November 2026

From the President...

It is hard to believe, as I write this, that it is almost November and we are heading into holiday season.  Activity at the club is picking up as many of our friends are returning for the winter.  It’s always good to see everyone again.

If you are not aware of it, GVR is holding a month’s long event they are calling the “One Big Event.”  Don’t ask me where that name came from, but I had nothing to do with it.  We, as a club, are participating in this event.  We are sponsoring a hole in a golf tournament that GVR is holding.  The event is November 7 at the Haven Golf Course.  We are also conducting a Film Festival and Photo Contest.

The Film Festival has several videos entered and they will be shown on the afternoon of November 5th at Desert Hills.  Todd, Kevin and Sherri Lee have put a lot of work into this, so please plan to attend if you are in town.

The Photo Contest had 380 images submitted.  That was an amazing response.  The most outstanding photos were selected in five different categories.  Jim Gardner, Danny and I printed and mounted at total of 29 images.  Those photos will be displayed at Las Companas the week of November 9-15.  Please stop by to view them.

Our field trip committee has been quite busy.  You have probably gotten the announcements and hopefully have noticed many new locations.  That is what makes this club so enjoyable.  A chance to see, and learn, about new places and things.  If you have any suggestions please reach out to Tom Parker, or better yet, attend a committee meeting.

We will be able to exhibit work at the Del Sol Cafe starting in January.  They ask all images be desert themed.  It doesn’t have to be just landscapes.  Think flora, fauna and architecture.  It’s a wonderful place to have your work seen.  They have done a lot with that location and it has become quite popular this summer.

We had such a good response to the pop-up Christmas party last year that I am planning to do it again this year.  It was nice to be able to get together with everyone and just chat.  While we have an active club, a lot of people only attend certain programs.  This is a good way to meet other club members.

Get out there with your camera and start taking pictures.  We need new ones to put up at various locations.  We will have the Desert Hills Auditorium again in 2027.  We will also have displays at West Center, Las Companas and the Del Sol Cafe during certain times next year.  As I remind you to get out and take photos, I have to remind myself to do the same.  I have not been very good the last few months, so if you see me give me a little nudge.

That is all of my news for now.  Take care of yourselves, welcome folks back and get shooting.

Kim Holmes, President

GVR Centers' Photo Exhibits 

We are still looking for your photos to exhibit!  We have three main display areas including our club lobby, Café del Sol and Desert Hill’s auditorium.   GVR may open up other centers for us during the year.  So… Go print, mat and frame your photos for display!

For your photos we request this information: Your name, Phone #, Email, Photo Title, Medium (photo, metal print, canvas or...), frame size and, if you wish to sell, your asking price.

Click here for the exhibit website.

If you have questions please contact Kirk Hively, kehively@yahoo.com (520-349-5593) or Julie Howard (402-202-4423).

Kirk Hively, Exhibits Coordinator

Keep Our Facebook Page in Mind

Don’t forget to share your vacation photos and fall photos on the club’s Facebook page. Submit your photos to suready@yahoo.com.

Sue Ready, Facebook Coordinator

Photo of the Month

This month's photo is by Bob Frechette. Bob posted, "This photo was taken from a recent trip to Hunts Mesa in Monument Valley. We camped on the mesa and were there for sunset and sunrise. The light wasn’t great because of the clouds, but we still got a few shots. I used a Nikon Z7 2."

Congratulations, Bob, for sharing this photo with GVR Photography Club. 

The Photo of the Month is chosen from new and archived photos submitted to Sue Ready, the club's Facebook Coordinator. Keep sending the best of your work to Sue at suready@yahoo.com so we may continue to showcase the refined capabilities of GVR Photography Club members. Photos should be submitted in .jpg format and please include its title and location. -ed

We’re so happy to be back on our winter schedule now that our snowbirds have returned! We’re open from 9:00 to 3:00 and can’t wait to enjoy this season’s activities with you. 

We‘ve pushed the Photoshop Elements class back six weeks so our facilitator, Linda Gregory, can take some time to recover from a medical issue. Also, Al Crawford will be away in January and February next year, so we’re brainstorming ways to keep the Photoshop class going. If you’re part of his SIG and have any ideas, please share them—we’d love your input! 

We‘ll be announcing the Android and iPhone camera classes soon. We’ll send an email once the time and classroom are set. 

Jim Lehman will share news soon about our new film class, which we’re excited to add. 

Please take a look at the current field trips. Tom Parker has been working hard to schedule trips and explore new spots—thanks, Tom!

