Photography Club

The theme for the month of April was the colour “Purple” and was won by Rodney Augusten with a beautiful shot of the entrance at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) Hobart, Tasmania. The winner of the Digital Image, Mono category and Image of the Month was Roger Bawden with a lovely photo of Windmills “Latte Windmills”, taken near Amsterdam in Holland. The Digital Image Open Colour category was an exquisite shot of a visiting frog by John Cupper – title “Croak in the Night”. Creative was won by Marj Webber with a composite photo of two of her granddaughters frolicking in a vertically panned photo of the Melaleuca scrub on Bribie Island – title “Forest Nymphs”. Gordon Bentzen won both print sections with his pin-sharp photos of antique motorbikes titled “Early Harley” and “Early Motorcycle”. Our Judge Gang Wei was unable to attend so presented his critiques on digital images by Zoom. He gave detailed and fair judgments on our work. John Cupper stepped in to judge our prints which were presented on the night. Thank you, John! The “Noir” workshop was a big success with Gaby Shaw arranging the lighting and props. A slideshow of the photographs was shown on our new television screen. A presentation on Boudoir/ Artistic Nudity was given by Lynette Romano who has her own studio where she produces her works of art. Coming events on our calendar are the Samford Gecko Wildlife visit on May 16th, a Scenic Rim tour overnighting in Warwick and a weekend at Hervey Bay. Other exciting activities are in the pipeline. The Bribie Island Photography Club meets on the fourth Monday of each month at the back of the Arts Centre on Sunderland Drive at 7 pm. Guests are welcome. The first two meetings are free.

For enquiries, please ring Gordon on 3408 2649 or Gail on 0419 638 856 Website: //www. sites.google.com/site/bribiephotographyclub/ Email: bribiephotographyclub@gmail.com

Light Pollution

YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW WHAT LIGHT POLLUTION IS, THE TERM IS SELFEXPLANATORY. BUT JUST IN CASE; LIGHT POLLUTION IS WHY YOU CAN SEE MORE STARS IN THE MOUNTAINS RATHER THAN IN THE CITY. ALL OUR OUTDOOR LIGHTS (STREETLIGHTS, FLOOD LAMPS, NEON SIGNS, ETC) SEND A BIT OF THEIR LIGHT DIRECTLY UP TOWARDS THE SKY. WITH THE NUMBER OF OUTDOOR LIGHTS IN A CITY THIS ADDS UP SO MUCH THAT IT DROWNS OUT ALL BUT THE BRIGHTEST CELESTIAL OBJECTS.

Best shielded light fixtures to lower light pollution.

Lowering light pollution is a cause anyone can get behind. I have seen many people that do not usually agree on anything come together to agree light pollution is a bummer. I have never met someone who wished to see less stars in their hometown. So, let us discuss how we can lower our impact on the night sky. The solution is as obvious as the problem; just make less light. Be sure any outdoor light you use is pointed down towards only what you are using it for, and on only on when it is in use. There are tons of options to do this; motion sensor lights, low light pollution LEDs, shielded fixtures… this all might be sounding high tech and expensive, but it pays to lower light pollution. Having your lights on motion sensors makes your property more secure and lowers your electric bill. LED lights are more efficient lowering your electric bill and the ones that are especially good for lowering light pollution have a warm amber hew, that cause less eye strain. Shielded fixtures give you more bang for your buck! Rather than having half the electricity your bulb uses wasted on going up to space, a shielded light fixture takes that otherwise wasted light and reflects it down where it is more useful.

One of the biggest myths of why you need lights always on outside is security. There is no evidence that lights prevent crime. Let me say that again: outdoor light has no effect on crime. There’s actually indication that the opposite is true; the absence of light prevents crime. When lights are on 24/7 criminals will take that as a sign that no one is home as they expect lights to turn off and on while in use. Also, in the absence of light criminals must use flashlights which catches the eye of neighbours/bystanders more leading to more criminals being caught/stopped. Motion sensor lights are better for security as you are alerted by seeing the light turn on that someone might be in your yard, bringing you to the window. This shows the most effective form of security, community! The best way to secure your home or business is to get to know your neighbours. If your neighbours know you and are generally aware of your usual routines, they will be the first to recognize when something suspicious is happening around your property (i.e., your motion sensor light turning on, or suspicious flashlights on your property) and will be able to alert you/authorities. Community is also the solution to light pollution! If everyone reading this took steps to reduce their light pollution there will be a slight effect but that effect will be greatly increased if you and your neighbours, and your neighbours’ neighbours, and your neighbours’ neighbours, and so on all caught on. Hopefully, enough neighbours will catch on and you will be able to see the milky way from your back yard! Go next door and meet your neighbours! Maybe also pass along this article and talk to them about doing a tour together to appreciate the night sky more. So go forth and be a lighting crusader! Talk to neighbours! Write your representatives! Report places that are creating too much light pollution! Take back our night sky!