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Photographers take over towns

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Contributed by: Rhonda Van Pelt on 3/14/2008

By Rhonda Van Pelt
YourHub Contributor

The steely-eyed veterans and nervous rookies grabbed their equipment and prepared to storm the unsuspecting towns. Their mission: to take photos, have fun and learn.

The Colorado Springs Photography Meetup Group was founded in May 2007 and gains members daily - at last count, more than 180 people of all ages and levels of experience. You don't have to live in Colorado Springs to join; the group has members from Denver, Pueblo and throughout the Pikes Peak region. The annual dues of $10 go to cover expenses.

Activities include hiking, road trips, workshops and contests. The group holds occasional critique sessions, and one of the basic tenets is to always treat others, and their work, with respect and courtesy.

Thanks to the milder weather of not-quite spring, the photographers took to the streets on two consecutive Saturdays in early March.

On the first Saturday, 17 members met in Manitou Springs and spent a few hours taking photos of people hugging, walking and running; people on bicycles and motorcycles and in shiny cars; families, friends and lovers; dogs of all shapes and sizes; statuary and still lifes; historic landmarks and living, breathing icons.

Members realized they saw details they might never have noticed just walking through the town, and several said they'd talked with people they might have been too shy to approach without a camera in hand.

A scavenger hunt was held in Old Colorado City on the second Saturday. Organizers had compiled a list - but these were no ordinary objects to find and photograph. Participants had to illustrate concepts such as tranquil and stormy, innocence and guilt, passion and loneliness, happiness and sorrow.

The group broke into two teams of eight and set out to find the best examples. Once again, they noticed things they'd never seen before and overcame their shyness to approach people. Team members worked together, pointing out possibilities and sharing ideas. Local business owners were patient when their shops filled with shutterbugs and pedestrians willingly posed with their dogs.

After about two hours of climbing onto retaining walls and stretching out on sidewalks to capture the right angles, both teams converged on a Colorado Avenue restaurant to compare photos over lunch. They'll compile the best examples of each concept for bragging rights in the group.

After that, who knows what these creative people will think of next?

Rhonda Van Pelt is a writer, editor, artist and photographer who loves living on the west side.

For more information or to join: http://photo.meetup.com/586/
To see members' work: www.pbase.com/nemoscoffeephotos

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Submitted By: jane rodgers

posted on 3/14/2008 @ 6:20:18 PM

(Not Rated)

Rhonda, I will be the first to comment on your article.I always enjoy reading the comments that people leave. Your story was very interesting ;one of these days I will be joining the group.Looking forward to meeting all of you.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFO

Rhonda Van Pelt

Colorado Springs , CO

Rhonda Van Pelt has posted 2 stories and 0 comments since joining on 3/14/2008. Rhonda Van Pelt 's average story rating is 5.

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