Embark on a visual journey with The Wanderer Photographer, a Tauranga-based enterprise helmed by the intrepid Coni Flores. Specializing in the art of capturing the wild and untamed landscapes of nature and adventure, this business offers a plethora of photography workshops, private lessons, and experiences for shutterbugs of all skill levels.
The Wanderer Photographer is a small business founded by Coni Flores in Tauranga, New Zealand. The business is dedicated to teaching photography and providing photography experiences to people while also creating a community where everyone is welcome to share their passion. Coni’s unique approach to photography is centered around her love for nature and adventure. She offers workshops and private lessons that are designed to be inclusive and welcoming to photographers of all skill levels and experiences. The business also operates photography projects like Paper and Ink, which was held in Nepal. Coni’s goal is to expand her business to the international market, specifically in the USA, Australia, and Europe, and start running private photography tours in these countries.
Coni has a keen eye for capturing the beauty of the natural world, and her passion for hiking and traveling allows her to take her photography to some of the most remote and beautiful locations. Her experiences abroad have also led her to pursue creative photography projects, such as “Paper and Ink” in Nepal, which was later exhibited in New Zealand.
In addition to her photography business, Coni is also an experienced instructor. She has a teaching background and a bachelor’s degree in primary education, which allows her to effectively convey the technical aspects of photography in a way that is easy to understand for her students. Her workshops and private lessons are designed to be inclusive, welcoming photographers of all skill levels and experience.
As a small business owner, Coni is also looking to expand her reach and take her photography to the next level. She is currently working to get verified on social media platforms, to increase her engagement and grow her following. She is also looking to expand her business to the international market, specifically in the USA, Australia, and Europe. With her passion for nature and adventure, Coni hopes to offer private photography tours in New Zealand and around the world.
Coni’s website, https://wandererphotographer.com/meet-coni/, showcases her portfolio, as well as information about her workshops and private lessons. Her Instagram account, @wandererphotographer, has 11.1k followers and features a range of stunning photography from around the world.
Overall, Coni Flores is a talented photographer and experienced instructor who is passionate about sharing her love for nature, hiking, and photography with others. She has a unique approach to photography that is focused on capturing the beauty of the natural world, and her background in education allows her to effectively convey the technical aspects of photography to her students. Through her business, The Wanderer Photographer, she aims to create a welcoming community for photographers of all skill levels and experience, and she is looking to expand her reach to the international market.
“Not all who wander are lost” – Coni Flores
Media Contact Company Name: HYPE PR Email: Send Email Country: United States Website: www.hypekoolar.com
Press Release Distributed by ABNewswire.com
To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: The Wanderer Photographer: A Photographic Odyssey of Nature and Adventure
Unlike “junk email” that is automatically deleted from the email box, “junk DNA” continues to exist in living creatures like as bacteria, insects, mammals and even us humans, alongside the original genome – thus the genome grows throughout evolution.
A new model developed at Tel Aviv University (TAU) offers a possible solution to the scientific question of why neutral sequences referred to as junk DNA are not eliminated from the genome of living creatures in nature and continue to exist within it even millions of years later.
The researchers’ explanation is that it hides in functional areas, so deletions are likely to damage the functional DNA and therefore are rejected by evolution.
According to the researchers, junk DNA is often located in the vicinity of functional DNA. Deletion events around the borders between junk and functional DNA are likely to damage the functional regions and so evolution rejects them. The model contributes to the understanding of the huge variety of genome sizes observed in nature.
Border-induced selection
The phenomenon that the new model describes, called by the team “border-induced selection” – was developed under the leadership of the doctoral student Gil Loewenthal in the lab of Prof. Tal Pupko from the Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research at TAU’s Faculty of Life Sciences and in collaboration with colleague Prof. Itay Mayrose. The study was published in the journal Open Biology under the title “The evolutionary dynamics that retain long neutral genomic sequences in face of indel deletion bias: a model and its application to human introns.”
“The question we tried to answer is how the genomes are not deleted when the probability of DNA deletion events is significantly greater than DNA addition events.”
