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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday September 24, 2008 - 31 Artscene Oakville Beaver · WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 Sign up now for guitar, bass, drums, and piano OAKVILLE'S MUSIC STORE Smile for the camera, Oakville! Oakville Camera Club announces second annual photo competition O n't have to be a pro who takes a good image. Lots of people have a fabulous eye and photography is akville's photography competition is popular now in all the generations, back for another year and organizers so you never know who is going to are asking photographers of all skill take the best shot." levels to grab their cameras and capture The entry fee is $25. Each print Oakville. submitted must be 11x14 in size on highThe competition, aptly called Capture quality photographic paper. Oakville 08, is presented by the Oakville The deadline for submissions is Nov. 5. Camera Club. Following the success of its Prints can be dropped off at Henry's Oakville inaugural year in 2007, it was an easy deci- Store at Dorval Crossing Shopping Centre, sion to host it again, according to Kieley Vistek Mississauga at 5840 Mavis Rd., the Hickey, president of the group. Oakville Arts Council office at 120 Navy St. at "The concept from the beginning was that the main Library Branch in downtown this would be Oakville's annual competition, Oakville and OCC meetings. and last year's strong supThere will be awards port showed the communi- "Lots of people have a for the top two photos in ty supported this initiative," fabulous eye and each category, as well as said Hickey, who is a local, best overall photo. photography is popular full-time professional phoHonourable mentions tographer. "We were really now in all the generations, will also be awarded. impressed with the turnout so you never know who is Prizes include pholast year, with a lot of inter- going to take the best shot." tography equipment and esting and fabulous photos gift cards from the comand we look forward to the Kieley Hickey petition's sponsors. This same this year." year's jury consists of Bill President, Oakville Camera Club This year's five cateHewitt of CPS Inkworks, gories are humour, nature, Michael Willems of past its prime, digital and abstract art, and Henry's and Dan Dionne of Vistek. light and shadow. There are no requirements The awards night and opening gala for when it comes to skill level or camera type. Capture Oakville 08 will be held Thursday, The only rule is that all photos be taken in Dec. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. The top 80 prints will Oakville. be framed and placed on display at Oakville "This is a competition that is open to Town Hall until Jan. 10. everyone," she said. "Last year, we had sub"The gala is free and is open to anyone missions from children who have a great eye, who wants to come," Hickey said. "There will we had submissions from amateurs who took be food, drinks, music, the awards presentait seriously but don't do it professionally, and tion and a slide show featuring every entry we we had submissions from pros as well." received." Hickey said the categories are Last year's Capture Oakville open-ended, with contest saw more than 200 entries from beginner through experienced photographers of all ages. Many entries came from Oakville residents, but photographers from other places, like Milton, Mississauga and Burlington were also inspired to capture Oakville through a lens. Hickey said she is expecting even more entries this year. organizers "The word is spreading about this compewelcoming creativity. tition and I imagine everyone that entered "You can interpret these cate- last year will enter again," she said. "This is gories any way you want," she said. "It does- going to be a popular event every year, that is By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER Kieley Hickey, president of the Oakville Camera Club, is encouraging everyone to grab a camera and take photos for the Capture Oakville 08 photo competition. Pictured below are some of last year's winning photos, from clockwise top, by photographers Kevin Chan, Kathleen Kazmierczak and Les Kapuscinski. my hope." The Oakville Camera Club was founded in May 2006 by Hickey and another local photographer, Bill Smith. Meetings are held twice a month on Wednesday evenings from September through July at the main branch of the Oakville Public Library on 120 Navy St. The club is open to photographers of all skill levels. It focuses on education, assignments, critiques and image sharing rather than monthly competitions. "The purpose of the camera club is to bring together local photographers who want to network and take their skills to the next level," she said. "Everyone has something to learn and something to share about photography. It is about having a place to learn." There are currently about 60 members in the club, but there are still about 15 spaces available. A year membership costs $65. There are no equipment requirements to join the camera club, Hickey said. "You can come and join if you have a point and shoot, but we will encourage people to go out there and take it to the next level and purchase an SLR (single-lens reflex) camera. Really you should have an SLR, or be planning to get an SLR." Hickey said she's seen amazing progress among members. One member even became proficient enough in photography to quit his job and open his own studio. "There is so much progress and growth among our members," she said. As the camera club grows, Hickey said they are looking for a new space. She said she is hopeful there will be room for them if the proposed multipurpose arts centre in the retired Queen Elizabeth Park School is approved by the Town. "We're holding out for this new venue and keeping our fingers crossed," she said. "We've been collecting enlargements of the winners from our photo competitions and we've been saving them for the community arts space so we'll have a lot of photographic art to display." For information on Capture Oakville 08 or the Oakville Camera Club, go online to www.oakvillecameraclub.com.