Susan Dinga and Terry Heggy
Are you aware of your surroundings when you’re walking down the street, enjoying an outdoor café, or sitting in an airport? No matter where you go, there are interesting people, unusual buildings, eye-catching signs, and even animals that grab your attention. SaddleBrooke Photography Club member Jim Hagedon notices such things and often captures fascinating pictures while less-observant folks shuffle by just looking at their feet. In October Jim shared an informative talk about the art of “street photography,” offering tips on how to look for and grab frame-worthy images of everyday sights that are worth remembering.
Punctuating his talk with stunning images of people and places from near and far, Jim explained how he uses his experience in broadcast journalism to be a storyteller with pictures. Rather than setting up poses, Jim captures people living their lives. He shared photos such as a little girl with a braid lifting her cell phone to capture a landscape; a monk in a doorway watching the world go by while a dog on the steps below him lounges hilariously positioned; a clear-eyed young woman undoubtedly in love with the man she is looking at; a unique, bearded, and hippie-cladded Bisbee character giving him a smile; a lonely figure lost in the architecture of an old building; and a craftsman shaping a jade ball, to name just a few. Jim inspired us with his reminder that capturing people, whether abroad or in our own backyards, is worth the proverbial 1,000 words in telling a story.
Being able to hear talks from experts like Jim is just one of the many reasons to join the SaddleBrooke Photography Club. Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience, with other benefits such as learning about the features of your camera, whether it’s a complicated rig or a cell phone. In addition to general meetings to discuss photography and share images, the club has Special Interest Groups (SIGs) to cover specific topics like Photoshop and other software, getting to know your camera, and even printing your photos to hang on the wall.
We meet in the Topaz Room at MountainView on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon. Please stop by or visit our website at www.photosb.org.