If there’s something you are interested in that is not currently offered, please reach out to me (Jim Gardner, jgardner65@comcast.net) and we ’ll do our best to make it happen!

Jim Gardner, Education Chair

Library News

Get 'em While They're Hot

With extended hours in the Photography Club, there will also be added activity for the library books. As Martha Stewart would say, “That is a good thing.” There are books on every aspect of photography from Composition, Lighting, Black & White Photography, iPhone, Macro, Portraits, Photojournalism, and much more. Club members may borrow books for 3 weeks and surely find something new between the covers. And don’t forget the free magazines! No return…pass them on.

Have a nice Thanksgiving!

Becky McCreary, Librarian

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 for the latest information on all club activities. Photography Club members are also welcome and encouraged to attend the club's Board of Directors meetings. The next Board meeting will be held November 9, 2026.  Check the Club Calendar for meeting specifics and attend in-person at the club. The Board is always interested in comments and new ideas from the members.

Need help with your digital camera, smartphone camera, slide/print scanning, photo printing or a photo editing software application? Photography Club Volunteer Helpers are available to help. Log in to the club’s website, click on the three bars at the far right of the home page menu bar and select Volunteer Helpers. Once you've found a helper, scroll down to see their contact email listed. Help is just a few clicks away.

Showtime

The time has come, friends!

It's time to support your local video makers and enjoy an afternoon of good company, good stories, and some mighty fine filmmaking.

Our first installment of Showtime rolls into Desert Hills on Tuesday, November 17 at 2:00 PM, and we'd love to fill the room.

Bring your spouse, a friend, a neighbor, or anyone who's ever wondered what our video club is all about. It's a chance to show off the creativity, talent, and hard work of a truly remarkable group of videographers.

I'll be bringing the popcorn. Coffee and water will be available, and if you've got a favorite beverage, feel free to bring it along.

So come on out, settle into a comfortable seat, share a few laughs, enjoy some terrific videos, and help us kick off the 2026-27 season in style.

The more, the merrier. Hope to see you there!

Todd F Taylor, Showtime Host

Travelogue

COMING SOON! Tuesday, November 10 at Desert Hills at 2pm. We’re so excited to kick off this season by Traveling to Ecuador’s Jungle and the Galapagos Islands with Arlene Meteyer. We will also show some fascinating exposés of Cuba in 2017 compliments of Sam Schaen, Jim & Bonnie Roberts, and Todd Taylor.

Thank you for the great videos we have received so far. It’s coming together to be an exceptional season!

Please keep your travel videos coming for this season – put your flashdrives in the Travelogue folder at the Photography Club or send (via WeTransfer) to Anne Karakatsoulis at daveandanne@msn.com and Sherrie Lee Lucia at sherrie.LCBG@gmail.com.

Gratefully,

Sherrie Lee Lucia & Anne Karakatsoulis

Travelogue Co-Coordinators

Speaker Series

Field Trips

The following field trips have been announced as of press time:

• Tuesday 11/03 – Bird/Nature Photography: Rancho Santa Cruz & Santa Gertrudis Lane
• Wednesday 11/04 – White Stallion Ranch
• Saturday 11/07 – Native American Arts Fair at Mission Garden
• Saturday 11/07 – Tubac Dia de los Muertos
• Saturday 11/07 – Cowboy Festival at Empire Ranch
• Tuesday 11/17 – Sonoran Glass School
• Thursday 11/19 – Gammons Gulch & Forever Home Donkey Rescue
• Thursday 12/03 – LightsUp! at Tucson Botanical Gardens
• Sunday 12/06 – The Murals of Downtown Tucson Part I
• Wednesday 12/09 – Madera Canyon Star Trails
• Saturday 12/12 – Winterhaven Festival by Party Bike

• Thursday 12/17 – Tombstone – The Town “Too Tough to Die”
• Saturday 12/19 – Last Chance – Tucson Auto Museum

We’ll be “unwrapping” some more field trips as we approach the December holiday season, so be on the lookout for those announcements fairly soon.

As you may have heard, the Tucson Auto Museum will permanently close at the end of the year, so we’ve planned a final trip there before their amazing collection is dispersed. We’ve also learned that HF Coors will no longer offer tours of its dinnerware factory, that the current operators of Old Tucson will not be renewing their contract next April, and that last year’s Steampunk Convention was the last time this uniquely-Tucson event would take place. Realizing that things do change, if you think you might be interested in visiting a particular location or taking in a particular event, be sure to sign up – it just might be gone tomorrow.

