K-W Highland Glen Camera Club

CAPA Nature/Wildlife 2025 Competition Image Due Sept. 23, 2025
2025-08-19 00:00 - 2025-09-23 23:59 (America/Toronto) | Ontario
This year we will be participating in four CAPA (Canadian Association of Photographic Art) Competitions as a club.
For the first competition this fall, the CAPA board has selected the Nature/Wildlife Theme competition. Our club will select six images, which must be from different photographers, to represent the club.
Please submit one digital image for consideration in the CAPA Nature Competition.
See CAPA Competitions under the Competitions menu tab for a brief description of the image themes, image standards, and file naming conventions.
More precisely, CAPA specifies:

Botanical – ONLY wild plants photographed in their natural environment are permitted in this theme such as: flowers, scrubs, bushes, trees, fungi and algae. Human created hybrid plants or “cultivated plants” are not permitted.Cultivated plants are ones that are planted and maintained by humans as opposed to emerging naturally in the environment. Wild flowers or plants grown in a botanical garden are accepted in this theme. In cases where a plant species is known to occur in the wild and has been cultivated by humans, the judging panel will give the image the “benefit-of-the-doubt” and accept the image as meeting the definition of this theme. “Hand-of-man” elements shall not be present, except where those human elements are integral part of the nature story, and should not exceed 10% of the image space. (The 10% image space area will be used as guide by the judges and is not a factor for disqualification.)

Insects, Reptiles & Amphibians – such as: alligators, ants, bees, beetles, butterflies, crickets, crocodiles, dragonflies, frogs, gecko, hornets, iguana, lizard, mantis, mosquitoes, snakes, turtles, wasps, etc… “Hand-of-man” elements shall not be present, except where those human elements are integral part of the nature story, and should not exceed 10% of the image space. (The 10% image space area will be used as guide by the judges and is not a factor for disqualification.)
Landscape – subjects such as weather phenomena, geological formations, landscapes, seascapes and natural phenomena, planets, stars and astronomical events. “Hand-of-man” elements shall not be present.
Nature – such as living animals (including arthropods, spiders and crustaceans), birds and marine subjects, which are living under the unobvious control and feeding of humans in situations such as zoos, game farms, animal reserves, and/or aquariums, etc. No domestic or feral animals/birds are permitted in this theme. Domestic and feral animals include, but are not limited to camels, cats, chickens, dogs, donkeys, goats, horses, rabbits, pigs, rock doves, sheep, starlings, and water buffalo.
“Hand-of-man” elements shall not be present in the Nature theme, except where those human elements are integral part of the nature story, and should not exceed 10% of the image space. (The 10% image space area will be used as guide by the judges and is not a factor for disqualification.)
Wildlife –This theme is restricted to living and untamed wildlife mammals, birds and marine subjects ONLY. Wildlife subjects for this theme must be living free and cannot be living in traditional zoos, open-range zoos, game farms or other areas where they are under the care of man, restrained and/or confined.For this theme, nature parks are considered natural environments because the animals are not in “controlled conditions“. Wild animals and birds with scientific bands, tags or radio collars, are permitted in this theme, but those with tethers or harness attachments are not permitted.
No domestic or feral animals/birds are permitted in this theme. Domestic and feral animals include, but are not limited to camels, cats, chickens, dogs, donkeys, goats, horses, rabbits, pigs, rock doves, sheep, starlings, and water buffalo. No hand-of-man is permitted in the Wildlife theme.Wildlife images can also be entered into the Nature theme.

CAPA defined Hand-of-Man – This should be portrayed as a scene that is completely free of any human elements. The following examples provide instances that align with the hand-of-man definition:

Human – no human body or any portion thereof should be visible in the image.
Sky – no human-made elements such as cables, aircraft, light pollution, artificial lights, etc.
Land – any man-made structures, paths, buildings, concrete, man-made stone, telephone poles, fence posts, sidewalks, domesticated or cultivated plants/food, cut grass, or organized and systematic layouts of planted trees should be absent from the image.
Elements – no cut trees, stems, branches, tree stumps, posts, man-made food, objects, or any man-made background should be included.
Sea – no boats, ships piers, docks, posts in the water, or any human-made elements should be visible in the image.

