Randy Smith Bio

Randy and his wife Christine are in their 10^th year as Saddlebrooke residents in HOA2.  His work career was in corporate accounting and finance for a variety of companies in Oklahoma, Illinois and Michigan.

Soon after moving to Tucson, Randy realized that we live in prime territory for astronomy.  Starting as a visual astronomer, he quickly moved on to include astrophotography. 

His other community activities include playing pool as a member of Pool Player of The Brooke, serving as an officer of Saddlebrooke Freethinkers and attending classes offered by Saddlebrooke Life Long Learning (the ILR) where he also serves on the board.

Most clear, dark nights, he can be found in his backyard with one of his 3 imaging rigs.

Randy's presentation will cover equipement needed for astrophotography, obstacles to overcome, general processing workflow which is different than daytime photography.  He will finish up with some fabulous images to share and then take questions.     

We are planning to go to Winterhaven on December 18th to photograph Christmas Lights. We’ll leave SaddleBrooke at 4:30 PM and stay forabout an hour. Afterwards, we can have dinner at a local restaurant. There is no fee to see the lights, but donation of food or money for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona is collected at the entrances.

On Thursday, December 11, we will have a pre-trip meeting in the Topaz Room at 6:00 PM to discuss techniques for taking stunning photos and view a video or two. We’ll then walk over to the MountainView Clubhouse to practice. One of the items you need for capturing beautiful photos of the lights is a tripod, so be sure to bring yours as well as a medium length telephoto lens like a 28-105mm for the practice and Winterhaven.

On Friday, December 19, 2025, we will have another session with Susan to review and give suggestions on your photos you have brought to the meeting or sent in to Susan.   

In order to improve our photography, we need opportunities to analyze our images to see if what we intend when we take an image is what is being communicated to the viewer in the most effective way possible.  Our Photo Feedback sessions provide us with an opportunity to do just that. We start by asking "what made you want to photograph that," or "what story do you want to tell with the image", "what was  your intention?"  Each image presents us with learning opportunities.  We discuss composition, techniques, visual design and all the elements that help you communicate your intention to the viewer.  We honor you as the maker.  It is your image and no matter what suggestions are made in the sessions, it is always your choice to take the suggestions or leave them.  Check out the Resources section of our website to see a full description of what our sessions are about.  Whether you submit an image or not, you will find some great learning opportunities to help you progress in your photography whether a beginner or more advanced photographer. 

IF YOU PLAN TO JOIN THE GROUP, PLEASE SEND 1-3 PHOTOS TO SUSAN  DINGA, AT SUSANDINGA27@GMAIL.COM AT LEAST 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING OR BRING THEM ON A THUMB DRIVE.

Welcome to the "Creative Cloud" Special Interest Group or "CC SIG".  This session is intended for those who would like more information concerning the use of Adobe "Lightroom" (Classic), and Adobe Photoshop.  Both of these applications are in wide use by amateur and professional photographers worldwide. Various topics of interest are discussed in detail during each session.  

Nelson Rodriguez and Bill Todd moderate our Photoshop & Lightroom SIG on the third Saturday of the month from 9:00 am until noon via Zoom, until further notice. The moderators solicit questions from the membership prior to each meeting and answer your questions in the next meeting.

To submit a question email the question to pslrsig@gmail.com with CC SIG Question as the subject. If you need to submit a photo with your question PLEASE UPLOAD THE PHOTO BEFORE YOU EMAIL YOUR QUESTION. To upload your photo, go to this Google shared folder, double-click on the "Uploading Photos" document, and follow the instructions.

For more information contact the SIG moderators, Nelson Rodriguez or Bill Todd.  

Registering for a meeting is optional if you are not submitting a question, however, we sometimes email additional technical information after the meeting. Only those who are registered will get the additional information.

Happy Holidays!

