The Van Wert County Courthouse

Thursday, Mar. 28, 2024

 

Camera Club News

By: Rex Dolby

 

On August 12, I received an email announcing a new charitable website. I responded that the Van Wert Area Photography Club had disbanded and disbursed all of its physical and financial assets. I signed it as Rex Dolby, the club’s acting secretary and treasurer.

The following morning I received an email from ChairtableRegistration@Ohioattorneygeneral.gov. It provided a link to a three-page Final Report and Asset Disposition Form that I needed to fill out and submit before they would close our file. Page 1 had three parts, page 2 had two parts, and page 3 had four parts.

Of these nine parts, three required such detailed information that I had to comb through minutes, news releases, old club directories, our checkbook, receipt book, and bank statements to find all the information they wanted.

After several days, I assembled the information and mailed the completed form on September 5. During that time, I was also creating a backup file of all my sources of information and copies of each page of the completed form.

The kicker is that I have to keep all this material for three years. At my age, if I croak before then, at least it won’t be my problem.

POSTED: 09/08/20 at 11:33 pm. FILED UNDER: Camera Club News

I congratulate all those who photographed, or at least saw the comet. I went west and north of Van Wert on three consecutive nights and, for whatever reason, failed to see it even with my 10 x 35 binoculars.

Although I was blanked on my primary goal, there were a number of pluses to the experience. One was how impressed I was with the amount of light just a sliver of the moon produces. At no time was I ever in really dark circumstances.

Rex Dolby’s photo of the Big Dipper in the sky northwest of Van Wert.

Another was that the temperature was mild and a slight breeze made the time bearable.   I only used bug spray one evening.  Every evening however, when I returned to my car, all the windows were so heavily steamed that I could scarcely see out till the air conditioner cleared them off.

Each night I pulled off the road at a different location thinking I was really out in a remote area. Not so. No matter if it was a north-south or an east-west road, vehicles passed me all evening from both directions.  On several occasions, cars from both directions passed each other near or at my location.   

At least I got what I would describe as a good photo of the Big Dipper and its neighboring stars. Maybe next time the results will be more impressive!

You might be interested in the Perseid meteor shower which is going on now and will peak on August 11-12. Look in the northeastern sky after midnight.

POSTED: 07/30/20 at 2:52 pm. FILED UNDER: Camera Club News

Since I first reported on the comet NEOWISE on July 8, its estimated speed of nearly 144,000 miles per hour will appear nearly stationary to us. That speed, however, has changed its viewing location to the Northwest, just below and to the left of the Big Dipper. On July 23, it will be at its closest location to Earth. By 9:32 that evening in Van Wert, the sky should be dark enough to see both the comet and the Big Dipper.

You’ll want to find an area with a structure, water, or trees to add more interest to the photo. Consider also that a trace of sunset also may improve the photo.  Try to locate an area north of town where there are few farm lights to lighten the sky and hope for a clear sky when you’re ready to shoot. 

A cropped photo by Bill Dunford of Comet NEOWISE

Take your camera, a variety of lenses, tripod, extra batteries, flashlight, lawn chair, bug spray, and a pair of binoculars. Arrive at your location early so that you can get everything set up and take some pre photos to see how your settings will respond. Try taking photos with all your lenses.  Standard and wide angle lenses may actually produce sharper images than your telephoto.  Lens quality and construction may produce different results, so check your shots and make your adjustments. 

Use manual settings. Possibly a distant farm light can be used to get a sharp focus. Your ISO will probably be 800 and higher and your shutter speed 4 seconds and slower. If you don’t have a remote shutter release, use the time release setting on your camera to reduce the chance of motion blur. If it should be windy, hang your camera bag on your tripod for more stability. 

Best wishes for a clear sky, a good location, and no equipment failure because one of the articles I researched said it would be ”roughly 7,000 years” before it comes back.

POSTED: 07/23/20 at 6:57 am. FILED UNDER: Camera Club News

While scrolling through Google, I came upon an article about “Comet NEOWISE Makes a Bright Appearance at Dawn”. Its unusual name comes from NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer spacecraft that was used to discover the comet back in March.”

Comet photo by Chris Schur of Payson, Arizona, on July 5

The article went on to say that you would need to be at your viewing location at least an hour and 45 minutes before sunrise (according to Van Wert’s chart, before 6:14 on July 8 to 6:26 a.m. on the July 23) for it to really show up.  

In addition, the sky would need to be as clear as possible, and you would want a location that provided a good view of the horizon to the north east, because it is not very high in the sky.  The view will improve when it is closest to the Earth on the 23rd.

