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  • CMPG April Hands-On Meeting: Shoot a "Roll of Film"

    Register

    Join us for our next Hands-On Group

    (formerly known as "User's Group")


    April CMPG HANDS-ON MEETING:

    THE EC SIMULATED "ROLL OF FILM" CHALLENGE

    Our April Hands-On Group activity is a Simulated Roll of Film Challenge. This is an activity for all skill levels. This challenge's objective is to improve our intentionality. Better composition by focusing our efforts before we click the shutter button. Increase our creativity by limiting our choices. Slow down, plan the shot. Also, we'll reinforce our fundamentals (exposure, focus, etc.)

    When: 

    Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 6:30 to 9:00 PM (sunset: 7:45 PM)

    Where:  

    Main St. & Maryland Ave., Old Ellicott City (Downtown) Meet at the Tardis (blue Free library across from the B&O Museum) in downtown Old Ellicott City. 

    Overview:


    To ‘see things with your own eyes,’ as they say, is not always to see the truth. One must see with eyes of the mind; one must employ the little cells of grey!

    --Hercule Poirot (*1)


    The activity is to shoot the equivalent of one roll of film... 24 exposures... NO MORE...


    We'll start by "loading" our film, choosing our ISO and whether we are shooting B&W or color. We'll "wind" our film by recording on the clipboard our starting filename.  Shall we make it harder? For those advanced shooters craving more challenge: Slide film.  JPEGs straight out of the camera...  Can you nail Exposure, hold the highlights while still getting shadow detail?


    We'll explore Old Ellicott City for about an hour in small groups on what I hope will be a lovely spring evening. We will emphasize our composition and exposure skills: Architecture, street life, shadows, reflections, etc., as all are available downtown. We'll be shooting in the golden hour for the most part.  We'll meet back at the Tardis to discuss our experience.


    Please bring your patience, cooperation and sense of adventure. Remember this is a game, DO NOT let frustration ruin your experience. Please embrace the adventure. If twenty-four exposures run out to soon, then "reload..." B&W too constraining, change to color... ISO chosen, not good for golden hour, then increase it (or switch to auto-ISO)... The objective is to create composition choices intentionally, then record that choice with a decisive press of the shutter button. To think through the image making process rather than spray and pray...


    What to bring


       • Camera

       • A favorite walk around lens


    Sharing Images


    Submit up to 5 images from this challenge. If you are willing, the first of these images should be a contact sheet of all 24 images, unedited. We will provide instructions for Lightroom and a couple of optional templates to dress the contact sheet up.


    CMPG-2026-EVENT-APR15-LastName-FirstName-01.jpg


      Dropbox Upload Link  





    Reference:


    *1. Agatha Christie, The Early Cases of Hercule Poirot -- Chapter 1: The Affair at the Victory Ball, (Dreamscape Media LLC, 2018, originally published Sketch Magazine 1923), pg. 19

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  • Volunteers Needed: Hero Dogs Golf Tournament


    Volunteers Needed!

    CMPG is looking for volunteers to photograph a golf fundraiser to benefit Hero Dogs, Inc. on Friday April 17, 2026 at the Laytonsville Golf Course near Olney.  Along with the amazing support dogs, there will be actual people to photograph.   Activities start at 10 am.  Details are on the hero-dogs.org website.

    Last Fall we photographed the 2025 graduating class of 12 dogs.  Each had completed three or more years of training for their specific role. This year we will support this golf event, a 1K and 5K race through the historic Congressional Cemetery in DC on May 16th, and the graduation in Olney on October 18.  We will post separate CMPG Event Notices for each.

    Hero Dogs, a Maryland 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in Burtonsville, MD improves the quality of life of our nation’s heroes and enhances the services of community organizations by placing assistance dogs with customized training and lifetime support.  For more information, go to hero-dogs.org or contact Dan Smith at DanSmith007@comcast.net.

    It would be great to have a minimum of 3 photographers.


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  • Volunteers Needed: Rebuilding Together Howard County

    We are still a few volunteers short! Are you able to help?

    Volunteers Needed!

    It's that time of year again! Rebuilding Together Howard County's Rebuilding day on Saturday, April 25th. 

