January 18 Program: 25 Years of Texas Parks & Wildlife Photography

Our speaker, Earl Nottingham, is considered one of Texas’ preeminent photographers. He attended the Art Institute of Atlanta and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Photography from East Texas State University.

After operating as a freelance photographer for several years, he took over as chief photographer for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 1996, where he then served for 25 years, retiring in 2021. His assignments for TPWD and its magazine took him to every corner of the state, documenting its landscape, people and historical treasures. Based in Temple, Texas, Earl continues shooting professional assignments and teaching workshops.

Earl will speak about the many ways that TPWD is involved in conservation efforts throughout Texas outdoors and the way photography is used to bring it to the public’s attention through engaging images.

Earl’s book, “Wild Focus” was published December 6, 2021 and is currently available from several online sites including Texas A&M University Press and Amazon.

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June 16th Meeting Agenda

Good job everyone who participated in our June meeting and sent in Share and Learn. I was traveling and not able to zoom in but thanks to Chuck he recorded Ken and Jimmy’s presentation for us to watch. The link below will take you to the youtube video.

The Evolution of Photography by Ken Frederick and Jimmy Hemphill

Chuck Dugand is doing the next two zoom workshops which are a continuation of his “Know your Camera”. On July 11th ( July 4th is a holiday so we opted for the next Saturday) Chuck will present “Creating Art – Rules of Composition”. Chuck will challenge you to think more critically about your photography using the elements of composition. What are they and how do they help engage your audience with your photo. Hint, one of these rules “Unique Angle or Perspective” is your assignment for the July meeting. So signup for a link for this workshop on our webpage. His last workshop will be August 1 “Re-envisioning your Image”

Chuck could use some help with these workshops as he still needs workshop leaders for September 5 and November 7. If you are brave enough to volunteer please contact Chuck at Admin@kwphotoclub.com and share your photography passion with the club.

The club started two Special Interest Groups this year. Post Processing SIG led by Chuck Dugand and James Himanga is using Zoom to continue these workshops. They just held a workshop on June 18th covering plug-ins and /or stand-alone editors. Look for the next PP-SIG monthly meeting announcement for July on our website.

The Portraiture SIG led by Jim Evrard and Kathy Muhle meetings are postponed due to the COVID-19 closure of the Kings Point Community Center. Jim is planning on sending out portraiture information via e-mail, News articles, and Facebook in the meantime.

Activities are slowly coming back. Texas is still not totally open so there is a tentative painted Church day trip planned for the 27th of June. If interested please contact Anne Mullins at Activities@kwphotoclub.com for more information and signup. Our last club activity was a day trip to the Cockrell Butterfly Center which everyone that went totally enjoyed. Anne said that the group included: Aurea Melendez, Margaret Molloy, Ellen Taylor Randi, Munsey, Anne Mullins and newcomer Aelyne de la Torre and Elaine Taylor. Bill Beard created a video of their photos which I will ask him to upload for you.

Finally, after our presentation and Share and Learn, next month’s meeting was announced for Tuesday, July 21. Jim Schepens has arranged for Joe Aker, owner of Aker Photography to present a program on “Architectural Photography”. Our Share and Learn assignment for July “Unique Angle or Perspective”! Check out the post on that assignment for some tips on getting unique photos or click the link below.

https://www.mybluprint.com/article/unique-perspective-photography

I’ve also attached the monthly agenda for your review. I hope you are all doing well and staying healthy and hope to see your faces on our next zoom meeting on July 21! Happy Father’s Day to all our fathers!

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May’s Meeting Agenda

The shutdown can’t keep a good club down and new members from joining us. This month Pam Walton welcomed three new members: Marnpimol Collins, Monica Ehrmann and Joan and Thorro Jones. Very happy to welcome these newest members to our group.

In this month’s agenda you’ll find a refresher for our upcoming workshop, SIGs, and club activities. There is also a reminder that between meetings stay connected to our club by checking your Monday e-blasts, our Website, and our Facebook page. Many members have posted photos on our Facebook page, courses to take, locations to visit basically anything photography related. Let us know what you discover as you wander down the road.

