“Shoot Happens”

Regular meeting location and time has been changed to an event at Independence, IA. The shoot will happen at Wapsipinicon Mill Museum and Train Station. It will begin at noon at the Museum.

Speaker Colby McLemore

Beyond the Ribbon: How Competition Critiques Transform Your Photography

In this informative presentation, I’ll share my perspective as a competition judge and reveal hat really happens behind the judging curtain. We’ll review images that you submit through the link below, providing real-time critique and analysis.

The presentation will focus on:

• The criteria some judges use when reviewing photographs

• Common mistakes that keep good photos from winning

• How competition feedback can transform your photography

As I often tell people before judging: “One person will be happy, and everyone else will blame it on me!” But the true value of competitions isn’t the ribbons—it’s the focus they bring to creating better images. Through critique and feedback, you’ll gain insights that transform your photography.

Join us to learn how to see your work through a judge’s eyes and use competitions as a valuable tool for artistic growth!

Scheduled 1 week early to accommodate Mother’s Day

ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST

ANNUAL MEETING - ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Speaker: Allan Barnett

Intersecting Masks in Lightroom

Use two masks to select a complex area.  It can be used to select clouds, first select the sky and then using the Luminescence Range selection to show only selecting the whites only in the sky.  Or invert this and select only the sky without affecting the clouds.

In Photoshop it is called “Blend If”.

Example by Matt Kloskowski:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxkD4vLc90A&t=20s

SPEAKER: LISA BERGMANN-SMITHEY

COMPOSITION

(Rescheduled from April due to a scheduling conflict) Composition is the cornerstone of any art form. Knowing how to combine elements in an image - what to put in, what to leave out, learning the basic rules of composition and when to use them, when to break them, when to ignore them, and photographing with intention are integral pieces of the compositional process. In this presentation, we’ll chat about the Previsualization/Compositional process, and ways to make your images more dynamic.

Lisa Bergmann-Smithey is a commercial and fine art photographer originally from New York and Los Angeles, now based in Iowa. She studied at the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California, with continuing studies at UC Santa Barbara and UCLA. A dedicated teacher, mentor and lifelong learner herself, she believes in the power of continuing education. She has been a professional photographer and instructor for more than 30 years, and has taught all ages and levels of photography.

Landscape Photography | Tripods and More

Keith Sutherland will give a presentation with an overview of what is involved in taking good landscape photos.  It will include an emphasis on composition, lighting and things to consider and do.

Allan Barnett will cover the topics of monopods to tripods and swivel heads to ball heads.  It  will include a slide presentation.  Learn the features and opportunities offered in using various equipment.

AN AMERICAN JOURNEY - Discovering Historic Route 66

Speaker: Justin Tedford

In his photography presentation on Route 66, Justin will share his passion for this iconic American highway and explain why he chose it as his subject. He will discuss his deliberate approach to capturing the essence of Route 66, detailing his stylistic decisions, whether focusing on capturing the nostalgic charm of its roadside attractions, the striking landscapes it traverses, or the enduring spirit of the communities along the way. Justin will also outline the gear he selected for the journey, highlighting how each piece contributed to achieving his artistic vision. Throughout the presentation, he will articulate his goals of preserving the historical and cultural significance of Route 66 while showcasing its enduring beauty through his photography

The 2024 Iowa State Fair opens on August 8 and runs through August 18. Linn Area Photo Club has supported the Photography Competition for many years.

Find more info here: https://www.iowastatefair.org/

This LAPC calendar event was created on February 21, 2024. At that time, the Fair website had not been updated for all 2024 events. Please be aware that that some of the dates are still for 2023 activities.

Speaker: Robert Fox - Cyanotypes

When LAPC was being organized, member Mari Phelan, met Robert Fox at a meeting.  At that time, Robert owned and operated the Modern Gallery Framing Shop in Cedar Rapids.  During his 18 years at the shop, he matted many Iowa State Fair entries for LAPC members!

