President’s Message
Greetings and welcome, NVPS members. I am excited about what our new board has in store for you this year. But first let me offer my sincere thanks to the numerous volunteers (both board and non-board members) who are the machinery that run NVPS and make our programs and activities really interesting and special. THANK YOU. I am very lucky to be working with people who are talented, thoughtful and dedicated. It should be a wonderful year for learning and sharing photography ideas, places to photograph and, of course, our images.
September’s Lineup
Let’s talk about September where we will hit the ground running. You will not want to miss a single event this month. Here is a quick summary:
Sept 3 – Adam Jones: An internationally recognized photographer explores the world through his nature, travel, and wildlife images. He is one of Canon’s legendary “Explorers of Light”. Enough said. I want his job!
Sept 7 – Field Trip to Old Truck Graveyard near Richmond, VA: You will find an endless supply of old abandoned trucks, rust, peeling paint, old truck logos, grills and hood decorations, abstract patterns, textures and geometric shapes. I’ve been here twice and can’t wait to go back on Sept. 7. See a few of my images here taken from this gem of a site.
Sept 10 – Anonymous Nature Image Critique by Chuck Veatch: In addition to having a very long list of photography related credentials, including past president of NVPS, Chuck is also Chairman of the Board at Nature’s Best Photography. Find out from a master what makes or breaks 25 nature images.
Sept 17 – Competition Night with Josh Taylor: Josh is certainly NVPS’s most popular judge and for good reason – he’s fair, detailed and decisive; he’s a fulltime professional photographer, lecturer, and tour guide with a ton of experience and a 6th sense about what makes a good image. He very well might be the area’s quintessential photography judge. Even if you do not compete, don’t miss this competition. It will be a great learning experience.
Sept 24 – Members Gallery – Sandi Croan (Prints) and Timber Gooding (Digital): I know these will be spectacular. Sandi and Timber have each received “Photographer of the Year” awards and have a huge collection of award winning material to present. Sandi’s “Tuscan Villa” won “Print of the Year” last year and Timber’s last digital presentation looked like a Hollywood production – I’m not kidding!
Sept 24 – Matting Forum with Bob and Willa Friedman: Here is something practical that each and every one of us needs to know how to do, and how to do it right. Bob and Willa (both past NVPS presidents) will teach their techniques for sizing and cutting mats and how to correctly attach them to your print so they look professional. They will also cover where to buy equipment and supplies without breaking the bank. Good stuff from two people who make and show allot of great prints.
Changes in Competition Rules
By now you have probably heard that new competition rules are in place. The most significant is the formation of a 3rd class. Last year’s “Advanced” class will be split into two classes. You may self-select based on your competition experience. If you are not sure about your competition class, check with Beth or Susan (competition”AT”nvps.org1) well in advance of the first competition for a recommendation. Another change is that except for class 1 (novice), you may only submit one image per category (for example, no more than one digital, one color print and one monochrome print). See the complete set of competition rules here.
Note to prospective members
Joining a camera club is the single most cost effective way to improve your photographic skills. You will learn about great photographic sites and opportunities; how to use todays popular post-processing software; how to create award winning photos, and you meet with other like-minded people who share your passion for making great images. NVPS will have 37 meetings and 11 field trips this year. At $45 for a yearly individual membership, this comes to less than a dollar per event. Feel free to attend a few meetings as our guest and see for yourself. I promise this will be time well spent. NVPS meets every Tuesday from 7:30 at the Dunn Loring Fire House from September to May. Whether you just bought your first camera or you are a seasoned enthusiast or professional, we look forward to meeting you.
Notes to renewing members regarding dues, membership and helping out
Last year, due to a slight drop in membership, NVPS’s expenses exceeded its income. Although we have a reasonable sized buffer to absorb the cost difference, we want to make sure we maintain a minimum sized membership (about 250 members) going forward. Now I have a few small requests to ask that will greatly help NVPS to meet its membership goals this year:
1) Please pay your dues promptly in September – This will give us a good idea how many returning members we have and how much effort to put forth to increase our membership. Please note that members who compete in monthly competitions must pay their dues no later than October 1 to keep any points received in the September competition.
2) Tell a friend about NVPS – If you have a friend interested in photography, invite them to sit in at a few Tuesday night meetings to see if they have interest in joining NVPS. Word-of-mouth is a great source of advertising.
3) Become a field-trip mentor – If you are an experienced photographer, we could use your help on field trips. If you have already been to a planned site, your expertise could be valuable to new or novice members. Also consider being a car-pool contact. Contact Chuck or Tom at field-trips”AT”nvps.org1.
Also note that we will be stepping up our efforts to greet new members at the door Tuesday evenings. If you have an interest in being an impromptu greeter (no pressure!), please contact Tami, our membership coordinator. She could use your help all year, but mostly in September-November.
Final words
My goal this year is to continue to make NVPS a great place to learn and share photographic ideas in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. The board has done a magnificent job in finding and selecting presenters, judges and field trips and I commend them on their efforts. I am proud to serve as your president and look forward to seeing you in September and throughout the year. Best regards!
Mike Whalen
NVPS President 2013-2014
president”AT”nvps.org
Footnote
1 – Replace “AT” with the symbol, @ to yield a functional email address.