Close-up or macro photography is a challenging and rewarding genre, but it requires practice and correct technique to get a special image that is sharp and in focus. Depth of Focus can be difficult. Use a small aperture and maybe focus stacking, however, small apertures to get bigger depth of field also cut down the amount of light on the subject. So proper lighting with flash or reflectors can help with unwanted shadows. Any camera you have will do just fine, including your phone. There are “macro” lenses that help with the closeup magnification but are not necessary. Composition is important too to exclude unwanted things and have balance to the photo.

Please bring your camera, a macro or close-up lens, a tripod and a suitable subject to the session. This will be a "Hands-on" shooting session.

Facilitated by: Mark Guinn

SaddleBrooke Photography Club 

First Quarter Board of Directors Meeting

We will hold our first quarter BOD meeting in the Topaz Room on Wednesday, January 7th, at 3:00 pm.  All club members are invited to attend.  The itinerary will be published approximately one week prior to the meeting and will be posted here.  Please plan on attending this important meeting.

This morning, we will discuss the various photo opportunities that Death Valley National Park has to offer.  While Death Valley is one of the most inhospitable places in the US (in the summer), it happens to be one of the most photogenic. With salt flats, sand dunes, mountain ranges, volcanic hills, and numerous abandoned mines, it's hard to put your camera down!  The club has scheduled a field trip to "DVNP" beginning on January 31st and continuing until February 5th of 2026. (contact Bob Shea, Susan Dinga, or Jim Smith for details)  This is an excellent opportunity to join your fellow club members "in the field" at an iconic location.  At this pre-trip meeting in the topaz room, we will discuss various landscape photography techniques that may be helpful while at "DVNP".  If you plan to join the group, please try to attend this "pre-trip" meeting.  If you can't make the field trip, but want to learn more about "DVNP" you're more than welcome to attend this meeting.

Please review the possible itinerary location document in the "Resources" section of the website..."Photo Locations",,,"California"..."Death Valley

 Facilitated by Susan Dinga and Bob Shea (both have extensive knowledge of "DVNP" and the photographic opportunities there)

Bob Hills, a wonderful local Tucson photographer, will be presenting in person for our first 2026 general meeting regarding ARTful Photography.  This presentation will explores a variety of approaches for creating multiple exposure artwork, showcasing examples made from both straight photographs and intentionally blurred images. Through a series of examples, participants will gain insight into how different camera and post-processing techniques can be combined to create distinctive, visually compelling results.

The imagery will cover a broad range of subjects, with special emphasis on rodeo roping and racing as well as sailing, where motion, energy, and rhythm can be express through layered, intentionally blurred exposures.

Attendees will leave inspired to explore new photographic techniques and discover how multiple exposures can transform familiar subjects into refined and expressive photographic art.

Bob is a recovering high-tech executive who has found solace in photography and digital art. While he values the experiences and accomplishments of his technology career, he finds his photographic work far more fulfilling. Over time, his photography has evolved from the pursuit of technically perfect, razor-sharp images to a more expressive and poetic approach. Through techniques such as multiple exposures, intentional blur, and innovative image processing, Bob creates works that evoke imagination and emotion. By embracing the art of photographic imperfection, he seeks to transform images into new forms of digital expression. His work has been published, the most recent being in ICM Photography Magazine which featured his article “Regatta” highlighting a portfolio of sailboat images. You can view Bob’s work at his website or on instagram:   (https://www.bobhillsphoto.com) and on Instagram (https://instagram.com/bobhillsphoto/) .

This group is now intended for all Smartphone users, both iPhone and Android.  At this Friday's session, we will discuss various aspects of cell phone photography and perhaps introduce new techniques to capture interesting images on your smartphone.

Please send your questions, photos, and suggested discussion topics no later than 5 days prior to the meeting date to clairematheraz@gmail.com or brucehale.bah@gmail.com.Questions/comments will also be welcomed during the meeting. 

Facilitated by Bruce Hale and Claire Mather

Hi Folks,

Our education committee has considered the best use of the Topaz Room as it relates to certain of our regular sessions, and we’ve come up with a plan to replace the Camera Specific SIGS (Canon and Sony) with a more general session that would appeal to a broader audience, but retain the ability to provide “camera specific” assistance where needed.

