West Central Georgia Shutterbugs

Picasa and Picnik Workshop

2012-01-17T12:06:00.002-05:00

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

2011-12-27T18:48:00.005-05:00

“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!

2011-11-19T20:09:00.001-05:00

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.

2011-11-19T20:05:00.000-05:00

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.

2011-11-17T11:23:00.002-05:00

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

2011-10-28T21:26:00.008-04:00

Shutterbugs Win Ribbons at the Georgia National Fair

Gordon Brown: 5th place (Creative-Car)

Jimmy Day: 1st (Street Scenes), 3rd (Scenic--Driftwood), and 4th (Plant Life)

Linda Best: 6th (Ready to Float)

Marcia Fisher: 4th (Reflection) and 5th (Perfect Cartwheel)

Phyllis Dyche: 4th (Photojournalism) and 5th (Action)

Congratulations to each of them! Well done!

2011-10-26T18:51:00.004-04:00

A "Chapter" of GNPA Is Being Organized

After months of exploring the possibilities of starting a chapter of the GNPA (Georgia Nature Photographers' Association, www.gnpa.org ), an organizational meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 15th, 6:30 p.m. at the J. Joel Edwards Library in Zebulon, a mile or so south of the courthouse square. Anyone wishing to receive additional info about the chapter should contact Johnnie Ann Gaskill, johnniegaskill@gmail.com. Future meeting dates, program topics, goals, policies and procedures, etc. will be discussed at the meeting. Either the President of GNPA and/or the Vice President will attend.

2011-10-19T00:27:00.003-04:00

Marcia Fisher has placed as a finalist in this month's BetterPhotoContest! Over 13000 photos were entered into the competition; it is an honor to have her image selected among the top 639 finalist photos!

Way To Go Marcia!!!!

Her Photo is called "You Better Duck"

http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/big.asp?photoID=12180934&catID=&style=&ro
wNumber=32&memberID=388040

During the next few days, the judges will select the top winning photos!

Hope you get it Marcia!!!!

2011-10-01T15:23:00.003-04:00

Each member of the Shutterbugs was invited to display one image each during their annual photography exhibit at the TUAC (Thomaston-Upson Arts Council) Gallery and Gift Shop, located on the courthouse square in downtown Thomaston. The reception, held in their honor on Sept. 13th, from 6-8 p.m., was well attended. Guests commented favorably on the images displayed.

The People's Choice Awards went to the following: 1st: Harolyn Castleberry (who has received this honor three out of the four years the annual exhibition has been held), 2nd: King Davis, and 3rd: Dianne Kelly and Jimmy Day.

Shown in the photo, taken by Shutterbug Ellen Tew, are:

Kneeling (L-R): Jimmy Day, Linda Best, Melba Brown, Hazel (and son Garrett) Cromer, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, Harolyn Castleberry, Bonny Shockley, Margie Lentini, Francis Hauke.

Standing (L-R): Malgorzata Florkowska, Jim Davidson, Gordon Brown, Dianne Kelly, Eleanor Culpepper, Fawne DeRosia, Marcia Edwards, Jan Price, Mary Wagner, King Davis, Patricia Turcott, Joy Corley, Marcia Fisher, Jackie Stokes, Shakeria Trice

Yvette Tolson also attended the reception but was not present when the group photo was taken.

Congratulations!

2011-09-28T09:14:00.000-04:00

A photo Jimmy Day entered into a recent contest at BetterPhoto has earned a WINNER label. This is a huge honor, as BP receives thousands of photos each month from photographers from around the world.

Jimmy's photo can be seen here:

http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/big.asp?photoID=12163650&catID=&style=&rowNumber=1&memberID=292136

WCG Shutterbug Shootout

2011-09-27T15:10:00.001-04:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs held their first club-sponsored "Shootout" on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. A total of 14 people participated. Ten were "shooters": Bonny Shockley, Dianne Kelly, Francis Hauke, Linda Godwin, Marcia Fisher, Margie Lentini, Mary Wagner, Melba Brown, Todd Albritton (and his daughter Ruby), and Yvette Tolson. Three were judges: Charles Dukes, Harolyn Castleberry, and Johnnie Ann Gaskill. A wonderful time was had by all. Attendees have already asked for another shootout to be held soon.

The group met at 8:30 to learn what the three categories were and then headed out to take pictures that fit those categories, pictures they could find within walking distance of TUAC, where the shootout was based. Everyone had to be back no later than 11:30 to upload their images to laptops and then begin the difficult task of choosing and editing one entry per category to submit to the judges. Once finished, they walked to nearby eateries for lunch while the judges chose the winning photos. When that was done, all the images were shown to the entire group so they could admire the work done and also make "gentle" suggestions as to what might have been done differently to make the image even better. Then these winners were announced and awarded ribbons:

Circles:1st--Melba Brown, 2nd--Linda Godwin, 3rd--Bonny Shockley, HM--Dianne Kelly
Patterns: 1st--Melba Brown, 2nd--Todd Albritton, 3rd--Mary Wagner, HM--Francis Hauke
Textures: 1st--Marcia Fisher, 2nd--Todd Albritton, 3rd--Francis Hauke, HM--Linda Godwin.
Congratulations to these winners--and to all the shooters--for their excellent work.

2011-09-19T23:44:00.001-04:00

Three of Jimmy Day's images were chosen for the 2011 Juried Photography Show, presented by the Arts Clayton Gallery in Jonesboro, in conjunction with "Atlanta Celebrates Photography." Having one image juried in, is quite an honor, but to have THREE is Outstanding! Cheers for Jimmy and the best of luck to him during the judging process. Jimmy's images have been displayed in other venues and have done well there. For example, he participates in monthly photography competitions held on www.betterphoto.com and frequently earns "Editor Picks" and "Finalist" awards. To see those images, visit his BetterPhoto gallery!

2011-09-17T13:35:00.002-04:00

Angelica Clayton was one of two recipients awarded a $500 scholarship by the Thomaston Sertoma Club. Angelica will be attending North Georgia Technical College in Clarksville.

Congratulations, Angelica! We wish you much continued success!

TUAC WCGShutterbug Exhibit Guidelines

2011-07-25T14:57:00.004-04:00

West Central Georgia Shutterbugs Exhibit September 2011

at the Thomaston Upson Arts Council Gallery

118 South Church Street Thomaston, Georgia

Office Hours:

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Wednesday: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Saturday, Sunday, Monday: Closed

Phone: 706-647-1605

Exhibit Guidelines:
- One entry per Shutterbugs member. Even though this is not a juried show, each photographer should submit his/her best images.
- Please make photos 8" x 10" or bigger. All photos must be framed (matting is optional) or printed on gallery wrap canvas, etc. Each work must have two (2) eye hooks and picture wire on the back for easy hanging. No sawtooth hangers, please!
- Photographers may sell their exhibited works and other items with their photography on it (greeting cards, coffee mugs, etc.). Photographers are allowed 10 items each. Please list all such items on an inventory sheet that includes the photographer's contact information, an identifying number for each item, a brief description, and the selling price.
Ex.
Item #1, 5x7 greeting card, $4.00
Item #2, 1 set of note card (8 to a box), $12.00
Having such items in "chart" or "column" format will be helpful. Please type all inventory lists.
Make sure that each item contains a price sticker and the photographer's name so proper sales credit can be given.
- TUAC asks for a 20% commission on all sales. Price your items accordingly.
- Promotional items (postcards, business cards, etc.) can be left at the gallery so that visitors to the gallery may contact the photographer, if desired.

Reminders:
- Last day to sign up to participate in the Sept. exhibit will be August 5th, 2011.
- Drop off dates: August 23rd – 26th, 2011.
- Pick up dates: October 4th - 7th, 2011.
- Reception date: September 13, 2011 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Refreshments will be provided by TUAC.

Current list of Participants: Hazel Cromer, Linda Best, Francis Hauke, Lora Watson, Allen Ellerbee, Anna Mary Ellerbee, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, Jim Davidson, Ann Pasley, Harolyn Castoleberry, Alicia Pastiran, Melba Brown, Gordon Brown, Marcia Fisher, Ellen Tew, Linda Godwin, Stefanie Nix, Jimmy Day, Charles Dukes, Dianne Kelly, Ashley Smith, King Davis, Mary von-Pless Wagner, Bonny Shockley, Yvette Tolson, Bijay Pandey, Malgorzata Florkowska, Fawne DeRosia, Mandi Hadley, Jackie Stokes. (Last updated: August 8th, 2011)

Visions of Old Glory

2011-07-01T22:50:00.001-04:00

Five Shutterbugs will be exhibiting:

Brenda Fayard

Ellen Tew

Fawne DeRosia

Johnnie Ann Gaskill

Malgorzata Florkowska

There will be a reception July 9, 6-9p.m. at

A Novel Experience in Zebulon, GA.

WCGS Meeting Announcement - July 12

2011-06-30T23:08:00.000-04:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs are planning a Critique Night for their July 12 monthly meeting in Thomaston. Members are asked to submit images and allow others to comment during the presentation. Guests are welcome to visit at 6:30 pm that evening at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council. Please come join us for this annual review.

Serenbee Photography Center Open Competition

2011-06-30T22:57:00.007-04:00

Ten West Central Georgia Shutterbugs participated as two 5-member teams in the Serenbe Photography Center’s Open Competition on June 11. Our very own Yvette Tolson received a 1st place winner in Category 4. Shutterbugs participating were (left to right): Back row: Beau Gentry, Francis Hauke, Hazel Cromer, and Chadd Morton. Middle row: Bonny Shockley, Linda Godwin, Yvette Tolson, and Margie Lentini. Bottom front: Carol Peck and Dianne Kelly.

Yvette appears with other winners. This is her winning photo.

My Introduction to HDR Photography

2011-06-06T20:36:00.009-04:00

Our program chairman, King
Davis, plans to share his initial
experiences doing HDR photography at the next Shutterbugs meeting at 6:30 pm at TUAC. He will show us how to shoot and then process a picture or two so we can see the basic work flow involved in High Dynamic Range photography. So come on out and enjoy this special meeting with us on Tuesday, June 14.

2011 - Art in the Garden

2011-05-28T20:34:00.004-04:00

Three Shutterbugs (Brenda Fayard, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, and Sherry Kunde) participated in the 4th annual “Art in the Garden,” held at the University of Georgia Research and Education Garden, located on West Ellis Road in Griffin. Although it was unseasonably cool and rather windy that day, the event was very enjoyable. The hostesses (UGA Griffin Campus Master Gardeners) served a delicious lunch and gave each participant a potted plant, as they’ve done each year. Following the luncheon, the artists headed back to the area where they had set up a display of their work. Throughout the afternoon, visitors stopped by each exhibit to chat, and artists had opportunity to meet and greet one another. All the while, the beautiful music performed by The Lonesome Road Folk Singers wafted through the air, inspiring visitors and artists to hum/sing along while strolling along garden paths and viewing the lovely plants, sculptures, structures, and water features. Admission was free.

