Camera
club coming to Lake Marion
By
SHARRON HALEY
Item Staff Writer
shaley@theitem.com
MANNING — Have you ever seen a picture of a brightly colored flower with a single drop of dew falling from a petal or watched your children at play and wished you could save the moment in a picture that reflected the mood of that moment?
Chris Moore, founder and president of the Sumter Digital Camera Club, is offering novices and professionals in photography around the Lake Marion a chance to learn how to turn that special moment into a lifelong treasure.
An avid photographer with more than six years of professional experience, Moore is branching out with the formation of the Lake Marion Digital Camera Club.
Like the Sumter club, the Lake Marion Digital Camera Club will be a part of Palmetto Shutterbugs, an organization that offers its members a chance to share ideas throughout its various clubs.
Founded just a little more than a year ago, the Sumter Digital Camera Club grew from just three members at its initial meeting to 30 members in a year.
The Lake Marion club will be organized similar to the Sumter club, according to Moore.
“Our meetings are two hours long. We begin by socializing and then we post pictures in two monthly photo contests,” he said. “One contest, the photo of the month, is an open category. The second contest is an assigned category.”
Themes for the assigned category in prior months have included the color yellow, water, 4th of July and, for August, heat.
“The images should convey those themes,” Moore said. “Members vote on the two categories and the top three photos in each contest will be displayed on the club’s Web site and, of course, we give the winners a small prize for their accomplishment.”
Each meeting also features two speakers or special presentations.
There are two 30-minute presentations given by either a member of the club or a guest speaker.
Moore said any topic is open for discussion.
“From grandmothers taking pictures of their grandchildren to professional photographers who make a living with their cameras, everyone has something to offer,” he said. “No matter what level of photography you’re at, you can share and contribute information for others to learn.”
By being around other photographers, novices and professionals alike, members of the club are spurred to create better pictures, Moore said.
With the availability of digital cameras, many amateur and professional photographers have discarded the older 35mm cameras.
“That doesn’t mean you can’t come to the meetings if you have a 35mm camera,” Moore said. “From the small point and shoot cameras to the more sophisticated high-end digital cameras, every photographer has something to offer to the club.”
Becoming a part of the club could be very beneficial to individuals interested in purchasing a digital camera or upgrading current equipment, he said.
“Before you make a purchase, you can talk with photographers about the best equipment for the money and get to see hands-on some of their equipment,” he said. “If you’ve just purchased a camera and aren’t exactly sure how to use it, members of the club will be happy to assist you in learning how to use your new camera.”
Moore said clubs like the Sumter Digital Camera Club and the Lake Marion Digital Camera Club are a necessity.
“While it’s a simple process to save digital pictures to a computer, choosing the right size to reproduce at a later date might be difficult,” Moore said. “The club could help members increase the quality of their photography.”
To view pictures from the Sumter Digital Camera Club, log on to www.sumtershutterbugs.com.
For more information on Palmetto Shutterbugs, log onto www.palmettoshutterbugs.com
Grab a camera and head outdoors. Experiment with angles, lighting and colors. Shoot one topic from a variety of angles and have fun, Moore said.
“Photography is fun,” he said. “Digital cameras allow you the freedom to make mistakes and move on. Learn from those mistakes and always remember to have fun with your camera.”