The February 2026 Meeting: Greg Metro - Socotra: Photographing an Alien World Thursday, February 12, 2026
World traveler Greg Metro always finds the most interesting locations and this program is no exception. He'll focus on the island of Socotra - one of the strangest landscapes. Greg's previous program in April 2023 is available to view on Vimeo here: Greg Metro - Travel Photography: From Ordinary to Extraordinary
The recording of Greg's Socotra program is here: https://vimeo.com/1164811633?fl=pl&fe=sh
Dark & Light Callas copyright Velda Ruddock
The Winter 2025 Members Show
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Sorry - no recording for this program.
Egret Family copyright Karen Schuenemann
Karen Schuenemann - Then and Now
Thursday, October 9, 7:00 pm PDT on Zoom
Karen Schuenemann’s program, entitled Then and Now, examines how photo outings to Bosque del Apache, the Tetons, and various locations Africa, and then return visits to those locations have shaped her photography.
Karen is a nature and wildlife photographer with accolades and awards from organizations as varied as the Los Angeles County Fair, the London Natural History Museum, and The National Audubon Association. Her imagery has been published in Nature’s Best, Audubon Magazine, USA Today, NANPA, Shadow and Light Magazine, American Photo Magazine and Focal Points Magazine.
She enjoys speaking about wildlife and bird photography and using photography to tell stories and make a positive impact in protecting and conserving our natural world. Her photography inspires people to truly care about the natural world in the busy urban landscapes, as well more remote places around the world.
Karen now celebrates life with her husband and two dogs in Lakeland, Florida and leads workshops to a variety of locations around the world with her company, Wilderness At Heart Photography. She teaches classes in both California and Florida.
Watch the recording here. Karen Schuenemann SCCC 10-9-2025 on Vimeo
Badlands National Park. copyright Colleen Miniuk
In Depth on Depth by Colleen Miniuk
Presented Thursday, August 14, 2025
Colleen Miniuk gave our August program, presenting her talk on "In Depth on Depth." She discussed how to mindfully incorporate the three L's (lines, layers, and light) that can help transform uninspiring arrangements into engaging expressive photographs.
Watch Colleen's program here Colleen Miniuk SCCC 8_14_25.mp4 on Vimeo
The Summer Members Show
Thursday June 12, 2025, 7:00 pm PDT
Rebecca Wilks, Dan Gee, Asep Setiawan, Joe Doherty presented
Small Is Beautiful: The World Of Macrophotography presented by Tom Astle
Recorded Thursday April 10, 2025, 7:00 pm PDT
Tom Astle presented an evening exploring the art and science of macrophotography — capturing the big world of the very small with photos from his many travels. He also offered tips and techniques for lighting, camera settings, gear, and composition. His talk is about storytelling with photography, behavior and biology, scientific discovery, and nature photography ethics.
Watch Tom's program here: Small is Beautiful
Tim Irvin on Wildlife of the Great Bear Rainforest with an emphasis on spirit bears and conservation
Thursday, February 13, 7:00 PM Pacific Time via Zoom.
Pairing his fascination with wildlife and his passion for exploring wild places, Tim Irvin founded Wildlife Journeys, tour company specializing in bears and wolves of the Great Bear Rainforest. Tim has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Ecology and has worked as a field biologist on numerous research projects across North America. He writes about the intersection of marine conservation and indigenous rights for the Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance and has published in explore, Photo Life, the Globe and Mail, The Dirtbag Diaries, and elsewhere. He dabbles in blogging.
Watch Tim's program here: Wildlife of the Great Bear Rainforest
Sonoma Coast at Sunset © Joe Doherty
The December MEMBERS Show
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Featuring Rebecca Wilks, Alan Jacknow, John Fisanotti, Beverly Houwing, Bonnie Blake,Velda Ruddock, and Joe Doherty.
The link is coming!
Krisztina Scheeff in Scotland and Ireland
October 9, 2024
Scotland and Ireland offer incredible opportunities for natural encounters, whether you are a photographer or not. Through the lens and stories of award-winning photographer Krisztina Scheeff, embark on an up-close view of these wonderful wildlife-rich places.
The recording will be posted here soon!
BONUS Meeting! Alison Boyle "The Ocean's Cradle of Life" for West LA Group
September 12, 2024
Photography is Alison's way of enjoying nature more deeply. She uses photography to reveal the science and biology in her subjects as well as the beauty of their environment. It is challenging and ever-evolving. She enjoys knowing there is so much more to learn from nature. Each discovery helps her develop a deeper respect for it.
