Shutterbug Update!

Shutterbugs frequently attend events and take lots of pictures. Even after they return home, they continue to have fun as they edit their photos. Because editing is an essential step in creating better photos, the topic at the Nov. 10th meeting will be “An Overview and Demonstration of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2,” one of many photo editing programs available to today’s photographers.

Shown in the photo taken on Oct. 25th at the UGA Research and Education Garden in Griffin during the closing celebration for “Scarecrows in the Garden” are nine of the Shutterbugs: Francis Hauke, Dianne Kelly, Linda Boyles, Linda Godwin, Joan Phillips, Sherry Kunde, Bonny Shockley, Joy Corley, and Johnnie Ann Gaskill. Later that afternoon, they applauded as Dee Hinson, who was not present for the group photo, accepted a ribbon awarded to the Shutterbugs for their entry that was chosen as the “Funniest Scarecrow.” Photo by Jes Shockley.

Shutterbugs Win Awards

Five Shutterbugs attended the Georgia National Fair in Perry on Monday, October 12th: Harolyn Castleberry, Dianne Kelly, Joan Phillips, Brenda Fayard, and Johnnie Ann Gaskill. The Fair will be open through October 18th. For more information, please visit http://www.georgianationalfair.com/ Photo by Valerie McFadden

According to Alan Thiese, Photography Chairman at the Georgia National Fair, 848 entries were received in the Beginner Division (672 color and 226 monochrome), 429 entries in the Advanced Division (282 color and 148 monochrome), and 194 in the Open (Professional) Division (117 color and 77 monochrome). Therefore, receiving a ribbon of any kind out of a field of that many excellent photos is indeed a HUGE honor. So, congratulations are certainly in order for the following Shutterbugs:

Anna Mary Ellerbee--one 4th and one 6th place ribbon
Bonny Shockley—four 6th place
Gordon Brown—one 3rd place
Harolyn Castleberry—two 1st place
Johnnie Gaskill—one 1st place
Marcia Edwards—one 3rd place
Marcia Fisher—one 2nd and one 5th
Marji Davis-Williams—one 3rd and one 4th
Melba Brown, one 2nd, one 3rd, and one 5th

Sherry Kunde received a 2nd place award for an image she entered into The Rock Ranch’s photography contest held on October 10th and Melba Brown received a 3rd place award.

West Central Georgia Shutterbugs in SlowExposures

Two members of the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs were juried into SlowExposures 2009, a yearly photography exhibit celebrating photography of the rural south. Linda Best and Fawne DeRosia each had one photograph chosen out of 641 entries submitted from across the nation. Linda's photo of a magnolia bloom titled, "Radiance" and
Fawne's photo of a farm chicken titled, "Through the Fence" were among the 93 photos displayed at the Historic Candler Field Museum in Williamson, Georgia. Since 2003, SlowExposures has attracted many photography lovers to rural Pike County and has raised funds for the Pike Historic Preservation.

The WCG Shutterbugs are always on the lookout to promote their many creative skills and have created a scarecrow to exhibit in the "Scarecrows in the Garden Celebration" at the UGA Griffin Campus Research and Education Garden in Griffin, Georgia. Scarecrows from many civic groups in the area will be on display from October 12th to October 25th.

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will meet on Tuesday, October 13th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery and Gift Shop, located next door to the Ritz Theater on the courthouse square in Thomaston. Photos that were entered into the first club-sponsored photo contest will be projected onto the wall so that Shutterbugs can discuss what "works" in each photograph. Conversation will center around composition, color theory, and other elements of photography.

Photo by Harolyn Castleberry.

Shutterbugs Meet Richard Bernabe

Krista Williams (left) and Johnnie Ann Gaskill (right), who are members of the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs, attended a recent meeting of the Middle Georgia Camera Club in Macon when acclaimed outdoor and nature photographer Richard Bernabe was the guest speaker for the evening. After the meeting, they each purchased a signed copy of The Ultimate Guide to Digital Nature Photography, which Richard co-authored, and discussed with him the possibility of his speaking at a Shutterbugs meeting sometime during 2010. To view samples of Richard’s outstanding images, visit his website: http://www.richardbernabe.com. Photo by Diana Sullivan, President of the Middle Georgia Camera Club.

Shutterbugs Express Appreciation to TUAC

At their annual business meeting in August, the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs voted to give $100 to the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) because, according to President Johnnie Ann Gaskill, “We are so very grateful for the support TUAC has offered since we organized in Jan. 2006. In addition to allowing us to hold our meetings in the TUAC Gallery and Gift Shop, TUAC invites us to showcase our work there each September and hosts a reception in our honor. TUAC also promotes our activities in various ways, which is very helpful to us as we seek to reach more people who are also interested in photography.”

On behalf of all the 52 members of the Shutterbugs, outgoing Treasurer Melba Brown (center) and Johnnie Ann Gaskill (right) presented the gift to Carmen Ellerbee, Executive Director of TUAC. Photo by King Davis, newly-elected Vice-President of Shutterbugs.

Shutterbug Wins Award

Photos submitted by Shutterbugs Bonny Shockley, Harolyn Castleberry, and Melba Brown were juried into the “Reflections” exhibit hosted by the Middle Georgia Art Association (in Macon) during August. A total of 21 photographers entered work, and the judges made their selections after reviewing over 40 photographs. During the reception held there on Friday, August 21, 2009, Harolyn received a second place ribbon and a cash award for her photo of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. Congratulations! Photo by Melba Brown.

Photography Competition Results

Eighteen of the current 50 members submitted a total of 133 entries into the first photography competition sponsored by the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs. 53 of the images were in the “Color” category, 49 in Monochrome, and 31 in Creative.

Sherry Kunde, Contest Coordinator, sent a photo CD (containing all the entries, identified only by title, not the names of the photographers) to judges from the Paulding Photography Club. After evaluating all the images, they decided on the following:

Color:
1st place: Melba Brown
2nd place: Anna Mary Ellerbee
3rd place: Johnnie Ann Gaskill
Honorable Mention: Anna Mary Ellerbee

Monochrome:
1st place: Melba Brown
2nd place: Sherry Kunde
3rd place: Bonny Shockley
Honorable Mention: Yvette Tolson

Creative:
1st place: Bonny Shockley
2nd place: Johnnie Ann Gaskill
3rd place: Yvette Tolson
Honorable Mention: Yvette Tolson

Shown in the photo are: Anna Mary Ellerbee, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, and Sherry Kunde. The other winners were unable to attend the August 11th business meeting, when the awards were presented. Photo by Joan Phillips