Chances are, virtually everyone owns a camera of some type. Whether its an expensive digital SLR or just a camera feature on a cell phone, cameras, it seems, are everywhere.
While most people have a camera, not many know how to put it to its best use.
Thats where the Wooster Camera Club comes in.
The purpose of the Wooster Camera Club is to stimulate greater interest in photography and to provide leadership and activities whereby members can improve their photographic knowledge, skill, techniques and appreciation of photography.
According to club member Bill Blanchard, the group traces its roots back to November of 1953 when the club was affiliated with the Wooster YMCA and known as the Y Photography Club and later the Y Camera Club. By 1962 the club became known by its current name – the Wooster Camera Club.
Any person (who is) interested in photography and desires to improve their skill level is welcome to join the club, either as a member or a visitor, said Blanchard noting that while some members still shoot film, most have converted to digital equipment using either DSLR (digital single lens reflex) or point-and-shoot cameras.
The clubs current 30-plus members meet monthly to swap tips, learn new techniques and share their passion for photography.
Throughout the year, the club conducts field trips and holds monthly meetings where members can hone their photography skills.
Field trips are a good source for members to get personal coaching, said Blanchard adding, more technically advanced photographers are very willing to help less experienced members to learn their craft.
These field trips take club members to a wide variety of locations throughout the region.
Field trips can be local or at locations up to one hour driving distance from Wooster, said Blanchard, adding that while the trips tend to be nature oriented, the club also includes sites where architecture is the featured subject.
Club members also meet monthly on the first Monday of the month from September through June at 7 p.m. at the Wooster United Methodist Church on the corner of North Market and East Larwill Streets. In addition to sharing their latest photos, club members focus on learning new techniques.
Those learning opportunities extend to the staging of a series of annual public exhibitions.
Exhibits are planned to give the members the opportunity to show their work and to give the membership an incentive to improve their work as well as to learn how to exhibit with varying size requirements and matting or framing requirements, said Blanchard.
For the past several years, the club has held four such exhibits each year including the fall exhibit at the Wooster Community Center, which closed on Dec. 22.
The clubs next exhibit will be held at the Orrville Public Library from Feb. 8-28, 2011, followed by exhibits at Buehlers Milltown from April 4-11, 2011 and the Wayne Center for the Arts from May 19-June 18, 2011.
The clubs next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 3 and features professional photographer Heidi Weller of Ashland who will discusses the question, I Have Shot My Photos, Now What Do I Do?
For more information on the Wooster Camera Club, including information on becoming a member, log on to the clubs website at www.wooster cameraclub.com.
