2026-01-20 Fine Art Photography SIG meeting notes

We met online using ZOOM 6:00pm-9:00pm

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
Mike Barry
Heather Coe
Ken Eis
Rich Ernst
Jim Fellion
Michael Hohol
Mike Jackson
Jim Limburg
C Joseph Long
Paul Marcoux
Judy Myers
Kristi Norman
Ed Ogle
Rich Roberts
Albert Wang

DISCUSSION TOPICS

1.What do we want to learn (or get better at) this year?
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( * notes items of greater interest )

Artistic styles (based on famous artists or artworks)
- Grafitti style
- by Richard Roberts
- Conversion or shoot in background Photography Tricks Group (from Facebook group)

* Composites
- Collage, or fake pictures that look real

Portraits with emotion
- performers, musicians or cosplay
- models in studio, prompting

* Painting with Photoshop

Business of Fine Art Photography
- promotion,

* Using textures
- creating, using, examples...

* Selecting the best photograph from a group of the same subject
- How to select the best, 1st pass is easy, know what you are looking for

* Minimalist Images
- Less is more

* Dramatic Shadows

Abstraction
- showing the original image and then an image that shows an abstraction from that image… sort of an "image within an image"
- isolating part of an image

Compositing Abstracts

* Abstracts in General

* Composition
- Crush the Composition by Scott Kelby
- Shoot specific composition aspects, expand our abilities
- How to Master Abstract Photography - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6gXSMmU6PQ

* Color
- accuracy
- color grading
- changing colors
- affect on composition, feeling
- point color to fix unintended color tints

* High Speed Photography
- balloon popping
- sensor triggered pictures (water drops...)
- "Stopping Time" a book by Harold Edgerton

* Inclusion of AI in Fine Art

Strobe effects
- Multiflash multiple exposure single image

* How to tell a story/mystery with a photograph
- "Movement" by Thomas Mangelsen

* Still life

* Portraiture
- people,
- practice on each other

* Image inspired by a poem
- everyone shoots the same poem, emotion...
- ask ChatGPT what poem or song we should illustrate with a photograph

* Dodging and Burning
- planning where to dodge and where to burn
- how to dodge and burn

Blake Rudis Color and Tone

* Printing
- preparation,
- paper,
- printer
- ink...

* Polarized light through plastic under stress

* Monochrome
- Why monochrome?,
- zones,
- B/W,
- techniques

* High Speed sync?

What a poem or music feels like

* Creating compelling images when there is no color in a scene, like after a snowfall

2. Fine Art SIG outing suggestions?
=======================
Old Town - Fort Collins or Loveland or Boulder
Historic Walking Tour - Fort Collins
Benson Sculpture Garden in Loveland
Gallery Walks in Fort Collins or Loveland
Denver Art Museum
Meow Wolf - ask for their camera policy
Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg - photography policy?
Rocky Mountain Raptor program - monthly open house?
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum - Denver
High School Sports
Morning Fresh Dairy Tours $6/person
Brewery Tours
MacGregor Ranch Museum - Estes Park - check to see if it's open
Dougherty Museum (historic vehicles) - Longmont
Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art - Denver
Forney Museum of Transportation - Denver
Vehicle Vault (cars) - Parker
Colorado Railroad Museum - Golden
Museum of Western Colorado: Dinosaur Journey Museum - Fruita - far distance
Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center - Woodland Park
Florissant Fossil beds National Monument
Cussler Museum (cars) - Arvada
Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum - Pueblo - far distance
Colorado Model Railroad Museum - Greeley
Argo Mill and Tunnel - Idaho Springs
Mollie Kathleen Mine Tour in Cripple Creek - far distance - closed
Art Castings Foundry - in Loveland
Denver Botanic Gardens - Denver
Denver Zoo - Denver
Denver Museum of Nature and Science - Denver
Museum of Discovery (child oriented) - Fort Collins
Mt. Evans/Mt. Goliath - goats and sheep - reservations required, opens in Spring
Denver Art Museum - Denver
Downtown Aquarium - Denver
CSU - Fort Collins
Centennial Village Museum - Greeley
Water drop photography
Fire photography
Lens ball photography
Insect macro photography
Shelby Museum in Boulder
Denver Art Museum
Tesla Coil
Pearl St. in Boulder Walkabout
Shooting out of focus
Benson Scultpure Garden in Loveland
What a poem or music feels like
Smoke
Flowers submerged in water with ink and paint
Photography orbs
Photography orbs and mini Testla coil and smoke
Lincoln Center (Symphony and CCB)
CSU Gardens
Windsor Park
Windsor/Severance Fire Museum
Windsor History Museum
Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch

