Fort Collins Digital Camera Club

The goal of our Fine Art Photography SIG is to help each other to create fine art from our photography.
The Fine Art SIG is a place where artists support each other and nurture creativity in others.
Unrequested criticism can feed an artist's fear of failure and stifle their creative growth.

ATTENDEES
Robert Barley
Mike Barry
Chris Christopherson
Heather Coe
Jim Fellion
Pam Jordan
Jim Limburg
Ed Ogle
Rich Roberts
Albert Wang

DISCUSSION TOPICS

1. Instagram for Photographers
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Ed demonstrated how he used Instagram. We also discussed the relative popularity of Facebook, Instagram and Flicker. Instagram seems to be the most popular of the 3 options with younger people.

2. What do we want to talk about in 2026?
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Do you want to see more information about Techniques, Special Photographic Tricks, Fine Art Philosophy, Color, Composition, Style or ...
We decided that everyone should email ideas to me, Mike Barry, so I can pick topics that are interesting to the most people.

Please email topics to mike@fortcollinswebworks.com.

I already have a few suggested topics:
Color
Composition
Creating an image based on a poem or music
Shooting out of focus
How to create a compelling image when there is no color in the scene

3. Do you want to do more Fine Art SIG outings?
The outings are very popular, so I will make an effort to organize more Fine Art SIG outings.

Please email suggestions for outings to mike@fortcollinswebworks.com

I already have a few suggested outings:
Walkabout on Pearl St. in Boulder
Benson Sculpture Garden in Loveland
Outings of any sort
Gallery Walks in Fort Collins or Loveland

4. Constructive Critiques and Personal Projects (optional)
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Chris and Mike asked for constructive critiques on a few images and we got lots of helpful input.

RESOURCES (Where you can find sources of inspiration)
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Facebook: Photography Tricks Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/416814689002581

PICK A TOPIC FOR THE NEXT MEETING
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Let's talk about "Special Photography Tricks" at our next meeting. Watch a few YouTube videos or read through a few "Photography Tricks" websites and tell us about the most interesting tricks that you find. Maybe we can organize an outing around some of the Photography Tricks.

AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY SIG MEETING - Tue 1/20/2026 @6:00pm
1. The main topic will be "Special Photography Tricks". If you want to discuss something else, send me an email and I will add it to the agenda
2. Constructive Critiques and Other Personal Projects
3. We will pick a topic for the next meeting

Please email Mike, info@fcdcc.com, when you find mistakes, missing information or if you have suggestions for the Fine Art Photography SIG and I will try to address the issues.

Thanks,
Mike Barry

================ Notes from ZOOM ==================

Quick recap
The meeting focused on two main topics: Instagram usage and photography critiques. Ed provided an overview of Instagram's features, including how to post photos, use hashtags, and protect privacy through browser extensions like Facebook Container. The group discussed the platform's differences from Facebook and its suitability for sharing photography, with Ed recommending desktop use over mobile to maintain privacy. Following Ed's presentation, Chris shared and received feedback on a photograph of a Buddhist monk in Myanmar, with members discussing composition, color desaturation, and focus techniques to enhance the image's impact. The conversation ended with a discussion about what constitutes fine art photography, with members agreeing that personal interpretation and intent are key factors rather than technical aspects.

Next steps

All members: Send Mike an email with topics/techniques of interest for future meetings and outings

Mike: Compile and organize member feedback on desired topics/techniques for future meetings

Albert: Figure out how to present/play the slideshow at the club dinner (convert to movie if needed)

Jim: Send the converted December slideshow MP4 file to Albert

Heather: Consider organizing/hosting a Tesla coil/sparkler photography event at her house in May

Jim: Incorporate some post-processing technique challenges into next year's club challenge schedule

Summary

Drone Demo and Art Techniques
Ed demonstrated his new DJI Mini 3 drone, showcasing its 4K video capabilities and automatic return feature, while warning about safety considerations like not flying near airports or inside buildings. The group discussed alcohol ink painting techniques, with Jim and Mike sharing their experiences using different alcohol percentages and blending solutions. Ed also prepared to give a presentation about Instagram security concerns, though the conversation ended before he could begin.

Instagram Privacy and Collaboration Features
Edoglu demonstrated Instagram functionality, explaining how to create posts, add hashtags, and tag people. He emphasized the importance of using privacy tools like Firefox extensions to block Facebook's tracking capabilities. The group discussed Instagram's collaboration feature, which allows multiple users to post content, and Albert shared his experience with being tagged in posts by others. The conversation ended with a brief discussion about sharing settings and the possibility of creating club Instagram accounts.