This presentation focuses on the diversity of life in the intertidal zone from colorful sea stars and nudibranchs to the algae that they eat. You will see some of the adaptations that enable them to live in this environment and flourish. Her slideshow is a continuation of the article she wrote for the Sierra Club Camera Committee's, Focal Points Magazine (July/August 2023). The link is here: July/August 2023 Focal Points Magazine
Watch Alison's program here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqHgdce4rN7PmR8-dw5W6HA
Brian Leary's Shoot for the Sky - Photographing the Milky Way and the Aurora Borealis
Thursday, August 8, 2024
The Aurora Borealis by Brian Leary. All rights reserved.
The best time of the year to photograph the Milky Way is right on our doorstep, and with the Aurora Borealis having a record year, there are a lot of opportunities to take your own surreal and amazing images of the night sky. Armed with a little bit of knowledge, taking images of celestial events is easier than you might think. Join photographer and educator, Brian Leary, for a look into the techniques and planning necessary to capture unique images you will want to share for years to come.
The recording is here: Brian Leary, Sierra Club Camera Committee 8 August 2024 on Vimeo
Prickly pear blooming in Nanoweap by Joe Doherty
The June MEMBERS Show
Thursday, June 13, 2024
Featuring John Nilsson, Dan Gee, Jeffrey Douglass, Beverly Houwing, Ed Ogawa, Velda Ruddock, and Joe Doherty.
The link is coming!
Sorry! The April 2024 meeting was cancelled.
Rod Barbee took Us to the Palouse in Eastern Washington and then whisked us up to Sitka for bubble-net feeding humpback whales!
February 2024.
Watch the recording on Vimeo here: Rod Barbee, Sierra Club Camera Committee 2/8/2024 on Vimeo
December Members Show - Beverly Houwing kicked it off with this Giraffe Weevil from Madagascar.
The December 2023 Members Show
Featuring Beverly Houwing, and more
Watch the recording here on Vimeo https://vimeo.com/899394720
Amongst the California redwoods ©Ralph Nordstrom
Ralph Nordstrom presented Two Lessons in Two Environments.
October 2023
Ralph Norstrom presented two photo technique lessons. First photographing BIG TREES with special attention on California’s Coastal Redwoods. Then Ralph talked about the photo challenges and advantages of photographing in Zion National Park and gave us a bit of Zion's geological background.
About Ralph My photographic journey has taken me through many stages over the years. Early on, I didn’t know what I was doing but I was filled with enthusiasm. Then, I realized I needed some help if I was going to grow as a photographer, so I started attending workshops. As my skills grew, I found myself looking over my shoulder wondering if ‘they’ would approve of my photographs. But I finally had the confidence to realize that it is ‘I’ who has the last word. Now I’m focused on the expressive qualities of my photographs, wishing to share the emotions I felt in the field with my viewers. This has led to authoring a book titled “Creating Expressive Landscape Photographs.” I’m currently looking for a publisher.
Some of the best ways I can think of to give back to the photography community is to speak to photo organizations such as yours and lead photography workshops. I invite you to check out my work and workshops at http://RalphNordstromPhotography.com.
The recording of Ralph's program is here Ralph Nordstrom-Sierra Club Camera Committee on Vimeo
Land Iguana in the Galapagos Islands © Krisztina Scheeff, all rights reserved
Krisztina Scheeff presented The Galapagos Islands and Ecuador
August 2023
Galapagos Islands and mainland Ecuador offer incredible opportunities for natural encounters, whether you are a photographer or not. Through the lens and stories of award-winning photographer Krisztina Scheeff embark on an up-close view of these wonderful wildlife rich places. Krisztina takes you on a photographic journey of some of the special places on the Galapagos Islands: Booby traffic jams, Galapagos Turtles, land iguanas as far as you can see, cute sea lions. Then embark to the Cloud and Rain forests of Ecuador to see all the different species of Hummingbirds and more!
View the recording here: https://vimeo.com/860186970
Sudan Pyramids under the stars © Greg Metro, all rights reserved
Greg Metro presented Travel Photography: From Ordinary to Extraordinary
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Greg offered advice on preparing for photo outings with recommendations for apps and gear.
View the recording here: https://vimeo.com/822966262
Breaching Humpback Whale © Alyce Bender, all rights reserved.
Alyce Bender presented Wildlife of Sea and Sand: Destinations for Southern California Photographers.
