2023-09-20
Want to take better photos?
SUBMITTED BY JOSTEIN ALGROY
One way to learn how to take better and more engaging photographs is to join the Bridgewater Photographic Society; informally known as the Bridgewater Photo Club (BPC).
Here, you will meet other enthusiastic local photographers and learn how to improve your photographic skills, all within a collaborative and learning environment that the club is known for.
Sept. 12 marked the start of the new season for the club. The BPC has been a great fixture in Bridgewater and the South Shore community for over 40 years. Today, it is as strong as ever, with over 60 engaging photographers from novices to professionals, from young students to retirees.
During the active club season, the members meet every second Tuesday of the month from September to April at the Mahone Bay Centre. While the first club meeting was about "how to read photographs" - learning about impact, composition and technical aspects of a photograph, the second club meeting on Oct. 10 is "Know Your Camera" and will focus on how to get more out of your camera to take better photos.
These club evenings are designed as interactive teaching and learning sessions with topics spanning from how to learn the ropes of your camera, how to use lighting to enhance your photos, how to read and critique images, how to best edit your photos, and how to promote and sell your photos.
The club also arranges competitions by setting up specific challenges for its members to practice on taking black and white photos, photos with motions, macro/close-up photos, flowers, or various aspects of nature.
Every fourth Tuesday of the month, the club has developed a new speaker series delivered via Zoom, inviting excellent professional speakers from across Canada and the U.S. These established photographers give their advice on taking more inviting photos and inspire you to be more creative with your camera by adopting a different perspective so your photos stand out and engage your audience.
Throughout the year, the club arranges many photo shoot field trips, such as taking photos of Bridgewater at night, Lunenburg in black and white, the Acadian village in Pubnico, whale and bird watching tours, fall colours at the Aspotogan Peninsula, and much more. The purpose of these trips is to learn new skills and techniques and to engage with your fellow club members.
As Bridgewater has its 125th year anniversary in 2024, the club has engaged with the Town of Bridgewater, the DesBrisay Museum and the LighthouseNOW in a project to showcase the development of Bridgewater from 1899 to 2024 with photographic exhibits at the DesBrisay Museum in the beginning of 2024.
The club has also arrangements with vendors on South Shore and in Halifax that provide discounts for printing, framing and other arts and photo supplies. The savings from these vendors can quickly pay for the annual club membership fee of $40.
We look forward to opening the new season, and anyone willing to enhance their photographic skills is welcome to join the club. You can get more information about the club and its program at www.bridgewaterphotoclub.ca or send an email to bpsexecutive@gmail.com.