Submit images online Here

Theme: Nature/Wildlife
2025-09-01 - 2025-09-30 | Ontario
September’s Theme is Nature/Wildlife as a prelude to CAPA’s Nature/Wildlife Competition .
NOTE: This competition has restricted subject and editing conditions. Typically, hand-of-man is not allowed or restricted. Read the detailed rules on the CAPA site!
Our private Mighty Networks site is a great place to share your creations, or bring your images on an image share night. If you are a HGCC member and not on Mighty Networks then contact us for someone to “invite you”.
For competition purposes, your image must fit into one of the following themes:

Botanical– ONLY wild plants photographed in their natural environment are permitted in this theme such as: flowers, scrubs, bushes, trees, fungi and algae. Human created hybrid plants or “cultivated plants” are not permitted.
Cultivated plants are ones that are planted and maintained by humans as opposed to emerging naturally in the environment. Wild flowers or plants grown in a botanical garden are accepted in this theme. In cases where a plant species is known to occur in the wild and has been cultivated by humans, the judging panel will give the image the “benefit-of-the-doubt” and accept the image as meeting the definition of this theme. “Hand-of-man” elements shall not be present, except where those human elements are integral part of the nature story, and should not exceed 10% of the image space. (The 10% image space area will be used as guide by the judges and is not a factor for disqualification.)
Insects, Reptiles & Amphibians– such as: alligators, ants, bees, beetles, butterflies, crickets, crocodiles, dragonflies, frogs, gecko, hornets, iguana, lizard, mantis, mosquitoes, snakes, turtles, wasps, etc… “Hand-of-man” elements shall not be present, except where those human elements are integral part of the nature story, and should not exceed 10% of the image space. (The 10% image space area will be used as guide by the judges and is not a factor for disqualification.)
Landscape– subjects such as weather phenomena, geological formations, landscapes, seascapes and natural phenomena, planets, stars and astronomical events. “Hand-of-man” elements shall not be present.
Nature– such as living animals (including arthropods, spiders and crustaceans), birds and marine subjects, which are living under the unobvious control and feeding of humans in situations such as zoos, game farms, animal reserves, and/or aquariums, etc. No domestic or feral animals/birds are permitted in this theme. Domestic and feral animals include, but are not limited to camels, cats, chickens, dogs, donkeys, goats, horses, rabbits, pigs, rock doves, sheep, starlings, and water buffalo.
“Hand-of-man” elements shall not be present in the Nature theme, except where those human elements are integral part of the nature story, and should not exceed 10% of the image space. (The 10% image space area will be used as guide by the judges and is not a factor for disqualification.)
Wildlife –This theme is restricted toliving and untamed wildlife mammals, birds and marine subjects ONLY. Wildlife subjects for this theme must be living free and cannot be living in traditional zoos, open-range zoos, game farms or other areas where they are under the care of man, restrained and/or confined.

For this theme, nature parks are considered natural environments because the animals are not in “controlled conditions“.
Wild animals and birds with scientific bands, tags or radio collars, are permitted in this theme, but those with tethers or harness attachments are not permitted.
No domestic or feral animals/birds are permitted in this theme. Domestic and feral animals include, but are not limited to camels, cats, chickens, dogs, donkeys, goats, horses, rabbits, pigs, rock doves, sheep, starlings, and water buffalo.
No hand-of-man is permitted in the Wildlife theme.
Wildlife images can also be entered into the Nature theme.
CAPA defined Hand-of-Man – This should be portrayed as a scene that is completely free of any human elements. The following examples provide instances that align with the hand-of-man definition:

Human– no human body or any portion thereof should be visible in the image.
Sky– no human-made elements such as cables, aircraft, light pollution, artificial lights, etc.
Land– any man-made structures, paths, buildings, concrete, man-made stone, telephone poles, fence posts, sidewalks, domesticated or cultivated plants/food, cut grass, or organized and systematic layouts of planted trees should be absent from the image.
Elements– no cut trees, stems, branches, tree stumps, posts, man-made food, objects, or any man-made background should be included.
Sea– no boats, ships piers, docks, posts in the water, or any human-made elements should be visible in the image.

Nature Ethics Defined
To promote responsible photographing of species, entrants:

Must not do anything to injure or distress any animals or destroy their habitat in an attempt to secure an image.
Must maintain an appropriate distance from an active nest, and in most cases, avoid them entirely.
Must not bait. The baiting of wildlife should be avoided as it may have long-term impacts.
Must not intentionally spook.
Must not stress out wildlife by getting too close.
Should learn about the species’ behaviour and the ecology of the area.
Use appropriate lenses and techniques that minimize stress.
Should be a naturalist as well as a nature photographer
Should be especially careful and respectful when photographing “species-at-risk” and threatened species consider avoiding the photography of “species-at-risk“

The Canadian federal Species At Risk Act – Schedule 1provides a listing of “species-at-risk”. The Act also outlines that it an offence to kill, harm or harass a “species-at-risk”. A good reference webpage is the Audubon’s Guide To Ethical Bird Photography.

