http://creativecameraclub.co.za/

Creative Camera Club, Wynberg (2026)

05/10/2026

CREATIVE CAMERA CLUB SHOOT
SUNDAY 18th OCTOBER 2026 📷

DEMOCRACY WINS AGAIN! 😄
After our internal poll, HOUT BAY HARBOUR MARKET has been chosen as the venue for our October photo shoot.
Thank you to everyone who took part in the poll and had their say.

OCTOBER PHOTO SHOOT
THREE COLOURS 📷 🔴 🟡 🔵
Restrict Your Image to Three Dominant Colours
This month’s theme sounds simple, but it should make us slow down, look carefully and think before pressing the shutter.
The challenge is to create a photograph in which three dominant colours work together to tell the story. Small traces of other colours may naturally appear, but when someone first looks at your photograph, the three main colours should clearly dominate the image.

TELL A STORY
Don’t simply photograph three coloured objects because they happen to be red, blue and yellow. Look for a relationship between the colours and your subject.
Imagine a fisherman in a yellow raincoat, standing beside a red boat, against the blue sea. You have three dominant colours — but, more importantly, you have a story.

IDEAS TO LOOK FOR 📸
At Hout Bay Harbour and around the market, keep your eyes open for fishing boats, fishermen and their clothing, ropes and buoys, harbour buildings, market stalls, signs, food displays, reflections in the water, fishing nets, colourful doors and walls, people, patterns and interesting details.
Try combinations such as red, yellow and blue, but don't feel restricted to primary colours. Your three colours could just as easily be orange, blue and white, or green, red and black.
Think about composition as well as colour. Ask yourself: What is my subject? Where does my eye go first? Do the three colours strengthen the story?

EQUIPMENT FOR THE SHOOT 🎒
Bring your normal camera equipment — there is no need to carry everything you own!
A standard zoom lens will probably be the most useful for walking around the harbour and market. A wide-angle lens can work well for harbour scenes and environmental photographs, while a telephoto lens will help isolate fishermen, boats and interesting details.
Also consider bringing a polarising filter for reflections and richer skies, a spare battery, extra memory card and lens cloth. A tripod is optional; for most of the morning, travelling light and being able to move around quickly will probably be more useful.

Mobile-phone photographers are also very welcome. The challenge is about seeing and creating the photograph — not about owning expensive equipment.

📍 Hout Bay Harbour Market
📅 Sunday, 18 October 2026
🕗 Meet at the Market – 8:00 AM
☕ Coffee in the Market Place – 10:00 AM
👋 Visitors most welcome
WhatsApp Robert: 082 788 0757
SHARE • LEARN • INSPIRE • ENJOY PHOTOGRAPHY TOGETHER
Let’s Capture the Beauty of Hout Bay Together! 📷🔴🟡🔵

28/09/2026

CREATIVE CAMERA CLUB 📷
WORKSHOP
WHY YOU SHOULD ENTER SALONS.

Entering a photographic salon can sometimes feel a little intimidating. You look at the standard of photography and think, “Is my work really good enough?”

There is only one way to find out — give it a go!
Salons are not simply about winning medals, certificates or acceptances. They encourage us to look more critically at our own photography. Choosing which images to enter makes us think about impact, composition, lighting, technical quality and storytelling.

Sometimes an image you are convinced will do well doesn't get accepted, while another image you nearly left out surprises you. That's all part of the learning process.

Every salon entered gives us experience. Over time we begin to understand which photographs have impact, where our weaknesses are and how we can improve.

Most importantly, don't photograph only for judges. Continue developing your own style and photograph the subjects you enjoy.
You don't have to be the best photographer in the club to enter a salon.

You simply have to start.
So choose a few of your favourite images, prepare them carefully, press that ENTER button and see what happens.

You might just surprise yourself! 📷🏆
CREATIVE CAMERA CLUB
Since 2003 — Where Your Imagination Becomes Art

22/09/2026

CREATIVE CAMERA CLUB — KALK BAY PHOTO SHOOT
Theme: TOGETHER

SUNDAY 20th SEPTEMBER 2026.

