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WOLLONGONG
PHOTOGRAPHY
GROUP

Upcoming Events

Post Processing - Intro to Lightroom

Post Processing - Intro to Lightroom

Wednesday the 25th of May
Online via Zoom - 7.00pm - 2 hours
While the aim is always to capture the best image in-camera, post-processing can also take your photos to the next level. We will start from the basics and work up to the powerful features Lightroom offers. Even those who are experienced with Lightroom can still unlock features or better workflows. We will look at cataloguing, basic edits, the histogram, colour grading, saturation, tone adjustment, brushes, creating your own presets, and the newer upgrades to masks and filters. How to do HDR and stitch panoramas. We will set up workflows and helpful shortcuts and more. Questions and discussion will be encouraged. Even if you don't have access to this software platform, seeing how the process works will provide an overview of the endless possibilities of post-processing. The principles can also be applied to other software modules.
book now
$35pp     10 places left - requires 3 bookings to proceed
Lake Illawarra and Windang Photo Walk

Lake Illawarra and Windang Photo Walk

Sunday the 29th of May
Pur Pur Point and Windang Bridge - 3.00pm - 2 hours
Join us for an easy walk from Windang Island to Windang Bridge and return. We will meet at Pur Pur Point making our way to Windang Island to photograph the historical rusty wheels and explore the rock platform at low tide. We will return via the shoreline observing shore birds and beach life to the Windang Bridge for sunset at 4:55pm over Lake Illawarra. Caution: There will some hazards with slippery rocks and walking over sand. The walk length is approx. 3 km and we will be returning after sunset to the car park (as a group) at approx. 5:30pm
book now
$35pp     only 4 places left
Beginners and Intermediates – Getting off Auto and more

Beginners and Intermediates – Getting off Auto and more

Sunday the 12th of June
Port Kembla - 9am - 3 hours
Transform your everyday snaps into outstanding images. The Port Kembla Heritage Park, the site of the original harbour master facilities offers an interesting collection of marine and military related artifacts, along with headland views and rock pools. We will cover the fundamentals of manual camera settings for correct exposure, practice different compositions, focus and depth of field. We will also discuss different lens and their applications plus camera care and maintenance. We will explore different concepts such as landscape, close up, abstract and more. Techniques will be adapted to your skill level.
fully booked
Introduction to Astrophotography

Introduction to Astrophotography

Saturday the 18th of June
Bombo Quarry near Kiama - 7:00 pm - 2 hours
Bombo Quarry is a renowned geological feature that provides a sheltered location from the urban lights for night photography. We can use the towering rocks to add some special interest to our night sky photos or aim our cameras to the east to capture our Milky Way Galaxy as it rises above the horizon. Please be aware that this session will be subject to suitable weather and ocean conditions.
fully booked
Coast Track Landscape Meetup in the Royal National Park

Coast Track Landscape Meetup in the Royal National Park

Saturday the 9th of July
Bundeena, Royal National Park - 1.00pm - 2 hours
Join in a group walk from Bundeena along the northern section of the Coast Track to "The Balconies" with spectacular views of the coastline and hopefully see some whales on their northern migration. The track is easily negotiated through native vegetation and sandstone landform. One-way distance is 1.5-2(max) km. Note: your return walk may be outside the session time. We will use close-up photography to capture native vegetation, rock details, and natural features, with wide-angle for sweeping landscapes. A telephoto lens will be useful if we can spot some breaching whales in the distance from the rock cliffs.
book now
$35pp     only 5 places left
Introduction to Astrophotography

Introduction to Astrophotography

Saturday the 16th of July
Maddens Plains - 6.30pm - 2 hours
Maddens Plains north of Wollongong is a large natural bushland with a low density of urban lights, making it an ideal location for night sky and astrophotography. The dark sky will allow our Milky Way Galaxy to be visible as it rises above the horizon, the clear horizon views will enable wide-angle landscape and if the atmospheric conditions are suitable, and you have a telephoto lens, we could try to image some deep sky objects. The moon will rise during the last part of our session. Please be aware that this session will be subject to suitable weather. This site has easier access than Bombo, although it still requires walking in the dark it is on level ground.
book now
$35pp     only 6 places left
Capturing Star Trails in the Night Sky Class

Capturing Star Trails in the Night Sky Class

Saturday the 27th of August
Stanwell Park (may be changed due to conditions) - 6 pm - 3 hours
In this 3hr class you will learn how to plan, map and set-up your camera to capture multiple timed images of the night sky creating a circular star trail around the south celestial pole. You will be provided with some tasks to complete prior to the class. While the cameras are recording the images, we will be able to further discuss techniques or if you have a second camera – take other night sky photographs. This class includes a complimentary Zoom session to help you with post-processing your images. Location: Stanwell Park - note location may change or be postponed at the last minute depending on the weather conditions. Details will be provided to participants
fully booked
Abstracts in Nature