Club sponsored activities are still focused on using Zoom for virtual meetings and workshops. Group activities are beginning with the first official group activity to the Cockrell Butterfly Center on June 8th. This is a members-only activity with each participant purchasing their own $10 ticket purchased online prior to June 8th. Look for information and signup on our Web site.

The next Library Zoom Virtual Workshop will be June 6th on Macro Photography. If you have an interest in macro photography this workshop could give you some guidance for your first step or your next step. Whether you are looking for an inexpensive way to begin or thinking about some macro lenses I try to cover the basics and beyond. How-to topics include creating a timelapse with your macro shots, focus stacking to get maximum sharpness, and setting up a studio by Michelle Pakron. Lots of information for you. You do need to sign up on our website so you can receive the Zoom meeting link. Due to the virtual nature this is also for members only.

Chuck Dugand’s Post Processing SIG is again virtual. His May 21st SIG is past but look for information regarding his June meeting. For Portraiture SIG, Jim Evrard is looking at June 27th for the next meetings if Texas continues to open. With portraiture it does not lend it’s self to virtual meetings. More information on that meeting shortly.

I mentioned the June 8th visit to the Cockrell Butterfly Center. Anne Mullins will also schedule a meeting of the Activities Committee in mid-June. Look for an e-mail from Anne and if you would like to join her committee you can contact her at Activities@kwphotoclub.com

Our meeting also included two videos. Chuck Dugand created one with all the Front Step photographs, and really fun to watch. I had no idea so many creative people live around us. Chuck stated that Bill Beard gets the award for the most photographs. Bill created the second video with pictures from the Blue Angels flyover. Chris Summers stated this was a very popular event for us and we all set up at different places in the hopes of getting our shots of them flying over. I looked at my first shot time and last shot time and I had less than a minute to photograph them. We were staggered from the Los Cucos on I-59 to the Target in Humble and some over their houses. Great shots. I hope Chuck will put the videos on our Web site so you can all enjoy them. An interesting side note for the Blue Angels, one of the pilots graduated from Kingwood High School His parents still live in Kingwood! Check out the article in our local Tribune.

Our Share and Learn is still a vital part of our meetings and with the virtual meeting, if you have a microphone you can tell us all about your photos. Our speaker, Kathy Adams Clark talked about how she has kept busy during this isolation period. Our Share and Learn topic last month let us show how we are coping so it was interesting to see her perspective. More on her talk in another post. I’ve included the Share and Learn photos as part of the agenda as I’ve added notes about the photos or the member sent in notes on their photos.

Finally, our next virtual meeting will be on June 16th. Jim Schepens said the church is just beginning to open up so more on when we’ll be welcomed back in the month to come. The program that Jim has arranged is by Ken Frederick. A frequent speaker with us and this program is titled “History of Photography”. Ken is an engaging speaker and will keep you all entertained. Just a reminder that you will need the link to join the meeting, I think the link is going out to all members so watch for it a day before the meeting.

Next month our Share and Learn topic: “All about Texas”! The subject matter is up to you as long as it is in our Lone State. Composition still matters so think about the shot and how you want to tell the story. As I will be traveling these will be due Sunday June 14th. I hope you find time to get out with your cameras or just to enjoy the outdoors.

Not everybody trusts paintings but people believe photographs. Ansel Adams

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May 19 Program: Lessons Learned in Isolation

This is a Members Only Scheduled Zoom Meeting

Professional photographer, Kathy Adams Clark will share things she learned while playing/working during this time.  Microphones, computer cameras, sound quality, audio quality, lighting for video conferences, plus macro photography, backyard photography, flower photography, and other things she has worked on during this time inside.

Kathy has been a professional nature photographer since 1995.  She is the owner of a stock agency called KAC Productions that represents the work of fifteen outstanding nature photographers.  Kathy’s work has been published in many well-known, well-respected newspapers and magazines.  Her photos have also appeared in ad campaigns, guidebooks, textbooks, and brochures.  In addition, her photos appear every week in the “Nature” column in the Houston Chronicle written by her husband, Gary, and have appeared in all of Gary’s books.  In addition, Gary and Kathy have worked on seven book projects over the years. “Texas Wildlife Portfolio”, “Texas Gulf Coast Impressions”, “Portrait of Houston”, “Texas: A Photographic Journey”, “Backroads of the Texas Hill Country”, “Enjoying Big Bend National Park” and “Photographing Big Bend National Park”. 