What a great morning we had in Kalk Bay! 📷

Our latest Creative Camera Club outing brought together seven club members and four visitors for a relaxed morning of photography, friendship, learning and plenty of conversation.

It was a real pleasure to welcome our visitors David Batzofin, Benjamin Pearce, Leon Kruger and Sharyn Dabbs, with Sharyn's partner joining us later for coffee. It's always great having new faces along and sharing our passion for photography with others.

A few of the early birds arrived in time for the 6:45am sunrise. The skies were clear with just a little haze, and for a brief period we were treated to some beautiful early-morning light. The sun climbed quickly, however, and before long that lovely soft golden light had become rather harsh — all part of the challenge of photography!

8am We all met at the top parking area at Kalk Bay Harbour, where we had a brief chat, introduced ourselves and officially welcomed our visitors to the Creative Camera Club.

Our theme for the morning was “TOGETHER,” and Kalk Bay certainly gave us plenty of opportunities to interpret it creatively. People, couples, fishermen, boats, shapes, objects, reflections and everyday moments all provided possibilities.

The great thing about a theme like TOGETHER is that everyone sees it differently. What catches one photographer's eye might be completely overlooked by another — and that's part of what makes our club shoots so interesting.

10am After spending the morning exploring the harbour and surrounding streets with our cameras, we made our way to the Brass Bell for coffee.

And, as so often happens on our outings, the coffee stop became almost as important as the photography! ☕😄

There was a fantastic atmosphere around the table as members and visitors got to know one another, talked cameras and photography, exchanged ideas and, most importantly, shared plenty of laughs.

That's really what the Creative Camera Club is all about.

It's not simply about taking the perfect photograph.

It's about getting out with your camera, learning from one another, sharing ideas, meeting people who enjoy the same hobby and having some fun along the way.

Photography brings us together — but the friendships, conversations and shared experiences are what make these mornings memorable.

And who knows? Perhaps after experiencing one of our outings, we may even see one or two of our visitors joining the Creative Camera Club in the future. That would be fantastic, and they would certainly be very welcome.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make it such an enjoyable morning.

Now comes the interesting part...

Seeing how everyone interpreted our theme — TOGETHER! 📷

SHARE • LEARN • INSPIRE • ENJOY

📷 CREATIVE CAMERA CLUB
Since 2003 — Where Your Imagination Becomes Art

16/09/2026

📷 CREATIVE CAMERA CLUB
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY — THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT, THE RIGHT MOMENT

Bird photography is one of those wonderful forms of photography where patience, observation and equipment all come together.

You can have the most expensive camera in the world, but if you don't understand your subject, anticipate its behaviour and have the patience to wait for that special moment, the photograph can still escape you. Equally, having the right equipment can make those moments considerably easier to capture.

For bird photography, a telephoto lens is one of your most useful tools. Something around 300–400mm can be a good starting point, while 400–600mm gives considerably more reach for small or distant birds. A fast shutter speed and continuous autofocus become particularly important when photographing birds in flight.

But there's another piece of equipment that doesn't cost anything:

Patience.

Sometimes you may sit for an hour and photograph virtually nothing. Then suddenly a kingfisher dives, a sunbird lands on exactly the right flower, or a bird takes flight directly in front of you.

You have perhaps one or two seconds.

That's when preparation pays off.

At the Creative Camera Club, photography isn't simply about owning a camera. It's about learning how to use the equipment you already have, understanding light, improving your technique and getting out there with other photographers to put it all into practice.

Whether your passion is birds, wildlife, landscapes, macro, street photography or simply learning to take better photographs, come and join us on one of our photographic adventures.

You don't need to be an expert. You just need a camera, a little curiosity and the desire to learn.

📷 THE CREATIVE CAMERA CLUB — SINCE 2003
Creatively Capturing Life Through the Lens.

Look us up and join us for some photographic adventures.