We’re considering calling this session “Techniques for Utilizing your Camera”. It would explore a specific technique in general, but then “break into” camera-specific groups to provide more specific information for the various camera brands our members use. Examples of the topics we might consider would be:

1. Macro shooting utilizing focus stacking, shooting rails, etc.

2. HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography

3. Panoramas

4. Bird Photography

5. Shooting the night sky

6. Time-lapse Photography

This is our first pass at possible topics of interest, and we welcome suggestions from the membership as to other topics of interest. Suggestions for those topics should be sent to jtriebe@gmail.com or  Michael Reale.

Our second TUC Session will be on the third Friday in January in the Topaz room at 10:30 am. The topic for that session will be ????

Facilitated by: John Triebe

Welcome to the "Creative Cloud" Special Interest Group or "CC SIG".  This session is intended for those who would like more information concerning the use of Adobe "Lightroom" (Classic), and Adobe Photoshop.  Both of these applications are in wide use by amateur and professional photographers worldwide. Various topics of interest are discussed in detail during each session.  

Nelson Rodriguez and Bill Todd moderate our Photoshop & Lightroom SIG on the third Saturday of the month from 9:00 am until noon via Zoom, until further notice. The moderators solicit questions from the membership prior to each meeting and answer your questions in the next meeting.

To submit a question email the question to pslrsig@gmail.com with CC SIG Question as the subject. If you need to submit a photo with your question PLEASE UPLOAD THE PHOTO BEFORE YOU EMAIL YOUR QUESTION. To upload your photo, go to this Google shared folder, double-click on the "Uploading Photos" document, and follow the instructions.

For more information contact the SIG moderators, Nelson Rodriguez or Bill Todd.  

Registering for a meeting is optional if you are not submitting a question, however, we sometimes email additional technical information after the meeting. Only those who are registered will get the additional information.

On Friday, January 23rd, 2026, we will have another session with Susan to review and give suggestions on your photos you have brought to the meeting or sent in to Susan.   

In order to improve our photography, we need opportunities to analyze our images to see if what we intend when we take an image is what is being communicated to the viewer in the most effective way possible.  Our Photo Feedback sessions provide us with an opportunity to do just that. We start by asking "what made you want to photograph that," or "what story do you want to tell with the image", or "what was  your intention?"  Each image presents us with learning opportunities.  We discuss composition, techniques, visual design, and all the elements that help you communicate your intention to the viewer.  We honor you as the maker.  It is your image, and no matter what suggestions are made in the sessions, it is always your choice to take the suggestions or leave them.  Check out the Resources section of our website to see a full description of what our sessions are about.  Whether you submit an image or not, you will find some great learning opportunities to help you progress in your photography, whether a beginner or a more advanced photographer. 

IF YOU PLAN TO JOIN THE GROUP, PLEASE SEND 1-3 PHOTOS TO SUSAN  DINGA, AT SUSANDINGA27@GMAIL.COM, AT LEAST 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING OR BRING THEM ON A THUMB DRIVE.

This month’s assignment is Macro Photography.

Close-up or macro photography is a challenging and rewarding genre, but it requires practice and correct technique to get a special image that is sharp and in focus. Depth of Focus can be difficult. Use a small aperture and maybe focus stacking, however, small apertures to get bigger depth of field also cut down the amount of light on the subject. So proper lighting with flash or reflectors can help with unwanted shadows. Any camera you have will do just fine, including your phone. There are “macro” lenses that help with the closeup magnification but are not necessary. Composition is important too to exclude unwanted things and have balance to the photo.

Good luck, take some pictures, and we will see your images in the gallery and at the meeting slideshow. 

We will have a slideshow of the entries on the 30th of January beginning at 10:30 AM Arizona time followed by a preview of February's Monthly Assignment, Landscapes. 

Facilitated by Mark Guinn

Death Valley National Park, straddling the California–Nevada border east of the Sierra Nevada mountains is a land of extremes. Stark in appearance and haunting in name, Death Valley is a very-much-alive desert set between high, snow-capped mountains. The name does not do justice to the vibrancy of Death Valley—the mysteries in this arid and isolated landscape capture the attention of adventurers…and photographers.

