Flagpole Photographers, February

Follow-Up & March Meeting

Flagpole Photographers Club held its most recent meeting on February 16, with two guest speakers and details about newly formed committees.

Newtown resident Trish Dardine offered a presentation about her website, MyOwnTown.us, which she hopes to build to incorporate the works of many of the artisans of Newtown.

Karen Kensek of Koenig framing in Southbury gave an informative presentation on matte cutting. She gave valuable suggestions, showed how to use the Logan compact matte cutter which is a great tool for home matte cutting, and then served and the guest judge for the evening.

“Macro” was the theme for February, and winners were as follows: first place, “Frosted Pods” by Michelle Babyak; second place, “Natural Beauty” by Jim Talarino; third place, “Captured Memories” by Deborah Connolly; and honorable mentions were “Hawk Eye” by Bob Berthier and “Nature’s Road Map” by Larry Arthur.

Also, new guidelines for the club’s monthly contests were outlined as follows: each print will be critiqued so that each photographer can learn from that month’s assignment; new categories will include a free hand digital manipulation as well as a category where no digital altering may take place; and only two submissions will be accepted per photographer.

The slide competition format will remain unchanged. Tom Coryat and Jim Talarino will volunteer their time an hour prior to the start of meetings to offer their expertise on Photoshop.

The club’s next meeting will be on March 16. Meetings begin at 7:30 and non-members are always welcome.

The group meets in the lower meeting room at C.H. Booth Library.

The March competition will be “Open Slides,” and entries will be judged and critiqued by guest judge Rita Maroun.

Flagpole Photographers is a non-profit organization that meets on the third Thursday of each month, September through June. It offers chance to enhance and practice photographic skills, and to learn about the latest technologies. Photographers of all skill levels are welcome.

For additional information contact current club president John Tucci at 270-8576, or vice president Bob Berthier, 364-1719.