The discussion about whether to focus more on lenses or camera bodies is still happening, but it’s getting fuzzier.

Modern camera bodies feature advanced sensors that capture exceptional detail, said Tauranga Photographic Society membership secretary Richard Baldwin.

“Even the cheaper lenses are good. I bought a wide angle that was under $600 and years ago you’d be paying $4000,” he said.

Sun Live caught up with the Tauranga Photographic Society for a night shoot to learn what makes a good photo from some of the area’s finest photographers.

Baldwin said a good photo comprises excellent lighting, an attractive shape, or a mixture of the right time and luck.

The original plan for meeting the group was to learn about astrophotography, but a mixture of a cloudy sky and a poor time of year meant plans would change.

“In winter, when the sky is darker, it is better, and around Mount Tarawera is a good location,” Baldwin said.

A telephoto lens is used to photograph the moon, while a wide-angle lens is employed to capture images of the Milky Way.

Baldwin said it helps if you have a sturdy tripod and use the 500 rule, which involves taking the number 500 and dividing it by the focal length of your lens.

“If you’ve got a 10 mil lens, you could shoot for 50 seconds; with a 100 mil, you can shoot for five seconds.”

Throughout the evening, Tauranga Photographic Society committee member Pip Wells looked for exciting shapes and colours around the promenade.

A pōhutukawa tree became a focal point.

“There is a contrast in the leaves, and the tree’s shape is very unusual,” Wells said.

A favourite tree of hers to photograph is the Japanese maple, she said.

“I went out to park a few years ago when I saw this tree in the middle of the field.”

Wells climbed up the gate and went around the back of the tree to take photos.

But her excitement gave way to panic.

“I suddenly thought, How do I know there’s no bull in there?”

Thankfully, there wasn’t, and her reward was an excellent image.

The society will have various nights where they will invite special guests to come and do workshops learning new techniques, Wells said.

“I like landscapes. And I am getting into still lifes.”

The society was founded on January 12, 1956, and its first meeting, attended by 40 people, was held on February 7 of the same year.

Visitors can attend club nights at 177 Elizabeth St on the first and third Thursdays of every month. The group will return in February 2025.

- SunLive