About 33 people met at 7:00 pm. Alex Wiles presided.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PHOTO DISPLAYS- Judy Dye

Photos will be displayed at both the Forest and at the Bellevue Library.

May Meeting: Red, white and blue

Fall: Autumn and churches followed by Clouds and Anything Blue

The photos can be 8×10, 8×12 or 11×14. No mattes or frames please. Remember to add your name, the subject and the location on the back of each photo you submit.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Kathleen Rose reported that there is now $ 1,500 in the club’s treasury.

PHOTO CONTEST: Contest Coordinator Donna Gray mentioned that the setup is May 26 at 10 am in the Bellevue University Humanities Building. Rules are available online. Kathleen will email  comments from the judge Joe Burns about what he expects from contestants. Donna mentioned that tags for the photos will be available at the next meeting and during setup.

Copies of the photos entered  should be sent to Pete Carbonell via the webmaster@fontenellephotoclub.org email address. If possible, image files should be resized down to 2000 pixels on the long edge and 72 pixels per inch (ppi) to ease emailing. But if there is any difficulty resizing the image, just send the file in its original size. The image files will be used for the critique session during our June meeting.

If you are not able to make it to the show setup, you may want to bring your photos to the May meeting. Someone at the meeting can make sure your photos are hung in the show.

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS:

Pete mentioned that Rockbrook Camera had a camera cleaning sale and calibration sale the weekend of April 27th with $20 off of camera cleaning services.

Pete mentioned he was contacted by a board member of Camp CoHoLo, a 7 day camp for children who have undergone treatment for cancer at the 4H camp at Schramm Park. The camp will take place this summer and they are looking for volunteer photographers to fill 4 hour shifts to help document the event. Photos will also be posted so that the parents can see how their children are enjoying the event. Pete believes the event will be in early July. More information will be posted soon.

NEXT MEETING – WETLANDS PHOTO SHOOT:

Our next meeting will be on Thursday, May 17th. For this meeting we will meet in the wetlands area of Fontenelle Forest for a photography outing. We will have a brief meeting at 7 pm outside of the Wetlands Education building across the street from the parking lot but we encourage everyone to come as early as you like to enjoy the sights and sounds of the wetlands. This is songbird migration season so there is lots of bird activity in the area. Also with the trees having sprouted and the wildflowers starting to bloom, there will be plenty of photography opportunities.

For those of you who have never been down to the wetlands, it is located at the eastern end of Childs Road. From the main Forest building, go south on Bellevue Blvd and make a left on Childs Road. Childs Road will change from pavement to gravel. Continue down the road, passed the rail crossing. When you see a medium sized parking lot on the left and building on the right, you’re in the right place!

Here are some items you may want to bring with you:

• Camera
• Tripod/monopod
• Any variety of lenses, i.e., telephoto, wide angle, macro, etc…
• Bug spray – It is tick season so be prepared.
• Water
• Long sleeve shirt – helps keep the bugs off.
• Hiking shoes – We’ve had some rain lately so some of the trails may be a little mucky. So bring footwear that can keep you stable and you don’t mind getting dirty.
• Rain jacket – the forecast looks good now, but this is Nebraska!

This is a great opportunity to practice your craft and share tips and techniques with your fellow club members. Whether you brave the trails or stay close to the parking area, there will be plenty of great opportunities to get excellent shots so come on out! 

PROGRAM:

Pete Carbonell presented the program tonight on what to look for in critiquing your own photographs.

The four main points in critiquing your photos are to know the rules of composition, technique, impact and weeding out the best photos.

The rules of composition are available in many sources. Technical items include composition, sharpness, border patrol, even horizon lines, highlights etc. Impact includes emotional response to photos. The culling process is a multi-step process. Photos should be reviewed again and again.

Pete suggested that everyone should create a portfolio with 24 of your best photos in a folder. He also mentioned the importance of sharing your photographs through social media and photo groups and mentioned the importance of online critiques and photo contests.

Thanks to Pete Carbonell for bringing treats tonight.

