The Dubuque Camera Club enjoyed a Still Life Workshop during the club meeting on Monday, October 18, 2021. Sixteen people attended this in-person workshop. Those who wished to participate in the photography brought cameras and tripods; others acted as photoshoot facilitators. Several people brought items to photograph, along with lighting and small backdrops. The club members assembled upstairs, and photoshoot stations were set up in the downstairs classroom.
Club president Ron Tigges started the meeting with a few announcements:
• Wi-fi access at the nature center will become available sooner than expected, possibly by next month. Having internet access during meetings will make sharing images easier, and will also make livestreaming possible.
• The Dubuque Museum of Art has obtained corporate sponsorship for the club’s upcoming “Trees” exhibit, to open on Nov. 13th. This is a very good thing! More information will be shared as we learn the details about how this sponsorship will benefit participating photographers.
Club N4C rep Cara P. handed out some certificates and awards. These came from the N4C convention that was supposed to be held in Duluth, but was postponed until 2022.
Then the club moved to the downstairs classroom where a number of still life opportunities were set up. The still life workshop was very fun!! In the ensuing photography free-for-all, lots of good discussion happened, and many photos were taken!
We hope to see the result of everybody’s creativity at the next meeting. You can also share them on social media, using the hashtag #DubuqueCameraClub.
Next meeting – Monday, Nov. 1st @ 6:30pm
The next Dubuque Camera Club meeting will be held in-person on Monday, November 1st at 6:30 p.m. N4C submissions are due before the meeting. If you would like to submit to the N4C print competition, bring your prints to the meeting. Be prepared share a few of your photos from the Still Life workshop. (Club members, watch your email for details.)
The Dubuque Camera Club will be a participating arts group at the 2021 Art on the River opening reception.
This free, family-friendly event will be held on Friday, August 6th, 2021 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on the Mississippi Riverwalk. Bring your camera to join the PHOTO WALK! [Club members: Please wear your ID badge].
Presenters will be located on the patio behind the Grand River Center. The Dubuque Plein Air painters will be present, the Dubuque Area Writers’ Guild will sponsor a reading, the Northeast Iowa School of Music will provide music, and more!
UPDATE: Several Dubuque Camera Club photographers attended the Art on the River opening reception. Thank you for being part of this event! Find more pictures in the club’s Facebook group.
Enjoy images from our autumn photoshoot. Learn about photo contests and other opportunities to share your photography.
** Remember, before entering any photo contest, READ THE RULES. Make sure you are agreeable to their terms and know what rights you are giving them. Some contests post entries to their social media accounts. Some contests have an entry fee.
Galena Center for the Arts is calling for submissions to their 3rd virtual exhibit. The theme is “Finding Beauty,” and the deadline is Oct. 23rd. More info is in their October newsletter.
Silos & Smokestacks is accepting entries to their annual photo contest. Deadline is Oct. 31. Learn more on their website.
America’s State Parks 2020 Photo Contest. Deadline is Oct. 31, 2020. Camping, wildlife, friends and family, scenic, or activities. More information here.
The Dubuque County Conservation Board will soon be needing images to promote outdoor recreation in natural areas of Dubuque County. Tag your images now so you can find them when the time comes. For a map of DCCB parks, go to the Parks and Trails section of their website and click on Dubuque County Recreation Areas (PDF). When they issue a call for images, they must be taken in these parks.
The Dubuque Camera Club held a Fall Photo Shoot at Eagle Point Park on October 11, 2020
Ten people attended the Dubuque Camera Club night photoshoot on July 6, 2020. We met outdoors at 7:30 and tried to maintain social distancing while enjoying some rare companionship with like creative minds. Sadly, the Covid-19 pandemic is really throwing a whammy at in-person events.
Club president Ron Tigges cautioned that we need to be prepared for virtual meetings when the season starts up again in the fall. A decision on that will be made closer to the meeting, which is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 7th. An email will go out beforehand.
The photographers present came fully prepared — lenses, pixel stick, bug spray. Chit-chat overheard while the tripods were being set up in preparation for sunset: where to find dickcissels, the number of butterflies being seen this year, and what to do about wounded wildlife.
Rumor is, Andreas Exner has gotten some awesome images of barn swallows. He often pairs up with Kevin McTague, who recently won first place in an N4C competition. If the snakes stay out of the tree, expect more terrific bird photos from these gentlemen in the future.
Editing is almost finished on “Thoughts from the Road,” a photo/video project from Henry Matthiessen and Dean Wellman. Their official release date is Oct. 1, 2020, and it will be headed to film festivals. Watch for more info later.
