Stay Focused Photo Club

Our next field trip is next Tuesday, May 15 (rain date May 22). It is a Cape May Bird Observatory sponsored photo walk every Tuesday until June 26, 2012 with photographer Scott Whittle. The walk begins at 8:00 A.M. at Cape May Point and lasts two hours. Afterward we could have an excellent late breakfast/early lunch at the Mad Batter in Cape May. We can carpool from the GSP rest stop off Jimmie Leeds Road in Galloway. Click on the links below for information and let me know if you plan on attending and or carpooling.
Thanks,
Dennis Loughlin

www.birdcapemay.org/programs.php
www.scottwhittle.com
www.madbatter.com

1. Atlantic City
2. Somber
3. Yellow
4. Ready to bloom
5. Patterns
6. Smooth
7. Roof Tops
8. Blue collar workers
9. Stop Motion
10. Butterflies

See Spring Challenge 2012 for further details.

Maurice River Cruises for Bald Eagles aboard The Osprey
Sun, Apr 15, 2012, and Sun, Apr 22, 2012 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM Cost: $30

To register, please call The Osprey at (609) 898-3500.
The Maurice River is a well known wintering and nesting area for Bald Eagles. Trips will explore the upper part of the river between Millville and Mauricetown. The Maurice River is designated as Wild & Scenic by the National Park Service. It hosts one of New Jersey’s largest stands of wild rice which attracts waterfowl. Participants will search for eagles (which we will view discreetly and from a distance) and other raptors, wintering waterfowl, and welcome the return of nesting ospreys. They will also enjoy the natural beauty of this part of the river, largely inaccessible by land.
Trips will depart from the public landing at the City of Millville Municipal Marina on Ware Avenue at the Route 49 intersection (adjacent to Millville municipal complex/city hall). There is ample free parking adjacent to the landing. The landing is 2 blocks from the downtown arts, shopping and dining district.
The Osprey is a 37′ pontoon boat that has a comfortable enclosed cabin with large viewing windows and an open viewing deck. More information, detailed directions, and online reservations at www.birdingbyboat.com.

The Stay Focused Photo Club is proud to be part of the “2nd Annual Youth Digital Nature Photography Contest”. The contest is open to all youth residents of Atlantic, Ocean, and Burlington counties between the ages of 7 and 18. The time frame for capturing images is between March 1, and June 1 of 2012. Information on submitting images, and entry forms may be obtained at the following link:
Youth Contest Rules+Entry Form

Don’t forget to come early to celebrate 10 years! At 9am brunch will be served. Eric’s presentation on lighting will begin promptly at 10am.

At our next meeting on February 11 the club will be hosting a guided critique session. This meeting is intended to help our members understand how to critique and judge photographs, and is also an opportunity to get input and feedback on your photograph. All photographs will be presented anonymously, however members may self-identify if they would like specific questions answered or specific feedback.

Be sure to submit one digital image for critique!

Don’t forget an upcoming digital competition is “Winter at Forsythe”. You can be out now getting those shots that convey this time of year and capture the animals we have visiting now. Remember, you have access to parts of the Forsythe refuge that you don’t have the remainder of the year. See January meeting minutes for details.

Evenings at Forsythe presents

Whales and Walruses and Polar Bears, Oh My!
A Voyage to the Arctic

Dr. Ed Bristow

Friday, January 20, 2012,  7pm

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
800 Great Creek Rd. Oceanville, NJ 08231
(609) 652-1665
Free event open to the public

Our annual holiday party will be held December 10, at the Ocean City American Legion, 3304 Bay Ave, Ocean City, NJ and I hope you can attend! Click here for directions from your location:

Directions

From the Forsythe area, take the Garden State Parkway south to exit 25. Turn left onto Roosevelt Blvd, and follow for 1.8 miles, then turn left onto Bay Avenue. The American Legion building is about 500’ on Bay Avenue. Set-up will start at 10:00 a.m. with the luncheon starting at noon. We’re looking forward to a great time revisiting memorable moments from the past year in addition to just having fun.

See you all there!

Ed Jones was the force behind the effort to establish a photo club at the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. It was an honor and a privilege to have worked with him in this effort. The Stay Focused Photo Club will be 10 years old in January. Thousands of beautiful photos have been taken and hundreds of aspiring photographers have volunteered their talents to Forsythe because of his dream. We will miss him but never forget him. We have lost a dear friend, our nation has lost a model citizen, and our world has lost a wonderful human being. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Dennis Loughlin

Don’t forget to upload your photos for this competition by November 9, 2011.  Your are allowed up to four!  For more details see the Sally Rowland Memorial Shootout link.