He has a technical background and enjoyed working many years in the photo services studios at the University of Iowa. 

Robert’s photos have been exhibited at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Gilded Pear Gallery and more.  We can look forward to his work displayed at an upcoming exhibit at “Moss - Cedar Rapids”.  Twenty five years ago he started in black and white photography and more recently, some “blues”… Cyanotypes to be exact.

He has years of experience working in dark rooms and using film cameras.  He develops his own film and prints in his home studio.  He’s been on the cutting of the age old cyanotype process that is recently gaining in popularity!  Robert will tell us all about Cyanotypes, the history and show us how to have fun making our own Cyanotypes!

 IBEW Hall, 1211 Wiley Blvd SW, Cedar Rapids, IA

Photo editing technique demonstration using Photoshop.

Due to Mother’s Day, meeting is one week early,

SPEAKER: KEVIN RAILSBACK
Kevin is an Emmy nominated filmmaker and photographer and has traveled as far as Africa to test HD cameras for Panasonic. His stunning nature and wildlife footage has appeared in productions on National Geographic, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel as well as in commercials for such corporate giants as AT&T. The cool thing is Kevin lives in the CEDAR RAPIDS area and is a member of LAPC! Mark your calendar for May 5. His breathtaking work can also be found on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naturephotostudios/

Website: https://naturephotostudios.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NaturePhotoStudios

Instagram: naturephotostudios

On April 8, 2024 a rare photographic opportunity will cross over sections of Mexico, the United States and Canada. Totality will last only a few minutes. You can view NASA’s 2024 Solar Eclipse Map here: https://youtu.be/fmtGqOxxmEU?si=ErVRuxEvUmdsmhIj

SPEAKERS: CARL BRACKEN & JIM BONSER

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY & ASTRONOMY

Two featured speakers, Carl Bracken and Jim Bonser, will be covering the general subjects at our March meeting. Both are members of the Cedar Amatuer Astronomers. We are quite delighted to learn more about astrophotography just prior to the upcoming Total Eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024.

SPEAKER: JOHN C. THOMAS
Website: catchlight.ws

“46 Years of Commercial Photography - A Retrospective”

Owner of Catchlight, a commercial photography studio established to craft distinctive digital photography.

Photographer John C. Thomas is equally at home photographing people, places and things in the studio and on location. John’s portfolio work includes people, products, food, architecture, aviation, aerial, panoramic landscape and corporate work for annual reports, brochures, catalogs, books, websites and many other applications.

PHOTOGRAPHER OF FOOD • INDUSTRIAL • PRODUCTS • PEOPLE

While on a family vacation at age 14, John had a once-in-a-lifetime experience assisting Julius Shulman, a Life Magazine architectural photographer, with a photo shoot of a resort. From the first click of the shutter, John knew he had found his calling. He grew to love aviation, a fascination he was able to pair with photography throughout his career. John is just as comfortable shooting a portrait for an annual report as he is taking photos in the wilderness, from the air or in fisheye’s kitchen studio.

“I consider it a privilege to be called upon to help some of the best marketing communications professionals to produce positive results through my images.”

More about John:

John Thomas and CATCHLIGHT STUDIOS...
Not many people can say they have worked their whole career in a field they absolutely love. Thanks to you I have enjoyed a long and wonderful career promoting your brands through the art of photography. I was asked what makes my job special? First, the relationships, second, the challenge! I never knew what the day might bring. From -15 degrees below zero knee deep in snow photographing timber harvesting to +110 degrees photographing
the cockpit of Arnold Palmer's jet to luscious food. Photographing nuclear rods in the moon pool of lowa's only nuclear reactor, the first robotic surgery in our area, Bo Diddley with the lowa Hawkeyes, and the President of the United States. I've hung out of helicopters, bucket trucks, and climbed the tallest grain bins. I have to give a shout out to Mitchell & Benson Photography, DLJ Studios, and the guys at fisheye for making room for me in 2002.