Prof. Tal Pupko, TAU Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research
The Human Genome Project, completed exactly two decades ago, covered about 92% of the total human genome sequence. Junk DNA was found but not well understood. The technologies to decipher the gaps that remained didn’t exist at the time. But scientists knew that the last eight percent likely contained information important for fundamental biological processes.
The researchers explain that throughout evolution, the size of the genome in living creatures in nature changes. For example, some salamander species have a genome ten times larger than the human genome. “The rate of deletions and short insertions, which are termed in short as indels, is usually measured by examining pseudogenes,” Pupko explained. “Pseudogenes are genes that have lost their function and in which there are frequent mutations, including deletions and insertions of DNA segments. In previous studies that characterized the indels, it was found that the rate of deletions is greater than the rate of additions in a variety of creatures including bacteria, insects, and even mammals such as humans. The question we tried to answer is how the genomes are not deleted when the probability of DNA deletion events is significantly greater than DNA addition events.”
Loewenthal added that “we have provided a different view to the dynamics of evolution at the DNA level. When measuring the rate of indels, there will be more deletions, but the measurements are carried out in pseudogenes that are quite long sequences. We claim that in shorter neutral segments, deletions are likely to delete adjacent functional segments which are essential for the functioning of the organism, and therefore will be rejected. If so, when the segment is short, there will be a reverse bias so that there will be more insertions than deletions, and therefore short neutral segments usually are retained.”
The team simulated the dynamics of indels while taking into account the effect of border-induced selection and compared the simulation results to the distribution of human intron lengths (introns are DNA segments in the middle of a protein-coding gene, which themselves do not code for a protein). A good match was obtained between the results of the simulations and the distribution of lengths observed in nature, and we were able to explain peculiar phenomena in the length distribution of introns, such as the large variation in intron lengths, as well as the complex shape of the distribution which does not look like a standard bell curve.”
A bald eagle arrives to steal a perch on a tree log that offers a strategic view of the shoreline at the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve in Alaska. When other eagles drag freshly caught salmon in from the water, these bystanders swoop in to take a share.
Photo by Karthik Subramaniam
After several years off, National Geographic magazine has brought back a public photo contest and invited hobbyist photographers to send in their best images of the natural world.
Editors at National Geographic judged the contest and landed on nine honorable mentions and one grand-prize winning image. Photographer Karthik Subramaniam’s image of a group of bald eagles posting up on a tree branch in hunt of salmon in Alaska took top honors, which means it’ll have the rare distinction of being a reader-submitted image published in the magazine (in the May issue).
‘Hours of observing their patterns and behavior helped me capture moments like these,’ Subramaniam told the magazine about his winning image. A software engineer by day, he said a passion for wildlife photography and some boredom during the Covid-19 pandemic motivated him to pick up the camera and explore nature.
On his winning image, Subramaniam told the magazine that he sees an image of a frozen moment of tension that questions what happens next. To make the image, he took a week-long trip to Alaska from his home in San Fransisco and learned to be patient, observe and wait. He watched the eagles near a fishing ground in Haines, Alaska and noticed a log where a few lingered, and then he also waited with his camera watching the birds and waiting for the moment he took the winning image.
Read more about Subramaniam’s winning image, how he made it and see all nine of the other images that the magazine’s editors picked as honorable mention for its picture of the year contest, here.
Released only weeks apart, the Sony 50mm F1.4 GM and Sigma F1.4 DG DN Art are clear competitors. Which is the better buy?
Jordan’s twin brother Gordon is back to review the cinema-focused Canon EOS R5 C!
In the middle of the OM System lineup, the OM-5 promises yesterday’s top-tier performance in a lighter, more compact body. Rain or shine, it’s hard to find a camera that does all the OM-5 can for the price.
The OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO is finally here! Chris has opinions.
The Canon EOS R8 is the company’s latest mid-level full-frame mirrorless camera. It brings the sensor and autofocus from the EOS R6 II and combines them in a smaller, more affordable body.
Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a ‘best’ option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.
There are a lot of photo/video cameras that have found a role as B-cameras on professional film productions or even A-cameras for amateur and independent productions. We’ve combed through the options and selected our two favorite cameras in this class.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? These capable cameras should be solid and well-built, have both the speed and focus to capture fast action and offer professional-level image quality. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing around $2000 and recommended the best.