Congratulations

2011-05-15T17:15:00.005-04:00

Beau Gentry contributed photos to accompany an article Back in the Day: The Senoia Story featured in a recent issue of Kitchen Drawer magazine. Great job, Beau! For more info about the magazine, please log onto www.kitchendrawer.net.

Shutterbugs extend congratulations to Shakeira Trice upon her graduation from Gordon College and to Angelica Clayton upon her graduation from Upson-Lee High School. Both have plans to study photography. Shakeria will attend SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) and Angelica will attend North GA Technical College.

Fawne DeRosia was one of several area artists invited to exhibit work in the Celebrating Art: Juried Show Winners, Past and Present at Arts Clayton Gallery, located at 136 South Main Street in Jonesboro.

The opening reception for the month-long exhibit was Friday, January 7, 2011, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Then during Arts Clayton’s 10th annual juried art competition, held in February, she received an Honorable Mention for one of her lithographs, entitled Pretty Morgan. Forty-eight Georgia artists of 2 and 3-dimensional disciplines submitted over 150 entries into the competition. Out of the more than 150 entries, 55 dimensional and 9 sculptural works were chosen to be exhibited. Therefore, just having a work juried in (i.e., chosen for the exhibit) is indeed an honor, but to receive an award is even more special. Her photography was also chosen to be exhibited at Allan Vigil Ford Lincoln during the month of May. The exhibit will then move to Barnes and Noble.

Periodically, some of Jan Price’s photos/captions are published in the newspapers. A recent one was on the front page of the March 1, 2011, issue of The Thomaston Times.

King Davis also has photos published in local papers. For example, he recently had a full-page of photos he’d taken at this year’s Distinguished Young Women pageant, formerly known as Junior Miss Pageant.

One of Marcia Fisher’s photos was published in the official 2011 Map of the State of Georgia!

Melba Brown and Harolyn Castleberry recently presented a program to the Kiwanis Club of Thomaston. Through the years, they have spoken to other groups as well.

WCGS Meeting, May 10, 2011

2011-05-15T16:41:00.008-04:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs met on Tuesday, May 10th, at 6:30 p.m. at TUAC (Thomaston-Upson Arts Council) Gallery and Gift Shop.

Our speaker was Kathryn Kolb, Executive Director of the Serenbe Photography Center in Palmetto, GA. She explained what Serenbe has to offer photographers, including various workshops, as well as an upcoming photography competition on Saturday, June 11th. She also spoke about her recent personal work. As always, we were able to ask lots of questions!

For more information about Serenbe, please visit http://www.serenbephotographycenter.com/.

For more info about Kathryn and to see samples of her beautiful images, visit http://www.kathrynkolb.com/.

Bonny Shockley and Yvette Tolson listen as Kathryn Kolb answers questions after the meeting. (Photo by Dianne Kelly)

May 10 Shutterbugs meeting

2011-05-06T16:38:00.000-04:00

Tuesday evening, May 10, at 6:30 at TUAC in downtown Thomaston GA, the Shutterbugs will have their regular monthly meeting with speaker Kathryn Kolb of Serenbe Photography. There will be time for questions. Please check their website for more information: http://serenbephotographycenter.com/

Adam Jones in Macon, April 16, 2011

2011-04-17T16:11:00.000-04:00

Ten Shutterbugs, along with four guests (family members/friends), gathered in Macon, GA, on Saturday, April 16th, to attend a photography seminar led by Adam Jones, one of Canon’s prestigious Explorers of Light photographers.

The seminar was hosted by the Middle Georgia Camera Club and was well-attended, despite the storms that moved through the area in the wee hours of the morning. Shutterbugs attending were: Dr. Bijay Pandey, Bonny Shockley, Brenda Fayard, Francis Hauke, Harolyn Castleberry, Jackie Stokes, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, Linda Godwin, Sheryl Farr, and Yvette Tolson. Their guests included: Dr. Pandey’s daughter, Dr. Tommy Farr, Sue Turner, and one of Sue’s friends from Perry.

During the presentation, Adam gave these tips, along with many others:

• Take the shot as perfect as possible. Then, you’ll only have to do some very basic editing on the RAW images. By getting the image right in the camera, you’ll avoid becoming a pixel pusher.

• For the best shots, shoot early in the morning and late in the afternoon/evening.

• 80-90% of the time, leave your camera set on aperture priority (AV). If you need a faster shutter speed, adjust the aperture to a lower f/stop number OR, as a last resort, choose a higher ISO number. Since today’s cameras are so sophisticated, there’s really not much need to shoot in the manual mode.

• When shooting, take a test shot and then check the histogram to see if you’ve gotten the exposure right. If not, adjust the AV, ISO, exposure compensation, or fill flash, etc., until the exposure is correct. Then fire away.

• Don’t worry about remembering formulas such as Sunny 16. Just learn what to do to take good pictures, whatever the light, and you will repeatedly get good results.

• Use evaluative metering, most of the time.

• f/11 is usually the sharpest aperture. Use f/16 or higher when you need sharpness front to back in an image, keeping in mind that sharpness falls off (in the distance) as the f/stop number increases.

• In landscapes or other images requiring a great depth of field (DOF, sharpness front to back), use the hyperfocal technique (set your focus on the mid-section of the image).

• When editing photos of people, slide the software’s clarity button to the LEFT rather than to the right.

• When photographing humming birds, spritz a flower with sugar water so you will know where the hummers will land. Then, while you’re waiting for the birds, set your camera for the right exposure and then fire away when the bird appears.

• Three crucial elements of a good photo: subject, lighting, and background.

• Be familiar with your gear.

• Be ready to go at any moment!

Although Adam has lots of equipment, his travel bag always includes Canon cameras and lenses. He takes about 95% of all his shots with either a 70-400 mm, 24-105mm, or a 100-400 mm lens. He also packs a teleconverter, a set of extension tubes, a polarizing circular filter (rather than a neutral density one), and his tripod. He does not use a polarizing filter when photographing wild life because the filter reduces the light, which slows the shutter speed and reduces the f/stop number. However, he highly recommends using a circular polarizer for landscape shots in order to reduce glare, make colors pop, etc. He uses Better Beamer, which attaches to external flashes, like 430EX Speedlite, and projects a stronger (i.e., more tightly focused) beam forward on the subject. This is particularly useful when using a 300+mm lens. For bird photography, Adam recommends a 500 mm lens and a teleconverter.

Adam uses a Helicon filter (provides unlimited depth of field in images already captured). (Do a Google search for the filter. Many sites have free downloads. The filter works with several photo editing softwares you may already own.) He uses Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Photomatix, Topaz deNoise, etc. However, he strongly urges everyone to get the image as right as possible in the camera! When using Photomatix, use the fusion method rather than tone mapping. While watching the histogram for each image, pull the highlights toward the middle. Then pull the darks to the middle. Combine all images, as many as it takes.

To view Adam’s beautiful images or to find out about the various photography workshops he leads, log onto www.adamjonesphoto.com.

April Announcement

2011-03-27T21:45:00.002-04:00

In lieu of their April meeting, members of the West Central GA Shutterbugs will travel to Macon on Saturday, April 16th to attend a free seminar hosted by the Middle Georgia Camera Club, www.mgcc.ws. The seminar will be held at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 565 Wimbish Road, in Macon. Adam Jones, an internationally recognized photographer, who is also one of Canon's prestigious Explorers of Light photographers, is scheduled to teach from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The seminar is open to everyone interested in photography, no matter the level of skill or the kind of camera used. To view examples of Adam's images, visit his website; http://www.adamjonesphoto.com/. Shutterbugs will hold their next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 10th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery and Gift Shop. As always, visitors will be warmly welcomed. To find out more about the Shutterbugs, visit their blog: http://www.wcgshutterbugs.blogspot.com/.

Congratulations Ellen Tew!

2011-03-26T20:59:00.000-04:00

Note: The following article, written by Matt Sharpe, was published in the March 9, 2011, issue of The Upson Beacon on page 11A

Ellen Tew Receives Honorary Membership to Kiwanis

The Kiwanis Club of Thomaston recently added another member to their club, as Ellen Tew was chosen to receive an honorary membership to Kiwanis. Tew is an active member at the Pleasant Valley Church/Be in Health, West Central Georgia Shutterbugs, member and photographer for the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council, the official photographer and photographic historian for the Thomaston-Upson Archives and Upson Historical Society, and the official photographer for the SlowExposures photography exhibition in Concord, GA. Ellen Tew is also the lead photographer for The Upson Beacon. Ellen is originally from Connecticut and has lived in Thomaston for the past 11 years.

Shutterbugs March Meeting Announcement

2011-02-13T21:52:00.002-05:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will hold their March meeting on Tuesday, March 8 at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Ccouncil on the square in Thomaston, Georgia at 6:30 p.m. David Akoubian is coming to present our program. David has been photographing for over 30 years and has compiled a large library of images. He does all types of photography and photographic services, but he specializes in nature. David has a special love of the outdoors and spends a large amount of his time doing outdoor activities. He has been a Georgia resident for over 40 years but travels whenever possible, photographing wherever he visits.David has been working as a nature photographer for many years and has taught workshops with several different companies including the Great American Photography Weekends and the Showcase School. David teaches classes and leads workshops primarily in the southeastern United States. For more information about David please visit his website: http://www.bearwoodsphotography.com/.

GNPA Annual Expo - January 28-30 at Callaway Gardens

2011-02-01T09:43:00.004-05:00

Several Shutterbugs attended the second annual Expo hosted by the Georgia Nature Photographers Association (GNPA) at Callaway Gardens on January 29-30, 2011. Featured speakers were David Middleton and Jim Clark, both highly skilled nature photographers who are nationally known. Once again, Shutterbugs claimed a good share of awards during the photo competition, which was judged by the two speakers. Out of the 30 or so awards presented, five went to Shutterbugs! (That's significant, given the caliber of the judges and the images in the competition.) The Viewer's Choice award went to Anna Mary Ellerbee. Best in Show went to John Quinn, who plans to join Shutterbugs, so we are already claiming him! He also earned an Honorable Mention, as did Jimmy Day, Anna Mary Ellerbee and Johnnie Ann Gaskill.

Approximately 100 photographers registered for the Expo, among them our own Allen and Anna Mary Ellerbee, Jimmy Day, Marcia Fisher, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, Dianne Kelly, Alicia Pastiran and John Quinn. They enjoyed the food, fun, photo shoots, over $1,000.00 in prizes, members' slide show, vendors, free camera inspection and discount cleaning, as well as the photo competition and keynote speakers. In summary: A wonderful time was had by all. Hopefully, even more Shutterbugs will plan to attend the Expo next year.

