Nature photography program at WAC

By Rex Dolby

Both Wassenberg Camera Club members and the public will find the club’s next meeting, Thursday, April 10, at the Wassenberg Art Center  to be of special interest.  Nature photographer Peter Noyes will present an illustrated program on photographing wildflowers.

President Chris Wilson asks that Wassenberg Camera Club members arrive at 6:45 p.m. for the competition in prints and slides.  The program will begin at 7 p.m. Members may email three digital pictures to vwcameraclub@gmail.com by Tuesday, April 8 and three 4-inch x 6-inch prints per member may be brought to the meeting. Entry fees are one dollar for three digital pictures and one dollar for three prints. You must be present to compete. The competition’s theme is “Humor”.

Although a humorous picture may be staged, often there will be some visual clue that it is not spontaneous. So where do you go for a funny picture? Pictures sent over the Internet or posted on Facebook may provide some ideas. Young children, puppies, kittens, and other young animals or birds are often the subjects in the pictures that have been shared. You see their photos showing weird sleeping positions, having unique facial expressions, being dressed in interesting clothes, hats, sunglasses, and other props or as they react or do something that is more than usual. Special occasions such as birthdays and holidays may supply opportunities for some special people shots.

This means you have to keep your camera ready and be patient to freeze the action at just that precise moment. One trick is to keep one eye in the viewfinder and the other one open to the side of the camera. This way you have a wider view of the scene and can better observe what’s happening.

Remember, this meeting is free and, as usual, open to any interested person, so we hope to see you there April 10.

Wassenberg Camera Club meetings are open to anyone who has an interest in photography. If you have any questions regarding our camera club, classes or programs or would like to sign up, contact the Wassenberg Art Center.

The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 214 S. Washington St. (former Van Wert Armory). For information, call 419.238.6837, e-mail info@wassenbergartcenter.org, or visit the website at wassenbergartcenter.org.  Hours during exhibits are Tuesday through Sunday, 1-5 p.m.