16/09/2026

📸 ARE YOU A KEEN PHOTOGRAPHER?
Do you enjoy photography? Perhaps you have a camera sitting at home that you would like to use more often, or maybe you simply enjoy taking photographs with your phone and would like to learn a little more.
Then come along and meet us!

https://www.facebook.com/creativecameraclub.co.za/

03/09/2026

📷 CAMERA CLUB SHOOT.

THEME: “TOGETHER”
The challenge is to produce a photograph where the viewer can see or feel the idea of togetherness. It doesn't necessarily have to involve people — animals, objects, shapes and even shadows can tell the story.

15 IDEAS TO LOOK FOR.

1. Holding Hands — young or old, friendship or companionship.
2. Friends Together — conversation, laughter or sharing a moment.
3. Working Together — fishermen, traders, craftsmen or people helping one another.
4. Couples — walking, sitting, talking or simply enjoying each other's company.
5. Family — parents and children, siblings or generations together.
6. Animals Together — dogs, birds, seals or other animals interacting.
7. Birds on a Wire — repetition and grouping can make a wonderful minimalist image.
8. Boats Together — fishing boats tied alongside one another.
9. Sharing a Meal — hands, plates, coffee cups and conversation can tell the story without showing faces.
10. Musicians Together — performers depending on one another.
11. Sporting Together — cyclists, runners, surfers or teammates.
12. Reflections Together — two people and their reflections can create four subjects from two.
13. Shadows Together — photograph the shadows rather than the people themselves.
14. Nature Together — intertwined flowers, branches, insects or birds feeding together.
15. The Odd One Out — turn the theme around: photograph a group together with one subject separated from everyone else.

📸 PHOTOGRAPHIC TIPS

Look for interaction. Two people simply standing next to each other says two people. A touch, glance, laugh or gesture says together.
Get closer. You don't always need the entire person. Two hands, two pairs of feet or two coffee cups can tell a stronger story.
Watch your background. Street scenes can become cluttered very quickly. Change your position before taking the photograph.
Use a wide aperture such as f/2.8–f/5.6 when you want to separate your subjects from the background.
Try a slower shutter speed. People moving together at around 1/15–1/30 sec can produce interesting movement while retaining enough shape to tell the story.

Look for repetition. Rows of bicycles, boats, chairs, windows or birds can all interpret Together.
Think in Black & White. If colour isn't contributing to the story, monochrome can concentrate attention on relationships, shapes and emotion.

⭐ THE CHALLENGE.

Before pressing the shutter, ask yourself:
“If I didn't give this photograph a title, would the viewer still understand the word TOGETHER?”
If the answer is yes, you've probably found your photograph.
And don't settle for the first obvious interpretation. Look for the unusual.

Two old fishing boats touching in the harbour might tell a better story about being together than two people posing for the camera.
THEME: TOGETHER

LOCATION.
My first choice would be Kalk Bay Harbour.
A Safe environment with everything at our finger tips.
It is almost made for this theme. You've got fishermen working together, people buying fish, couples walking, families, fishing boats tied alongside one another, seals and gulls, fishermen repairing equipment and people sitting together around the harbour. Film Cape Town specifically describes the harbour's colourful fishing boats, working fishermen and fish being offloaded and cleaned on the pier.

One theme. Many interpretations. Tell the story through your lens. 📷

16/08/2026

📷 THE CREATIVE CAMERA CLUB.

RHODES MEMORIAL PHOTO SHOOT
“ECHOES OF THE PAST”

What an awesome winter's day we had for our Rhodes Memorial Photo Shoot!
The morning greeted us with a thick blanket of cold mist, leaving little opportunity for the hoped-for sunrise photographs. Instead, we were treated to soft, overcast winter light.

While the conditions were certainly challenging, they also provided an excellent opportunity for our members to test their photographic skills and creativity. Mist can transform an ordinary scene into something quite atmospheric, and I'm sure it will be fascinating to see what everyone managed to capture.

🌄 AN EARLY START
A total of seven club members and one visitor attended the outing.
A few enthusiastic members arrived as early as 7:30 am, hoping to capture the sunrise, only to discover that the sun had decided to remain firmly hidden behind the blanket of mist!