Kathy teaches photography through Leisure Learning in Houston and at local and national events.  She leads photo tours in the United States and abroad for Strabo Tours.  Kathy is Past-President of the North American Nature Photography Association.

Visit www.kathyadamsclark.com to see more about Kathy’s tours, classes and her nature photography images. You can also follow her at kathyadamsclark.blogspot.com.

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Trains, Trains & More Trains!

Z O O M …… Yes, Zoom Meeting Tuesday, April 21 @ 6:30 p.m.

Program:  Tunnel Vision: Concentrate on Your Preferred Subject

Our speaker, Ken Fitzgerald, works as a full-time photographer in the railroad industry.  Ken is also a model railroader and locomotive horn collector.

Join us as he shares his love of trains & photography talent!

Hope you join us Tuesday evening!

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April 21 Program: Tunnel Vision: Concentrate on Your Preferred Subject

This is a Members Only Scheduled Zoom Meeting

While having paid his dues over the years documenting the usual weddings and real estate, at the end of the day, our speaker, Ken Fitzgerald would rather be remembered for his railroad photography.  If there is one subject you are knowledgeable about, consider using your skills with a camera to be in the right place at the right time to record definitive images.  Ken will share his favorite train-related photos and how he applied this thought to capture and record moments in history.

Ken began his lifelong passion for railroads in 1960 at the age of five while spending his summers in Sweetwater, Texas riding Trains at the Santa Fe yard.  Taking a photography course at age 12 allowed him to start capturing the railroad’s people, operations, equipment and character for historical purposes.

Since that time his photography has appeared in many different railroad magazines, books and calendars.  He also authored the books “Dallas Then and Now” in 2014 and “Train Stations Then and Now” in 2017 along with doing the principal photography for the Houston, San Antonio, Austin and “Texas Then and Now” books.  He has also produced several other photo books of his work that were written as internal publications for different railroad companies.

Today Ken works as a full-time photographer in the railroad industry.  In 2019 alone he documented several major railroad engineering projects; the startup of the DFW TEXRail commuter service; the operation of Union Pacific’s “Big Boy” steam locomotive across south Texas; the CSX Santa Train as celebrity Marty Stuart’s personal photographer; and BNSF’s Holiday Express across the Pacific Northwest.  Ken is also a model railroader and locomotive horn collector.

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February 18 Program: Texas-Central and Way Out West

Landscape photography and how to keep it simple and still produce some super work.

Our speaker is Mike Marvins. The program will cover Mike’s approach to landscape photography in either exotic places or in your own backyard – the principles are all the same. It’s really about seeing and vision.

He will also touch on some easy post processing hints for the final touches.  Equipment? Yes, he will go over that too. But, it will not take long!

Mike has taught professional and amateur photographers for many years. After forty years of portrait photography at Kaye Marvins, Houston’s leading Studio started by his Dad over 70 years ago.  Mike started working with landscape photography–mostly on backpack trips in Big Bend. This evolved into the best-selling book, “Texas’ Big Bend, A Photographic Adventure”, some associated major exhibits and sales of large prints for commercial spaces all over Texas. The book is still selling well and all book profits benefit The Big Bend Conservancy. After several more book projects for commercial companies, it was back to landscape work with “The Texas Hill Country, A Photographic Adventure” (Texas A&M University Press-2018 ). The introductory essay is by Native Texan and Houston Chronicle columnist, Joe Holley and the photography commentary is by Roy Flukinger, the longtime Photography Curator of the Harry Ransom Center-The University of Texas. This coffee table book benefits the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation.

Mike will have a few of his books available for sale at the February meeting.  If you would like to purchase a copy before the meeting and bring with you, they are available at Amazon (click here). The books for sale at the meeting will be for the same price as on Amazon.  Mike will accept credit cards or personal checks.

This will be a fun evening!

