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Camera club captures statewide attention

Members of the Buckhannon-Upshur Camera Club pose at the Gatlinburg Overlook during the club’s workshop trip to the Great Smoky Mountains.

BUCKHANNON — The Buckhannon-Upshur Camera Club continues to grow dramatically in size, influenced by the talent and leadership of President Gary McCoy and former President Al Tucker.

A club that began with only a handful of members out of the small town now boasts 65 members from different cities in the Mountain State, and even other states. Officials said the club doubled it’s membership from 2015 to 2016. Last year, the club had 43 members. The BUCC has proven to be the second-largest camera club in the state, Tucker said.

“We have 65 members in little Buckhannon,” he said. “We draw from Morgantown, Fairmont, Bridgeport, Parsons and Elkins. We’re really an open community.”

The club credits its growth and success to their monthly newsletter. The newsletters have become a large part of the club’s society over the last five years. They originally were created to give members a brief idea of what plans were in store, but after gaining attention from non-members, the newsletter grew in size and content, officials said. One specific newsletter about the Great Smoky Mountains was featured in The Mountain Press, a newspaper out of Sevierville, Tennessee. The newsletter focused on the Great Smoky Mountains, which endured wildfires last year.

“Alan, please thank your camera club for sharing the stunning shots of our beloved park,” a letter to Tucker from Beth Bramhall from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park read. “This has been such a tough year, but the support has been incredible, and your photos bring tears to my eyes. My family is from West Virginia, so I know that you all have had your share of tough times and disasters. We appreciate your support and sensitivity to our losses here. I just wanted to send a personal thanks. These were wonderful photographs, too! Best wishes, Beth.”

Clingman’s Dome taken in the Great Smoky Mountains by BUCC President Gary McCoy.

The newsletters have grown from three pages to about 20. The newsletters are all themed and include many photos from club photographers as well as submissions.

“In 2013, for the 150th anniversary of the state, we thought it would be nice to take a few photos and put them in the newsletter,” Tucker said. “Other people found out about that, not only in the state, but out of state. So we started getting requests from people to submit photos. It turned into a book with 250 photos. Forty-two photographers contributed, and we even had one photographer from England that participated.”

BUCC took a $10 donation for each photo in the book.

“It didn’t start off as a fundraiser, but we took the funds to purchase more books that we could donate,” Tucker said.

The books purchased were taken to the local deployment location and given to troops being sent to Afghanistan and Iraq.

“We also took copies of the books and gave them to patients in the nursing home at the VA Center,” Tucker said. “It brought tears to your eyes to see how grateful they were and how their eyes lit up. It was really cool. So, any money we make, we try to throw it back into something that is worthwhile.”

The club has helped the city of Buckhannon by providing photography services to the 4-H program, Boy Scouts, the Wild Turkey Federation and the Senior Shoot program. Tucker and BUCC member John Simons also offer training sessions at Buckhannon-Upshur High School. The workshops offered by the BUCC are an educational component, BUCC’s Sandi Miller said.

“We have a strong focus on youth,” Tucker said. “We’re in the process of doing something that we call Senior Shoots. There are kids from families that can’t afford to get a photographer and have a professional shoot. We have identified, through the schools, six or eight seniors that two or three of us can go do that shoot for them. We not only give them all of their photos, but we put together a photo book for them.”

BUCC always accepts new members and welcomes new photographers to participate and join.

Workshops are held to encourage new and amateur photographers to join.

Speakers at workshops have included multiple professional photographers, including Jim Clark who said, “Buckhannon Camera Club is the best club.”

“Every month, we welcome a speaker,” Miller said. “This speaker will share their expertise and that helps improve our skill. Our annual due of $10 is a great investment for learning so much.”

Tucker said there have been professional members of the club quit because of the shift to include new photographers and have fun, rather than the challenging atmosphere professionals desire.

“We’re encouraging members to bring their cameras and ask questions, because that’s the best way to learn,” Tucker said. “We probably do seven or eight field trips. We pick a location to go and take photos. Myself and John Simons, and other people who are a little more knowledgeable, will help those that aren’t. Those field trips are a really great learning experience. I also enjoy being a mentor to these people.”

Among the others, there are two main things that new photographers need to take the time and dedication to learn.

“There are two parts of photography,” Tucker said. “One is knowing how to get the most out of your camera by using the correct settings. The second part is your artistic eye. When you get out there to take some shots, put your camera down and then start studying. You’re trying to find something unique and really different. After doing this a few years, you’ll be able to find a great shot just while driving down the highway.”

Future hopes for the BUCC is that the numbers will increase and that it will continue to be a fun experience, Tucker said.

“The only thing someone needs to become a photographer is an interest and passion,” Miller said. “Some people start with a cell phone. The ‘rules’ of photography are the same for all cameras, so it doesn’t matter if you’re using a cell phone or not. One individual entered three cell phone shots into the photography contest and one of them placed.”

The club meets the last Thursday of each month, with meetings canceled or postponed for some holidays.

“If people don’t have a local camera club, they are welcome to ours,” Miller said. “If there is a photography club in your area, look them up and try it out. They will be willing to help just like our club is. Photographers are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Even if you’re interested in one of the specific workshops we do, we welcome guests at our meetings.”

For additional information, contact the BUCC at 304-472-1552.

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