Calendar
Meet at the gates at 9am.
You can photograph the West’s most extensive collection of railway locomotives, passenger and freight cars, streetcars, interurban electric cars, buildings, and other artifacts dating from the 1870s. There are more than 200 streetcars and railway vehicles to photograph and over 100 acres to explore.
Join us at 12:30pm for lunch at Provecho Grill in Menifee
Join us for our First Wednesday Monthly Meeting. Our February 2023 topic will be All About Entering the Photography Exhibition at the San Diego County Fair with Lois Fong-Sakai.
This meeting will be held via Zoom. Members will be sent information via email. If you’d like to attend as a guest, please email us at info@darkroomers.com so we can add you to the guest list.
Adventure awaits next summer at the 2023 San Diego County Fair, as happy campers are invited to “Get Out There!” and explore the great outdoors, June 7 through July 4. Fair event dates, theme and logo were unanimously approved today at the monthly 22nd District Agricultural Association (DAA) Board of Directors meeting, held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
“After a two-year absence due to the pandemic, we were thrilled to bring back a full-scale fair to our community this past summer,” said Carlene Moore, 22nd DAA CEO. “We’re looking forward to next year and creating a fun, memorable experience the whole family can take part in together and we hope to help inspire guests to ‘get out there’ and explore some of the natural beauty around us both near and far.”
By all measures, the 2022 San Diego County Fair was a success. 973,508 fairgoers enthusiastically returned to the Fair, after a two-year hiatus. More importantly, the Fair served as a community event and gathering place, once again kicking-off the start to summer for all San Diegans. Food and beverage sales surpassed pre-pandemic numbers as fairgoers sought out their favorite eateries; per cap spending was up 65% over 2019. More than 7,400 stuffed animals were donated at the gates for the Care N Share Toy Drive – a program benefitting San Diego youth. Nearly 13,000 ribbons were awarded to community members and more than 17,000 entertainers performed for the crowds.
The 2023 season opens Wednesday, June 7 and runs through Tuesday, July 4, 2023 (the fair will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays in June.) Get Out There will celebrate the diversity of outdoor experiences that San Diego County is known for. Summer camp has never been so much fun!
Are you a Fair Trailblazer? Find out by participating in a scavenger hunt through the fair, and you just might earn yourself a merit badge.
Learn about our treasured National and State Parks––did you know California has the second-largest park system in the world and the largest state park system in the United States?
Celebrate the mountains, deserts and beaches of the Golden State as you find yourself immersed in blooming poppies and surrounded by quirky quail, while you sing along to “California here I come!”
Taste tantalizing new takes on classic campfire cuisine including flame-cooked barbeque and gourmet s’mores.
Participate in “Fair Camp” games, sports and activities for kids of all ages — including kids at heart! From arts and crafts to relay races, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to earn badges, ribbons and bragging rights.
Of course, there’s no shortage of traditional Fair fun to explore. Scout out Best-of-Show winners in the Fair’s various competitive exhibitions from woodworking to floral design, and fine art to homemade crafts and collections. Reach new heights as you climb to the top of the Ferris wheel and enjoy the view of the glistening, blue Pacific. Hike out to the Farm, Livestock Barns, CA Grown and the Garden Show to learn all about local agriculture from food to fiber to flowers.
The San Diego County Fair began in 1880. One of the treasured traditions and key components that continues to set the fair apart from other events and amusement venues, is the participatory element of the fair. The community is the star of the show, and the public is encouraged to “Get Out There” and take part in the Fair by performing center stage as a community entertainer, or submitting arts and hobbies through the fair’s competitive exhibition program. Entry materials and applications for public participation programs will be available starting in January, and admission and ticketed concerts and festivals are expected to go on sale in March
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 February will be Willie Sakai.
On the third Wednesday of each month, members bring in prints for critique. Prints accepted by the Judge will hang for up to 2 months in the Photographic Arts Building gallery.
Image critiques are 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 Willie Sakai
A photographer for over 45 years, Willie Sakai caught the photo bug as a yearbook staff photographer in high school, developing and printing Kodak Plus-X and Tri-X in a darkroom. In 2005, he switched to DSLR to capture better photos of his daughter, who had started competitive dancing at an early age. As volunteer photographers for their daughter’s high school dance team, Willie and his wife Lois acquired more gear and taught themselves to capture fast-moving subjects in less-than-ideal light.
After their daughter’s high school graduation, Willie and Lois founded Jade Coast Photography, specializing in portraiture for dancers, seniors, and families. To continue improving his skills, Willie joined the Professional Photographers of San Diego County (PPSDC), where he served as webmaster for five years.
Although a Lightroom user since version 1.0, participating in PPSDC image competitions forced him to learn Photoshop. These hard-won Photoshop skills led to an interest in digital art, as well as recent recognition, including the following:
- PPSDC Photographer of the Year (2020, 2022)
- PPSDC Image of the Year (2020, 2021)
- PPSDC Photojournalism Photographer of the Year (2022)
- PPSDC Digital Artist of the Year (2020, 2021, 2022)
- PPSDC Illustrative Photographer of the Year (2019, 2020)
- Ribbons at the Del Mar Fair’s International Exhibition of Photography
Willie has trained as a Judge by Professional Photographers of California.
Lately, he can be found chasing after his grandson with a retro-looking Fuji rangefinder, which digitally simulates analog film looks. The circle is complete – what was old is new again.
Join us for our First Wednesday Monthly Meeting as Ron Garrison of the San Diego Zoo presents his Journey through Papua New Guinea. If you are an avid bird photographer then this presentation is for you. Ron shows photographs of nearly 100 animals including Birds of Paradise.
Members will receive the meeting link the week of the meeting.
Non-members can contact us for the link at the email listed in this event.