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By Joanne Dorr
The Haldimand Press
CALEDONIA—From April 12 to May 26, 2023 the Haldimand Photography Club’s (HPC) Annual Spring Exhibition will be on display at the Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre at 80 Caithness Street East in Caledonia. This exhibition is an opportunity for HPC members to display their photographs with some works being available for sale.
Priding itself on being non-competitive, HPC offers their members creative fellowship through mentoring and by hosting guest speakers, workshops, and monthly photoshoots that touch on all aspects of photography. For example, HPC member Cathie Wheeldor, a professional pet photographer, shared her knowledge at a meeting and invited members to her studio.
Other workshops cover topics like maintenance and proper cleaning of equipment and on-site wildlife and landscape photography expeditions to places like the Canadian Raptor Conservancy and Balls Falls. HPC also creates opportunities for photographers to commercialize their work by staging mock wedding photoshoots using models posing as bride and groom.
Lead Coordinator of HPC, Tony Maddalena, learned about the importance of mentorship during his teenage years.
“I remember in high school I had always been enthralled with black and white photography,” he recalls, noting that at that time a friend offered to help him with his portfolio by modeling for a photoshoot at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton. Maddalena explains that during this photoshoot he was stopped by a woman who properly redirected him on his technique and offered him some great advice.
Maddalena now pays this kindness forward to HPC’s beginner members. Since his teenage years, his photography has evolved tremendously.
Maddalena weighs in on today’s cell phone inspired approach to photography and the disciplined, hands-on technical excellence required to take the perfect photo: “Everything your phone can do today at one time had to be done manually.” This includes purchasing film and the correct lens, manual focus, and waiting for photos to develop. To this, Randy Carter, HPC Displays and Publications Committee Chair, quickly adds, “Yeah, and then you had to wait two weeks to see if you got what you wanted!”
Further to this, Carter points out that while cell phone cameras have come a long way, they are no substitute for the technical capabilities of an actual camera. Carter and Maddalena are quick to point out that a camera can capture elements that the human eye can’t see.
The HPC Spring Exhibition will offer a unique perspective through the lens of their members by featuring a diverse selection of photographic techniques, style, and creativity.
HPC meets the second Thursday of each month in Caledonia at the Caledonia Fairgrounds. Doors open at 6 p.m. Visit the Events page to look at the fun and informative things they have planned at haldimandphotographyclub.com.