Although it is reported to be seen without aids under good conditions, binoculars or a telescope would be helpful in hazy, or nearer sunrise conditions. Adequate photos have been made with a phone, but a telephoto lens or telescope would enhance your results.

POSTED: 07/07/20 at 10:13 pm. FILED UNDER: Camera Club News

As the curtain is about to be drawn on its final act, the Van Wert Area Photography Club will disperse all of its financial assets within Van Wert County. Thanks in a large part to the efforts of Karl Gribler, a lifetime member and former treasurer, checks for significant amounts will be given to eight recipients, seven of which are photography related, while the eighth provides the club with a place to meet at no charge.

A check to the Van Wert 4-H Council will be given to Heather Gottke for expenses related to the Van Wert 4-H Photography program.

A check to the Van Wert County Fair will be given to Susie Sanderson to pay, in the name of the Van Wert Area Photography Club, the Photography Exhibit’s Best of Show awards to the junior and senior winners in Color and B/W for 18 years.

A check to the Miller-Warner Foundation Inc. will be given to Maria Miller. Even though this check goes out of the county, it will support the John Flagg Youth Award, which goes to the first and second place photos in color and B/W of 18 and younger entrants in the annual October Photo Exhibit. John, his wife Donna, and Maria are former Photography Club members and this check will underwrite his awards for six years.

A check to Van Wert High School will be given to Bob Priest for photography-related expenses made by the yearbook and Digital Design programs.

A check to Lincolnview Schools will be given to Brad Mendenhall for photography-related expenses created by the yearbook and Graphic Arts programs.

A check to Crestview will be given to Kristie McCormick for photography-related expenses generated by the yearbook and Graphic Arts programs.

A check goes to the Van Wert Civic Theatre for providing the club with a place to meet at 114 S. Race St. rent free. That was greatly appreciated.

After having its start in the late fall of 1960 at 643 S. Washington St. here in Van Wert, the Van Wert Area Photography Club will soon become just a memory. Before that happens, however, it is pleased to present a check to Cindy Pirani for expenses as she tries to keep the spirit of the VWAPC alive by getting the Van Wert Photography Club organized and functioning.

The Van Wert Area Photography Club wishes you all well!  It’s been quite a ride.

POSTED: 02/20/20 at 8:21 am. FILED UNDER: Camera Club News

In last week’s article, it was reported that the Van Wert Area Photography Club had accepted bids on the laptop speakers, projector, and projector stand. Still remaining were the 6-foot Dalite screen and the HP Pavilion laptop.

Larry Dickerhoof called and said he thought that Heather Noble, manager of Homestead Village (1254 S. Shannon St., behind the Dairy Queen) might be interested in the screen and laptop for their activity room. A meeting was arranged for January 28 to display and tell how the VWAPC used the equipment during its meetings. Rex Dolby brought the laptop, as well as the computer speakers and projector, and Larry said he’d supply the projection stand and table whenever needed. 

After seeing the equipment, (Larry and Rex had brought the screen out earlier) and how it all worked together, Heather was convinced they could provide new activities for the residents, and pending approval from her supervisor, would take all of them. The next day she received an okay to acquire the equipment. 

Cindy Pirani, Homestead Village resident and driving force behind the Van Wert Ohio FB Photographers Club, saw the equipment as an opportunity to draw residents and members of the community into informal meetings in the Village’s activity room. These meetings would be free, photography-related, and provide instruction on how to use your camera. 

Cindy set Thursday, February 6, at 6 p.m. and Monday, February 17, at 9 a.m., as get-acquainted meetings and a time to talk about the content of future meetings. For additional information, call Cindy at 419.604.9375 or email her at aworkinprogress2@yahoo.com.

The VWAPC has now found new homes for all its physical resources and will turn its attention to the distribution of its financial resources within Van Wert County. Any former Camera Club members wishing to offer ideas on where the money should go, are invited to a meeting at 6:45 p.m. Friday, February 7, at 431 Boyd Ave. Call, text, or message your opinions to Rex at 567.259.8951. You can also email him at rexdolby1@gmail.com with your suggestions.

POSTED: 02/07/20 at 1:13 am. FILED UNDER: Camera Club News

On Monday, January 20, workers at the Goodwill, hospital, and Salvation Army thrift stores all said they would accept a donation of cameras from the Van Wert Area Photography Club.

On Tuesday morning, the cameras were first sorted so that no store received duplicate units. Next the cameras were checked to assure all stores received some older models as well as later models, and finally, 40 cameras were placed in 3 boxes and padded with newspaper for delivery. That afternoon, each store received their requested number of cameras.