The meeting was adjourned at about 8:20 pm.

Please send any questions to webmaster@fontenelleforestphotoclub.org

Submitted by Eric Scholar, Secretary and Peter Carbonell, Webmaster.

Our annual photo contest is only a couple of months away. So here is the updated information and guidelines for the upcoming competition.

Guidelines for the 2018 Annual Fontenelle Forest Nature Association

Photography Club Show

Bellevue University Gallery – Humanities Building

Hello to All Fontenelle Forest Nature Association Photo Club Members:

Set – Up – Saturday, May 26, 2018, 10:00 AM

Critique and Awards Presentation – Thursday, June 21, 2018, 7:00 to 9:00 PM

Take Down – Saturday, June 30, 2018, 10:00 AM 

Questions – Contact: Donna Gray – Email: djg618@cox.net

Who:  Any member in good standing of the Fontenelle Forest Nature Association Photo Club.  Prints can be color or black and white.  Prints that have been previously designated as award winners – including honorable mention at previous FFNA club shows are not eligible for entry.

We ask that members remember that we are sponsored by a nature association and as such the photographs we show represents that organization to our members and the general public.  The show contest coordinator and current President of the club reserve the right to remove an entry not following the rules set forth in the category descriptions below.

“Novice Class”:  This is open to club members who have NOT won a first, second or third place in any individual category, or Overall Show award in prior years’ photography club shows.

“Advanced Class”:  This is open to club members who have won a first, second or third place in any individual category, or an overall show award in the prior years’ photography club shows.

No exceptions for class designation.  If any member new or old feels they belong in the advanced class, they are welcome to enter their photos into this class.

Categories:

• Scenic/Landscape: Continental US, outside continental US, any nature themed image where the focus or subject IS NOT manmade objects, including urban, city, pets, and Humans.  Must be a nature based photo taken by a club member.
• Animals: Any living creature, wild or domesticated, including pets. Not humans.
• Flora: A photo where the following are the main subject of the photo.  Any flower, plant or tree.
• Anything Goes: (Combined category – Novice & Advanced)

Any photograph not meeting the requirements of the 3 categories listed above.   Also, any photo that is over enhanced or un-naturally manipulated will be entered into this category.

* Photos may be moved to another class up to the point of judging for awards if the Contest Judge, Photo Contest coordinator or club president feel an entry was categorized incorrectly at check-in.  These contest rules are their guide, and any corrections to classification are final.

How to Present Your Prints 

• Printed presentations are to be either framed (wood, metal or plastic frames) with or without a mat or printed on a metal or matboard surface. A wire hanger must be attached to the back.   

• Size of frame: Minimum outside dimension of the shortest side of the presentation will be shorter than 5 inches, maximum outside dimension of the longest side of the presentation will be no longer than 25 inches. 

• Entries that are presented with no glass or Plexiglas are accepted at the entrant’s risk for damage by print handlers/displayers.

• Each entry is required to have the Photographer’s name, address, and phone number on the back of each photo.

• Contestants may enter up to 4 print presentations into the show. The contestant is responsible for deciding which category to place entry(s).   (One in each category or all in one category or any combination you desire.) Contest coordinator and club president have final say of excepting entry or on category classification at time of set-up.  The Judge may also move a photo to another category at the time of judging.

• Entry Cards (White) for Novice, (Yellow) for Advanced, (Blue) for Anything Goes will be available starting at the April Club meeting. Contestants will need to complete entry cards prior to arriving at the show set-up.

Awards:

In each Class and category:   First, Second, and Third Place (18 Ribbons)

Anything Goes Category:       First, Second, and Third Place (Combined Classes) (3 Ribbons)

Overall Show Awards:  Best of Show – all classes, all categories

Public Choice – all classes, all categories

Club Members Choice – – all classes, all categories

Best Black and White – all classes, all categories

Best Photo Taken at Fontenelle Forest (Must designate on entry card)

Total of 26 Ribbons to be awarded at this Year’s Show!

