Competitions for

2023-24

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• Aged - Due Oct 1
• PSA 2023-24 Round 1 -- Due Nov 1
• Motion Blur Effect - Due Dec 1
• PSA 2023-24 Round 2 -- Due Jan 1
• Doors - Due Feb 1
• PSA 2023-24 Round 3 -- Due Mar 1
• Composition Alternatives to Rule of Thirds - Due Apr 1

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Intra-Club competitions:

Each of the intra-club competitions will be judged in three categories: Intermediate, Advanced, and Critique Only. Your choice. 

 A member can enter 1 or 2 images in either Advanced or Intermediate. In addition, you can enter 1 or 2 images in Critique Only by itself or in addition to one of the other divisions. So it is possible to have 4 photos in the intra-club contests. Critique Only will be judged by the same judge as the Intermediate and Advanced divisions. Images in Critique Only should fit the same topic.

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PSA PID Competitions:

The Photographic Society of America Projected Image Division inter-club competition, Open. Any subject, any processing or editing. 

There are two divisions: Color and Monochrome. You may enter the same photo in both divisions (i.e., one in color and a duplicate edited to monochrome), but they need to have the same title/file name.

In order to compete, you must have a permission form on file with the PSA. See message from Fran Nunn, Secretary.

This is a competition between PSA member clubs from around the US and the world. We will vote to choose 6 images to send as our club's entry. PSA will give each image a numerical score, and each club's total score is tabulated over the year to assign its relative place within its group. 

Member clubs are divided into 6 groups, A through F, according to their cumulative score over the year. Currently we are in Group B, next to highest, in 18th place out of 25.

Meeting was called to order at 6:10 pm by Diane Erhart.  The meeting was attended by 15 members in person at the Billings Public Library and 6 members online via Zoom. 

Announcements:

• Diane, Michelle and Greg have formed a FB group to keep the BCC FB page fresh and updated. They will be posting images from monthly galleries and contest winners. They may also institute an Instagram page.
• Ken Conger will be holding a class at his home in Columbus on April 20 from 9-4.  Includes taxidermy models in the woods; recommend 300mm + lens; no laptop required. Ken will also do a wildlife presentation at our April meeting

Program:

• DOORS competition results and images were reviewed. The judges were not available, so input was given by club members.
• PSA Round 2 results were also reviewed. Images are available on the website.
• February Gallery images were also reviewed and available on the website.
• The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 pm. The next meeting is scheduled for April 3, a Wednesday, at the Billings Public Library.

Submitted by Fran Nunn Sec/Treas

Meeting was called to order at 6:10 pm by Diane Erhart.  The meeting was attended by 13 members in person at the Billings Public Library and 5 members online via Zoom. 

Announcements:

The competition topics for next year are:

• Due Oct 1- Storms
• Due Nov 1- PSA Round 1
• Due Dec 1- Trails
• Due Jan 1- PSA Round 2
• Due Feb 1- Roads
• Due Mar 1- PSA Round 3
• Due April 1- Solitude

Outings were discussed and Diane invited members to visit Nana's Bloomers in Laurel. It is best to come in the morning and they will be open beginning next week.

Special Topics / Art Barn for Fair 2024 are:

• Great Falls State Fair: Insects & Spiders
• Billings Montana Fair: Mysterious. They have also added a competition class for Drone Photography.   

Barnes and Noble has utilized all its wall space for merchandise display, so there will be no exhibit for us this year.

The June meeting is cancelled.  There may be some planned outings over the summer.

Nominations and voting for officers will be done at the May meeting.

Results for PSA Color Monochrome were reviewed.

Program: 

Ken Conger, professional wildlife photographer and club member, presented his approach to photography and shared images of his 2023 Wild Cat Quest. His images are remarkable, and he discussed his shooting methods and reviewed his gear. The information about the cats and other animals was so interesting.  One of Ken's remarks as he was closing was this:

• Life is like a camera.............
• FOCUS on what's important
• CAPTURE the good times
• DEVELOP from the negatives
• And if things don't work out, take another shot.

Thanks Ken- you were awesome.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 pm. The next meeting is scheduled for May 7 at the Billings Public Library.

• Submitted by Fran Nunn Sec/Treas