First Meeting for 2025-26 Season: September 15, 2025
2025-09-15 19:30 - 21:30 | Coldwell Banker – Peter Benninger Realty, 508 Riverbend Drive, Kitchener, Ontario, N2K 3S2, Canada
Welcome back:

Welcome and introduction of new members.
Review of what is in store for this season.

Image Share:
Bring or submit 4 to 6 digital images or prints to share in tonight’s share session. Be prepared to tell us about your image.
For digital images, please use the image standards that we use for digital competitions as these work best with our projector.
You can bring your images on a USB stick. Come early to load it on the club’s computer for presentation. Alternatively, email all images to submissions@highlandglen.ca preferably by dinner time September 13th.
If you are submitting images from a phone, we have directions on how to resize your image for an iOS phone [pdf]. For those using an Android phone, directions would be similar; you could use the 3rd party app Photo & Picture Resizer.

Outing: September 20, 2025
2025-09-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Ontario
Location: Waterloo Lumen Festival – Waterloo Park

Start Time: 7 pm

Meeting Location:

Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex – Father David Bauer Drive
Gather at Crosswalk – 129 Father David Bauer Dr – Google Maps

Contact person name and email address:

Mark Bingeman
outings@highlandglen.ca

CAPA’s website: https://capacanada.ca/photo-walk/

October Theme: MONOCHROME/BLACK & WHITE
2025-10-01 - 2025-10-31 | Ontario
October’s Theme is Monochrome/Black & White as a prelude to CAPA’s Monochrome Competition .
Our private Mighty Networks site is a great place to share your creations, or bring your images on an image share night. If you are a HGCC member and not on Mighty Networks then contact us for someone to “invite you”.
For competition purposes:
A monochrome image must fall into one of these two categories:

A purely greyscale image using only black, white, and shades of grey
A greyscale image that has been uniformly tinted with a single colour across the entire frame (such as sepia, red, or gold toning)

Submitted image must fall within one of the following themes:

Candid Person(s) – images that capture unscripted moments of subtle interactions, and spontaneous dramas of everyday human life – genuine moments found in street scenes, cultural gatherings, or daily activities rather than posed portraits or professional models.
Natural Surroundings –images that showcase the raw beauty and drama of our environment through weather phenomena, geological formations, cityscapes, landscapes, seascapes, and celestial events. Human elements may be included if they serve to enhance the scale or narrative of the natural scene.
Dramatic Contrast & Shadows– images where the interplay of light and shadow creates compelling visual narratives through low-key, silhouette, or selective lighting techniques. Image may include architectural elements, human forms, urban structures or natural subjects.
Nostalgia– images that transport viewers through time by capturing the weathered beauty of bygone eras, from abandoned places and vintage artifacts to creative composites that bridge past and present.

CAPA Black and White 2025: Images due Nov 4
2025-10-06 08:00 - 2025-11-04 23:30 | Ontario
This year we will be participating in four CAPA (Canadian Association of Photographic Art) Competitions as a club.
For the second CAPA competition, the CAPA board has selected the Monochrome competition. Our club will select six images, which must be from different photographers, to represent the club.
Please submit one digital image for consideration in the CAPA Nature Competition.
See CAPA Competitions under the Competitions menu tab for a brief description of the image themes, image standards, and file naming conventions.
Monochrome photography challenges entrants to see beyond colour, focusing on the interplay of light, shadow, texture, and form to create compelling visual narratives. This section invites entrants to demonstrate their mastery of light and shadow, contrast, and composition through black and white imagery that strengthens rather than diminishes their subject’s impact.
A monochrome image must fall into one of these two categories:

A purely greyscale image using only black, white, and shades of grey
A greyscale image that has been uniformly tinted with a single colour across the entire frame (such as sepia, red, or gold toning)

An image is NOT considered monochrome if it:

Has selective colour toning in different areas
Includes spot colouring or partial colourization
Uses multiple tints or tones across different parts of the image

Such images that mix colours or toning effects are considered a monochrome and will be disqualified.
For competition purposes, your image must fit into one of the following themes:

Candid Person(s) – image that captures candid moments that reveal the humour, irony, and drama of the human experience. Photograph people naturally, without poising.
Natural Surroundings – image featuring weather phenomena, geological formations, cityscape, landscapes, seascapes and natural phenomena such as planets, stars and astronomical events. Individuals can be included in the image provided that they enhance the perspective of the surroundings.
Dramatic Contrast & Shadows – is the focal point of the image. Explore low-key, silhouette, and selective lighting effects to create bold graphic image. Everyday spaces reveal geometric shadows cast by individuals, buildings, signs structures and wildlife.
Nostalgia – image that evoke echoes of the past, capturing scenes reminiscent of bygone eras. Examples such as, abandoned aircraft, boats, buildings, ships, still-life of antiques, structures, trains and vehicles. Composite image contrasting old and new are permitted in permitted in this theme.

