2025 PhotoCamp Details and Signup Form

Mark your calendars for our 2025 PhotoCamp on March 21st-23rd.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE POST FOR ALL THE IMPORTANT DETAILS.

For those who have not experienced PhotoCamp, this is an opportunity to share a weekend with fellow photographers while camping at one of Florida’s state parks. This year we will be camping at the Tillis Hill Recreation Area in the Withlacochee State Forest. (The map is below.)

We have reserved 5 adjacent RV/tent campsites so the number of campers will be limited. But, if you don’t make it on the list of campers, you can drive up for just the day on Saturday.

If you are camping, you can arrive Friday evening and stay until Sunday morning. The campsite restrictions are as follows: 2 vehicles and 8 people per site. The sites will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Each campsite has water, electricity, a picnic table, and a fire ring. The parking lot (where extra vehicles and the Saturday-only folks can park) is close to the entrance to the campgrounds and not too far from the sites we have reserved. Since there are a limited number of sites, a limited number of vehicles, and a limited number of people, allowed per site, it is important that you fill out the form below accurately so that our organizers can calculate the logistics as the event fills up. The reserved campsites have been paid for by TBCC.

Amenities include showers and restrooms.

Friday

Check-in time on Friday is: 3 PM

Those who register for camping will receive the gate code just prior to the event.

Friday night dinner is on your own.

Hang out with your fellow early-arriving photographers.

Saturday

We have several activities planned for attendees. This is the currently planned itinerary, however, be aware that any of it is subject to change at any time up until and during the event.

If you are not camping, you can join us for just the morning photowalk or you can drive back to the campground (kind of on the way back to Tampa) and join us for lunch, our afternoon photographic discussion, our potluck dinner, and night photography. 

There is a $13 per person admission fee for Homosassa Springs.

Saturday morning, there will be a photo walk in Homosassa Springs State Park, which is about 30 minutes from the campgrounds. We will meet at the entrance kiosk at 10 AM. We will wait until 10:15 AM and then go into the park.

This park has nature trails and captive wildlife. We will wrap up the photowalk around 12:30 -1 PM.

When we return to the Tillis Hill Campgrounds around 1:30 PM, TBCC will host a lunch for attendees at the campsites. All food and drinks for lunch will be provided by the club. Donations of snacks and/or additional drinks will be appreciated, however. Please bring your own food if you have special dietary needs. Also, all food must be packed away in cars as the raccoons are very active.

Over lunch, and for a bit longer if needed, we will have a photography discussion moderated by Robert Rostick. The last four years have been quite enlightening!

After lunch, there will be time for campers to set up their camping gear on the campsite if you arrive that morning.

Around sunset, everyone will gather at our central campfire for a potluck dinner. Everyone who is staying for dinner should bring a food item to share with the group. TBCC will provide paper plates, cups, and plastic utensils for the potluck dinner. There will be options to cook food on the fire, on the grill, or on camp stoves.

After dinner, any interested attendees can join in some night photography, provided that weather or clouds don’t interfere.

For the remainder of the evening, we will enjoy time at the campfire as late as anyone wants to stay or stay up.

Sunday

Check-out time on Sunday is: 1 PM

SAMPLE PHOTOS FROM HOMOSASSA SPRINGS (photo credits Lee Brand)

PLEASE COMPLETE THE RESERVATION FORM BELOW BEFORE March 1:

Please be sure to fill in the form even if you are only coming for Saturday’s events so we have enough food for lunch.

Note: We will close the camping reservations earlier than 3/1 if we reach the maximum capacity for the camping sites we have reserved.

SIGN UP FORM

MAPS

February Outing! Florida State Fair

Join your fellow TBCC members for a fun evening at the Florida State Fair on Wednesday, February 12th!

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST!

We will meet at 6:00 PM (sunset is at 6:18 PM so we want to be there for sunset and blue hour) at the base of the Giant Ferris Wheel that overlooks the large pond. It is the largest of the Ferris wheels. There is an open area in front of it with some tables.

