2009 Forest Hills Lantern Festival - Anyone going? - Boston Photography Center (Boston, MA)

Courtney Regan	Posted Jul 1, 2009 9:41 PM Link to this discussion
net1994 Boston, MA Post #: 2	Ever since I've been a member, BPC has organized a outing for this most awesome event in Boston. The last two years have been great. Are we (BPC) doing it this year? I believe it is scheduled for July 16th.
Courtney Regan	Posted Jul 5, 2009 11:48 PM Link to this reply
net1994 Boston, MA Post #: 3	Anyone?
Saul	Posted Jul 6, 2009 11:02 AM Link to this reply
saulblum Boston, MA Post #: 117	I may go again this year. It's a hard event to do as a click-and-shoot, since there's no obvious meeting point, and people wind up wandering around on their own and separating, and leaving at different times. That said, anyone else planning on going?
A former member	Posted Jul 6, 2009 4:46 PM Link to this reply
Post #: 232	Anyone? Yes, well. It seems many things have changed over the time I have been a member of this organization, and as of late sadly and certainly not for the better. I would like to thank the few folks who have worked to keep this club afloat, but when I look at the next few months calendar all I can do is shake my head.... noticeably missing, click and shoots, the reason I joined this group. What I do get instead, and this is quoted... "If you have not paid your membership fee please do so.Otherwise we have no choice but to remove your account. thanks Devina" Ahem... That was fee for what? I will not be remitting any money. The expression is you get what you pay for.....
Bonnie B.	Posted Jul 6, 2009 6:49 PM Link to this reply
smbne Somerville, MA Post #: 551	It's a hard event to do as a click-and-shoot, since there's no obvious meeting point, and people wind up wandering around on their own and separating, and leaving at different times. ^ This. Nonetheless, Courtney is right, we have done it as a C&S the past three or four years, with usually either Banafsheh or I leading it. I can't speak for our other event organizers, but this year I just don't know if I can make it on the 16th -- that's why I haven't scheduled it. when I look at the next few months calendar all I can do is shake my head.... noticeably missing, click and shoots, the reason I joined this group. Glenn, thanks for speaking up. I take some responsibility for the barren-ness of the calendar these past few and upcoming months. For a few different reasons (by no means the least of which is a monster of a summer, deadline-wise, at the job that pays my bills) I've been unable to commit to many summer click & shoots this year. For the most part these are logistical issues -- I simply don't know if I'll be able to make it to events myself -- but I'll be honest and say that in small part, it's also true that I was a bit demoralized by high numbers of no-shows at the spring events I did schedule. My last few events had the highest number of no-shows I've ever seen in the three years I've been doing this for this group -- I'm talking equal numbers of no-shows and attendees! I mean, seriously -- what gives, people? While my attitude about no-shows still overwhelmingly comes down to "it's the people who DO show up that define the event, not the ones who don't," I have to admit that knowing there are likely to be a lot of no-shows definitely does not make me want to go out of my way, or out on a personal scheduling limb, to put events on the calendar when time is an issue like it is for me this summer and other factors make it difficult for me to plan things much in advance. I said earlier in the season that given my other commitments this summer, I was going to be scheduling mainly events that I would be doing anyway (this is in marked contrast to the past two years, when I routinely planned outings expressly for BPC) -- but the reality is, since May, I haven't had time to go out shooting at all but once or twice, and those times were spur of the moment, or planned with very short notice. It's just the way things are sometimes. All that said (sorry for the rant!), I'm also someone who joined and has stayed with this group mainly for shooting events, and we do have other folks who lead them. The summer calendar was a big topic of discussion at our June organizers' meeting, and currently there's a long list of click & shoot ideas circulating among the organizers, so I hope folks will bear with us -- I'm hopeful that we will start to see some action on the calendar soon. And when you do RSVP 'yes' for things, please be considerate and responsible enough to update your RSVP if your plans change -- and to do so in a timely fashion (not 20 minutes before an event starts, or -- my personal favorite from one of my spring events -- an hour after the meetup time!). Ok, rant really over now, I promise.