General Bob has been up to his usual everything. He recently crashed his drone on the Five Flags building, but not before getting some incredible shots of the new “Solidarity” mural. His drone photos were picked up by the Des Moines Register.
All of the photographers who were present at tonight’s photo shoot got down to image making. An unusual cloud formation in a clear blue sky got several people’s attention. Andreas used a flashlight to paint the prairie. Willie Tigges got some exercise, spinning colored lights along the trail.
A few photos were shared in the club’s Facebook group, so go there if you haven’t touched base lately. Club members and friends are also welcome to share images, ideas, exhibits, or events to the group.
We are enjoying a twice-monthly summertime photo challenge in our Facebook group. The theme through the end of July is the River. Be sure to contribute your photo(s)! Stay safe and be healthy!
Outdoors photo challenge theme: The River! From July 16 to July 31, 2020.
The Dubuque Camera Clubvirtual meeting on June 1, 2020 was attended by 17 people. The club decided to get together once a month over the summer, either virtually or in-person. We hope to meet in-person in July (scroll down for details).
A suggestion was made in the club’s Facebook group that Journalism photo opps are out there lately. If you decided to document any protests, be aware that journalists and photographers have been targeted. Please use caution if you decide to take pictures, and stay safe.
Election of officers. The club usually votes on officers at the end-of-the-season picnic. The picnic is always well-attended, but this year it was cancelled. During tonight’s virtual meeting, an informal voice vote was taken. All current officers were re-elected for the 2020/2021 season.
Our current club size is 43 people. This head count is based on meeting attendance, club emails, and other interaction. Remember, the N4C season runs from September through May. Club dues will be payable again in September. Annual dues of only $20 allow members to participate in all club activities and exhibits.
The club treasurer, not present, had shared the bank balance. Our club is in the black. Obviously, the club saved money by not buying food for the annual picnic. Other recurring expenses include the club’s Smugmug subscription, N4C dues, any exhibit subsidies, and venue use fees.
Right now, the nature center is closed through the month of June. Unhappily, there is a strong chance the club will need to find a new meeting venue. We will be very sad to lose the Mines of Spain as a venue, and hope they are able to pull together a community partnership to keep this facility open.
Judges needed. The Friends of the Mines of Spain photography contest is still happening. The submission deadline for Spring entries was June 1. A couple of club members are needed to help judge the prints and choose winners. Contact Ron or Jennifer if you are interested. (Note that you cannot judge if you have a print in the contest.)
N4C news
The 2020 fall N4C convention has been cancelled. It was scheduled to be held in either Sioux City or Sioux Falls (silly me, I’m still puzzling over that). Earlier, our club had been asked to complete a pre-attendence survey. Here are their survey results. Here is the official cancellation notice.
The best-of-the-best N4C contests and awards are still going to happen this year, just virtually. Watch for more information about that. Read the June N4C Bulletin to learn more.
Congratulations to Dubuque Camera Club member Kevin McTague for winning FIRST PLACE in Digital Nature!
At the virtual meeting, we went over the results of the May 2020 N4C competition. Everything is back except Pictorial. Two of our club members were recognized this month in Digital Nature (DN). Kevin’s trip to Costa Rica resulted in a winning image!
In Digital Black and White (DB), the same two club members received merit awards:
Kevin McTague, merit award, Forgotten.
Stephonie Schmitz, merit award, Light Waves
Next season, our club will judge the monthly N4C contest three times, in September, February, and May.
September 2020 — Judge Digital Nature
February 2021 — Judge Digital Pictorial
May 2021 — Judge Digital Travel
The Dubuque Camera Club will hold a Night Meeting and Photo Shoot on Monday, July 6th at 7:30 p.m. (Note later start time).
We will gather in-person at an outdoor venue, and then travel to a nearby spot for a night photo shoot. Bring tripod, flashlight, and remote trigger release, along with your fastest, wide-angle lens, such as F2.8 or F4. The club plans to shoot the Milky Way, the Moon, and do some light painting.
Optional: Bring your own supper or snacks/drinks, and mosquito repellent or lawn chair or whatever you can carry to be comfortable at an outdoor photo shoot.
** Complete details and location will be sent by email to club members.
Night Photography Tutorials: Many people find night photography intimidating, so below are links to a few helpful tutorials.
Club members: If you know about any other night photography tutorials that would be helpful to people who are new to this, please share them to the Facebook event.