Join the club for an opportunity to photograph an amazing variety of landscapes, from snowcapped mountains to desert canyons, sand dunes to salt flats. Very few places on earth offer as many textures, intense colors, and extreme conditions to capture. The trip is being co-led by Susan Dinga and Bob Shea, both accomplished photographers with a great deal of experience photographing Death Valley.

We plan to leave Saddlebrooke on Saturday January 31st for the 8-hour drive to Death Valley.  We can discuss ride sharing when we know who is planning to join us. Another option would be to fly to Las Vegas and rent a car for the 2-hour drive to the park.  Lodging is available at The Ranch and Stovepipe Village, several other locations in the park, and in Beatty (45 minutes away). You should make reservations ASAP as rooms in these lodges are limited.

Questions?  Jim Smith  jmslopez99@yahoo.com

SaddleBrooke HOA #2 Annual "Activity Fair" is a great opportunity to showcase your club or group to the entire community. The Fair is open from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. It is a fun and lively opportunity to highlight the diversity of activities available for our residents and promote our very active lifestyles. 

The SaddleBrooke Photography Club will again have a table at the fair with a display of members' work.  Please plan on attending and contributing your time or photos for the event. More details will be posted as they become available

Fair Coordinator: Michael Reale

On Friday, February 13th, 2026, we will have another session with Susan to review and give suggestions on your photos you have brought to the meeting or sent to Susan.   

In order to improve our photography, we need opportunities to analyze our images to see if what we intend when we take an image is what is being communicated to the viewer in the most effective way possible.  Our Photo Feedback sessions provide us with an opportunity to do just that. We start by asking "what made you want to photograph that," or "what story do you want to tell with the image", or "what was  your intention?"  Each image presents us with learning opportunities.  We discuss composition, techniques, visual design, and all the elements that help you communicate your intention to the viewer.  We honor you as the maker.  It is your image, and no matter what suggestions are made in the sessions, it is always your choice to take the suggestions or leave them.  Check out the Resources section of our website to see a full description of what our sessions are about.  Whether you submit an image or not, you will find some great learning opportunities to help you progress in your photography, whether a beginner or a more advanced photographer. 

IF YOU PLAN TO JOIN THE GROUP, PLEASE SEND 1-3 PHOTOS TO SUSAN  DINGA, AT SUSANDINGA27@GMAIL.COM, AT LEAST 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING OR BRING THEM ON A THUMB DRIVE.

We will again have the club’s Canon Pixma Pro-100 printer available to print members' images for framing.  The ACCC “Spring Roundup” will be held on April 11^th, 2026.  Images will have to be submitted by March 14^th, 2026, for the competition.  This year, we will have time slots assigned for individuals to avoid time “standing around doing nothing”.  Plan on bringing 2 or 3 images on a flash drive to your session.  We can print images up to 13” by 19”.  These sessions are open to all members to have their images printed either for display at home, as gifts to friends, or to enter the ACCC competition.  We will also have the club’s dry-mount press available for mounting the printed images on a backer board.

Please email Bob Shea (robertwshea@yahoo.com) to request a 30 minute time slot at one of the three MONDAY printing sessions (02/16, 02/23, 03/02).  We have use of the Topaz Room from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm on those three Mondays.

Facilitator: Bob Shea

Welcome to the "Creative Cloud" Special Interest Group or "CC SIG".  This session is intended for those who would like more information concerning the use of Adobe "Lightroom" (Classic), and Adobe Photoshop.  Both of these applications are in wide use by amateur and professional photographers worldwide. Various topics of interest are discussed in detail during each session.  

Nelson Rodriguez and Bill Todd moderate our Photoshop & Lightroom SIG on the third Saturday of the month from 9:00 am until noon via Zoom, until further notice. The moderators solicit questions from the membership prior to each meeting and answer your questions in the next meeting.