The group assembled at 8:00 am at the Cecil John Rhodes Bronze Bust, where we welcomed everyone and had a brief discussion before setting off to explore the memorial and surrounding area.
Sadly, we were once again confronted by the vandalism of the Rhodes Bronze Bust.

It is disappointing to see a historic landmark repeatedly treated with such disregard. Whatever one's views of history may be, deliberately damaging a heritage site robs future generations of the opportunity to experience and understand the past.

📸 OUR THEME – “ECHOES OF THE PAST”
The assignment for the morning was to interpret our creative theme:
“ECHOES OF THE PAST”

Rhodes Memorial offered endless possibilities.
The architecture, weathered stone, statues, historic surroundings, mountain landscape and remnants of the area's past all provided opportunities to tell a story through a single photograph.

Members were also encouraged to capture images for the Open Category, while our visitor, Arnold, was free to photograph anything that caught his eye.

And perhaps, without even realising it, we were about to photograph one of the most powerful examples of “Echoes of the Past” right in front of us.

🔥 A WALK THROUGH THE ECHOES OF THE PAST
On 18 April 2021, the devastating Table Mountain fire swept through the Rhodes Memorial area.
The Rhodes Memorial Restaurant, a place that had been enjoyed by generations of Capetonians and visitors, was destroyed in the blaze.
For many of us, it wasn't simply a restaurant.
It was a place of memories.

It was sitting with friends and family, enjoying a meal or a cup of coffee while looking out across Cape Town. It was the magnificent mountain behind you, the views stretching across the city and the feeling that you were sitting in one of those very special places that makes Cape Town unique.

Today, the remains of the restaurant tell a very different story.
Walking through the charred and abandoned remains, we were reminded just how powerful the passage of time can be.
What was once a vibrant meeting place filled with conversation, laughter, meals and memories now stands silent.
A graveyard of memories.

And perhaps that was one of the strongest interpretations of our morning's theme.
“ECHOES OF THE PAST”

Sometimes you don't have to look very far to find history.
Sometimes you can simply walk through it.
The burnt walls, empty spaces and remnants of what once was seemed to whisper stories of the past—and for photographers, they provided a poignant reminder that photographs can preserve memories long after the places themselves have changed.

☕ COFFEE, CAMERAS & CONVERSATION
At around 10:00 am, we gathered at Foresters Arms for coffee, a light brunch and plenty of conversation.
As photographers often do, the discussion quickly turned to cameras, lenses and settings!

The overcast conditions had presented their own challenges, so everyone shared ideas about exposure, ISO, shutter speeds and techniques for working with soft winter light.
It became one of those wonderful photographic conversations where everyone has something to contribute and everyone learns something new.

📷 MORE THAN JUST PHOTOGRAPHY
Despite the cold, misty conditions, it was a fantastic outing filled with challenging photography, friendship, shared knowledge and plenty of laughter.
Days like this remind us that photography isn't only about coming home with the perfect image.
It is about getting out there.
It is about exploring.
It is about seeing familiar places differently.
It is about learning from one another.

And most importantly, it is about enjoying the adventure together.
I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone's creative interpretations of “ECHOES OF THE PAST”, together with the many wonderful images captured during our atmospheric morning at Rhodes Memorial.

🙏 A SINCERE THANK YOU
A sincere thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the outing such an enjoyable and memorable experience.
And a special thank you to our visitor Arnold for joining us. We hope you enjoyed your morning with the Creative Camera Club and look forward to seeing you again at one of our future outings.
Until our next adventure...

