Profiles

Since there are so many members at SSCC, I thought that we might put together a little profile section of the SSCC blog site (www.ssccblog.com). That way we can connect faces with the names that are flying around the SSCC Google Group emails. Doing this is totally voluntary.

If you want to participate, here’s what to do:

profile photo

Send in your profile!

Step 1
Find a photo of yourself that you like, preferably a head and shoulders photo. Send the original and I can crop as necessary.

Step 2
Write a short profile of yourself talking about what you like to photograph, the camera you have, why you enjoy photography, and anything else that you consider relevant. No Nikon/Canon trash talk, please :-) Keep it to 250 words or less.

Step 3
Send the profile and photo to me at nskorka[at]gmail.com, and I’ll let you know when it is ready for viewing.

That’s it. Easy peasy! Let me know if you have any questions,

Neal

Informal Road Trip to International Steampunk Festival in Waltham on 7 May

CC-licensed photo from Anna Fischer

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27594459@N04/4629249219/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Members of the South Shore Camera Club (as well as family/friends/potential members) will be meeting in Waltham on Saturday, 7 May for the International Steampunk City Festival.

Festival website
http://internationalsteampunkcitywaltham.org/

Festival schedule (more events to be added)
http://internationalsteampunkcitywaltham.org/?page_id=150

Information on venues, including information center
http://internationalsteampunkcitywaltham.org/?page_id=123

Directions
http://internationalsteampunkcitywaltham.org/?page_id=10

We’ll meet at The Watch Factory Main Stage at 9:45 am for the opening ceremony: 183-241 Crescent Street.

This is a loosely-organized, informal road trip–everyone should feel free to attend the events that most interest them. Depending on interest, we may set a time and place to gather for dinner and some chimping.

Contact details posted to the SSCC Google Group.

CC-licensed photo from Trey Ratcliff at www.stuckincustoms.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/4989019868/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Great egrets in Squantum Marsh

Great Egret with tiny fish

Great Egret with tiny fish

When you’re driving by the Moswetusett Hummock on East Squantum Street, keep an eye out on the surrounding marsh for Great Egrets hunting for fish in the shallow pools of water there.

Also spotted recently–the returning Osprey, a Glossy Ibis, and Lesser Yellowlegs.

Large white birds of Quincy

The Neponset marsh area is hosting some large white birds these days: Mute Swans and a Great Egret.

Bright, sunny days make it a challenge to capture white feathers without losing the detail. Using a filter can help, but it can impair budget lenses from being able to track and capture the birds in flight.

Click on photos for a larger view.

Mixed duck flocks at Blacks Creek in Quincy

Because Mallards are so accustomed to people and therefore less likely to fly off when approached, they make a good subject for those of us learning to take photos of wildlife.

The Mallard flock that makes its home on Blacks Creek has a few unusual members–American Black Ducks and apparent hybrids of Mallards and American Black Ducks.

American Black Ducks look like female Mallards with darker body markings and dark feathers on the top of the head. The apparent hybrid males have a little bit of green on the back of their heads.

Next time you see the Mallard flock, look a little closer and see if you can spot who else is there.

Click on photos for larger look:
Left: Mallard
Middle: Mallard in front, American Black Duck in back
Right: Apparent hybrid in front, Mallard in back