Now that was much better.
The fifth meeting of COBA was held at the Stanford Linear Accelerator on July 17, 2002. There were three main items on the agenda this evening:
- Tips and tricks with the EOS-D30/D60 and EOS-1D
- General photography tips
- Photo showcase
By concentrating on subjects that have universal appeal, the group was more focused and involved throughout the meeting. We learned from the last one that keeping people involved is key to ensuring their return the following month. We had a few new people show up, including Brian, Jeff, Barbie, Scott, Peter, Edgar, Richard, Serge, Lance, Preet, and James, along with the regular old crowd of COBA Members. Most of the new people found out about the site through DPReview’s Canon SLR Forum or through Rob Galbraith’s web site.
Most of the tips and techniques that were covered during the meeting are already posted online in the Presentation Board of the COBA Discussion Forums. The picture (the San Jacinto Monument in Texas) at the top of this journal entry demonstrates the use of converging lines and the rule of thirds.
Check out the rest of the tips on the message boards and try using some of these tips the next time you crack out the camera. Practice, practice, practice. It’s the only way to get better. You can worry about lens sharpness and color purity until you’re blue in the face, but if you’re not out there pounding the pavement with your camera, you’re not learning nor are you growing.
Following the two presentations, we broke out our favorite photos for everyone to see. It’s a good idea to have people bring in their work for critique from their peers. I’m hoping that more and more people bring their work to future meetings.
Speaking of which, the next COBA Meeting is tentatively set for Wednesday, August 14, 2002, again at SLAC’s Orange Room. I haven’t finalized the meeting agenda yet, but there’s the possibility that we’ll have a professional present who’s trained in cleaning digital camera sensors. I’m also looking into holding a presentation on portrait/studio lighting. Stay tuned for more details!
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