2024-2025 Program

All meetings begin at 7:00 PM unless otherwise noted and will be in person meeting at the Stamford Center Volunteer Fireman’s Association Hall, 2275 Dorchester Rd, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6S4.   Meeting invitations for online meetings will be sent through email before each meeting. 

Zoom is free to use and can be used on a desktop or laptop, tablet or cell phone. 

NOTE: Not all meetings are on Mondays

DateEvent
Monday September 16, 2024Peter Ferguson- “Exploring iPhone Photography: The Journey Continues” 
Monday September 30, 2024Competition #1 (NOTE: 6:30PM START)
Tuesday October 15, 2024Thomas Stirr- “Finding Visual Expression”   
Monday October 28, 2024Competition #2
Saturday November 2, 2024Fall Seminar Featuring David Akoubian
Sunday November 3, 2024Macro Photography Workshop with David Akoubian (Sold Out)
Monday November 4, 2024Monique Campbell- “Faces in the Street, Candid and Camera Aware People Photography”
Thursday November 7, 2024David Long (Via Zoom) – “Creating Landscapes”
Monday November 18, 2024Competition #3
Monday December 2, 2024Ruth Wanless- “Just Play” 
Thursday December 5, 2024Chris McInnis (Via Zoom) – “It’s The Little Things”
Monday December 9, 2024Pot luck and Competition #4 – Early start
Thursday January 2, 2025Betsy Wilson (Via Zoom) – “Still Life – Beyond Fruit Bowls and Flowers”
Monday January 6, 2025Juraj Dolanjski- “Art in Monochrome”
Monday January 13Gareth Jones (via Zoom) “Creative Imagery: My View and My Journey”
Monday January 20 Sue Dougherty (via Zoom) “Pumas of Pantagonia”
Monday January 27, 2025Competition #5
Monday February 3, 2025Freaktography – “4 Days in Saskatchewan: Ghost Towns, Abandoned Houses, Wild Fires and More”
Tuesday February 18, 2025Competition #6
Thursday February 20, 2025Frank Smith (via Zoom) – Architecture & the Art of Graphic Elements
Monday March 3, 2025Member’s Night
Monday March 17, 2025End of Year Competition
April (TBD)Rainbow Competition at TCCC

Monday September 16, 2024 – Peter Ferguson- “Exploring iPhone Photography: The Journey Continues” 
For the past 18 months Peter has been solely using an iPhone for his photographic ‘journey’. This presentation will examine the benefits and the annoyances of relying on the phone as your one and only camera. Imagery from nature and travel scenery to portraits and action shots highlight the program with live in-phone examination of apps and settings will be presented and discussed. (Stay tuned for the “Cell Phone Challenge- we want to see your best cellphone shots on Member’s Night!)

Tuesday October 15, 2024 – Thomas Stirr- “Finding Visual Expression”     
From time to time all of us can benefit from moments of inspiration or be reminded of some fundamental photographic approaches that we can use when we’re out with our cameras. Photographic creativity can emerge with whatever image creating tool a photographer may be holding in their hands. Regardless of what is used, this presentation will provide you with some inspiration, or composition approaches that may be of interest.

Monday November 4, 2024 – Monique Campbell- “Faces in the Street, Candid and Camera Aware People Photography”
In this presentation, Monique encourages photographers to get past their fear of making images of people they encounter on the streets. Through her images and stories about her experiences photographing random strangers she shares her passion with others. She discusses three key concepts including…Approach, Storytelling and having a Third Element to keep in mind when making images of people.

Monday December 2, 2024 – Ruth Wanless- “Just Play”
It can be easy to get lost in the technical details of photography and become bored or discouraged. In some cases, we may discard images because we cannot see beyond their technical merits. By studying and trying creative techniques we can take images from mundane to unique. Just have fun.  There is no right or wrong.

Monday January 6, 2025 – Juraj Dolanjski- “Art in Monochrome”
Monochrome or images in Black and White evoke the Art of time gone by. All early photography was done in this genre. In this photography images are captured in range of tonalities from white through gray to black. Colour can be a distraction and the image may be simplified by removing it and ending up with much stronger piece of Art. Monochrome is a version of the same, except there may be one colour in an image. With digital cameras and software tools, there are many techniques to achieve this today, but not as simple as conversion to B&W.

Monday January 13- Gareth Jones (via Zoom) “Creative Imagery: My View and My Journey”
Gareth will share his journey into the world of creative digital photography and the tools he uses to produce his digital art. He will demonstrate how all photographers can embrace their creativity and push their images to the creative max, often using seemingly ordinary objects that can be transformed into works of art.   

Monday February 3, 2025 – Freaktography – “4 Days in Saskatchewan: Ghost Towns, Abandoned Houses, Wild Fires and More”
Dave of freaktography.com returns with a brand new presentation. Heading to Saskatchewan for four days of exploring, Dave travelled almost 3,000 km and visited 41 different sites of photographic interest. In his presentation he will take us through this adventure featuring the many photos taken along the way.

Monday March 3, 2025 – Member’s Night
Member’s Night is back- show us your stuff! As well as showing your images from the Inspiration Challenge and this year’s Cell Phone Challenge, show us what you’ve been shooting this year! Share your travel experiences, or if AV shows are your passion, feel free to present one for our viewing enjoyment. There just might be pizza involved!  

CAPA Presentation (via Zoom)- “Elevating Your Photography” (date to be announced)
Most photographic training materials concentrate on the technical aspects of photography. When it comes to materials on Composition, it tends to be directed at the “Rules of Composition”. Materials on creating images that make an emotional connection with the viewer are not generally available. This presentation deals with these two elements of an effective image; how the elements of the image are organized; touching on composition, use of (negative) space and distracting elements in the image. It also covers how a strong image creates an emotional connection with the viewer, mood, impact, subject, and imagination. The presentation also shows how many of the great photographers, both present and past approached these concepts. Presenter: Manfred Mueller