Photo by Dan Dragoon
Dan Dragoon
Photography has been around a long time. Family albums show grandparents, and earlier generations. There are published photos of Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglas, Paris, and the Egyptian pyramids dating to the 1840s. In fact, cameras date back over 2,000 years, used first to assist painters, then modified to expose film, as the chemistry of photography evolved.
Some were bitten by the shutterbug early in life. We started with our family’s Brownie or Instamatic, later advancing to 35mm rangefinder or SLR cameras. Operating these mid-20th century contraptions required some skill: adjusting Aperture and Shutter speed following Light Meter readings. By the late 1970s, most 35mm cameras featured auto-exposure. The 1980s brought us Auto-Focus.
By the turn of the Millenium, digital photography would bankrupt Eastman Kodak. Gone is the 36-exposure limit, loading and rewinding film (in the shade please!). Having film developed, or for the truly devoted: the darkroom (yes, you with the yellow fingers!).
Digital Photography brought a new generation to the hobby/art/obsession. Indeed, many club members started during the digital age. Cameras today operate completely automatically. Just aim your lens and press the shutter: Point-and-Shoot. Yet, the past lives on in modern advanced cameras: Manual controls (Aperture, Shutter Speed and Focus), along with interchangeable lenses and filters. These knobs and levers remain to help us foster our unique style. PCs and software replaced the chemical darkroom, providing a trove of functions to enhance (or ruin) our images.
By the mid 2000s the quality of digital photos had surpassed the most advanced film. At the same time, cameras became easier to use. Even carrying a camera became unnecessary. The weightless, free camera was included in our smart phones. Pictures no longer needed post processing, could be stored in the cloud, and forwarded to friends and family half a world away. Alas, some photographers’ entire body of work is countless photos of food from the most exotic restaurants!
Most everyone today owns and uses a camera daily (if only to compare grocery prices). And yet, many are frustrated. Many photos, though technically perfect, lack interest or emotional connection: Personality, Character, Soul.
We’re here to help. Our acclaimed Digital Photography Fundamentals class dissects a photograph to its basic elements to show how to create a strong, memorable image. Learn how Perspective, Light, and Exposure, along with shapes and lines are used to convey different emotions, creating a connection between photographer and viewer. You will gain a deeper understanding and increased skill level with each session.
Be a part of this! To learn more, or sign up for this enjoyable course, visit our club’s website www.eastvalleyphotoclub.com or contact Dan Dragoon dan.dragoon@yahoo.com.
The East Valley Photo Club meets on the first and third Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Navajo Room of Sun Lakes Country Club from October through April. For more information call EVPC President Raul Lopez at 408-209-3114, or email rslopez@comcast.net, or past president Ken Duquain at 248-342-0790, or email kduquaine@hotmail.com. Learn more at www.eastvalleyphotoclub.com.