A juried photography exhibition is born!
A couple months ago, I was approached by the Southern Conservation Trust asking if I would like to have a photo show to benefit the trust. Of course I would. Then I thought for a moment and asked what if we had a photo show involving the whole photo club? Then I thought another moment and asked -- what if we went bigger? I always think big.
My thoughts were of Slow Exposures in Pike Country -- the feeling and atmosphere of the show -- and the fact that it benefits the local historic society. We could do something like that in Fayette County to benefit the land trust. Many local photographers visit the Line Creek Nature Area for great photos all year round. Why not use our photography to raise awareness of the properties and help raise some funds as well?
There were a lot of questions to answer to get the ball rolling. First we needed a location and dates for the show. Abby Jordan, Executive Director with the trust, and I have been working hard to get the show going. One day I was in Dogwood Gallery, talking to Greg Blair about the show. I did not think that he would be interested -- since it was a benefit -- but he was! We had a place. And it is a very nice place to hang a show! Did I say I was thrilled to have the show at Dogwood? I am thrilled!
During the last couple months I have been networking with the photography community in the Atlanta area. I visited the director of the Slow Exposures show in Zebulon for advice. The ladies with Slow Exposures are so very nice. Chris was wonderful to sit with me for a while giving great advice. Andrea stopped by out of the blue and even offered to come help hang the show if we needed her. One of the Fayette Photo Club members knew someone with the Atlanta Photography Group. I talked with her and emailed her with information and questions. She was a great resource and she offered to forward the call for entries to many Atlanta area photo clubs. And she has -- thanks Virginia!
That is where we are right now -- getting the call for entries out there. Since this show will take place at the end of April -- time is short. Next time (2010) -- we will have a year to get the word out about the show. The deadline is to have your entry in the mail no later than January 31, 2009. The call for entries can be found on the trust website www.sctlandtrust.org. Check the upper left corner of the homepage. Click the link, read the fine print, and print the entry form.
The show is open to any photographer interested. There are two categories, the first -- Nature, Undisturbed -- is showcasing nature photography at any location. The other category is site-specific to photography at trust properties only. These properties are all in Fayette County, Georgia and are: Line Creek Nature Area, Flat Creek Nature Area (both in Peachtree City) and Sam's Lake Bird Sanctuary (in Fayette County, south of Fayetteville). Color, black & white, sepia, and manipulated images are all included in these two categories.
So get busy looking through your images and enter!
Showing posts with label fayette county. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fayette county. Show all posts
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Protect Your Camera
Yesterday was a great day to get outside with your camera and document an uncommon occurrence in Georgia – snow! Not to mention the second time that we have seen snow during the same week.
Cold weather and moisture can cause a little apprehension with photographic equipment. At least it does for me. My first little point and shoot digital camera was sent to an early grave due to spilling (or slightly splashing) a Coke onto the camera body. Anytime I see a spec of rain or any moisture on my digital SLR I think about that old, little Canon Powershot and kind of freak out for a minute.
Cold weather can zap the life of a battery. When you are out and about shooting in cold weather try to keep the batteries warm to extend their use. When in the camera, you can keep the camera close to your body or under a coat except for when you are taking a shot to help keep it and the batteries warm. Any extra batteries that you have on you – keep them “on you” and not in a bag sitting in the cold. Placing them in a pocket (especially if it is an interior pocket) of your coat is a great way to keep them warm.
Even if it is not snowing or raining, moisture can be an issue. If you are out in the cold and then come in to a warm house or car – if the warm place is humid (or moister than the cold place) moisture can condense on the camera and the workings.
I admit that I have not thought much about this and never really taken the precaution that is advised. What you are told to do is to place the very cold camera into a plastic bag prior to entering the warm place. Leave the camera sealed in the plastic until it has warmed to the room (or car) temperature. Any condensation from moisture in the heated space will collect onto the bag, rather than the camera.
Frankly, if I was out in the car – I would just keep it wrapped (and a zip bag is a great idea for this) in the bag until I got home and brought it in to warm in the house.