On the other hand, our field trip leaders keep coming up with new and exciting places to explore. Be sure to thank these unpaid volunteers for their extraordinary efforts whenever you get the chance.

Please let me know if you are interested in becoming a field trip leader or helping to take care of the many behind-the-scenes tasks that enable us to make field trip administration look effortless. We’re always on the lookout for volunteers.

You’re also welcome to become a member of the Field Trip Committee. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month; just sign up on the club’s website so I’ll know to include you on the invitations.

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

Tom Parker, Field Trip Chair

El Tour de Tucson, one of the country's largest and most popular cycle races, will take place on Saturday, November 21^st, celebrating America’s 250^th birthday. In what’s believed to be a historic “first” for an American cycling event, reigning Union Cycliste Internationale Elite Men’s Road World Champion Brandon McNulty and U.S. National Road Champion Quinn Simmons will both be joining thousands of cyclists for this year’s event.

Once again, we’ll be setting up and operating Aid Station #7 on Mission Road (across from the electrical sub-station) to provide as many as 5,000 cyclists on the 102-mile Century Route with food, water, a potty stop, and lots of encouragement.  

We’re looking for at least 10 more volunteers to help us provide

all that support.

We're dedicating this year's Aid Station in loving memory of Joanie Rogucki, GVR Cycling Club President and long-standing Aid Station Co-Captain, who passed away on May 13th in Tucson after a six-month battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

We set up the Aid Station around 7:00 am, close and dismantle the Aid Station around 3:00 pm, and take care of thousands of cyclists in between.

Check out this YouTube video from 2023 to learn more about what the Aid Station does to support El Tour de Tucson.

If you're interested in volunteering or have questions about the Aid Station, please contact Tom Parker at tparker324@aol.com.  And don’t forget to provide your shirt size – volunteers get an El Tour de Tucson Volunteer T–shirt.

Tom will be hosting a meeting of Aid Station #7 volunteers at the GVR Photography Club on Thursday, November 17th at 3:00 pm.

We’re looking forward to another fun, exciting and interesting day supporting the 43rd annual El Tour de Tucson – hope you can find the time to join us!

Tom Parker

Photo Opportunities

There’s a variety of special events in November, including Dia de los Muertos celebrations in Tubac and Tucson, the Cowboy Festival at Historic Empire Ranch, the Greek Fest and Veterans Day Parade in Tucson, and an Air Show in Safford. You can meet the artists in Tubac, check out the canines at an all-breeds dog show, or take in the Floating Lantern Festival and Ikebana Festival at the recently re-opened Yume Japanese Gardens. Raptor Free Flight starts this month at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, so be sure to stake out your viewing spot early.

If it’s action photos you’re looking for, don’t go anywhere! The 43rd El Tour de Tucson on November 21 will feature over 4,000 cyclists taking on a challenging 102-mile course through Sahuarita and Green Valley before heading back to Tucson. Expect plenty of activity (and traffic disruptions) between 9:00 am and 2:30 pm. May as well bring a lawn chair, a cool beverage, and your trusty digital device and find a good spot to catch the action along the route.  You can find more information here.

And finally, don’t forget to enjoy free entrance to the National Parks on November 11 in honor of Veterans Day. All great reasons to get out and get some amazing shots.

Spirit Guides: Fantastical Creatures

• Ongoing thru Jan 17, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm – Free with gardens admission, Registration required
• Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 North Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Butterfly Magic

• Thru May 31, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm – Free with gardens admission, Registration required
• Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 North Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Historic Canoa Ranch

• Dates, times, events and costs vary – registration may be required
• Historic Canoa Ranch, 5375 South I-19 Frontage Road, Green Valley, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Turquoise Trail Walking Tour

• Nov 1, 9:00 am to 11:30 am – $35, registration required
• Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 North Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Tucson Greek Fest

• Nov 6-7, Fri 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Sat 11:00 am to 10:00 pm – Prices vary
• Jácome Plaza, 101 North Stone Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Mainly Murals Walking Tour

• Nov 7, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm – $35, Registration required
• Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 North Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Procession – Tubac

• Nov 7, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, procession begins 11:00 am – Free
• Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, 1 Burruel Street, Tubac, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Empire Ranch Cowboy Festival

• Nov 7, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm – Free, donations appreciated
• Empire Ranch, Empire Ranch Road, Sonoita, AZ
• Find more information here.  

