Photographers Wrap 2006-07 Season With Final Members’ Competition; Meetings To Resume In September

Anne Eigen’s “Trees in the Mist” was the winning photograph at Flagpole Camera Club’s June 21 meeting, the final for the club during the 2006-07 season. Judges considered her photograph the best of those competing in the category of “fog/mist,” the subject for June. The club, except for a summer picnic, has now adjourned its regular meetings until September.

Ms Eigen’s winning photo, taken at Fairfield Hills in October, depicted a foggy morning silhouette of an oak tree with golden leaves clinging to life from a few branches. Like many members of Flagpole, Ms Eigen’s interest in photography blossomed after joining the club three years ago. With the arrival of grandchildren, and her interest in technology, she easily stepped into the digital age of photography.

At Flagpole Photographers Ms Eigen met members with similar interests and abilities and hoisting a camera to eye level became a passion. A retired foreign language teacher at Reed Intermediate School and a Sandy Hook resident, Ms Eigen’s desire to learn was easily fueled.

She credits the members of Flagpole — whose membership ranges from beginners to those with advanced amateur skills — in helping her understand the basics of composition, lighting, and developing an eye for pleasing photos. And as with most organizations in Newtown, the makeup of the membership results in social opportunities which Ms Eigen says makes being a member at Flagpole even more rewarding.

At Flagpole’s June meeting, the membership voted on subjects they wish to photograph for monthly competitions beginning in September. That month is always “Nature” and some of the outstanding photos will be sent to New England Camera Club Council (NECCC, of which Flagpole is a member along with 80 other clubs) for its annual fall competition. Bob Berthier, known for his nature photography, heads the committee that enters the club’s photos in the NECCC competitions.

October will find the members exhibiting what they consider their “best photograph of the summer.”  The categories for November through June will be announced by club president John Tucci soon.

Other winners in the June competition were Don Brooks and Rita Buonanno.

Annual dues for the members of Flagpole Camera Club are $30 and students are free. The club meets the third Thursday of the month in the library.  In addition to the monthly competitions, which are informal but instructive, the club always has an interesting program for photographers of all levels. At the June meeting, Jignesh Kothari of Photoland in Monroe demonstrated the file management aspects of the iMac computer.

In April club members exhibited over 80 photographs at C.H. Booth Library for the general public and will do so again in 2008.

This past year, the club also utilized the talents of photographers from other Connecticut camera clubs who showed slides of their work in such subjects as bird and sports photography. Tom Coryat, a Newtowner and long time member of Flagpole, demonstrated the advantages of “Gimp,” a program that can be downloaded from the Internet free of charge, a competitor to other digital photography management programs.

In the past, Brad Stanton, a graduate of Newtown High School and a professional commercial photographer in Danbury,  welcomed the club to his studio where he demonstrated lighting techniques and afforded the members an opportunity to click pictures of each other. Similar programs will be part of next year’s meetings, and Jim Talarino, a past president and founding member of Flagpole, has served aptly as program chairman for many years.

Whether a beginner an advanced amateur or a professional, shooting film or using digital cameras of all ranges, Flagpole always welcomes new members and guests with an interest in photography to its meetings. For additional information contact club president John Tucci at 270-8576.