Flagpole Photographers To Meet Feb. 16

The next Flagpole Photographers Club meeting will be on Thursday February 16, at 7:30 pm. The group meets in the lower meeting room of Cyrenius H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street in Newtown. The contest subject will be “Macro/Close-Up Prints.”

Guest speakers will be Karen Kensek who will offer a mat cutting program Trish Dardine who will introduce her website, www.MyOwnTown.us, as a tool for marketing photographic prints.

In January, members enjoyed a slide presentation of images shot across the country by long time photographer Paul Hanson, who specializes in nature and  black and white images. He shared his expertise and offered suggestions on ways to capture nature right side a window or in backyard and how to create notecards.

Mr Hanson then went on to judge the photos of “texture” for the January members’ competition.

The winning images were as follows: first place, “Snow Shadows” by Bob Berthier; second, “Pumpkins” by Jim Talarino; third, “Weed” by Darwin Bacchiocchi; and honorable mentions were “Feet in Sand” by Donna White, “Leaf with Frost” by Larry Arthur, and “Morning Rose” by Michelle Babyak.

New business that was discussed involved changing the format of the monthly photo contest to include more topics such as a regular assignment, a digitally enhanced open category, and a full open category. This would, club members hope, allow more work of each photographer to be entered.

The club also continued to discuss what will be done with its new logo, which was decided upon just before the holidays. Early uses will include car decals, patches and shirts with the new emblem. The club also hopes to get new winning ribbons with the artwork on them.

The suggestion of having an expert in Photoshop programs for a future presentation will be looked in to, and making a donation to a local organization on behalf of the club in the spring was also discussed.

The Flagpole Photographers Club, a non-profit organization, meets regularly on the third Thursday of every month, except during the summer. It is a great place to enhance and practice photographic skills and learn about the latest technologies.

Family and guests are always welcome. Membership is $20 and is open to anyone with an interest in photography, regardless of level of experience. High school students can join for free. Family members and guests are always welcome.

For more information, contact club president John Tucci, 270-8576.