In Focus: August 15 - 28
Dana Martell - Bird Talk
This twice monthly list of OPCC events, reminders, and news is compiled by Lori Moilanen. Please send information on upcoming events, news items, and corrections to opcc4mail@gmail.com. This newsletter is currently published twice monthly on Sunday evenings in advance of our first and third Thursday meetings. The deadline for submissions for the next newsletter is Friday August 26.
NEWS
Message From OPCC President Bruce Fryxell
According to OPCC by-laws, September is the month when I need to appoint a Nominating Committee, consisting of three club members, to help select officers for next year. The Committee submits its recommendations at our first October meeting, at which time additional nominations may be taken from the floor. The membership then votes on the nominations at our first November meeting. I am looking for volunteers to serve on this committee. We would especially like to get people involved who are not currently on the Executive Committee. If you are willing to help to shape the future of our club, please contact me at opccpres@gmail.com before out next Executive Committee meeting on September 6.
Reminder - Volunteer for Upcoming Clallam County Fair
The 2022 Clallam County Fair will be held from Aug 18-21, and there’s a photography exhibition. Although OPCC is not organizing the exhibition this year, there are still opportunities to support our community by volunteering to help at the photography barn. Opportunities include taking in photos, hanging the exhibition, or hosting during the 4 days of the fair. Click HERE to volunteer to help.
EDUCATIONAL SPEAKER SERIES
Get Ready for OPCC and OCC August Night Sky Field Trips with Guest Speaker Nico Carver on Thursday August 18 at 7:00 PM via Zoom.
Shooting the night sky can seem daunting for the beginner. The mistake many make is thinking they immediately have to go out and buy a large telescope. Nico Carver will lead participants through a short workshop on how to use normal photography gear for shooting the stars. With just a tripod, a DSLR or mirrorless camera, and a fast lens, one can start taking stunning shots of the milky way, constellations, and even nebulae and galaxies.
Nico Carver has always been a camera nut. After graduating college with a degree in filmmaking, he traveled around the world and first fell in love with photographing the night sky while shooting Aurora in Iceland. He now works at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard Smithsonian and has a YouTube channel that aims to help beginners get started with Astrophotography.
For more Information on Nico Carver, visit http://nicocarver.com for general information and https://www.nebulaphotos.com for astrophotography images, tips, and gear reviews.
Use the OPCC Education Night Zoom Code to access this meeting. OPCC Members click HERE to access the OPCC Zoom Codes webpage.
Nico Carver
MEMBER SHARING
Next Member Share Night Meeting is September 1 at 7:00 PM.
We will hold a hybrid event for the September 1 Member Share Night meeting. The in-person meeting will be at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Sequim. Anyone not wanting to attend the in-person meeting at the church will still be able to participate via Zoom as usual.
The monthly Special Theme for sharing is Astrophotography.
The deadline for submitting photos for sharing (up to two photos/member) is Sunday August 28 at 11:00 PM.For more information or questions about OPCC Member Share Night, contact Member Share Night Chair Dan McKenna (opccphotos@gmail.com).
FIELD TRIPS, WORKSHOPS, & MEET-UPS
Salt Creek/Tongue Point - Trip Report
We had a yet another great turnout of about 15 members (do you sense a theme here?) for this photography field trip organized by Kevin Talbot. Kevin got everyone off to a well-prepared start with the Powerpoint guide he created and distributed before the field trip. Participants took advantage of the great weather and diverse photo opportunities ranging from landscapes to tide pools to shoot for a few hours. For some it was their first opportunity to photograph tide pools and their inhabitants. Participants then gathered to socialize and enjoy a byo brown bag picnic lunch. Check out the photos in the field trip gallery later this week.
Kevin Talbot - Anemone
OPCC August Field Trip #2 - Astrophotography/ Milky Way Photography Field Trip
Date: Saturday, August 27, 2022
Time: 7:30 pm to Mid-night, Sunset is at 8:01 pm, sky will darken around 9 pm, but we need to be in place before it gets dark.
Meet up: At the Olympic National Park Visitor’s Center Parking Lot (3002 Mount Angeles Road) Possible carpooling from here.
Shooting Site: Morse Creek Overlook (on the road to Hurricane Ridge, just before the tunnel. If you go through the tunnel, you’ve gone too far!).
Preparation: Attend “Astrophotography without a Telescope” Education Night, August 18, 2022 with Nico Carver.
Recommended Equipment:
Camera: Good Pixel Rating
Remote Shutter Trigger (nice but not absolutely necessary, or be familiar with your delayed shutter setting)
Lens: One with wide aperture, wide angle 14mm to 24mm preferable
Tripod: Sturdy!
Folding Stool or camp chair
Mosquito Repellant
Head lamp with Red Light
Extra warm clothing, gloves, hat
Water and snacks
The Over Look is a pull-off with parking spaces. There is an easy paved trail from the parking lot to the platform. THERE ARE NO RESTROOM FACILITIES!
Sequim Air Affaire Meet Up - Saturday August 27 at 9:30 AM
Join Dan McKenna for a Meet Up at the annual Air Affaire held at the Sequim Valley Airport on Saturday August 27, 2022. The event runs from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Visit this website for more info: olympicpeninsulaairaffaire.com
Admission fee: $10.00 per car load
OPCC members will meet at 9:30 am at the large bulletin board in the main parking lot.
Olympia Camera Club Mount St. Helens Night Sky Photography Field Trip - Saturday August 27 at 8:00 PM
Our friends in the Olympia Camera Club are organizing a field trip to visit Mount St. Helens for night photography. OPCC members are welcome to attend. Weather permitting, this field trip will provide opportunities to photograph blue hour, golden hour and the night sky. If you have never photographed the night sky, this field trip is for you. There will be plenty of seasoned OCC club members present to help you get set up and answer questions. Click HERE to visit the description on the field trip webpage.
COMPETITION/IMAGE EVALUATION
Reminder - First Federal has announced their annual PNW Photo Contest
Submission Deadline is August 29, 2022 for the First Fed 2023 Calendar.
Click HERE to go to to their contest page for complete details.
Here is the CLUB CHALLENGE from OPCC Competition Chair Peggy McClure: everyone should submit their favorite PNW Photo and let’s see if we can win all 12 months plus the cover photo!
For more information, contact OPCC Competition Chair Peggy McClure (opcc.competition@gmail.com).
Reminder - OPCC Summer Competition/External Evaluation is Open for Submissions
Deadline for submissions: September 19
This is an open competition so while the theme is Summer the submissions maybe on any subject, color or monochrome, your imagination is your only limitation. We have limited the number of submissions to two per image maker so that we have ample time to discuss the image and comment on the judge’s scores. Look forward to seeing your submissions and see you at the October 6 meeting. You may get complete details on how to submit and the criteria used for the evaluations on the website. Information and tools for OPCC competitions are located on the “Competition” webpage in the Members Only section of the website (click HERE to visit the Competition webpage). For more information contact OPCC Competition Chair Peggy McClure (opcc.competition@gmail.com).
Check the OPCC Website for Complete Details on the Following Competitions
The International Garden Photographer of the Year will accept entries through October 31 in a variety of categories. Detailed information is available on the External Competitions page (click HERE) of the OPCC website.
If You’re Aware of Competitions That Might Interest OPCC Members…
If you are aware of any competitions you think members might be interested in please contact Competition Chair Peggy McClure at opcc.competition@gmail.com. Peggy will gather the details and when appropriate we will publish information in the Newsletter and on the Website.
Information on a select list of external competitions (curated by Peggy McClure) can be found on the Competition webpage of the OPCC Website in the Members Only section.