One Minute Update (2 Oct)

Hi Everyone,

Jeff Johnson was named the Colorado Master Craftsman Photographer of
the year for 2013.  You can find out more about his workshops at
http://www.soulroadtrips.com

I am excited about our Great Sand Dunes Photography Workshop (7-9 Nov.) $225 giveaway.  We certainly are building ourselves an enviable reputation for giving back to our local community- but it is nice to be able to offer something back directly to one of you-- our loyal members.  All members who have paid their dues are automatically included in this give away.

I will pick the winner at random this week.  (*fyi - I see a lot of people out there trying to make a living by 'teaching' photography. More than a few barely have a handle on the basics themselves or have very little professional experience.  Teaching 'photography' has become a cottage industry of sorts.  So I know first hand for a fact that Jeff Johnson is different.  Besides for the sheer awesomeness of his professional credentials (M. Photog., Cr., CPP, Fellow - Professional Photographers of Colorado), the fact that he learned literally at the feet of his father- a successful Professional Portrait Photographer in his own right, Jeff cares about helping everyone take their photography to a higher level because he doesn't just care about people-- Jeff cares about photography.  Photography as an art, as a profession and as a beautiful shared passion.  I think his 'Soul Road Trips' are worthy of their name and I am very pleased to be able to offer 1 up to you.)

I am also excited about a new area where we as a Group can start being more 'community minded.'

We are looking to collaborate and team up with the Pikes Peak Art Council to fund (4) micro grants specifically for aspiring photographers in 2015.  If YOU are one of those aspiring artist looking for a micro grant, check out the Pikes Peak Art Council's web site for details on how to apply.  I look forward to seeing the fruits of our investment in our Photography art community.  Maybe I will see you at the PPAC's Annual Award for Excellence in the Arts shindig on the 15th.  I have high hopes that by our 10th Anniversary (2017) we will have a 'Photography' category added to the ceremony.  That, I think, would be very cool and something we could all take pride in!

An update on our 'community?' We just continue to GROW!  We are just 1 member away from having 1,300 members on our Group's Facebook page.  (We love being the best place to post, share and get feedback on your photos.)  We also grew 12 new members to our MeetUp Group in just the past two weeks and we are closing in on passing 800 MeetUps held (currently we are at 792.)

So if you love us and the 'community' that we are trying to build please share us with a photography friend-- and if that friend joins, and pays their dues :-), you will get yourself one of the new CSCPG t-shirts that are scheduled to debut as prizes at our 'Community' Photo Contest Gala in March.

Here are some thank you's to:

Ryan Fonkert for sharing this photo on Facebook.  A little humor helps makes the day go by and it's fun to think about which building you would put yourself in and which one you'd like to visit the most.

to Kathi Klaty-Blazek for sharing the KOAA story on the idea of $1,500 fines for taking wilderness photos on Forest Service Land.  It sparked quite a discussion online.

Photo by Richard Firth

Think with all that said, I will sign off with that...

Let's have FUN!
Charlie

Our Vision:  Educate, Showcase and Serve our Community Founded May 17th 2007

One Minute Update (Sep 24th)

Greeting to all,

Another great week for the Group.  We taught somewhere more than 30 Boy Scouts a photography class so that they could obtain their Photography Merit Badge.  Thanks to Paul Martin and Arnett Luce for their time and their efforts.  Arnett is a Scout mom with a passion for photography.  Paul equally shares a passion for photography-- bottom line thank goodness for Arnett and Paul.

We are exploring becoming the Official Boy Scout Pikes Peak Council Photography Merit Badge Sponsor.  We taught more than 70 Scouts this year and hope to teach more than 100 in 2015.  We are also going to try and start a Scout photo contest.  But I can tell you that 'baby steps' need to happen.  We need to take it all one step at a time.  One of the challenges is funding our efforts.  IF you would like to contribute to the Scout Photography Program please visit this link https://secure.meetup.com/creative-photography/contribute/

Other 'big news' is that we are giving away a seat to a Great Sand Dunes Photography Workshop ($225) being held 7-10 November.  The Workshop is being hosted by Professional Photographers of Colorado Master Craftsman Photographer of the Year for 2013 Jeff Johnson.  That title should be enough to impress you (it mean that of all the Master Craftsmen Professional Photographers in Colorado Jeff was chosen as THEE BEST.) But if you need to be further impressed you can check out Jeff's work and Workshops at http://www.soulroadtrips.com  I am very excited to be able to offer Jeff's workshops to the Group.  He is a consummate professional, he has a great sense of humor and knows how to have FUN with photography.

