South Florida Camera Club

At the photo competition for the month of August we had a tie for first place. Even after a runoff between these two photographs we were left with both photos coming in first place. Subsequently I would like to congratulate both Joe McBroom with his photo entitled “Peaceful Summer Morning” and Robert Carney with his photo entitled “Chillin’”. Both photographs are being framed by Frame Gallery and will soon be hanging on the wall at UNCOMMON Gallery. You can view their photos in our Competition Winners section.

Written by Danny Hammontree

Miami cityscape photography from Watson Island is an outing South Florida Camera Club members had been interested in doing for quite a while. Steve “Vortex of Knowledge” Wilkinson again played a pivotal roll in setting up this trip and then directed us in the best camera techniques for this type photography.

We started off the evening at Jerry’s Famous Deli, our favorite South Beach eatery for pre-shooting substances and great conversation. We then jumped in our hotrods and raced down MacArthur Causeway to Watson Island to shoot sunset and late night cityscape photographs of Downtown Miami across Biscayne Bay. After the night of photographing Miami we went back to Jerry’s Famous Deli and chit-chatted late into the night/morning.

Everyone sent me their favorite photographs from the night and all were wonderful, however Steve Wilkinson’s panoramic photo completely blew me away. I immediately wrote him back asking for a larger version to view in all its glory as my desktop wallpaper. Steve kindly obliged and said I could post it here as well. Please click on the photo below to see the full sized version.

City of Miami Panoramic by Steve Wilkinson

Click for full sized version

I would like to start off by congratulating Jessica Savidge for winning the July 2007 photographic competition. Jessica’s beautiful photo titled “USS Forrest Sherman” is being framed by Frame Gallery and will soon be hanging on the wall at UNCOMMON Gallery. You can view her photo in our Competion Winners section.

I’d like to give you a sneak peek of the new flyer Shannon Hammontree designed for the South Florida Camera Club. Shannon and I are also working on a newly designed website with all the latest information about the club posted on the front page. I have already posted upcoming events for the month and more will be added soon. Please check the site often to see added events as the days go by. I would love any input you have for what you are looking for in a website and how it will best serve you. Expect the club to grow fast as we get the word out with these new flyers. You can view the new SFCC flyer by clicking the thumbnail below.

Written by Danny Hammontree

It all started that Saturday afternoon at Jerry’s famous Deli on South Beach. We had a bite to eat and then walked over to Ocean Drive to photograph the excitement throughout the Art Deco District of South Beach. Our objective for the evening was to learn low light and long exposure photographic techniques from South Beach resident Steve “Vortex of Knowledge” Wilkinson.

As we strolled South on Deco Drive photographing buildings, cars driving by, and people partying at the clubs and cafes, many passer-bys asked what we were up to and who we were looking for as if we were paparazzi. Carlos Miller would periodically yell out “Is that Paris Hilton?” who just happened to be in jail at the time. This was pretty funny to us geeks, but I don’t think anyone else was entertained by it, especially those that were following us to see if they could see Paris.

A few of us stayed late and some of us stayed very late photographing well into early morning Sunday. Over the next few days I received through my inbox many beautiful photographs. Below is just a sample of the great photographs created that night/morning.

Photo by Adalia Ortega

Photo by Carlos Miller

Photo by Danny Hammontree

Photo by Edward Regan

Photo by Jessica Savidge

Photo by Kara Starzijk

Photo by Leonardo Glusman

Photo by Shannon DiBenedetto

Group Photo (click to view large size)