Hello, Members of the Sweetwater Camera Club!

This email contains important announcements about 3 fast approaching events and several others in mid to late May which we would like for you to take part in if you can:

1. Zoo Field Trip: This Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. we will meet at the entrance to the Atlanta Zoo for a several hour photography fest, hosted by all the animals on display there. The zoo actually opens at 9:30 a.m. If we bring 15 or more people together at the same time, the rates are: Adults, $15.99, Children 3-11, $11.99, Children 2 and under, free. Seniors, 65+, $13.99. To qualify for the group rate, the group must enter together, one person must pay for the entire party and those with memberships do not count in the group rate.

Please see the website at http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/hours_and_rates for more information.

DIRECTIONS: Click here for directions or please visit http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/directions .  If you come later than the group, you will need to pay the normal rate. If we have fewer than 15, we will all pay the normal rate.

Please RSVP as soon as possible to either the SCC Meetup Site http://www.meetup.com/Sweetwater-Camera-Club or directly to Field Trip Chairman David Stephens at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it so we can get a head count . . .

2. SCC Hosting of the Cultural Arts Council Opening Reception for the Douglas County Art Guild: We need some help! Next Thursday, May 3^rd, at 4:30 p.m. we need several helpers to serve refreshments at the May art opening for the Art Guild. This event formally talks place from 6 to 8 p.m.

We need at least one or two volunteers who will go to Sam’s Club or other places to purchase sweet and salty snacks, desserts, and other party-type goodies. This could include cupcakes, mixed nuts, crackers and cheese, dips and vegetables, candies, cookies, potato chips, etc. We will provide the money or reimburse those who do the shopping. If you would like to bake or cook something, we would appreciate that kind of contribution as well. One of the benefits of attending this event will be sharing in the refreshments J Drinks are normally provided by the CAC but we need help serving wine and punch.

Each year, as the largest and most active satellite arts group under the umbrella of the Douglasville/Douglas County Cultural Arts Council, we reach out to the community in three ways, first by hosting at least one of the art openings during the year at the CAC, second by participating in the Taste For Douglasville Arts Festival by providing a large portrait studio experience, and third by holding an exhibition of our photography work (usually during the month of October, which is the “Douglasville and Atlanta Celebrate Photography” month). We also provide pictures for the silent auction each December at the Annual CAC fund raising GALA.

If you can help, either by serving as “refreshment buyer, server, or by donating some refreshments, please reply to this email, to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Norma and I appreciate any and all help you can give us for this project. We normally hold this event later in the year but of necessity our participation has been moved up to May. It’s a party! Come enjoy the party even if you can’t help out.  

3. Rob Hainer’s Floral Macro Workshop: On Sunday, May 6^th - $25. Our vice president, Rob Hainer, will be giving 3 identical workshops on Macro Photography at Frances Florist, 7020 West Broad Street , Douglasville, GA 30134 . http://www.francesflorist.net/

Our photo contest for June is called “Flower Power: A picture of flowers as the main element or the main subject.  Can include abstract or macro photography, if you so desire.”

This workshop series will last 1.5 hours and there will be 3 different sessions during the day. The cost is $25 per person with a portion of the proceeds going to the Sweetwater Camera Club. To sign up, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to request a time. There will be a limit of 6 photographers per session due to time and space constraints. You will be assigned a time to attend. If you prefer early, mid or late afternoon, please add that to your RSVP. Where possible, we will honor your request, but we can’t guarantee times. This is on a first come-first served basis. Please be responsible—if you sign up, you are responsible for paying for your time slot.

To pay for your workshop, please bring $25 in cash with you, to be paid to Rob at the beginning of the lesson. This is a great time to learn the best uses of the macro functions of your equipment while having some beautiful flower arrangements and close-ups to photograph. You may be able to use these images in other contests as well.

Here is a further description from Rob:

This workshop is going to cover the basics. I plan for people to shoot flower shots along with me while I talk about my own process and give them the opportunity to shoot flowers in pristine conditions (retail quality) rather than garden quality where bugs have gotten to them. See the sample image by clicking on the thumbnail below.

People who don't have equipment such as tripods and macro lenses can use mine (and maybe share with each other). I'll give them their files on disc before they leave (or they can bring a jump drive).

1. There will be three workshops, with the first beginning at 1 p.m.
2. The sessions will last an hour and a half with 15-30 minutes of me talking and answering questions. The rest of the time will be spent shooting.3. We can have 6 people maximum per session.
4. Frances Florist, 7020 Broad Street, Douglasville, 30134 is not far from where we meet at Hunter Park. It's about a quarter-mile from Hunter Park as you're heading into Downtown Douglasville.
5. Attendees will learn how to shoot macros and extreme macros of flowers under controlled conditions.
6. Here is the basic agenda:

How to shoot macros and extreme macros of flowers
I. Equipment required
    A. Tripod
    B. Macro lenses and alternatives such as tubes, reverse rings
    C.  Cable release or alternatives
II. Controlling the light
III. Depth of field
IV. Focus and focus stacking
V. Creating compositions and backgrounds

Again, RSVP by using the email address listed above. Thanks for your interest an support!

4. April 30^th or May 1^st:  CANCELLED ? International Terminal Tour (Concourse F) at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport-
For now, this potential outing is on hold. There seems to be a large number of groups trying to visit the Airport at the same time, so this event may not happen, or could happen at a later date, according to SCC Member Bill Malone.


5. Saturday, May 19^th: 11 a.m to 5 p.m. - Taste for Douglasville Arts – The Sweetwater Camera Club will have 3 booths connected together to host a live portrait studio. Gene Spicer will be heading up this initiative. He reports that he still needs volunteers for various tasks during the day, so if you can spare some time to help with this, you will find it to be a great deal of fun and entertainment.

6. Saturday May 26^th, at 12 noon, the 2012 Atlanta Caribbean Carnival Parade of Bands will provide multiple photo opportunities. Please see the PDF file attached for photos made by SCC photographer Bill Malone. The web link to the event is:  http://www.atlantacarnival.org/carnival-parade.html This is an extremely colorful costume oriented and “LOUD” parade. According to Bill, “Imagine a flatbed 40 foot trailer with a mini-car sized generator to drive the sound system on the rest of the truck!”

Thanks for your attention to these events. Please set aside some time to participate and where possible, pitch in and help. These events don’t run themselves. We always can use more help and participation to bring our group continued success.

Richard