Our April Meeting - Avaid photographer and traveler, Maria Kaiser, shared her thoughts and photos of trips to the Canadian and Greenland Artic. Thank you. Maria! It was a wonderful adventure.

Our Next Meeting, May 8: Nature Center Photo Shoot -  Members and guests will meet at the Natuce Center at 6:00 pm (Note the time change) and will take advantage of the earlier start time to wander the grounds of the Nature Center to capture the seasonal changes as spring replaces the bleakness of winter. Bring your camera and tripod (recommended) and spend the evening with a friend or friends as you explore and shoot. Bring your best to the June meeting where we will share and comment. For more information, contact Sarah Thorne-Briechle at thorne@shakerlakes.org, or (216) 321-5935 ext. 237. Free. All are welcome.

Member News - Congratulations to Photo Club members Phil Hart and Tomasz Kowalczyk for having entries accepted into this years JCC Photo Exhibit. The annual exhibit attracted 540 entries from more than 110 amateur and professional photographers. Our club was well represented, both in submissions and acceptances. Entries were judged by Robert Thurmer, art gallery director at Cleveland State University, and 64 photographs were accepted into this years show, which runs from May 5th through June 9th.

Non-Member News - The work of Judith McMillan, whose presentation at our November (2007) meeting was such a resounding success, is curently on exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. "Nesting" is an exhibit of 18 photographs of bird's nests from the collection of the Natural History Museum. For more information, click here.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION: Saturday, July 12, 2008 - A Bird in the Lens - To produce his work, conceptual artist Jean Luc Mylayne spends hours, days, weeks, and even months gaining an intimate knowledge of the environment and birds that he photographs. Mylayne's art practice bears formal similarities to bird watching, a popular and passionate activity for many Northeast Ohioans.
 
This two-part program* will explore the relationship between birding and conceptual art. We begin with a bird watching expedition led by Andy Jones, Curator of Birds for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Using the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes trails as our classroom, Jones will lead a one-hour introductory lesson on bird-watching. After this outdoor workshop, we will "migrate" to MOCA Cleveland for light refreshments followed by an engaging tour of the Mylayne exhibition led by Megan Lykins Reich, Assistant Curator.
 
*The entire program is FREE and open to the public; however, there is limited space available for the birding workshop, and RSVPs are required by June 30, 2008. For more information or to make a reservation, call Megan Lykins Reich at (216) 421-8671 ext. 26
     
Part 1: Bird Watching for Beginners
WHAT: Bird watching lesson with CMNH orthnithologist, Andy Jones
WHEN: 9 am (meet at 8:45 am in the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes main parking lot)
WHERE: Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Boulevard, Cleveland, 44120
ADD'L INFO: Please wear walking shoes or boots; binoculars recommended
 
Part 2: "Why Watching Birds is not always Bird Watching"
WHAT: Exhibition tour of Jean Luc Mylayne, Assistant Curator, Megan Lykins Reich
WHEN: 11 am / FREE and open to the public
WHERE: MOCA Cleveland main galleries

Helpful Information - Taking the photograph is only step one.  Just as cropping and white and color balance can make the difference between a snapshot and a work of digital art, proper mounting and framing can make your image stand out. For a wealth of information regarding framing your prints, go to Photography.com.

More Helpful Information - The Internet is a treasure trove of information. Engaging in online discussions can broaden your knowledge and allow you to share yours as well. Yahoo eGroups oofer discussions on a wide range of topics. One such group offers discussions on Color Theory, while another focuses on Black and White Photography, and yet another on Digital Fine Art Photography. Members with other favorites should let us know so we can build a good list.

2009 Nature Center Calendar - The Photo Club will be producing the 2009 Nature Center at Shaker Lakes calendar. In addition to photographs taken throughout the Doan Brook Watershed, volunteers are needed to take an active role in the marketing of the calendar when it is released in August. Additional information will be on the Website shortly. To review the photograph submission requirements, click here. To review the project timeline, click here. To download a copy of the Sponsor Agreement, click here. Images containing identifiable faces must be accompanied by a signed release. For a sample release, click here.

Natural Resources Management Project Update - The Nature Center is engaged in a long-term project to restore and preserve the parkland. Our part in this project is to create a photographic record of the project. Volunteers are needed to adopt a spot (or more) for a close and meaningful personal relationship. Volunteers will visit their spot monthly basis to record the progress being made. Click here for more details, and to select your spot(s).

Links of Note

Nature Photographers Online Magazine

Ian Adams Environmental Photography

Radiant Vista

Other Resources

The Process of Photo Critiquing by Phil Hart

• The mission of the Nature Photography Club of the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes is to connect people with nature through photography.
  

• The purpose of the Nature Photography Club is to further interest and proficiency in photography, with an emphasis on nature. 

• Membership in the Nature Photography Club is free to members of the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. Prospective members may attend two (2) meetings and must join the Nature Center if they wish to be a member of the Nature Photography Club.