**KEEP EXPLORING.
KEEP LEARNING.
KEEP CAPTURING THE WORLD THROUGH YOUR LENS.**
📷🌅☕️
Robert McCracken
Creative Camera Club

15/08/2026

📷 CREATIVE CAMERA CLUB
A FRIENDLY REMINDER – SUNDAY'S SHOOT!
🌅 RHODES MEMORIAL – CAPE TOWN
SUNDAY, 16th AUGUST 2026
Just a friendly reminder to all our Creative Camera Club members that our monthly photo shoot is happening this Sunday morning at Rhodes Memorial.
📍 Meeting Point: Cecil John Rhodes Bronze Bust
🕗 Main Meeting Time: 8:00 AM
🚗 Parking: Top parking area behind Rhodes Memorial
🌄 COMING FOR THE SUNRISE?
If you would like to capture the early morning light over Cape Town and Table Bay, come along earlier.
Twilight begins at approximately 7:08 AM, giving us the opportunity to capture those beautiful pre-sunrise colours and changing light.
📸 THIS MONTH'S THEME
“ECHOES OF THE PAST”
Bring your imagination!
Look for photographs that tell a story of history, memories, age and heritage. The architecture, statues, stonework, old textures, shadows, trees and people around Rhodes Memorial can all become part of your story.
REMEMBER:
Don't just take a photograph — tell a story through a single shot.
Whether you're into landscapes, architecture, wildlife, portraits, details or creative compositions, there will be plenty to photograph.
And, as always, the most important part is to enjoy the morning, learn from one another and have some fun with our cameras!
☕ AFTER THE SHOOT
We'll head off to FORRIES for coffee and a chat, where we can compare photographs, share ideas and enjoy some well-earned refreshments.
NEW MEMBERS & GUESTS WELCOME!
If you know someone who enjoys photography, bring them along. It's a great opportunity to introduce them to the Creative Camera Club.
📱 For more information:
WhatsApp Robert – 082 788 0757
SEE YOU SUNDAY!
SHARE • LEARN • INSPIRE • ENJOY PHOTOGRAPHY TOGETHER
📷🌅☕
Robert McCracken
Creative Camera Club

06/08/2026

📷 CREATIVE CAMERA CLUB
PANNING WORKSHOP
Mastering Creative Panning Photography
Capturing Speed Through Motion

Have you ever looked at a photograph of a racing car, cyclist or bird in flight and wondered how photographers create that wonderful sense of speed while keeping the subject sharp?

The answer is Panning.

Panning is one of the most rewarding photographic techniques to master. Instead of freezing the action, you move your camera smoothly with your subject during the exposure. The result is a sharp subject against a beautifully blurred background that instantly tells the viewer the subject is moving.

Tonight, we're going to learn how to do exactly that.

What is Panning?

Panning is the art of following a moving subject with your camera while using a slower shutter speed.

The camera moves at the same speed as the subject.

Because the camera follows the subject:

The subject stays relatively sharp.
The background becomes beautifully blurred.
The photograph creates the illusion of speed.

A successful panning image doesn't just record movement—it makes the viewer feel the movement.

What Makes a Good Panning Subject?

The ideal subject moves across your field of view, not directly towards or away from you.

Excellent subjects include:

🚴 Cyclists
🏍 Motorcycles
🏎 Racing cars
🏃 Runners
🐎 Horses
🐕 Dogs running
🛹 Skateboarders
🚂 Trains
⛵ Boats
✈ Aircraft
🦅 Birds flying parallel to you

The faster the subject moves, the more dramatic the effect.

Equipment You'll Need
Camera

Any DSLR or Mirrorless camera capable of:

Shutter Priority (Tv or S)
Manual Mode
Continuous Autofocus
Burst Shooting
Lens

Ideal lenses include:

24–70mm
70–200mm
100–400mm

A medium telephoto lens often produces the most pleasing results.

Image Stabilisation

If your lens has Image Stabilisation:

Use Mode 2 (Panning Mode) if available.

If not, experiment with Image Stabilisation switched both ON and OFF.

Camera Settings
Shooting Mode

Shutter Priority (Tv / S)

This allows you to choose the shutter speed while the camera automatically selects the aperture.

Autofocus

Use Continuous Autofocus

Canon:
AI Servo

Nikon:
AF-C

Sony:
AF-C

The camera continuously adjusts focus while tracking the subject.

Drive Mode

Use:

Continuous High-Speed Burst

One of every ten photographs may be the perfect one.

