HHCC – Indoor Zoo Challenge!

Zoo Outing Cancelled … replaced with “Indoor Zoo Challenge”

Sadly, as you’ve seen we’ve had to cancel the Zoo Outing that Marion was organising.

Instead… we’ve replaced the outing with an April photo challenge: “The Zoo In and Around your Home”

It’s not a competition.  No points  No pressure.  Just for fun.  For sharing with members. And keeping you photographically active.

Be creative … the zoo could be your pets, garden insects, visiting wildlife, the feral kids… even a still life of your collection of soft animal toys!

So snap away and upload your favourites to the website in the new event we have set up today. You’ll find the challenge in the Competition Page on the club website. Also, some indoor photography links for you below.

Have fun!

Indoor Photography Learning Links

https://www.unscriptedmentoring.com/blog-1/2019/1/14/xxx-tips-for-photographing-indoors

https://www.photographytalk.com/beginner-photography-tips/7194-12-photo-projects-you-can-do-from-home

7 Ideas for Rainy Day Photographic Activities at Home

by David Curtis, April 4, 2020

HHCC – Camera Club Online Meeting Success!

Hi All,

Firstly a big thank you for all of you who participated in last night’s test of our online meeting capabilities – Zoom! It was a very good session with many questions asked on how to use the system and a successful outcome. At one point we had 23 logged into the meeting and you can see all of our mug shots below!

The consensus is that this approach will work well for our club sessions going forward until we are all able to get back together physically.

If you have any questions or queries about how to use Zoom please reach out to Dave Curtis – dsacurtis@gmail.com and we’ll try and get them answered.

Just a reminder that you’ll all receive a further note later in the month with a link to the online meeting to use at our next club night on Tuesday 21st April.

Best,

Dave

by David Curtis, April 1, 2020

HHCC – External Competition

Hi All,

Details below for an external competition you may be interested in.

Cheers,

Elaine

Entries open: 1 May The Heritage Bank Photographic Awards are open to professional and amateur photographers alike.

Open Category The choice of subject is yours, so it can be anything you like. Photographers of all ages, backgrounds and experience levels are invited to enter this category where great imagery is everything and creativity is the key ingredient.

Youth Category These awards are dedicated to young photographers ages 17 and younger, encouraging them to explore their surroundings and cultivate their creativity. The choice of subject is open.

Themed Category: Resilience This year’s theme of “resilience” opens up a huge range of possibilities, limited only by your creativity and imagination. The theme lends itself to a variety of interpretations. It could be the landscape springing back to life after rain; an athlete returning after injury; a community responding after tragedy; or someone’s perseverance in the face of adversity.  Put your own twist on the subject – it’s totally up to you.

Find out More

by David Curtis, April 1, 2020

HHCC – Club Meeting Tonight

Hi All,

This is a just a quick follow-up to Tom’s note a few days back about our club meeting tonight starting at 7:30pm. As Tom mentioned, given we cannot meet in person for a while we are going to trial the use of a video technology called Zoom. Zoom enables us to have a interactive experience online including video as well as audio. I’ve used this for some time and it works quite well.

As a slight update to Tom’s note I’ve generated a new Zoom ID which I’ve included below. Please use this one instead of the one in Tom’s email. I have also added a password which you will require to ensure the meeting is private to just our club members. The password is 042199. You will be able to enter this when you access the meeting tonight.

As Tom also mentioned – If you haven’t used Zoom before, when you click on the link, it will ask you to install a piece of software. It is recommended that you use a laptop or PC for this session as, whilst it works on a mobile phone, is a little easier. If you can I’d recommend clicking the link a little before 7:30pm to give adequate time for you to complete any installations if required.

We look forward to “seeing” you all tonight!

https://zoom.us/j/136705751?pwd=RHAySnQrT3FXbHEyS3FsdGl6cnhoUT09

by David Curtis, March 31, 2020

HHCC – Nature Trip to Sydney Zoo Cancelled

Hi All,

Below are the latest COVID-19 regulations being brought into effect at Sydney Zoo as of 23 March 2020. However, I can see most of these will dampen our potential as photographers to have an enjoyable day, especially the people movement directions, the supposedly staggered arrival times (what if most choose 9 am?), the closure of the aquarium, nocturnal and reptile house (which are worth seeing), the continual social distancing (making it impossible to provide adequate photography assistance where needed) and the continual need to sanitise our hands etc. all add up to not much fun!

So sadly I will have to cancel this day, and we can only hope that we can share a nature photography day in the future once we can get ourselves through this crazy crisis. As it stands I have only had two people sign up, one of whom has since cancelled.

Fingers crossed for a better future, and please stay safe!

Marion

SYDNEY ZOO COVID-19 UPDATE, 23 Mar 2020.

New arrival times introduced to limit guest numbers

We are limiting the number of guests by introducing new arrival times. You can choose to arrive at 9am, 10am, 11am, 12noon or 1pm and can buy your tickets online. You can stay as long as you want. This change ensures our guests can adhere to social distancing advice.

We are putting in place new zones on-site

We are splitting the zoo into four zones and all guests will be asked to move in a clockwise direction as this will help achieve the best social distancing practices. Watch this video for more information on what to expect during your visit.

To help make Sydney Zoo a safe place to visit, we have put these extra precautions in place:

• We will be limiting the number of people in the zoo
• Ensuring the ticket scanning procedure involves no direct contact
• We will be accepting cashless, card payments only
• Providing over 75 hand sanitising stations throughout the zoo
• Indoor areas without significant ventilation, including the Reptile & Nocturnal House and the Aquarium, are closed
• Our food and beverage outlets are open for takeaway options only (table service is closed) and you can enjoy your food at one of the many picnic areas available
• Increased cleaning schedules in high traffic areas
• A fast and direct exit is now in place to accommodate social distancing
• Keeper Talks and our Aboriginal Cultural experience have been postponed

by David Curtis, March 24, 2020

HHCC – April Nature Outing Update

Hi All,

The planned excursion to Sydney Zoo will go ahead, given the current update on their website re the virus (shown below). PLEASE email Marion (frogpole@tpg.com.au) if you intend to come, and don’t forget to purchase tickets soon online, given the limitations being placed on numbers allowed into the zoo – see below.