    This is an organization we have partnered with for many years. We send our members to photograph volunteers as they repair or renovate low income homes in our community.

    We have 22 properties this year, so as they say, many hands make light work!  Each volunteer would be assigned a few locations to photograph. The photos are used to document the work they do, and to share with their donors to show the impactful their support.

    Even if this is something you may have never done, we would still love to have you. We will have a Zoom Meeting (date TBD) for volunteers to prepare the exciting day!

    Thank you to all past photographers! We hope you'll join us again! 

    Please register to sign up.  The sooner you can commit, the better!!

    https://www.rebuildingtogetherhowardcounty.org/


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  • CMPG May Outing: Baltimore Flower Mart

    • 02 May 2026
    • 10:30 AM
    Register

    Celebrate the beginning of spring at the Mount Vernon Place Conservancy’s Flower Mart, Baltimore’s oldest free public festival and home to the iconic lemon stick! The springtime celebration takes place in Mount Vernon surrounding the Washington Monument with vendors lining the streets. We plan to meet up on May 2 (Saturday) at 10:30 in front of the Washington Monument at Mount Vernon Place (rain or shine). Please register for the event and guests are welcome. The Fair will run from 11:00am until 08:00pm and admission is free. There are a number of restaurants nearby.

    While street parking is available in Mount Vernon, it's likely to be limited or fill up quickly during Flower Mart weekend. Luckily, there are several garages near the festival:

     The 520 N. Charles St. Lot

    The 225 N. Calvert St. Garage

    The 209 E. Monument St. Garage

    The 600 Cathedral St. Lot

    There should be many opportunities to put the recent hands-on macro photography instruction to the test. There is no gear limit but be aware of the crowds if you are using a tripod or monopod.

    Also, there are many opportunities for architectural pictures at Mount Vernon Place and the Walters Art Museum is less than a block away (with free admission).

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  • CMPG May General Meeting: David Blecman

    • 06 May 2026
    • 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    • Location The Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant, 9100 Fathers Legacy, Ellicott City, MD 21042 Learning Center, Terrace Level
    • Be the first
    Register

    Join us for our General Meeting, on Wednesday, May 6th! Our speaker will be David Blecman. David is an award-winning international photographer and instructor. He is based in Arnold, MD.  Check back for David's presentation details soon. 

    This will be in-person, from 6:30 to 9:00 PM at The Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant, 9100 Fathers Legacy, Ellicott City, MD 21042 Learning Center, Terrace Level. Click here for a map:  

    https://cmpg.photography/Maps


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  • Volunteers Needed: Hero Dogs 1k & 5K at Congressional Cemetery

    • 16 May 2026
    • 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Congressional Cemetery , 1801 E Street SE Washington, DC 20003
    Register

    Volunteers Needed!


    Hero Dogs 1k & 5K

    at

    Congressional Cemetery

    CMPG is looking for volunteers to photograph a 1K and 5K race through the historic Congressional Cemetery in DC on Saturday May 16 th to benefit Hero Dogs, Inc.  Along with the amazing support dogs, there will be actual people to photograph.   Races are from 8am – noon. Details are on the hero-dogs.org website.

    It would be great to have a minimum of 4 photographers. We will provide additional info as we receive it.

    With its first burial in 1807, Historic Congressional Cemetery is among the oldest institutions in Washington, DC, and is the final resting place of over 70,000 individuals, including folks like Marion Barry, J. Edgar Hoover, and civil war photographer Mathew Brady. Marching bands, including the world-famous US Marine Band, regularly play at the grave of John Philip Sousa.  After the races, we can roam the amazing grounds and take additional photos. Info is at Home - Congressional Cemetery.

    Last Fall we photographed the 2025 graduating class of 12 dogs.  Each had completed three or more years of training for their specific role. This year’s support includes their April golf tournament fund raiser, this event, and the graduation in Olney on October 18.  We will post separate CMPG Event Notices for each.

    Hero Dogs, a Maryland 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in Burtonsville, MD improves the quality of life of our nation’s heroes and enhances the services of community organizations by placing assistance dogs with customized training and lifetime support. 