On the topic of Student Scholarships we dropped off our display check to Carol Turner the teacher that we are working with for our first Student Photography Scholarship at CMJH.  It was great to see Carol again and share her enthusiasm for teaching photography.  This past week we also Liberty High School and their administration has agreed to be our 2nd Student Photography Scholarship partner.  So stay excited and tuned in to find out how our outreach to students is going.
heard from Leah Rachlis at the Visual Arts Department of

We have grown some new Co-Organizers this week.  In no order of importance please join me in welcoming Chris Gilbert, Skip Chang and Carol Turner to the leadership team.  Chris and Skip will take over the Student Photography Scholarship program and Carol has agreed to share her knowledge and be part of the Community Photography Critique team.  IF you are interested in entering the contest (every dues paying member is eligible to enter (1) image for FREE) and would like to have someone to look at your entries for you before you submit them, please plan to attend the Critique on the 22nd of November. Sign up today

This week I also confirmed our gallery display space at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts.  Winners

in the 'Community' Photo Contest will hang at the gallery for the month of March.  You can look forward to hearing more about the 'Community' Photo Contest as the weeks pass by.

Photo by Richard Firth

Think with all that said, I will sign off with that. . .

Let's have FUN!
Charlie

Our Vision:  Educate, Showcase and Serve our Community Founded May 17th 2007

One Minute Update (10 Sept)

Hi Everyone,

I had quite a busy week last week.  So I have lots of 'stuff' to share.  One of the exciting things that happened was I got our CMJH Student Scholarship check printed.  I am still trying to find a 2nd school to sponsor, and I have heard lots of suggestions, but I actually need the teacher's information.  When I check the schools web site no Photography Teacher is listed.  So the search will continue.  FYI-- I enjoy being an advocate.  But I have to tell you that it is a little unsettling when you consider that only a few kids choose to take a photography class.  Only a few of those will go on to study photography in College or at a Trade School.  I think it makes what we as a Group are doing that much more important.  Here is hoping that you agree.

Chris shows off the brand new
CSCPG t-shirts

Member Profile:  I would like to recognize Chris Gilbert this week.  I cornered him behind the Mike's Camera and got him to sign on to being a Co-Organizer for the Group.  So for those of you looking for photography education options, Chris will be sharing what classes the camera shop has to offer.  There are certainly a lot of options out there.  He also agreed to share us with his student and teacher contacts.  I look forward to turning the whole program over to this smart and talented young man.  (Many of you may recall that Chris took the Best of Show award in our very own 'Community' Photo Contest.)

My plan for the new t-shirts is to pin 'Community' Photo Contest winners ribbons to the shirts and present them at the 2015 Gala at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts.  The other way that you can earn one is by referring a friend to to join the Group (and pay their dues :-)

I could of course sell them, but driving around and selling t-shirts out of the trunk of my car has little appeal to me.  Just sharing.  Sure we will figure something out.  Maybe you'll be able to get one for a $25 donation to the Student Scholarship Fund.  Just ideas.

I am looking into having the CSCPG become a 'Ready when the Time Comes' partner with the Red Cross Visual Story Telling class on Sept. 18th at the Red Cross Headquarters on 8th Street starting at 6 pm.  I need 10 people to volunteer to be volunteers to get us into the program.  There is a lot of different opportunities.  We already have a Visual Story Telling arrangement with the Red Cross and if your interested their will be a

I would be happy to hear from anyone in the Group that is attending Pikes Peak Community College's Photography classes.  I would like to see us find ways to collaborate with them and maybe even start a Photography Club for the college if there is interest.