A former member	Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:26 PM Link to this reply
Post #: 233	Glenn, thanks for speaking up. I take some responsibility for the barren-ness of the calendar these past few and upcoming months. For a few different reasons (by no means the least of which is a monster of a summer, deadline-wise, at the job that pays my bills) I've been unable to commit to many summer click & shoots this year. The summer calendar was a big topic of discussion at our June organizers' meeting, and currently there's a long list of click & shoot ideas circulating among the organizers, so I hope folks will bear with us -- I'm hopeful that we will start to see some action on the calendar soon. Bonnie, rant more than earned, You are far and away one of the people I applaud for trying to keep the club alive. That said... Sadly, the club has outlived it's viability. Banafsheh had a different vision for us than we had for ourselves, and there in lies the failing. Nothing really more to say.
Leigh Musicof	Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:34 PM Link to this reply
lmusicof Merrimack, NH Post #: 166	Bonnie you're doing a great job with limited resources. In the past I lead my share of events, but with my relocation to the Free State, it is hard for me to lead events near Boston. I'm scouting locations up this way to shoot but I need to coordinate with you and B because of the distance and transportation problems to see if their viable.
Bonnie B.	Posted Jul 6, 2009 9:34 PM Link to this reply
smbne Somerville, MA Post #: 552	Leigh, if you think NH is the free state, wait until you get your property tax bill ;-) As for distant shoots, I think they're well attended in places where there's a wide variety of things to shoot. But maybe others reading this will chime in with their thoughts! Portsmouth is fantastic, btw, and very photogenic with lots of different landscapes and cityscapes, so I signed up for that and I'm really hoping my launch that's scheduled for the 13th won't put a crimp in my plans to attend. Now: I hope my post didn't sound like a plea for sympathy or something like that. The point I was trying to make is that this group is led by people -- and as people, sometimes we have stretches where other things monopolize our time. Right now I think what we're seeing is a situation where, unfortunately, all of the organizers happen to be pulled in different directions at the same time. I'm confident that it's a temporary situation though, so I hope the members who enjoy shooting events and the other types of more 'casual' activities will bear with us for a while. Come fall, when all my summer projects have launched, I'm going to the Topsfield fair, and I expect a good number of BPC folk to come with me -- I know you all want a photo of me taking photos of fancy chickens with my feather-covered Holga. Admit it -- you want that shot!
Courtney Regan	Posted Jul 7, 2009 6:05 AM Link to this reply
net1994 Boston, MA Post #: 4	I may go again this year. It's a hard event to do as a click-and-shoot, since there's no obvious meeting point, and people wind up wandering around on their own and separating, and leaving at different times. That said, anyone else planning on going? I will quickly say I am very disheartened by the lack of events since late spring. Very barren calendar for the lat few months. But then again the natural question would be "why don't you try and organize something?" I should really think about such as there are tremendous opportunity still around. I just did the 4th on the esplanade and got great crowd shots. Now this wasn't on the calendar. (But I can understand the day would be hard to organize for a full blown BPC event as most folks are with their families.) One event that would of been great to do is the Boston Marathon back in April. Phenomenal. I spent about 6 hours taking photos. Of course, all gold!! ;-) As for FHLF, I haven't decided about going. I feel like I've covered all that I want to oin the last two years. Law of diminishing returns for a small event. But I'm 50/50 at this point. Will rent the Nikon 70-200 VR lens if I do get with the program. In any event, it is a awesome event for photos. Your right, it is a small event and it is very easy to wander off and disappear. Hope to see you Sal if I do go (or any other BPC member).
kenn bennett	Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:22 PM Link to this reply
user 4346030 Medford, MA Post #: 62	ill be there. this will be my first time going to this. saul at which entrance to the cemetary do you want to meet at?

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