Founder and professional photographer MacKenzie Hughes said he simply likes the catchy alliteration of the group’s name and shutterbugs of every level are finding the photography group educational and inspirational in a friendly, unpretentious way.
“These are a series of events that are designed to offer opportunities for anybody with a camera, and it doesn’t matter what camera it is. It could be a phone, it could be an advanced camera for hobbyists, all the way up to professionals,” the Aledo resident explained. “I supply events and opportunities, and sometimes the most difficult thing for people is to get out of their shell and to come up with a reason to get out and play with a camera. That’s where I come in.”
Hughes has years of experience organizing photography gatherings. He taught photography for 20 years at camera shops he managed, was the general manager of Fort Worth Camera for 11 years, and founded the popular Fort Worth Foto Fest ten years ago.
There have been five events since the group formed in June with the most recent outing in Strawn, Texas, a 50-minute drive west of Parker County. There, 25 eager shutterbugs wandered among old buildings and alleyways experimenting with light and angles while talking about what they discovered. Texas history documentary photographer and aerial videographer Jonny Goodday was on hand to share his experience with multimedia.
The outing ended prowling inside and around the outbuildings of Zim’s, a long-closed 1920 roadstop that was a motel, cafe, and filling station over the decades. Strawn history buff and professional light painting photographer Kirk Edwards conducted a subterranean demonstration of his multicolor long exposure light art in the basement of the building.
Edwards, a Strawn resident, shared the history of the town and plans the city’s economic development team to remodel and repurpose Straun’s antique buildings.
Darren Simpkins, originally from Australia and now of Mineral Wells, was trying out his very first camera on the urban exploration outing.
“I’ve traveled all over and I am excited now to be getting into photography so I can document places I go. You see things differently when you’re a photographer,” Simpkins explained. “Photographers see details that other people just walk past.”
During the walkabout, Randal Bond, and Jackie Spitzer showed they achieve interesting results with cell phones if you know what to look for. Lily Edwards and Kayla Wilkis of Lewisville were among those who prefer traditional film cameras, and others used the newest equipment.
Hughes enjoys arranging the outings, teaching, and helping photographers of all levels sharpen their skills.
“As much as I love cameras and taking pictures and traveling with my camera, I get a real, real big charge out of watching other people’s light bulbs go on in their heads. That’s my drug.”
Find Aledo Aperture Academy on Facebook to learn about future photography outings. Light painting photographer Kirk Edwards can be found on Facebook and Instagram, and history documenter Jonny Goodday on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here