Please let me know if you are planning to attend this outing by emailing mytbcc@gmail.com by 7 PM on February 11th. If you arrive after 6:15 PM please text me and I will let you know where we are. I will email my cell # to those attending.

Wednesday night is usually not very crowded so this is the best time to make images.

We will be going rain or shine! Puddles are great for night shots!

Be sure to remember where you parked your car, it is a very large parking lot! And remember the gate number you came in at.

Bring a lens that can go from wide to zoom and a tripod. It is best to travel as light as possible. They do have security at the gates so be prepared for that. For the safety of your equipment, use a vest or backpack instead of a roller bag. We have never had a problem but better safe than sorry.

We will spend a couple of hours wandering around the mid-way to capture some long exposures, multiple exposures, ICMs, and street photography. At this point, Robert is planning to be there.

If you are so inclined there is plenty of “fair food” to eat while walking around.

I hope to see you there!

Lynn W.

Here are some of my images from last year’s state fair outing!

January 2025 Education Night – Special Presentation – “Creative Toy Photography” by Shelly Corbett

Members, please join us, on January 23rd, for a Special Presentation by Shelly Corbett, “Creative Toy Photography”.

Summary of the Presentation

Somewhere along the way, we leave our inner child behind—the one who conjures magical worlds and imaginary friends, who falls in love with princes and princesses, who slays dragons and rides unicorns into the sunset.

I invite you into those forgotten worlds through my toy-based photography. My photo subjects used to be human. Now they’re two inches tall and made of plastic. (Not only do they have more fun but they behave better, too!) Using various photographic and lighting techniques, props, and special lenses, I create dreamy worlds for my tiny subjects.

I promise you will leave this presentation with lots of ideas to inspire you to jump into this fun and addictive photography niche. 

About Shelly

LEGO and their minifigures have always been a family favorite. Some years ago, between a creative rut and personal challenges, I watched a friend photographing minifigures at one of my adult-only LEGO-building parties. A lightbulb moment! I dove into this delightful toy photography world and never looked back. I discovered that we can’t afford to lose our sense of play and wonder. With toys as subjects, I can also explore a range of emotions that often seem out of reach. I hope you experience as much of a sense of joy and wonder with my art as I have making it.

Twelve years later, multiple blog posts and now encouraging others to follow in my footsteps through my workshops I want to bring a taste of this magical world to you. If you enjoy macro photography, portrait photography, storytelling, or nature photography, my short and entertaining presentation is for you. I will give you insights into the joys of toy photography. As a Lensbaby Ambassador, I will show you how to use Lensbaby lenses to create a magical world. And I will give you plenty of behind-the-scenes glimpses of my set-ups to inspire you. In addition, I will review briefly the tools you need to get started for either studio or outside set-ups. 

Shelly’s website: https://shellycorbett.com/

Some Samples of Shelly’s Images

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This presentation is for all photographers! Shelly’s toy photography is all about story-telling. This is something we should all try to do with our photos more often. Also, if you have physical limitations this is a fun way to continue being creative on a small scale!

HOW TO ATTEND

We will send the Zoom invitation to all current (2025) members a few days before 01/23/2025.

Non -Members – If you are interested in joining us to see what we are all about, we will send you a Zoom Invitation for our Exhibit/Comments Night only. Please send your Name and Email address with the Subject line “Zoom Invite Needed for MEETING on (appropriate date)” to mytbcc@gmail.com so we can get the invitation to you. Our Exhibit/Comment Nights are on the 3rd Thursday of each month except December.

I hope to see you at our Exhibit/Comment Night on January 16th and our Education Night on January 23rd, 2025, for this special presentation. 

Just keep shooting!

Lynn Wiezycki, TBCC President

Highlights of 2024 TBCC Annual Awards and Holiday Party

I want to thank all those members, and plus 1’s, who came out to Philippe Park on Sunday (December 8, 2024) to join in the food, fellowship, and fun for our 2024 Annual Awards and Holiday Party!

As usual, the food was amazing and yummy!

We had a great turnout for our “Story Display” exhibit; the stories were educational, inspirational, and funny!