Submit images here!

MEETING: October 6, 2025
2025-10-06 19:30 - 21:30 | Coldwell Banker – Peter Benninger Realty, 508 Riverbend Drive, Kitchener, Ontario, N2K 3S2, Canada
Hands-On Practice: Flash Photography with Kevin (bring a camera with flash)

GVIB 2025 Images Due: Oct. 14, 2025
2025-10-14 | Ontario
We are hosting this year’s Grand Valley Image Battle. The GVIB will be all digital images and we would like to have as many members as possible participating.
Entries:
– The GVIB is an open category competition. Any subject, in camera and post-processing technique is allowed.
– Digital images only.
Submit up to three digital images for the Grand Valley Image Battle (GVIB).
See the description of the Grand Valley Image Battle under Competitions for the image standards, i.e. how to name your work and the correct size for images.
Images will be submitted online. You must have created a login for the website to participate.

Open for image submission until 11:45 pm on October 14, 2025.
To submit images click HERE.

GVIB 2025 Image Selection - due Sunday, Oct. 19
2025-10-16 08:00 - 2025-10-19 23:30 | Ontario
Please help us select the 20 images that will represent our club in the Grand Valley Image Battle 2025 competition.
** You must be logged in to participate in the selection process. **
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MEETING: Guest Presenters Sue and Jim Waddington “In the Footsteps of the Group of Seven and Tom Thomson”
2025-10-20 19:30 - 21:30 | Coldwell Banker – Peter Benninger Realty, 508 Riverbend Drive, Kitchener, Ontario, N2K 3S2, Canada
For almost five decades, Sue and Jim have searched for places that inspired the Group of Seven painters and Tom Thomson. They especially enjoy locating sites that can only be reached by canoe and foot. The talk will compare photographs of some of the 800 painting sites they have found with the corresponding artwork. They will discuss how they find the painting sites and what they have learned about the painters and their art.
In their talks, Sue and Jim show their photographs alongside art from Killarney, Algonquin, Neys, Lake Superior and Bon Echo Provincial Parks, the Georgian Bay Islands, Nova Scotia, BC, the Yukon and Nunavut.
Sue is a retired nurse, an artist and a traditional rug hooker. Jim is a retired physics professor from McMaster University who likes maps and the sport of orienteering.
Sue and Jim have published a book of the same topic. Information about the book can be found at https://gooselane.com/products/in-the-footsteps-of-the-group-of-seven.

November Theme: SPACE IS IMPORTANT
2025-11-01 - 2025-11-30 | Ontario
Outer space offers endless opportunities for breathtaking photography. At night, look up and capture the Milky Way, a full moon, an eclipse, or even shooting stars. If heading outdoors isn’t your preference, you can still create cosmic-inspired images right from indoors.
There are endless websites to guide you. Below are some sites that you can visit and explore the possibilities.
Follow this link to learn how to bring outer space indoors in creative imagery: https://www.photoworkout.com/photoshoot-theme-ideas/#2-spacey-projections
Follow this link to learn how to capture the milky way: https://photographylife.com/how-to-photograph-the-milky-way
Follow this link to learn how to capture a full-moon: https://www.space.com/how-to-photograph-the-moon-camera

Our private Mighty Networks site is a great place to share your creations, or bring your images on an image share night. If you are a HG member and not on Mighty Networks then contact us for someone to “invite you”.

MEETING: Image Share & Influential Photographer Presentation
2025-11-03 19:30 - 21:30 | Coldwell Banker – Peter Benninger Realty, 508 Riverbend Drive, Kitchener, Ontario, N2K 3S2, Canada
Influential Photographer:
A HGCC member will present for our Influential Photographer series Callum Snape. Callum Snape is a Canadian photographer specializing in travel, adventure, and landscapes. Known for his striking and immersive depictions of the wilderness, he is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. His portfolio extends beyond nature, encompassing themes of travel, health, wellness, and inclusivity—blending his personal passions with professional collaborations.

Image Share:
There will also be an Image Share. Bring or submit up to 4 digital images or prints to share in tonight’s share session. Be prepared to tell us about your image. For digital images, please use the image standards that we use for digital competitions s these work best for our projector. Images must be resized to maximum 1920 pixels wide and maximum 1080 pixels high. Therefore, a horizontal image can be no larger than 1920 wide by 1080 high and a vertical image can be no larger than 1080 wide by 1080 high.
You can bring your images on a USB stick. Come early to load them on the club’s computer for presentation. Alternatively, email all images to submissions@highlandglen.ca preferably by dinner time on Saturday before the meeting.

