The McMillan Arts Centre is delighted to participate in the Brant Wildlife Festival by hosting an exhibition that includes our own John Critchley.

John’s show is all about local wildlife or wildlife that is accessible without traveling too far from home. The bear photos were taken in Bute Inlet which is within a day’s travel there and back from Campbell River. The bird photos are all from walking around the French Creek area and some as far away as Nanaimo River Estuary. Most involved multiple attempts/ visits to the area and some long hours waiting for the right shot to materialize.

John began playing with a camera fifty years ago but only really got serious about ten years ago. Since then he has been shooting at anything that moves and some things that don’t (landscape) but recently has started to focus more on wild life than any other genre. All of these exhibition photos have been taken within the last two years and all were taken on Vancouver Island except the bear shots. Some were taken in his back yard.

As with most amateur photographers, his desire is to take better pictures and in that regard the learning curve for technique and equipment is very steep. He still has a long way to go and many shots to track down, but despite the cost and the disappointment it remains a hobby that intrigues and excites him.

Please vist the opening on March 5 from 1:00 to 3:00

This is a reminder to upload your assignment photos to the member database by the 20th.

We generally meet at the venue at 10am and shoot until 12 then those who wish to do so gather at the chosen lunch venue.  Check the details for the field trip outing.

Meet with other members and try a range of different shots. Test some new post processing techniques. Pick about 6 of the most interesting and size them to within 1600 pixels wide and 1200 pixels high. When you have your field trip photos ready, send them to fieldtrip.opc@gmail.com

This month we are heading up to the Comox Air Force Museum.  Lunch location will be determined by Sally.

Contact Sally to let her know about attending lunch.

Pick about 6 of the most interesting and size them to within 1600 pixels wide and 1200 pixels high. When you have your field trip photos ready, send them to Richard at fieldtrip.opc@gmail.com

If you wish to put your name on your image please feel free to do so.

Finally, the Snowbirds will be back in Comox in April for their practice sessions.  Check the museum site for updated times.

The Brant Wildlife Festival opening night dinner event is being held at the Beach Club Resort this year. There will be a number of wildlife photos on display from our young friends from the 4H Camera club.

This is a great time for all of us to get out and support all the Brant efforts.

Remember to upload your favourite photo for this month in the member database.

We will start the meeting with our regular business and slideshows from the outing to the Comox Air Museum and the Clocks assignment. We also have a big surprise!

Here is the link to the slideshow tips from Kelli (click here)

Our speaker for April is Kelli Etheridge. Kelli is an accomplished and talented professional portrait photographer who has recently started down a new path in her life involving nutrition and her own cooking school. Kelli is a former president of the Harbour City Photography Club and was heavily involved with bringing the CAPA Canadian Camera Conference to Nanaimo as well as the Joy of Photography Show.

Kelli has been producing wonderfully creative slideshows for many years and has been a featured photographer for Photodex, the slideshow software company. Kelli will be talking to our club about how to take your own multimedia slideshows to the next level.

Two of Kelli’s slideshows from  Youtube are below, please enjoy!

This is a reminder to upload your assignment photos to the member database by the 20th.

Cowichan Bay

This month our field trip is to Cowichan Bay. Plan a day outing into the area, there are wineries, harbours and other small places to visit. Along the way, there’s places like Crofton, Chemanius, Duncan and Genoa Bay.

Contact Sally about the meeting places for lunch.

Pick about 6 of the most interesting and size them to within 1600 pixels wide and 1200 pixels high. When you have your field trip photos ready, send them to <a href=”mailto:fieldtrip.opc@gmail.com”>fieldtrip.opc@gmail.com</a>

We generally meet at the venue at 10am and shoot until 12 then those who wish to do so gather at the chosen lunch venue.  Check the details for the field trip outing.

Meet with other members and try a range of different shots. Test some new post processing techniques. Pick about 6 of the most interesting and size them to within 1600 pixels wide and 1200 pixels high. When you have your field trip photos ready, send them to fieldtrip.opc@gmail.com