Safford Air Show

• Nov 7, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm (Gates open at 9:00 am) – ticket prices vary
• Safford Regional Airport - 1LT Duane Spalsbury Field 4570 E Aviation Way Safford, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Tucson Toy Train and Collectible Show

• Nov 8, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm - Free
• Gadsden-Pacific Division Toy Train Museum, 3975 North Miller Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Vigilante Sunday

• Nov 8 and 22, 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Free
• 311 East Allen Street, Tombstone, AZ
• Find more information here. 

37th Annual All Souls Procession and Finale Ceremony- Westside Tucson

• Nov 8, 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, procession begins at 6:00 pm – Free, donations accepted
• Grande Avenue between Speedway and St. Mary’s and the Mercado District, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Birding at the Zoo

• Nov 9, 9:15 am-11:15 am – free with zoo admission, reservations required
• Reid Park Zoo, 3400 East Zoo Court, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

107th Tucson Veterans Day Parade

• Nov 11, parade starts at 11:00 am - Free
• Tucson Convention Center Perimeter (see website below for parade route)
• Find more information here. 

Coyote Classic Dog Shows

• Nov 12-16, times and events vary - Free
• Pima County Fairgrounds, 11300 South Houghton Road, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Raptor Free Flight

• Nov 12 thru Mar 29, Thursdays thru Mondays,10:30 am – Free with museum admission
• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 North Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Modern Streetcar & Walking Tour

• Nov 13, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm – $45, registration required
• The Mercado, 100 S Avenida del Convento Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Tubac Art Walk

• Nov 13-15, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm - Free
• Tubac, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Floating Lantern Festival (Toro Nagashi)

• Nov 13 and 14, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm - $30 (lanterns $7 each)
• Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 North Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

History in the Park at Fort Lowell

• Nov 14, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm – Included with admission
• Fort Lowell Park, 2900 North Craycroft Road, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Indigenous Arts Fair

• Nov 14, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm – Free with admission
• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 North Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Barrio Viejo Walking Tour

• Nov 15, 9:30 am to 11:30 am – $35, registration required
• Rosendo Perez Park, 424 South Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Fall Ikebana Festival

• Nov 19-22, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm - $20
• Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 North Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

University of Arizona Walking Tour

• Nov 19, 10:00 am to 12:30 am – $35, registration required
• South entrance to Main Gate Garage, 815 East 2nd Street, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

TMA’s 43rd Annual Fall Artisans Market

• Nov 20-22, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm - Free
• Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, 150 North Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Public Art Walking Tour

• Nov 21, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm – $35, registration required
• Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 North Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

Murals & More of the 4th Avenue District

• Nov 22, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm – $35, Registration required
• Corbett’s, 340 North 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here. 

LightsUp! A Festival of Illumination

• Nov 27-Jan 10, 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm daily (except Mondays, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day) – Admission varies. Timed reservations required
• Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 North Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information 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 educational. Any member of the Photography Club is welcome to attend any of the SIGs.

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

On Assignment SIG

Photoshop/Lightroom SIG

Canon R Series SIG

Photoshop Elements SIG

Wildlife 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 Photography 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.

Photography Items

Wanted

or

For Sale

FOR SALE:

Nikon D750 camera body LN-  Asking $650.

Nikon 14-24 2.8 lens  EXC. Asking $500.

Nikon 24-70 2.8 E lens takes 82mm filter LN- Asking $1200.

Nikon 24-120 f4 EXC Asking $500

Nikon 200-500 f5.6 lens takes 95mm filter, will include. LN- Asking $900.

Nikon 70-200 2.8E  FL VR lens LN- Asking $1300.

All items are in like new or excellent condition and priced below similar items on B&H, KEH, or Robert's camera.

Thank you,

Michael Edgeton

michaeledgeton1@gmail.com

520-240-3955

Do you have any used photography equipment that you want to sell or are looking to buy? List those items in the newsletter.

All items:

• May be placed only by current, past or families of past members.
  
• Must be for used photography related equipment.
  
• Must include your name, or the name of the past member, and contact information.
• Should be submitted to mparker582@aol.com.
• Must be placed by the 20th of the month prior to the month of listing.
• Will run for one month but may be resubmitted up to three times to be listed again.

GVR Photography Club

The GVR Photography Club is one of the largest photography clubs in the U.S. with over 500 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 Photography 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 gvrphotographyclub@gmail.com. 

Monica Parker, Newsletter Editor 

mparker582@aol.com, 618-304-1164