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.