Photo Affair

The numbers vary depending on what you read, but approximately 90% of adults in the United States have smartphone.  Twenty-five years ago, 90% of households had a camera. Very few people carried their camera with them unless they were going to an event or special gathering.  Fast forward to 2025, and people are taking pictures of everyone, everything and everywhere they go.

Digital photography is fast, convenient and has built in technology to make almost everyone’s pictures look great. This leads to the question of “What is the difference between taking snapshots and photography?” The main difference is that a snapshot is a quick, casual, and unplanned photo, while photography is a more deliberate, intentional process that involves careful consideration of composition, lighting, and other technical aspects. 

Even when using a smartphone, a photographer is thinking about the light, where people are standing, background distractions, and numerous technical aspects that go into creating a photograph vs. taking a picture. Photography is the art, application, and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either digitally or by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is a creative and technical field that can be used for artistic expression, documentation, and communication.

Perhaps you are the person who usually has the best pictures of an event. You probably get asked how your phone or camera takes such good pictures. The reality is that you are the reason the pictures are great.

The Madison Senior Center (MSC) Photo Affair is your opportunity to show off a few of those photographs that are hiding in your phone or camera. Get a few of your favorites printed, frame them, and enter Photo Affair.  You don’t have to spend a lot on the frame or have the picture matted. Your work will be displayed for six weeks in the MSC for six weeks, and you can bring family and friends by to see it.

Photo Affair is open to adults age 55 and better. All skill levels are welcome, but professionals should not enter.  The photos will be judged and hung on the 2nd floor of MSC. The grand opening of the show will be during MMOCA’s Community Gallery Night on Friday, November 7, 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Why not give it a try? The entry fee is $10 for one photo or $25 for three photos. If the fee is a barrier just let us know when you drop off your pictures. Photo drop-off is Tuesday, October 21, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm or by appointment.

The subject matter is your choice: nature, wildlife, grandchildren, travel, architecture – you decide; share the beauty that you see around you. Perhaps you prefer to make a statement with your photographs or document current events as you see them. The point of Photo Affair is to express yourself and share your what you create with the community.