Charles Gledhill at the clubhouse. More photos here.

​​The second element is craft. “This includes technical details — such as exposure and focus — but also presentation,” he said. “There are many ways to present a photograph. How you choose to present your final image says a lot about the craft.”

The third element is impact. “Does the photograph speak to you?” he asked. “Does it make you feel some emotion, positive or negative?”

Gledhill spent much of his presentation discussing photography terms and definitions, as well as talking about the technical aspects of using cameras and taking photographs. You can access a version of his PowerPoint presentation by clicking here.

He also explained several “fun things to do with a mobile phone.” For example:

• Portrait mode “creates a depth-of-field effect that keeps the subject sharp while blurring the background,” he said, while portrait lighting “adds a studio-quality effect.”

• Panorama “stitches a collection of images seamlessly together to form an ultra-high-resolution (wide) photograph,” he reported, cautioning, “Don’t over-do it.”

• Slow-motion video provides “a tool for adding emphasis,” he said. Slo-mo is helpful “for dramatizing scenes, revealing intricate details that usually are missed at normal speeds.”

• Time-lapsed video, on the other hand, “speeds things up so you can see things faster,” he noted. “You can see a slowly changing scene (such as a sundown) at a fast pace.”

Gledhill suggested trying three “creative exercises” to experiment with taking fresh and unusual photographs. They include:

• “Two dozen” — “Pick a location and take 24 different pictures,” he explained. “You cannot move your feet."

• “Ten of one” — “Take 10 unique and/or abstract photographs of one small subject,” he said.

• “Steps” — “Go for a walk somewhere you always have wanted to photograph,” he urged. “As you walk, stop and take a unique image after a predetermined number of steps. Say, 10 or 20 steps. Pick a number.”

He recommended photographers use a couple of apps. Photopills provides information about how to use various camera settings to achieve variable results. BeCasso enables users to transform images from photographs into artwork, such as watercolors or sketches.

Gledhill also referred participants to three local organizations:

• Durham Photography Club is composed mostly of amateurs and hobbyists.

• Chapel Hill Camera Club also focuses mostly on amateurs and hobbyists.

• Photographic Society of the Triangle is composed primarily of commercial photographers but hosts helpful events.

The Social Committee sponsors monthly Speaker Series presentations that promote lifelong learning and build community.