Edging Towards Abstraction & the Power of Negative Space

Jacques Garnier is an internationally recognized fine art photographer whose work explores abstraction, minimalism, and the expressive power of negative space.

Inspired by a Zen-like philosophy, he creates images that strip away distractions, inviting viewers to slow down, reflect, and discover the extraordinary within the ordinary.

In his presentation, Jacques will share the evolution of his artistic journey—from taking photographs to developing a distinctive creative vision.

He will explore how reduction, mindfulness, and the careful use of negative space can transform familiar subjects into compelling works of art.

Please join us on September 2nd as Jacques presents Edging Towards Abstraction & the Power of Negative Space and discover how seeing less can help you see more.

OC Camera Exhibit Update — It’s Coming Together!

The OC Camera Exhibit - “Music in Focus” is off to a fantastic start!

The submission phase has officially wrapped up, and we’re thrilled with the response: 97 photographs submitted by 27 talented SCPC photographers! What an amazing turnout—and what an incredible collection of images!

There’s a tremendous amount of creativity, imagination, and photographic talent on display. Now for the difficult part! The OC Camera Committee will carefully review all 97 submissions and select the photographs that will be featured in the OC Camera exhibition.

Once the selections are finalized, photographers whose images are chosen will be notified so they can begin the printing and framing process. And before we know it, the exhibition will be ready to open its doors!

📅 Exhibition: October 12 – November 16

🥂 Opening Reception: Saturday, October 17 (tentative)

📍 Location: OC Camera

A huge thank you to everyone who submitted photographs and helped make this exhibition possible. With 97 images to choose from, we know the exhibit is going to be something special!

While we wait for the selections, take a sneak peek at the incredible work that was submitted by visiting the OC Camera Exhibition Gallery.

We’re excited to see this exhibition come to life—and we hope you are too! Questions—contact Michael Fate @ mfate@cox.net.

September Photo Challenge: “Throwing Some Shade"

September 22nd marks the Autumn Equinox—the moment day and night stand in perfect balance.
As the sun sits lower in the sky, light stretches into long, dramatic shapes.  This month, we're exploring the geometry of light and dark, using shadows as strong visual elements.  Tracey's dune shot at Mojave National Park is a good example.

4 Ways to Capture the Challenge

• Equal Parts Light & Dark: Aim for balance in your frame—composing a shot where bright light and deep shadow share equal visual weight.

• Shadow as the Main Subject: Frame your shot so the cast shadow becomes the primary hero of the photo, leaving the physical object in a supporting role or out of the frame entirely.

• Graphic Lines & Shadow Dance: Look for repeating architectural patterns, rhythmic textures, or low-angle sun stretching moving figures into long, expressive silhouettes.

• Nature, Wildlife & Mood: Look for creatures or foliage moving through dappled light, high-contrast rim lighting against dark backgrounds, or long shadows cast across wet sand, water, or grass.

Read more here.

Submission Guidelines:

*Limit: One image per entry (full-resolution, ~5,000px on the long side).

*Rules: No watermarks or descriptions on the photo; please ensure your name is in the metadata. See all the rules.

Take and upload your photo between Saturday, August 29  and Friday, October 2nd , midnight.

*Prizes: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be announced at the September 2nd meeting and featured on the SCPC website.

If shot with a SmartPhone, please email your name and description of the photo to scpc-membership@googlegroups.com before the submission deadline.

Entry links are in the newsletter and will be sent again mid-month.

Outings

Afternoon Street Photography

When: Tuesday,September 15th

Led by: Susie Quinn and Robin Hall

Location: Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente

Grab your camera and join us for an afternoon of street photography on Avenida Del Mar in San Clemente! This lively coastal street is filled with colorful storefronts, distinctive architecture, interesting characters, signs, textures, and unexpected moments just waiting to be captured.

We’ll explore the street from a photographer’s perspective, looking for those unique details and fleeting moments that can turn an ordinary walk into an extraordinary photograph. Whether you’re experienced in street photography or have never tried it before, this will be a fun opportunity to see San Clemente in a whole new way. More details to follow—bring your camera and your creative eye!

Two possible outings in September that are in need of a leader.  Drop a line to Scott Stetzer if you have an interest in leading.

CSU / San Bernardino Pow Wow Sept 18th - 20th - San Bernardino San Manuel Pow Wow is a three-day celebration free to the public and features Southern California traditional bird singers and dancers, as well as North American and Canadian dancers and drum singing groups. https://www.socalpowwow.com/

Waste Land: A Mad Max desert event (ala Burning Man) Sept 30th - Oct 4th - in the Mojave Desert A desert festival taking influence from the iconic “Mad Max” films, while incorporating other pieces of post-apocalyptic pop culture now including the popular Fallout theme. https://www.wastelandweekend.com/

This October 24th is the annual Sheep Parade in Cedar City, Utah.

Led by Deana Denlinger

This main-street event features a variety of local activities, including:

* Sheep-herding dog & draft horse demonstrations
* Junior rodeo & antique tractor pull
* Cowboy poetry, music, art & photography displays
* Quilt show, vintage car show & Dutch oven contest
View the full itinerary on the Cedar Livestock Fest Schedule.

You can find outings information on our events calendar.

Workshops

We're busy working on scheduling some interesting subject workshops for the near future.  Check our events calendarfor updates.

Monthly Casual Shooting Workshop (CSW) Series

CSWs are scheduled on the third week of the month to work on a specific shooting method.  The leader will select the location and will post links that illustrate the shooting method. Afterward, we'll get together at a local coffee shop or another place to share images and experiences. 

One of our club’s most valued community activities is providing photographic support for local non‑profit organizations during their fundraising events and celebrations. Members volunteering their time and skills help these groups document their milestones, promote their missions, and elevate the impact of their events.

This work not only strengthens our club’s outreach efforts, but also offers members a fun and meaningful way to practice event photography in real‑world settings. The organizations we assist are consistently grateful for the images we create, and our contributions make a genuine difference in their ability to share their stories.

Upcoming Community Outreach Events:

September 14th, 8:30am-2:30pm With Hope Golf Tournament

October 2nd, 6-8pm Friendly Center Havana Nights Gala

October 17th & 18th, MS Bay to Bay Bike Event

Look for upcoming emails with further details and signup sheets

Our Calendar lists all upcoming Outreach events.

See all Outreach images here.

Best Shots Rules

Submit your best shot - any subject, any style - but only one shot! This is your opportunity to showcase your current work and share what you’re exploring as a photographer.

Take and upload your best shot between Saturday, August 1st and Friday, August 28th, midnight.

This is not a contest. Your reward will be the fun of posting your best shot of the month and seeing others' best shots. 

Watermarks are encouraged for Best Shots. It makes it easy to identify the photographer and give them proper credit.

You'll find the upload links in the monthly newsletter, and they will be sent again mid-month before the challenge ends.

Before posting, read the rulesfor detailed Challenge and Best Shots images. 

Our sponsors now have a page of their own.  Click here.