Exhibit Ends May 30

The last weekend of our exhibit has started off with a bang. Congratulations go out to Rachel McClellan for selling two of her pictures, Jackie Stokes for selling one more, and to Melba for selling one more and several gift shop items. Hopefully more will sell before the exhibit ends. I have heard some wonderful comments about our exhibit. Everyone should be proud of our club and this exhibit.


Everyone participating in the exhibit needs to make note of the following: The exhibit will be taken down on Friday, May 30. Make plans to pick up your photos and gift shop items (or have someone get them for you) between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Tell the gate keeper that you are there to help take down the Shutterbug exhibit at the Discovery Center.


The bubble-wrap bags can be purchased from the club for $1.75 each. If you would like to have these bags to protect your pictures, be prepared to pay for them on Saturday. Please pay by check.

May 2014 Meeting

from Eric Bowles' website

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs have invited Eric Bowles to speak at their Tuesday, May 13th meeting, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the multi-purpose room of Hightower Memorial Library, located at 800 West Gordon Street (across the street from Upson Regional Medical Center) in Thomaston. He will show images he took at Arabia Mountain (the most easily identified landscape of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area), which he describes as “Stone Mountain’s smaller and older sibling.” Eric’s images depict this unique habitat and the tiny plants that live there. He will discuss techniques and equipment for macro and close-up photography he used to get some wonderful shots in this special location (DeKalb County).

Eric is an Atlanta-based nature photographer, specializing in the Southeastern United States. His work has been published in magazines, newspapers, and commercial publications. Eric leads workshops for photographers of all levels. Custom instruction and tours are available on request for select Southeastern destinations, including the Great Smoky Mountains, Okefenokee, Coastal Georgia, and popular locations in Florida. To learn more about him and to see samples of his work, visit his website: http://bowlesimages.com/

Photographers of all skill levels are invited to attend. There is no admission fee. For more information about the Shutterbugs, please visit their blog: http://wcgshutterbugs.blogspot.com.

Shutterbugs Exhibit Images at Callaway Gardens

Shutterbugs President, Jim Davidson of Pike County, stands proudly beside some of the beautiful photos on display at Callaway Gardens. He’s thrilled by the participation and skill of his fellow Shutterbugs and by the high praise that visitors are giving the images. He reports that photos by Harolyn Castleberry and Jackie Stokes sold right away, as did an assortment of smaller items that are displayed in the Discovery Center Gift Shop at Callaway. Photo courtesy of Marcia Fisher, one of the charter members of Shutterbugs.

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs proudly announce their upcoming exhibit, “Through Our Eyes,” in the Discovery Center of Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain. They invite everyone who enjoys nature photography to stop by to see the 149 varied “nature” images that will be displayed from April 23 through May 29, 2014. There is no charge to view the exhibit, but a general admission ticket to Callaway Gardens must be purchased at the main gate. (For info about the gardens, please visit www.callawaygardens.com.) The Shutterbugs exhibited there in 2010 and have been invited back for the dates mentioned above, as well as in the Fall of 2016. The Shutterbugs are thrilled to have the honor of displaying and selling their work in one of the top five public gardens in America.

The images were taken in various locations in the U. S. and abroad by these 17 members: from Fayette County: Francis Hauke; Henry: Linda Godwin; Lamar: Bonny Shockley; Pike: Jim Davidson, Leah Jordan, Charles and Rachel McClelland; Rockdale: Jackie Stokes; Upson: Linda Best, Melba Brown, Harolyn Castleberry, King Davis, Phyllis Dyche, Marcia Fisher, Johnnie Ann Gaskill, Dianne Kelly, and Mia Mackey.

Shutterbugs met for the first time on January 10, 2006, in Thomaston, GA. They meet monthly (the second Tuesday in each month except Dec.) at 6:30 p.m. They’re currently meeting in the multi-purpose room of the Hightower Memorial Library, located at 800 West Gordon Street (Hwy. 74), Thomaston, GA, across the street from Upson Regional Medical Center. Members reside not only in Upson County, but also in Fayette, Henry, Lamar, Pike, and Spalding.

In addition to monthly programs that provide instruction and encouragement, they also participate in photography exhibits, attend workshops, and go on photo shoots. As they learn together, they’re building friendships, discovering additional opportunities to exhibit and sell their photos, sharing ideas and supplies/gear, encouraging one another, celebrating their successes, and becoming increasingly excited about and skilled in the art of photography. Some of their photos have won awards, been exhibited in galleries and businesses, been published, and been displayed in private collections.

Photographers of all ages and skill levels are invited to attend the monthly meetings—and to join the club and join in the fun of learning and growing together. Although this exhibit showcases only “nature” images, their members enjoy photographing a variety of subjects: people, pets, events, architecture, abstracts, accidental letters, still life, weddings, etc. Most shoot “on location,” but some have access to studios and lighting setups.

March 2014 Meeting

The West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will meet on Tuesday, March 11th, 6:30 p.m., at the Hightower Memorial Library, located at 800 West Gordon Street (Hwy. 74, West), in Thomaston. Following brief announcements about upcoming competitions, exhibits, and photo shoots, etc., Johnnie Ann Gaskill will demonstrate ways to organize photos so as to be able to find them quickly on one or more hard drives. She’ll explain how this can be done easily by using tools in photo editing programs, such as Picasa and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. Attendees will be invited to describe other ways that have worked well for them, as there are multiple ways to organize images.

The Shutterbugs meet at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday in each month at the library. Visitors are always welcome!

Featured Photographer, Leah Jordan

March 2014

Vice President, Leah Jordan, our Featured Photographer this month, shares her story and some sample photographs.

Leah Jordan Photography was begun in late 2013 after I became a certified, professional photographer. I opened my business by giving 50% of my profits back to the church because I always wanted Christ to be at the center of my love for photography. He inspires me by His light and the surroundings He creates; I just use my camera to capture the beauty of His creations. Several years ago I almost lost my vision in my left eye due to a detached retina. I was almost completely blind in that eye and had to have multiple surgeries to correct my vision. There was a time when doctors were not sure whether I would ever be able to see out of that eye again, and I now truly appreciate my ability to see everything around me. That was a scary time when I couldn't see with both eyes, and that was when my perspective of my surroundings changed.

I actually began as a nature and landscape photographer, but I was gradually pulled to photographing people. Growing up, I was always the family photographer, and I think that is why I enjoy photographing other families so much. Therefore, I now specialize in family and newborn photography, and I use my spare time to photograph nature and animals.

Note: We can not post original full-size, high-quality photographs on this blog.  These photographs  are small, blog-quality reproductions to highlight the talented eye of our Photographer of the Month.

Previous Featured Photographers:
February 2014 - Jim Davidson