Good Links to Follow:
National Press Photographers Association has put up their past issues up online.  I think everybody knows that Photojournalism is my background.  I am currently a Retired member of NPPA and am happy to talk to anyone thinking about a future career in Visual Story Telling.  If you enjoy being blown away by photographs check out their Digital Archives.

I readily admit I am a dinosaur.  I would say that I am still a 50/50 photographer in that I could make a decent image with a completely manual camera as easily as I could make a decent image with a DSLR.  It is what it is.  But I am not a dim-witted dinosaur.  I continue to read and avoid the tar pits that digital photography has produced.  So I read with interest the "Facebook Zero: Considering Life After the Demise of Organic Reach" whitepaper.  But the gist is pretty simple that to quote the findings "the best thing you can do now is to stop asking people to follow you on FaceBook."  It all has to do with FaceBooks algorithm maneuvers.  The paper goes on to say that "Soon the only viable option for having posts seen on Facebook fans will be to pay for promoted posts."  Which would make perfect sense for a profit-minded Facebook.

Subscribe! it is only$1.66 an issue!

On a more pleasant note "download a free return on investment guide that breaks down the important steps in planning your photography business's marketing budget at ppmag.com/profit-center." (courtesy Angela Pointon, Professional Photographer Magazine) and OBTW if you REALLY care about marketing visit Angela's web site steeltoeimages.com and subscribe to her blog and get her weekly eBlasts.  Just a tip...

Also in the July issue is an article on "Perfectly Flawed" images by Felice Boucher who "reinvigorates her art with an ongoing personal project.

Kelly Brown, (of Australia)
 won a Gold medal in
the Portrait category.

And finally...here is the link to the Inaugural World Photographic Cup 2014 Digital Archives.  The World Photographic Cup is a not-for-profit organization founded as a cooperative effort by The Federation of European Photographers (FEP) and Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Its singular goal is to unite photographers in a spirit of friendship and cooperation.  The WPC organizing body is made up of photographers from across Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Japan, Slovakia and the United States.

Photo by Richard Firth

Think I will sign off with that. . .

Let's have FUN!
Charlie

Our Vision:  Educate, Showcase and Serve our Community 

One Minute Update (4 Sept)

Greetings Creative Photographers,

Top winners receive a
9" crystal trophy

I love that our Group appears to be always growing.  Not just in numbers but in how well we treat our members.  I am excited to announce that every dues paying member is now eligible to enter (1) FREE image in our Community Photo Contest.  This year we are going to have (6) categories  There will be Portrait, Landscape (including Nightshots), Close-up, Black & White, a Man-made/Abstract (Barns, Doors, Cars ect.) and Animal (domestic or wild) categories.  Our CSCPG goal since the beginning has been to 'showcase' our members.  The 'Community' Photo Contest is intended to recognize the incredible talent, unique vision and artistic diversity that we have in the Colorado Springs neighborhood. 

We believe there is value in encouraging you to annually look at your photography to check and see if your headed in a good direction.  Your direction seeking helps us serve you best.  We can then offer the MeetUps that keep you, and 'us', growing.

Photo by James Van Hoy

Member Profile:  James Van Hoy
There are photographers who are always shooting and delivering amazing images.  James is one of them.  He has been a member of the CSCPG Group since 2009.  He served last year as a judge for the Horticultural Art Society Photo Contest and we look forward to working with him again.

A GREAT MeetUp coming up!

Introduction to Panorama ($25)  focusing (pun intended) on the aspects of camera setup and techniques for getting a series of pictures to be able to assemble into a panorama using Adobe Photoshop, and other panorama-specific apps for both PCs and Macs.


Cool Links:

Nikon Behind the Scenes: Lenses for Great Portraiture.

Our first stop for the Fall half of the Canon In Action Tour is Denver!

Sad little girl learns what it means to delete a picture,

Rant & Rave:
Just a little 'rave.'  There is an exciting change in the works for the CSCPG.  Something that I hope will be fun and rewarding.  So stay tuned.  Other news... I haven't been able to do a coffee with the Organizer lately- and my Sept calendar for Sat.'s is already full.  But I will schedule one for Oct.  See you then or at a MeetUp soon. 

