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Calendar

Sep
14
Sat
On Location: Mission San Juan Capistrano @ Mission San Juan Capistrano
Sep 14 @ 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

 

Join the Darkroomers Photographic Club for an exciting day trip “On Location” to the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano. This outing offers a fantastic opportunity to capture the stunning architecture, lush gardens, and rich history of one of California’s most iconic landmarks. Bring your cameras and your creative eye as we explore this beautiful mission and the surrounding historic downtown.

– 9:00 AM – Mission San Juan Capistrano Opens:
We’ll begin our day at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, which opens its doors at 9:00 AM. You’ll have the morning to wander through the mission’s grounds, photographing its beautiful arches, fountains, and gardens. Take your time to explore and capture the essence of this historic site at your own pace.

– 11:30 AM – Regroup for Lunch at Tavern at the Mission:
At noon, we’ll regroup and head over to the nearby Tavern at the Mission for a relaxing lunch. Enjoy a delicious meal while sharing your favorite shots and photography tips with fellow club members. This is a great time to connect, exchange ideas, and get to know each other better.

– 1:30 PM – Explore Historic Downtown San Juan Capistrano:
After lunch, we’ll take a leisurely stroll through the historic downtown of San Juan Capistrano. The downtown area is full of charming shops, cafes, and historical sites, providing endless opportunities for street photography and more. Whether you’re interested in capturing the vibrant street scenes or the quaint architectural details, there’s something for everyone.

What to Bring:

  • Admission Fee $18 adult | $15 senior 60+
  • Your camera gear (including extra batteries and memory cards)
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • A hat and sunscreen for sun protection
  • A sense of adventure and creativity

This day trip promises to be a fun and inspiring experience, perfect for honing your photography skills in a beautiful and historic setting. We look forward to seeing you there!

Sep
18
Wed
Darkroomers Monthly Critique Night @ Photographic Arts Building
Sep 18 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

The meeting will start promptly at 7 pm, but we’ll open the building at 6 pm for setup and social hour.

Join us for our Monthly Critique Night!

Our judge for September will be Heidi Short.

Members bring prints for critique on the third Wednesday of each month. Prints accepted by the Judge will hang for up to 2 months in the Photographic Arts Building gallery.

Visitors are welcome, however, submitting images for critique is available for members only. If you’d like more information about joining Darkroomers, please check out our membership page and email us if you have any questions.

Heidi Short Flyer

About Heidi

After retiring from a career as a Research Scientist in Biotech, I decided to explore my creative side and take up photography as a hobby. I had already collected B&W prints for many years. It was challenging but exciting to transition to being the one behind the lens, creating my own photographs. My passion for travel became a way to get more and more photo ops. Over the years, I have focused primarily on shooting wildlife and landscapes, but I also dabble in street photography and am known to play a bit in LR and PS to create artsy abstracts. As an admin for Light Chasers, I am an advocate for the exchange of ideas in shooting and processing with my fellow photographers. Photography is a passion, involves a lifetime of learning, and is often a humbling experience. I look forward to it every day.

Oct
2
Wed
F8 and Be There with Gary Kemper @ Photographic Arts Building
Oct 2 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

This meeting will be held in person at the Photographic Arts Building in Balboa Park (next to Spanish Village).

Join us for an insightful presentation by Gary Kemper, a seasoned photojournalist with 24 years of experience working for major news wires like UPI, Reuters, and the European Pressphoto Agency. With his extensive background, including serving as the Photo Chief for the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics and as a Photo Expert on the IOC Press Commission from 2001 to 2021, Gary will share his expertise and firsthand experiences in capturing some of the world’s most significant sporting events.

In this session, Gary will showcase a selection of 60-70 images from the Paris Olympics, captured by various news agencies. He will provide commentary on the planning and challenges involved in photographing the Olympic Games, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to document these iconic moments.

The title “F8 and Be There” reflects an old wire service saying that underscores the essence of great news photography: being in the right place at the right time and making it sharp. Gary’s presentation will delve into this philosophy, illustrating how it has guided his work and continues to be relevant in the fast-paced world of sports photography.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from a true expert in the field!

 

Oct
5
Sat
Worldwide Photo Walk – Scenic La Jolla Cove @ La Jolla Cove
Oct 5 @ 8:00 am – 11:00 am

SIGNUP REQUIRED | CLICK HERE

The famous La Jolla Cove is a beacon for photographers of all skill levels to hone their skills and come away with incredible images. In early October, hoist your cameras and please join Kevin La Rue and the Darkroomers Photographic Club for a relaxing photo walk around this lovely destination and the surrounding area. This is a wonderful opportunity to capture the early morning coastline.
7:45am – Meet-up at the Picnic tables just north of the Cove (the area where the swimmers are)
8:00am – Photo Walk Start – moving southward along the Cove
11:00am – Jose’s Courtroom restaurant on Prospect Street
We’ll begin with some brief introductions and orientation to help you make the most of your walk. Kevin La Rue and members of the Darkrooms Photographic Club will be available to offer tips and guidance on the go. Beginning at the Cove — a great place to photograph sea lions, swimmers, waves and rock outcroppings — we’ll move towards Children’s Pool for some additional majesty. There’s a nice beach there and great leading lines at the picturesque sea walk. Low tide is at 3:54 am, and high tide is at 10:26 am
From there, two paths emerge: (a) continue moving southward to hit the tidal pools or (b) head up into the charming village of La Jolla for ample street shooting. To round things off, we’ll have an early lunch at the venerable Jose’s Courtroom to swap stories, show off some photos and have some delicious food and drinks. Hope you can join us!
Whether you’re looking to practice your photography skills, or simply to enjoy a nice walk and the camaraderie of fellow photography enthusiasts, join us for a delightful morning. We look forward to meeting you and capturing the beauty of the La Jolla Cove together! To see images from last year’s walk, click here.
Tips: Dress in layers for the weather and wear comfy walking shoes! As far as camera gear goes, you probably won’t need a tripod unless you plan to shoot some long exposures with ND filters. I usually bring my trusty 10-24mm wide-angle zoom for my Fuji X-T4, might swap out for a bigger zoom to capture the critters from afar, and have my stealthy 35mm if I’m going to do clandestine street shooting up in the village! 😉