Family moments are precious and sometimes you want to capture that time spent with loved ones or friends in better quality than your phone can manage. We’ve selected a group of cameras that are easy to keep with you, and that can adapt to take photos wherever and whenever something memorable happens.
What’s the best camera for shooting sports and action? Fast continuous shooting, reliable autofocus and great battery life are just three of the most important factors. In this buying guide we’ve rounded-up several great cameras for shooting sports and action, and recommended the best.
Quincy resident Megan Guldenzoph has a keen eye for fungi.
Her photo of a golden Pholiota mushroom at Houghtons Pond in Milton was named the best photo in the plant and fungi category of Mass Audubon’s 2022 “Picture This: Your Great Outdoors” photography contest in the 18-and-older division. She won a $100 gift card.
Now more than a decade old, the contest drew more than 7,000 images from hundreds of photographers across the state. In addition to plants and fungi, categories included people in nature, birds, mammals, other animals and landscapes.
Chatham resident Kimberly Robbins’ image of a great egret balancing on one foot with wings spread in Chatham was named the grand prize winner. Robbins won a $250 gift card and is featured in Mass Audubon’s member newsletter, Explore.
State-title contenders: South Shore high school girls hockey top 10 rankings
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Photographs could have been taken before or during the 2022 contest period, but they must have been shot in Massachusetts or at Mass Audubon’s Wildwood Camp in Rindge, New Hampshire.
For more information on the contest, and to see all the winning photos, visit massaudubon.org/picturethis.
Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Quincy woman’s mushroom photo wins Mass Audubon contest
An Aboriginal elder was shocked to discover a website using his image to support fracking, which he has long campaigned against.
Mudburra man Ray Dimakarri Dixon’s image appeared on a website for the Beetaloo Economic Alliance beside a claim that fracking has ‘no impact on air or water quality’.
The Beetaloo Basin, an area more than twice the size of Tasmania located 500km south of Darwin, is said to contain enough shale gas to power Australia for 200 years.
It has attracted the interest of energy companies, including Tamboran Resources, interested in exploratory fracking since the Territory Labor government lifted its moratorium on the controversial coal seem gas ban.
‘I was shocked. It’s horrible, terrible stuff,’ Mr Dixon said in a press release issued by the Central Australian Frack Free Alliance (CAAFA).
‘It makes me feel that people might be looking at it and thinking that I support fracking.’
CAAFA explained on its Facebook page that Ray is seen standing before the Marlinja creek, headwaters of the Ijibarda-Jukurlu wetland system (Lake Woods), that he is striving to protect from the harms of unconventional gas fracking.
‘You can’t just go and put a website up with a person’s image without talking to them,’ Mr Dixon told the ABC.
The Betaloo Economic Alliance website also features messages claiming ‘your opportunity is under attack’ and that fracking projects are ‘in harmony with nature’.
CAAFA says the Betaloo Economic Alliance campaign is likely to be an example of a marketing tactic called ‘astroturfing’.
Astroturfing is the practice of hiding the real sponsors of a message to make it appear to be a grassroots campaign.
CAAFA spokeswoman Hannah Ekin said there is no grassroots campaign supporting fracking in the Betaloo Basin.
‘There’s just a massive grassroots campaign opposing it.’
CAAFA announced it will be taking the NT government to the supreme court over an alleged failure to properly account for the environmental impacts of fracking in the Betaloo Basin.
Yountville — “This year, nature’s mustard plant is getting the recognition throughout Napa Valley that it deserves,” says Napa Valley photographer MJ Schaer.
Schaer is the founder and director of the first Photo Finale 2023, an open invitation photography exhibition in alliance with the 2023 Napa Valley Mustard Celebration, which will premiere on March 4 at Jessup Cellars Gallery and continue through March 31.
Mustard art by Therese Lawless
Mustard art by Therese Lawless
Michael Fitzpatrick
Mustard is featured in this painting by Michael Fitzpatrick.
Bougetz Cellars
Bougetz Cellars is featuring Jessel Miller’s art as its label in honor of the new mustard celebration.