This whole scenario reminds me of being at the coast and in Florida in the summer time. How many times have you stepped from that wonderfully air-conditioned car or condo only to have your camera fog up for a few minutes – until it is acclimated to the surroundings? Should I “bag” the camera in the summer for opposite temperatures as in winter?
Here is the answer – think about your investment in that camera – are you a gambler? I am not. A zip bag is going into my camera bag today!
For a long time I have kept all of the little silica gel packs that come in shoe boxes (yes I buy a lot of shoes). I place these in various locations where I think moisture could be an issue – like in my camera bag – and keep them there.
Last summer when I was out shooting (in the humid air) and placed my camera into the bag to go into the air-conditioned car – I felt that it was sufficiently protected. Near to home I have not had the camera fog up so as it had in Florida or the Georgia islands in summer.
When I do go out I usually keep a plastic, kitchen-size garbage bag in the camera bag to quickly cover anything exposed in case of a quick shower. Think about it, if your camera is on the tripod and there is a sudden shower, it is easy to slip the bag over everything and carry it to the car. This way I don’t even have to open the camera bag in the rain – I can get to my car, lift the back and have it shield me and the equipment from the rain while I pack everything away and head home.
After yesterday and the amount of moisture I saw collecting on my camera, I am thinking of investing in a rain cape for the camera. I have been looking at them on the B&H Photo website today – they are available at a variety of prices. It makes me wonder is this one of those things that you ‘get what you pay for.’
Right now the top of my list is the Ewa-Marine C-AF100 Hurricane Hood Photo Rain Cape. Something in the product description really got me – the protection against sand – sand is the biggest enemy any camera will face because everyone loves to take their camera to the beach! If you ever see me out – get me to twist one of my circular polarizers for you – that little grinding sound is sand! I think I will order this from B&H to see if it is what I think I need for good, all-round camera protection.
Cold weather and moisture can cause a little apprehension with photographic equipment. At least it does for me. My first little point and shoot digital camera was sent to an early grave due to spilling (or slightly splashing) a Coke onto the camera body. Anytime I see a spec of rain or any moisture on my digital SLR I think about that old, little Canon Powershot and kind of freak out for a minute.
Cold weather can zap the life of a battery. When you are out and about shooting in cold weather try to keep the batteries warm to extend their use. When in the camera, you can keep the camera close to your body or under a coat except for when you are taking a shot to help keep it and the batteries warm. Any extra batteries that you have on you – keep them “on you” and not in a bag sitting in the cold. Placing them in a pocket (especially if it is an interior pocket) of your coat is a great way to keep them warm.
Even if it is not snowing or raining, moisture can be an issue. If you are out in the cold and then come in to a warm house or car – if the warm place is humid (or moister than the cold place) moisture can condense on the camera and the workings.
I admit that I have not thought much about this and never really taken the precaution that is advised. What you are told to do is to place the very cold camera into a plastic bag prior to entering the warm place. Leave the camera sealed in the plastic until it has warmed to the room (or car) temperature. Any condensation from moisture in the heated space will collect onto the bag, rather than the camera.
Frankly, if I was out in the car – I would just keep it wrapped (and a zip bag is a great idea for this) in the bag until I got home and brought it in to warm in the house.
This whole scenario reminds me of being at the coast and in Florida in the summer time. How many times have you stepped from that wonderfully air-conditioned car or condo only to have your camera fog up for a few minutes – until it is acclimated to the surroundings? Should I “bag” the camera in the summer for opposite temperatures as in winter?
Here is the answer – think about your investment in that camera – are you a gambler? I am not. A zip bag is going into my camera bag today!
For a long time I have kept all of the little silica gel packs that come in shoe boxes (yes I buy a lot of shoes). I place these in various locations where I think moisture could be an issue – like in my camera bag – and keep them there.
Last summer when I was out shooting (in the humid air) and placed my camera into the bag to go into the air-conditioned car – I felt that it was sufficiently protected. Near to home I have not had the camera fog up so as it had in Florida or the Georgia islands in summer.
