If you want to learn more tips and hints about getting the most out of your camera, the Burpengary Camera Club could be just the place for you.
Point and shoot or focus and capture the winning shot. Whichever way you do it, taking photos is something anyone can do, no matter how good or bad you think you are at it. Whether you fancy yourself a bit of a whiz behind the camera or you just enjoy snapping a few photos here or there, the Burpengary Camera Club might be the picture-perfect fit for you. Grab that old (or new) camera and find the excitement and enjoyment of using a camera again.
“So sometimes I see things and I get really excited about wanting to photograph it, but usually when that happens I get the really blurry shots.”
The club was founded by a group of photographers, including President Sue Rasmussen and her husband Kerry, who together have a wealth of knowledge, skills and an overall passion for capturing great images. They now have 25 members.
“We’re a super friendly and non-competitive club that exists to encourage each other in our pursuit of discovering and improving our photography skills,” Sue says. “We strive to help those who are just starting out with getting to know their camera. We wanted to be able to help others who might be interested in learning the craft.”
Sue and Kerry’s home features a myriad of photographs taken by the duo, with no wall left untouched. Sue is quick to explain there’s no competition between herself and Kerry, more a mutual interest they love to do together and with others.
“I know that he's the better photographer,” she says with a laugh. “He knows all the technical stuff, I just point and shoot. I've been runner up to him many times, I just can't get over the line with him. He'll tell you he is not competitive, but he is in that circumstance. But, we just enjoy it. We don't really worry about things like that so much.”
In our ever-changing world, technology is constantly evolving. Gone are the days of waiting for a film to be processed at a camera shop. Instead, you can view your image straight away and decide if you want to keep it, or hit the delete button. For Sue, it’s definitely an element that can make or break the right shot. And yes, her camera goes everywhere with her!
“If I think I've taken a really good shot, I’ll check the back screen on my camera and if I’m on to something good, that can really fire me up,” she says. “There are so many different things out there to photograph. We have been to Africa a couple of times, and just to see the animals there; it's so spectacular. And there are times, you just like to put your camera down and look at things rather than keep firing away all the time.
“So sometimes I see things and I get really excited about wanting to photograph it, but usually when that happens I get the really blurry shots.”
Rally sport, birds and other aspects of nature are high on their list of favourite things to photograph, but overall most things come into play when they have their camera in hand.
Believe it or not, the photography world is also one where camera brand is all down to personal choice. Sue has chosen Olympus, Kerry prefers Canon, while others may opt for Nikon or Sony.
“Everybody has their own preferred brand, it's just a personal preference,” Sue says. “I'm an Olympus person. When I first started photography, my husband used Olympus cameras, so I started using them as well and I've never gone away from that. He changed to Canon when he was looking for a newer camera.
“We actually follow World Rally Championships and Kerry saw a photo of people photographing sport, with the vast majority taking photos using Canon and that made up his mind and he’s never looked back.”
The club meet monthly, but also organise outings to give everyone a chance to practice and hone their skills.
“We actually have a wide variety of outings to choose from,” Sue says. “These group outings provide great learning opportunities as well as the security of not being out on your own in isolated locations. Outings are usually arranged for members on weekends, evenings or mid-week, allowing flexibility for those able to attend.”
The Burpengary club is also a member of the Photographic Society of Queensland (PSQ). Every other month they have a qualified judge critique images that members are encouraged to submit.
“You learn so much from seeing fellow members’ images and from the critiques - what gives your image the ‘wow’ impact, how to improve your image, and other things,” Sue says. “On another note, we’re also taking part in the inter-club competition in August this year. We have entered this competition previously with good results, so it will be something we’re all working towards with our images.”
So what is it that makes Burpengary Camera Club stand out from the rest?
“We're about encouraging each member to individually improve their photography skills, by sharing tips and insights with each other and learning together,” Sue says. “Our club differs from other clubs in that we are not internally competitive - not competing against each other. We have no club competition and our members prefer that.
“Our members are not graded according to their skill level as is the case for most other clubs. We want to encourage our members to improve and feel comfortable in seeking advice from more experienced members. Our aim is basically to encourage people to get enjoyment out of photography!”
Burpengary Camera Club meet the third Thursday of every month (coffee/tea is available from 7pm; the program starts at 7.15pm) at 1-17 Maitland Rd, Burpengary (on the corner of Old Bay Road). Annual membership fees are $35 for a single or $50 for family. Each meeting has an entrance fee of $5 to cover expenses. For further information visit www.burpengarycameraclub.org.au or phone Sue on 0409 766 645.
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