John Quinn received Best of Show with Dragonfly and Lily. He also received an Honorable Mention in the Macro Category for Lily in Bloom. Anna Mary Ellerbee received Viewer’s Choice for The Gift and an Honorable Mention for Purple Haze. Jimmy Day had an Honorable Mention in the Wildlife Category for Love Bugs. Johnnie Ann Gaskill’s Marred Landscape received an Honorable Mention in the Landscape Category.

Congratulations

2011-02-01T08:50:00.000-05:00

Two Shutterbugs, Malgorzata Florkowska and Bonny Shockley, were juried into Arts Clayton – Juried Photography Show and Competition, September 28 – October 29. Arts Clayton is located at 136 S. Main Street, Jonesboro, GA 30236, www.artsclayton.org/gallery. Admission is free; open T-F 9-5pm, Sat 10-4pm. Congratulations!

WCGS Meeting - February 8, 2011

2011-01-31T20:32:00.002-05:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will have their monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 8, at 6:30pm. The Shutterbugs meet at the TUAC office, next to the Ritz Theatre on the square in Thomaston. On schedule for this meeting is a collaborative effort of the club's membership, with several participants giving presentations on the theme "How ya light that?" The WCG Shutterbugs are comprised of photographers of all skill and experience levels, and anyone interested in photography is encouraged to visit.

There will also be a swap/sell at the February meeting. All items need to be plainly identified with current owner and contact info with a tag tied to the item.

Puppy Love 2011

2011-01-19T21:25:00.004-05:00

A juried exhibit of unconditional love...

More photographers and images than ever were submitted this year and the show was limited to 35 images. Congratulations to Harolyn Castleberry, James Day, Fawne DeRosia, Malgosia Florkowska and Dianne Kelly who had photographs selected for exhibit at the 2011 February Puppy Love show at A Novel Experience in Zebulon. Gary Gruby and Tony Cassadonte, this year's jurors, will judge the show and hang the ribbons before the reception on Saturday evening, February 5 from 6:30-9 pm. Come on out, bring friends and family and enjoy hot dogs on the grill!

January 18, 2011 Shutterbugs Meeting Announcement

2011-01-12T00:01:00.000-05:00

The WCGS monthly meeting that was to be held on January 11 was postponed due to the continuing inclement weather and is now scheduled for Tuesday, January 18 at 6:30 pm at the Social Hall of the Thomaston First Methodist Church (across from the hospital). Our speaker is Lynne Barta and she will be sharing about "The Art of Seeing in Photography."

January 11, 2011 Meeting Postponed

2011-01-10T21:54:00.001-05:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs monthly meeting that was to be held on January 11 will be postponed due to the continuing inclement weather in our local area and in the interest of the safety of all our members. We are trying to make arrangements to hold the meeting next Tuesday or Thursday. Please be flexible with your calendar next week and join us when the weather is a little more cooperative. We will follow up when a date is confirmed.

November 9 monthly meeting

2010-11-08T08:13:00.002-05:00

The Shutterbugs will meet at their regularly scheduled time at 6:30 on November 9 at TUAC in Thomaston. Doug Peck will present the program. Reminder, we do not have a meeting scheduled for December, so enjoy the time with your families!

2010 North Georgia Shootout Report

2010-11-07T22:19:00.014-05:00

Five members of the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs participated in the 2010 North Georgia Shootout, held on Saturday, October 23rd, at Berry College in Rome, GA. Since the five Shutterbugs (Bonny Shockley, Dianne Kelly, Francis Hauke, Johnnie Ann Gaskill and Linda Godwin) are also members of Georgia Nature Photographers Association (GNPA), they opted to participate on the GNPA team, along with 16 other GNPA members. The weather cooperated and they all had a beautiful day for photographing on the very picturesque 30,000-acre campus. Eleven other photography clubs participated in the shootout.

Before 8 a.m. that morning, five random topics were chosen: Up Close (Nature); Geometry (Square & Rectangles); Still Water; Man Made (What's the Point?) and Silhouettes. Once the topics were announced, each of the 12 photography clubs divided its participants into teams and gave each of them one topic to photograph. Then the 250+ photographers grabbed their cameras and other equipment and headed off in search of images that would fit their assignment. In less than six hours, they had to take their photographs, select their 10 personal best images, meet with other members of their team to choose the 10 images the team would submit to the judges, edit those images, copy them to a flash drive, and deliver it to the judges no later than the 2 p.m. deadline. That was lots of pressure, but lots of fun, too!

Each club could enter 50 images (10 per topic) in the final competition. Out of the 600 images submitted for final judging, five GNPA images placed in the Top 10. Three of those five were taken by Shutterbugs: Linda Godwin (4th Place in Up Close Nature), Bonny Shockley (4th Place in Silhouettes), and Johnnie Gaskill (6th Place in Man-Made; What's the Point?).

Congratulations!! Although, as a club, GNPA didn't bring home any medals or win First, Second or Third Place, some members walked away with great door prizes. They are looking forward to the 2011 shootout and will, in the meantime, encourage other photographers to participate.

Photos by Johnnie Ann Gaskill

Congratulations!

2010-10-13T21:37:00.004-04:00

United Bank is preparing the 2011 calendar which should be available probably in November. Four WCG Shutterbugs will have photos featured in the new calendar! They are Alicia Pastiran, Bonny Shockley, Dianne Kelly and Melba Brown.

Carol Peck, Marcia Fisher, Bridget Bolcik and Dianne Kelly visited the Georgia National Fair today along with other friends. 15 pictures by Shutterbugs were noted as having won ribbons.

Advanced Action - 3rd - Marcia Fisher - You Had Better Duck
Advanced Creative - 5th - Alicia Pastiran - Bull Riders Dream
Advanced I Spy - Green - 3rd - Melba Brown - Tree Frog
Advanced Scenic - 6th - Alicia Pastiran - Lake Macdonald
Advanced Street Scenes - 4th - Marcia Fisher - Ritz Theatre, Thomaston

Beginner Action - 5th - Lora Watson - Splash Time
Beginner Action - 6th - Linda Godwin - Territorial Dispute
Beginner Animals - 6th - Linda Godwin - The Kiss
Beginner Creative - 1st - Lora Watson - Make My Brown Eyes Blue
Beginner I Spy - Green - 5th - Dianne Kelly - What's Up
Beginner Plant Life - 2nd - Lora Watson
Beginner Scenic - 1st - Lora Watson - On Mystic Lake
Beginner Scenic - 6th - Linda Godwin - Geometrics at Sunset
Beginner Still Life - 4th - Gordon Brown - Bike in Bienza
Beginner Street Scenes - 2nd - Dianne Kelly - Leaded Rust

Please, if I missed anyone, let me know and I will update this post! Congratulations everyone on a job well done!

Congratulations

2010-10-11T20:26:00.005-04:00

Images by three Shutterbugs (Linda Best, Malgorzata Florkowska, and Ellen Tew) were among the 78 photos that were selected for the 2010 SlowExposures Show. The jurors selected these from among 668 photos that were submitted.

Lora Watson received a second place ribbon and $100 in cash for one of her entries into a contest sponsored by the Paulding County Camera Club. This was Lora's first time to enter a contest!!!

One of Johnnie Ann Gaskill's photos of the Upson County Courthouse was featured on the 2010 Taste of Thomaston tee-shirts. The same photo was also used on small banners that were placed around the square during May.

Ellen Tew's photo at Ten Mile Creek was featured on the cover of 2010 Discovering Upson County, put out by the Thomaston-Upson County Chamber of Commerce and The Upson Beacon. This supplement features Thomaston, Yatesville and The Rock.

Dianne Kelly had a photo in the New York Times in May when she responded to a call for photos taken around the world at A Moment in Time. Photos were to be taken at exactly 1500 UTC and quite a variety of subjects is depicted in these photos. The link to her photo: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/03/blogs/a-moment-in-time.html/#/4bdec02cb93af13e4c0001d7

Better Photo Finalists - August 2010

2010-10-11T20:21:00.002-04:00

Anna Mary Ellerbee, Jimmy Day and Johnnie Ann Gaskill had at least one image chosen as a Finalist on http://www.betterphoto.com/ during the month of August. According to a congratulations letter received from Better Photo, over 19,100 photos were entered into the monthly competition, and out of those judges chose 1,822 as Finalist. (From that group, Winners are chosen each month). For more information about the contest that Better Photo members can participate in (for free), please click here: http://www.betterphoto.com/contest.asp.
That page also has a link that leads to information about how to join Better Photo.

WCG Shutterbugs Elect New Officers

2010-08-24T15:52:00.000-04:00

During their annual business meeting, held on August 10th, members of the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs elected officers to serve during their upcoming year. They were (left to right): Dianne Kelly (Publicity), Linda Godwin (Activities Coordinator, who will share that position with Margie Lentini, who was not present for the photo), Anna Mary Ellerbee (Corresponding Secretary), Yvette Tolson (Recording Secretary), Bonny Shockley (Treasurer) and Francis Hauk (President). King Davis was re-elected to a second term as Vice-President but was unable to attend the meeting. The officers will stay quite busy since the Shutterbugs (currently 60 of them) are a very active group. For example, many are planning to enter the annual photography competition at the Georgia National Fair, as well as submitting images for their month-long annual exhibit at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery and Gift Shop, where the meetings are held on the second Tuesday in each month, beginning at 6:30 p.m. In lieu of the regular meeting on Sept. 14th, a reception will be held at the Gallery from 6-8 p.m. The public is cordially invited to meet the photographers and view their images. Photo by Shutterbugs member, Sherry Kunde.

The WCG Shutterbugs Visit the GNPA

2010-08-23T15:43:00.000-04:00

Five Shutterbugs attended the August 19, 2010, meeting of the Georgia Nature Photographers' Association (held in Marietta) and greatly enjoyed the program presented by guest speaker Adam Jones and were thrilled to get to speak with him after his presentation. Shown in the photo are Francis Hauke, Margie Lentini, Adam Jones, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, Marcia Fisher, and Linda Godwin. Photo by Todd Sparger, Vice-President of GNPA.

