Des Plaines Camera Club

See Events Just Added & Event Reminders

One of the oldest camera clubs in the Northern Illinois, the Des Plaines Camera Club was formed on June 23, 1952 by a group of individuals who shared an interest in photography. The club provides encouragement to members to expand their interests in photography in which they not only learn from one another, but also have an outlet for their creative interest. Meetings include workshops, lectures, and demonstrations in computer programs and digital photography. The club is a member of Chicago Area Camera Clubs Association (CACCA) and enters their monthly inter-club contest.

Here in our Web site, you will find information about club events, galleries of images, competition rules, links to other web sites and membership information. Click on the links to the left or the tabs at the top of the page to view areas of interest.

Print of the Month - February "17 Peaks" by Jerry Hug

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See our gallery for all images: click here.

DPI of the Month - February "Owl" by John Kowalyk

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See our gallery for all images: click here

Des Plaines Camera Club

The Current Photo Challenge

The current photo challenge for the Des Plaines Camera Club is "Symmetry or Asymmetry". Submit up to four (4) digital images taken between January 9th and February 10th. to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , put "Photo Challenge" in the subject line of the email. Images should show symmetry or asymmetry as part of the theme of the picture. Images should be named with the makers name a dash and the title if you wish to give a title. Here is an example, Jim Jones - Symmetry. Please resize your images to no more than 1024 pixels wide and no more than 768 pixels high. These images will be shown at our meeting on February 13th. MAC users please put your digital images into a folder and send the folder.

Have fun with this photo challenge.

Dave Waycie

Vice President

Food Fight

The Des Plaines Camera Club is dedicated to photography, creativity and community. Which means that we as group of people interested in expanding our knowledge and abilities in digital photography, are also are involved in the community we live in. Each year about this time we as a club participate in the "Food Fight" sponsored by the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce. The fight is between social groups and clubs in Des Plaines and the recipients of this food drive is the  Des Plaines Self Help Closet and Food Pantry.

We will be collecting non-perishable food items at the February 13th and 27th meetings. The fight is between ten organizations in Des Plaines. The winners are the people who rely on the Self Help Closet and Food Pantry to supplement their needs.

Please think of others in need while shopping for your groceries and pick up items to contribute. Last year we made a great showing and were one of the top groups in the amount of food collected and donated.

Have fun with photography.

Tom Mulick

January from the President of DPCC

WHAT'S NEXT?

So what's next? As we enter 2012 I'm hard pressed to think of what might be next in photography. Just a short time ago HDR came on the scene and already it's a common everyday thing. HDR helps us to create images closer to the range of light that the human eye sees. Less than ten years ago, the latest consumer digital camera was three megapixels and they took great pictures. I know I had one and still have hundreds of images from 2003. Now we have prosumer cameras by many manufactures that are anywhere from ten to twenty megapixels and more. DSLR's that are self cleaning and weather resistant. Not only do the new modern cameras take better pictures, but they also take video in HD. Who would have thought not too long ago that we would be walking around with cell phones in our pockets that have eight megapixel cameras and can also shoot video. It doesn't stop there. These great cell phones also can shoot HDR and have editing capabilities. We also have better photo editing programs with faster computers. We are truly living in the "Golden Age" of photography. I regret that those who don't keep up, will be left behind. I just read a news story that Kodak as a company may be dropped from the New York stock exchange if their per share value can't be raised above a dollar. This is a situation where Kodak didn't keep up and wanted to keep making film. So, where does that leave us as individuals and as a club?

As individuals we can try to keep up with what's coming down the road to whatever level we are comfortable and satisfied. I remember when I joined the Des Plaines Camera Club, I wanted to learn. I wanted to learn to take pictures good enough to hang in my home. I now have other people who want to hang my pictures in their homes. What a great complement. However, to reach this level took work, study, perseverance, along with trial and error and a commitment to give the time necessary.

Now, the next question is where should we as a club go in the future. Should we keep up or settle to be left behind? Should we strive to keep up with what photography may offer in the future? The answer lies with you as members of the club. Do you want programs that take the next step in the ever evolving  road of photography? Let your voices be heard, by telling your officers what direction you want the club to take. Let's set some individual goals for ourselves as well as club goals for 2012.

But above all, have fun with photography.

Tom Mulick

President