Ken Duquaine

Perhaps Arizona’s greatest claim to fame is that it’s home to one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon. Each year, hordes of both amateur and professional photographers join the nearly six million visitors to this spectacular landscape. One of the first things that photographers realize when viewing their photographic attempts is the difficulty in capturing and conveying the sheer scale and magnitude of this challenging subject.

This past August, five members of the Sun Lakes Camera Club (SLCC) and their spouses spent three days enjoying the cooler temperatures and taking on the challenge of photographing the wonders of the Grand Canyon. Led by SLCC’s veteran canyon photographer Lynn Thompson, club members Sonja Walcker, Shelley Hughes, Raul Lopez, and Ken Duquaine were treated to the inspiring vistas offered by some of the canyon’s most picturesque viewpoints. Some of the results of their efforts will undoubtedly be seen during our coming season’s competitions.

At our first meeting on Oct. 12, member Jim Smith will present a program on photographing rodeos. The August 2023 issue of the Photographic Society of America’s PSA Journal featured a fine article by Jim on that very topic. This will be a presentation not to be missed.

Each fall at the Activities Open Houses hosted by Sun Lakes, Cottonwood Palo Verde, and IronOaks, attendees stop at the Camera Club booth to admire our photo display. Many are surprised that some great images are from novice photographers. We display these images to show that with a little assistance and encouragement, we can all produce work of equally high quality.

Helping photographers improve their skills has always been central to the Sun Lakes Camera Club’s mission. To that end, we developed the Digital Photography Fundamentals class series several years ago. The course is open to all club members and non-members alike. Sun Lakes residency is not required.

As in past seasons, two separate courses will be offered. Introduction to Digital Photography is designed to equip novice photographers with skills to produce beautiful photos using the automatic features of digital cameras. Mastering your Technique is more appropriate for experienced photographers striving for superior results by matching equipment and settings to the shooting environment and desired impact.

Each topic is presented in great detail with a wealth of examples. All students receive class notes prior to each session. Field shoots and studio workshops are included!

Classes begin in January. For additional information, visit our club’s website, www.sunlakescameraclub.com, or contact Dan Dragoon at [email protected].

Visit our booth during community day.

The Sun Lakes Camera Club meets on the second and fourth Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Lecture Hall of the Cottonwood Country Club from October through April. For more information about the SLCC and its activities, contact SLCC President Samantha (Sam) Palmatier at 907-727-0334 or [email protected], or past President Lynn Thompson at 480-734-0040 or [email protected], and visit our website, www.sunlakescameraclub.com.