3. Foundations - Photoshop Virtual Summit
============================
Organized by Dave Cross
February 23-27 Online
45 classes by 16 instructors
Free registration - https://www.pvsfoundations.com/home

4. Constructive Critiques and Personal Projects (optional)
=====================================
We didn't have time for images this time

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

6. PICK A TOPIC FOR THE NEXT MEETING
============================
Make some images with "Dramatic Shadows" and we will talk about the images and techniques used to create them at our next meeting.

AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY SIG MEETING - Tue 2/17/2026 @6:00pm
1. The main topic will be "Dramatic Shadows". 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 photography club discussed various learning goals and techniques for 2026, including artistic styles, lighting, and graffiti, while also exploring high-speed photography methods and abstract compositions. Members shared experiences and resources on capturing emotional expressions, composition, and color manipulation in photography, with Rich Roberts introducing the concept of abstraction and the group discussing Photoshop techniques. The club explored potential club activities and outings, including museum visits, brewery tours, and photography locations, while also considering ways to improve member engagement and attendance at group events.

Next steps
Jim: Purchase a new trigger/sensor for high-speed (water drop/balloon pop) photography when compatibility with current solenoid is confirmed
Mike Barry: Add new members (e.g. Lori McAllister) to email list and audit email list for completeness
Rich Roberts: Send link/video about abstraction in photography to Mike Barry for sharing with group
Group: Photograph dramatic shadows for next meeting's discussion
Albert: Check with Mike Dunnets or Lincoln Center about potential performing arts photography access
Rich Roberts: Organize Timnath brewery tour after summer
Mike Barry: Organize Art Castings Foundry tour (limit 10 people)
Mike Barry: Organize Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch photo outing
Mike Barry: Organize outing to Fort Collins and Loveland historic tours
Mike Barry: Organize outing to Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden
Mike Barry: Organize outing to Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Mike Barry: Organize outing to CSU experimental gardens
Mike Barry: Organize outing to Centennial Village Museum (summer only)
Mike Barry: Organize outing to Windsor History Museum and Windsor Severance Fire Museum Jim: Purchase new trigger for high-speed photography when compatibility is confirmed

Summary

Photography Learning Goals Discussion
The group discussed various photography learning goals for 2026, including artistic styles, graffiti techniques, and Renaissance lighting. Jim shared his list of 5 potential topics and mentioned he would purchase a new water drop timer trigger compatible with his existing solenoid setup. The group also discussed a recent light painting shoot in Mike's garage and confirmed that Lori McAllister had joined the club on January 8th. Rich Roberts raised a question about Jim's shadow-themed photo selection, which Jim explained was chosen before receiving Rich's submissions. The conversation ended with Mike Barry presenting a list of potential learning topics for the group to discuss, including artistic styles, deep shadows, and composite photography.

Capturing Authentic Emotional Expressions
The group discussed techniques for capturing emotional expressions in photography, with Rich Roberts sharing his experience photographing musicians by instructing them not to look at the camera, which helps capture authentic emotions. Kristi shared the story of Albert Watson's iconic Steve Jobs portrait, where Watson prompted Jobs to imagine being challenged by opponents, demonstrating how effective storytelling can elicit strong emotions in subjects. The conversation concluded with a discussion about Photoshop techniques, including painting with mixer brushes and the importance of drawing viewers' attention through dodging and burning, with Rich Ernst recommending Blake Rudis's visionary course for further learning.

