Login    

 Welcome  Upcoming Events  Past Events  About Us  Newsletter  Education  GS Ideas  Copyright 

Welcome to The Focal Point, our community newsletter where creativity, learning, and connection come into sharp focus. Here you’ll find featured member photos, upcoming events, recommended educational videos, member-submitted articles, and spotlights on the people who make our community thrive. The Focal Point is shaped by you, and we welcome submissions of all kinds—from images and stories to ideas and inspiration. If you have something to share, we encourage you to send it in and help keep our collective vision clear, curious, and creative.

• View or Download Vol 2 #8, Aug 1, 2026
  • From the Editor, August: Finding Inspiration Close to Home
  • Member Spotlight: Ron Crichton
  • Photographing Waterfalls, by Bill Buchanan
  • Through Their Eyes: Tom Barr's "Norwegian Lakeshore", commentary by Bill Buchanan
  • Through Their Eyes: Lorell Leon's "Headed Home", commentary by Steve Wormlight
  • Through Their Eyes: Paul Roman's "Mountain", commentary by Steve Wormlight
  • Composition Simplified: Divided Interest
  • Click Outside the Lines Photos: "Lost in Space"
  • Member Photos
  • Monthly Training:
    • Basics of PhotoPills
    • Create a Realistic Fan Flag Mockup in Photoshop
    • New Photoshop Camera Raw Features (July 2026 Update)
    • How to Create a Pixel Stretch Effect in Photoshop
    • "Lightroom" Couldn’t Do This - Until Now
    • These Masking Techniques Made My Photos Better (Luminar Neo)
  • Articles
    • Adobe camera app’s new feature will critique your photos using AI
    • Lessons From 20 Years Photographing Wildlife in Extreme Weather
    • Pixel Pitch: Does Camera Pixel Size Actually Matter?
    • How to (Digitally) Paint Your Own Gorgeous Backdrops
• View or Download Vol 2 #7, Jul 1, 2026
  • From the Editor, July: Making Critiques More Effective
  • Member Spotlight: Judy Gamache
  • How I Found the Vacation Photos That Needed Noise Reduction, by Jeff Bondono
  • Through Their Eyes - a new Newsletter Section
  • Composition Simplified: Entrance and Exit
  • Click Outside the Lines Photos: "Wait... What"
  • Member Photos
  • Monthly Training:
    • LIGHTROOM MASKING TRICKS AND HACKS that took me forever to learn.
    • How to Create a Light Effect in Photoshop
    • The Truth About Depth of Field
    • Sony Pre-Capture: Never Miss the Shot Again
    • Fix Perspective Distortion Without a Tilt-Shift Lens
    • Easily Create a PRO Selective Color Effect in Lightroom
  • Articles
    • Lightroom thinks my photos are missing—how do I fix it?
    • Just Start: Getting out of a rut with your photography
    • Master the basics of scanning photos
    • Curating Physical and Digital Photos
• View or Download Vol 2 #6, Jun 1, 2026
  • From the Editor, June: Shooting Through Frustration
  • Member Spotlight: Steve Folsom
  • Old School, by Karen A. De Coster, CPA
  • A Vacation Photo Workflow with Lightroom, by Jeff Bondono
  • Composition Simplified: Portraits and Backgrounds
  • Judging Photos with Purpose: A Better Way to Critique Images
  • Click Outside the Lines Photos: "Mini but Mighty"
  • Member Photos
  • Monthly Training:
    • Photoshop 27.6: 7 New Features You Need to Know
    • Lightroom's Yellow Warning Icon Explained
    • How to Color Grade in Photoshop using Camera Raw
    • Are Ears the Secret to Better Wildlife Photos
    • Making Your Photos Sharper Is Making Them Worse
    • Easily Create a PRO Selective Color Effect in Lightroom
  • Articles
    • How legendary National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen uses his '20-60-20 rule' to get impossible shots
    • Just Start: Getting out of a rut with your photography
