Whether you’re an experienced photographer or are just starting out, you should consider joining Elizabethtown College’s Photography Club! The Photography Club meets bi-weekly on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. in Steinman Center 211 and welcomes anyone to show up to a meeting if they are interested in joining. As a smaller club, the members are very close since they all share a love for photography. As stated, the club accepts members of any skill level and encourages members to help each other develop their skills.
Meetings start with attendance and announcements before revealing that week’s photo challenge. There is no winning these challenges—they just work to give photo club members a direction to work in as they walk around campus and take pictures. After taking their pictures, members return to Steinman Center to upload the photos to a Google Drive for the group to explain their thought processes, see where their inspiration comes from and have other members comment on them.
“It’s a cool way for all of us to see each other’s photos and to look at the different perspectives that are captured,” Vice President and junior student Paige Henson said.
As the Vice President, Henson assists the photo club’s president, junior Grace Ceschan, with tasks including creating presentations for meetings, sending out reminders and coming up with the challenges. Cabinet members also discuss the best way to show examples or explain the prompt for members prior to the meeting.
When photos are posted on the club’s Instagram, they often tag the photographer and include a quote about the inspiration behind the photo, how it was taken or any challenges the photographer overcame in order to get that perfect shot. Photos included on the page are not only of locations on campus, but places in the surrounding Lancaster County that fit that week’s challenge. If you find yourself on their page, you can find several fall related photos ranging from an autumn leaf to an autumn forest.
“Sometimes we will create a Google form with photos and whoever’s photo gets the most votes, we post it on our Instagram! We are working on coming up with new ways to be interactive and create these winners,” Henson said.
Their Instagram is also used to remind members of meeting times and upcoming events. Unfortunately, due to the interference of weather, the photo club has not had any recent events, but they will begin fundraising soon in order to fund field trips for members. The photo club will also be selling some pictures that are taken by members at the Homecoming table. They have two upcoming field trips to Stoltzfus Pumpkins in Manheim, Pa. and to a local alpaca farm, which will allow the club to participate in challenges off campus.
“From when I first started the club, I really loved the photo challenges because it is broad enough you can have your own interpretation and seeing everyone else’s photo is really fun as well. That is something that has stuck in this club and everyone seems to enjoy it as well,” Henson said.
Cabinet members are considering finding ways for members to take photos for events happening around campus along with the Civic Engagement Club.
If you are interested in joining, the club can be reached at their email, photoclub@etown.edu or their Instagram, photoclubetown.