Photography Techniques and Composition Discussion
The group discussed various photography techniques and topics, including printing, textures, monochrome photography, and minimalist images. They explored methods for selecting the best photograph from a group, with Joe sharing his challenges in choosing between subtly different images. The discussion touched on pre-visualization, composition, and the importance of knowing what to look for in different subjects like portraits, wildlife, and landscapes. The group also considered organizing a meeting to discuss specific photography genres and techniques, such as minimalist and shadow photography.

Abstract Photography Techniques Discussion
The group discussed various photography techniques, focusing on composition, abstraction, and color. Rich Roberts introduced the concept of abstraction in photography, which involves isolating a part of an image to create a new, abstract composition. The members shared resources and tips on improving composition, including books by Scott Kelby and David Shiman. They also discussed the importance of color in photography and ways to manipulate it effectively. The conversation ended with Rich Roberts sharing a link to a video on abstraction in photography, which Mike Barry agreed to share with the group after the meeting.

High-Speed Photography Techniques Discussion
The group discussed high-speed photography techniques, with Jim expressing interest in capturing balloon popping and water drop images using specialized sensors and triggers, which would cost a few hundred dollars. They explored various approaches including using high-speed strobes and discussed potential safety considerations for different methods. The conversation then shifted to abstract photography, where Jim shared examples of AI-generated abstract images and discussed the possibility of combining abstract elements with realistic subjects, though he acknowledged his limited experience with compositing.

Photography Techniques and Creative Concepts
The group discussed various photography techniques and concepts, including abstract images, compositing, AI-generated art, and multi-flash photography. Jim shared his interest in using a strobe function for creative images, while Heather expressed a desire to learn more about telling stories through photography. The participants also touched on high-speed sync techniques and the work of photographer Dave Black. Mike Barry suggested that abstract photography and AI in fine art could be important topics for future exploration.

Photography Club Activities Discussion
The group discussed several photography topics and potential club activities. They explored the idea of using poems or songs as prompts for creating images, with "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" by Wallace Stevens emerging as a strong contender. The group also discussed techniques for improving color and tone in photography, including Blake Rudis' method of adjusting colors before converting to black and white. Mike Barry expressed a desire to organize more outings for the club, with a goal of keeping them relatively short, around 2-3 hours. The group also touched on the challenges of getting members to attend outings and the convenience of new parking payment systems in garages.

Photography Locations and Brewery Tours
The group discussed potential photography locations, with Meow Wolf being a colorful and immersive experience that allows photography, though social media sharing policies should be checked. They explored other options including the Wild Animal Sanctuary (with strict photography rules), Rocky Mountain Raptor program, and brewery tours, with Judy suggesting smaller microbreweries as an interesting alternative. The discussion concluded with agreement that brewery tours could be a good group outing, with members having done similar tours at Odell's and New Belgium in the past.

Exploring Colorado Museum and Attractions
The group discussed various museum and attraction options for future outings, including the New Belgium Brewery tour, which Mike Barry noted was previously free but now charges $15 per person. Rich Roberts suggested aiming for smaller breweries like Odell's instead of larger corporate ones. The group also explored options like the McGregor Ranch Museum in Estes Park, the Doherty Museum of Historic Vehicles in Longmont, and several Denver museums including the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art and the Forney Museum of Transportation. Albert mentioned he had records of past outings but couldn't find specific details about the New Belgium tour. The group agreed that the Art Casting Foundry in Fort Collins would be a good outing, with a limit of 10 people per tour. Judy expressed interest in both the Denver Botanic Gardens and the Denver Zoo, while Mike Barry shared positive experiences from recent visits to both locations.

Exploring Photography Locations and Techniques
The group discussed various photography locations and techniques, including the Denver Art Museum, the Detro Museum, and Mount Blue Sky. They explored opportunities for photographing performing arts at the Lincoln Center and considered visiting the Windsor History Museum and Windsor Severance Fire Museum. The group also discussed photography techniques such as lens ball photography, insect macro photography, and creating images with dramatic shadows. They agreed to focus on capturing images with dramatic shadows for their next meeting to discuss composition techniques.