One of the themed competitions this year is Porches. This is a great opportunity to shoot for that theme. This will also be an opportunity for wonderful street photography and portraiture.

Try something different.

Crystal ball photography (or "lens ball photography") is a creative technique that uses a clear glass ball. By placing the ball in front of your camera, or smart phone, you can get a miniature, crystal-clear, and upside-down wide-angle view of the scene inside the sphere.

The ball will also, distort straight patterns into dramatic, spiraling curves. Lots of fun!

There are so many things you can do on your phone these days. Barb Rose will demonstrate mobile apps that will jump-start your creative thinking.

Pre-meeting workshop @ 6:30pm - Using GPS in your photography

Today’s cameras are not only excellent at taking still photos, they excel at shooting video. Video is a different way to express your creativity and portray a location or event to viewers. Paul will discuss techniques and tips for shooting video as well as editing methods.

As a long time train spotter, John Murphy will present many places you can go to photograph trains, both in use and parked in museums.

A great landscape photograph is one that shows more than just a beautiful place.  It makes the viewer feel like they're there.  The strongest images combine light, composition, timing, and emotion.  Bob will talk about a series of "recipes" that increase the likelihood of coming home with a winning landscape photograph.

Beyond the Wide Angle - Sometimes a scene is so majestic that a single photograph simply isn't enough.  Panorama photography allows the photographer to capture not only the subject, but also the context and vastness that made the moment unforgettable.  Jeff Smith will share the equipment, in-camera techniques, field lessons, and post-processing workflow he uses to create successful panoramas.  Along the way, he'll discuss common challenges, lessons learned from failed attempts, and practical techniques you can apply to your own panoramic photography.

Loura regularly scours the greater Dayton area for photographic locations. Loura will present local opportunities that she has found.

No two people see the same scene the same way. This month's challenge: everyone works from the same source image(s) and develops it into something entirely their own — color, moody black and white, full-on abstract, whatever speaks to you. We'll project every version, so come ready to see how differently the same frame can look through different eyes. Go wild!

Want that silky looking waterfall? Want the illusion of action? Daytime long exposures will get you that and more. Kendall will present techniques creating your own daytime long exposures.

What is the best camera for taking pictures? The one you have with you. Everyone has a camera on their phone now. Why not use it for more serious photography? Paul will talk about all aspects for smartphone photography from taking the pictures, camera apps beyond the manufacturer’s camera app and post processing ideas.

A panel of experienced judges will judge competition images and provide live commentary. This live feedback can be really helpful in learning what judges are looking for when judging.

Do you want your photography to go above and beyond? A drone can take you above the scene for amazing, unique perspectives. Beth will cover types of drones, rules to follow when flying, composition from above and much more. Come get inspired to see your world from a new perspective.

It’s not easy to shoot birds in the wild. There are distractions, the birds are unpredictable and there is an endless variety of lighting conditions. Dan will share his expertise to help you cope will all of these challenges and improve your chances of getting those beautiful shots you always wanted.

Pre-meeting @ 6:30pm - Improving your photos

This fun, presentation is for photographers who want to explore the creative side of artificial intelligence—no technical experience required. You’ll discover easy ways to enhance and edit photos, remove distractions, create imaginative images, generate creative backgrounds and make caricatures of yourself, friends, and family.

Adobe continues to add new, exciting features to Photoshop and Lightroom. Paul will take you through some of the most interesting and useful updates in the latest versions of each.

Pre-meeting @ 6:30pm - Improving your photos