Artists’ reception opens exhibit July 12
Printed on Page 6, July 10, 2013 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Marty Cheek
When Morgan Hill resident Susan Brazelton retired from teaching, she found she had time to take more photographs and develop her camera skills. Five years ago, she started the Morgan Hill Photography Club to make new friends and improve her photographic images. Today the club has more than 150 members who regularly meet to share their images and develop their photography talents.
On Friday July 12, the MHPC will hold a gala artists’ reception at the Morgan Hill House to open its latest gallery exhibit featuring the theme of “Animals.” Member photographs have graced the walls of the Community Center and the Centennial Recreation Center in past exhibits. Brazelton recently shared with us her passion for photography and explained why the photography club she founded is so unique.
What’s the story of how the Morgan Hill Photography Club got started?
I started the club in April 2008 as a means to meet local photographers with whom I could go out and shoot. After Cinda Meister agreed that I could hold the first meeting in BookSmart’s café, she added the meeting to the store’s online calendar, and I emailed friends and posted flyers around town. To my surprise, 21 people showed up. We decided to meet again the following month and the club was born.
A lot of people think you have to be a professional-level photographer to join the club, but that’s not so. Club members have a diverse level of experience, don’t they?
Before starting the club, I researched other clubs in San Jose, Los Gatos and Santa Clara. All emphasized competition with awards presented to the best in several categories. Competitive photography held no interest for me. I just wanted to meet people, have fun and learn. I purposefully named the group the “Morgan Hill Photography Club” to differentiate it from the competitive “camera” clubs. The charter members agreed with the concept of learning over competition and the original board members made sure that people with all levels of skill and experience would feel welcome. The club motto is, “Fun, Friendship & Photography.”
Why should someone consider getting involved with the club?
Every monthly meeting features a learning program on some aspect of photography. The board makes sure that every member, no matter what his or her level of experience might be, or what camera is used, can take away something useful every month. Some programs are “hands-on” where people bring their cameras and photograph at practice stations; some involve question and answer sessions with an expert panel (often members willing to share their skills and knowledge); and some are presentations by professional photographers.
The club has a lot of “extracurricular” activities. How does that add to the member experience?
Photographers like to do three things: photograph, share their photographs, and talk about photography. The club offers opportunities for all three.
Shoot-outs, held several times a month, are for those who want to visit interesting locations and shoot with others. Leaders scout locations ahead of time to determine the best sites and optimal light, and they often arrange special access not available to the public.
The club has three main ways to share photos: at the monthly meetings, online and in gallery shows. Each meeting starts with 30-minutes of round-robin image sharing. Shoot-out and the theme projects photos are shared on Flickr, an online photo-sharing site that has become an integral feature of the club. For those who prefer a more formal method of sharing photos, the club sponsors four gallery shows each year. Depending on the size of the venue, 30 to 60 framed photos are displayed for the community to view.
Where does your own personal passion for photography come from?
I photographed family vacations and events with a Brownie Box Camera. As an adult, I moved up to a Nikon SLR, but still only photographed while traveling. Then I attended a workshop that opened my eyes to the creative power of photography, and I was hooked.
I am still finding my way through the maze of photographic possibilities, but right now I prefer to create artistic photos rather than taking documentary-type shots. I credit the club with much of what I have learned in the past five years. The people I have met have taught me much more than I ever could have learned on my own.
The artists’ reception for the Animals Photography Exhibit will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Morgan Hill House, 17860 Monterey Road. It will run until Aug. 25. For more information, visit www.morganhillphotographyclub.org.
