“Food” competition theme produces sweet results

By Rex Dolby

The Wassenberg Camera Club met Thursday, February 9, at the Art Center for competition and business. Food was the competition theme for the evening. Jodi Hattery swept first place in both prints and slides with two very creative views of food. Her print was of an arrangement of paraffin bottles of sugar water reflected on a black surface. Her slide was of gumballs, but photographed with water droplets on a clear surface between the lens and the gumballs.

There was a three-way tie for second in slides. Cheryl Mongold was the winner with her picture of candy she had made with white chocolate shells and dark chocolate drizzled over them.

Treasurer Karl Gribler reported that the club will offer a discount card again this year, with more than food items on it as in the past. Karl said he was getting assistance from Wassenberg Art Center staff members and was optimistic that the card will create more interest this year.

President Doug Heckler announced that the Wassenberg Art Center’s website has been updated and is functioning. It is located at wassenbergartcenter.org. The Wassenberg Camera Club has its own webpage there and Will Hawkins has agreed to help keep the photographic content updated. Heckler also stated that Jan Sorensen has informed him that her husband, Bill, is in failing health and has asked for prayer support

He then acknowledged the gift of three cameras from Bob and Sue Gates of Van Wert. The oldest was a Kodak Monitor bellows-folding camera made between 1939 and 1948. The second was a Kodak Signet rangefinder camera built from 1951 to 1958. The third was a Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic 35mm SLR built from 1964 till 1967. This was the first camera to feature through-the-lens metering.

Heckler then raised the question whether it is time to consider replacing the laptop computer due to how slowly it now functions.  It was purchased in January 2006 with Van Wert County Foundation funds. He said that over the six years since it was put into

service, technology has accelerated the computing process and maybe it’s time to look into a new model.  He asked that members bring suggestions to the next meeting concerning the features a new laptop might possess.

Since the January open meeting on photography was so well attended, it was decided to make the club’s next meeting on Thursday, February 23, at 7 p.m. also open to the public. Club members will be on hand here at the Wassenberg Art Center to answer questions regarding equipment and technique. Participation is free with no obligations and those who have attended previous meetings, as well as new guests, are welcome. We hope to see you there.

Contact the art center at 419.238.6837, by email: wassenberg@embarqmail.com or via the website at: wassenbergartcenter.com. The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 643 South Washington St., Van Wert.