Tag: presentation

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.

Creating Depth in Photography

The Pagosa Springs Photography Club is meeting on January 8th at the Community United Methodist Church, located at 434 Lewis St. The meeting starts at 6:30 pm, but you can come early to socialize and chat about photography at 6 pm. Everyone’s welcome to join us! Just enter the church through the side door next to the parking lot.

This month’s speaker is David Lenderman. David will give a multi-part presentation. He’ll start with a short slideshow set to music, showing some of his favorite photos. Then, he’ll talk about why depth is important in photography. He’ll show you how to make flat photos look more interesting and engaging with a sense of depth. David will share practical compositional techniques that anyone can use to add depth to their own photos, no matter what camera you use.

Using composition to enhance depth © David Lenderman

The last part of David’s presentation will be about suno.com , an AI music generator. With Suno and other AI music programs, you can easily make your own music. As image creators, we often need the perfect soundtrack for our slideshows or videos, and now you can make your own! David will explain how to use Suno.com and show you examples of the music you can create.

David Lenderman has been an avid photographer for over 25 years. He specializes in underwater, travel, and wildlife photography. He’s been to six of the seven continents, looking for amazing scenes and fascinating animals. In 2022, David and his wife moved to Pagosa Springs, so they can enjoy the natural beauty of Colorado and the warm, friendly community. David often speaks at photography and dive clubs, and he loves sharing his knowledge and inspiring other photographers.

The presentation will be followed by our monthly image share. Photography Club members may bring up to five images each to share and discuss. This meeting will also be available on Zoom for those who can’t attend in person. The Zoom link will be emailed to members; others who wish to attend may request the link by email to abutler@mac.com .

Did you get a new camera or lens for Christmas? If so, joining the Photography Club would be an awesome way to learn more about photography and get tips on using your gear. The Pagosa Springs Photography Club is open to everyone who loves making and viewing great photos. Our members use cameras of all types, from smartphones to medium format. We have educational programs, image sharing and discussion, photo outings, and contests to help each other improve our photography. Club membership is just $25/year. You can apply for membership on our website at https://pagosaspringsphotoclub.org/about/.

July Meeting, All About Weather

Dramatic clouds near Pagosa Springs, by Shawn Prochazka

The July  meeting of the Pagosa Springs Photography Club will be held on Wednesday, July 10, at the Community United Methodist Church, 434 Lewis St. We will begin with social time at 6 pm, and the meeting will start at 6:30 pm. Please enter the Church through the side door next to the parking lot. This month’s presentation will feature Arleen and Shawn Prochazka , of the Pagosa Weather team, discussing weather topics of interest to photographers . 

When it comes to landscape photography, weather and light can make or break an image. Some of our most dramatic lighting in the Four Corners can come during or after summer monsoon storms. Arleen and Shawn from Pagosa Weather will give a weather presentation focused on clouds, determining the ideal photographer’s light, and a peak at the summer monsoon forecast. Pagosa Weather is a nonprofit weather forecasting and community outreach program, and is your local source for weather. Arleen and Shawn love to share their years of military weather forecasting experience. They are the National Weather Service (NWS) Archuleta County Weather Ready Nation (WRN) ambassadors, and also the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network coordinators for Archuleta County. Both Shawn and Arleen members of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and members of the Pagosa Springs Chamber of Commerce.

The presentation will be followed by our monthly image share, for which Photography Club members may bring up to five images each to share and discuss. This meeting will also be 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 .

The Pagosa Springs Photography Club welcomes everyone who enjoys making and viewing great photography. The Club sponsors educational programs, image sharing and discussion, and outings to help our members improve their photography.  For more information about the Club, and to download a membership application, visit our website at https://pagosaspringsphotoclub.org/about/ .

Geology of Colorado

Chimney Rock, near Pagosa Springs, is an excellent example of how the geologic history of Colorado has shaped the landscape that photographers love to record. Photo © Andy Butler.

The Pagosa Springs Photography Club will next meet on March 13, at the Community United Methodist Church, 434 Lewis St. Come at 6 PM for socializing. The presentation will begin at 6:30 PM. Our featured topic this month will be the Geologic History of Colorado, presented by Jeb Baxter. The meeting is 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 remotely may request the link by email to abutler@mac.com . 

If you are a landscape photographer, then you well know how important geology is to finding photographic opportunities. Just look at the San Juan Mountains near Pagosa Springs, Chimney Rock, or the red rock canyons and arches of Utah.

Baxter’s presentation will provide an overview of the geologic history of Colorado and localities where the evidence of this history is visible in the rocks.  The talk will begin with the screening of a 25 minute video by the Interactive Geology Project.  The video will then be followed by an explanation of key geologic processes and additional evidence of geologic history in the Four Corners region.  The talk is designed to provoke discussion with the audience and questions are welcomed throughout.

James Baxter is a retired professional geologist and professor of geology, who now lives in Pagosa Springs.  He earned a BS in Geological Sciences at Lehigh University and MS in Geology at The Pennsylvania State University.  His professional career included 16 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry followed by 20 years on the faculty of Harrisburg Area Community College.

The Pagosa Springs Photography Club welcomes all who enjoy making and viewing great photography. The club sponsors educational programs and outings to help photographers build their skills.  For more information about the club, and to download a membership application, visit our website at https://pagosaspringsphotoclub.org/about/ .

Photographing Brazil

Hyacinth Macaw
Haycinth Macaw, Parnaiba Headwaters NP, Brazil, © Doug Coombs

The May meeting of the Pagosa Springs Photography Club will be held on Wednesday, May 10, 6:00 p.m., at the Community United Methodist Church, 434 Lewis Street in Pagosa Springs. Our topic this month is Photographing Brazil, presented by Pagosa Springs photographer Doug Coombs. 

In the summer of 2022 Doug Coombs, his wife Miyuki, and friends from the Los Alamos, New Mexico Photography Club took a 30+ day trip to Brazil to photograph birds, mammals, waterways, indigenous people, and some cityscapes. They visited five different venues including Cristalino Reserve in the southern section of the Brazilian Amazon, Emas National Park, Parnaiba Headwaters National Park, Rio de Janeiro and the Atlantic Rainforest nearby, and a seven night cruise on the Rio Negro and some of its tributaries, which are all tributaries of the Amazon. Doug will share and discuss photos from these sites in his presentation.

Three-toed Sloth
Three-toed Sloth, Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil. © Doug Coombs

Doug Coombs is a Pagosa Springs based photographer specializing in landscapes, birds, and other wildlife. He is also a member of the Pagosa Springs Photography Club. To see more of his images, visit Doug’s website at https://www.dougsview.com .

Our meeting will begin at 6 p.m. with socializing, and the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. 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. Photography Club meetings are open to the public.

The Pagosa Springs Photography Club promotes educational, social and fun interactions between all who enjoy making and viewing great photography. The club sponsors educational programs and photography outings to help members hone their skills.   We welcome photographers of all skill levels. Dues for 2023 are just $25 ($35 family). For more information about the club, and to download a membership application, visit our website at https://pagosaspringsphotoclub.org/about/ .