Calendar

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 August will be Rob Stephen.

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.

About Rob

Owner-operator of PhotoMonkey grip and lighting in San Diego, CA, an equipment rental house specializing in lighting, grip, and production support for still photographers with a minor in video.

Join us for a morning of photography at Daybreak at Del Mar. We’ll meet at 7:30 AM by the Don Diego statue and head to the clubhouse terrace to watch and photograph the morning workouts. This is a great opportunity to capture the beauty, power, and grace of racehorses and their riders as they train in the early light.

Event Highlights:

• Free parking (per the Del Mar website)

• Access to multiple areas: terrace, fence line, and paddock

• Live commentary from an announcer about horses and jockeys

• Optional breakfast available for purchase, or bring your own food and drink

Photo Tips:

• Bring a versatile lens (such as a 70–200mm f/2.8 zoom); wide angles and tripods are not necessary

• A jacket and hat are recommended—mornings can be cool, and the marine layer may linger or lift quickly

Additional Info:

Learn more on the Day Break at Del Mar event page

Come early, bring your gear, and enjoy a beautiful morning trackside!

Imagine starting on a project and thinking you would only do it for a specific time.  As soon as you know it, the project turned into a daily practice that lasted 4,000 days and counting.  In the nearly 10+ years of taking daily photos, there are a few things about photography to learn: the experiences, the new knowledge, the hardships, and the overall joy of having your life documented by you.

About The Presenter

My name is Oliver!  Nice to meet you.

I am Award Winning Photographer & Filmmaker from San Diego, CA.  I grew up in a Navy family. For most of my life, I moved around the Pacific before my family settled in San Diego. Travel is and will always be an essential part of my life.

When I’m not traveling or taking photographs, I work as a civil engineer for the California Department of Transportation. Photography started as a hobby for me.  It was not until I got into college that I took the hobby seriously, and it was then that I got my first gig as a photographer.  I got an opportunity to photograph my friend’s wedding.  However, I have never shot a wedding before, so I had to learn quickly.  And I learned by doing.  I found a couple on Craigslist.  After a quick interview and confirmation of dates and times,  I photographed my first wedding and was hooked. I have never looked back.

Over the years, photography has given me many opportunities and experiences that I could never have imagined.  I have competed in Adobe Creative Jam, winning the judge’s and people’s choice awards for mobile photography.  I have competed and won several times with the Professional Photographers of San Diego County monthly image competitions.  I have also been a Photography Judge at the San Diego County Fair for several years.  With photography, I have also been able to photograph events such as the Long Beach Grand Prix, the Miramar Airshow, Hugh O’Brian Leadership (HOBY) and others.  I am also working on a published book of photography work.

Join Darkroomers and the San Diego Portrait Club for a collaborative, hands-on portrait workshop designed to elevate your lighting skills. This session combines classroom-style instruction with on-location shooting in scenic Balboa Park.

We’ll begin at 9:30 AM on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at the Photographic Arts Building in Balboa Park, where you’ll learn how to use a portable off-camera flash to balance natural light and ambient conditions. Afterward, we’ll head into the park for two hours of guided shooting with a professional model (Anastasia), putting your new skills into practice.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to balance flash and ambient light for natural-looking results

• Techniques for using a one-light setup effectively on location

• Lighting placement, modifier use, and exposure control

• Hands-on experience with a model in real-world outdoor settings

Workshop Details:

• 🕤 Registration Opens: Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 10 AM | CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

• 📅 Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM

• 📍 Location: Photographic Arts Building, 1780 Village Place, San Diego

• 💵 Fee: $20 per person (fees go directly to the model)

• 👥 Limited to 10 participants – mark your calendar to sign up when registration opens

This small-group workshop offers personalized instruction and valuable shooting time—reserve your spot today!