos and Cape Buffalo. He will also share images of numerous smaller mammals and birds, as well as of the Maasai people, and some classic African sunrises and sunsets.

Doug will also bring some books and literature provided by one of the safari companies, used for two of his adventures, to hand out to the audience. These are great resources if you want to plan your own “Journey to Africa”.

Doug Coombs is a landscape and wildlife photographer who moved to Pagosa Springs following his retirement from Los Alamos National Lab, in New Mexico. In Los Alamos, Doug was chairman of both the Los Alamos Photography Club, and the Los Alamos Adobe Users Group. Doug and his wife Miyuki love to travel around the western US and the World, while photographing wildlife, birds, and landscapes.

As usual, we will have our Members’ Image Share following Doug’s presentation. Club members may bring up to 5 images on a thumb drive to share and briefly discuss. Images should be saved in jpg format. The Methodist Church now has a great 4K monitor in the room where we meet. With this increased quality, please save your landscape aspect images with a horizontal resolution of about 4000 pixels, and portrait aspect images at a vertical resolution of 2000-2400 pixels to take full advantage of the screen. 

Top Ten Photos, 2024

The Pagosa Springs Photography Club will meet on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, 6:00 p.m., at the Community United Methodist Church, 434 Lewis Street in Pagosa Springs. Arrive any time after 6 p.m. for socializing; the program will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Our March program will be Top Ten: Show and Tell. In this popular program, members may bring up to ten of their photographs taken in the last year for brief discussion. This is a good exercise in choosing your top images of the year. These might be what you consider your best, your most interesting, or your most challenging photos. The goal is to inspire each other through a conversation about what makes great images, including aspects such as composition, impact, and technical quality. Please bring your images to the meeting on a flash drive.

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 abutler@mac.com . 

March Virtual Shutter Therapy

The topic for the Club’s on-line challenge this month is Symmetry. Symmetry is all around us—perfect reflections in water, architectural balance, or nature’s mirrored patterns. Seek out scenes where symmetry creates harmony, whether in man-made structures, organic formations, or unexpected places. Consider perspective, lighting, and framing to enhance the effect. Will you find perfect symmetry or break the pattern for intrigue?  Please participate until April 6 by commenting on the Facebook post at https://www.facebook.com/PagosaPhotoClub. All are welcome to take part. Share up to three photos.  Like and comment on the works of others.