August 2022

From the President...

In the January 2022 newsletter, I began by mentioning the song The Times They Are a Changing by Bob Dylan. This month’s newsletter also includes information regarding the changes we have experienced and will continue to experience due to the varied situations facing the Camera Club. These include the Covid pandemic, both in the past and how we will need to proceed in the future, and how to bring continuous value to our members in this changing world.

As you know, a Design Review Committee (DRC) was established to look at our club office floor plan and determine whether any changes need to be made to meet future club needs. The Design Review Committee, headed by Tom Parker, has been working on this project for the last two months. Many scenarios have been discussed and I can report that the DRC is starting to identify needs and finalize its recommendations. It is my hope that final recommendations will be submitted to the Board for consideration prior to, or at the September Board meeting.

In order to meet anticipated future needs, additional chairs and tables have been acquired from the Computer Club at no cost to us. This was a result of the Computer Club’s need to downsize their club space. These items will be kept in storage until the DRC completes it work and the Board gives final approval. At that time, we will assess how much of these items can and will be needed.

We thank the Computer Club members for their contributions to the Camera Club, and especially appreciate the great communication and collaboration that has allowed both clubs to move forward as needed. We look forward to continuing this great relationship.

An additional hope for the future is that more members will take an interest in our Board meetings and club activities. Perhaps setting up a standing Zoom link to all future Board meetings for the membership’s convenience will result in greater membership awareness and Board transparency. If this hope becomes a reality, the Board would include a “Call to the Membership” on the Board meeting agenda so you can give us your thoughts and input. For those wishing to attend Board meetings in person, the anticipated floor plan will allow for membership seating.

Yes, The Times They Are a Changing. Stay healthy.

Danny Valenzuela, President

Photo of the Month

The August Photo of the Month is by Patty Ferguson, featuring a Black Crowned Night Heron. Great composition, Great lighting, Great shadow detail balance. Congratulations, Patty for showing us how it should be done.

The Photo of the Month is chosen from the Photo of the Week series published on the Club's Facebook page each Wednesday. Keep sending the best of your work to Judith Pollard at jmp7741@gmail.com so we may continue to showcase the refined capabilities of the GVR Camera Club members.

Club Closed August 8 through 12

The Camera Club will be closed the week of August 8th for GVR's annual carpet and floor cleaning activities. If you have SIGs or other meetings scheduled for that week, you will need to check if your meeting will be held elsewhere or just on-line.

Lazy Summer at the

Library

The lazy summer months are a great time to catch up on looking into those photography questions you've wanted to find out about, but never had the time to do it. The Camera Club library is open and ready for you to take advantage of to help you out.

On the other hand, if you have photography books you wish to donate, please set them on top of the refrigerator at the club. Your contribution will enrich the library for all members.

And as always, please remember to check your bookshelves for any Camera Club library books that you may have borrowed and return them.

Please contact me if you have questions.

Becky McCreary, Librarian

My teenage granddaughters were visiting with me this week and were upset by a local T.V. advertisement for a Back To School Sale. “It’s only August,” they lamented. “Those stores are spoiling summer with ads like that now.”

Well, I may spoil your summer with this Chalk Dust article by mentioning some of the Club’s possible educational changes even though the Club’s winter classes probably won’t be in full swing until mid-November.

First, the Club is considering some physical changes to our facility due to the relocation of The Computer Club and our subsequent loss of the Kino Room. A Design Committee is reviewing possibilities this summer and, the resulting re-allocation will take place during the Winter Season.

Secondly, the Club will be encouraging members to visit the Club’s facilities in person. We will be offering some classes that we won’t be able to share on YouTube due to copyright restrictions. We will offer some Hybrid Classes where a lecture will be presented online followed by a “hands-on lab session” We will be offering some new Special Interest Groups that will meet both “Online” and “In-Person”

Many of our winter activities will entail the need for additional Facilitators, Instructors, and other volunteers. There will be opportunities that you may be able to volunteer for to offer some help in the near future as the club gets back to business.

Stay tuned and get involved.

This Month's Club Activities

Jump to SIGs

Jump to Travelogue

Jump to Field Trips

Jump to Photo Ops

Jump to Showtime

Jump to Speaker Series

Check the club calendar here for the latest information on all club activities.

Travelogue

Closed for the Season

Thanks to all of you who shared your Travelogue presentations this year. They were all well received by a record number of member viewers in spite of, and even because of, the remote presentations brought on by the pandemic. Even so, we all look forward to resuming in-person presentations next season, while also providing remote viewing as well.

