Information from Bobby Nance:

See the announcement below for details concerning this month’s walkabout.   The trip there shouldn’t take more than 40 to 45 minutes.  I have not googled the exact location to get specific directions but will be glad to help anyone who emails me.  I hope to go first thing Saturday morning, so will probably leave Sumter about 7:15 or so, unless my plans change.  This looks like an all-day affair, so you should feel free to come when you can and leave when you can.

With the bad weather to our north, conditions may not be favorable on Saturday, so I suggest you keep an eye on the forecast before leaving.  If the event is rained out or cancelled, I have no backup or alternative plans for this month. **Note that there is an admission fee for adults.**  I hope to see you there!

On Sunday we were the few, but proud — or maybe just a little loony!

Why? Because we decided to push forward with the scheduled walkabout despite the fact that it was raining here in Sumter. Surely it wasn’t raining in Columbia too! As we left Sumter and entered the swamp on U.S. 378 the skies opened up. I was thinking to myself, we are crazy for doing this, but as we approached 601 it wasn’t raining at all. Long story short, we got parked on Main Street and made our way over to the statehouse. We got in a few minutes worth of shooting before we had to pull out our umbrellas. Then we spent some time taking pictures of the grounds and city from beneath the portico of the statehouse. SDCC walkabout chairman Bobby Nance even posed as a statue for us, you’ll have to come to the meeting to see those pictures. Then we shot some in the rain, umbrella in hand, on the grounds. A nice act of juggling if I can say so myself. After leaving the statehouse we proceeded to River Walk Park in West Columbia and snapped a few pictures of the Gervais Street Bridge, etc.

And what trip would not be complete without a stop to eat, we enjoyed pizza from the Mellow Mushroom in downtown and then made our way home. A great time of fellowship and picture taking despite being soggy, but heck you coulnd’t have asked for better light! =)

Make to join us at the June meeting for a slideshow of images from the walkabout.

- Chris

The Sumter Digital Camera Club plans to hold its monthly walkabout in Columbia on Sunday afternoon, May 17.

We’ll leave from Sumter no later than 4:15 PM on Sunday from the parking lot of the Sumter Mall near the community room (approximately midway between Belks and the main mall entrance on the Broad Street side of the mall).

We will park on Main Street near the State House to give an opportunity for photographing on the grounds of the State House and around Trinity Episcopal Church.   From downtown we will travel by car across the Gervais St. bridge to the River Walk Park (no admission charge) in West Columbia, just over the Congaree River from Columbia.   Opportunities to shoot there should include man-made structures such as the Gervais Street bridge as well as a variety of more natural vistas.   We will probably stop somewhere on the way home for supper.
All forum participants are encouraged to participate.

Anyone preferring to drive independently with intentions of meeting the rest of the group in Columiba, please email us.

WOW! We had a fantastic turnout for our April walk-a-bout held on Sunday, April 13 at Green Savannah Stables on Wedgefield Road outside of Sumter. A big thanks to Kelly Anderson for hosting us and allowing us to take pictures of her stables and horses. Below is a group photo of the attendees. Thanks to all that came out and helped to make this another successful SDCC outing!

*Check back later this week for a gallery of images taken during the event.*

A great crowd turned out for our monthly walk-a-bout held on the grounds of the Sumter County Museum and Carolina Backcountry in downtown Sumter. Below is a group photo, what a handsome group of photogs, eh!?!

Just a friendly reminder for those interested that there will be a Palmetto Shutterbugs walk-a-bout held in downtown Sumter this Saturday evening (1/27) starting at 6:30pm. This will be a chance to photograph the night scene of our beautiful downtown. Bring your tripod, if you don’t have one, we should have some an extra one or two and we all can share.

Immediately following the walk-a-bout we will go to dinner at Katherine’s Restaurant on Main Street. Please RSVP to this email if you plan on attending the walk-a-bout and/or dinner so we will know how many to make reservations for.

Also if you are interested … Palmetto Shutterbugs has planned its first President’s Board meeting (*see below) for the same day (1/27) in Sumter, SC. Following our meeting, at 6 pm, we are inviting anyone within our group(s) with any suggestions, thoughts, or comments on where you would like to see our group(s) move or grow a chance to voice your concerns/opinions to the board. We have allotted a 30 minute window for you to do so. The only thing that we ask is that you please RSVP ahead of time so we will know how many to expect and how much time to give each person. Just reply back to this email and I will send you details of how to get to the conference room.

* NOTE: For those of you wonder who makes up the board, it is comprised of each of the chapter presidents or a representative sent on behalf of the president in their absence.

We hope that you all will join us for that afternoon/evening.