We are looking for contributions to our website by members. Think of this as being similar to contributing an article to a newsletter or magazine. This is one way to increase the level of participation of members in our club and to build a community around the club. You might be an expert in some area of photography waiting for an opportunity to share your knowledge.

Our website is processed by Google every time that an entry is posted and periodically between postings. This is one way to get published on the Internet. You might be a person who would like to get this form of recognition.

There are two ways we can accommodate members who would like to contribute articles:

1. The role of an existing member can be changed from a subscriber to author or contributor. This will allow the member to login to the website to create an article online.
2. Alternatively, the article can be composed in a file or in an email and sent to me; I can then create the post.

Option 1 is the method that I use. Members might be more comfortable with option 2. When submitting the article, the text of the article should be sent as the following:

• An email containing the text in the body of the message.
• A text file (.txt) that was created using Notepad or similar text editor.
• A document in PDF format (.pdf). Everyone can read with Adobe Acrobat (free) or a similar viewer. PDF is a standard document distribution format. Once formatted, this document cannot be re-edited easily. PDF can also contain images, sound and video.
• You can send Word files (.doc files only, not .docx). Not everyone has word (you have to pay $$$ to use) and so they will not be able to read them directly. I can copy/paste contents the blog. Please note that Word is a document creation tool and not a document distribution format. Malicious people can always open a word file, change or deface the author’s contents, and claim that the work is their own. Not a satisfactory solution.

One advantage of PDF files is that we can host directly with no editing or copy/paste to a blog format. You, the author, have control over the look and feel.

Other files that might be useful to complement or accompany a written article are Photoshop Actions and Lightroom Presets. These can always be hosted on the web site for easy access by everyone.

Here are some suggestions for article submissions:

• Your favorite locations to photograph. This should include a description of subject matter, best time of year and how to get there.
• “How To” articles. This would include topics such as macro photography, studio lighting, location lighting, landscape photography.
• A technique that you might apply in processing your images.
• Tips and Tricks. This would include taking the image as well as processing the image.
• New and unusual gear that you are trying out. Don’t repeat lens reviews… there are plenty of gear review sites devoted to that type of content.

Here is your opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise with the community. This is one way to gain recognition from fellow members and the photographic community in general.