I am writing to congratulate NVPS on its 50th anniversary and to express my gratitude for the major contribution it has made to my life.
The first meeting I attended was in 1998 when the Club met in the auditorium of the Washington Gas Building. I had graduated from the Washington School of Photography but was new to photography clubs and the opportunities they provided. Wow, something each Tuesday night of the month! Every program and competition inspired me, motivated me, and excited me so that not long after joining the Club, I garnered enough courage to participate in those scary competitions. And what encouragement I received! So many experienced members to learn from! So many professional mentors! So many judges’ comments worth listening to!
As I became active in the Club, the more I learned, the more motivated I became, and the more I began to “see” as a photo-artist, the more I succeeded. Over the eight years of active NVPS membership, I enjoyed everything it had to offer, won awards in competitions, and embraced (even defended) digital photography, especially the creativity of Adobe Photoshop. I participated in members’ gallery, gave workshops, served as a competitions chair, and later as President, and was a member of a competitions rules committee when the need to update them became apparent. And, perhaps most importantly, I learned to give encouragement to those who then sat where I once had been. Not only was I growing personally, but the Club grew literally. I believe that we hit the 200-member mark while I was President.
Among the many workshops I have attended over the years, including the fabulous experience of the Freeman Patterson workshop in Canada, one of the most influential was taking the ”Seminar on Judging” given by the revered mentor-to-all and NVPS patriarch, Joe Miller. Judging has led me to broaden my horizons and keep me on my toes. Combined with the memory of my own novice experience, it has helped me to be better at motivating photographers by giving both positive and negative critique honestly and gently.
All of my NVPS-instilled experiences have allowed me to grow as a photographer and help others to do the same. As a major example, I organized and am leading a photography club in my active adult community, providing both a mini-lesson and challenging folks with a self-assignment at each meeting. While we are small, we, too, have grown in our seven years to over 30 with a cadre of a dozen or so fully active members. Who knows where it will be in 50 years!
So it is now seventeen years since I nervously attended that first NVPS meeting – hard to believe. I wouldn’t have done any of these things if it hadn’t been for NVPS. I wouldn’t have been motivated to keep learning and honing my skills had it not been instilled by the NVPS experience. Nor would I have met so many fine people who are also fine photographers willing to learn as well as to mentor.
Congratulations on your first 50 years and may the Club continue to successfully create a fellowship of excited photographers who encourage newcomers and keep the NVPS wheel turning. You can be proud!
Sincerely
Mary Ann Setton
Past President, 2003-2004