Adam is an international travel, nature, and wildlife photographer who conducts tours and workshops around the world. To see samples of his beautiful images and to learn more about the training opportunities he offers, please visit his website: http://adamjonesphoto.com/

He is also one of Canon's "Explorers of Light," a group of the world's leading professional photographers selected to provide insight,inspiration and education to future generations of creative photographers. This prestigious panel of 60 or more Canon photographers delivers seminars, workshops, gallery showings and photo presentations at a variety of professional association and amateur photo groups and colleges across the country as a means of fostering imaging excellence and nurturing the increasingly digital art's next wave. Members represent specialties and styles that span the gamut of photographic expression within the imaging profession. To view a list of members and samples of their work, visit
http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=ArtistsListAct

Recent Shutterbug Achievements & Activities

2010-08-22T15:57:00.003-04:00

Dianne Culpepper Kelly attended Grandfather Mountain 2010 Nature Photography Weekend and received an honorable mention for the photo above.
Images by three Shutterbugs (Linda Best, Malgorzata Florkowska, and Ellen Tew) are among the 78 photos that were selected for the 2010 SlowExposures Show. The jurors selected these from among 668 photos that were submitted.
Lora Watson received a second place ribbon and $100 in cash for one of her entries into a contest sponsored by the Paulding County Camera Club. This was Lora’s first time to enter a contest!!!
One of Johnnie Ann Gaskill’s photos of the Upson County Courthouse was featured on the 2010 Taste of Thomaston tee-shirts. The same photo was also used on small banners that were placed around the square during May.
On July 24, Dianne Culpepper Kelly, Alicia Pastiran, and John Yoder participated in the Worldwide Photowalk at Senoia.

Shutterbugs to Meet on July 13th

2010-06-24T14:03:00.000-04:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will meet on Tuesday, July 13th at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery and Gift Shop, located on the courthouse square, next to the Ritz Theatre. The program will be a viewing and critiquing of images taken recently by members, including images taken during club-sponsored photo shoots in April and June. During the April event, held at a private garden in Griffin, King Davis and Marcia Edwards practiced taking portraits of a lovely model Marcia had invited, while other members were busy snapping pictures of spring flowers, formal gardens, various sculptures, etc. As always, everyone enjoyed getting better acquainted with each other and having time to talk “shop” with fellow photographers.

The Shutterbugs extend a warm welcome to anyone interested in joining the group and/or in attending the July meeting.

Shutterbugs Annual Photo Shoot

2010-06-23T14:10:00.000-04:00

In lieu of a regular meeting in April, the Shutterbugs held their annual photo shoot at a private garden in Griffin, GA. The 21 members present had a wonderful time and captured many beautiful images. While King Davis and Marcia Edwards practiced taking portraits of the lovely model Marcia had invited, other members were busy snapping pictures of the spring flowers, the formal gardens, various sculptures, etc. As always, everyone enjoyed getting better acquainted with each other and having time to talk “shop” with fellow photographers.

Shutterbugs Speak to Local Groups

2010-06-22T14:05:00.000-04:00

In recent weeks, Harolyn Castleberry (left) and Melba Brown have accepted invitations to speak to local groups about photography. The above photo was taken the evening they spoke to the Yatesville Lion Club. They've also spoken at a meeting of retired teachers in Upson County. When presenting, they explain a bit about the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs and then show some samples of their photography and provide tips for taking better pictures. They, along with another Shutterbugs member, Gordon Brown, also presented a program for the Upson Historical Society.

Shutterbugs to Meet on May 11th

2010-04-30T08:53:00.004-04:00

Richard Bernabe will be the guest speaker when the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs meet on Tuesday, May 11th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery and Gift Shop, located on the square in Thomaston. Richard is a much-acclaimed outdoor and nature photographer whose images have been published world-wide. Books he’s written, along with the photography workshops he conducts, are extremely popular. Richard will present a program entitled, “30 Images of the Wild: Views From Both Sides of the Lens.” For more information about him, visit his website: www.richardbernabe.com. Shutterbugs are very excited about having such a successful photographer as their guest. They invite anyone interested in learning more about photography to attend the meeting and enjoy Richard’s beautiful images.

Recent Shutterbug Achievements & Activities

2010-04-27T18:38:00.001-04:00

Shutterbugs to be Published!

Photo by Brenda Fayard.

Photo by Joan Phillips.

Brenda Fayard and Joan Phillips recently received a wonderful letter from Timothy M. Jacobs, the editor of Patriots of the American Revolution magazine, a bi-monthly publication dedicated to preserving the history of the unknown patriots, early Colonial culture, and the battles that gave us our freedom. He is interested in publishing two photos, one taken by Brenda and one by Joan, taken at the Austin Dabney grave ceremony (in Zebulon) back in January, as found on the North Carolina SAR website, to go along with Carl Voelker's speech which will run in our July/August issue. Congratulations, Brenda and Joan! Aren’t you glad you braved the bitterly cold temperature that day in order to capture the images that have been selected for publication?

Shutterbugs at Callaway Gardens

Harolyn Castleberry and Melba Brown, co-chairpersons for the Shutterbugs’ exhibit at Callaway Gardens, were assisted by Brenda Fayard (a charter member of Shutterbugs) and Andrea Noel in the hanging of the exhibit. The four did a beautiful job. The exhibit opened on Feb. 27th and is scheduled to close on May 2nd. Hundreds of visitors to Callaway have also viewed the exhibit and offered high praise for the images. Several exhibit photos have sold, as have many smaller items that were displayed in the gift shop.

Shutterbugs in "Nature, Undisturbed" in Tyrone, Georgia

Shutterbugs Linda Best and Malgorzata Florkowska attended a reception honoring those photographers whose images were among the 60 chosen (out of 320 submissions) for the "Nature, Undisturbed" photography exhibit at Dogwood Gallery and Framer in Tyrone, GA. The exhibit was open from April 16-25, 2010.

Recent Shutterbug Achievements & Activities

2010-03-09T15:00:00.011-05:00

Shutterbugs Attend Photo Expo
Nine members of the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs attended a Photo Expo hosted by the Georgia Nature Photographers' Association (GNPA) at Callaway Gardens, January 30-31. Shown in the photo are: (L-R) Jan Hatten, Anna Mary Ellerbee, Melba Brown; Marcia Fisher, Harolyn Castleberry, Jimmy Day, Dianne Kelly, and Johnnie Ann Gaskill. Bonny Shockley also attended but was not present for the photo. (Photo by Jim Henderson)
Seventy-three registered attendees greatly enjoyed all aspects of the Expo, especially the keynote speakers, Nancy Rotenberg (Pennsylvania) and Rob Sheppard (California), both of whom are professional photographers. The Expo attracted nature photographers from Alabama, South Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as from Georgia.
There were 104 photos entered into a contest that was judged by the two keynote speakers. Five Shutterbugs received awards in one of the four categories (Animals and Insects, Birds, and Nature’s Landscapes, and Macro/Close-up): Marcia Sue Fisher (1st place), Anna Mary Ellerbee (2nd place), Jimmy Day (3rd place), Johnnie Ann Gaskill (Honorable Mention) and Melba Brown (HM).

Shutterbugs Attend Austin Dabney Grave Marking in Zebulon, GA
On Saturday, January 30th, several members of the Shutterbugs attended the grave marking of Austin Dabney, a slave who became a private in the Georgia militia and fought against the British during the Revolutionary War. Pictured above are Shutterbugs with Joe Dooley (third from left), the Genealogist General of the National Society of the SAR Bob Galer of the Georgia Society (white Militia uniform).

Shutterbug Linda Best's Photo Chosen for Exhibit
Linda Best's photo titled "John Muir's Heaven" was selected for the Nature, Undisturbed Photography Exhibit at the Dogwood Gallery and Framer in Tyrone, Georgia. They received 320 entries from 75 photographers in 10 states and chose 60. The exhibit will be on display from April 16th to the 25th.

"Through Our Eyes Exhibit" & Next Meeting

2010-03-01T12:04:00.001-05:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs proudly announce the opening of "Through Our Eyes" at the Discovery Center at Callaway Gardens. The photography exhibit features 113 photographs from 33 members of the Shutterbugs. The exhibit is open to the public and can be viewed whenever Callaway Gardens is open. The photographs will be on display until May 2, 2010.

The next meeting of the The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will be held on March 9, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery and Gift Shop, located on the courthouse square. Everyone who wants to learn more about photography is invited to attend.

Shutterbugs member, Phyllis Dyche, will present this month's program. During the “Developing An Artistic Eye” presentation, she will discuss color and other principles and elements of art that make up good composition and create marketable images.

Phyllis, a retired teacher, has enjoyed art most of her life. She has experience with several mediums, including acrylic and watercolor painting, and has recently developed a strong interest in photography. Phyllis enjoys photographing her family members, landscapes, and interesting objects. View her photographs on her website at www.dychephotography.com.

Keep updated on all the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs activities on their blog: www. wcgshutterbugs.blogspot.com.

Photo by King Davis.

Shutterbugs to Meet on February 9

2010-02-02T20:21:00.002-05:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will meet at the Thomaston Upson Arts Council Gallery and Gift Shop on February 9, 2010. This month's speaker will be Marti Jeffers, a photographer from Atlanta whose passion for photography matches her passion for teaching photography. Marti has studied the art of photography in various schools including The Showcase School of Photography and the Rocky Mountain School of Photography. Marti continues to study and refine her photography with workshops every year. Everyone with an interest in photography is welcome to attend any of the Shutterbug meetings and become a member for $12 a year.

Callaway Gardens has invited the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs to display their photographs at the Discovery Center from February 27 to April 11, 2010. The public is invited to view the "Through Our Eyes" exhibit whenever Callaway Gardens is open.

Recent Shutterbug Achievements

2010-02-01T20:31:00.002-05:00

Dianne Kelly, Harolyn Castleberry, James Day, Linda Best, Marcia Fisher, Sherry Kunde, Suzie Axtell, Anna Mary Ellerbee, & Allen Ellerbee - Photos were juried into A Novel Experience's "Puppy Love" Exhibit. A reception will be held Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, 6:30-9:00 p.m.

King Davis - Photo on the front page of the January 13, 2010 issue of The Upson Beacon.

Marcia Fisher - Photo printed in The Thomaston Times on January 15, 2010.

Ellen Tew - Photos frequently published in The Thomaston Times and The Upson Beacon, photographer for SlowExposures 2009, received a VIP award during the Downtown Thomaston Business Association’s annual dinner, held on January 21, 2010, received plaque and flowers from The Upson Historical Society for her "creative, tireless work".

Shutterbugs in 2010 United Bank Calendar

2010-01-24T20:22:00.003-05:00

Pictured above is Dianne Kelly, Melba Brown, and Anna Mary Ellerbee. United Bank chose their images to be a part of their 2010 calendar.

Shutterbug Update!

2009-11-05T23:07:00.003-05:00

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

2009-10-14T10:50:00.003-04:00

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

2009-10-12T10:31:00.004-04:00

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

2009-09-21T10:58:00.000-04:00

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

2009-09-04T15:09:00.001-04:00

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

2009-09-01T09:03:00.003-04:00

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

2009-08-17T20:30:00.002-04:00

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

Recent Shutterbug Achievements

2009-08-16T20:51:00.001-04:00

Allen Ellerbee - photos of the African safari won eleven editor picks from Betterphoto.com.