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Loads of helpful information on gear and outfitting as well as photo technique. Alyce's thoughts on the ethics of wildlife photography are a bonus.
View the recording here: https://vimeo.com/806611284
The 2022 Winter Members Show
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Hear and see contributors Dan Gee, Josie Belfiore, Jeff Davidson, Ed Ogawa, John Fisianoti, Joyce Harlan, Velda Ruddock, and Joe Doherty. Good show.
View the recording here on Vimeo
QT Luong - Our National Monuments
Thursday, October 13, 2022
QT's website: Terra Galleria
Replay presentation here
Gary Crabbe – Enlightened Images
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Gary discussed the images he is famous for – Vineyards, and the California backroads and coast, especially his Point Reyes images, and how his images were selected for the Forever Stamps. His stories and photo tips were entertaining and informative.
Gary Crabbe’s website: https://enlightphoto.com/
Replay presentation here
Photo © Joe Doherty, all rights reserved.
2021 Member show
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Several Camera Committee members presented a selection of their best or favorite images. Some were photo essay; others were travelogue or collection on a theme. This was a non-critical, non-judgmental evening of breathtaking photography.
Thursday October 14, 2021
Lisa Langell gave us a better understanding of how to differentiate photography markets and shoot for them in order to create modern nature photography that is desirable to consumers looking to adorn their interiors.
Thursday, February 12, 2021
California wildlife photography tips, tactics, and field techniques. The 90-minute show highlighted wildlife species (bobcats, birds, black bears, others) and locations throughout the state in a 300-image show.
Replay the 90-minute show here
Photo © Robert OToole, all rights reserved.
Robert OToole Presentation
Thursday, June 10, 2021
Multi-award winning wildlife photographer shared his work and adventures.
There is no replay for this presentation.
Photo © Robert Ketchum, all rights reserved
Photographer and Conservationist – Robert Glenn Ketchum
There is no replay for this presentation. Robert's website is a great resource.
Thursday, April 8, 2021
This presentation was on the saving of Alaska's Bristol Bay and the North American Salmon Fishing Industry from the ravages of mining development.
Photo © John Nilsson, all rights reserved.
The 2021 Member show
Thursday, February 11, 2021
There is no replay for this presentation.
Photo © Michael Chamoun, all rights reserved
Denali: Land of ice and snow presented by Michael Chamoun
Thursday, December 10, 2020
West Los Angeles Sierra Club member Michael Chamoun scaled Denali via the West Buttress in the spring of 2018. In this meeting he shared his first-hand account of what he experienced through photos, videos, and a Q & A.
Photo © Brian Leary all rights reserved
Urban Nighttime Photography presented by Brian Leary of Light Source Journeys
Thursday, August 14, 2020
Just because the sun has set doesn’t mean you have to put that camera away! Brian Leary shows us everything from the equipment we’ll need to the techniques and what to look for to make our night photos stand out.
Watch the presentation : here [1:21:41]
Photo © Becky & Paul Witt, all rights reserved.
A Photographer’s Guide to Iceland by New Jersey Audubon photography instructors, Becky & Phil Witt
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Iceland's scenery is shaped by intense geologic forces. Becky and Phil Witt share their photographic journey across this island nation, complete with equipment and technique tips for capturing the country's sights.
Watch the presentation here [1:21:05]
Photo © John Fianotto, all rights reserved
A Journey through Morocco presented by John Fisanotti
Thursday, April 9, 2020
Long-time member John Fisanotti treated us to a photo presentation of his recent trip to Morocco. The color and culture of the region make this a go-to spot on your bucket list!
Watch the presentation : here [1:38:15]
About Our Banner
After photographer Nick Brandt shared large scale B+W prints on the floor of our December 2009 meeting, he gave us a slideshow and told more amazing and moving stories of capturing portraits of a variety of East African beasts and of the adversity they faced every day. In 2009, in his book On This Earth, he wrote:
I'm not interested in creating work that is simply documentary or filled with action and drama, which has been the norm in the photography of animals in the wild. What I am interested in is showing the animals simply in the state of Being. In the state of Being before they are no longer are. Before, in the wild at least, they cease to exist. This world is under terrible threat, all of it caused by us. To me, every creature, human or nonhuman, has an equal right to live, and this feeling, this belief that every animal and I are equal, affects me every time I frame an animal in my camera. The photos are my elegy to these beautiful creatures, to this wrenchingly beautiful world that is steadily, tragically vanishing before our eyes."
His work continues. See www.NickBrandt.com