Instagram Discovery and Content Sharing
The group discussed Instagram functionality, focusing on how users can find and follow accounts through hashtags and shared posts. Edogl explained that followers typically discover accounts through shared images or through friends, noting that some followers may be fake accounts or bots. The discussion also covered how to save or share images from Instagram, with Edogl demonstrating the low-resolution limitations of direct image sharing and Albert explaining the difference between forwarding posts and reposting content as original work.

Instagram Privacy and Usage Tips
The group discussed Instagram features and usage, including image posting, likes, and the ability to block or restrict comments. Ed suggested using a desktop or laptop instead of a phone to reduce internet tracking, and Jim shared his experience of using a separate account for the camera club. Rich mentioned concerns about privacy and tracking, while Heather noted she avoids social media altogether. The conversation concluded with a brief discussion about managing Facebook groups and maintaining appropriate content standards.

Instagram Features and Functionality
The group discussed Instagram features and functionality, with Edoglu demonstrating how to create and edit posts, including adding collections and hashtags. They explored how Instagram formats images differently from Facebook, with a maximum size smaller than Facebook's and a square aspect ratio. The discussion covered how to add comments and likes, with Pam noting that using Instagram on a phone is easier than on a desktop, though Rich preferred learning on a desktop.

Instagram Photo Organization Features
The group explored Instagram features, with Ed demonstrating how to save and organize photos into collections, though they discovered that collections cannot be shared with others. Albert and Rich learned that while saved posts are private, users can organize their own photos into albums by hashtagging them. The discussion concluded with Mike sharing that he uses Google Drive to share his photography work with models, while Ed noted that Instagram is more popular among younger users and has more features than Flickr, which he prefers due to its better organization tools and fewer security issues.

Instagram and IP Addressing Discussion
The group discussed Instagram functionality, including how multiple photos can be shared in a single post and the process of tagging other users. They explored how Instagram handles user names and searchability, noting that real names can be associated with handles for better discoverability. The conversation also covered IP addressing, with Mike explaining how dynamic IP addresses are allocated by ISPs and how this can affect online tracking and privacy. The conversation ended with plans to discuss Flickr in a future session and to explore personal projects and constructive critiques.

Fine Art Photography Discussion
Chris shared and discussed a photograph of a Buddhist monk in a Myanmar market, which he had edited to focus on the monk's serene expression against a chaotic background. The group discussed whether the image qualified as fine art photography, with Mike and others agreeing that if Chris considers it fine art, then it is. The participants offered suggestions for further editing, including desaturating the background and adjusting focus, which Chris said he would explore. The conversation concluded with Chris expressing appreciation for the feedback and confirming he would keep the current version hanging in his living room.

Art and Weather Discussion
The group discussed weather forecasts for strong winds in the Fort Collins area, with power companies planning rolling blackouts. Mike shared his alcohol ink painting technique, demonstrating how he creates abstract designs on tiles by blowing colored alcohol solutions across the surface. The group then reviewed and provided constructive feedback on Mike's photography work, particularly focusing on lighting and composition, with several members suggesting adjustments to better balance the highlights and shadows in the images.

Photography Composition and Lighting Feedback
The group discussed a photograph of a woman, providing feedback on lighting, composition, and pose. They suggested adjusting the lighting to better highlight the subject's face and body, rather than just her chest. The participants agreed that moving the woman slightly to the left and having her lean into the frame would improve the image. They also discussed the rule of thirds and the preference for images that enter from the left in Western culture. Jim shared some of his own alcohol ink paintings, showcasing a different artistic style.

Photography Techniques and Creative Ideas
The group discussed various photography techniques and potential future topics for their meetings. They explored alcohol painting as a creative way to combine photography and art. The members agreed to think about and suggest topics for future discussions, with an emphasis on both technical skills and fine art philosophy. They also discussed the value of group outings for photography, with ideas for upcoming shoots. The conversation concluded with a brief discussion about Tesla coils and their potential use in photography.

Tesla Spark Music Device Demo
The group discussed a Tesla coil device that creates electrical sparks when music is played through a connected phone. Heather demonstrated the device, which costs $32.98 and requires a plug-in power source, noting that it produces loud sounds and should be handled with care. The group explored potential photography applications, including combining the sparks with light painting and compositing techniques. They also discussed the possibility of using multiple devices with different music to create varied effects, and considered combining the sparks with smoke machines for additional visual impact.

Photography Plans and Techniques
The group discussed plans for a photography outing, considering activities like fire and sparklers, water drops, and light painting. Jim shared examples of his water drop photography, which involved synchronized timing. They explored options for viewing Christmas lights in Fort Collins and surrounding areas. The conversation ended with Mike assigning members to research photography techniques they were interested in learning, with a follow-up email to be sent in two weeks. Jim and Albert also worked out access issues for a slideshow presentation for an upcoming event.