CAPA 2025 Black and White Image Selection
2025-11-05 08:00 - 2025-11-09 23:30 | Ontario
Please help us select the 6 images that will represent our club in the CAPA Black and White 2025 competition. We need your feedback by end of Sunday November 9th.
Please select your favourite six images from all of the following:
(Note: You must be logged in to participate in the selection process.)
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SUNDAY, Nov. 16. Grand Valley Image Battle 2025 Presentation
2025-11-16 13:30 - 16:00 | Coldwell Banker – Peter Benninger Realty, 508 Riverbend Drive, Kitchener, Ontario, N2K 3S2, Canada
The Grand Valley Image Battle (GVIB) competition is held once a year as an inter-club competition between clubs in South-Western Ontario. GVIB is intended to be a friendly competition to showcase as many photographers from each club as possible. Judging is performed by three independent judges, organized by the host club. The winner of the competition is the club with the highest cumulative score.
Highland Glen Camera Club is hosting for 2025. This year six clubs will be taking part with each club submitting 20 images. We are planning to provide a hybrid experience for the 2025 GVIB. All judging will be performed in advance, and we will then offer a ZOOM and In-Person option to see the presentation of images and results on Sunday November 16, 2025. The ZOOM and In-Person presentation will be offered at the same time: Doors/zoom open at 1:30 pm, presentation to begin at 2 pm. Once the presentation is complete, for those attending in-person there will be refreshments and snacks as everyone mingles.
Date: Sunday, November 16, 2025
Time: Doors open at 1:30 pm, presentation at 2 pm, snacks and refreshments to follow. Expect to have everything wrapped up by 4 pm.
Location: Coldwell Banker – Peter Benninger Realty, 508 Riverbend Drive, Kitchener, Ontario, N2K 3S2. In the theatre in the basement. Elevator available.
Zoom link: to be provided closer to the date of the event via email.

NO MEETING: Nov. 17, 2025
2025-11-17 | Ontario
There will NOT be a meeting on Nov. 17 due to the GVIB competition.

December Theme: Story Telling in a Single Frame
2025-12-01 - 2025-12-31 | Ontario
Go beyond focusing on a single subject. Sometimes you want an action-packed photograph that has a story to tell. The story in the photograph must have a story beginning, middle, and an ending. How do you do tell a story in just one photograph?
You can follow the link to guide you in story telling in a single frame: https://thedigitaltrekker.com/2025/04/visual-storytelling/
You can follow the link which also has a YouTube video: https://www.alanranger.com/blog-on-photography/the-art-of-storytelling-photography?srsltid=AfmBOor4bJWwI6RiWUTfhHGPE7SUM07yWhB-6l-cS4Aen3BE_AqVtwhq
J.P. Stones YouTube video on story telling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp1EtKGUsRc
Our private Mighty Networks site is a great place to share your creations, or bring your images on an image share night. If you are a HG member and not on Mighty Networks then contact us for someone to “invite you”.

Meeting: Guest Presenter Jonathan Sau "Printing Your Photos"
2025-12-01 19:30 - 21:30 | Ontario
Are you thinking of printing some of your images for decorating your home and office, or to give away as gifts? A good print on the wall is a great way to showcase your best images.
In this presentation, we’ll cover things you need to know to get the best print outcome, from the choice of photo paper and other media, to ensuring colour and tone accuracy through monitor calibration and soft proofing, and putting on the finishing touch through framing and matting. Most of the material applies whether you use a print shop, or print at home.
About the speaker:
Jonathan Sau has been doing photography since the 90’s, and has been making prints since 2016 for his fine art photography business, using both his Epson photo printer at home, and commercial print shops. He’s a board member of the Grand River Imaging and Photographic Society (GRIPS) in Kitchener.
https://jonathansauphotography.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.sau.photography/
https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.sau.photography/

Christmas Social Dec. 15th
2025-12-15 19:30 - 21:30 | Coldwell Banker – Peter Benninger Realty, 508 Riverbend Drive, Kitchener, Ontario, N2K 3S2, Canada
Please join us at Coldwell Banker, PBR on Monday, December 15th at 7:30 pm (the usual time) for some holiday cheer. We will be showing some award winning photos from the OC3 (Ontario Council of Camera Clubs) Open Photo Challenge 2025. Mark Bingeman will be giving us some tips on using Lightroom. Dessert, coffee and hot chocolate will be served. Zoom should be available, but we’d love to see you in person!