Photo by Richard Firth

Think I will sign off with that. . .

Let's have FUN!
Charlie


Our Vision:  Educate, Showcase and Serve our Community 

One Minute Update (14 Aug)

Hi everyone,

It is great to be back home.  My adventures on the Colorado Trail were amazing, but I have to admit that after 9 days of afternoon showers and hail, it did dampen my enthusiasm.  I definitely have a better idea of what to expect next year.  Check out my banner if you would like to see photos.

It looks like things went smoothly while I was gone.  All the MeetUps were given 5 stars ratings and we have some fun looking MeetUps scheduled for the end of the month.

Here are some of the things that you might have missed in the last few weeks:
This Selfie Toaster Can Burn Your Portrait Onto Your Morning Toast

7 things to realize before you can safely quit your daily job

Here is a quick update on the MeetUp Group.  I cleaned house again, so we are down to 443 members in the MeetUp Group, but on the other hand we have past 1,200 members on FaceBook (1,216).  And as of today we have 205 members paying dues.  So financially we are doing well ($947.47 in the bank).  $500 of that is spoken for for our Student Scholarships and the rest will most likely go to 'thank you' baskets for our Community photo contest judges.  

I am excited as we head back to school and fall and the approach of Nov & Dec and the 3rd Annual Community Photo Contest.  So mark you calendar for1 November and for 31 Dec (Contest Deadline) and 14 January for the Contest Judging.  We will hang this years winners at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts in Mar.

Photo by Richard Firth

Think I will sign off with that. . .

Let's have FUN!
Charlie


Our Vision:  Educate, Showcase and Serve our Community 

One Minute Update (27 June)

Greetings all,

I am days away from my 'summer vacation' and I am really looking forward to it.  I hope to hike the

It will be a miracle IF I can make it.
I will try to find the motivation
to keep putting one foot in front
of another.  Wish me luck!

Colorado Trail which could be a 1 day, 1 week, 1 month or 10 week hiking adventure-- 486 mi. from Denver to Durango.  It is an adventure that I have been dreaming about for years and this year finally I have the opportunity to do it.  So wish me luck.  I am not into 'selfies', so I think I will try to shoot a little video as a documentary of my hiking adventure.  We'll see what I come up with.  Where I want to take my photography next is one of the great questions I hope to find an answer about during this trip.

If any issues arise Paul Martin, the Deputy, is in charge and with Arnett the Intern they are both an easy email away.  I think you guys are all in the best of hands.

Another update is that I am excited to announce that we will be collaborating again this year with the Horticultural Art Society of Colorado Springs in a 2nd Annual Photo Contest.

They are working on the details and I believe the deadline will be September 31st.  For those that did not compete last year the subject for the contest are the gardens that the HAS cares for to include the Demonstration Gardens.

News:

Try A Free PPAedu Video! Commercial Photography: Lighting a Reflective Object with Cris J. Duncan

The Marriage of Wedding Photography and Photojournalism Getting Totally Out of Hand 

Eerie Large Format Photographs of Central Park Taken in the Middle of the Night

The Stories of Change

Incredibly Mind-Bending Images, You Have to See These
A Collection of Powerful Black and White Images


Rant & Rave:

You know most of the time a Rant or a Rave will focus on problems or issues.  Not this time.  I just want to share 'something great' or a moment when all was right with me and this Group.  It happened a couple weeks ago when I hosted a MeetUp called 'Portraits in the Park'.  It was not meant to be a class, more of a shoot outing.  And it turned out fantastic-  and I had practically nothing to do with it other than posting it.  Members helped members.  There were people of all skill levels.  People learned how to use reflectors by not just seeing one but by holding one so that a great image could be made.  And great images were being made- a few have been uploaded to our MeetUp photo album.  But from the perspective of your Organizer it was a perfect 5 star event. What makes us GREAT is our diversity, our passion for photography and our openness to share and 'have FUN!'

There are other things that we do: Community Service, Student Scholarships and a 'Community' Photo Contest.  But those are just programs that we are invested in.  The fact that we ourselves have become such a great community is what I hope that we can alway be and deliver.

