50mm Lens Meetup
Saturday 22 March
Park Ave., San Jose - 3pm - 2 Hours
Uyen Ta
The 50mm lens is one of the flexible and useful lenses in any photographer’s gear bag. It is neither a wide-angle or telephoto lens, but allows the camera to see on the same scale as your eye. As such, it can be used for a variety of styles, from landscape and street photography to portrait and product photography. In this meetup, we’ll review the basic camera settings. We’ll then cover some of the advantages of shooting with a prime lens, and some basic techniques to using the 50mm lens. As always, there will be ample opportunities for you to put your new knowledge into practice.
Landscape & Wildlife Photography
Saturday 05 April
Winfield Blvd, San Jose - 3pm - 2 Hours
Uyen Ta
It can be a lot of fun to photograph the great outdoors with scenic vistas and amazing wildlife. In this meetup, we'll review the basic composition, focusing on the best location and angles for landscapes. We'll discuss some of the techniques you can use in your landscape and wildlife photography. Then we'll put your new knowledge to work with some fun and challenging exercises.
Flower Photography Meetup
Saturday 19 April
Naglee Ave, San Jose - 4:30pm - 2 Hours
Uyen Ta
Learn all the tips and tricks you need to take stunning pictures of flowers. We will also discuss composition, lighting, and other aspects of photography that will help you create unique images. So come join us for a day of learning, exploring, and having fun.
Beginner's Photography Class
Saturday 03 May
Monroe St, Santa Clara - 3pm - 3 Hours
Uyen Ta
Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Now is your chance!
Join us as we break down your camera to help you learn about shutter speed, aperture, ISO and how these settings affect your exposure.
We will then put your new knowledge to the test with the guidance of a professional photographer.
Beginner's Photography Meetup
Saturday 22 March
Kiely Blvd - 10am - 2 Hours
Vern Fisher
Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Now is your chance!
Join us as we break down your camera to help you learn about shutter speed, aperture, ISO and how these settings affect your exposure.
We will then put your new knowledge to the test with the guidance of a professional photographer.
Beginner's Photography Class
Sunday 23 March
Downtown Modesto - 9am - 3 Hours
Sarina Schieferstein
Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Now is your chance!
Join us as we break down your camera to help you learn about shutter speed, aperture, ISO and how these settings affect your exposure.
We will then put your new knowledge to the test with the guidance of a professional photographer.
Mushroom and Plant Photography.
Sunday 30 March
Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael - 10am - 2 Hours
Aaron Jones
Explore the enchanting world of fungi and flora on this guided photography walk! Whether you're a seasoned photographer or just starting out, this event offers a unique opportunity to capture stunning images of mushrooms, plants, and the beauty of nature up close.
Nature Photography Meetup
Saturday 05 April
Lick Mill Blvd - 10am - 2 Hours
Vern Fisher
Join this session for tips on how to use your camera settings to creatively capture nature in a visually interesting way. We will be looking at composition, focus, and colour.
Many professional offices and places of business have large prints gracing their wall space of things such as fields of flowers, a butterfly perched on a leaf, and a single dew drop on a rose petal. These beautiful images are all around us in nature. It just takes that special "eye" to not only see it but to capture it in a way that will turn that simple little piece of nature into a beautiful piece of art. We will learn how to use different angles, light and shadows, and settings to make subjects pop.
Rule of Thirds
Sunday 06 April
Financial District - 1pm - 2 Hours
Michael Forks
One of the most basic tenets of composition is the Rule of Thirds. Although most people are familiar with this technique it is often forgotten in the haste to take a photo. However you ignore it at your peril as it can make an average snap into something which is has tension and dynamism. In this meetup we will practice using the Rule of Thirds in a setting full of photographic possibility.
I will be emailing a worksheet to study and use during our meetup!
Bokeh for Beginners
Saturday 26 April
Financial District - 3:30pm - 2 Hours
Michael Forks
The goal of this session is to learn how to add the Bokeh affect to your photos. We will also be working on photography in low light with and with camera flash.
Street Photography: Learning The Decisive Moment
Saturday 03 May
Financial District - 3pm - 2 Hours
Michael Forks
People, cafes, vendors, street merchants, buskers, historic buildings, art installations and much more. The power of observation underpins the art of great street photography. Learning to "see" interesting detail is a practised skill and we introduce you to easy methods that will open your photographer's eye and expose you to a world that is alive with detail. The most rewarding part of the class is learning how to approach interesting people and have them willingly pose for you.We will also go over settings, focusing techniques and lens choices common to street photography to help us capture those random chance encounters.
Studio Lighting for Beginners
Sunday 04 May
14th Street, Modesto CA 95354 - 10am - 2 Hours
Sarina Schieferstein
In this studio class, you will gain a deeper understanding of studio flash and learn how to control light effectively. You'll explore the differences between hard light and soft light and discover how each can impact your photography.
We will use a range of light modifiers and experiment with different lighting techniques, focusing on setups that use only a single light source. Through hands-on practice, you'll learn to create various lighting effects and develop your skills in manipulating light to achieve your desired outcomes.
Natural Light Portraits
Sunday 25 May
Edgebrook Drive, Modesto - 10am - 2 Hours
Sarina Schieferstein
This meet-up will explore how we can take beautiful portraits using natural light and backgrounds. We will explore how to recognise flattering light and how to manipulate it whilst shooting in a less controlled environment than a studio. We will explore how we can work collaboratively with our subject to achieve a portrait that captures their personality and style. We will also look at posing and setting your subject at ease. Technical learning points will include accurate focusing and metering for skin tones. A model is present during the session.
The City at Night
Friday 20 June
Downtown Modesto - 9pm - 2 Hours
Sarina Schieferstein
Many people don't think about nighttime being a good time to do photography since there's a lack of light. However, armed with knowledge about your camera's settings and the properties of light, nighttime photography can be a lot of fun.
In this meetup, you'll learn about the best camera settings for nighttime photography. We'll also explore the kinds of light available to us and how to use that light to make some awesome photos. As always, there are exercises that will help you put your new knowledge to work.
