South Carolina Photography Guild

The 2nd issue of the SCPG monthly newsletter has been published!  If you’re a registered member, check your email!  If you didn’t get one, let us know!  If you want to get one, let us know!  If you want to register and share photos and fun, thoughts and shots, tips and tricks, etc., etc., etc. stop on over!  It’s always free to register and share images, and we’d love to see some new faces….  So where’s all the closet photogs out there?  For those that would like to read the latest news, for the time being the issues are being made available for download…just stop in the forums to grab the latest issue.  Contests, a photo of the month, and much more is available in there.  As the old saying goes, “Thars gold in them thar pages!”

The August Monthly Assignment has also ended.  The theme was Nothing but Skies.  Turnout was a little light, but the shots that are in there were neat to see.  Thanks to all who participated.  Check them out here:  August Skies  For September, the theme will be Glass.  So, get the lead out (of your glass) *insert drum / cymbal sound for bad joke here*, and join in the Monthly Assignment fun.  The forums are the preferred place to post images, but you can also post here in the comments if you like too.  Whatever, as long as it’s theme appropriate!  So..until next post:  Happy Shooting!

The Online Photographer has a couple new articles out for your coffee-time reading pleasure.  My favorite of the bunch is the “How To” for digital print tonality.  The Digital Photography Show has a new podcast out where they talk to Canon’s Rudy Winston about the allegedly forthcoming 40D.  Good stuff there…  DP Review has a posting that talks about Nikon’s new “full color RGB sensor”.  Check it out for details.   Strobist (blog about lighting) has two new articles that are both well worth the read.   Finally, thanks to Steve Stone from the SCPG forums for sharing a Canon Contest!  Great prizes and best part…entry fees are FREE!  (We like free at SCPG!)  Links to the websites are here:

The Online Photographer

The Digital Photography Show 

DP Review

The Strobist 

Canon National Parks Photo Contest 

For those interested in having the contest details, SCPG has put together a PDF download of the contest rules, as well as a listing of both Nationally and State recognized eligible parks.  This is available in the forums as a free download from the Coffee Shop.  Click here to get the abbreviated version:  SCPG Forums  Remember, entry fees are free, and you can do it online!  Have a great day and Happy Shooting!

The first monthly newsletter has been released to all registered members (via email)!  Shoot news is still pending but lots of other fun stuff to read about, so register today to get a copy of the latest photo news!  For a limited time this is available as a free download to all, so read all the latest by downloading it here: August Newsletter

The July MA Gallery has also been completed, and is available for viewing by clicking on the link to the Monthly Assignment section of the website, or here directly at:  July MA - Fire  Some great perspectives including fireworks, gunfire, fire in the belly, and others, so check ‘em out today!

That’s all for the week, so enjoy the weekend, be safe out there, and as always, Happy Shooting from SCPG!

It’s been a bit quiet lately, but we’re about to shake things up here again at the SCPG Blog.

First off, the July Night shoot was a resounding success, as we had a total of 11 people show up, including some regulars (not to mention some irregulars), and a few new faces.  We also saw the return of some who hadn’t been seen in a while so it was good to see all the participation.  The forums, as always, are a great place to see some of the shots from that outing, but I will try to get a few will be posted here later this week for your viewing enjoyment.

Also, today is the last day for the July Monthly Assignment.  The theme for the month has been Fire, and there’s some great shots taken thus far.  Look for a gallery to come out later this week.  Tomorrow begins the August assignment, and the theme is Skies.  So, get out, take the best picture you can of just skies (no buildings, birds, or other distractions – makes it challenging, eh? J) and share them here or in the forums.

Our shoot for August is still in the planning stage but looks like it will be either the evening of Friday  24^th or Sat. morning, so check back for more information as that becomes available.  A lot of it is revolving on how the planning goes for our first cookout!   We’re having a cookout that same weekend (Sat.) as a social get together so depending on where that is, the shoot may fall into place after the details of the cookout are settled.  Check back for information there too (as always the forums are the best place to get up-to-the-minute information.)

As a last little tidbit, SCPG is getting ready to release its first monthly newsletter.  News of photo-related activities around the region, links to information, and everyone’s favorite:  Contest News and Info!!!  This will be sent out to all registered members in the forums initially.  If you would like a copy, please email me:  Jason AT scphotogs DOT com or just stop in and register…always room for more at SCPG

Well, the blogging community just bit off more than it can chew…SCPG has been tagged to do the seven things, courtesy of Jared.   So, he is the one to put outside in jeans and a fleece jacket today for an hour with no beverage or fan.  (Just kidding Jared!)

