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Membership
The first meeting of the season for the Dubuque Camera Club was attended by 20 current members and 4 visitors. Treasurer DeWayne Beecher reports that the club had around 50 total members last season, and it looks like our membership will be about the same this year.
Annual dues are only $20, and they are due now. If you can’t make it to a meeting, another option is to mail in the membership form.
Paying members are eligible to submit photos to the monthly N4C competition and to participate in exhibits and other events. Members also receive the official Dubuque Camera Club patch to sew on a jacket or camera bag.
There will be an update to the contact information in the membership folder. If you would prefer to be unlisted, you may contact DeWayne or Eleanor.
Camera Club News
Club president Ron Tigges said there’s been a lot of positive feedback about our exhibit at the Dubuque Museum of Art. People enjoy the metal prints. The last day of the exhibit is Sunday, September 25, so see it while you can! For those who have pictures in the exhibit, they may be picked up on Tuesday, September 27.
The topic of post-processing was briefly discussed, and with very intense feelings by several people. Be aware that it is acceptable to use Photoshop or plugins to alter photos that are submitted to the Creative and Pictorial categories only. Cara shared a good example of a Venice gondola scene with a sky from Cascade, Iowa.
Ron discussed the monthly competition: the different contest categories, what photos can be entered in each N4C category, how the file naming works, what happens if there are more or less than our club limit of 8 entries per category, and so on. If you have any questions, ask, or check the official N4C website for complete rules.
The annual N4C convention is coming up in Fargo, ND. All photos that have earned 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or honorable mention in a monthly contest are entered in the final competition. Last year, our club had 4 medal winners. We may have more this year, thanks to the awesomely talented photographers in our club!
General Bob Felderman shared his impressions of the 2016 Iowa State Fair photography contest. Out of 3800 entries, only 500 were chosen for display. He noticed that many showed evidence of extensive post-processing, and most were from the Des Moines area (probably because you have to deliver actual prints).
Only one Dubuquer was represented: club member Ken Kiss, with a photo of a fox. If you’re interested, next year’s theme is “What’s Up.” Other photo subjects may also be entered in a variety of categories. More information is on the Iowa State Fair website.
Area events
- Photographer Mark Hirsch will lead a free smartphone workshop at the Peosta campus of Northeast Iowa Community College on September 18. The event runs from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. This is part of the annual “Nature Trek” in the Outdoor Learning Lab, which is a prairie/wetland area that is being established next to Hwy 20.
- Photographer Steve Gassman will lead a Wisconsin landscape excursion workshop for the Everything Photography store on September 17. They will carpool to Pewits Nest near Baraboo, Mid-Continent Train Museum in North Freedom and the old Hyde’s Mill near Ridgeway, Wisconsin. Contact Nate or Sean at Everything Photography for more info.
- Steve Gassman is also leading a “Painting with Light” class on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 22. This is a UW-Platteville continuing education enrichment class. Cost is $35, and as of two weeks ago, Steve said were still openings. Registration info here.
Next Meeting
Next Dubuque Camera Club meeting: Monday, September 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Agenda: Small group workshops discussing Lightroom techniques. If you have a laptop with Lightroom, you may bring it along. Bring your camera and/or new photography gear if you want to show off . $20 annual dues are due now if you didn’t pay at the first meeting. You can also mail them in. New members are welcome to join us at any time.