April 8th, 2025
Words of Wisdom
“Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.” – Marc Riboud
Meeting Recap:
Last Wednesday’s meeting was one of those nights that sticks with you long after you’ve packed your camera bag. We had the pleasure of welcoming Avard Woolaver as our guest speaker, and he delivered a presentation that was equal parts inspiring, practical, and refreshingly honest. Avard walked us through his approach to photography—how he sees light, builds a story, and stays curious even after years behind the lens. There was a real sense in the room that this wasn’t just about technique… it was about mindset. The kind of mindset that reminds you why you picked up a camera in the first place.
Resources:
Australia Broadcast Corporation (ABC), publishes photos from Australian photographers every week, it is a bit of a promotion for the land down under but there are some inspiring images and they change weekly.
ABC Australia
Gear:
Manfrotto is expanding its ONE-series lineup with a new tripod called the ONE Photo, this one is specifically for photographers. The tripod uses a non-rounded leg profile that is supposed to improve torsional rigidity and stiffness (something I always worry about). The goal is to provide better stability for high-resolution cameras and long exposures.
The tripod uses Manfrotto’s fast leg technology, which allows all leg sections to be extended at once. It also has a sliding centre column for height adjustment and ground-level shooting. Manfrotto’s Q90 modular column is built in as well, allowing the column to be placed in a horizontal position for overhead shots, macro work, and any shot where a vertical column would get in the way. Manfrotto claims it’s easier to switch between shooting orientations without disassembling the tripod.
The ONE Photo is available only in aluminium. It can be purchased as a legs-only tripod or as two kits. One kit comes with Manfrotto’s XPro ball head, and the other includes the XPro 3-Way Head. The tripod is available at Henry’s and starts at $700 ($699.99), it is designed and made in Italy. I do not use Manfrotto tripods, but they make a good product and this one looks interesting.
Tech Tips:
This is a combination of tips from Peta Pixel and Mads Peter Iverson. If you think of photography as painting with light, the first thing you should do before you start taking pictures is to pay attention to the light.
You wouldn’t start painting with random colours (well maybe some painters did). See where the light is coming from, how is it illuminating your subject, is it soft or harsh and use it to your advantage. Regardless of the source, natural or an artificial, how can you use it to make your images better? How is the light affecting your scene and subject? Where are the shadows?
As Mark said during Edit My Raw, backlighting can put your shadow in the shot so pay attention to where your shadow is. Are the shadows interesting and can you use them creatively (only the shadow knows)? You can work with the light and shadows to make an ordinary photo extraordinary.
Photography Apps:
Planit! for Photographers, is the App Linda spoke about during Edit My Raw. The Planit! App is like a virtual camera. Instead of going to a location with your camera, you can place the camera pin on the map to simulate going to that location. You can add markers to the map to create your own scene and visualize it in the virtual viewfinders. You can adjust the time slider to change to any time in the past (in case you have a Time Machine) or in the future to see where the sun, the moon, the stars, or the Milky Way will be and how they will be moving over the map or in the viewfinder.
Planit! is similar to Photopils and has how-to videos and manuals for a variety of situations. It is a subscription with a monthly fee or an annual option, Photopils is a one time fee. I have not used Planit! but I do like their virtual view finder option.
YouTube Channels:
This video from Mark Denny (~12 minutes) deals with where to focus to ensure sharp images, we talked about hyperfocal distance during Edit My Raw and this is a simpler method to exploit hyperfocal distance.
This video (~6 minutes) from David Muir (from his accent I’d say he’s from Glasgow) talks about motivation and how to overcome talking yourself out of going out to take photos. I think he’s spot on and I do use his technique sometimes and it’s one of the reasons I like field trips or going shooting with someone as it forces me to honour my commitment.
Featured Photographer:
Jacky Lee is a visual artist, educator and an award-winning photographer whose work bridges art, culture and technology. His images explore the poetry of landscapes, the geometry of architecture and the human stories that lie between nature and the built environment.
Born in Hong Kong, he’s now based in Australia, Jacky has fascination with light, space and community. Self-taught, his images are known for thoughtful composition, atmospheric sensitivity and a respect for the places and people he photographs.
Jacky believes that visual storytelling can build understanding, strengthen communities and help protect truth in the digital age.
Jacky Lee
Photographer of The Month:
Darrell Nicks won second place in the black and white segment of last year’s photo contest with this great moody shot.
Place of birth: Halifax, NS
Member of the club: more than 20 years (joined in 2002)
Camera: Canon 6D Mark II and a 7D.
About:
I like to shoot just about any and everything. I am very happy share any knowledge I have about shooting birds, sports, or photography in general etc. I am very open to meetups for all types of photography.
Favourite Genre
Sports, nature and action
Skill Level
I see myself as very knowledgeable.
Open to Meet ups
Yes.
About The Image
My picture in question was taken in Jonesport, Maine, a very busy lobstering port, on 2023 July 2. It was an extremely foggy day. As a matter fact the whole trip was foggy and rainy most of the trip. Tina and I said that we would be stuck getting bad weather pictures, so we made the best of it. We started to head back to the truck, Tina said “it feels like rain” and that’s when I decided just a few more shots. I wished I had more time to be creative. We got back to the truck and as I started to drive, it started to rain cats and dogs. I guess Tina was right again, yes dear! Haha!!! We did have a good foggy and rainy trip to Maine.
Photo Tours:
Greenland has been in the news a lot lately however they should be famous for the epic photo-ops they offer. For photographers on a quest for the world’s magnificent Arctic landscapes, Greenland delivers. It is not a cheap option but offers some amazing scenery and a unique experience.
There’s a lot here to take in—but it all comes back to one simple idea: pay attention. To the light, to the moment, to the little details that most people walk past without noticing. Whether you’re trying a new technique, exploring a new location, or just convincing yourself to grab the camera and head out the door, every shot is a chance to see something differently. So take what stands out to you, put it into practice, and see where it leads. You might come back with something better than you expected.