Mesa County Libraries are now accepting applications for openings in the 970West Artist in Residence program for 2022. The application period will be open through Monday, Jan. 24.

Artists selected for residencies will receive a $500 stipend from the Mesa County Libraries Foundation and access to the 245-square-foot Artist in Residence space in the 970West Studio.

Full details about eligibility, application requirements, and artist expectations are available on the library website at mesacountylibraries.org. Applications must be submitted online no later than 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24.

More information about the Mesa County Libraries 970West Artist in Residence program is available here.

Winter is nearly here. Winter's arrival brings stark visual changes to the beautiful landscapes around us. It's the perfect opportunity to capture familiar locations but with fresh creative possibilities that present themselves in the snow. These creative possibilities can also present some challenges, but it'll all be worth it once you warm yourself up with a hot beverage, a warm blanket, and that perfect snowy photo ready to share.

Your modern camera internally calculates optimal exposure based on the light that reaches the sensor. Generally, a light meter’s goal is to make the scene an average middle gray, which is a decent approximation for most scenes. This causes some trouble when shooting snow on sunny days, however, since snow is naturally white and reflective. Because of this, the camera can mistakenly meter the scene as being overexposed, with the result being gray snow and an underexposed image.

For ways to combat these exposure issues with snow, check out this video about the Sunny 16 Rule from Bryan Peterson.

Camera batteries, particularly rechargeable lithium ion batteries, show a remarkable decrease in capacity when used in cold temperatures. Many photographers estimate as much as a 50% decrease in usage when batteries are exposed to temperatures that are below freezing compared to normal use.

Instead of keeping them in your camera bag, consider storing batteries in a pocket under your jacket so they can take advantage of your body heat. That way you're delaying their exposure to the cold, thus allowing you to take photos for a longer period of time.

Are your pockets not big enough to carry bulky batteries? Try using oxygen-activated hand warmers and elastic bands to keep them up against your batteries in your camera bag.

It'll be obvious to most that you'll need to wear appropriate clothing to keep you warm. What may not be as obvious is how much you'll heat up and sweat while carrying your heavy photography gear, not to mention the changes in temperature that can take place during an outdoor shoot.

Wear multiple layers that can easily be added or removed to combat the fluctuations in temperature.

Bonus tip: Invest in a good pair of wind-resistant gloves with fingers (leave the mittens at home) so you can easily adjust your camera's settings without having to remove your gloves.

Pictures of landscapes during a snowfall have the potential of being quite breathtaking. That said, you'll want to keep your camera dry if it snows (even if your camera is weather sealed). Investing in a rain cover will help to keep your camera dry. It's also a good idea to bring a few plastic bags (or water resistant covers) to protect your camera bag.

On a budget? Learn how to create your own DIY Camera Rain Cover from Ian Vins using a ziplock bag and a lens hood.

Condensation is another factor to consider. When your camera goes from cold, outdoor temperatures to a warm car or building, the moisture in the air will catch onto the cold surfaces of your camera and may fog up the inside of your lens.

Many photographers choose to put silica gels in their bags to catch any moisture around their cameras. You can learn more about silica gels and how they work in the video How Does Silica Gel Work? If you decide to use silica gels, please keep them away from pets and small children, as they can be harmful if swallowed.

Take the first step toward using the 970West Studio. Orientation classes last an hour. Registration is NOT required.

Studio Q&A takes place at 10 a.m. - noon Wednesday, January 19. Registration is NOT required. Assistance is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fundamental Audio Concepts takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 8. Seating is limited and registration is required.

Digital Photography takes place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 11. Seating is limited and registration is required.

Beat Makers Workshop takes place at 4 p.m. Friday, January 14. Registration is NOT required.

Intro to Podcasting takes place at 1 p.m. Tuesday, January 18. Seating is limited and registration is required.

Portrait Photography takes place at 6 p.m. Monday, January 19. Seating is limited and registration is required.

Mac OS Basics takes place at 10 a.m. Thursday, January 20. Seating is limited and registration is required.

Intro to Logic Pro takes place at 3 p.m. Friday, January 21. Seating is limited and registration is required.

Intro to Photoshop takes place at 5 p.m. Monday, January 24. Seating is limited and registration is required.

Pro Tools Recording takes place at 2 p.m. Thursday, January 27. Seating is limited and registration is required.

Audio Alchemy takes place at 4 p.m. Friday, January 28. Seating is limited and registration is required.

Learn how to digitize your art to create high resolution photos of your artwork. Patrons interested in this class need to have some knowledge of DSLR camera settings including ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed. Attend the Digital Photography class if you need to learn these skills.

Art Digitization takes place at 6 p.m. Monday, January 31. Seating is limited and registration is required.

Additional technology resources are available on our Technology Guide: Tutorials and Classes page. There you will find printable class handouts, basic tech help for your computer or mobile device, and a selection of tutorials. Still not finding what you're looking for? Fill out a Book a Librarian form to receive one-on-one instruction for your tech-related topic.

Kelley and Jason share their history as musicians, how Heartbreak Inn came to be, their creative process for the tape, and a sneak peek of one of the songs.

You can find Kelley and Jason's masterpiece here: heartbreakinn.bandcamp.com

Doctor Frizzlehaire has a new creative prompt for you! This month Frizzlehaire asks, "Don't feel like making 'music' today? Make some fun noises instead and call it Sound Design!"

Follow @970west_studio on Instagram for weekly posts about all things 970West Studio. We share gear updates, local band highlights, video releases, and creative prompts from Doctor Frizzlehaire!