To submit a question email the question to pslrsig@gmail.com with CC SIG Question as the subject. If you need to submit a photo with your question PLEASE UPLOAD THE PHOTO BEFORE YOU EMAIL YOUR QUESTION. To upload your photo, go to this Google shared folder, double-click on the "Uploading Photos" document, and follow the instructions.

For more information contact the SIG moderators, Nelson Rodriguez or Bill Todd.  

Registering for a meeting is optional if you are not submitting a question, however, we sometimes email additional technical information after the meeting. Only those who are registered will get the additional information.

We will again have the club’s Canon Pixma Pro-100 printer available to print members' images for framing.  The ACCC “Spring Roundup” will be held on April 11^th, 2026.  Images will have to be submitted by March 14^th, 2026, for the competition.  This year, we will have time slots assigned for individuals to avoid time “standing around doing nothing”.  Plan on bringing 2 or 3 images on a flash drive to your session.  We can print images up to 13” by 19”.  These sessions are open to all members to have their images printed either for display at home, as gifts to friends, or to enter the ACCC competition.  We will also have the club’s dry-mount press available for mounting the printed images on a backer board.

Please email Bob Shea (robertwshea@yahoo.com) to request a 30 minute time slot at one of the three MONDAY printing sessions (02/16, 02/23, 03/02).  We have use of the Topaz Room from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm on those three Mondays.

Facilitator: Bob Shea

This month’s assignment is Landscapes.

Use your skills with a wide angle lens or telephoto to capture interesting landscapes.  Remember to have a nice foreground element. The quality of light is very important.  Leading lines help to eliminate any distractions in your composition. Scout for your locations as you are hiking or driving along. Wait for the weather to be just right and go out with your camera and tripod at F16 focusing 1/3 into the frame and come back with some great photos for the slideshow.

We will have a slideshow of the entries on the 27th of February beginning at 10:30 AM Arizona time followed by a preview of March's Monthly Assignment, Black and White. 

Facilitated by Mark Guinn

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87357130442?pwd=NVJvWUdTTWdyVFczSjFCMTNNMVZkUT09

Meeting ID: 873 5713 0442

Passcode: 582244

We will again have the club’s Canon Pixma Pro-100 printer available to print members' images for framing.  The ACCC “Spring Roundup” will be held on April 11^th, 2026.  Images will have to be submitted by March 14^th, 2026, for the competition.  This year, we will have time slots assigned for individuals to avoid time “standing around doing nothing”.  Plan on bringing 2 or 3 images on a flash drive to your session.  We can print images up to 13” by 19”.  These sessions are open to all members to have their images printed either for display at home, as gifts to friends, or to enter the ACCC competition.  We will also have the club’s dry-mount press available for mounting the printed images on a backer board.

Please email Bob Shea (robertwshea@yahoo.com) to request a 30 minute time slot at one of the three MONDAY printing sessions (02/16, 02/23, 03/02).  We have use of the Topaz Room from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm on those three Mondays.

Facilitator: Bob Shea

At this Friday's Topaz Room Meeting, we will discuss the many aspects of "Night Sky Photography".  There are various image possibilities when considering "Night sky Photography", including the Milky Way, Star Trails, moonscapes, etc..

This meeting is of particular interest to those who are considering joining our "Night Sky Photography" field trip later in March.

We will discuss the equipment needed and camera settings to use while capturing the night sky.  Please bring your camera to this session.

Facilitated by Mark Guinn and Bob Shea

The core of the Milky Way Galaxy shot from near Bend, Oregon

 Update    Stay tuned for a modification to the location for a better foreground composition.  We will be in the general area for dark skies.

