February 2021

Letter from the President...

Hi, Camera Club members!  I wish I had new information to tell you when the club will open, but until vaccines are more available to all our members, I don't see us opening any time soon.

In the meantime, all our entertainment activities, Showtime, Travelogue and Speaker Series, are available on Zoom, as are nearly all our Special Interest Groups, known as SIGs for you new members.  Special thanks to Phil Rock and Gene Komaromi for keeping Zoom going.  All of us who have had to learn that new platform are grateful to them for teaching us how it works.  We have learned that the advantage to using Zoom is that even if you can't view the event at the time it's first presented, you can always go on YouTube to see it at your convenience.

I hope you are all staying safe and healthy.  I look forward to seeing you in person soon.

Linda Gregory, President

Photo of the Month

The February Photo of the Month is by Jeff Lierman, titled Leopard, bringing us up close and personal with this "most elusive animal", taken at the Sari Sands Game Reserve in Northeastern South Africa. Always watch the ears! Congratulations Jeff.

The Photo of the Month is chosen from the Photo of the Day series published on the Club's Facebook page from the 26th of the previous month to the 25th of last month. Keep sending the best of your work to Judith Pollard at jmp7741@gmail.com.

Many people have complained that the Covid crisis has crippled their activities. Well because of Zoom, the Green Valley Recreation Camera Club’s educational activities are far from crippled, in fact, they’re dancing.

The Club’s Big Winter Class has almost set a record with over 70 participants on both Zoom and YouTube. Participants have been offered five basic classes along with several elective classes. Certificates will be awarded to those who complete the class.

In addition to Zoom and YouTube, the Club will be experimenting with some other methods for delivering educational materials to Club members. One that you’ve asked for, an Android Phone Photo Class, is in the works and should be available soon.

Members have been requesting that the Club offer classes on a number of specific topics. I should mention that our classes are taught by fellow members who volunteer their time to share their knowledge because of a love of photography. Unfortunately the GVR Camera Club is not a community college or a high school adult education program and we just can’t assign an instructor to teach a specific class. We ask to please keep this in mind and keep your instructional expectations reasonable.

By the way, would you like to volunteer to share some photographic knowledge or skill? We have Zoom class slots open. We’ll even teach you how to Zoom.  We also have a pressing need to find someone who will host the Digital Photography Special Interest Group. We would welcome your participation and help you get started. Contact me if you have interest to volunteer in either case.

I also want to remind Club members that you should visit the Club website regularly, as new classes and events are constantly being added that will educate as well as inspire. Be sure to register for Travelogue, Speaker Series, and Showtime presentations to eliminate the “Shut In Blues”. And if you miss an event, remember that you can always get it later and see it again and again on the Club's YouTube channel.

While we’re on the subject, YouTube has evolved to be a tremendous repository for educating and gaining new information of all kinds from all over the world, including photography. If you have a question on a specific camera, on a photographic technique or you just want to improve your skills, do a search on YouTube. For example, check out this great YouTube link for a Ten Lesson Photographic class by Australian National Geographic photographer Chris Bray.

Finally, take advantage of the Camera Club’s Special Interest Groups. Register to visit one or more of SIGs meetings. If you want you can just sit in and watch. It's a great way to pick up something new.

And for those of you new to Zoom, check out our Tips and Tricks for Camera Club Zoom Meetings below in the newsletter.

Stay safe and stay involved.

Gene Komaromi, Educational Chair

This Month's Club Activities

Jump to SIGs

Jump to Travelogue

Jump to Field Trips

Jump to Photo Ops

Jump to Showtime

Jump to Speaker Series

With the exception of the on-line Zoom meetings and some scheduled Field Trips, the Camera Club remains closed and in-person club activities remain suspended in accordance with the latest government and GVR guidelines regarding the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. We value the health and safety of all our members and encourage you to stay safe and sensible during these trying times.

Please check the club calendar here for the latest information on future club activities.

February Travelogue

Tuesday, 2/9 at 7:00 pm

This month's Travelogue features three spectacular presentations that are not to be missed.

Once in a lifetime trip to Africa

by Linda Gregory

Machu Picchu

by Neil Jordheim

Find more information and register to join this presentation on the Club website here or via your Travelogue e-blast announcement. The Zoom link to attend will be provided in your confirmation email after you register.

If you have a program to share, drop off your thumb drive with a .mov or .mpeg4 show in the Travelogue Drop Box located outside the Camera Club door, or email it to me at traveloguecc@gmail.com.