    • Master the basics of scanning photos
    • Curating Physical and Digital Photos
• View or Download Vol 2 #5, May 1, 2026
  • From the Editor, May: The Stories Behind the Shots
  • Lightroom Shortcuts
  • Member Spotlight: Timothy Griffin
  • Composition Simplified: Treatment of Edges
  • New Member Spotlight: Chuck Gettig
  • Spring Into Shooting: Nature & Outdoor Photography
  • Monthly Training:
    • Masking From A–Z in Luminar Neo
    • Great New Feature in Photoshop!
    • 4 Tips & Tricks for RAZOR SHARP Photos in LIGHTROOM!
    • Lightroom Classic 2026: Everything You Need to Get Started! (Photo Editing Tutorial)
    • Tip to Get the Best Edit Possible in Lightroom
    • Simply the BEST PHOTOGRAPHY ADVICE Gary Gough
  • Articles
    • Over 70 Powerful Winners From the 2026 World Press Photo Contest
    • Artemis II Crew Witnessed Meteorites Hitting the Lunar Surface During Flyby
    • 10 PHOTOGRAPHY PHRASES THAT NEED TO GO
• View or Download Vol 2 #4, Apr 1, 2026
  • Member Spotlight: George Norkus
  • New Member Spotlight: Karen DeCoster
  • Nikon Recall
  • From the Editor, April: Slowing Down in a Fast World
  • The Best Camera Strap
  • Contrast of Tone
  • Monthly Training:
    • A More Creative Way to Blur
    • The NEW Rotate Object in PHOTOSHOP!
    • The NEW Layer Masking in On1 Photo Raw
    • THIS IS WHY YOU "BLOW OUT" YOUR HIGHLIGHTS.
    • Fix UNDEREXPOSURE Without BLOWING OUT Highlights in Lightroom!
    • Try This Little Used Feature of Luminar Neo
  • Articles
    • 13 Photographer Personality Types You Meet at Every Shoot
    • Interview with Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki
    • A Beginner’s Guide to Bird Photography:
• View or Download Vol 2 #3, Mar 1, 2026
  • Member Spotlight: Jeff Bondono
  • New Member Spotlight: Joe Gazzarato
  • How to Contribute to Your Camera Club
  • Composition Simplified: Proportion
  • Monthly Training:
    • What's NEW in the February - 2026 Lightroom Updates?
    • Topaz GIGAPIXEL now in LIGHTROOM
    • You’re Missing This in Your Landscape Photos
    • TWO NEW Adjustment Layers in PHOTOSHOP!
    • Masking From A–Z in Luminar Neo
    • The Ultimate Guide to Generative Credits in Photoshop & Lightroom
    • Affinity vs Photoshop: Time to Switch... Really?
  • Articles
    • Film Cameras Made in 2026!
    • A simple Framework to Critique Photos like a Pro
    • The Art and Science of Photography: Color Theory
• View or Download Vol 2 #2, Feb 1, 2026
  • Eastside Camera Club - Years in Review
  • Member Spotlight: Bill Buchanan
  • New Member Spotlight: Matt Lijewski
  • Composition Simplified: Repetition
  • Improve Your Photos Displayed on Our Website
  • Monthly Training:
    • AI Edit Status and LIGHTROOM
    • Making Good Light Even Better in LR or PS
    • How to Sculpt Light in Luminar Neo
    • This Mask Changed How I Edit in Luminar Neo
    • 2 Ways to Remove Anything in Photoshop
    • Photoshop generative partner model is at restoring old photographs
    • How to Remove Distractions With the Clone Stamp in Photoshop
  • Articles
    • COLOR THEORY IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • Photo Competition Prep
  • From Idea to Ending: A Story Writing Framework
• View or Download Vol 2 #1, Jan 1, 2026
  • Member Spotlight: David Gzesh
  • Composition Simplified: Transition
  • 2025 Print Competition Winners
  • Monthly Training:
    • Luminar Neo’s Newest Tool
    • How to Select and Change Colors in Photoshop
    • The BEST Way to IMPROVE a LIGHTROOM Sky Mask!
    • Lightroom Landscape Masking – DEEP DIVE
    • Rule of Thirds in Photography: The Essential Guide
    • The AMAZING LIGHTROOM HACK that takes intersecting masks to a new level!
    • How to Photograph Snowflakes
  • Behind the Lens Hacks: Winter gear