Photo by Richard Firth

Think I will sign off with that. . .

Let's have FUN!
Charlie


Our Vision:  Educate, Showcase and Serve our Community 

One Minute Update (12 Jun)

Dear Community,

I hope that you are off trying new things or maybe looking at old things in a different way.  A different light.  Here is a great example of a fresh perspective.  I recommend that you turn your speakers up and take this little beauty for a test drive.  As our resident panorama guy Jim Harris describes it as, "Stunning is the only word that comes to mind."

I hope that you are all out there doing equally stunning work.  And of course 'having FUN!'  There is some good light/sunshine out there amidst the hail and the rain <grin> ((Welcome to Colorado Springs))

News:

The CSCPG taught its first Photography Merit Badge class to Boy Scouts last Saturday.  There were twenty seven very eager minds.  It is always fun to work with kids.  A little hard sometimes as an 'old guy' because you remember all the challenges you use to face: manual focusing, metering and 'catching moments.'  Today's kids jump in digitally and they are off and running.  And of course they grew up with everything being digital so they are explaining Photoshop to me, Ha ha!  Anyway it was a great way to spend a Saturday morning.  We hope to do another class in September prior to our first Pikes Peak Council Boy Scout Photography Contest in Oct. (stay tuned...  Thanks to Arnett for volunteering her time and energy)


Here are a couple great articles from Professional Photographer Magazine.  You can get a subscription for $19.95 a year- it's a great bargain :-)

Classic with a Twist: Ann Naugher's Child Portraiture -- Ann Naugher infuses a child's sense of wonder into traditional portraits.

Fertile Ground: Couture Maternity by Nylora Bruleigh -- "The younger girls love the original belly sessions, and the older women in their mid- to late 30s appreciate the belly couture. They like being pampered."

Family dynamics by Stephanie Boozer -- When you work with families, you find out pretty quickly that there's no single best method. 

The Art of Emotion by Minton -- Photography is about creating heirlooms.

Rant&Rave:  Very special thanks to Allison Earnest for sharing this historical story about Kodak's DCS1000, it's $25,000 price tag and it's 1.3 Mpix resolution and how it was 'state of the art' and photographers were lining up to use them.  As an 'old timer' in the group, it was amazing to bear witness to how technology has changed photography forever.  Things that I thought I would never see?  The death of Kodachrome.  A bankrupt Kodak.  5 Mp camera's on our phones.  20 Million photos being viewed every minute on the internet.


If I had invested in technology instead of buying film I might be richer.  But I am THRILLED that I lived in an age where you had to know what you were doing (there was no LCD on the back of my SLR).  There was (1) shot that was going to go on the cover of a magazine and... it was yours if you knew how to make it.

I recently had a conversation with a fellow photographer about shooting some images on a Twitter/Facebook deadline with their iPhone.  They were aghast at the idea of shooting with something less than with their $2,500- $5,000 DSLR rig.  I grinned and told them that using their DSLR was like killing a fly with a sledgehammer.  Press photographers were aghast at the 'photographers' taking pictures with their little 35mm cameras.  When color film came along an entire industry disappeared-- there was no more need for people who colored in someones photographs.

An image of mine used by Time Life Video in their advertising.
Imagine my surprise when I opened my mail and found my image.
Went into the office and sent them a bill (which they promptly paid).

Some of you have gotten on the 'digital' train later than the rest of us.  We 'old timers' learned it is the photographer, not the equipment, that makes a great image.  So wake up and smell the coffee, it is a brand new day.  And photography is changing.  You can buy a 2 Mp digital camera on Amazon for less that $12.  So here is my bottom line...  take time to invest in yourself.  Improve you!  Don't worry about the next new thing.  Believe me I have 'toys' and I even have a shelf of antiques (film cameras).  But the 'toys' don't define me as a photographer.  What you carry in your camera bag shouldn't define you.  The last honest picture you took should be where you hang your hat.  And if your VERY old and retired like me, you can always reach back and pull one out of your hat :-)

Just never stop seeing.  Composing in your mind.  Watching how the light is changing.

Think I will sign off with that. . .