Paul McCreary, Travelogue Facilitator

Field Trips

• Birding / Nature Trips with Linda Gregory

02/24 - Patagonia State Park

04/13 - Madera Canyon

02/09 - Ft. Lowell / Tucson Urban Parks (3 spots left)

02/16 - Canoa Ranch

03/09 - Pena Blanca Lake / Hawk Watch

03/18 - Madera Canyon

• Gammons Gulch Trips with Danny Valenzuela

02/26 - Gammons Gulch Movie Set and Museum (Trip is full)

03/22 - Gammons Gulch Movie Set and Museum (Contact me if interested)

Find more information and register for a field trip on the Club website here or via your Field Trip E-Blast announcement. Not all trips are open for registrants yet. An E-Blast announcement will be sent for registration at a time designated by the guide. As more guides feel comfortable leading trips during Covid, they will be announced for sign-up.

Thank you for staying safe.

Sue Rock, Field Trip Facilitator

February Photo Opportunities

Photo Op venues have opened up this month. Take advantage of some of the crisp February days and get creative. Here are a few to consider.

Santa Cruz River Guide Hike

• Feb 7, 9:30 am - 11:00 am
• Tumacácori National Historical Park. Free with park admission.
• More information here.

The Exuberance Garden Crawl Tour

• Feb 14, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
• Tubac Presidio State Park and Museum. Free with park admission.
• Registration and more Information here.

The Cologuard Classic 2021 Golf Tournament

• Feb 22 - 28
• Omni Tucson National Resort
• Purchase tickets and more information here.

Ranger Guided Tour: "The River Made Me"

• Feb 24, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
• Tubac Presidio State Park and Museum. Free with park admission.
• Registration and more Information here.

Experience The Night - Full Moon

• Feb 27, Evening to 8:30 pm
• Tumacácori National Historical Park. Free with park admission.
• More information here.

Events that have been canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic

• Tubac Festival of the Arts
• Old Fort Lowell Day Celebration
• Tucson Rodeo
• Statehood Day at El Presidio de Tucson

Patty Ferguson, Photo Op Coordinator

February Showtime

Monday, 2/1 at 7:00 pm

Your SHOWIME coordinator hopes that you enjoyed attending the January SHOWTIME event at the New York Broadway Theater.  Get set – because the Monday, February 1st SHOWTIME will be held on the moon, yes the moon!

To prepare for that three day space rocket trip you will first virtually drive to World View near the Tucson airport where you will ascend to 100,000 feet in a capsule that holds six paying customers and two crew members.   With a ‘Para foil’ you will make a soft return landing at the West Desert Trails in Green Valley.  Since we have more than 6 members you may have to wait in line for a while.  The normal price for this is $75,000 but camera club members get in free.

After a few days you will travel to Cape Canaveral for your trip to the moon where SHOWTIME will be presented. The $150 million ticket price for the ride is waived by NASA and SpaceX as they are desperately looking for volunteers for this experimental ride.

Here is what you can expect to see during the evening under the light of the moon.

Fly me to the Moon

Tucson Garden Railway – Fritz Crab
Three Minute Challenge – Multimedia SIG
Faces - Linda Gregory
White Water Draw – Ron Stein
One Small Step….
Tucson Murals – Kevin May
Right Out of the Camera –Jerry Marrion
Celebrating a Birthday – Sherrie Lee Lucia

Return to Green Valley

Register to join this presentation on the Club website here or via your Showtime e-blast announcement. The Zoom link to attend will be provided in your confirmation email after you register.

Chuck Hill, Showtime Coordinator

February Speaker Series

Thursday, 2/18 at 1:30

Dano Grayson

Speaker Series for February 18, 2021 will be a presentation by world class nature photographer Dano Grayson. You may recognize him as our speaker in November, 2018 and also as the proprietor of the Ponds at Elephant Head.

Register to join this presentation on the Club website here or via your Speaker Series e-blast announcement. The Zoom link to attend will be provided in your confirmation email after you register

Our Speaker Series in winter 2020 has received rave reviews. Gene Komaromi, Grace Pitzer, and Paul McCreary, all GVR Camera Club members, have done an exceptional job presenting interesting photography topics via Zoom. Kudos to them! Join them in offering your expertise through this venue by contacting me for a Speaker Series spot.

Happy Trails,

Special Interest Groups are fun and informative. Any member of the Camera Club is welcome to attend any of the SIGs. Many are meeting on-line during the pandemic closures. Details below.

• Multimedia SIG - Gene Komaromi, moderator.
• Learn what it’s all about. Bring your video project to share for comments & suggestions.
  
