About us
I have been the organizer of a photography meetup group based out of the Chicago for a number of years. Now, I want to do what I love and organize events, talks, classes and excursions closer to where I live.
This is a group for anyone who takes photos. You can be an established photographer or a beginner. You can have tens of thousands of dollars in equipment or a simple smart phone. You can join us for every outing or only a few. The main criteria for being a member of this all-inclusive photo group is wanting to learn, share, meet other people, and enjoy photography.
The group is geared for those who can attend live events in and around the Western and Southwestern Suburbs of Chicago, but anyone who wants to travel and meet up with us is welcome. We will take photo walks, host a variety of photography related talks, have a variety of photography classes, as well as go on periodic photography adventures throughout the Midwest, and eventually throughout the country and coming in 2024 internationally. The sky is the limit.
Come out and give us a try. I run a very friendly and inclusive group. You will learn new photo techniques, how to compose a photo, and make new friends along the way.
Upcoming events
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CROSSEDIT FALL 2026
·OnlineOnlineWhat the heck is CROSSEDIT?
Well, it is a term i just invented for this event. It is when a group of us each submit one unedited RAW file and then we edit each other's photo to the way we would treat it. We get together to see what others saw in our photo and what techniques and ideas that they brought to it. It is a great way to hear what others saw in your composition and what stories they can make of it. Plus you get to learn a bit about their techniques. This event is specifically for people of ALL skill levels. We need people who are newbies because it causes conversations that other newbies can use and we need advanced people because they bring valuable insights and techniques.
The minimum requirement is that (1) you have a raw file that you have already edited for yourself and (b) that you have an editing software like lightroom or something similar and a basic understanding of cropping and other fundamental techniques.
Go through your photos and find one that you love or one that has a lot of potential, but you just couldn't make it work right. Send us a jpg of the unedited file to chicagonorth1958@gmail.com with the topic CROSSEDIT and your full name. A group of us will go through the submissions and pick a 8 or 9 that we think would be good challenges and will cause interesting conversations.
Of the photographers selected, you will receive a link to drop off the your raw file and to receive your other photographers copies. You will then have a few weeks to edit their photos before our comparisons.
Wikipedia defines raw files as data that comes right from the sensor unchanged (hence it is raw) and that there are "Many raw file formats, including IIQ (Phase One), 3FR (Hasselblad), DCR, K25, KDC (Kodak), CRW CR2 (Canon), ERF (Epson), MEF (Mamiya), MOS (Leaf), NEF NRW (Nikon), ORF (Olympus), PEF (Pentax), RW2 (Panasonic) and ARW, SRF, SR2 (Sony) ..."
JPGs, TIFFs, BMPS, and other formats are not raw files and are harder to manipulate. We will only be working with raw formats.
`1 attendee
PET BLESSING
Printers Row Park, 600 South Dearborn Ave, Chicago, IL, USIf you love photographing animals how about a pet blessing, followed, if time allows by a photowalk?
"Once a year in early October, Grace Episcopal church joins Christians around the world in celebrating the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the environment and animals, with an outdoor service and Pet Blessing in Printers Row Park. Your pet is a blessing in your life, so bring them to get blessed at this service designed for animals and their humans. The service begins at 10AM."CSB Organizer Michael Rosenbaum is hosting.
EQUIPMENT AND SKILL LEVEL
This event is open to all skill levels from professional to new photographers - especially to new shooters. Any camera from a cell phone to a K9 mount .CHANGES
Dates, times, meeting locations, and other details can change. Be sure to check for updates before the event.LIABILTY RELEASE
You are in charge of your own safety and care. Be sure to always be careful when participating in our events. Do not put yourself in danger by standing in roadways or on railroad tracks or climbing on unstable surfaces, etc. The list is endless, We are all adults and you decide for yourself what is safe but, really, is any photo worth injury or even a fatality? Use your head and be cautious. Also please keep an eye out for other's safety - if you see something, say something.
By signing up you understand that your safety is your responsibility and are waiving your right to seek damages or take legal actions against the Chris Turley, Rich Kolar, organizer(s), and hosts of this event.1 attendee
2nd CITY SHOWDOWN TOURNAMENT
Broadway Armory, 5917 N Broadway, Chicago, IL, USTHIS IS A TEMPORARY PLACEHOLDER UNTIL ORGANIZERS CONFIRM THE DETAILS.
If you want great photos of people with skill and heart, come check out this event. We can get right on the floor, above the action, and its more than one game being played at the same time. These athletes bring their all.EQUIPMENT AND SKILL LEVEL
This event is open to all skill levels from professional to new photographers - especially to new shooters. Any camera from a cell phone to an SKYCAM, if you can carry one. Tripods are fine but just be careful with people tripping over them. Since this is a big, public event, the police will be looking for unauthorized drones so be sure to follow all those rules carefully.CHANGES
Dates, times, meeting locations, and other details can change. Be sure to check for updates before the event.LIABILTY RELEASE
You are in charge of your own safety and care. Be sure to always be careful when participating in our events. Do not put yourself in danger by standing in roadways or on railroad tracks or climbing on unstable surfaces, etc. The list is endless, We are all adults and you decide for yourself what is safe but, really, is any photo worth injury or even a fatality? Use your head and be cautious. Also please keep an eye out for other's safety - if you see something, say something.
By signing up you understand that your safety is your responsibility and are waiving your right to seek damages or take legal actions against the Chris Turley, Rich Kolar, organizer(s), and hosts of this event.1 attendee
Past events
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