Hail..hail, the gang's all here!
Almost a dozen members of my
Photo Group got together Sunday morning in Summerville.
Rudy Lutge, a co-coordinator of the 21st Century Photography Group, offered a step-by-step tutorial on how - and why - to use Neutral Density (ND) filters.
"Think of these dark filters as sunglasses for your camera," he told us.
On a bright, sunny day, if you try to use a slower shutter speed, the image will be overexposed, Rudy added.
If you want to take a slow exposure shot of flowing water, an ND filter lets you use a longer shutter opening and change the look of a fountain (or waterfall) to a dreamy fog or blurred motion for a special effect.
Rudy often is out at Folly Beach in the wee hours before dawn, taking pictures of waves flowing gently like mist, wrapping around rocks close to the shore. Oh, and he also shoots the sunrise!
Member David Gentry uses a tripod and shutter release cable to take his long exposure (1-3 seconds) photo.
By not touching the camera itself, the images are sharp because there is no camera shake.
Portraits with an out-of-focus background are another bonus of using the dark filters. Opening the lens wider causes a shallow depth of field and the face will stand out more.
The members brought an array of equipment and varying levels of expertise.
My little Canon sx280HS Point & Shoot camera can accept these filters and I can set a slow exposure for as long as 15 seconds. Not bad for a camera that fits in my shirt pocket.
Members John Cullati (L) and Charles Giet, discuss camera settings as we turn our attention to the water fountain.
It's behind city hall, where the Farmers Market is held on Saturdays, and I learned it's the site where a Summerville fire station used to stand. There is a monument there that honor first-responders.
Charles is a long-time resident and my go-to guy with any questions I have about his birthplace.
Here's one of my shots that alters the look of the flowing water.
Miniature waterfalls without having to drive a long distance. (Click on the photos and links for more details.)
If you're interested in photography, join our group. It's free and then come along on some of our photo walks or events.
Oh, what about my vacation photo of
Paris and
Edinburgh? I have plenty more and will share them in future postings on my blog.
Thanks for stopping by. Stay cool for a just a while longer.
Labels: #Charles Giet, Andy Reilly, Danny Cortes, Dave Gentry, Dee, first-responders, John Cullati, Rudy Lutge, Sandy Kaminsky, Saturday Farmers Market, Summerville Fire Station
Azaleas? What azaleas??
Members of my 21st Century Photography Group held a "preview" walking tour Saturday of the famed
FLOWERTOWN in Summerville March 27-29..
A light cloud cover felt good as the dozen or so photographers gathered at Azalea Park to "beat the crowd" next weekend.
The walk leader, longtime Summerville native Charles Giet, as always, was very informative as we ambled along in search of the elusive flowering azaleas.
We saw lots of evidence on pine trees of the yellow dust pods that burst forth and trigger allergy sneezes but saw very few red, pink and white flowers.
By the time we finished lunch at Montreux, and walked back to the parking area, the yellow "sneezing powder" had settled on all of our cars and any other flat surface.
But, we are not a group of negative people.
(Get that, a
film reference in this digital age.)
Charles steered us around marshy patches along the route up Sumter and back down South Laurel streets.
Member Andy Reilly moved in close to capture shots of one particularity flowering bush in the aptly-named Azalea Park.
Leader Charles explained that our 2nd annual flower preview walk was a victim of the festival dates being moved around a week earlier to accommodate the Bridge Run.
Last year the blossoms were fantastic.
So, instead, we zoomed in on historic homes, framing them with bushes and moss-draped limbs.
The group shot was taken at a Bed & Breakfast situated on Sumter Street, behind a home dating back to 1812.
Charles was particularly proud as he pointed out the home where he and his 5 sibling were raised.
I asked if it were historic and he answered it certainly was to his family.
He chatted with several homeowners as we passed. They were tending to yards that would be on display to 200,000 attending the 43rd annual Flowertown festival.
After we snapped several churches, we turned up South Laurel Street.
I spotted a home where laundry had been done and was hung out for the solar dryer.
The camellias were plentiful so we did shoot some flower pictures.
My eye now was tuned for unusual pictures.
I did step back often to show the members doing artful work with their cameras.
With a newspaper photographer's background, I often look for the human interest angle, rather than me pausing and stooping down to take close-ups of flowers.
The colorful clothes on the line had caught my eye.
My zoom lenses kept me from trespassing in someone's back yard.
Saw this sad, rain-smeared notice of a lost cat.
Of course, that same rain would have made it uncomfortable for the missing tabby so I wished it - and the anxious owners - well.
I remember a cartoon of a cat's picture, posted on a telephone pole, with the caption
"Not missing. Just think my pet is an awesome looking cat."
Hope this misplaced kitty tale has a happy ending.
Even before we left the parking lot at Azalea Park, we photographers had a cute photo opp.
Two Dads and their small children, were enjoying a soap bubble time together.
There was just enough breeze to blow the bubbles past us.
Obviously this parent moment deserved having some pictures made.
One of the bubble-makers was set on "automatic" and fired off a bevy of bubbles each time the trigger was pulled
.
Giggles were heard by all of them.
And, a few of us.
(Click on the photos for more details.)
It was a pleasant walk and fun conversations at lunch afterwards.
Some of us had trouble linking our Smartphones to the restaurant's Wi-Fi even after we were given the "secret" code.
My attention was on an excellent bowl of shrimp & grits.
If you want to keep track of the Photo Group's meetings and planned outings, just go to http://photo.meetup.com/687.
Bring along your camera or even just your phone-that-also-takes-pictures.
We're a friendly bunch of photographers ...and wannabes.
Labels: allergies, Andy Reilly, blowin' bubbles pretty bubbles, Charles Giel, Flowertown Festival, lost cat poster, pine tree yellow dust, solar clothes dryer, Sumter and Laurel Streets
Almost a dozen members of my Photo Group got together Sunday morning in Summerville.