On Wednesday, a call was made to Larry Herndon of Waynesfield, who had purchased 10 cameras in November and 10 more in December. Larry asked that he be called back on Thursday with a list of what was left. After hearing the list, he said he’d be here on Friday, around 2 p.m.

As it turned out, he came to do business. It seemed that the more he packed, the more he selected, and by the time he was done, he had purchased everything in the cabinet that was for sale!

Only the laptop and projection screen remain. They very well could be the subjects of the next progress report.

POSTED: 02/01/20 at 8:20 am. FILED UNDER: Camera Club News

The deadline for bids on items the Van Wert Area Photography Club has for sale is Saturday, January 11. Only hard copies arriving either by hand or mail will be accepted.  

The items for sale to an individual or group are: Acer PD 1200 projector and case, Altec Lansing computer speakers and case, HP Pavilion dv6 PC notebook and case, Kokin filter set and case, DA-Lite 6-foot pull down wall mount screen and pull rod, and a SafeLock projection table with shelf.

Those bidding are asked to:  Address an envelope to: Rex Dolby, 431 Boyd Ave., Van Wert, OH 45891-2313, and in the lower left corner list the items(s) you are bidding on. On your enclosed bid sheet provide: Your name, phone number or email by which you should be contacted if yours is the top bid or is a duplicate bid.  Next list the item/s on separate lines, each followed by your bid for that item. A group of three will notify the winning bidders by Saturday, January 18. A bid payment in cash is necessary for pickup and the club will provide a receipt for the transaction.

Anyone wishing to inspect the club’s equipment, or purchase cameras, should call, text, or message Rex Dolby at 567.259.8951 for an appointment and can hand in your bid at that time, as long as it’s by January 11. 

All proceeds from these sales will be distributed within Van Wert County after all the items have been sold or dispersed.

POSTED: 01/09/20 at 12:37 am. FILED UNDER: Camera Club News

When you consider that sealed bids, with one bid per piece, for items the Van Wert Area Photography Club has for sale, must arrive either by hand or mail by Saturday, January 11, there’s not a lot of time left to comply. 

Anyone wishing to inspect the club’s equipment, or purchase cameras, should call, text, or message Rex Dolby at 567.259.8951 for an appointment and can hand in your bid at that time. 

The items for sale to an individual or group are: Acer PD 1200 Projector & case, Altec Lansing computer speakers and case, HP Pavilion dv6 PC Notebook and case, Kokin filter set and case, DA-Lite 6-foot pull down wall mount screen and pull rod, and a SafeLock projection table with shelf.

Those bidding are asked to: Address an envelope to:  Rex Dolby 431 Boyd Ave., Van Wert, OH 45891-2313 and in the lower left corner list the items/s you are bidding on. On your enclosed bid sheet provide: Your name, phone number or email by which you should be contacted if yours is the top bid or is a duplicate bid. Next list the item/s on separate lines, each followed by your bid for that item.  A group of 3 will notify the winning bidders by Saturday, January 18. A bid payment in cash is necessary for pickup and the club will provide a receipt for the transaction.

All proceeds from these sales will be distributed within Van Wert County after all the items have been sold or dispersed.

POSTED: 01/06/20 at 7:31 am. FILED UNDER: Camera Club News

The Van Wert Area Photography Club has a large inventory of old film cameras that the collector in your family might find interesting.  It is offering any and all of these cameras and their associated accessories at $5 cash per unit.   

Anyone wishing to purchase cameras or inspect the club’s equipment, should call, text, or message Rex Dolby at 567.259.8951 for an appointment. 

The club’s equipment is offered by sealed bids, one bid per item. Those bidding are asked to:

Address an envelope to: Rex Dolby, 431 Boyd Ave., Van Wert, OH 45891-2313, and in the lower left corner list the items/s you are bidding on. On your enclosed bid sheet provide: Your name, phone number or email by which you should be contacted if yours is the top bid or is a duplicate bid. 

Next, list the item or items with your bid on the same line after that item. Bids must arrive by Saturday, January 11, 2020. A group of three will notify the winning bidders by Saturday, January 18.

The items the club is offering for sale to anyone or group are: Acer PD 1200 Projector and case, Altec Lansing computer speakers and case, HP Pavilion dv6 PC notebook and case, Kokin filter set and case, DA-Lite 6-foot pull-down wall mount screen and pull rod, and a SafeLock projection table with shelf.

All proceeds from these sales will be distributed within Van Wert County after all the items have been sold or dispersed.

POSTED: 12/25/19 at 9:55 pm. FILED UNDER: Camera Club News