I think everyone present won a raffle prize!

Susan Huckabay won our first 50/50 Raffle, and graciously donated her winnings back to the club!

Thank you to the Board of Directors, plus Lorrie Maniscalco, Susan Huckabay, and Lourdes Fusco, for putting the party all together and cleaning up in record time!

The Annual Awards

We had 14 members qualify per the eligibility rules listed on our website. https://mytbcc.com/about/competition-rules/

Congratulations go to:

1st Place – Lourdes Fusco, 2nd Place – Lee Brand, 3rd Place – Kathy Thompson, 4th Place – Liwen Tao, 5th Place – Jim McWilliam, 6th Place – Richard Edwards

Special thanks were given to me (thank you) and to our two Pros, Robert Rostick and Jim Sykes.

We are serious about learning photography but we do know how to have FUN!

Jim Sykes brought his herd of cameras and was taking video most of the afternoon so here is the highlight video, if you missed coming or want to relive the day!

Happy Holidays to One and All!

Lynn W.

TBCC Community Service Slideshow – November 15, 2024

A couple of years ago the TBCC Board of Directors decided that the club should find ways to give back to the community.

Our Treasurer, Jack Maniscalco, and his wife, Lorrie, have been doing the photography for the CWE Fundraiser Golf Tournament for a number of years. CSW is a Christian group that does medical missionary work in underdeveloped countries.

In 2023, Jack asked the club to start helping out so we pulled together several members who braved the rains to make photos of the participating golfers and the sponsor signs.

Twelve members volunteered in 2024. We had a beautiful day, and we were stationed at tees with food stations next to them, so we had a great time and made some memorable photos for the golfers.

They only had to take the images. At the end of each person’s 3-hour shift, they gave us their storage card, we downloaded it and they were free to go home. Jack went through all the images and set up the gallery that CWE placed on their website where the participants could obtain their photos.

Jack put together a sideshow to show some of the images we made.

Please consider joining us in 2025 as a volunteer for this and our other community service outings.

Thank you to all our members who participated! You are the BEST!!

2024 Annual Awards and Holiday Party – Sunday, December 8, 2024

On behalf of your TBCC Board of Directors, you are cordially invited to the TBCC Annual Awards and Holiday Party that will be held on Sunday, December 8th, at Philippe Park in Safety Harbor (map below).

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST!

The fun gets started at 1 PM in Pavilion #8 and will go on until about 4 PM.

There are many big picnic tables in the pavilion, but you are welcome to bring your own chairs if you prefer. The club will supply grills, hand sanitizer, ice, plates, cups, silverware, napkins, and some basic drinks. There is no electricity so plan accordingly. There is a restroom nearby.

We are counting on all of you to bring all that wonderful food and drink that TBCC is famous for!

The food/drink signup form is below.

Story Display image! Please bring one photo that is at least 8X10 (so everyone can see it). It should be on a piece of foam core or matted for rigidity while hanging from our photo lineup! This is not a competition but a chance for you to get up and tell everyone the story behind your image. So keep that in mind when making your image choice. Please, only bring an image we have not seen before.

This year, we are having a 50/50 Raffle! $4 per ticket or 5 tickets for $15. The winner will get 50% of whatever amount we take in and the other 50% will go toward the club’s educational endeavors.

Annual Photography Gift Raffle – Be sure to get your one free ticket, when you arrive.

Our end-of-year Awards Ceremony will be for those who qualified in our monthly Exhibits.

Please join us for an afternoon of fun, food, fellowship, and photo sharing!

If you have any questions, please let me know at mytbcc@gmail.com

Lynn Wiezycki

PLEASE CHECK THIS LIST OF FOOD AND DRINKS TO SEE WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ADDED:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Vshyd8DXSsB5dBy5_fJPqayNhq-Nn2q0_CYDOWBehtk/edit?usp=sharing

SIGN-UP FORM BELOW FOR FOOD AND DRINKS (be sure to hit submit when completed).

MAP TO OUR PARTY VENUE