Picasa and Picnik Workshop

In response to members’ request for help in using Picasa and Picnik to edit photos, a mini-workshop will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery and Gift Shop, located on the courthouse square in Thomaston. The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will conclude around 8 p.m. The newest version of Picasa (3.9) will be used during the demonstration. Laptops are not required, but if you have one and would like to bring it so that you can have a “hands on” experience, feel free to do so. (Be sure to download Picasa before coming to the workshop. It’s FREE and is available at www.picasa.com.) There is no charge for the workshop, and membership in Shutterbugs is not required. Photographers of all skill levels are invited. For more info, contact Johnnie Ann Gaskill.

Tom Vadnais to speak to the Shutterbugs on January 10th

“Tom Vadnais in the Redwoods”

Tom Vadnais first studied landscape photography in the Fall of 1999 in a workshop with the late Galen Rowell. But he didn’t do much with what he learned until he switched to digital in Autumn 2001. It was then that Tom started taking numerous additional photography and Photoshop workshops, seminars, and classes with some of the most respected names in the business, including Charlie Cramer, Charlie Waite, Bruce Dale, John Shaw, Jack Dykinga, John Sexton, John Paul Caponigro, Moose Peterson, and Thom Hogan.

Since 2004, Tom has been teaching photography and Photoshop in workshops the Smokies with Willard Clay (Fall) and Bill Lea (Spring). For the past several Springs, he has taught workshops with Lori Kincaid in the Max Patch area of the Appalachians. Tom has also helped British master landscape photographer Charlie Waite put on all five of his Master Class workshops in the US to date. (They’re working on MC VI).

In addition, Tom has judged numerous photography competitions, and has given many

photography and Photoshop talks, workshops, and classes for various clubs and groups around the country. He was a two-term President of the Roswell Photographic Society, and is a founding Board Member of the North Georgia Camera Club Council. He is currently in his second term as Director of Education on the Board of Georgia Nature Photographers’ Association.

Tom has been fortunate enough to win numerous photography awards, and has sold images in a number of shows and galleries. For several years, White Sands National Monument exclusively sold his images in their museum store.

To see some of his beautiful images, please visit his new website: http://www.tomvadnais.com/ Tom is in the process of creating new galleries, so do make return visits!

A meeting was held on Nov. 15th at the J. Joel Edwards Public Library in Pike County to discuss plans for starting a chapter of GNPA in the West Central Georgia area. George Bradfield, Vice-President of GNPA addressed the group. Eleven other persons attended the meeting: Alicia Pastiran, Ann Pasley, Bonny Shockley, Francis Hauke, Jim Davidson, Jimmy Day, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, King Davis, Linda Godwin, Margie Lentini, and Sheryl Farr. Although all of them are members of Shutterbugs, membership in Shutterbugs is not a requirement for membership in the new chapter. Photographers (of any skill level) who enjoy photographing nature are invited to join as soon as the new chapter become operational. In the meantime, contact Johnnie Ann Gaskill if you wish to have your name added to the list of persons interested in the new chapter.

One of Melba Brown's photos placed as a finalist in a recent contest sponsored by www.betterphoto.com. To see the image, "Fall in Colorado #2," please visit Melba's gallery on this site: http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/gallery.asp?mem=243773 (Scroll down to see more of Melba's beautiful images, many of which have been designated as Editors Picks or Finalists.) Her most recent finalist was one of the 748 chosen from over 14,200 entries and is "in the running" to be chosen as a winner. To see all the finalists, click here: http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/dynoGall2.asp?catID=48071 Congratulations to Melba for creating award-winning images.

Shutterbugs Fill The United Bank Calendar!

Front Cover - "Window at Hotel Upson" --- Melba Brown

December 2011 - "Icy Hot" --- ChadD Morton

April 2012 - "A Refreshing Summer Bath" --- Jim Davidson

May 2012 - "Roadside Remembrance" --- Bonny Shockley

June 2012 - "Three of a Kind" --- James O. Day, MD

July 2012 - "Summer Afternoon" --- Anna Mary Ellerbee

November 2012 - "Leaves of Gold" --- Dianne Culpepper Kelly