@ Mike Marvins: Kerr-Ingram, Texas

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January 21 Program: Life Cycles of a Butterfly and Macro Photography

Our speaker, Emily Murphy, has discovered that her backyard is a wonderful place to photograph, with many amazing miracles occurring right there! She has found two types of butterflies that lay eggs in her yard and has had a lot of fun following their growth.  She recently documented, through photography and video, the life cycle of a butterfly in her backyard.  She will discuss using some of the tools for macro photography and encouraging people to look in their own backyard to find amazing things. She will also share the container she uses to safely raise caterpillars away from predators.

Emily Murphy is a self-taught photographer and her photographic abilities have been greatly enhanced by her membership in the Kingwood Photo Club!  Early on, she caught the photo bug, and while living in Switzerland, used an Argus Cintar that her dad had used in the 1930’s and 1940’s while he was a missionary in Barrow, Alaska. When she married her husband Rob, she upgraded to his Pentax and now uses a Sony mirrorless.  She worked 45 years for Methodist Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine as a registered EEG technologist and ENG (inner ear) tech.  During her career, she modified an infra-red camera used for ENG testing for use in intra-operative facial nerve monitoring, placing the camera underneath the surgical drapes and enhancing the outcome of the monitoring.  (Standard monitoring doesn’t work during electrocautery). She loves kayaking and wildlife photography and frequently takes her camera(s) with her in a waterproof bag so she can get closer to her subjects.

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OCTOBER 15 PROGRAM: ACTION SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

Tom Dendy will provide a technical overview of shooting action sports, using examples from his 30+ years’ experience in photo journalism. Topics covered will include: equipment selection, basic camera settings, focus and exposure control, composition and shooting styles. We will also discuss strategies for marketing and selling your images.

Tom first started shooting action sports as a 7th grade journalist in 1978. He later received formal specialized surveillance photography and darkroom training as a submarine photography officer in the early 90s. Tom has been shooting strictly digital since 2004 and currently has two freelance photography companies; Wrestling Texas, LLC and Phlox Photography LLC. Tom is also a member of the MaxPreps professional photographers’ network and has done freelance sport journalism work for a number of media outlets nationwide. Tom shoots a variety of sports including football, basketball, volleyball, swimming and wrestling.

Tom works out of his home studio, where he also dabbles in portrait and artistic work. He has trained and mentored a number of photographers over the last decade, and currently has over a dozen freelance photographers publishing work under one of his brands.


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SEPTEMBER 17 PROGRAM: THE WONDERS OF COSTA RICA

Join Joe Smith as he shares photos of his recent trip to Costa Rica.   He traveled to three different eco-systems – Sarapiqui on the lower Caribbean, Turrialba which is higher and cooler, and the high mountain country of Savegre Valley at 7,000 feet.  Each area, located about two hours from San Jose, features its own unique species and habitat.

Images will include various flowers and a wonderful variety of birds, poison frogs,  mammals and butterflies! Tips on photo equipment will be included, but emphasis will be on the beauty of what the camera captured.

Joe Smith; Green-and-black Poison Dart Frog; Dendrobates auratus; Costa Rica; Sarapiqui

Joe Smith began his photography career when he was 13 with 35mm and twin lens reflex cameras and a photo class at Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh. He is self-taught in nature photography primarily by participatingin wildlife photo contests in Texas. He has been a winning photographer in the2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 Coastal Bend Wildlife Photo Contests. In 2002, he finished in the top 25% of all photographers in the 2002 Valley Land Fund Photo Contest with three prize winning class pictures.

Joe is a member of the Houston Photochrome Club, the Houston Center for Photography and the Photographic Society of America. He was President of the Houston Photochrome Club in 2004-2005 and 2009-2010. He judged the annual competition of the Chinese Photographic Society in 2004. Joe has taught introductory photography seminars and classes for seventh and eighth graders at various schools in Houston, TX. He organized photographers to contribute images for Houston Wilderness’ Atlas of Biodiversity. He has had his images published in Houston Wilderness’ Atlas of Biodiversity, Progressive Farmer and Thomson Safari Catalogue, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015. He is on the Board of Advisors of the Houston Audubon Society where he served as a director at large from 2012-2018. 

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