‘Weather’ theme for competition

By Rex Dolby

Weather is the competition theme when the Wassenberg Camera Club holds its next meeting Thursday, May 10, at 7 p.m. at the Wassenberg Art Center. Weather is a pretty broad term that should bring out a wide range of pictures.

When you consider the four seasons here in Ohio, each has its own personality and weather patterns to accompany that time of the year. Each season has its temperature range, type of precipitation, and cloud patterns.

Cold temps can reduce battery life quickly and moving from air conditioning into hot, humid air can fog up lenses for a surprisingly long time. In both cases, plan ahead with extra batteries and try to keep your camera where the temperature changes won’t be so drastic, both in summer and winter. Also related to air temperature is the form of precipitation that may fall. This will range from rain, hail, sleet, freezing rain and snow. If you are going to be out in the wet stuff, you can protect your camera by putting it into a Ziploc bag and cutting out a corner just large enough to put the camera lens through.  Bring a microfiber cloth to wipe off any water spots that should get on the lens.

Cloud shapes can provide clues to the changes in weather and approaching storms. Storm cells can produce awesome pictures, but also provide some major risks. It is more important to be alive than get the shot. Working with a tripod in a high-risk situation is a good way to get the attention of lightning. Thunderheads will often have areas where the lightning flashes more often than in other areas of the cloud. By watching the “hot spot,” you can almost time when the next flash will come and be ready for it.

The meeting is open to the public and there are no steps to climb between the parking lot and the main gallery, so come see us.

Our condolences go to the family of Bill Sorensen of the Van Wert and Lima Camera Clubs.  Bill was laid to rest on May 8.