Let's have FUN!
Charlie

Our Vision:  Educate, Showcase and Community Service

One Minute Update (22 May)

Hi everyone,

Paul is full of energy
and gives his all to
the Group

I want to start by sharing some exciting news.  The Group now has a 'Deputy Organizer'.  I asked Paul Martin and he has accepted to serve as 'Deputy Organizer' and as a manager of the Event Hosts.  Paul has been a member of the Group longer than I have (5.5 yrs).  He has served as a Co-Organizer for the last 3, going on 4, years and hosted scores of FREE MeetUps.  He is also co-signed on our Group checking account.

So if you are interested in becoming an Event Host please email Paul and introduce yourself.  You can teach just 1 class a year or teach as often as you would like.  IF you want to offer a paid class or two to the Group you can, but you must be willing to teach a FREE classes to the Group. 

We have also recruited an Intern.  I have recruited Arnett Luce to serve the Group and help me with the chores of running the Group.  She will take on managing the Annual 'Community' Photo Contest and will be the lead volunteer in our outreach to the Boy Scouts of Colorado.

Arnett is a budding
talent and also
full of energy.

About the Boy Scouts.  The Group is going to start teaching photography to the Boy Scouts of the Pikes Peak Councel (and the Girl Scouts in the future) who will be eager to earn a Photography Merit Badge.  Arnett is also fundraising to support a Pikes Peak Boy Scout Photographer of the Year and Boy Scout Photo Contest.  So, if your a parent or supporter of Scouting I would encourage you to contact her and offer her your support.  This is a TREMENDOUS opportunity for our Group.  We are thinking that we will grow this program to be State-Wide.

Where oh where have the members gone?  I know, I did a little house cleaning this week.  I removed a hundred members from the Group for being inactive for more than 9 months-- but I emailed them to tell them why, and why they were always welcomed back.  Here is what I said, "Hi, it looks like you have been inactive for more than 9 months.  I hope that sometime in the future you will rejoin and become active again.  You are always welcome to rejoin.  Best, Charlie"  Of all the people that I emailed not one wrote me back and asked to be reinstated.

You should see a big dip as I removed about 100 inactive
members of the Group.  Our intent is to try and continue to
offer the 5 star classes that we do and to reach and grow
our community.  But we need more volunteer Event Leaders
if we are going to reach more people. 

Why the cut back?  Well... we have always been focused on quality over quantity.  Plus the 'number' of members in the Group is a little deceptive.  You can have 953 members, but if the majority of them have not been 'active' for more than a year- are they really a 'member?'

Another reason to downsize is because we are community minded.  We can serve an active Group of 200-300 members better than we can serve 953.  With the volunteers that we have we did more than 130 MeetUps in 2013.  Nobody else has that kind of activity.  I talked about this at our Annual Meeting in January.  I choose to look at the fact that we have doubled the number of active members in the last 4 years and that we have grown our FB page to over 1,060 members in the last 24 months.  So 'yes' we are growing and we want you to share us with all your friends, but we don't ever want to rest on our laurels or stop growing physically or philosophically.

News

What Happens When A Photographer Takes The Same Photo From A Different Angle

Here's what a snail looks like captured in a long exposure photo.

Beautiful Women!

A Photograph Sparked Mothers To Show Us What Their Post-Baby Bodies Really Look Like

Time-Lapse Footage of a Supercell Thunderstorm

What If Famous Paintings Were Photoshopped to Look Like Fashion Models?

'What I Be' Project Reveals People's Darkest Insecurities In Stunning Photos

The Age of iPhone Reporting: Q&A with Neal Augenstein

Water shot! Photographer captures the precise moment a speeding bullet pierces a tiny droplet of falling liquid

Rants&Raves:  This is not so much a 'rant' or 'rave' it is more of a simple ask for your help.  The more that the Group grows the more need it has for volunteers.  Volunteers make any Group successful.  If you believe in 'paying it forward,' if you look at all the newcomers to photography who have never had a single photo class or if photography is a real passion-- then we want you involved in our Group.  Please contact Paul M about how you can make a difference.

Think I will sign off with that. . .

Let's have FUN!
Charlie