Mustard gallery
Clara Blair wears a Mustard Muse butterfly jacket in front of “Mustard Muse” paintings, wine and mustard at the Jessel Gallery
Mustard Diane
A painting of mustard by Diane Pope.
Mustard Celebration
Napa Valley Mustard Celebration 2022 “Mustard Muse” painting by Jessel Miller.
Mustard art by Therese Lawless
Mustard art by Therese Lawless
Michael Fitzpatrick
Mustard is featured in this painting by Michael Fitzpatrick.
Bougetz Cellars
Bougetz Cellars is featuring Jessel Miller’s art as its label in honor of the new mustard celebration.
Mustard gallery
Clara Blair wears a Mustard Muse butterfly jacket in front of “Mustard Muse” paintings, wine and mustard at the Jessel Gallery
Mustard Diane
A painting of mustard by Diane Pope.
Mustard Celebration
Napa Valley Mustard Celebration 2022 “Mustard Muse” painting by Jessel Miller.
The Photo Finale 2023 has been in the making since last fall when professional photographer Schaer set out to attract professional and amateur photographers throughout wine country to break out their cameras and capture that one-of-a-kind image.
Photo Finale 2023 will exhibit 72 works by 46 photographers showcasing the beauty of Nature’s winter mustard season in the Napa Valley.
The Photo Finale Photography Exhibition will celebrate the “yellow gold” beauty and splendor of the wnter mustard lobom that blankets Napa Valley’s landscape and vineyards from December thrrough March.
People are also reading…
Photographers have four categories to choose from: Landscape, People/Pets, Innovative and Food & Wine, to apply their photographic creativity and skills.
First, second, third and Honorable Mention ribbons will be awarded to the top four photographs in each category. A Peoples Choice Award will be presented at the closing reception on Friday, March 31.
Schaer said, “I am so pleased with the tally of entry submissions by professional and amateur photographers for this first annual event, and to have the unique gallery facility at Jessup Cellars Gallery gives the exhibition a true wine country setting and experience for Napa Valley’s Mustard Celebration 2023.”
Photo Finale 2023 Exhibition at Jessup Cellars Gallery, 6740 Washington Street, Yountville CA. 94599 is open to the public, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily.
Photo Finale 2023 Exhibition Photographs will be available for purchase.
For more information, visit photo-finale.com.
Mustard art by Therese Lawless
Mustard art by Therese Lawless
Michael Fitzpatrick
Mustard is featured in this painting by Michael Fitzpatrick.
Bougetz Cellars
Bougetz Cellars is featuring Jessel Miller’s art as its label in honor of the new mustard celebration.
Mustard gallery
Clara Blair wears a Mustard Muse butterfly jacket in front of “Mustard Muse” paintings, wine and mustard at the Jessel Gallery
Mustard Diane
A painting of mustard by Diane Pope.
Mustard Celebration
Napa Valley Mustard Celebration 2022 “Mustard Muse” painting by Jessel Miller.
Mustard art by Therese Lawless
Mustard art by Therese Lawless
Michael Fitzpatrick
Mustard is featured in this painting by Michael Fitzpatrick.
Bougetz Cellars
Bougetz Cellars is featuring Jessel Miller’s art as its label in honor of the new mustard celebration.
Mustard gallery
Clara Blair wears a Mustard Muse butterfly jacket in front of “Mustard Muse” paintings, wine and mustard at the Jessel Gallery
Mustard Diane
A painting of mustard by Diane Pope.
Mustard Celebration
Napa Valley Mustard Celebration 2022 “Mustard Muse” painting by Jessel Miller.
A combination of seed shortages due to warming climates, rising glass and cardboard prices and soaring prices for white wine mean you could be paying more for mustard soon.
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An amateur photography contest is being held by the Cache Creek Conservancy to celebrate the outdoors at the Woodland-based Cache Creek Nature Preserve.
The contest is an opportunity for people to visit and explore the 135-acre preserve and to elevate public awareness about the Cache Creek Conservancy and its offerings.
The contest period starts on March 1 and concludes on Earth Day, April 22. This allows 53 days for people to visit and take photographs at the Preserve during an active and vibrant time between the end of Winter and beginning of Spring, such as wildlife, foliage, and sunsets. Photographs can be of natural settings or include people and families enjoying what the Preserve has to offer.