Bonny Shockley, Melba Brown, and Harolyn Castleberry - photos juried into “Reflections,” a photography exhibit hosted by the Middle Georgia Art Association in Macon.

Anna Mary Ellerbee, Melba Brown, and Dianne Kelly - photos were selected for the United Bank 2010 calendar.

Fawne DeRosia and Linda Best - photos juried into SlowExposures.

Fawne DeRosia - photo published in Light Leaks Magazine.

Ellen Tew - photos published in the Thomaston Times.

Shutterbugs Participate in Worldwide Photowalk

2009-07-30T08:30:00.003-04:00

On Saturday, July 18, 2009, four Shutterbugs were among over 32,000 photographers who participated in the 2nd annual Worldwide Photowalk. Groups of no more than 50 persons each met at over 900 different locations. The Shutterbugs shown in the picture (front row, L-R: Jennifer Campbell and her children (Paige and Trevor), Dianne Kelly, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, and Joan Phillips) met at Callaway Gardens for a "walk" hosted by Amanda Johnston, far right, who took the photo. Johnnie has been notified that one of her photos was chosen as the "winner" for that location and will advance to the finals in the worldwide competition. Results will be announced by August 17th.

Shutterbugs to Meet on July 14th

2009-07-09T08:41:00.001-04:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will meet on Tuesday, July 14th, 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. The program will be in the “Show ‘n’ Tell” format. Members will show samples of creative ways they use the photos they take (greeting cards, bookmarks, scrapbooks, photo books, etc.) and explain how to do the projects and where to buy supplies, etc. Afterward, Melba Brown will demonstrate how to prepare entries for the Georgia National Fair’s annual photography competition, which several Shutterbugs enter each year. The deadline for registering entries is September 10th. Entries must be delivered to the Fair on Sept. 18th or 19th and will remain on exhibit throughout the Fair (October 8-18). Entries must be picked up on October 20th or 21st. For more details, click here: http://georgianationalfair.com/_media/09GLCphotography.pdf

All members are urged to participate in the photography competition hosted by the Shutterbugs. Guidelines for that competition have been e-mailed to all the members. Entry deadline: July 14th.

Shutterbugs Exhibit at United Bank

2009-07-08T08:44:00.000-04:00

Shutterbugs (seated, left to right) Sherry Kunde, Harolyn Castleberry and (standing) Joan Phillips, Brenda Fayard, and Johnnie Ann Gaskill set up a photography exhibit at United Bank in Zebulon. The exhibit features their work, plus that of seven other Shutterbugs: Anna Mary Ellerbee, Dianne Kelly, Ellen Tew, Linda Best, Marcia Edwards, Marcia Fisher, and Melba Brown. The exhibit may be viewed during July.

Photo by Kathy Jo Bufford of United Bank.

Art in the Garden in Griffin, Georgia

2009-05-26T12:17:00.001-04:00

Shutterbugs Fawne DeRosia, Sherry Kunde, and Johnnie Ann Gaskill participated in "Art in the Garden," an annual event held at the University of Georgia's Research and Education Garden, located on West Ellis Road in Griffin. Several other photographers and artists also exhibited their work there on May 17th. The garden is open to the public each weekday from 8-5 and Sundays 1-4 (May-September). More information may be obtained here:
http://www.caes.uga.edu/campus/griffin/garden.

Photo by Hazel Cromer.

Shutterbugs Meeting on Tuesday, June 9th

2009-05-21T21:44:00.003-04:00

During the regular meeting on Tuesday, June 9th, members of the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will be critiquing photos, an activity that will help them learn to look more intently at the strengths and weaknesses of various photos. To prepare Shutterbugs for this activity, previous programs have focused on the 12 elements of a great photo, techniques for taking better images, and so forth. Members have also attended mini-courses that helped them become more familiar with their cameras and more adept at using photo editing software. They have also gone on photo shoots together and participated in area workshops, as well as those offered on-line.

As always, anyone interested in photography is invited to attend the photo slideshow and critique on June 9^th at 6:30 p.m.

Shutterbugs to Meet May 12th

2009-05-06T13:12:00.003-04:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will meet on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery and Gift Shop, located on the square. Johnnie Ann Gaskill, President, will use information included in a PowerPoint presentation to answer the question “What Makes a Great Photo?” Instruction and discussion will center around the twelve elements Professional Photographers of America judges consider when evaluating an image. Knowing what judges look for is of interest to Shutterbugs since many are in the process of taking pictures and selecting their best ones to enter in several upcoming contests, including the Georgia National Fair and SlowExposures.

The Shutterbugs meet on the second Tuesday of each month, except December, and invite photographers of all skill levels to attend. To find out more about the group, visit www.wcgshutterbugs.blogspot.com.

Shutterbugs Anna Mary Ellerbee (left) of Thomaston and Margie Lentini of Pike County linger at Callaway Gardens to take one more picture before heading home following an all-day macro (close-up) photography class taught by Jim Henderson.

Photo by Johnnie Ann Gaskill.

WCG Shutterbug Annual Photo Shoot

2009-04-17T14:39:00.001-04:00

Eighteen West Central Georgia Shutterbugs participated in the annual photo shoot that was held this year on April 14, 2009, at a farm in The Rock, GA. Everyone enjoyed the outing, even though a strong, cold wind chilled them to the bone! All appreciated the warm welcome extended by the hosts and were delighted with the beauty of the home, gardens, and farm. Shown in the photo is Angelica Clayton, taking a picture of the water garden.

Getting to Know Your Camera

2009-04-07T12:09:00.001-04:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs held their first mini-course, Getting to Know Your Camera, on Monday, April 6, 2009, 6:30 p.m., at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery and Gift Shop. The session was facilitated by King Davis and was a mix of “guided instruction” and “questions and answers.” Topics discussed included: how to select the quality of photos, flash exposure compensation, exposure compensation, and ISO. Those present learned more about their camera and/or helped others with theirs. Although no evaluations were filled out, the meeting must have been helpful since some said, “I didn’t know my camera would do that!” and “Let’s do this again!”

Twelve members braved the unseasonably cold weather to attend: Cindy Wright, Dee Hinson, Dianne Kelly, Ellen Tew, Evie Bowker, Harolyn Castleberry, Jan Price, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, King Davis, Marcia Fisher, Margie Lentini, and Melba Brown. Shown (L-R) in the photo are: King Davis, Dee Hinson, and Margie Lentini. Photo by Johnnie Ann Gaskill.

John Reed Photography Workshop

2009-04-02T10:50:00.000-04:00

Melba Brown (left) was one of five Shutterbugs who attended a photography workshop led by John Reed at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Center in Folkston, GA, on March 21-22. Other Shutterbugs in attendance were: Bonny Shockley, Harolyn Castleberry, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, and Yvette Tolson.

John (dark blue jacket), who lives in Jacksonville, FL, will be in Thomaston on June 12th and 13th to lead a workshop for members of the Shutterbugs. To see samples of his beautiful photography, please visit www.johnreedphoto.com

The WCG Shutterbugs to Meet on March 10th.

2009-03-02T09:52:00.002-05:00

Sherry Kunde, a member of the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs, will be the featured speaker when the group meets on Tuesday, March 10th at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery and Gift Shop, located on the square. Members and guests who are eager to find opportunities to sell their work will be especially interested in Sherry’s presentation, which will provide an overview of “stock” photography. She’ll explain what stock photography is, the different kinds of stock, who buys stock images, what makes an image a good one for stock, etc. Using a video projector and internet access, she’ll show actual stock galleries, like that of Marilyn Barbone, who sells lots of stock photos each month. Since Sherry is an experienced (and successful) stock photo photographer, she’ll be able to answer questions attendees may have about selling their work on microstock sites. Photo by Joan Phillips

Photography Class at Massee Lane Gardens

2009-02-07T12:55:00.002-05:00

Massee Lane Gardens and the American Camellia Society are pleased to present a photography class on Saturday, the 14th of February. “Fun Flower Fotography” will be taught by King Davis, a member of the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs. He will address many aspects of picture-taking, with an emphasis on macro and outdoor photography. The class is suitable for beginner to intermediate level photographers. It will begin at 10 AM in the auditorium and will last approximately two hours. Following the indoor instructional time, participants will have opportunity to practice their photography skills outside in the beautiful Massee Lane gardens, weather permitting. Pre-registration is not required. There is no charge for the class, but participants will need to purchase an admissions ticket ($5) to the gardens. Also, a boxed lunch ($15) may be ordered upon arrival. If desired, participants may bring their own lunch/snack to enjoy in one of the many scenic spots throughout the gardens.

Massee Lane Gardens is a 100+ acre botanical garden located on Georgia Highway 49 approximately 5 miles south of Fort Valley. The American Camellia Society, headquartered there, holds a “Festival of Camellias” each February. Throughout the month, visitors are invited to attend special events that, this year, include a floral arranging workshop, a camellia waxing class, a Japanese flower arranging class, various symposiums, etc., some of which require pre-registration and a small fee. Visitors will enjoy strolling through the various gardens: the camellia garden (nine acres), the Japanese garden, the children’s garden, the rose garden, the day lily garden, and the environmental garden. In addition to a gift shop filled with unique, reasonably priced items, there’s also a greenhouse and a collection of porcelain art by Boehm and others. The gardens are open every day in February from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For additional information on the 2009 Festival of Camellias, please contact the American Camellia Society at 1-877-422-6355 or log onto http://www.camellias-acs.com

2009 United Bank Calendar

2008-11-20T23:04:00.002-05:00

For their 2009 calendar, United Bank chose images taken by six West Central Georgia Shutterbugs and honored them, along with other photographers whose images were selected, at a reception held at the Zebulon office on Thursday, November 13, 2008. Shown here (left to right) are Melba Brown, Shakeira Trice, Linda Best, Anna Mary Ellerbee, and Ellen Tew. (Not shown: Marcia Fisher)

Relay for Life 2009 Calendar

2008-11-20T22:23:00.003-05:00

Photos taken by four West Central Georgia Shutterbugs at the 2008 Relay for Life have been chosen for the "Relay for Life Memories 2009" calendar, published by Upson Regional Medical Center (URMC) Bosom Buddies, a support group for women who are cancer survivors. The 12-month calendar features photographs of many of those attending the event and were taken by (L-R): Ellen Tew, King Davis, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, and Yvette Tolson. Calendars may be purchased for $10 from any Bosom Buddies member or from Trinkets and Treasures (the gift shop located in the lobby of Upson Regional Medical Center) or the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council Gallery and Gift Shop (located on the courthouse square). Proceeds from the sale of the calendar will support Relay For Life in Upson County and provide the American Cancer Society with funds to fight cancer. For additional information, contact San Short at Upson Regional, 706-647-8111 ext. 1165.