Night Sky Photography Field trip. We have one of the darkest skies in the West just south of Wilcox and about a 2 and a half hour drive.  There are very interesting rock formations to take photos of during the day and night.  Needing no moon in the sky, March 18,19,or 20th is perfect timing for a panorama of the arching Milky Way from Northeast to Southeast in the early morning before sunrise.  We just need the clouds to cooperate.  So keep your calendar open those dates to get a spectacular sight and image that few people see.  It is best we have an overnight stay in a campground nearby or there are many motels in Wilcox about an hour away.  The availability of campsites is limited and could fill up fast.  For now, the plan is to drive over in the morning to photograph the area (sunset is at 6:30 PM) and scout around for the best compositions for the night shoot. There will be some previewing of sites before March as well. We will not be walking too far from the cars if we can help  it.  So after some little nap we can meet at the Faraway Ranch to begin, say around 2:30 to get set up.  The Milky Way Center is visible from 3 to 5 AM. If there is another suitable place up the road we can get in a different foreground there next. Golden hour is at 6 and sunrise is 6:30 AM.  So set your alarms accordingly!   We can schedule a practice shoot, nearby Saddlebrooke, maybe in February for those who need practice.  More on that later. I have documents showing the settings for your camera for those attending as well.  And a list of what equipment to bring.  Warm clothes for sure!

On Friday, March 20th, 2026, we will have another session with Susan to review and give suggestions on your photos you have brought to the meeting or sent to Susan.   

In order to improve our photography, we need opportunities to analyze our images to see if what we intend when we take an image is what is being communicated to the viewer in the most effective way possible.  Our Photo Feedback sessions provide us with an opportunity to do just that. We start by asking "what made you want to photograph that," or "what story do you want to tell with the image", or "what was  your intention?"  Each image presents us with learning opportunities.  We discuss composition, techniques, visual design, and all the elements that help you communicate your intention to the viewer.  We honor you as the maker.  It is your image, and no matter what suggestions are made in the sessions, it is always your choice to take the suggestions or leave them.  Check out the Resources section of our website to see a full description of what our sessions are about.  Whether you submit an image or not, you will find some great learning opportunities to help you progress in your photography, whether a beginner or a more advanced photographer. 

IF YOU PLAN TO JOIN THE GROUP, PLEASE SEND 1-3 PHOTOS TO SUSAN  DINGA, AT SUSANDINGA27@GMAIL.COM, AT LEAST 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING OR BRING THEM ON A THUMB DRIVE.

Welcome to the "Creative Cloud" Special Interest Group or "CC SIG".  This session is intended for those who would like more information concerning the use of Adobe "Lightroom" (Classic), and Adobe Photoshop.  Both of these applications are in wide use by amateur and professional photographers worldwide. Various topics of interest are discussed in detail during each session.  

Nelson Rodriguez and Bill Todd moderate our Photoshop & Lightroom SIG on the third Saturday of the month from 9:00 am until noon via Zoom, until further notice. The moderators solicit questions from the membership prior to each meeting and answer your questions in the next meeting.

To submit a question email the question to pslrsig@gmail.com with CC SIG Question as the subject. If you need to submit a photo with your question PLEASE UPLOAD THE PHOTO BEFORE YOU EMAIL YOUR QUESTION. To upload your photo, go to this Google shared folder, double-click on the "Uploading Photos" document, and follow the instructions.

For more information contact the SIG moderators, Nelson Rodriguez or Bill Todd.  

Registering for a meeting is optional if you are not submitting a question, however, we sometimes email additional technical information after the meeting. Only those who are registered will get the additional information.

This month’s assignment is Black and White.

The basics are Light and Composition of course.  Contrast, texture and shapes are things to look for.  Try to see tones of light not colors. Use strong directional light to enhance the shadows and bright areas.  Make a deliberate choice to make a black and white image.  Now use your post processing skills to dodge and burn/lighten or darken those areas you want to draw the viewers eye around the photo. Upload them to the gallery and we will see them at the meeting slideshow.

We will have a slideshow of the entries on the 27th of March beginning at 10:30 AM Arizona time followed by a preview of April's Monthly Assignment, Night Photography. 

Facilitated by Mark Guinn

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87357130442?pwd=NVJvWUdTTWdyVFczSjFCMTNNMVZkUT09

Meeting ID: 873 5713 0442

Passcode: 582244

A field Trip to the Tucson Botanical Gardens.  Details to be posted soon.

Field Trip Leader: Bob Shea