Ian Plant Shows How to Shoot Great Autumn Photos During Oct 9 Meeting

October is the perfect time for autumn photography, offering a vibrant palette of colors and unique opportunities to capture the beauty of the season. The Coastal Carolina Camera Club (CCCC) members saw inspiring photos and heard great tips during a presentation by professional nature photographer Ian Plant.  

Fall presents an array of stunning subjects for photographers, but its abundance of color can sometimes feel overwhelming. During this session, Ian shared his favorite techniques for making the most of autumn photography. He discussed various subjects ideal for the season, strategies for timing your photos to capture peak fall color, and creative approaches to composition and lighting when photographing autumn foliage. Ian provided insights on how to transform ordinary scenes into extraordinary images, revealing how to capture fall colors in ways that go beyond the expected.

Ian Plant is a world-renowned professional photographer known for his inspiring images and dedication to capturing the world’s beauty. His adventures have taken him to remarkable places—from the rim of active volcanoes and remote wildernesses to habitats of critically endangered species. Ian’s work and expertise have reached hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, motivating and educating others in the art of photography. He is a frequent contributor to leading photo magazines, Managing Editor of Outdoor Photography Guide, a Tamron Image Master, and the author of numerous books and instructional videos. His website with portfolio and upcoming classes can be found HERE.

Club meetings are monthly (except July) on the second Thursday of the month at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall of Shallotte Presbyterian Church, 5070 Main St. in Shallotte. Guests are always welcome. Membership is open to photographers of all skill levels. Meetings consist of informative programs on photographic techniques, topics, and software usage, member photo presentations and critiques, guest speakers and much more. Our next meeting will be held Nov. 13.

"Bokeh" Competition Winners Named

The internal competition for September was on the theme of "Bokeh".   Bokeh comes from a Japanese word that means "haze" or "blur". Bokeh is defined as the effect of a soft out-of-focus background that you get when shooting a subject, using a fast lens at the widest aperture.  Simply put, bokeh is the pleasing or aesthetic quality of out-of-focus blur in a photograph. A judge from the Photographic Society of America reviewed the entries and selected six for top prizes.  The club members entered under two categories, with Group A being the more experienced members. 

Jeff Hanke's image of a Zenia flower entitled "Orange Sensation" was awarded first place in Group A. Second place was warded to Peter Riekstins for "Belting out the Blues".  Harold Sisken's image of a sunflower "From Behind" was named the third place winner.  Among the Group B entries, Brian Whitton's "Chilling on the Boardwalk" was given a blue ribbon. In second place was "Gator Necklace" by Warren Taylor. The third place ribbon was awarded to Jim Nolan for "Tropical Flower."  Congratulations to all the winners and many thanks to the members who entered this month's internal competition.

Group A Winners, from first to third place.

Group B Winners, from first to third place.

PSA Competition Judging Results Announced at August Meeting

Our club belongs to the international Photographic Society of America (PSA).  Throughout the year, our members enter images under three categories: Nature, Color, and Monochrome. We recently completed Round 3 entries and received the following judging. Please click to launch Round 3

September Slide Show - "Paths"

August Slide Show - "Statues and Monuments"

Club members were invited to submit up to 5 images of statues or monuments for the August slide show. Click on the square in the bottom right corner to view in full screen mode.

Field Trip to City of Halloween 🎃 

Come join CCCC for some ghoulish fun while we visit Conway.  During the month of October, this town goes all out with Halloween displays and decorations, like no other. We’ll start off at the lovely River Walk, head for the town to view displays, as well as the pumpkin patch at the First United Methodist Church, and then head back to the River Walk to have lunch at Bonfire Taqueria BBQ Restaurant.  Participants can feel free to roam wherever they want at their own pace or stick with a group.

We will meet at 10:00 am in Conway outside the Bonfire Taqueria Restaurant on the River Walk, where there will be free parking.  Arrangements will be made to meet at the Little River Lowes Food parking lot for those who want to carpool.

Please contact Michelle Tinger at miting@atmc.net  by October 10th if you are interested in attending. She will provide maps and further information to those who respond.