    For more information, go to hero-dogs.org and contact Dan Smith at DanSmith007@comcast.net


    Congressional Cemetery

    1801 E Street SE

    Washington, DC 20003

    https://congressionalcemetery.org/

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  • CMPG May Hands-On Meeting: Introduction to Timelapse Photography

    • 20 May 2026
    • 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    • Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant, 9100 Fathers Legacy, Ellicott City, MD 21042 Learning Center, Terrace Level
    • 7 registrants
    Register

    CMPG HANDS-ON MEETING

    An Introduction to Timelapse Photography

    Our May Hands-On Group activity will be an introduction to timelapse video. This is an activity for all skill levels. We'll start by discussing settings and important concepts. Thenwe'll set up our gear and create a timelapse. We'll end with a demonstration of how to process in Lightroom and assemble in a video editor.

    When: 20 May 2026, 6:30 to 9:00 PM

    Where: The Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant, 9100 Fathers Legacy, Ellicott City, MD 21042 LearningCenter, Terrace Level. Click here for map

    Overview:

    “The time has come,” the Walrus said,

    “To talk of many things:

    Of Shoes and ships and sealing wax

    Of cabbages and kings

    And why the sea is boiling hot

    And whether pigs have wings.”

    -- Lewis Carroll*

    The objective of this meeting will be to familiarize yourself with creating timelapse video with your camera. We’ll take two hours of misery and reduce it to a few seconds of fun.  We’ll answer the mystery of what an intervalometer is and more importantly how to use the one built into your camera.

    We’ll go over the essentials:


    A stable platform

    Tripod
    A comfortable chair.
    Electronic Shutter

    During the course of capture, you might be taking 1000 i mages or so. You may want to save wear and tear on your mechanical shutter.

    • Manual Focus
    o We’re not creating that type of moving image
    o And yes, back button focus works here...
    • Manual Exposure
    o Keeping the exposure uniform will improve the overall aesthetic
    • Timing

    o 24, 30, 60 etc


    We’ll create a short timelapse. This is our hands-on activity. We’ll all set up and time-lapse a slow-moving subject. And last I’ll demonstrate assembly techniques with Lightroom and a video editor.

    Please bring your patience and cooperation. Time-lapse is a unique animal. Lots of planning, some math, watching grass grow, and some tedious processing. But a rewarding output makes it worthwhile.

    What to bring:

    • Camera

    • A moderate telephoto or zoom

    • Tripod

    What to prepare:

    Familiarize yourself with your camera’s intervalometer (timelapse) menu settings. It might be a good idea to download your camera manual to your phone (or bring your paper copy).

    References:

    * Lewis Carroll, “Chapter 4: The Walrus and the Carpenter,” Through the Looking-Glass. Macmillan & Co., 1872


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  • CMPG June General Meeting: John Barclay

    • 03 Jun 2026
    • 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    • ONLINE OR The Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant, 9100 Fathers Legacy, Ellicott City, MD 21042 Learning Center, Terrace Level
    • Be the first
    Register

    Join us for our General Meeting, on Wednesday, June 3rd! Our speaker will be John Barclay. Check back for John's presentation details soon. 

    John will be presenting on Zoom. You can watch live with other members in person at Miller's Grant, or wherever you are in the world online. 

    The live watch will be at The Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant, 9100 Fathers Legacy, Ellicott City, MD 21042 Learning Center, Terrace Level. Click here for a map:  

    https://cmpg.photography/Maps


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  • CMPG July General Meeting: Photographing Fireworks

    • 01 Jul 2026
    • 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    • The Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant, 9100 Fathers Legacy, Ellicott City, MD 21042 Learning Center, Terrace Level
    • Be the first
    Register

    Join us for our General Meeting, on Wednesday, July 1! Our own members will be sharing their techniques and tips for photographing fireworks. You'll be all set by our Nation's 250th Birthday on the 4th!

    This will be in-person, from 6:30 to 9:00 PM at The Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant, 9100 Fathers Legacy, Ellicott City, MD 21042 Learning Center, Terrace Level. Click here for a map:  

    https://cmpg.photography/Maps


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