Lighting SIG - September 19th

We’re excited to announce that the first meeting of the Lighting Special Interest Group for the new year will be held on September 19, 2026!

This introductory meeting will focus on how to get started with flash photography, including the basic equipment, camera settings, and techniques needed to begin. It will also provide a helpful review for members who already have some experience using flash.

Flash photography is not just for portrait photographers. It can benefit photographers working in many genres, including food, flower, macro, still-life, product, event, and action photography. By providing greater control over the direction, intensity, and quality of light, flash can reveal detail, add shape and dimension to a subject, soften or fill unwanted shadows, and create a particular mood or atmosphere.

Creative possibilities include dramatic side lighting and backlighting, low-key photographs, colored lighting effects, motion trails, water splashes, and freezing fast action at precisely the right moment. By supplementing, shaping, or completely transforming the available light, flash allows photographers to create photographs that might otherwise be difficult—or impossible—to capture.

Whether you are completely new to flash or have used it before, you are welcome to join us. If you have a flash and trigger, please bring them with you. No special equipment is required to participate—just bring your interest and questions.

Please register using the following link: /club/Events_view.aspx?Eventid=fe39356f-95fe-4dee-988e-e371fce2511a

The meeting time and location will be sent to registered participants prior to the meeting.

We hope you’ll join us as we begin another year of learning, experimenting, and creating together!

September - Cars

They’re everywhere, and we need them, yet we often take them for granted. Cars can be stylish, sexy, rugged, or very plain. They can be looked at from a number of different perspectives – standing still, in motion, picking up or discharging passengers. They can be viewed from different angles – a headlight, a menacing looking grille, sharp pointed tail fins, or a meticulously detailed engine compartment. How do you see this fixture in our landscape? That’s what we’re looking for here. It’s ok if people or other objects are present in the image, but a car or cars must be the primary subject.

October - Geometry

November - People Portrait

A portrait is an image of a person which conveys something personal about that individual: their occupation, hobby, character, personality and/or attitude. Although portraits are frequently composed with just the face and shoulders, a portrait may include more of the person (up to a full-length portrait of their entire body). The background may be as simple as a solid color or as elaborate as the subject's entire collection of books/trains/whatever. Portraits are posed shots rather than candid. 

January - Silhouette

This all about storytelling through shape, contrast, and mystery. Photographs in this category should emphasize the striking outline or shape of a subject set against a brighter background. The subject is typically rendered as a dark, featureless form, with little to no visible detail, allowing its shape and relationship to the surrounding light to convey the image’s impact. Strong contrast, clean edges, and a clear, recognizable subject are essential. The essence of a silhouette image lies in its ability to communicate mood, drama, mystery, or storytelling through form alone rather than detail.

February - Through the Looking Glass

This theme uses glass to explore seeing the world from an altered perspective.  The presence of glass must be immediately and unmistakably clear in the photograph — whether through windows, mirrors, or other transparent surfaces — and the glass must have the effect of blurring the line between reality and illusion, adding a dimension to your visual storytelling.  It’s important to move beyond clichéd or overly familiar reflection images.  The goal is not simply to show a reflection, but to use the glass intentionally to transform, distort, layer, or reframe the story. The resulting images offer a sense of mystery, wonder, and multiple layers of interpretation.

March - America at 250

We are looking for photographs that capture the spirit of America at 250 years old; photos portraying the celebration of our country by blending founding ideals with contemporary life

April - People Personality

An image in this category is one of a person displaying an aspect of their personality, such as joyfulness, anger, playfulness, extravagant gestures, introverted body language. Images in this category will most likely be candid shots rather than posed. Although more than one person may be included in the shot, the composition and lighting should make it easy to identify which person's personality is being showcased and what aspect of their personality they are demonstrating. 

May - Flower(s)

You can start shooting for the 2027 Multi-Club competition now! Image dates are 4/1/26-3/31/27. Categories are:

Around the Table
Cars
Color in Nature
Geometry
Long Exposure
Silhouette
Through the Looking Glass
America at 250

Definitions may be found here:  /d/dac6a2e1-9508-4806-8933-ebd69c3bb9e8

May 16th to Oct 17th - Saturday Cruise Nights - Framingham - https://www.facebook.com/groups/461132745307712/posts/1656154759138832  

Comprehensive list of happenings in Boston and eastern MA, searchable by category and date - https://www.thebostoncalendar.com/ 

American Heritage Museum,  https://www.americanheritagemuseum.org/the-museum/about-american-heritage-museum/   Although the museum is open most days,  check the website periodically for several special events throughout the year.  Better, get on the mailing list.

The Lars Anderson Auto Museum (15 Newton St, Brookline) is the home of America’s oldest car collection.  They host a number of events, particularly lawn events in the summer and fall season. Here is this year’s list of events. If you’re not an exhibitor, the fee for a lawn event is $15.00.
 

BMW Day: Sunday Aug. 16

Swedish Car Day: Sunday Aug. 23

Retro Revival: Sunday Aug. 30

Mercedes Day: Sun. Sept. 13

European Motorcycle Day: Sun. Oct. 4

Transporterfest: Sun. Oct 11

Extinct + Vintage Car Day: Sat, Oct 17

Studebaker Packard Day: Sun. Oct 18