There will be a limit of one photograph per participant in one of three contest categories. Categories are: Adults, ages 18 and older; Youth, ages 17 and under; and Professional. All images must have been taken by the photographer and not photoshopped.
Winners in each category will have their work displayed on the Cache Creek Conservancy website as well as used on its Facebook Page. Photographs may also be used in print and marketing materials for the Conservancy, with the photographers receiving prominent credit.
A redbud tree blooms near the Cache Creek Conservancy wetlands. The Conservancy is holding a photography contest to celebrate the outdoors with people invited to submit entries through April 22, Earth Day. (Cache Creek Conservancy/Courtesy)
It’s also possible that selected photographs will be printed and used during a future art show, possibly as part of Woodland’s First Friday Art Walk.
The contest is for digital photos only, with images sized not greater than 50 megabytes. Complete details can be found on the Conservancy’s website at https://cachecreekconservancy.org/earth-day-photo-contest-2023/.
All participants must complete an entry form giving permission for the Conservancy to use their photographs (whether they are the winner or not) in future materials. Entry forms can be found at the Conservancy’s website: www.cachecreekconservancy.com.
A selection committee comprised of Conservancy Board members and one volunteer will judge the photos and a winner from each category will be selected. If there is a tie, an additional person will be brought in to judge and make the final decision.
Northern lights cruises are a good way to see the aurora borealis in Norway.
David Nikel
More often than not, the aurora borealis (also known as the northern lights) appears as a pale streak of light almost indistinguishable from a cloud. But sometimes, it spreads and intensifies into something very special indeed.
That’s the joy and frustration of hunting for the northern lights—an atmospheric phenomenon where energized solar particles bombard our atmosphere causing waves of colored lights.
The uncertainty of getting a glimpse of the natural phenomenon doesn’t put people off trying though. Far from it.
Tourism boom for the northern lights
In the 1980s, Japanese tourists began to travel to Alaska to see the northern lights, something that surprised and mystified many locals. Aurora borealis tourism has since gone on to become popular in northern destinations around the world.
2019 analysis from Visit Norway revelaed “northern lights” was the third most travel-related search term used by people researching trips to Norway behind only fjords and glaciers. More people searched for information on the aurora borealis in Norway than cruises, hiking, skiing and camping.
Widespread coverage of the expected solar maximum in the coming years is sure to only increase interest in northern lights tours and cruises.
What causes the aurora?
Auroras are caused by our Sun and the solar wind that brings charged particles towards the Earth. Our atmosphere—specifically the magnetic field—protects us from these particles.
Strong auroras can appear to pulse and rotate, and feature purple and red colors as well as the more … [+] typical green.
David Nikel
The electrons travel along the magnetic field towards the poles, where the electrons meet hydrogen and oxygen. The resulting reactions cause a release of energy, which we perceive as light. This happens at both poles: the northern lights or aurora borealis in the north, and the southern lights or aurora australis in the south.
A recent scientific study proved that these electrons ride along on Alfvén waves, which accelerate them to a sufficient rate to cause auroras. It’s the space weather equivalent of a surfer catching a big wave.
What does the aurora look like?
You may have seen sensational photography of the northern lights and thought, ‘do they really look like that?’ The answer is it depends. As a natural phenomenon, there is substantial variation between auroras.
Pale light may appear as an arc, or it may be a much more intense color and appear as rays or the famous curtain-like effect. It can also behave in curious ways, from being almost completely still to pulsing or even leaping around. What you see depends in part on your location. The exact same aurora will look very different from different latitudes, for example.
As for the different colors, they are caused by the intensity of the electron bombardment, which elements are being struck in our atmosphere, and the altitude of the reaction. Green—ranging from pale to vivid—is the most common color.
Weak auroras often appear very pale, which can be a disappointment to some people expecting a vivid … [+] display.
David Nikel
How to see the northern lights
There is plenty of universal advice for people wanting to experience a spectacular aurora borealis display. But while following this advice will increase your chances, it can never guarantee success.