Theme: Inspiration Open Colour
2026-01-01 - 2026-01-31 | Ontario
In preparation for our third CAPA competition the theme for January is “Inspiration Open Colour”. Visit CAPA’s site for full details.
This competition and its themes invite photographers to showcase their creative skills, using colour as a vibrant medium to capture dynamic, outstanding, stunning, thoughtful and thought-provoking images.
It is an opportunity to explore areas that may stretch your comfort zones, pushing to the boundaries of your creativity.
Submitted image must fall within one of the following themes:

Man-Made Environments – Images that highlight the contrast of color within human-constructed spaces: vibrant, tight, and/or sprawling urban centers, rural structures with rich palettes of colour and the working landscapes of farming communities.
Seasonal Transitions – Images which capture nature’s shifting color palette as it transforms landscapes, flora, and atmospheric conditions throughout the year’s natural cycles.
Action & Motion – Images in this theme should convey excitement, speed, and movement through colour. Images can be a result of panning effects, slow shutter speeds or freezing fast action. The sources of inspiration are boundless – whether it’s animals, birds, dance, sports, traffic, vehicles, or any other dynamic subject in motion.
Cultural Events – Using colour, movement and celebration, these images will capture the vibrant traditions, festivities, and ceremonies that showcase the rich tapestry of human existence and expression.
Close-up – Showcasing an intimate exploration of form and detail, these images will reveal the extraordinary world of color, pattern, and texture hidden within everyday subjects.

Hands-On Practice: Portrait Photography with Jane and Leo (bring a camera)
2026-01-05 19:30 - 21:30 | Coldwell Banker – Peter Benninger Realty, 508 Riverbend Drive, Kitchener, Ontario, N2K 3S2, Canada
Leo and Jane will be doing a “hands on” Portrait photography session on January 5th. They will explain what portraiture entails and the different forms it can take. They will set up a “one light” studio in the theatre and will explain how the lighting can be used to create something more dramatic than a photo taken in the available light. Jane and Leo will also discuss how other lighting tools can be used to enhance your portraits. They will have each person that brings a digital camera (it must have a hot shoe in order to connect the light source to the shutter) the opportunity to take some portraits of another club member. They would like everyone to be able to receive their portrait via email from the person who takes their photo. Jane and Leo are hoping to put them up on the screen for evaluation and review that evening.
At the end of the meeting we will be updating you on some CAPA rule changes.
CAPA AI rules and Metadata recording
Jennifer Leat will present a short review of CAPA’s rules regarding AI use and some changes regarding metadata for your photos that are submitted to CAPA competition. This is important information for all who wish to submit images to CAPA competitions from Jan 1st 2026 onwards.

NOTE: Meeting is NOT available through zoom. In person only for hands-on meetings.

Jan. 19th Meeting CANCELLED - to be rescheduled (new date April 20th) for Dan Gillespie Audio Visual Show Night
2026-01-19 19:30 - 21:30 | Coldwell Banker – Peter Benninger Realty, 508 Riverbend Drive, Kitchener, Ontario, N2K 3S2, Canada
An evening in honour of Dan Gillespie.
Dan loved how AV shows brought members together. Help us continue this tradition and remember Dan by submitting an AV show to share.
Submit one AV show (in an .mp4 format) that is a maximum of 5 minutes long. Since an audio visual show takes a bit more work to make, you can share a collection of images that would be shown as a slide show by the moderator.
Bring your audio-visual show on a USB stick. Come early to load it on the club’s computer for presentation. If participating via Zoom, use one of the following procedures to submit your AV show (preferably by Jan 17th):

If you have your own file sharing system (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc), you can send the download link to submissions@highlandglen.ca and the moderator can collect the file.
If you want to send in a show, send an email to submissions@highlandglen.ca and the moderator will send you a file request through Dropbox. The file request will provide a link for uploading the file.

CAPA Inspiration Open Colour Competition Image Due: February 3, 2026
2026-01-22 00:00 - 2026-02-03 23:30 | Ontario
For the third CAPA competition, the Board has selected the Inspiration Open Colour competition. The club will select six images, which must be from different photographers, to represent the club.
Submit one digital image for consideration in the CAPA Inspiration Open Colour Competition.
See CAPA Competitions under the Competitions menu tab for a brief description of the image themes, image standards, and file naming conventions. NOTE CHANGES BEGINNING JAN. 1, 2026.
Submit images via email (our website upload is not working at this time. An error is being returned once uploaded and images are not getting saved).
Please send your images via e-mail to Mark via: capa@highlandglen.ca
In your email include the following:

First and Last Name
Picture Title
Theme

February Theme: Snow or Bubbles
2026-02-01 - 2026-02-28 | Ontario
Snow. One challenge is to get out there this winter and create images of snowy landscapes or close ups of snow on objects, or even snowflakes themselves. Ideas include urban landscapes in snow, a minimalist picture of a single tree, snowmen, or people enjoying winter activities, such as skiing, skating or walking. Snow has a benefit of creating a clean carpet/covering in areas which might otherwise look messy. Pictures taken during a snowstorm are always interesting, and this can even be done from your car! Here are some useful tips 9 Photography Tips To Capture Winter Like A Pro
But remember to be careful with your exposure. Your camera doesn’t know that snow is almost pure white and will often make it grey. So counter-intuitively, you may need to use some exposure compensation (over-exposing) to make the snow look white (but be careful not so much that you blow the highlights). See How to properly expose SNOW and ICE
Bubbles. An alternative for those who are not inclined or cannot go out in the cold weather, is to work on the idea of bubbles. Try blowing bubbles inside the house, children blowing bubbles, close-ups of bubbles against a dark background. Or of course, you can combine these two themes and shoot some bubbles out of doors, see How to Photograph Frozen Bubbles.
Hoping this adds some fun to the short winter days.

Meeting: February 2, 2026 with Guest Presenter Mike Moats
2026-02-02 19:30 - 21:30 | Ontario
Guest Presenter: Mike Moats “Getting It All In Focus Without Focus Stacking” via ZOOM
When I ask macro photographers what they are struggling with, the answer is always depth of field and not understanding the f/stops and how they affect the focus. You will hear photographers say that you have to focus stack in order to get more depth of field, but not true and in this program, you will learn the easy methods to getting all the depth of you want without focus stacking.
Bio
Mike Moats is an international award-winning full time pro macro photographer from Michigan. He is a Tamron Image Master, Vanguard Pro, and his articles and images have been published in many photo magazines for over 20 years. He has a Macro Photo Club online with over 2,900 members, from 29 countries. Mike teaches workshops and speaks at photo conference throughout the US.

February 16: Family Day – No Meeting
2026-02-16 | Ontario
Due to the Family Day Holiday there will not be a meeting this evening.

Fergus/HGCC Competition Images Due: March 18, 2026
2026-03-01 00:00 - 2026-03-18 23:30 | Ontario
In 2019, we started a friendly inter-club competition with the Fergus & District Camera Club as an annual spring event with Highland Glen and Fergus camera clubs alternating hosting duties for the competition. Each club enters 30 digital images. This is an open category competition, so any subject, processing technique, etc. is accepted.
The competition is intended to be a showcase of the achievements of the club as a wholeand not just a few members. HGCC members can submit up to three images for consideration. The club decides on the images to be submitted and strives to have at least one image from every submitter.
Details of the competition and image standard are posted here.
Please submit up to 3 images with a title for each via email to submissions@highlandglen.ca

March Theme: I can taste that Food
2026-03-01 - 2026-03-31 | Ontario
We are challenging you to try food photography. This is a still life photography genre used to create appealing still life photographs of food. You want to make the food look as appetising as possible. Capturing colour and texture is important. Key techniques include using natural, diffused light, often from the side, and experimenting with camera angles like the 45-degree or overhead shots to highlight different aspects of the dish. Natural light is best but avoid direct sunlight. So use diffused light from a window or white diffuser boards to spread the light. Sidelight is flattering for most food. Try shooting from different angles. For example, layered food, such as a burger, is best photographed from the side. And think about your backdrop which should be simple, but consistent with the type of food. Also think about your props e.g. forks. Make sure that everything is squeaky clean – bits of dust will be really noticeable. A person’s hands or fingers can be included, or the cook doing finishing touches. You can even photography food while it is being cooked.
See Food photography tips and tricks and Introducing Food Photography and How to Take Creative Food Photos – MIOPS for ideas. Don’t forget that food includes drinks!
Happy shooting and enjoy the food afterwards!