Focus Area

Use:

✔ Centre Focus Point

or

✔ Small Focus Zone

Avoid using automatic selection of all focus points.

Choosing the Right Shutter Speed

This is the key to successful panning.

Subject Suggested Speed
Walking person 1/30 sec
Jogger 1/50 sec
Cyclist 1/60 sec
Dog running 1/100 sec
Horse 1/125 sec
Motorbike 1/125 sec
Racing car 1/160–1/250 sec
Aircraft 1/125 sec

Beginners should start at 1/125 sec.

As your confidence grows, gradually reduce your shutter speed.

Slower shutter speeds create more dramatic background blur.

ISO

Keep ISO low.

ISO 100
ISO 200

Raise it only when necessary.

Aperture

If shooting Manual:

Start around

f/8

This gives enough depth of field for slight focusing errors.

The Six-Step Panning Technique
Step 1

Stand comfortably.

Feet shoulder-width apart.

Rotate from your waist.

Step 2

Spot your subject early.

Don't wait until it's in front of you.

Step 3

Lock autofocus.

Begin tracking before pressing the shutter.

Step 4

Match the subject's speed.

Move smoothly.

Avoid jerky movements.

Step 5

Press the shutter gently.

Keep moving.

Never stop when you hear the shutter.

Step 6

Follow Through

Continue tracking after the exposure.

Exactly like:

Golf
Tennis
Cricket

The follow-through often determines whether your photograph is successful.

Composition Tips

✔ Leave space in front of the subject.

✔ Photograph side-on whenever possible.

✔ Keep the horizon level.

✔ Watch for distracting poles and signs.

✔ Try shooting from a lower angle.

Backgrounds

The busier the background, the more dramatic the blur.

Excellent backgrounds:

Trees
Buildings
Spectators
Bushes
Colourful walls
Fences

Avoid plain skies.

They don't blur effectively.

Practice Makes Perfect

Spend 30 minutes photographing:

Cyclists
Passing traffic
Joggers
Dogs

Aim to take 100 photographs.

If 15 are successful...

You've done extremely well.

Even professional sports photographers discard most of their images.

Common Mistakes

❌ Shutter speed too fast.

No motion blur.

❌ Stopping the camera movement.

Always follow through.

❌ Jerky movements.

Smooth movements produce smooth blur.

❌ Single Autofocus.

Use Continuous AF.

❌ Waiting too long.

Track early.

Creative Ideas

Try photographing:

🚴 Cyclists

🏇 Horses

🏍 Motorcycles

🦅 Birds

🚂 Steam trains

🚤 Boats

🏄 Surfers

🚗 Vintage cars

🐕 Dogs chasing balls

🎠 Children on playground equipment

Club Challenge

Photograph the same moving subject using:

1/250 sec
1/125 sec
1/60 sec

Study each image.

Ask yourself:

Which tells the best story?
Which gives the strongest impression of speed?
Which has the best balance between a sharp subject and motion blur?
Top Tips from Experienced Panning Photographers
Keep both eyes open while tracking your subject.
Begin tracking well before pressing the shutter.
Use burst mode rather than taking a single shot.
Breathe naturally and stay relaxed.
Pan from your hips, not just your arms.
If you're struggling, increase the shutter speed slightly until your technique improves.
Return to the same location several times—practice with familiar subjects builds confidence.
Final Thought

Photography is not simply about recording what we see—it is about conveying what we feel.

A perfectly sharp racing car parked in a pit lane tells us very little.

A racing car with spinning wheels, a blurred background and a sense of speed tells a story.

That is the magic of panning.

The more you practise, the more instinctive it becomes. Before long, you'll find yourself creating images that are full of life, energy and excitement.

"Don't just photograph movement—capture the feeling of movement."

Robert McCracken
Creative Camera Club 📷🚴🏍️📸

02/08/2026

CREATIVE CAMERA CLUB
At Dawn Patrol MOTH
Market on the Lawn.

Creative Camera Club

05/10/2026

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