Abstracts in Nature

Saturday the 17th of September
Macquarie pass - 2pm - 2 hours
Explore different methods of creating abstracts in the living world. You will explore the concept of natural abstracts while walking the Cascade Falls Walk Macquarie Pass. We will use techniques such as macro, selective focus, shallow depth of field, in-camera movement, and multiple exposures to create artistic interpretations. These techniques have wider applications in many other genres. If you want to expand your creative side – this meet-up will challenge your imaginative thought process.
book now
$35pp     10 places left - requires 3 bookings to proceed
Bass Point Coastal Walk Meet-Up

Bass Point Coastal Walk Meet-Up

Saturday the 22nd of October
3 pm - 2 hours
Join us for a relaxed walk along the beaches, rocky shore, and bush tracks of Bass Point. Starting from the gravel loader car park, we walk past sandy inlets, explore rock gutters and wander along sandy trails to the end of the point and return. The Bass Point Nature Reserve supports coastal vegetation, a wide variety of birds, seashore life and on a lucky day at this time of the year, migrating whales returning to the southern oceans are a regular sight along with this point. 3 km return length with an easy grade.
book now
$35pp     11 places left - requires 3 bookings to proceed
ABOUT WOLLONGONG
PHOTOGRAPHY
GROUP
Come along to our photo sessions to dust off your camera and get snap-happy with a professional photography instructor.
Brush up on your camera skills and learn new photography techniques whilst on a photo walk class with other local keen photographers!

We run two hour photography sessions based on a photography theme/technique/style and they take place in various locations across the region.
New to photography? We also run a popular 3 hour Beginners Guide to Photography Class once a month.
And once in a while we will run special niche 3 hour classes, for example, Astrophotography - so do subscribe to our newsletter to know when the next on is!

Who can attend? Open to all skill levels, from beginners to keen amateurs. The photography instructor is there to help you with camera settings and provide any advice you need.

What to bring? We recommend bringing a camera that has full manual mode or semi-manual modes (Aperture or Shutter Priority). Compact cameras and smartphones also welcome!

The meeting point and full details for the day are sent in the booking confirmation email to the email address you provide at time of booking.

Join the Wollongong Photography Facebook Group here to share your photos after the session.



We ask that everyone attending a meetup follows social distancing guidelines:

Stay home if you're sick.
Keep 1.5 metres away from others.
Don't make unnecessary physical contact with others. Avoid physical greetings, such as handshakes, hugs and kisses.
Wash your hands regularly with alcohol-based sanitiser.
Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Use a flexed elbow or a tissue; if you use a tissue, dispose of it immediately and appropriately.
REVIEWS
I thought this session showed me that there is a lot to learn about macro photography and that I need to practise if I want to do this type of photography for myself. It also gave me a new respect for any macro photography that I see in the future.
4/5
Carmen Morrison
May 16th 2022
Very helpful, great leader
5/5
Patricia Maher
May 15th 2022
I was so happy with this event. I got to use my new Sigma Macro lens and with Sue's help, I was able to take some interesting photos. And for once, the weather could not have been better. Yay!!!
5/5
Carmen Morrison
May 1st 2022
I really like the way Sue Curtis runs the workshop. She gives us a handout to give us options and challenges, to use but is also on hand to guide and ask questions. She also makes sure she comes around and checks how everyone is progressing and goes handy tips to get better photos.
5/5
Donna Dickson
April 30th 2022
Sue as always was very informative and very patient in working through any questions raised. Certainly took away some learnings from this and recommended.
5/5
Larry Ryan
April 29th 2022
Excellent I learnt so much about post editing
5/5
Gina Evans
April 22nd 2022
5/5
keith whitfield
April 10th 2022
5/5
Katherine Gosson
March 20th 2022
With the help and encouragement of Sue, I did very well. I'm having difficulties with my laptop and haven't seen the photos as yet, even though they have been downloaded, but just the fact that I was able to use the camera on manual makes me very chuffed.
5/5
Carmen Morrison
March 20th 2022
Great location. Sue is a good teacher, generous with her time and explains the concepts well. I?m learning lots!
5/5
Jen Lysle-van Dyk
March 20th 2022
Sue was great, learnt a lot and lovely people
5/5
Patricia Maher
March 20th 2022
It was great. Really informative, well paced and understandable.
5/5
Cathi Rigby
March 18th 2022
INSTRUCTORS
Sue Curtis
Sue has enjoyed more than 30 years of photography experiencing a wide range of techniques and subjects, including nature subjects landscape, astrophotography (with a telescope), plant macro and birds, and award-winning underwater photography. She likes to integrate the technical aspects of photography to pursue unique effects and ideas. Sue's long time career in scientific research and diagnostics has progressed to providing 15 years of education at TAFE and University. The opportunity to combine teaching and share her love of photography with other people has been a rewarding experience with Wollongong Photography Group. Sue has a side photography business operating as Sue Curtis Photography with a focus on Pet and Family session photography as well as Junior Sport Teams and Portraits. Websites www.suecurtisphotography.com.au (Pet and Family Photography) www.suecurtis.com (Sport Photography) Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sue.curtis.75286/ https://www.facebook.com/suecurtisphotos Instagram @suecurtisphotography @sue_curtis_pet_photography