When I do go out I usually keep a plastic, kitchen-size garbage bag in the camera bag to quickly cover anything exposed in case of a quick shower. Think about it, if your camera is on the tripod and there is a sudden shower, it is easy to slip the bag over everything and carry it to the car. This way I don’t even have to open the camera bag in the rain – I can get to my car, lift the back and have it shield me and the equipment from the rain while I pack everything away and head home.
After yesterday and the amount of moisture I saw collecting on my camera, I am thinking of investing in a rain cape for the camera. I have been looking at them on the B&H Photo website today – they are available at a variety of prices. It makes me wonder is this one of those things that you ‘get what you pay for.’
Right now the top of my list is the Ewa-Marine C-AF100 Hurricane Hood Photo Rain Cape. Something in the product description really got me – the protection against sand – sand is the biggest enemy any camera will face because everyone loves to take their camera to the beach! If you ever see me out – get me to twist one of my circular polarizers for you – that little grinding sound is sand! I think I will order this from B&H to see if it is what I think I need for good, all-round camera protection.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Fowler's Auto Parts
Fowler's Auto Parts in Griffin is a hidden treasure of photographic opportunities.
Last Saturday the Fayette Photo Club met at Mr. Fowler's place. It was easy to find but you would never think from the highway that there is an auto junkyard of this size behind the white fence. When I arrived my first thought was where do I park? There is not a specific parking space except for those taken up by vehicles that will never move again (unless a tow truck is involved). There are rows and rows of these vehicles.
I am not good with years of cars but I can tell you I can't remember the last time I saw a Biscayne motoring down the highway. I saw a Biscayne Saturday but it wasn't motoring anywhere and did not look like it had been for quite a while. One car without and engine or much of a front end at all had written on the windshield (1945 Sudan).
What ever that is?? Sedan maybe?? There were old rusted cars from the 1960's and earlier and newer cars mixed together in rows. There was a Pacer there I had not seen a Pacer since the last time I watched the movie "Wayne's World." The rust spots spots?? some cars were nothing but rust and the cracked windows were interesting subjects to photograph.
The auto names were also interesting to me. I have one photo of the model name "Chevelle" with the last "E" hanging off at an angle. The rust design behind the name makes it interesting too. I brought along my gold reflector and made use of it a couple times.
We arrived at 3 p.m. and the sun was very bright. There was not a cloud is a brilliant blue sky. Saturday was definitely a day for the polarizing filter and lens hood. Even with the lens hood I shielded the lens with my hand a few times to prevent flare.
Some of the auto names and other features I was interested in were in a shadow compared to other parts of the vehicle in bright sun. I set the camera on the tripod clicked on the timer and stepped away with the reflector to shine a little "gold glow" on the spot I wanted highlighted in the photo.
All of the photos that day were taken in color the colors of the rusty cars and bright chrome were very photographic. I always take photos in color but then change them to black and white with my photo-editing software. The photos of the junk cars are just as interesting in black and white as they are in color. I can't decide with some of the photos if I like them better in color or not. An afternoon spent at Fowler's could give you an opportunity to complete a study of photos of cracked windows/windshields, flat tires, rust, old (and new) auto names --- you name it!
The "junkyard dog" was a friendly, blue-eyed, tail wagger. Not long after we arrived I was standing at the top of a row of cars setting up the camera for a long view shot of all the cars down that row. Off in the distance I see something running toward me.
As I am pressing the shutter button I notice it is a dog this dog is in two of my photos running toward me. All of those wild stories of junkyard dogs come flooding to my mind. This one is wagging his (or her I did not check) tail so much I hold on to the tripod and pet the dog on the head. Satisfied with sniffing me and getting a head pat the dog moved on to the next person.
I did not see the dog much again that afternoon but while wandering through the field I noticed by the souvenirs left behind something else lived there something larger than the dog.
After I negligently placed a tripod leg in a fire ant mound, it was one of those can I take the photo faster than those critters can hike up the leg to get to me I forgot about what had left those other mounds. I forgot until I heard a sound that made me think of Jurassic Park you know that sound like one of the dinosaurs is out of the pen? Well, this velociraptor turned out to be a shiny black cow.
