Photography Club To Open New Season

On September 16

The Flagpole Photography Club will host its first meeting of the 2010-11 season on Thursday, September 16, at 7:30 pm, in the lower meeting room of C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street in Newtown.

The competition assignment for the first meeting is Nature. Photos must conform to the Photography Society of America’s definition which prohibits humans or  indication of  workings of man.  In addition, the club rule is that the photos must have been taken in the past two years.

Winners in this category will be entered in the New England Camera Club council’s (NECCC) annual fall nature competition.  Members may also enter two other competition categories: “Open” color and “Open” black and white (the subject matter is not restricted). Three judges from neighboring camera clubs or professionals in the area have been secured as judges.

Going forward, the assigned subjects for the year are October, “Best of Summer”; November, “photojournalism”; December, no competition (annual holiday party); January, “cars”; February, “sunsets”; March, “still life”; April, “A Different Point of View”; May, “religion/sacred places”; and June, “Abandoned.”  The club does not meet in July and August.

In addition to its regular monthly competition and program meetings, two major exhibitions are in the works. The first will be at Newtown Municipal Center, October 17 to November 12. Expecting to hang as many as 150 photos, the exhibit will begin with a public reception on Sunday, October 17. Club members have been encouraged to exhibit a number of photos taken in Newtown as well as some of their individual favorites.

For many years, the club has had an exhibit and competition in April at Booth Library. The 2010-11 season will see the continuation of a new tradition where the club’s spring show is presented for a full month (instead of one weekend as in years past).

Officers this season are Anne Eigen, who is serving her final year as president, with Don Brooks assisting. Donna White will be vice president and field trip chairman; Rui DeSousa, secretary and treasurer, Benay Yaffe, newsletter editor; Rhonda Cullens and Win Brickmeyer, exhibit chairs; Jim Talarino, program chairman; and Tom Coryat, website manager.

Members are asked to arrive at least 20 minutes early for the September 16 meeting as dues will be payable and photos assembled for the competition. There will not be a formal program at this meeting owing to the many business matters that require attention.  Explanation of the town hall exhibit is first on the agenda.  Field trips will be discussed, NECCC competition rules and dates, and new content for the monthly newsletter will also be covered.

By the end of the season this past June, the club membership stood at 47, its largest ever.

New members and guests are always welcome and encouraged to visit the club’s website, FlagpolePhotographers.com, or call 203-426-2316 or 203-270-9469.