We are back to our regular meeting day on the first Thursday of the month, mark your calendars. Your assignment for this month (If you choose to accept it!) is to illustrate the concept of: Community. Your second choice and the color for the month is a very neutral: 18% Gray. Assignment #3 is: I Spy. So there you have it, three lively choices: Community, 18% Gray, or I Spy. Feel free to choose just one, or if your are ambitious, try all three.

Please bring no more than six (6) images to share. You may share your photographs as digital files (Cd's, thumbdrives, or memory cards), or as finished prints. Prints should be at least eight by ten inches, and larger is always better. If you do bring prints, be sure to let me know at the beginning of the meeting, so I won't forget to allow time for you to share.

For our next monthly assignments, you might be looking for: Couples. What is it?. or Heart. If you have another idea, please feel free to email or call me.

I am looking for guest presentations for the group. If you, or someone you know, would like to do about a 30 minute presentation the that group would find interesting, let me know.

WHAT: “Photoshopping” and more: MOLAA Collects Photo-Based Art

WHEN: December 7, 2008; 1pm until finished looking at gallery (Note: Exhibit goes from November 9 - January 30, 2009)

WHERE: 628 Alamitos Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802; Lexus Gallery

COSTS: $7.50 + possible parking

DETAILS: I'm afraid I don't have too many details yet. The MOLAA website is very sparse on information. I've sent an email requesting more info. Until then, take what you can from the title.

WEBSITES: http://www.molaa.org/

WHAT: Passages: Photographs of Africa by Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher

WHEN: November 15, 2008 at 1PM. (Note: This exhibit continues until – April 19, 2009; Bowers is open from Tues - Sun: 9AM - 5PM)

WHERE: Bowers Museum, 2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706

COSTS: $12.00

DETAILS: It's opening day! Let's get together and view a photo exhibit at the Bowers! We'll meet at 1pm in the main courtyard area, purchase tickets and then have a look.

From the website: Presented in large format color photographs, photographers Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher’s images of African ritual practices are vivid, rich, intimate and intense. This dynamic exhibition of images from around the African continent is divided into six themes: Coming of Age, Courtship and Marriage, Beliefs and Worship, Masks and Masquerades, Royalty and Power, and Spirits and Ancestors. Six videos bring to life the song, dance and movement of related ceremonies and, objects of personal adornment similar to those as in the photographs will be included. Three-dimensional objects from the Bowers Museum’s permanent collection of African objects will also be on display. Beckwith and Fisher have traveled and lived within Africa together and independently over the last thirty years prolifically documenting tradition and ceremony.

Novembers meeting will hopefully be a cool meeting. Your assignment for this month (If you choose to accept it!) is to illustrate the concept of: Ghosts. Your second choice and the color for the month is Black. Assignment #3 is Dead. So there you have it, three lively choices: Ghosts, Black or Dead. Feel free to choose just one, or if your are ambitious, try all three. Please bring no more than six (6) images to share. You may share your photographs as digital files, or as finished prints. Prints should be at least eight by ten inches, and larger is always better. If you do bring prints, be sure to let me know at the beginning of the meeting, so I won't forget to allow time for you to share.

For our next monthly assignments, you might be looking for: Community. Orange, or I Spy. If you have another idea, please feel free to email or call me.

I am looking for guest presentations for the group. If you, or someone you know, that would like to do about a 30 minute presentation that the group would find interesting, let me know

It does not look like we are going to be able to visit the Getty as a group by tour bus, because the museum has already shifted to its early closing time.
I will see if we can't set this up for next summer.

WHEN: October 19, 2008

WHERE: Bolsa Chica Wetlands, 3842 Warner Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA

COSTS: Free except for any food purchased and possibly parking

DETAILS: Arrive as early as you like and take photographs on your own or in groups. At 10:30 AM (in the Interpretive Center parking lot), we'll meet for an early brunch at one of the local eateries and discuss photos taken, good spots, and critters seen.

There is parking in front of the Interpretive Center that is free as well as a second parking lot along PCH about a mile south (?) from Warner.

NOTES:
- It is best to go earlier rather than later to beat the heat.
- If you'd like to meet to take photographs together, leave the time you're arriving in your comments!
- The reserve is open from sunrise to sunset.
- Bring water and sunscreen.
- Most importantly, walk quietly, be patient, and have your camera ready all the time!

WEBSITE: http://www.bolsachica.org/