Special Interest Groups
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are exactly that. Groups of photographers with a common interest in one or more types/genres of photography. A SIG is usually formed from the grass-roots with someone volunteering to lead the group and communicating the purpose of the group to other members.
Leaders will typically come to a group consensus on the various group activities. For instance – meet on zoom or in person? How often to meet? What days/times? Learning activities? Sharing and discussion of photos? etc. Signing up for a SIG is entirely optional, but so much more can be learned due to the combined knowledge of the group.
The SIGs took a backseat during the pandemic, and most of them temporarily disbanded; but they are slowly making a comeback! Check out the tabs below for more detail on existing SIGs.
Steve Pedersen and Al Popil will again facilitate the Night/Low Light/Light Painting – Special Interest Group (SIG) for the St. Albert Photography Club during the 2023-2024 season.
This SIG is designed for all levels of photographers who want to improve their skills and learn how to take stellar images in low light, at night, or while using various light painting techniques. All club members are welcome to join this SIG. This SIG is an excellent excuse to get out of your normal comfort zone with your camera and experiment using manual settings and not relying on the camera’s presets to do it for you.
Photographs taken after dark of landscapes, cityscapes, or under the night sky have greater depth and emotional quality. They can portray a sense of emptiness or abandonment that the daytime photographer of the same location might not have. The use and creativity of light painting techniques are also something we like to mix into our shoots, making every image unique and fun.
We will meet at least once per month (weather permitting), which is typically on a Friday or Saturday evening.
All new participants in this SIG will be required to attend our classroom training (~3 hours) where we will discuss the theory, practice setting up our cameras in the dark, and discuss/practice some techniques. If you attended this classroom training last year, you will not be required to attend it this year. It is still encouraged that everyone comes out to refresh and practice before we hit the streets.
If you have any questions, please contact Steve or Al directly.
Rick Teal and Dave Rodwell will partner up again to lead the Landscape – Special Interest Group (SIG) for the St. Albert Photography Club during the 2023-2024 season. There are no pre-requisites to join and all club members are welcome.
We welcome photographers of any level with a passion to shoot the great outdoors, to improve the skills they already know and perhaps learn some new ones along the way. We’ll talk about camera settings and what are some of the best practices in different types of locations. We’ll touch on some post processing and critique one another’s work.
We meet once a month, in person if we have a room available, via Google Meet if not, on average the third Tuesday of every month. Saturday outings around the Edmonton area are periodically planned and we try to have an all-weekend excursion somewhere in the province. We went to Drumheller last year.
If you have any questions, please contact Rick or Dave directly.
Bird photography is a captivating pursuit that allows you to capture the grace, beauty, and diversity of our feathered friends. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to up your game, joining our “Bird Photography Special Interest Group” will help you learn some essential tips and techniques to help you master the art of bird photography.
During your outings with our bird experts, you will learn to research local birds, understand their behaviour, habitats, and feeding patterns. This knowledge will guide your approach and help you anticipate their movements. Other topic considerations might be:
- how to chose the right equipment
- best times to capture bird images
- setting up
- technical settings for the lighting conditions
- ethical consideration
- …and more
This group will meet on short notice to attend to recent bird sightings in the St. Albert and surrounding area. Additionally, there will be excursions to local bird habitats.
Remember, bird photography is not just about technical skills; it’s about capturing the essence of these incredible creatures. So grab your camera, head outdoors, and immerse yourself in the world of avian beauty with our Bird Photography SIG.
Our beginner/basic photography SIG is designed to help individuals who are new to photography; or possibly experienced, but want a basic refresher on fundamental concepts and techniques. Whether you’re using a smartphone or a dedicated camera, this group cover essential topics to kick-start your photographic journey.
Here are some key aspects typically covered in beginner photography group meetings:
- Camera Basics
- Exposure Triangle
- Composition
- Lighting
- Post-Processing
- Photography Genres
- Gear and Accessories
Currently this group meets the first Wednesday of each month. We have no doubt that by joining this SIG, you will attain a solid start to a fantastic hobby or career.
Are you looking to spice things up in your photography portfolio? Or perhaps discover the different types of portrait photography? If so, our “Portrait Special Interest Group” is just for you. Portrait photography is a captivating blend of artistic expression and technical finesse.
The main focus of portrait photography is to capture people and their being. However, this genre of photography is more than just creating an image of someone. It is also a versatile photography niche that enables an artistic representation through the use of light, setting, backdrops, poses, and other techniques.
Knowing how to capture your subject is crucial to achieving professional and high-quality results. Being aware of different types of portrait photography can help you craft your own portraiture style.
During our monthly meetings you will learn and practice a number of essential tips to help you master the art of portrait photography. Whether you’re capturing a candid moment or orchestrating a carefully posed shot, these are areas that the group will examine during our season of meetings:
- Focus on the Subject
- Choose the Right Location
- Perfect the Pose
- Candid Moments
- Emotions and Expressions
- Master Your Camera
- Lens Selection
- Background Matters
- Lighting Techniques
- Colour Palette
- Composition Rules
- Experiment and Break Rules
- Post-Processing
- Connection with the Subject
- Storytelling
- Practice and Patience
Remember, portrait photography is about capturing the essence of a person — their emotions, character, and uniqueness. So join our Portrait SIG and start create stunning portraits! Currently our monthly meetings are held around our group’s work schedule.
Canon, Sony, Panasonic, blah, blah, blah. It doesn’t matter what you use to shoot! But the myriads of buttons, menus and technical features of these cameras can be baffling!
- Have you ever wondered what all the buttons on your Nikon Camera are for?
- Exposure Bracketing, Focus Stacking, Focus Shifting, HDR, Time Lapse – do these terms confuse or scare you?
- Even if not, do you know how to invoke them on your DSLR or mirrorless Nikon camera?
Well – our Nikon users decided to take these matters into our own hands! This Nikon Special Interest Group will lead you through on how to use all those buttons/features and more!
This SIG is self directed! Everyone will take a lead role on presenting an item of choice. Taking on a specific item will require you to research and learn how to best operate that section of your camera before presenting to the group.
This group has specific dates already set out and will only meet 1 hour on Google Meet, every two weeks. Please check the calendar for the dates/times and subject matter being discussed.
This group will have one or two outings to utilize all that has been learned.
All Nikon cameras are welcome!
We encourage our members to start their own SIG!
There are many other possibilities for subject matter to start your own SIG with fellow members. This list is not inclusive. There might be other genres not listed here that interest a group of members.