I encourage you to get out and photograph your spring and summer adventures so that they may be shared on Travelogue next season.

And remember, If you have a program to share, drop off your thumb drive with a .mov or .mpeg4 show in the Travelogue Drop Box located outside the Camera Club door, or email it to me at traveloguecc@gmail.com.

Paul McCreary, Travelogue Coordinator

Showtime

Closed for the Season

Thanks for your participation in and viewing of this season's Showtime presentations. You can expect another great Showtime season starting in December. In the meantime think about putting a show together yourself for all to see next season.

Chuck Hill, Showtime Coordinator

Speaker Series

Closed for the Season

As we look toward next season, who knows what fall will bring…No more Covid? New mask mandate? Zoom meetings, in-person meetings, hybrid meetings? Whatever befalls, we’ll be looking to keep you informed and entertained with speakers in the field of photography. 

Do you have a photo interest that you’d like to present, or one of another photographer that you know? Please email me to start exploring a possible Speaker Series presentation. I’d be happy to address your questions and concerns, and perhaps sign up you, or your likely speaker. 

Happy Trails to you, until we meet again!

Holly Chorba, Speaker Series Coordinator

Scheduling Next Season's Trips

It’s time to start rounding out our 2022-23 field trip schedule. Thanks to Patty Ferguson and Linda Gregory, we have a fantastic slate of birding and nature field trips scheduled.

Now it's time to work on other types of field trips, and we’re looking for your help to propose, arrange and/or guide additional field trips.  You don’t have to be a member of the Field Trip SIG to help plan or guide a field trip – you just need to be a member of the Camera Club.

As an Arranger, you would propose and build the field trip, decide the date (in coordination with the Field Trip SIG), determine the mode of transportation (convoy/carpool or bus), cost, registrant fee and number of registrants allowed, and complete arrangements with the people at the destination to ensure a successful trip. As a Guide, you’d meet registrants at the Camera Club and accompany them on the field trip.  Often, the Arranger and Guide are the same person for a particular field trip.

Whew, sounds like a lot!  Fortunately, the following locations have been visited in the past and information for the venue is on file:  It just needs to be updated with current information.  We have had several club members already volunteer to arrange field trips to several sites (their names are listed in parentheses), but the rest are available.

• Paul Bond Boot Factory
• San Xavier Mission tour
• HF Coors
• Tohono Chul festivals (Patty Ferguson)
• Tucson Botanical Gardens (Linda Gregory/Patty Ferguson)
• Gammon's Gulch (Danny Valenzuela)
• White Stallion Ranch
• Locomotive Saturdays @ Southern Arizona Transportation Museum
• Tumacacori Dia de Los Muertes (All Souls Day)
• Presidio San Agustin de Tucson/ Mission Gardens
• Streetcar/Art Tour
• Pontoon Boat ride on Patagonia Lake
• St. Anthony’s Greek Monastery (do in Jan/Feb)
• Odysea Aquarium, Scottsdale
• Rancho de la Osa
• Wild Wild West Steam Punk Convention
• Hotel Congress/Transportation Museum
• The Neon Attraction in Tucson (Patty Ferguson)
• Equine Voices (Patty Ferguson)
• Pow Wow at San Xavier Mission
• Tucson Windows and Doors
• UofA College Rodeo
• Bisbee by Bus (closed on Tuesdays)
• Celtics Festival & Highland Games
• Rooster Cogburn's Ostrich Ranch
• Mescal Movie Set (Danny Valenzuela)
• Buffalo Soldiers Museum at Fort Huachuca
• Ruby Ghost Town (West of Rio Rico)

Please contact me if you’d be interested in arranging trips to any of the above locations, or if you have other photo opportunities in mind. I’ll be happy to step you through the process of arranging and guiding a field trip.

My goal is to have the locations and dates of this season's trips scheduled and out to you by the end of September. We welcome all members who wish to help plan, lead, or participate in one or more of our many planned trips. Your help in reaching this goal will be greatly appreciated!

 I’m looking forward to a fantastic field trip season!

 Monica E. Parker, Field Trip Facilitator

Photo Opportunities

Colossal Cave Mountain Park

• Ongoing daily, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm – Fees vary
• 16721 East Old Spanish Trail, Vail, AZ
• Find more information here.