---

2025
• View or Download Vol 1 #12, Dec 1, 2025
  • Member Spotlight: John Mattarella
  • Monthly Training:
    • 3 Questions That Make Every Photo Better!
    • This NEW LIGHTROOM TOOL easily fixes a BIG PROBLEM
    • New AI Assisted Culling Feature in Lightroom
    • Don't Make These Beginner Flash Mistakes
    • FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY: Flash Power Settings For Beginners
    • Light Depth Instantly Improved my Editing (Luminar Neo)
    • STOP Fighting Photoshop Layers! The 1-Click BLENDING MODE You NEED
  • Composition Simplified: Opposition
  • Ten Foot Circle
  • Behind the Lens Hacks: Winter
• View or Download Vol 1 #10, Nov 1, 2025
  • Member Spotlight: Tom Barr
  • Monthly Training:
    • Prepare an Image for Print in Photoshop - Step-by-Step
    • 5 HIDDEN HACKS in LIGHTROOM you NEVER KNEW existed!
    • Lightroom’s Darkest Editing Secret for Stunning FALL COLORS
    • Welcome to 30 Days of Lightroom
    • You'll Never View Dodge & Burn the Same After This (Luminar Neo)
    • 10X Your Masking in Luminar Neo (3 Killer Tips)
    • 5 Creative Tasks That Will Make You a Better Photographer
  • Composition Simplified: How to Obtain Depth or Distance
  • "No Name" Bar Bands and Lighting
  • Plugin for Lightroom Classic to View Focus Points
  • Behind the Lens Hacks: Shower Cap Rain Cover
• View or Download Vol 1 #9, Oct 1, 2025
  • Monthly Training:
    • CAMERA Stuff that's Actually WORTH the MONEY!
    • One Click to Better Selections
    • The NEW Actions Panel in Photoshop
    • Cool New Stuff in LUMINAR NEO
    • How to Capture Awesome Night Photos Handheld — No Tripod Needed!
    • 5 Quiet Photoshop Updates You May Have Missed
    • 30 Days of Photoshop with PHLEARN
  • Composition Simplified: How to Center the Interest
  • Better Photos are Just a Few Thoughts Away!
  • Behind the Lens Hacks: Pipe Insulation Window Tripod
• View or Download Vol 1 #8, Sep 1, 2025
  • Monthly Training:
    • Message from the Editor
    • How to Use the Alignment Tools in Photoshop
    • Lightroom Tricks Nobody Talks About (But Pros Use All the Time)
    • 5 Lightroom Tips You Wish You Knew Yesterday!
    • Luminar Quick Tip: My 3-Click White Balance Fix
    • 5 Lightroom Sliders You’re Using WRONG!
  • Composition Simplified: Rectangle
  • Become a Flasher
• View or Download Vol 1 #7, Aug 1, 2025
  • Monthly Training:
    • Mastering the art of food photography
    • A New Improved Tool in PHOTOSHOP
    • Replace the Sky using Luminar for Android
    • Sharing Photos with others
    • The Frame Tool in Photoshop
    • 5 Ways to Speed Up Lightroom Classic
    • 5 Things Everyone Should Know About Lightroom
  • Composition Simplified: The Cross
  • Bologna Sandwich
• View or Download Vol 1 #6, Jul 1, 2025
  • Monthly Training:
    • Street Photography Settings
    • Luminar Neo CHEAT CODE
    • Focus Points and Focus Area
    • Photoshop 101: The Art of the Clipping Mask
    • Lightroom June 2025 Update
    • Do This to get INCREDIBLE rural landscape photography
  • Composition Simplified: The Line of Beauty
• View or Download Vol 1 #6, Jun 1, 2025
  • Monthly Training:
    • Photographing Fireworks
    • Photographing Star Trails
    • 4 Photography Composition Tips
    • Portrait Mode in iPhone's Camera
    • Add Text Behind Object in Photoshop
    • Change Background Color in Photoshop
  • Composition Simplified: The Circle
  • Photographing the Milky Way
• View or Download Vol 1 #5, May 1, 2025
  • Monthly Training:
    • Why Aperture Affects Depth of Field
    • Photoshop Elements Brighten and Add Color
    • Tips for composition and framing to create better street pictures
    • Lightroom on Mobile for Beginners
    • How to add a white boarder
    • One Click to better Selections in Lightroom
  • Composition Simplified: The Scale
• View or Download Vol 1 #4, Apr 1, 2025
  • Monthly Training:
    • Delete you old Lightroom Catalogs
    • Remove Electric Lines
    • Lightroom Basics: A Beginner’s Guide
    • How to Create Presets in Luminar Neo
  • Code of Practice for Nature Photographers
  • Rembrandt lighting
• View or Download Vol 1 #3, Mar 1, 2025
  • Monthly Training:
    • Mastering Cycling Photography Tips
    • Cycling Photo Tips
    • How To PROPERLY USE Lightroom PROFILES
    • Here’s how to upgrade your compositions FAST
    • Making sun stars 2min video
  • Light Painting
• View or Download Vol 1 #2, Feb 1, 2025
  • Take a Vacation
  • Monthly Training:
    • Adding Copyright and Contact Information to Photographs in Lightroom
    • Long Exposure Photography
    • How to Create a Double Panorama
    • DNG vs RAW-What, Why and should you convert
    • Learn Lightroom
    • Organizing in Lightroom with Scott Kelby
• View or Download Vol 1 #1, Jan 1, 2025
  • Monthly Training:
    • Macro Photography Guide for Beginners
    • Panning Photography Made Simple
    • 7 Step Advanced Black & White Editing in Lightroom