Blog

UCSD Photography Interest Group > Blog

19 Feb 2025 Passion Project/Minimalism: Mikky

Posted on by jrwilkinson

Mikky has a future African safari trip planned so he’s been practicing with a new camera and 100-400mm zoom lens. Although mirrorless cameras and lenses are supposed to be smaller and lighter, his Nikon system will test his baggage packing efficiency. The airlines to Africa have difficult weight restrictions to meet. But when traveling on such a once-in-a-lifetime photography safari, you want to bring gear that will capture the best images. Here are his practice images, many from San Diego’s Safari Park. His male lion photos are a rarity since I’ve never seem him during my many visits.

19 Feb 2025: Passion Project Cont’d/Minimalism

Posted on by jrwilkinson

The themes for February’s Photography Interest Group Zoom meeting were “Passion Project Cont’d” and “Minimalism”. Some participants last month did not get to present their passion project photos because they focused on their Favorites of 2024. We limit our photos to ~10 photos per participants so we have enough time during our meeting to discuss everyones images.
In addition to Passion Project Cont’d images, meeting attendees shared their Minimalistic or favorite non-theme images. Here are the images shared:

Barbara

Cathy

Gary

Mikky

Harold

Sharon

Jim

Meeting Minutes 2025

Posted on by jrwilkinson

  • Mar 19th Meeting Minutes: The Mar 19th meeting from 2-4:15pm had 5 participants via Zoom. This month’s themes were: “Weather”, & “Animals”.
    • 2:00-2:30pm: Before photo-sharing participants discussed their recent activities, events, and general goings-on. Jim talked about organizing our vast archives of photos using some photo-organizing software – Apple Photos, Windows PhotoMove app, and Adobe Lightroom. We also discussed some potential meetup ideas such as Carlsbad Flower Fields on Thursdays in early April. Also a trip to photograph Anza-Borrego wildflowers and possible Milky Way photo trip in late April during the new moon.
    • 2:30-4:05pm: participants shared their photos. Most participants shared Animal photos of birds, butterflies, and Bighorn sheep. Weather was the alternate theme and Gary shared some weather-themed photos. With the full blood moon lunar eclipse just occuring Mar 13th, Cathy and Jim shared there eclipse photos.
    • 4:05-4:15pm: discussion of various meetup ideas – Safari Park, Zoo, Carlsbad Flower Fields, Anza-Borrego, Little Italy for airplane landings.
    • Themes for April –
      • “Flowers“: With the rains in January and February, Spring’s arrival, Carlsbad Flower Fields opening – flowers are next months theme.
      • “Perspective: leading lines/layers/frame in frame”: Typical compositional styles applied to architectural, street/urban or landscapes photography.
      • Open Subject – any photos that you’ve taken recently are always welcome.
  • Feb 19th Meeting Minutes: The Feb 19th meeting from 2-4:15pm had 7 participants via Zoom. This month’s themes were: “Minimalism”, & “Passion Project(s) cont’d”.
    • 2:00-2:30pm: Before photo-sharing participants discussed their recent activities, events, and general goings-on. A preliminary spreadsheet planner for the group was presented by Jim. So the group discussed future themes and outings. The spreadsheet will be available on the website and as a Google Sheet live document. A Safari Park outing was planned for Feb 25th during their free senior admission month.
    • 2:30-4:05pm: participants shared their photos. Most participants shared their Passion Project photos not shared last month. Minimalism was the alternate theme and quite a few followed that theme.
    • 4:05-4:15pm: discussion of various meetup ideas – Safari Park, Zoo, birds in La Jolla Cove.
    • Themes for March –
      • “Weather“: With the rain in January and possible future storms, weather was one of March’s themes.
      • “Animals”: With Zoo or Safari Park meetups proposed, animal photos are the alternative theme for March.
      • Open Subject – any photos that you’ve taken recently are always welcome.
  • Jan 15th Meeting Minutes: The Jan 15th meeting from 2-4:15pm had 7 participants via Zoom. This month’s themes were: “Favorite Photos from 2024”, & “Passion Project(s)”. Cathy submitted photos but was unable to attend the meeting.
    • 2:00-2:15pm: Before photo-sharing participants discussed their recent activities, events, and general goings-on. Gary submitted a spreadsheet planner for the group to consider. Planning the monthly photographic themes for the year in advanced, as well as outings.
    • 2:15-4:05pm: participants shared their photos. Most participants shared their favorite photos from 2024 but a few shared Passion Project photos. Since some of us had 10 photos of favorites, the Passion Project theme will carry over into February.
    • 4:05-4:15pm: discussion of various meetup ideas – Safari Park, Zoo, birds in La Jolla Cove.
    • Themes for January –
      • “Passion Project“: Share photos that are your theme or style. If you enjoy mainly photographing landscapes or seascapes, travel, street. Compile several images of “your style/theme”.
      • “Minimalist: Share photos that follow a minimalist style with a majority of negative space, texture, pattern, or color.
      • Open Subject – any photos that you’ve taken recently are always welcome.

15 Jan 2025: Favs of 2024; Passion Project(s)

Posted on by jrwilkinson

This month’s photography themes were Favorites of 2024 and Passion Projects.Some participants shared their favorite images from previous meetings, some were re-processed images seen earlier, and some were new images. Either favorites taken during 2024 but not shown or Passion Project images that a photographer has compiled but not shared. Here are the images that were shared this meeting:

Barbara

Cathy

Gary

Harold

Heather

Jim

Mikky

Sharon