First and foremost, you should be as close as possible to the aurora oval in the northern hemisphere. This donut-shaped ring around the Arctic gets bigger and moves southwards with stronger displays, but it’s most commonly located over the northern parts of Scandinavia, Alaska and the north of Canada.
Next, it must be dark, so sometime within September to April is essential. As the darkest months, December and January may seem ideal, but that time of year often brings with it the worst weather. Cloudy skies will ruin any hope you have of a sighting no matter the aurora’s strength. For this reason, late September to early November and February to early March are considered prime time for aurora hunting.
Finally, being away from the artificial lights of a city will increase your chances of seeing a weaker display.
Forecasting the northern lights
Space weather forecasting has improved significantly in recent years and thanks to the smartphone, virtually everyone has access to the same aurora forecasting information used by pro tour guides.
The Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks has excellent broad forecasting to give you an idea of what to expect on a given evening. It uses the Kp scale to forecast the aurora strength. A Kp of 1 or 2 is considered weak but may still be visible in the far north. A Kp of 3 or above means the chances of a dramatic display are substantially higher, and the lights should be visible from farther south.
For more real-time data, download one of the many aurora forecasting apps. They will give a 15-30 minute warning of strong activity in your current location. While not perfect, they are a handy tool to have at your disposal.
The best aurora borealis destinations
While heading as far north as you can is important, latitude alone isn’t the only consideration in selecting a good spot. Weather is just as important, particularly cloud cover. Many northern lights tours based in coastal parts of Norway actually travel for hours inland in order to find clear skies, sometimes even crossing the border into Sweden or Finland.
Aurora borealis displays can often be seen in the far north on clear nights.
David Nikel
Another important consideration is what else there is to do in the area. Travel to remote parts of north America or Scandinavia have one thing in common: it’s expensive. That means you’ll want to make the most of the daytimes when the skies are not dark to get full value from your trip.
Alaska: The lack of urban areas in Alaska means much of the state has ideal conditions for viewing the aurora. Many northern lights tour companies are based in Fairbanks, an ideal place for first-timers given its northern latitude and the other things to do in the city.
The adventurous may want to consider heading even farther north to Coldfoot or Wiseman. By day you can indulge in winter activities such as snowshoeing and dog mushing, while at night you’ll regularly enjoy some of the world’s best conditions for seeing the aurora.
Canada: Churchill, Manitoba, offers the opportunity to see another of nature’s wonders, the polar bear. Thirty minutes from Churchill, the Northern Studies Center is a great spot for seeking the lights as it offers clearer, wider skies than in the town itself.
Although farther south, Alberta’s Elk Island National Park and Jasper National Park are both designated dark sky reserves. The adventurous might like to consider heading to Yukon, with Whitehorse and Dawson City good options.
Iceland: Although the volcanic island has a good reputation for aurora sightings, it’s actually a little farther south than the ideal latitude. However, with so much to see and do in Iceland it remains a good option if you are prepared to stay a little longer to increase your chances of a sighting.
Norway: Tromsø and Alta compete for the best place in Norway to see the northern lights, with many tour companies based in both cities. Norway’s long coastline means northern lights cruises are very popular. The constant movement of the ship means finding clear skies at some point is likely, although it does make photography more challenging.
Sweden: Abisko bills itself as not just the best place in Sweden to see the lights, but one of the best places in the world. The reason? The so-called ‘blue hole’, a patch of sky rarely covered in cloud because of its position to the east of the Scandinavian mountains.
Finland: Often overlooked compared to its Scandinavian neighbors, the north of Finland can be an excellent alternative. Rovaniemi is a good base for families as it’s accessible by plane or train, and known as the home of Santa Claus.
Aurora photography tips
Capturing the aurora borealis used to require professional camera equipment to stand any chance at all. Thanks to rapid advances in smartphone camera technology, that’s no longer the case.
Magazine-quality photography still requires a professional camera and the skills to use it. There’s no point in investing in expensive equipment without understanding the relationship between aperture, ISO and shutter speed.
However, most advanced smartphones released in the last few years are able to capture something that will be good enough to relive the moment for years to come. You’ll need a smartphone camera with a night mode or the ability to take a long exposure shot. It’s worth taking the time to practice these techniques at night before your trip in order to avoid disappointment when the moment arrives.
