Show, Tell, Listen and Learn – tell your picture-loving friends about DIG.

Hello, Digital Image Group participants . . .

First, I would like to thank you so much for attending the very first meeting of the DIG two weeks ago on May 15th. It was amazing to see 16 people show up in the pouring rain with very short notice for a “first-time” meeting. All of the feedback we have received thus far has been extremely positive and helpful, so I think we must be on the right track. One photographer wrote “this inspires me to get back out there and start shooting again. I’m getting my motivation back.” Another attendee wrote, “this reminds me of why I started making pictures in the first place. I’m psyched!”

And thanks to our very first presenters: Tim Hale with his commercial, action and sports photography, Nick Mayhew with his landscapes and images from his school photo classes, Jim Enterkin with his multi-media bird photography presentation, John Fuller with his interesting portrait challenges, Norma Nichols with her digital image manipulations and photo illustrations--  and Kent and Suzanne Owings with their landscape and nature pictures. What a great time we all had!

Thank you also to those of you who participated in the discussions. This is, after all, a social discussion group focused around digital image making.

If you presented images on May 15th in front of the group, please send some or all to me IMMEDIATELY for possible publication and for placing into a new photo album we are working on that will live at http://www.digitalimagegroup.org. I have only this week to comp together a page and an article about DIG to appear in the July issue of the Chapel Hill News and Views-- so please, if you have some images, resize them if possible to 800 pixels wide or tall at 72 dpi and attach them to an email to me. Obviously we can’t publish them all in print (but we can put them online in an album area with your name on it).  

Actually, if you didn’t present images but have some that you think will enhance the image of this group, please submit them for consideration. Our deadline is very short.

Tim Collins, publisher of the Chapel Hill News & Views has given us a HALF of a full color magazine page (worth about $500 a month) to start with as we get off the ground with this group. He says that eventually we can have more space. It causes a major re-arrangement in their publishing efforts to place our group page in the photography section of their publication. We should be able to get at least 6 images or more into the magazine each month ---So send me something before you forget it.

Here are several other random observations about the DIG:

1. A recent visit was made “off hours” to our meeting room, the dining hall at St. Julian’s Episcopal Church-- so we could make plans for the next meeting. We reviewed the need for a big screen to accommodate the new powerful digital projector that we are in the process of acquiring for use in our meetings. We decided that  the room setup will be changing from now on, and all images will be projected on the wall which is light gray. This will simplify the setup and give us a very large projection area without degrading the image quality or colors.
2. We have acquired a wireless remote control so presenters can advance their photos from anywhere in the room easily without sitting at the presentation computer. An amplified speaker system will be available for multi-media presentations requiring sound.
3. The seating arrangements for our meetings will be optimized so that everyone is closer to the screen. Some of the audience will sit up front in chairs with no tables, and others will sit at rectangular tables, not the circular ones. This will enhance the viewing and learning experience for all attendees. Those who want to form smaller groups for other discussions during the evening can use the circular tables in the rear of the room or hold conversations in the kitchen area.
4. Meetings will be held on the third Thursday evening of every month at St. Julian’s Episcopal Church, starting at 6:30 p.m. The meetings will be very informal. You do not have to get there on time. Questions from the audience can be asked at any time during the events.
5. You can bring your photo equipment, manuals, prints, jpeg images, laptop computer  . . . whatever you think you will need to share and learn.
6. Our meeting format is strong and simple:
   
   Folks show up once a month to a “show and tell about your work” meeting. You don’t have to print anything out, just bring a jump drive, CD, DVD, or your digital film chip and we will project your work. You don’t have to resize your images, they can be of any size, usually in jpeg or tiff formats. Video can be played in any standard format, .mov, mpg, mpeg, avi, .mp4 etc.
   
   Admission is free. A $1 donation to help pay for the meeting room will be accepted but is not required.  We encourage image makers / photographers of all ages to attend.
   
   Each person can show from 1 up to 15 images per meeting. Please keep your presentations including audience participation to about 10 minutes or less, 15 minutes max. so that everyone who wants to present has an opportunity. If you would like to show something, here are a few ideas:
   
   a. Photos you have made during a trip or event. We all enjoy seeing things like this . . .
   
   b. Images about a topic you are interested in – whatever your passion is, bring it on—but it must be your own work. Macro/close-ups, nature photography, airplanes and cars, people and animals, photo journalism, digital illustrations, photo manipulations, projects you set for yourself in your quest to become a better artist. This list is infinite. The images don’t have to be made with a camera. They can be totally computer-generated.
   
   c.  Digital Videos – should be 10 minutes or under in length on any subject that you are interested in.
   
   d.  “How I did it” – if you have a special presentation and demonstration, please alert us at the beginning of the meeting or in advance so we can accommodate you. These presentations can be about photo techniques, Photoshop tips and tricks, etc. You should keep your presentation to no more than 20 minutes if possible.
   
   e.  Images you are working on that you have questions about – such as, “how do I make this better” or “does anyone know how I can make this image do tricks (become sepia toned, turn into a painting, get rid of flare, hide the power lines etc.).
   
   f.  Anything not covered in steps a-e above.
   
   You are not required to be a public speaker. Beginners are welcome and encouraged to show your work. Seasoned photographers and image makers often learn as much from beginners as beginners learn from accomplished artisans. We are all beginners in one phase of art or another.
   
   You and your picture loving friends are not required to show anything – you can remain a spectator as long as you like. However, we are all “always beginners” when it comes to image making. The idea is to have a forum where you can share your vision with others, get some feedback if you want it, and continue to improve your work incrementally every day, or every time you are inspired to make images.
   
   Admission is free. So far we don’t have membership requirements . Eventually we will entertain suggestions for any needed alterations in the structure of the group and its meetings.
7. Digital Video will always be welcome and, where possible, your clips can and will be posted in the group’s album area on the DIG website.
8. Over time the Digital Image Group will distinguish itself as a great educational experience. Our motto is ” Show, Tell, Listen and Learn – Tell your picture-loving friends about DIG.” It is not a contest environment, it is purely for education and entertainment.
9. The Sweetwater Camera Club of Douglas County has been in existence since 1988 and has a complimentary mission and structure – it consists of monthly lectures by professionals and advanced amateurs, monthly contests, field trips and photography shows. The SCC meets the 2nd Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. in the same location as the DIG, at St. Julian’s. It is a satellite organization of the Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville, Douglas County. We encourage you to attend and become a member of the SCC as well. Visit www.sweetwatercc.org for up-to-date information.
10. Our long term goal for the Digital Image Group is to focus on visual education and entertainment for people of all age groups. To that end we plan to eventually pursue becoming a legitimate non-profit organization supporting an ever-expanding visual arts community. This could include workshops and courses taught by qualified instructors, depending upon the needs of the community and the resources available. Any suggestions, ideas and contributions to this cause are encouraged.  

Thanks! Send me your images!

Hope to see you on Thursday evening, June 19th at our next meeting. Bring your images; tell your visually-oriented friends.

The question remains, “Where are you right now in your visual arts journey?” Show us.

Richard