• Mondays @ 10:00 am - Meetings are online via Zoom. Register here on the GVR website to join and get the Zoom link to attend.

• Black and White SIG - Wendell Werner, moderator.
• Members bring their images to examine the special qualities of monochrome photography and share editing techniques in composition and lighting.
• Tuesdays @ 1:30 am - Meetings are online via Zoom. Register here on the GVR website to join and get the Zoom link to attend.

• Studio and Fine Art Photography SIG - Sandy Ostroff, moderator.
• Explore new techniques and broaden your skills.
  
• Monday's @ 1:30 pm - Meetings are online via Zoom. Register here on the GVR website to join and get the Zoom link to attend.

• Hit me with Your Best Shot SIG - Jerry Marrion, moderator.
• Bring five examples of your best efforts to show.
  
• Tuesdays at 9:30 am - Meetings suspended until further notice.

• Photoshop/Lightroom SIG - Al Crawford, Moderator.
• Study techniques found in Photoshop CS and Lightroom that are not found in other photo processing tools.
• Wednesdays @ 9:30 am - Meetings are online via Zoom. Register here on the GVR website to join and get the Zoom link to attend.

• Field Trip SIG - Sue Rock, moderator.
• Plan, arrange, guide and advertise field trips.
• Wednesdays @ 4:00 pm - Meetings suspended until further notice.

• Photoshop Elements SIG - Linda Gregory, moderator.
• Learn how to use the magic of Photoshop Elements post processing on your photos.
• Thursdays @ 9:30-11:00 am - Meetings are online via Zoom. Register here on the GVR website to join and get the Zoom link to attend. Participants have the option to send a few photos to Linda in an email for processing here. Submit at least one day prior to the SIG. Put "Elements SIG" in the subject line and describe what you want improved. 

• Bird Photography SIG - Mike McMinn, moderator.
• Improve your bird photography skills and share your best shots of our feathered friends.
• Wednesdays @ 1:30 pm - Meetings are online via Zoom. Register here on the GVR website to join and get the Zoom link to attend.

• Rebel Rousers SIG - Al Crawford, Moderator.
• Share your interest in Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras.
• Fridays @ 9:30 am - Meetings are online via Zoom. Register here on the GVR website to join and get the Zoom link to attend.

Tips and Tricks for Camera Club Zoom Meetings

In order to participate in a Zoom meeting you must first register for the meeting. You can use the link in the meeting announcement or go directly to the Club website to register. All registrants will then receive an email that provides a link to join the meeting, and if used, the meeting ID and password. If you are a first time Zoom user you may have to download Zoom software on your computer prior to the meeting or get the Zoom app for your tablet or smartphone. If you need help in getting ready for the meeting, contact the meeting moderator at least one day prior to the meeting. More information on joining a meeting can be found at the Zoom website Support Center here.

When participating in a Zoom meeting you can help it to go smoothly by:

If you are using a tablet or smartphone: Providing a secure method to hold the device in place and stay in that one place during the meeting, as though you were in the same room as the other participants. Don’t walk around with your tablet or phone.

If you are using a desktop PC or tablet:Turning off your phone during the meeting to avoid the chance that your ringtone will interrupt the meeting. If you want to have a personal conversation or use your phone, mute yourself first so not to interrupt the meeting.

Whatever device you use you always have the choice to turn on your camera or not, and to mute your microphone to avoid unwanted disturbances. Check out additional Tips and Settings at the Zoom website Support Center here.

Monitor Notes

Help us provide all the benefits the Club offers to its members by volunteering as a monitor. As you take advantage of the Club's activities and its extensive digital processing equipment, consider sharing the effort in providing these services by volunteering as a monitor.

Monitors typically check in club members, answer the phone, and welcome those seeking information about the Club. You are not expected to know how to use the equipment. Training takes about an hour.

Contact: gvrcameramonitors@gmail.com for more information.

Green Valley Recreation Camera Club

The GVR Camera Club was established in the early 1970’s as one of many Green Valley Recreation organizations to serve its members and our community. Our main interest is photography, both still and video imaging. The Club has grown into one of the largest camera clubs in the country with over 750 active members.

The Club is located on the 2nd floor of the west wing at the Santa Rita Springs GVR Recreation Center. You may contact us at:

PO Box 1423, Green Valley, AZ 85622 or GreenValleyCameraClub@wildapricot.org 

Neil Wicai, Newsletter Editor - neilwicai@gmail.com - 575-224-1238