That being said, rather than desperately fiddling about with your smartphone, it’s a far wiser choice to simply watch the aurora when you get the chance.
LAGUNA BEACH, CA — When you’re walking the Orange County coast during low tide, there’s no telling what you might find hidden on the shores.
Laguna Beach resident Susana Cruciana was enjoying the warm weekend weather at Treasure Island when she took this beautiful photo of the shore during low tide.
“Been sick for a week with a bad cold — felt good to get outside again,” Susana told Patch. “Low tide at Treasure Island revealed a blanket of green!”
Thank you for sharing your photo with Patch, Susana!
If you have an awesome photo of nature, breath-taking scenery, kids caught being kids, a pet doing something funny, or something unusual you happen to catch with your camera, we’d love to feature it on Patch.
We’re looking for high-resolution images that reflect the beauty and fun that is Orange County, and that show off your unique talents.
As the world reopened, the club wanted to use photography to restore beauty and light, said board member Richard Phillips.
“We thought about the pandemic, what we went through and how everyone felt being cooped up inside, so we wanted something hopeful,” added club president Tracey Rice.
The exhibit showcases work from 30 artists from the Peachtree Corners area. Worldwide images of landscapes, buildings, people, animals and nature all capture light and express hopefulness.
Judge Amanda Gardner, a professional photographer and instructor, made the final selections out of 128 submissions. The HP Graphics Experience Center and Gilman Brothers Company provided the prints at no cost to the club – a savings of nearly $100 per photo.
While some photographers reached back through the years into their archives to pull up submissions, many others offered images reflecting the collective pandemic experience.
Phillips captured the joy of families finally able to travel once again. His selected silhouette photo, taken in October at Yellowstone National Park, shows visitors walking through the steam mist of a thermal pool.
“I just wanted to capture those people enjoying their life at this beautiful place,” said Phillips, a professional landscape photographer.
David Schilling, a retired photographer with more than 30 years of professional experience, shows the brilliant reds of a flower in full bloom during the early shutdown. Schilling was isolated at home but found this beauty in his backyard, illuminated by the sun.
Each image has its own backstory, and artists will discuss their photos at a free gathering at the library Saturday, Feb. 25, at 10:30 a.m.
The photography club is relatively new and is the only one in this high-tech community. It was founded in 2017 by two camera buffs who met over coffee and donuts to discuss their craft.
Now, it includes more than 80 dues-paying members and 280 active participants of all ages, including a few in their 90s. In addition, plans are in the works to offer membership scholarships to high school students with an interest in the medium.
The club’s mission is to educate, and monthly meetings and webinars, along with occasional workshops and field trips, benefit all levels of expertise, from beginners to seasoned professionals.
“We try to bring our skills together and help everyone improve.” said board member Brian Walton.
Most participants are serious hobbyists eager to learn, but even those whose only camera is a cellphone are welcome. The exhibit includes some cellphone shots.
“I tell people, don’t be ashamed of it; they take fantastic photos,” said Rice. “If you can understand composition and lighting, you can take some good photos. The camera is just a tool.”
One of Rice’s exhibit photos of a little girl playing dress-up shows light bouncing off a strand of pearls. Her composition caught one pearl right in the center of the eye.
Learning through classes and workshops and practicing helped Rice and Phillips turn their love of photography into a second career post-retirement.
Board member Jim Skurski always took his camera on business trips during his 30-year engineering career. He’s now making photos for money. Four of his landscape shots from the Canadian Rockies in 2007 are part of the exhibition.
Walton enjoys photography and video, and helping others view the world from a beautiful and different perspective. He recently used his photography to boost the self-image of his female subject, who admitted she had never liked her looks.
“I was able to take a portrait of her and show her how beautiful she was for the first time,” Walton said. “That inspires you to say, let’s show people how beautiful they are. Let’s use this art to be transformative in some way.”
MORE DETAILS
Peachtree Corners Photography Club “Light is Hope” Juried Exhibition. 100 photos displayed through March at the Gwinnett County Peachtree Corners Branch Library, 5570 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners. For more about the photo club visit: pcphotoclub.org.
