Next Meeting

Our next meeting will be at the Pin & Cue Bowling Alley in Whitefish, MT. at 6:30PM Thursday, December 14th.

Newsletter is written by E B GILLILAND

Eternally Grateful

These are thoughts that have gone through my mind on several occasions lately. All of us are grateful for various things that have happened to us during our short life here on this earth. One of the good fortunes that we all share is having known AL Thompson as a friend and the leader of our club. This is the time of year when we are all counting our blessings and going out of our way to be kind to one another. It is also a great time to thank Al for this thing he did, which we all enjoy so much. Thanks AL!!

From the recycle bin

WINTER PHOTOGRAPHY is fun too. When I look back at all the time I’ve spent hunting, fishing and hiking in the mountains it occurs to me that the most memorable trips were the ones with the worst weather. I can recall many occasions when my friend Cliff and I would leave home in snow storms so bad we would have to sneak by the road closed signs way before we got to the bad roads. At the very end of the worst road we would begin our treck up some mountain in two feet of blowing drifting snow carrying forty pounds of gear and fifteen more pounds of rifle and ammo. It was never the hunt that inspired us to continue. It was the challenge of surviving where others would surely die. Even so, six or seven days of hunting, eating, sleeping in knee deep snow and putting up with 10 degree temperatures was enough even for us. We laughed all day every day at the predicaments we brought upon ourselves, but even now, those were the trips that I loved the most.

I don’t climb mountains or hunt anymore, but I still enjoy getting out on a cold winter day with my cameras. There is something very rewarding about spending a day freezing ones fingers, nose, ears, and feet for the sake of a fine picture. At this stage of my life any amount of misery is soon forgotten if I can come home with a fine photograph. The point to all of this is, get out with your camera and enjoy Montana in the winter. If you don’t get that prize winning shot think of the great stories of survival you can tell at the next camera club meeting.

Big News

Our Computer fund has $560.00

Not enough yet, but we are for sure heading in the right direction. Five people have donated $100.00 and we have three twenties. We need a couple more big kind of donations and a bunch more of the smaller variety. Please send me some money.

BIGGER NEWS

THIS IS OUR ANNUAL CAMERA CLUB GIFT EXCHANGE MEETING.

For many years I lobbied for a Hasselblad. I finally got one. Bob and Faith Howard were both extremely kind and very generous. They made my dream of owning a real Hasselblad come true.

It is not absolutely necessary to bring such extravagant gifts but something useful would be good. Most of us look through our junk drawers to find treasurers that we haven’t used for awhile.

The plan is for Jesse to pass the hat, and we each take a number, the lowest number gets first pick from the huge piles of gifts spread out on the gift table. If this sounds like fun, don’t miss the December meeting.

IT IS BEST IF YOU DO NOT WRAP THE GIFTS.

Minutes from November

Our show and tell was a bit low on quantity but never on quality. We didn’t have nearly as many pretty pictures dancing across our screen at the November meeting. As is always the case what we did see were wonderful. Lyle had some great pictures of a nifty little pioneer Montana town. They don’t have to be ghost towns to be interesting. Phillipsburg has always been a favorite town for photographers but none have done it better than Lyle.

Nick who easily gets my favorite photographer award this month had one of the best Elk shots anybody has ever seen. Fantastic composition, wonderful light and the best full body silhouette of a fine bull Elk that I have ever seen in my whole entire life. I just hope that dumb luck played a part in him getting such a fine shot. If there wasn’t some luck involved he is just way too good.

Steve and Becca never fail to entertain us with their outstanding photography. Not only are they good but with them diversity reins supreme. We never see the same thing twice. They buy gas so that we can sit at home and watch TV.

Camera Club Web Site

We are still asking for more members to contribute to the Club Web site. It is fun and inexpensive. We have 12 members who have contributed and it is looking good. The two new guys have really added some class to the site with some outstanding photography. Please check them out. -James Haring and Larry Stolte-

Ask Adele for details.

adele@digisys.net

Buffalo Hills Terrace

We still need more volunteers for the Monthly Buffalo Terrace Photo show. Please help; this is the only contact with the outside for many of these people and they really do appreciate our efforts. It’s fun and easy so please contact me for more details.

Nobody December
Chuck Haney January
Bob Blickenstaff February

OTHER NEWS

The 344 Gallery

If you are interested in a show at the Gallery please let me know. It is a first come deal. So far everything after September is available.

The Gallery schedule:
Dan Taylor December 2006/January 2007
Alex Volborth February/May
Nick Fuci June/July
Shawn Coggins August/September

PROGRAMS