All first and second place winners and overall show winners will be displayed at the Bellevue Public Library over the summer months and returned at our first club meeting in September.

All winning photos will be displayed on the Fontenelle Forest Photography Club’s Website.

Last revised on 03/05/2018

About 24 people met at 7:00 P.M.  (4 new people came)

President Alex Wiles presided

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PHOTO DISPLAYS- Judy Dye

Photos will be displayed at both the Forest and at the Bellevue Library.

March subjects: Doorknobs for the Library and Sky for the Forest.

Next spring: Red, white and blue

Fall: Autumn and churches

The photos can be 8×10, 8×12 or 11×14. No mattes or frames please. Remember to add your name, the subject and the location on the back of each photo you submit.

Treasurer’s Report – Kathleen reported that there is now $ 1597 in the club’s treasury.

PROGRAM: Alex led a discussion of how to get your photography work out to the public. He talked about the different ways to accomplish this.

•  Free Competitions
  • Photo club photo contest. Alex mentioned that the guidelines for the clubs upcoming photo contest were being passed out. He mentioned the differences between the advanced and novice classes.
  • Nebraskaland photo contest
  • Wildlife Conservation Society – assignments
  • Your shots—National Geographic Society
  • Smithsonian Magazine photo contest
  • Natural Habitat Adventures
  • Guru.com
• Fee-based Competitions
  • Wildlife Photographer of the Year
  • National Geographic nature photographer of the year
  • National Wildlife photo contest
  • Audubon photo contest
  • Nature’s Best Photographer
  • Outdoor Photography magazine
  • Iowa State Fair
  • Digital Photography magazine
• Social media
  • Nebraska Through the Lens
  • Facebook
  • North America Nature Photographers Association (NANPA)
  • Instagram
  • FlickR
• Local publications 
  • Nebraskaland
  • Nebraska Life
  • Newspapers
  • Blogs
  • Personal websites
• Physical displays
  • Local galleries
  • Libraries
• Conferences

 Thanks to Allan Kurth who brought treats tonight.

Next meeting will be on Thursday, March 15th at 7 pm in the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center. Club members Jim and Donna Trojanowski will share photos and stories with us about their experiences on African photo safaris.

One final note. The Audubon Society of Omaha has invited us to join them on Saturday, March 17th at 7 pm in the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center for a presentation by Rick Wright on John James Audubon’s voyage up the Missouri River 175 years ago.

The meeting was adjourned at about 8:00 P.M.

Submitted by Eric Scholar, Secretary.

Those of us who have spent any time with the photo club know that Alex Wiles is not only our current president, but he is also an accomplished and up and coming nature and wildlife freelance photojournalist.

One of Alex’s projects will be the subject of the next exhibit at the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center Baright Gallery. Floodplain: A Clear View of Life in the Big Muddy will be unveiled on Saturday, January 13th from 2 pm to 5 pm and Alex will be available to meet and greet all those attending.

Alex used high key photography techniques to capture clear images of the various animals that inhabit the often cloudy environment around the Missouri River.

The exhibit will likely run through April, but if you can, please take some time out on Saturday the 13th to support Alex and check out this outstanding exhibit!

Approximately 35 people attended our annual Holiday Potluck meeting. The club provided fried and baked chicken while members brought a variety of sides and desserts.

Following dinner we enjoyed a slideshow containing the favorite photos of the last year submitted by our members.

Photo Displays

Photos will be displayed at both the Forest and at the Bellevue Library.

March subjects: Doorknobs for the Library and Sky for the Forest.

Next spring: Red, white and blue

The photos can be 8×10, 8×12 or 11×14. No mattes or frames please. Remember to add your name, the subject and the location on the back of each photo you submit.

Next Meeting

The next photo club meeting will be on Thursday, January 18th at 7 pm in the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center. Molly Mullen, Marketing Manager for Fontenelle Forest, will provide a presentation on cyanotype photography.

Peter Carbonell

Webmaster

Fontenelle Forest Photography Club

webmaster@fontenenelleforestphotoclub.org