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Members Present:
There were 15 members present.

Next Meeting:
Tentatively, our next meeting is scheduled for May 20, at the Soldotna Middle School. However, we don't yet know the school's schedule for the end of the school year, so stay tuned for updates on this. We do not have meetings in June, July, or August, however, we will still try to communicate photo-related information to you, so if you have a tip, or a question about something, let us know.


New Business and Announcements:

- Don't forget the SMALL SHOTS SHOW at the Fine Arts Center which is coming up really soon. This is the show that showcases small images, and proves that you don't have to print it big in order to have a big impact. Ths size of the image is limited to 70 square inches or less. Entries will be accepted at the Fine Arts Center in Kenai on April 28th and 29th, from noon to 5 pm. The entry form is attached to this e-mail.

- The Kenai Visitor and Cultural Center's (KVCC) summer show will open with a gala evening event on May 9th. Plan to attend; it's a great evening. Several of our members are in this show, which is curated by Jayne Jones. The show runs throughout the summer, from May to September.

- Our (KPPG's) fall show at KVCC is usually around the Holidays, but this year, it looks like it will be in September or October. So, get out and get some good images this summer, because you'll have to get something ready for the show earlier than you are used to doing it!

- Hal Gage is having a couple of workshops this summer that may be of interest to the nature photographers amongst us. The first one is "Glacier Photography Adventure", a two and a half day workshop, May 30-June 1, 2008, at the Matanuska Glacier. It is limited to 20 participants and costs $225. The other workshop is "Close-up and Nature Photography Retreat", on July 18-20, at Across-the-Bay-Tent-and-Breakfast on the far side of Kachemak Bay. This workshop is limited to 15 participants and includes transportation from Homer, lodging, gourmet meals, and three days of instruction and photography, for $365 per person. For more information, contact Hal Gage via email at workshop@halgage.com or call him at 272-4356.

- The Harvest Auction at the Kenai Fine Arts Center is not until this fall, but it's not too early to start thinking about this event. You can donate part or all of the proceeds from the sale of your item, and it's another great evening event. More info in the months to come.


MAIN TOPIC: Converting to Digital

Bill gave a presentation on file formats, file size, compression, pixels, and resolution. He discussed why jpegs are so popular, and what the pros and cons are for using them. The jpeg format is generally best for web and e-mail use, but the tif and Photoshop's psd format are "lossless" formats that are used for bigger files that are intended for commercial or printing applications. While "RAW" is not actually a format, it describes the data taken directly from the camera's sensor. Only the more complicated cameras produce RAW data files, and using this method definitely requires more editing and computer work.
We also had a wide-ranging discussion on pixels, printing,and on scanning slides. Genn gave everybody some information on the various types of media and devices for storing all those digital files along with current prices. The good news is that prices for storage devices is going down! It was a good discussion, and it showed just how many things are involved in converting from film to digital !

Get out there and shoot...........
GK