1. SCPG was “founded” on July 4th, 2005 at the Summerville Fireworks display by the YMCA soccer fields.
2. SCPG is now at 90 registered members (active members?  that’s another story.)
3. Heather was the first fellow blogger from the Blogroll to join SCPG, followed shortly thereafter by Margo.
4. A random sampling of SCPG regular jobs includes a working photgraphy professional,  an electrical engineer, an SCE&G rep, a federal employee, a housewife, an advertising & marketing specialist, and a professional blogger.
5. The SCPG is looking to add many new features and services both to generate interest in photography and provide value for existing members, including tutorials and tips (vidoe and written) and Photoshop Actions.
6. The SCPG website was entirely hand-coded using EditPlus (with the exception of the forums and blog.)
7. The SCPG’s motto is “Happy Shooting!”

As for me personally (should I start a personal blog?):

1. I have been working in IT for close to seven years now and still do not own a laptop.
2. My background is almost all Windows-based and my next computer will be an Apple!
3. My first camera was a Vivitar 110 film camera.
4. My first “real” job was a Crew Trainer for McDonalds.
5. My favorite football team (having grown up in CO) is the Denver Broncos.
6. John Elway played minor league baseball in the town where I went to high school (in NY).  I caught a foul ball and had him sign it.  I later lost the ball playing catch with friends.
7. Even though Jared is a friend, and is the one that tagged me, becauess of #6, I can never root for the San Diego Chargers.

 As for tagging 7 people, I nominate:

1. Heather
2. Margo
3. Fellow photog Jason Zwiker
4. Lisa
5. Joan
6. Chuck
7. and Vera since even my mother can’t knit like she can! (I’ll never forget that blogger party where she had 3 needles going at once…)

Today the temperature is expected to reach into the mid to upper 90’s and in conjunction with the humidity, the heat index will hit triple digits.  It’s definitely a hot time of year!  As we think about the heat, our July walk-about shoot has moved from the usual morning hours to the evening hours when things are cooler.  The theme this go-around is Night Photography!

For anyone who is interested in joining the fun, we will be meeting at Marion Square for a walk down King Street to shoot the nightlife of King Street.  Shops, people, and whatever else passes by the lens will be the order for the day.  It should be a fun outing, and without other activities to hurry off to afterward, the night is ours for the taking.  In all liklihood, we may end up in a beverage establishment somewhere sipping on sweet tea as we peruse our shots of the night, talking and sharing thoughts and shots with one another.  Join us only if you enjoy fun times and lively conversations.

Bring your camera and bring a friend.  Until then, Happy Shooting South Carolina and stay in the AC when possible!

Don’t forget, the Monthly Assignment is “Fire”.  SO, stop in, share your creative visions and see the results in August!

Yesterday’s post for the 4th had a little add-on as an afterthought, and in retrospect that it probably should have been given its’ own post, as it is adding a new feature to the SCPG website.

The SCPG forums have always had a Monthly Assignment section, where a subject is assigned every month for people to shoot creatively as they enjoy, practice, and learn more about photography.  Well, June’s subject - Windows -, got such a great response (22 shots were shared!), that I decided to make a public gallery of all the different shots so people could share them with their family, friends, and others who may not necessarily be members of the SCPG community.  So, go check them out, and see if you know where all these windows are!   (Fair warning - some are not in the immediate Charleston area, as we have members reaching as far out as Huntington beach area, and as far north as Anderson).  The direct link to the Monthly Assignments is here:  Monthly Assignments

The SCPG website now has a permanent link set up for Monthly Assignment galleries in it’s header menu, so if you can get to the site, you can get to the Monthly Assignments.    Any and all are welcome to come see the latest talents on display.   Also, mark your calendars as the Monthly Assignment for July is already underway with a subject of “Fire”.  See where this is going?  Look for a gallery to become available in early August of the contributions made.

For those interested in finding out who took which photos, well, come join the fun in the SCPG forums, linked on the right sidebar, but also conveniently located here:  SCPG Forums.  As always, the forums are free but do require a registration to participate (prevents spam).