Photo by Charlotte Bennett.

Shutterbugs Win Awards at the Georgia National Fair

2008-11-18T09:24:00.003-05:00

Nine members of the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs received ribbons in the Photography Competition at the Georgia National Fair in Perry in October. Linda Best earned a second place ribbon in the Beginner Section. Krista Williams earned the Award of Excellence in the Advanced Division, as well as the Cokes Camera Center Award, along with five ribbons. Other Shutterbugs who received ribbons in the Advanced Division were: Johnnie Ann Gaskill (9), Yvette Tolson (3), Bonny Shockley (2), Melba Brown (1), Fawne DeRosia (1), Marcia Fisher (1) and Marcia Miller (1). Out of the 1800 photos entered in this year’s competition, Shutterbugs earned 26% of the ribbons awarded in the Advanced Division for color photos and 21% of the ribbons awarded in that division for monochrome images.

Shutterbugs attribute much of their success to the things they learn during their meetings, as well as the encouragement they get from one another. They meet the second Tuesday in each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery and Gift Shop, located on the courthouse square. Guest speaker for the November 11th meeting will be Jerry Beasley, past president of the Middle Georgia Camera Club in Macon, who will talk about “How to Take Tack-Sharp Photos.” Visitors are welcome to attend. All attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item (for people or pets) to be donated to a food distribution organization.

Krista Williams, of Thomaston, was thrilled with the multiple awards she received at the Georgia National Fair, especially the Award of Excellence, which is given annually for the photo the judges consider to be the very best one in the Division.

Photo of Yvette Tolson by Charlotte Bennett. Article by Johnnie Ann Gaskill. Photo of Krista Williams by Malcolm Williams.

Scarecrows in the Garden

2008-11-01T09:31:00.002-04:00

Sherry Kunde, a member of the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs, visited the University of Georgia Research and Education Garden the day the exhibit "Scarecrows in the Garden" opened. She enjoyed photographing all 17 scarecrows created by individuals, local organizations, and businesses, especially "Miss Bodacious Boo-livia Bloomers" who was sponsored by the Special Events Committee UGA Griffin Campus 2007 Master Gardener Class. While visiting the Garden, Sherry also took many photos of bees, butterflies, and flowers. Although the scarecrows were only in the garden between Oct. 13th and 26th, the garden itself is lovely throughout the year. It is located on West Ellis Road (off the Hwy. 19/41 Bypass) in Griffin and is open to the public weekdays (except holidays) 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On Sunday, November 30th, from 1-4 p.m., Santa will be inside the Garden Education Building to visit with children of all ages. Photos will be available. For more information, please contact Barbara King (barwking AT bellsouth DOT net) or visit the Garden's website.

Photo by Johnnie Ann Gaskill.

Shutterbugs Out and About!

2008-09-23T22:11:00.004-04:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs are an on-the-go group! On Saturday, Sept. 20th, several Shutterbugs attended the opening reception for the SlowExposures Photography Exhibition, an annual event held each year in nearby Concord, GA. Shown in the photo on the first row are: Malgorzata Florkowska, Melba Brown, and Harolyn Castleberry. On the second row are: Joan Phillips, Fawne DeRosia, Ellen Tew, Anna Mary Ellerbee, Linda Best, and Johnnie Ann Gaskill. Ellen, Anna Mary, and Linda’s photos, along with those of Brenda Fayard (not shown) were juried into the show. While traveling to and from the exhibit, some of the Shutterbugs stopped for photos, as Shutterbugs are prone to do.
Photo by Robert Gallman.

On Thursday, Sept. 18th, seven members attended Taste of Thomaston, an annual event held on the courthouse square. Shown in the photo are Janet Goodberlet, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, Fawne DeRosia, and Joan Phillips. They, along with Melba Brown and Sherry Kunde, were on hand to talk with people interested in knowing more about the photography club.
Photo by Ellen Tew.

On Saturday, August 16th, eleven members of the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs attended a “Making More Expressive Photos” workshop held at the Middle Georgia Art Association in Macon. Jim Messer (far right) led the workshop. Standing beside him is Lynne Barta, who often teams with him on various projects. Shutterbugs in attendance were (seated): Harolyn Castleberry, Melba Brown, Marsha Waller, and (standing, left to right): Krista Williams, Hazel Cromer, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, King Davis, Phyllis Dyche, Yvette Tolson, Anna Mary Ellerbee, Sherry Kunde and Lyndsey York (not shown in the photo). While there, they viewed the “In Celebration of Light” photography show, which remained on exhibit through Sept. 13th. Following the four-hour workshop, several of the Shutterbugs spent additional time in Macon, eagerly practicing the things they learned.
Photo by Frank Pinkston.

People's Choice Award 2008

2008-09-23T22:06:00.005-04:00

For the second year in a row, one of Harolyn Castleberry’s photos was awarded the “People’s Choice Award.” Her “Penaquid Point Lighthouse” received the most votes during the opening reception for the “Personal Best” exhibit, which features the photography of 28 Shutterbugs. Anna Mary Ellerbee’s “Every Child” was the second vote-getter, and King Davis’ “Camryn” was third, followed by Shakeira Trice’s "The Buzz." Juanita Kendall’s “Earth’s Blood” and Marcia Fisher’s “Old Man at the Jaffa Gate” tied for fifth place. Congratulations to all.

Photo by Johnnie Ann Gaskill.

Personal Best

2008-08-31T21:27:00.002-04:00

During September, the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC), located on the courthouse square, is hosting the second annual “Personal Best” photography exhibit by the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs, a group that was formed in January 2006 and now has 42 members from Upson and five surrounding counties. The exhibit includes 56 photos by 28 of the members. Many of the photographic images, along with smaller items such as greeting cards, are available for purchase. The public is invited to attend an opening reception Tuesday, September 9^th, from 6-8 p.m., to meet the photographers, enjoy their work, and cast their vote for the “People’s Choice” award, which will be announced at 8 p.m. The exhibit may also be viewed during TUAC’s regular business hours: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10-5, and Wednesday 10-Noon.

Those exhibiting their “Personal Best” photos are among the Shutterbugs pictured here: 1st Row, Left to Right: Harolyn Castleberry, Sherry Kunde, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, Joan Phillips; 2^nd Row: Fawne DeRosia, Hazel Cromer, Anna Mary Ellerbee, Bonny Shockley, Kim Hill, Yvette Tolson, Juanita Kendall; 3^rd Row: Shakeira Trice, Marcia Miller, Maggie Grob, Melba Brown, Ellen Tew, Krista Williams, Marcia Fisher, Debbie Smith; 4^th Row: Marcia Edwards, Jakob Grob, Phyllis Dyche, Lyndsey York, King Davis, Dee Hinson, and Evie Bowker. Other exhibitors not shown in the photo are: Malgorzata Florkowska and Linda Best.

Horsing Around at A Novel Experience

2008-08-18T12:23:00.002-04:00

On August 9th, thirteen members of the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs attended the opening reception for the “Horsing Around…” photography exhibit, which may be viewed during the month of August at A Novel Experience, located on the courthouse square in Zebulon. Store hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The exhibit includes photos taken by 15 Shutterbugs, as well as those belonging to other photographers in the area. Shown in the photo are: Melba Brown (kneeling), Yvette Tolson, Marcia Fisher, Ellen Tew, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, Fawne DeRosia, Brenda Fayard, Marcia Edwards, Malgorzata Florkowska, Anna Mary Ellerbee, Suzi Axtell, Bonny Shockley, and Marcia Miller. Other Shutterbugs, not pictured, whose photos were also juried into the exhibit: Linda Best and Harolyn Castleberry. Photo by Gordon Brown.

Shutterbugs to Meet on August 12th

2008-07-28T10:34:00.001-04:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will meet on Tuesday, August 12th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery and Gift Shop in downtown Thomaston. Following an extended business meeting, which includes the election of officers for the upcoming year, Shutterbugs will walk across the street to the courthouse for two group photos: (1) all members, and (2) those members who will be exhibiting photos in the “Personal Best” exhibit in September at TUAC. Shutterbugs who wish to know more about how to prepare photos for exhibits (including the upcoming Georgia National Fair in Perry) will return to the Gallery for a demonstration/question-and-answer session conducted by Melba Brown. Others will be free to go following the photo session.

Shutterbugs who have ordered exhibit supplies (clear bags, backing boards, and mats) from Melba Brown may pick them up and pay her for them at the meeting.

As always, members should wear their ID buttons. Also, please bring a camera (to pose with during the group shots). Shutterbugs who are exhibiting in Sept. may also bring their ready-to-hang photos (maximum of two). Otherwise, make plans to deliver them to TUAC no later than Friday, August 22nd.

Shutterbugs to meet on July 8th

2008-06-27T18:17:00.005-04:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will meet on Tuesday, July 8th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery and Gift Shop. The program will begin with a brief segment from a Bryan Peterson DVD. Peterson, who is a professional photographer, author, and instructor, advises his students to choose themes, that is, special subjects to photograph—for example, windows, neon signs, the color purple, emotions (such as indifference), or whatever interests them. Knowing what you’re looking for, Peterson believes, will keep you focused, directed, and enthusiastic.

The remainder of the program will be devoted to viewing photos taken by Shutterbugs Marcia Fisher and King Davis. His photos were taken in Bolivia, hers in Israel. Both presentations will be a combination of travelogue and photography comments, questions and answers, critiques, etc.

Marcia, a charter member of Shutterbugs, moved to Thomaston from Oakland, California, in 1997. She began taking pictures after being inspired by the beauty of Georgia. Her photography has been displayed in various galleries and photography exhibits, won awards in venues such as the Georgia National Fair, and selected for special projects.

King Davis, a native of Thomaston, developed an interest in photography as a teenager, with the help of his parents and a number of friends. Throughout the 1970s, he worked as a freelance photographer. Now that the cost of film is no longer prohibitive, he has recently resumed pursuing photography, using a digital SLR camera.

Anyone interested in photography is welcome to attend. No reservations are required. Just come to the TUAC Gallery, located next to the Ritz Theatre on the courthouse square in Thomaston, and enjoy 90 minutes of photography instruction and inspiration.

While on a photo shoot with other Shutterbugs, Melba Brown took pictures of horses to enter into an upcoming exhibit. Her efforts paid off, since three of her photos were juried into the “Horsing Around…” photography exhibit that opens in August at A Novel Experience (bookstore) on the courthouse square in Zebulon. The exhibit may be viewed during the store’s regular business hours (Tuesday-Saturday, 10-7) and during a reception on Saturday, August 9th, from 7-9 p.m. Photo by Johnnie Ann Gaskill

Paddle Georgia

2008-06-26T14:29:00.004-04:00

Photo by Johnnie Ann Gaskill

Melba Brown, Anna Mary Ellerbee, Sherry Kunde and Johnnie Ann Gaskill were all out at Sprewell Bluff on Saturday to photograph the “Paddle Georgia” event. Here are links to some of the photos they took that day Enjoy!

