Coastal Camera Club to host virtual beach bash Feb. 28

Coastal Camera Club will host its sixth annual Virtual Beach Bash Saturday, Feb. 28. This free Zoom event will showcase two captivating presentations by nationally known experts Charles Needle and Melissa Needle.

Kicking off the event at 10 a.m., Melissa Needle will present “Next-Level iPhone Photography: From Snapshot to Masterpiece,” demonstrating ways to go beyond the point-and-shoot capabilities of the smartphone camera. Using a combination of lecture and live demonstrations, Melissa will show participants how to get the most from the native camera and reveal many of its hidden features, as well as reviewing helpful accessories. She will then discuss creative editing and stylizing apps, giving attendees the tools to unleash their creativity and transform average, not-quite-there images into expressive, painterly masterpieces. Note: Android users are welcome, with the understanding that Melissa uses and will demonstrate various apps and camera features using an iPhone. Many apps and techniques work on both iPhones and Androids, and she will highlight similar Android apps when possible.

Charles Needle will take the virtual stage at 3 p.m. to present “Impressionistic Photography: How to Use Your Camera as a Paintbrush.” Participants will discover how to craft impressionistic-looking photographs using nothing but their digital cameras.Using an easy-to-understand, step-by-step approach, Charles will describe the processes of using long-exposure and multiple-exposure techniques to transform everyday scenes into visual masterpieces. He will also explain how to use a free script in Photoshop to accomplish this same look for cameras that do not have built-in multiple-exposure capability. He will also touch upon various shooting apps that allow users to create painterly images using a smartphone. 

“Our club exists today to encourage and promote interest in photography through education and participation in activities and competitions,” said President Doug Strande. “The Photo Beach Bash was started in 2013 as an in-person event to enable us to share the joy of photography beyond the club.”

The virtual event is free to attend, but registration is required. To learn more, go to coastalcameraclub.com.