March 2, 2026 Guest Presenter: Dee Potter
2026-03-02 19:30 - 21:30 | Coldwell Banker – Peter Benninger Realty, 508 Riverbend Drive, Kitchener, Ontario, N2K 3S2, Canada
Guest Presenter: Dee Potter “Explorations in Photography: A Journey Through Urban Landscapes, Natural Wonders, and Fascinating Faces”
To join as an individual guest to Highland Glen Camera Club for this presentation please complete the on-line guest form and pay the $10 guest via e-transfer or cash at the door.
Join Dee Potter for a captivating presentation showcasing his powerful imagery from around the globe—featuring majestic natural landscapes, dynamic cityscapes, and striking cultural portraits. Dee reveals his creative process for working a scene to unlock its full photographic potential and demonstrates how photo tours are the secret weapon for capturing award-winning images. As a bonus, Dee shares his behind-the-scenes experience representing Team Canada at the World Photographic Cup and becoming a 2025 World Top 10 Nature Landscape Photographer, offering rare insights into what it takes to compete on the global stage, and how you can, too!
Online Presence:
Instagram: @deepotterphotography
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photodees
Website: https://deepotter.photography
Workshops: https://deepotter.photography/workshops
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@deepotterphotography6228

Guest Speaker: Steve Gettle "Caught In Motion" March 16, 2026. ON LINE ONLY
2026-03-16 19:30 - 21:30 | Ontario
Due to Leo and Jane coming down with a flu bug this past week, we’ve decided the best course of action would be to present Steve Gettle’s talk completely over zoom. Brant will take over the co hosting with Steve. Please go to the Highland Glen website to see Steve’s information where there is a link to register in order to receive the zoom details. There will not be an in person meeting on Monday night, but we hope you can all join us on zoom.
Please find the Webinar Invitation for Steve Gettle’s presentation ‘Caught in Motion’ to be held on March 16 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Steve is the main host and Highland Glen will co-host. To attend you need to sign up for this webinar prior to the event date. Steve will send out the Zoom link after you register.

This meeting will be hosted by Steve Gettle – details for signing up for the presentation is in the poster he provided.

Link to Poster: CAUGHT IN MOTION HGCC
Photographing Action with a Mirrorless Camera
Want to learn how to go beyond simply making static portraits of your subjects? Mirrorless cameras and advances in autofocus have made action photography accessible to virtually every photographer. In this completely new program, we will show you how to use just your camera, natural light, and auto-focus for subjects on the move such as birds in flight, running animals, and other fast action subjects. We will discuss special exposure techniques for action, acquiring the initial focus-lock, tracking your subject, and how to optimize your auto focus for action photography.
About the Artist: Steve Gettle
Steve Gettle is a renowned nature photographer whose work captures the breathtaking beauty and intricate details of the natural world. With a career spanning over four decades, Steve has traveled to some of the most remote and pristine wilderness areas across the globe, from the lush forests of Borneo to the rugged landscapes of the Far North.
Steve’s passion for nature and photography began in his youth, nurtured by countless hours spent exploring the outdoors and observing wildlife. This early fascination with the natural world laid the foundation for his future career. Steve quickly developed a keen eye for composition, lighting, and the unique behaviors of wildlife, skills that have earned him a distinguished place in the field of nature photography.
Steve’s images are celebrated for their vivid attention to detail, striking use of color, and ability to convey the spirit and character of his subjects. His work not only showcases the beauty of wildlife and natural scenes but also promotes conservation and environmental awareness. Through his lens, viewers are invited to experience the majesty of animals in their habitats, from a delicate butterfly resting on a flower to a powerful leopard hunting in the forests of Africa.
In addition to his photographic achievements, Steve is a dedicated educator and mentor. He conducts workshops and presentations, sharing his expertise and love for photography with aspiring photographers and nature enthusiasts alike. His approachable teaching style and deep knowledge have inspired countless individuals to pursue their own journeys in nature photography.
Steve Gettle’s photographs have been widely published in books, calendars, and leading nature magazines, and his work has been featured in galleries and exhibitions worldwide. Each image, a testament to his patience, technical skill, and unwavering dedication to his craft, and each image stands as a tribute to the wonders of the natural world and an invitation to preserve and protect it for future generations.

Website http://www.stevegettle.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/steve.gettle
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/stevegettle
Steve’s Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/stevegettle/
Nicole’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolesudduth/

OUTING: March 23, 2026 Aylmer Wildlife Management Area
2026-03-23 16:30 - 19:30 | Ontario
Here is the information about the Tundra Swans Outing.
Location: Aylmer Wildlife Management Area (Aylmer Wildlife Management Area – Google Maps)
Tundra Swans Website (Swan Line – Aylmer Museum)
Time. Leave Waterloo ~3 pm. Arrive @ ~4:30 pm (with a stop at the Ingersoll Enroute). Photograph until ~ 7:30 pm (i.e. until near sunset).
Date – Monday, March 23, 2026
Equipment recommendations – medium to long zoom lens (i.e. 100-400mm), (optional) tripod with ball head or gimble.
Dress accordingly for the weather.

Mark
Outing Coordinator
outings@highlandglen.ca
Highland Glen Camera Club
