The shutters were shuddering recently in the meeting hall of Palmerton’s Holy Trinity Lutheran Church for the October meeting of the Palmerton Camera Club.

Against the backdrop of a slideshow of Jason Stewart’s photographs from his Africa visit, President Jeannie Carl conducted a brief business meeting. Joan Zachery then showed the submissions for the photo challenge of the month with a theme of costumes.

At that point, the meeting turned into a Halloween photo shoot.

Photographer Joel Steyer of Berks County set up a spooky backdrop and several indirect lighting stands. Models Rachel Taras and Leslie Reddy posed in front of the backdrop.

“Set your ISO for 100, your shutter speed for 1/60 and your apertures for f8,” Steyer instructed. His lights were all operated wirelessly from a device that each member in turn fastened to their cameras, assuring perfect lighting for each photograph.

Several lightboxes were set up around the room, affording members the opportunity to shoot some animal skulls as well as try out their tabletop special effects.

Steyer also set up a lightbox in another room where members could photograph glasses of liquid into which dry ice chunks had been dropped, producing fronds of hazy fog that rose up out of the glasses and flowed to the box’s bottom.

Members were free to use whatever cameras they wished. Some used compact point-and-shoot cameras, some used cellphones, and some used digital single lens reflex cameras.

The Palmerton Camera Club is still going strong after 72 years.

The club meets 10 times a year and each meeting has a different theme. Members are always eager to talk about their equipment and experiences, and beginners are encouraged to develop their skills.

The club is welcoming to new members.

Contact photographersrus247@yahoo.com for more information about membership and upcoming activities.