If anyone needs a lift, contact Marion also, and we will try to organise this.

Look forward to seeing you there. 

Marion.

COVID-19 UPDATE – Sydney Zoo is open

Our animals, guests and staff are our top priority. We are working with and following the advice provided by the NSW and Federal Governments and will provide any updates on this page.

As an outdoor venue with plenty of space and fresh air, spending time connecting with animals is a great way to relieve anxiety and have an enjoyable day out with family and friends.

To help make Sydney Zoo a safe place to visit, we have put these extra precautions in place:

• We will be limiting the number of people in the zoo
• Ensuring the ticket scanning procedure involves no direct contact
• We will be accepting cashless, card payments only
• Providing over 75 hand sanitising stations throughout the zoo 
• Indoor areas without significant ventilation, including the Reptile & Nocturnal House and the Aquarium, are closed 
• Tables in our food and beverage outlets have been spaced to allow for social distancing 
• Increased cleaning schedules in high traffic areas
• A fast and direct exit is now in place to accommodate social distancing
• Keeper Talks and our Aboriginal Cultural experience have been postponed 

If you are feeling unwell we ask that you look after yourself and protect others in the community by staying home and following the latest government advice. 

Thank you for your support during this period and we will continue to update you as more information comes to hand.

by David Curtis, March 20, 2020

HHCC – Portfolio Evening Postponed

Hi Members,

Unfortunately due to the current global situation we’ll need to delay our Portfolio display evening which was planned for the 31st March. We want to ensure everyone’s safety and after consideration of the government recommendations felt it would be inappropriate to proceed at the moment. We’ll look to reschedule hopefully later in the year.

Best,

Dave

by David Curtis, March 19, 2020

Results for competitions in March – Blue & Open

There were 38 entries that gained our highest award(s).

Members can view all images and comment on them by following this link
View / Comment entries in March – Blue & Open

click here to see a pdf catalog of all competition results

Alone Elaine Holliday – Merit – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital	Breaking through the fog Nilmini De Silva – Merit – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital
Arctic Blue Marion Anstis – Merit – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital	milky way and Bathurst glow Melinda Sexton – Merit – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital
Blue Sky Alan Torrens – Merit – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital	Hmmm paint Sonia Conn – Merit – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital
Feeling Blue Sonia Conn – Merit – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital	Bucket! Bob Sendt – Merit – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital
Splash s Martin Paul – Merit – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital	Blue Ice Marion Anstis – Merit – Set All Grades SetSubject Colour Large Print
Ice Wall David Curtis – Merit – Set All Grades SetSubject Colour Large Print	My cup runneth over Sonia Conn – Merit – Set All Grades SetSubject Colour Large Print
Bubbles s Martin Paul – Merit – Set All Grades SetSubject Colour Large Print	Flying Discs Melinda Sexton – Merit – Set All Grades SetSubject Small Print
Blue pegs Tom Carlos – Merit – Set All Grades SetSubject Small Print	Deep Thinker Martin Paul – Merit All Grades Open Colour Large Print
Autumn Daze II Sonia Conn – Merit All Grades Open Mono Large Print	The Bongs Jenny Anderson – Merit All Grades Open Mono Large Print
Sydney Tower Jorn Villien – Merit All Grades Open Digital	DSC00039 2 RNP Cool Vila Waters R. Neville Pollard – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital
Blue Bells Jorn Villien – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital	The House Blues Elaine Holliday – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital
Blue Hour Nilmini De Silva – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital	Windows on the Blue Train Tom Carlos – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital
Terrigal Blue Tom Carlos – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital	Cool and Crisp David Curtis – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital
Blue Oils David Curtis – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital	Slippery Slope Melinda Sexton – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital
Reflections on Blue Melinda Sexton – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Digital	Plumbago Elaine Holliday – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Colour Large Print
Blue Haze David Curtis – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Colour Large Print	Blue York City Jonathan Beckerleg – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Colour Large Print
Blue Hour Sonia Conn – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Colour Large Print	Morning Tea Time Bob Sendt – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Colour Large Print
Ethiopian Girl s Martin Paul – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Colour Large Print	Blue emergence Fiona Wilson – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Small Print
Any size one colour Jonathan Beckerleg – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Small Print	Blue M and M Tom Carlos – Highly Commended – Set All Grades SetSubject Small Print

by David Curtis, March 18, 2020

HHCC – Outing to Sydney Zoo

Hi Members,

This is a reminder about the upcoming Nature outing to Sydney Zoo on Saturday 4th April. Marion Anstis will be our guide for this outing. Note that if you are attending it is cheaper to purchase tickets online in advance. You can find all the information in the flyer which you can download here.

PLEASE LET MARION KNOW BY 1 APRIL IF YOU ARE COMING:
Mobile: 0429 456 169;
Email: frogpole@tpg.com.au

Cheers,

Dave

by David Curtis, March 10, 2020

HHCC – Postponed – Weekend Outing

Hi Members,

Just a brief note to say that the upcoming weekend Street Photography outing will need to be deferred to a later date. A further note will be sent when the new date has been planned. Apologies for the incovenience.

Thanks,

Dave

by David Curtis, March 4, 2020