July 2022

From the President...

As I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, the Computer Club will be moving from its space on the first level of the Santa Rita Recreation Center to the Kino Room, next door to the Camera Club.  Since that time, we’ve been examining the potential impacts of that move on both clubs in general, and the Camera Club specifically.  We did offer to share use of the Ansel Adams Room with the Computer Club.  They thanked us for the offer but decided Ansel Adams would not be sufficient for their needs.  There’s also been only limited discussion about possible collaboration between us and the Computer Club.

With that in mind, I’ve asked the Design Review Committee to focus its efforts on making the best use of our facilities and equipment to support the Camera Club exclusively given the emerging trends in digital photography and the evolving needs and expectations of our members.  The committee consists of Patty Ferguson, Linda Gregory, Pam Kale, Gene Komaromi, Tom Parker, Tom Ransburg, and Ron Stein.  I’ve asked Tom Parker to facilitate this effort.  The goal is for the committee to present its design proposal to the board for consideration.

The committee will be reaching out to board members, SIG leaders, event leaders, and subject matter experts as the design review process unfolds.  However, I want to ensure that every club member has a chance to weigh in on this important undertaking.  If you have questions, suggestions, concerns, or recommendations that could help inform the committee’s efforts, please e-mail them to Tom Parker at tparker324@aol.com so he can share them with the other committee members.  We are on an ambitious timeline, so the sooner you can get your thoughts to Tom the better.  There’s no monopoly on good ideas.  With your help, I’m convinced the future Camera Club facility will be much more functional, flexible, fun and one you will all be proud of.

Stay well and enjoy your summer.

Danny Valenzuela, President

Photo of the Month

The July Photo of the Month is by Ron Stein featuring a beautiful Gambel Quail. Ron’s use of the natural side lighting, good composition and depth of field management, putting sharp focus on the subject, produces a wonderful photograph. Papa Quail is always on the lookout! Congratulations, Ron.

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.

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

Many members have retreated north and Camera Club activities have gone on hold. Even so, wherever you spend your summer, you can still satisfy your interest in becoming a better photographer by taking advantage of some on-line activity.

If you’re looking for a good basic photography class, there are several online on the Udemy website. They offer some excellent classes at $15.00 or so. One of my favorites is the one on basic Android and iPhone photography, which you can find here.

Creative Live has some excellent courses that use sound pedagogical techniques. They are more expensive than the Udemy classes, but have greater depth. At specific times you can watch the “Live” classes for free.

YouTube is another repository of photographic instruction. You may have to wade through multiple videos to find instructional gold, but it’s worth the effort. Just search on a photographic topic and start watching.

Don’t let your photographic educational interests lay dormant during the summer. Find alternative learning experiences online to stay involved and learn a new trick or two.

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

Field Trips on Summer Break

I hope everyone is having a great summer filled with superb photo opportunities! We’re starting to put together the slate of field trips for the 2022-2023 season. Once again, I am seeking your suggestions for locations. For those of you long-time members, where haven’t we been in a while that we should revisit? For new members, the club’s field trips are a great way to see Southern Arizona and learn about its remarkable history while honing your photography skills. Please contact me if there’s a place you’ve heard about that you would like us to consider.

Remember, field trips are open to all camera club members. If you would like to arrange and/or guide a trip to a favorite location, please email me and I will step you through the process.

Keep those cameras handy!

Monica 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.

Taste of Tucson Historic Downtown Tour

• Ongoing Wed, Fri and Sat 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm – $65, registration required.
• Mercado San Agustin, 100 S Avenida Del Convento, Tucson, 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.

Hummingbird Banding at the San Pedro House

• July 2, 9, 16, and 25, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm – Free
• San Pedro House Visitor Center, 9800 East Highway 90, Sierra Vista, AZ
• Find more information here.

Summer Safari Nights at Reid Park Zoo

• July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm – Fees vary
• Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Court, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Mainly Murals Walking Tour

• July 4, 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.

Sahuarita Stars & Stripes

• July 4, 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm (Laser Show 8:45 pm; Fireworks 9:00 pm) – Free
• Sahuarita Town Hall, 375 West Sahuarita Center Way, Sahuarita, AZ
• Find more information here.

First Thursdays at the Tucson Museum of Art

• July 7, 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.

Turquoise Trail Guided Walking Tour

• July 9, 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.

4th Annual Sonora Fest 2022

• July 9 and 10, Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm – Free
• The Mall at Sierra Vista, 2200 El Mercado Loop, Sierra Vista, AZ
• Find more information here.

Night Wings at Pima Air and Space Museum

• Jul 9 and 23, 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm – $10
• 6000 E. Valencia Rd, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Kartchner Caverns Photo Tour

• Jul 16, 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm - $125, Registration required
• Kartchner Caverns State Park, 9 miles South of Benson on Hwy 90.
• Find more information here.

Barrio Viejo (Old Neighborhood) Walking Tour

• July 16, 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

• July 16, 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.

Sonoita Vineyards Harvest Fest 2022

• July 30, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm  – $25 Pre Sale
• Sonoita Vineyards, 290 Elgin-Canelo Road, Elgin, AZ
• Find more information here.

Garlic Festival at Historic Triangle T Ranch

• Jul 30 and 31, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm – Free
• Triangle T Ranch, 4190 Dragoon Road, Dragoon, AZ
• Find more information here.

Finally as a heads up, registration for the August Tucson Audubon Society’s Southeast Arizona Birding Festival is already underway. Find more information here. The same goes for the August Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival in Sierra Vista. Find more information on that one 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 an hour.

Contact: gvrcameramonitors@gmail.com for more information.

Green Valley Recreation Camera Club

The GVR Camera Club was established in the early 1970’s as one of many Green Valley Recreation organizations to serve its members and our community. Our main interest is photography, both still and video imaging. The Club has grown into one of the largest camera clubs in the country, currently with 570 active members.

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