The car wreck is an example of Photograhic Journalism, one of the judging categories of the Society.

Photographers are on their way to the Teche Area

A month ago painters set up easels all around the Teche Area for the fourth annual Plein Air Competition. Last weekend fans of books toured the real New Iberia for Books Along the Teche Literary Festival. Next weekend watch out for the camera bugs, they’ll be flying with the lens of their cameras — but mostly they will be at the regional convention being held at the Hampton Inn April 19 through 21.

The Gulf States Camera Club Council consists of 25 local societies in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. Each year a local chapter hosts the convention providing hospitality and photo opportunities for workshops and speakers to get into the natural surroundings of the local chapter. Acadiana’s chapter is actually the Lafayette Photography Society but a number of shutter bugs are from New Iberia and took the lead inviting the group to the Teche Area.

Photographers from throughout the South will arrive Thursday and stay through the weekend with annual photographic competition awards presentations, speakers, camera and accessory vendors and field trips scheduled to Lake Martin, Rip Van Winkle Gardens, Longfellow-Evangeline State Park plus models on the grounds for the opening Extravaganza reception at The Shadows-on-the-Teche Friday night.

Gene Bachman, Louisiana Photographic Society Digital Projection Contest coordinator and Gulf States Camera Club Council event chairman said Debbie Brookhouser and Claudia Porter Morgan brought together the hot spots that made the decision a “no brainer,” he said. Contributions from New Iberia members Marilyn White, Anne Stevens and Ruth Crotty were instrumental in building anticipation for the event.

“It is kind of nice when you think I started taking photos for the yearbook in high school first with my Dad’s camera and then with the one I was given for Christmas. Many years later this wonderful hobby has allowed me to meet interesting people literally from all around the world,” said Marilyn White. “Photos capture moments and events in time and then they allow those interested in art side to have a dialogue on techniques and equipment. After all photographs are often considered some of the most treasured possessions people have connecting them to generations and times past, during times of celebration and joy.”

Sponsors include Dury’s, a camera shop established in 1882 in Nashville, Peachtree Camera Repair, Tamron, Panasonic and The Shadows-on-the-Teche, a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Vendors presenting door prizes include Lisa Langell Photography, Louis Kemper, Fractal Filters, Think Tank, Hunt’s Photo, ON1, Konriko and Drury’s.

Second Generation Dilemma

Every photograph has a story, every photographer deserves one, or two, explaining the captured moments. One member of the Acadiana club is remembered by her daughter who helped bring the convention to the Teche Area.

Claudia Porter Morgan is a second generation Gulf States CCC member. She grew up experiencing her mother’s passion for photography. Until her parents, Henry and Aline Compton Porter died last year, the family and caregivers were regularly entertained by meticulously assembled, stored and narrated carousels of slides taken by Aline Porter. She was famous for having slides shows and her archives are rich with history of the area.

Before a local chapter was founded in 1971, Porter already had been attending annual conventions. Her first was archived in a photo album of memories that reads “1964 Corpus Christi — 1st GSCCC Convention in San Antonio with Henry, Claudia and Courtland.” Samples of her photography show her sense of humor as well as artistic composition. She had a way of showing a point of view often seen but rarely captured unless a camera buff is nearby, like the ones below of the bathing beauties or the visit to an outhouse. Some of her photographs will appear later this year as part of the Photos From the Past in Wednesday’s edition of The Daily Iberian.

The collection of photographs and slides became so large, cabinets were built into the 1900s Porter home on St. Peter Street simply to house the relics of days gone by. Porter cannot confirm the assumption, but attending the GSCCC conventions and listening to experienced photographers talk about their craft is evident in her photographs.

Opportunities to Growth or Capture Moments

Nationally recognized, award-winning photographers and industry professionals will present informative sessions on topics including bird, wildlife, landscape and macro photography, post processing, image critiques and mirrorless cameras during this week’s conference. The team of industry speakers include Zack Smith, Cecil Holmes, Jim Byron, Erik Rosengren, Mark Lagrange, Mike Cooper, Doug Hansgate and Steven Uffman.

Doug Hansgate will be offering a pre-conference workshop on Lightroom for post processing, along with a post conference workshop with guided trips into the Atchafalaya Basin. Vendors from across the South will be offering a variety of products and services including camera sensor cleaning and lens calibration. The LUMIX Ambassador will also showcase the work done by Panasonic on mirrorless cameras.

On Friday and Saturday mornings attendees will have the opportunity to explore Lake Martin, Rip Van Winkle Gardens, Vermilionville and Longfellow Evangeline State Park. Shadows on the Teche will be the site for the Friday night Extravaganza. Photographers attending the Extravaganza will have the opportunity to practice portrait skills during live model shoots along with a light painting seminar shoot while enjoying a catered meal. Light Painting is a technique of shooting at night in the dark, capturing light with different lenses. Mike Cooper will be teaching this session on Friday following the Extravaganza.

“Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth and you will know the key to photography,” the late George Eastman’s quote is featured prominently on the GSCCC website.

Monthly competitions for local chapters bring accolades to members and the judging of the annual competition by three national judges, Doug Hansgate, Jim Byron and Erik Rosengren, brings the quality of photography higher with each passing year.

Conference attendees can also schedule an appointment to have one-on-one image critiques by a Professional Photographers of America judge. The weekend event will conclude with the Awards banquet on Saturday night.

GSCCC was organized in 1954, in Baton Rouge. The Lafayette Photography Society, a member club of GSCCC, began in 1971. Lafayette Photography Society meets from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. twice a month on the second and fourth Mondays of the month. During meetings members are presented informative programs on photography topics and compete in club competitions and to be entered in GSCCC competitions. Meetings are at the Comeaux Recreation Center, located at 411 W. Bluebird St. in Lafayette.

Check out the club website for additional details and membership information at www.lafayettephotographicsociety.org. For additional information about GSCCC and to register for the conference visit www.gulfstatesccc.org. Registration is $60 plus optional field trips and the Extravaganza tickets that cover banquets, guides and model fees.