The Eyes Have It! That's your challenge for the April assignment to be shown at the May meeting. Remember, there are all kinds of eyes, so let your imagination run wild!

To view the assignment results, just click the button below!

DigiCam SIG met on Tuesday, May 20. Attendees presented the results of the April assignment, "The Eyes Have It!". The object of the assignment was to challenge our photographers in finding and photographing all different kinds of eyes with whatever equipment they had on hand, or devised to meet their needs. As our photographers who attempted macro (close-up) photography of human and animal eyes found out, some eyes are harder to image clearly than others, including human, dog and cat eyes.

Bill Draper brought in several photos of human eyes and the corresponding expressiveness of the eye area, composed in much the manner of what one would see of a woman's eyes while wearing a burqa or veil. The allure of seeing only the eyes, without the rest of the facial features to garner clues from, presented a dramatic image.

Drew Jacobs and Patty Beasley availed themselves of ready subjects at home (their family cat companions), as well as embarking on spring migration photographic treks around the Coastal Bend. Boots, the big alligator at Paradise Pond in Port Aransas, also proved to be a apt subject when he came up for a lengthy visit alongside the boardwalk during spring migration, as Patty and Drew both brought in different views of his eyes.

Drew additionally presented photos of various bird eyes; an elephant eye from the recent circus in Rockport; the eyes of both a ribbon snake and a frog engaged in the timeless battle of diner-dinee; the large-eyed intelligent gaze of an Arabian stallion; and an excellent close up shot of a bee nestled deeply in the petals of a brilliant red flower, eyes forward as it foraged for food and gathered pollen.

Patty additionally presented a collection of macro shots of critter eyes, including birds of prey, and other migratory and resident birds; a tree frog; a red-eared slider turtle that dropped by her office; a bright orange-red fish eye sent in by a friend of Patty's currently stationed in Okinawa; and the bright crystal blue eyes of a local jumping spider, set off against the spider's black body and metallic bluish-green jaws. Patty also brought in images of non-visual eyes, including a buckeye butterfly; an Eye of God soft woven hanging by Lipan-Apache artist Julia Nava; a photo of blue-eyed grass; and a wide-eyed pair of holographic sunglasses sported by the photographer.

Ken Parsons, one of our globe-trotting members, was happily back in country and able to join us. Ken brought in a collection of eyes and gazes from Marrakech, including a pair of women in exotic native dress and veils; a grandmother with the wisdom of ages in her eyes as she gently smiled at Ken when he took her photo; and fun eye-to-eye photos of fellow tour members as they traveled the streets of Marrakech.

Eve Kerr, another globe-trotter, was on the road and could not attend the meeting, but sent in some of her photos from a prior visit to Egypt, including a close up of a camel's eye; the seamed and sand-blasted face of the camel's handler; and two close ups of women's eyes, one undraped and cropped closely to show only the eyes and nose bridge, and one portrait composition of an Egyptian woman in a burqa with only her eyes showing as she went about her daily routine.

After we went over the assignment photos, Ray Owens set up a rig he brought for show-and-tell - a table top light enclosure he found at a local WallyWorld. The rig enthralled everyone when he also mentioned its closeout price of $38 (from a MSRP of around $100). We closely examined all components packed with the enclosure (an 8.5-16" tripod, two 35W lights with retractable legs, a backdrop drape and attached carrying case). All were quite impressed and the ensuing discussion revealed additional modifications that would work with it.

- Patty Beasley