Some people love to take photos so they can post on Facebook or Instagram. You’ve seen them or sent them – first day of school photos, birthday photos, holiday photos and graduation photos.
Then there are photographers who take great pride in capturing that special magical image of nature, a pristine landscape, exotic animals, or a bird in flight. The members of the Coastal Camera Club take their photography very seriously, but they are not haughty about it. They simply appreciate the images that they capture and want to share the splendor of photography.
The club offers programs that have appeal for experienced and also novice photographers including competitions, monthly virtual seminars from local, national and international photographers, mentoring, local exhibitions and special interest groups that focus on specific types of photography.
Coastal Camera Club launched in 2000 with 12 members of what then was called the F-Stop Camera Club. Most of the current club’s nearly 300 members hail from coastal Delaware but others live in other states including Southern MD, New York, Maine, and New Jersey. Two of the original members are still involved.
The club started virtual presentations during Covid. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, according to President Joanne Tramposch. “Zoom has allowed up to secure speakers from all over the U.S., Mexico and Canada,” she says. She got involved with photography when she graduated from high school and her father gave her a single lens reflex camera. She has been with the club since 2013.
Some of the upcoming presentation topics include “Abstract Architecture Photography,” “How to Make a Night Photo in Any Lighting Situation”, and “The Myth of Style”. That’s just a small sampling of what speakers cover in their presentations. “The V.P. Of training and education actually has total autonomy in the selection of speakers,” says Tramposch. “We try to vary the type of speaker ie, wildlife, architectural, landscape, etc.” She was V.P. Of Education and Training for two years before becoming President in in May of 2022.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are comprised of members who share a similar interest in various aspects of photographic activities including wildlife, still life, landscape, and events. SIGs meet independently to study, to attend SIG field trips in their photography specialty, and to be involved in group critiques. A full list of SIGs is posted on the club’s web site.
“Competition Nights” are held monthly for those who are inclined to compete. There are three levels of competition that coincide with the skill levels of participating photographers and themes are assigned to add context. Themes are assigned each month. The December theme was “Weathered Persons” and the January topic is “Abstract”.
The club’s annual so-called Virtual Beach Bash is scheduled for February 25 and 26, 2023. It is actually two days of in-depth photography presentations, each with a question and answer session with known photographers who present. The Bash use to be held in a local hotel but went virtual two years ago. It has attracted more than 500 people world-wide including participants from England, Australia and Canada.
Coastal Camera Club is a non-profit 501©3 organization that is run by volunteers and most of the photographers are amateurs. It is based in Lewes, DE.
By Mary Jo Tarallo, Guest Journalist
Mary Jo Tarallo spent much of her career in public relations with various non-profits and spent 40 years involved with the ski industry as a journalist, public relations director for a national trade association and as executive director of the Learn to Ski and Snowboard initiative. Prior to her ski industry involvement she worked for the Maryland International Center in Baltimore and United Way of Central Maryland. She won a Gold Award for TV programming for a United Way simulcast that starred Oprah Winfrey. She has been cited for her work by numerous organizations. Mary Jo grew up in Baltimore, attended the University of Maryland and Towson University, lived in Washington, DC for 21 years and has been a full time resident of Rehoboth Beach and Milton since May 2019.