Sherry Kunde

Melba Brown

Anna Mary Ellerbee

Johnnie Ann Gaskill

Shutterbugs to Meet on Tuesday, June 10th

2008-06-06T12:05:00.001-04:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will meet on Tuesday, June 10th at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery and Gift Shop, located on the courthouse square. Following a brief business meeting, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, President, will show members and guests how to set up a free gallery on www.betterphoto.com, where they can display their photos and enter free monthly contests hosted by that site. Anyone interested in that topic is welcome to attend. For more information, contact Johnnie at 706-646-4170.

The club now has 33 members from Upson and surrounding counties, some of whom are shown here:
Front Row, Left to Right: Yvette Tolson, Bonny Shockley, Janet Goodberlet, Sherry Kunde
Second Row: Marcia Miller, Melba Brown, Hazel Cromer, Ellen Tew, Shakeira Trice, Krista Williams
Third Row: Melissa Thomas, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, Marcia Fisher, Harolyn Castleberry, Kim Hill
Fourth Row: Fawne DeRosia, Joan Phillips, Marcia Edwards, Lyndsey York, Holly Butler
Back Row: Anna Mary Ellerbee, Dee Hinson, King Davis

Shutterbugs to Meet on May 13th

2008-05-05T11:25:00.000-04:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will meet on Tuesday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery, located on the courthouse square. Since members have expressed interest in learning more about how to upload, file, edit, and store their photos, the program will focus on those tasks. Johnnie Ann Gaskill, President, will demonstrate how she organizes her photos and will invite members to share their tips and techniques, too. If time permits, she will show attendees how to set up a free gallery on www.betterphoto.com, where they can display their photos and enter free monthly contests hosted by that site. Anyone interested in learning more about these topics is welcome to attend.

Nearby Photo Exhibitions

2008-04-20T09:27:00.003-04:00

Jim Henderson at Callaway Gardens - The images within this gallery will be on display at the Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center Exhibition Hall at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA from April 1 - 30, 2008. Prints and CDs will be on sale at the exhibition.

Blind/Sight: Conversations with the Visually Inspired - Photographer Billy Howard and illustrator Laurie Shock capture the spirit and stories of 12 people with varying degrees of visual impairment—from low vision to total blindness. Learn how each of the featured individuals "see" the world by viewing depictions created by Howard and Shock and find out what caused their vision impairments. On view February 9 through May 4, 2008 at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

Sally Mann at Jackson Fine Art in Atlanta - Jackson Fine Art is delighted to present a selection of work from the last segment of acclaimed photographer Sally Mann's What Remains, a series which explores the intricacies of death. Although Mann returns to her most familiar subject-her three children-she diverges from past approaches and themes. These large-format, up-close portraits were created using wet-plate collodion negatives, an arduous process first used by photographers ten years before the Civil War. The resulting photographs emanate a prophetic beauty, each "perfect flaw" in the process foreshadowing our slow but inevitable expiration. Through Aprill 26, 2008.

More Photos from The Rock Ranch

2008-04-14T16:54:00.007-04:00

By: Joan Phillips

By: Johnnie Ann Gaskill

By: Hazel Cromer

By: Fawne DeRosia

And one by Mazzy!

Photos from The Rock Ranch Photoshoot

2008-04-14T09:21:00.005-04:00

By: Sherry Kunde

By: Melba Brown

By: Anna Mary Ellerbee

By: Yvette Tolson

More soon!

The Rock Ranch Photo Shoot

2008-04-13T12:05:00.003-04:00

Fourteen Shutterbugs enjoyed the April 8th for-members-only photo shoot held at The Rock Ranch from 6-8 p.m. Adam Pugh, who is Event Coordinator, Public Relations Specialist and Director of Detail at the ranch, hosted the event. For the first 30-45 minutes we were on our own and quickly set about taking pictures of peacocks, a new foal, expectant goats, fat sheep, horses, pigs, barns, and all sorts of buildings and unique things, like a giant windmill, a covered bridge, the rusty truck that has a tree growing in the engine, and much, much more. Then we formed a caravan, led by Adam, and bumped along roads and pastures in order to photograph cattle and Conestoga wagons, as well as a beautiful sunset. A good time was had by all, and we managed to capture some great images to add to our collections/galleries. We are very grateful to The Rock Ranch for hosting us in such a gracious way and allowing us to enjoy their “photographer’s delights.”

Our next meeting will be May 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery, located on the courthouse square in Thomaston. The program will be presented by various Shutterbugs and will focus on how to upload and file photos, as well as how to join http://www.betterphoto.com/ and set up a free gallery there. Anyone interested in photography is invited to attend.

Photography Blogs and Podcasts

2008-04-10T12:24:00.003-04:00

Photojojo - from the About Us page: "We publish an insanely great newsletter on photography. More specifically, we scour the internets, rip pages out of magazines, ransack our friends' closets, and go through dumpsters to find the very best Photo tips, DIY projects, and Gear."

The Candid Frame - A photography podcast where you meet some of the world's best established and emerging photographers in the world of photojournalism, fashion, landscape, documentary, sports, wildlife, travel and commercial photography.

The Atlanta Celebrates Photography Blog - Keep tabs on photography events in and around Atlanta.

On Taking Pictures - By photographer and Brooklynite Bill Wadman. He has a background in advertising, editorial, and portraiture. He's shot all over the world and is currently putting together a book based on the 365 Portraits project.

Exposure Compensation - This blog is about photography as an art media and photography as a communication tool. Here you will find references to photographers, discussions on photography and interviews to artists. You will also find references to publications and exhibits.

Members Only Photo Shoot April 8th

2008-03-26T08:28:00.003-04:00

In lieu of our regular meeting on April 8, Shutterbugs will be participating in a “members only” photo shoot from 6-8 p.m. Guests will be invited, as always, to attend our next regular meeting on Tuesday, May 13th, 6:30 p.m., at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery, located on the courthouse square. The May 13th program will focus on how to upload/store/sort photos, as well as how to set up a photo gallery on www.betterphoto.com and participate in contests offered there.

Other Photo Opportunities:

A photography contest being sponsored by the Georgia Strawberry Festival in Reynolds, GA. Click for more information.
The cherry trees on Griffin Avenue in Thomaston are in bloom and are a beautiful sight! As you approach the square, follow the signs for 36 West. Once on 36 West, follow it for about 1.5 miles. After you pass Providence Nursing Home on the left, go to the bottom of the hill and turn RIGHT onto Nelson Drive. Griffin Avenue is the first street on the RIGHT.
Two events at New Hebron Church in Pike County: The Franklin Family drum, fife and bugle corps on April 20th & Founders Day Picnic May 18th at 2 p.m. Click for more information.

In Memoriam

2008-03-10T10:43:00.003-04:00

Dee DeLoatch
May 19, 1950—February 27, 2008

Dee was a charter member of the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs and hosted our first meeting in her salon in January 2006. She also served as president from August 2006-November 2007. She attended various photography workshops and was a great encouragement and inspiration to other photographers.
Her photography was juried in to exhibits (the 2006 Tobler Mill ARTfest, the 2006 WCGS exhibit at Pike Arts and Local Flavors, a special display at SlowExposures 2007, as well as exhibits hosted by the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC). Her photography was also chosen for use in special publications, including the 2008 Georgia State map, the 2008 United Bank calendar, and a greeting card used/sold by the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council. Dee often used some of her best photos on greeting cards she created. In addition, she displayed some of her work in her salon, Dee’s Downtown, which she owned and operated for several years. Several of her matted and framed images are also in private collections. Some of her favorite images, in addition to those of her grandchildren, were those taken while traveling, which she loved to do.
Although Dee is no longer with us, her photography leads us to believe she would agree with David Bailey, who said, "It takes a lot of imagination to be a good photographer. You need less imagination to be a painter because you can invent things. But in photography everything is so ordinary; it takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the extraordinary," and with Ansel Adams, who said, "In my mind's eye, I visualize how a particular . . . sight and feeling will appear on a print. If it excites me, there is a good chance it will make a good photograph. It is an intuitive sense, an ability that comes from a lot of practice."
Dee was greatly loved and respected; she will be greatly missed by all who were privileged to know her.

Dee's BetterPhoto Gallery

Shutterbugs will meet on Tuesday, March 11, 2008

2008-03-04T11:39:00.004-05:00

When the Shutterbugs last met on Feb. 12th, Melba Brown, Linda Best, and Harolyn Castleberry used a PowerPoint presentation to share some of the beautiful photos they took while on a recent trip to Italy. Attendees enjoyed seeing the work of these talented Shutterbugs and are anticipating the next regular meeting on March 11th, when they will see images captured by award-winning photographer, Scott Ash, the featured speaker for the evening. The public is invited to attend. Photo by Johnnie Ann Gaskill

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will meet on Tuesday, March 11, 6:30 p.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery, located on the courthouse square. Award-winning photographer, Scott Ash of Peachtree City, will be the guest speaker. On his website, http://www.wanderlustphotography.com/, Scott says that wherever his job as an international pilot takes him, he sets aside time to hike and to take pictures. Therefore, he has a collection of beautiful images that express the joy he felt when he captured them. “Nearly every photo has a story behind it,” Scott says, “which reminds me of the hike taken, people met, places seen, weather experienced, or other unique challenges I faced on that particular day.”

Scott joins a growing list of excellent photographers who have been invited to showcase their work during Shutterbugs meetings and to discuss the techniques they used to capture the images. Other photographers have been invited to speak at future meetings because Shutterbugs want to learn from “the best” how to take better photos.

Shutterbugs met for the first time in January 2006, with 10 persons present. Currently, there are 26 members of various ages and skill levels, who reside either in Lamar, Pike, Spalding, or Upson County. Members welcome other photographers, from beginners to professionals. For more information, contact Shutterbugs President, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, at 706-646-4170.

Georgia DOT Wants Your Best Photos of our State!

2008-02-26T11:12:00.002-05:00

Georgia DOT invites you to send us your pictures depicting Georgia’s transportation system, scenic beauty, attractions or historical sites. State Transportation Board members will select a winning entry to represent their respective congressional district on the Official 2009 Highway and Transportation map. The highway map photo contest is open to all Georgia residents.

Photos can be submitted online at http://statemapphoto.dot.state.ga.us until April 30, 2008.
Once the submission period closes, Board members will select one photo to represent their congressional district. The winning photographers will be notified in writing and receive full photo credit for their submission.