Tour of Historic Canoa Ranch

• Ongoing, Saturdays, 8:30 am to 10:00 am - $5.00, Registration required
• Historic Canoa Ranch, 5375 South I-19 Frontage Road, Green Valley, AZ
• Find more information here.

Titan Missile Museum

• Ongoing, Thursdays thru Mondays, 9:45 am to 5:00 pm - Fees vary
• 1580 W Duval Mine Road, Green Valley, AZ
• Find more information here.

Seeing the Invisible

• Ongoing through Aug 31, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm – Free with $15 admission
• Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N Alvernon Way,Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Free Programs at the Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival

• Aug 3-6, events and times vary – No registration required for the free programs
• Cochise College Library, 901 Columbo Avenue, Sierra Vista, AZ
• Find more information here.

First Thursdays at the Tucson Museum of Art

• Aug 4, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Pay what you want, Reservations required
• Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, 140 North Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Mainly Murals Walking Tour

• Aug 6, 7:00 am to 9:00 am – $25, Registration required
• Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 N. Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here and here.

Hummingbird Banding at the San Pedro House

• Aug 6, 13, 20, and 27, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm – Free
• San Pedro House Visitor Center, 9800 East Highway 90, Sierra Vista, AZ
• Find more information here.

Southeast Arizona Birding Festival

• Aug 10 to 14, times vary - $30 registration plus applicable event fees
• DoubleTree Hotel - Reid Park, 445 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Annual Doc Holli-DAYS Event

• Aug 12 to 14, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm - Free
• 311 E. Allen Street, Tombstone, AZ
• Find more information here.

Turquoise Trail Guided Walking Tour

• Aug 13, 8:00 am to 10:30 am – $25, Registration required
• Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 N. Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here and here.

Sunset Historical Tours at the Mescal Movie Set

• Aug 13, 6:00 & 6:30 pm; Aug 17, 5:30 & 6:00 pm – $15, Reservations required
• Mescal Movie Set, 1538 North Mescal Road, Benson AZ
• Find more information here.

Second Sundaze: Family Day at TMA!

• Aug 14, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm – Pay what you want, Reservations required
• Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, 140 North Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Barrio Viejo (Old Neighborhood) Walking Tour

• Aug 20, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm – $25, Registration required
• El Tiradito Wishing Shrine, 418 South Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. and here.

Public Art & Murals Walking Tour

• Aug 27, 7:00 am to 9:00 am – $25, Registration required
• Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 N. Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here and here.

We are always looking for recommendations for future photo opportunities. Please feel free to contact me If you have suggestions for upcoming events of interest.

Tom Parker, Photo Op Coordinator

Special Interest Groups are fun and informative. Any member of the Camera Club is welcome to attend any of the SIGs. Most all are meeting only via Zoom.

Click on any of the links listed to get more information on each one.

Multimedia SIG
Black and White SIG

Studio and Fine Art SIG

Hit Me with Your Best Shot SIG

Photoshop/Lightroom SIG

Field Trip SIG

Photoshop Elements SIG

Bird Photography SIG

Monitor Notes

Monitors typically welcome and check in club members, answer the phone, and inform those seeking information about the Club. We are all indebted to the dedicated team of monitors who volunteer to keep the Camera Club open. Many thanks to all of you.

We are always looking for additional monitors. Help us provide all the benefits the Club offers to its members. As you take advantage of the Club's activities and its extensive digital processing equipment, consider sharing the effort in providing these services by volunteering as a monitor.  You are not expected to know how to use the equipment. Training takes about three hours.

Contact: gvrcameramonitors@gmail.com for more information.

Green Valley Recreation Camera Club

The GVR Camera Club is one of the largest camera clubs in the U.S. with over 600 active members. Regardless of your skill level, you'll have fun honing your skills in taking, editing, and presenting photos and videos. Share your photographic passion with others. Take FREE courses and join our Special Interest Groups to get the most from your digital camera, smartphone, action camera, or drone. Learn the ins and outs of post-processing software. Use our state-of-the-art equipment to digitize and edit photos, slides, and videos. Go on Club Field Trips to practice your photographic skills. Exhibit your photos/videos at our Showtime and Travelogue events. Come make friends and photographs!

The Club is located on the 2nd floor of the west wing at the Santa Rita Springs GVR Recreation Center. You may contact us at:

PO Box 1423, Green Valley, AZ 85622 or  gvrcameraclub@gmail.com. 

Neil Wicai, Newsletter Editor - neilwicai@gmail.com - 575-224-1238