As I stood out in the field of cars I watched the cow mosey along looking around in a very la-de-da sort of way.
One of the photo club members was out of town last Saturday. She was sorry that she was going to miss this outing. I told her when she returned that I would go with her to Fowler's so she could wander about and take interesting photos of vehicles that have not seen a road for years.
Now that I have been I think I have a couple ideas of things I really want to focus on the next trip there.
I might even take the junkyard dog a treat.
Last Saturday the Fayette Photo Club met at Mr. Fowler's place. It was easy to find but you would never think from the highway that there is an auto junkyard of this size behind the white fence. When I arrived my first thought was where do I park? There is not a specific parking space except for those taken up by vehicles that will never move again (unless a tow truck is involved). There are rows and rows of these vehicles.
I am not good with years of cars but I can tell you I can't remember the last time I saw a Biscayne motoring down the highway. I saw a Biscayne Saturday but it wasn't motoring anywhere and did not look like it had been for quite a while. One car without and engine or much of a front end at all had written on the windshield (1945 Sudan).
What ever that is?? Sedan maybe?? There were old rusted cars from the 1960's and earlier and newer cars mixed together in rows. There was a Pacer there I had not seen a Pacer since the last time I watched the movie "Wayne's World." The rust spots spots?? some cars were nothing but rust and the cracked windows were interesting subjects to photograph.
The auto names were also interesting to me. I have one photo of the model name "Chevelle" with the last "E" hanging off at an angle. The rust design behind the name makes it interesting too. I brought along my gold reflector and made use of it a couple times.
We arrived at 3 p.m. and the sun was very bright. There was not a cloud is a brilliant blue sky. Saturday was definitely a day for the polarizing filter and lens hood. Even with the lens hood I shielded the lens with my hand a few times to prevent flare.
Some of the auto names and other features I was interested in were in a shadow compared to other parts of the vehicle in bright sun. I set the camera on the tripod clicked on the timer and stepped away with the reflector to shine a little "gold glow" on the spot I wanted highlighted in the photo.
All of the photos that day were taken in color the colors of the rusty cars and bright chrome were very photographic. I always take photos in color but then change them to black and white with my photo-editing software. The photos of the junk cars are just as interesting in black and white as they are in color. I can't decide with some of the photos if I like them better in color or not. An afternoon spent at Fowler's could give you an opportunity to complete a study of photos of cracked windows/windshields, flat tires, rust, old (and new) auto names --- you name it!
The "junkyard dog" was a friendly, blue-eyed, tail wagger. Not long after we arrived I was standing at the top of a row of cars setting up the camera for a long view shot of all the cars down that row. Off in the distance I see something running toward me.
As I am pressing the shutter button I notice it is a dog this dog is in two of my photos running toward me. All of those wild stories of junkyard dogs come flooding to my mind. This one is wagging his (or her I did not check) tail so much I hold on to the tripod and pet the dog on the head. Satisfied with sniffing me and getting a head pat the dog moved on to the next person.
I did not see the dog much again that afternoon but while wandering through the field I noticed by the souvenirs left behind something else lived there something larger than the dog.
After I negligently placed a tripod leg in a fire ant mound, it was one of those can I take the photo faster than those critters can hike up the leg to get to me I forgot about what had left those other mounds. I forgot until I heard a sound that made me think of Jurassic Park you know that sound like one of the dinosaurs is out of the pen? Well, this velociraptor turned out to be a shiny black cow.
As I stood out in the field of cars I watched the cow mosey along looking around in a very la-de-da sort of way.
One of the photo club members was out of town last Saturday. She was sorry that she was going to miss this outing. I told her when she returned that I would go with her to Fowler's so she could wander about and take interesting photos of vehicles that have not seen a road for years.
Now that I have been I think I have a couple ideas of things I really want to focus on the next trip there.
I might even take the junkyard dog a treat.
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