The State Highway and Transportation Map is Georgia’s official travel guide. Over a million maps are printed each year and distributed throughout the country. Photos from all over Georgia have been placed on previous maps to provide travelers with a visual depiction of our history, statewide attractions and nationally recognized transportation system.

Good luck!

Shutterbugs Attend Reception in Zebulon

2008-02-13T07:50:00.003-05:00

Shutterbugs in attendance at A Novel Experience's Puppy Love reception: Brenda Fayard, Malgorzata Florkowska, Fawne DeRosia, Ellen Tew, Harolyn Castleberry, Marcia Fisher, Melba Brown, and Johnnie Ann Gaskill. (Photo by Gordon Brown)

Photo by Johnnie Ann Gaskill.

Shutterbugs’ Awards and Feb. 12 Meeting

2008-02-06T10:26:00.001-05:00

Seven members of the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs received ribbons and cash awards for photos they entered into the 2007 Georgia National Fair, held in Perry, GA. Their awards are significant since, according to Alan Thiese, Chairman of the Photography Competition, there were 1605 photos entered, 970 of those photos in the Beginner Division, 396 in Advanced, and 239 in Open.
Shutterbugs receiving awards in the Beginner Division were: Linda Best—6th place, Melba Brown—two 6th place awards, Harolyn Castleberry—a 2nd and a 3rd place, Anna Mary Ellerbee—a 3rd and a 5th place, Marcia Fisher—two 2nd place awards, plus a 3rd and a 6th, and Ester Fry—4th place.
In the “Advanced” division, Johnnie Ann Gaskill won sixteen awards, including three 1st place awards. She also received the Sweepstakes Award, which is awarded annually to the photographer who earns more awards than any other photographer competing in that division.
Several Shutterbugs have received recognitions for photos they’ve posted on http://www.betterphoto.com/, the premier educational web site on photography that offers an astonishing array of resources for photographers world-wide who want to improve their skills, share their photos, and learn more about the art and technique of photography. Photographers may enter one photo per day to any one of the ten contests BetterPhoto sponsors each month. Out of the thousands of beautiful photos entered each month, some photos are designated as “Editor’s Pick,” which means they have advanced to the next level of competition from which the “Finalists” are chosen, from which “Winners” are selected. According to recent statistics posted on http://www.betterphoto.com/, 7,120 photographers from 225 countries have received awards. Out of the more than 30,000 photos submitted each month, BetterPhoto chooses only a small percentage of photos for special recognition, which makes receiving even an “Editor’s Pick” a real thrill.
Shutterbugs whose photos have been designated “Editor’s Pick” include: Melba Brown, Harolyn Castleberry, Hazel Cromer, Dee DeLoatch, Anna Mary Ellerbee, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, and Lyndsey York. Anna Mary and Melba have also received one “Finalist” award each. Hazel has received numerous “Editor’s Picks,” two “Finalists,” and one “Winner.” Congratulations to all!
Five Shutterbugs have had photos chosen for the “Puppy Love” exhibit on display during February at A Novel Experience (bookstore) on the courthouse square in Zebulon. The public is invited to a reception there on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 7-9 p.m. to view the photos of dogs and to meet all of the photographers, including Shutterbugs Melba Brown, Harolyn Castleberry, Fawne DeRosia, Brenda Fayard, and Malgorzata Florkowska.

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will meet on Tuesday, February 12, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery, located on the courthouse square in Thomaston. The program will feature a PowerPoint presentation of photos taken by Melba Brown, Harolyn Castleberry, and Linda Best during their recent trip to Italy. The group was organized in November 2005 and met for the first time in January 2006. Currently, there are 25 members, including the award-winning photographers shown here (front row, left to right): Melba Brown, Ellen Tew, Harolyn Castleberry, Malgorzata Florkowska, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, Linda Best, Fawne DeRosia, and (back row, L-R) Marcia Fisher, Anna Mary Ellerbee, Lyndsey York, and Hazel Cromer. They, along with other Shutterbugs, invite anyone interested in photography and/or in viewing the photos of Italy to attend the meeting. Photo by King Davis.

Written by Johnnie Ann Gaskill.

Puppy Love at A Novel Experience

2008-02-05T17:06:00.000-05:00

Nancy McCrary has curated a fabulous show of lovely dog photos from over 20 photographers--the images are funny, inspiring, and poignant. For anyone who has ever loved a dog, this show will elicit wonderful memories and appreciation of that special relationship between the species. The subjects span the dog world --from serious working guys to pampered pooches of the clueless ilk. Doubt the Great Pyrennees can express complex emotions? Come let us make a believer of you!
Part of the fun of this exhibit will be sharing it with a great group of photographers and dog lovers at the Opening Reception on Saturday February 9th from 7-9 p.m. Contribute to the "Ahhhhh Factor" and enjoy complementary wine, cheese, and convivial conversation!RECEPTION: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9. 7-9 PM

http://www.anovelexperience.net/

Some of our own Shutterbugs will have photos hanging in this exhibit: Melba Brown, Harolyn Castleberry, Malgorzata Florkowska, Fawne DeRosia, and Brenda Fayard. Congratulations!

Take a Seat - Photography by Paul Conlan

2008-01-13T22:18:00.000-05:00

January 8 - 31, 2008

Paul's images capture intriguing details of people, places and objects found in big cites and small towns. Spontaneous moments of life are caught "on the fly" in bold colors, leaving us to ponder what happens next to the subjects in his lens.

Reception Friday, January 18th - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

A Novel Experience Bookstore on the Courthouse Square
Zebulon, Georgia
770.254.2787
http://www.anovelexperience.net/

WCG Shutterbugs to meet on Tuesday, Jan. 8

2008-01-02T09:26:00.000-05:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will meet Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery and Gift Shop. The results of the recent survey sent to members will be discussed and plans made based on the responses to the survey. Following the planning period, members will discuss resources (books, videos, DVDs, other photographers, opportunities, websites, conferences, etc.) that have helped them develop their skills as a photographer. As always, anyone interested in photography is invited to attend the meetings, which are held the second Tuesday in each month.

Shown in the photo are Johnnie Ann Gaskill, President, and Fawne DeRosia, Vice President, who, along with the other officers, have been working hard to make the upcoming year a great one for Shutterbugs. Photo by Anna Mary Ellerbee.

Workshops at Callaway Gardens

2007-12-28T21:30:00.000-05:00

Instructor: Jim Henderson, award winning “serious amateur” photographer of LaGrange, GA.

A Fun and Easy Introduction to Digital Photography: How to Take Great Pictures
Saturday, January 26, 2008
9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Fee: $70.00; includes lunch and course syllabus.

Taking Your Photography to the Next Level: Creative Photography Beyond the Auto Mode
Saturday, February 23, 2008
9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Fee: $70.00; includes lunch and course syllabus.

Mastering Exposure: Intermediate Topics in Digital Photography
Saturday, March 8, 2008
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $70.00; includes lunch and course syllabus.

More information on the Calloway Gardens Workshop Website.

United Bank Recognizes Local Photographers

2007-12-28T14:18:00.000-05:00

United Bank extended a special thanks to local photographers for submitting pictures for the bank’s 2008 community calendar. The public was invited to participate in the calendar design by emailing their photos of local landscapes, historical architecture, nature and wildlife photographed within Pike, Spalding, Lamar, Upson, Morgan and Newton Counties. The contest began in July, and United Bank received over three hundred photographs. Thirteen photos were selected and are featured in the bank’s 2008 edition of their annual community calendar. The bank has received such favorable comments about the calendar that it hopes to make this an annual project. Calendars are a free publication courtesy of United Bank. Pick up a copy of the calendar at any of United Bank’s fifteen banking locations.

Calendar Photographers (l to r): Ellen Tew, Marcia Fisher, Johnnie Gaskill, Melissa Mathews, Lindsey York, Yvette Tolson, Dee DeLoatch, Melba Brown and Pricilla Bostwick. Other photographers selected but not pictured are Katy Kennedy, Deanna York, Trinity Walker and Alan Mars.

From: The Thomaston Times

Shutterbugs attend a reception in Zebulon

2007-11-20T22:42:00.001-05:00

On November 16th, several members of the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs attended a reception honoring Brenda Fayard, who is a charter member of the club. Brenda is a highly skilled photographer who does far more than simply take pictures. She also teaches photography classes, curates shows, and hangs exhibits—among many other things. Some of her favorite photographs are on exhibit during November at A Novel Experience, located on the courthouse square in Zebulon. To inquire about upcoming events at the bookstore, hours of operation, or directions, please call 770.567.1103. Shown with Brenda (center) are (left to right): Johnnie Ann Gaskill, Harolyn Castleberry, Melba Brown, Fawne DeRosia, Suzie Axtell, and Malgorzata Florkowska. Photo by Gordon Brown.

West Central Georgia Shutterbugs to meet on Tuesday, Nov. 13

2007-11-09T13:11:00.000-05:00

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will hold their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) Gallery in downtown Thomaston. Although much of this meeting will be devoted to business matters such as the election of officers, visitors are invited to attend and have input regarding future programs and activities and to enjoy learning about “How to Compose a Good Photograph.” Members and guests who have “Fall” photos are invited to bring two or three to show to the entire group.

The meeting will be an ideal time to drop off items for the Mistletoe Market, which TUAC is hosting again this year. Any artist or photographer who is a TUAC member is invited to bring items (no more than 25) to sell during the Mistletoe Market, which opens on Tuesday, November 20th, just in time for holiday shopping. The Mistletoe Market/Gift Shop will be open during TUAC’s regular business hours (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays 10 a.m. to Noon), as well as during the third annual Victorian Christmas Celebration that will be held on the square the evening of Thursday, Nov. 29.

The photography of Brenda Fayard, one of the charter members of Shutterbugs, is being featured this month in an exhibit at A Novel Experience, a bookstore located beside The Country Moose Restaurant on the courthouse square in Zebulon. The reception honoring Brenda will be held on Friday, November 16th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Shutterbugs are planning to attend not only to enjoy seeing the photographs but also to celebrate with Brenda over having a solo show, an honor afforded to only a few photographers.

Shutterbugs extend get well wishes to their current president, Dee DeLoatch, who is recovering from recent surgery at Duke University Hospital.

Shutterbugs Marcia Fisher (right) and Johnnie Ann Gaskill stand near their photographs that were among those chosen to be exhibited at the 2007 Arts Clayton Annual Juried Show and Competition, which was held during October at the Arts Clayton Gallery in Jonesboro. An independent jury panel, led by professional photographer, Jim Lewchuk, took special and detailed care in reviewing more than 125 entries submitted by 31 photographers. According to Karen Powers, Gallery Manager at Arts Clayton, “The jury was impressed by all of the entries and conveyed that it was very difficult to decide which works to include in the show.” Photo by Peggy Brooks.

Article by Johnnie Ann Gaskill.