March 2026

From the President...

As another month comes to an end our great photography club has been crazy busy. Between field trips, SIGS and new classes, I would be hard pressed to not find something to occupy some of your time. I just did the “Behind the Scenes” field trip at the Reid Park Zoo. While the weather was less than ideal, and we had a rhino that didn’t want to come over for a back rub, the trip was an overall great time. I would highly recommend it should it come around again this spring. You just have to remember that animals will do whatever they want to do and, on their schedule, not yours.

It is at that time of the season that we need asking for people to run for our board. By the time you get this newsletter you should have received an e-blast asking for nominations. Please consider running for the board. We will have six openings and are always looking for new members. We meet once a month, and for the most part take the summer months off.

The Volunteer Luncheon is March 5 in the Anza Room at Santa Rita Springs. By this time all our wonderful volunteers should have received, and hopefully, responded to the invitation. Our club would not function without all these club members. So, the next time you visit the club, thank the monitor who is there to greet you and give you a helping hand if necessary.

Joy and Tom, along with a few others, are diligently working on putting together the program for the 50th birthday/annual meeting on April 7. Joy is going to be interviewing long-standing members to find out what went on before many of us had even heard of Green Valley. We should be getting some good stories and wonderful history on how the GVR Photography Club came to be. Tom will be putting together a video, along with help from the MM SIG, that will be shown for this event. We also hope to have photos for everyone to look at. So please, keep the date of April 7 on your calendar open. This year the event will be a luncheon instead of a dinner. One thing I do know, we were the GVR Camera Club until just a couple of years ago when we underwent a name change and became the GVR Photography Club.

If you have not made it to any of our Tuesday events, you have been missing some wonderful subjects. Sherri Lee and Anne have done a great job with Travelogue and Todd’s Showtime videos have been a lot of fun. The March Speaker Series will feature Roger Naylor, an Arizona travel writer and author. He will be talking about one of his most recent books, and his trips along Route 66. This is the centennial year for this historic road and Roger should be quite entertaining. He will also have his books for sale at this program. So please put these programs on your calendar and make sure to register for them. It just helps us with putting out chairs for everyone.

Please remember to send Sue Ready your pictures, from any field trips that you have done or any trip you have been on, to go on our Facebook page. She is always looking for new work. If you are in a SIG, please think about submitting the photos that you share with your other SIG members. We would all like to see them. We all learn from seeing each other's work.

“Great photography is about depth of feeling, not depth of field”. -- Peter Adams

Kim Holmes, President

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the GVR Photography Club’s founding as a Green Valley Recreation club. This is the fifth in a series of articles focused on the club’s history. The series will culminate in April 2026 when we’ll officially celebrate our 50th Anniversary in conjunction with our annual meeting.

The GVR Photography Club – Odds and Ends

By Tom Parker

SOME CLUB “FIRSTS”

• January 1978 – Photographic Society of America first mentioned/discussed.
• January 1979 – Photography competitions sponsored by the club.
• August 1981 – First meeting in the new Desert Hills Recreation Center.
• November 1991 – Doing “our own” video highlighting club activities; brochures prepared to encourage and promote new membership.
• 1993 – Member survey conducted.
• December 1993 – A list of members who can assist with various aspects of photography was produced (today’s volunteer list).
• January 1994 – Introduction to electronic imaging, the use of home computers to modify or enhance black and white or color negatives and/or slides (today’s post-production capabilities).
• November 1994 - Books donated by Charles Hilgendorf on various phases of photography were made available to members for use in the Studio until a lending system could be devised (the start of today’s excellent reference library).
• April 1996 – The Camcorder SIG provided instruction on the use of background sound with video; the electronic titler is on order but hasn’t arrived yet, paid for with a $300 donation from the Green Valley Arts and Crafts Council (the start of today’s Multimedia SIG?).
• May 1997 – A half-torso mannequin was purchased for use in the studio (I believe she is still with us).
• October 1997 – Digital photography classes will be offered by the Green Valley Computer Club (a sign of things to come).
• April 1999 – A “Scavenger Hunt” was first proposed to publicize the club, attract new members, and have fun.
• January 2003 – First mention of the club’s website.

THE MOVE TO SANTA RITA SPRINGS

Started in the late 1970s with only ten members, the GVR Camera Club was in the East Social Center in an 850 square-foot space consisting of one meeting room (shown here) and a small studio/chemical dark room for more than 30 years.

In January 1992, GVR threatened the club with the loss of the space dedicated to the studio/dark room due to its limited use.

Photos from the early 2000’s show classes and workshops being conducted outside by the East Center pool. Perhaps it was nicer outside, or maybe it was out of necessity given the club’s cramped space.

That started to change in the early 2000’s with the digital photography revolution. By 2005, membership had reached 525. In early 2006, GVR discussed the possible expansion of the club’s space at the East Center by moving lapidary and making other modifications to the building to provide the Camera Club 2,500 square feet. It was the club’s position that a 3,500 square-foot facility was needed to satisfy demands.

In May 2006, the unfinished space at Santa Rita Springs (SRS) was first discussed. Three conditions were necessary for the club to acquire the new space at SRS. First, the club would have to share space in what would become the Kino Room. Second, the club would be expected to provide cash or furniture and fixtures (projected to cost less than $30,000). And third, the club would need to secure agreement among the residents of SRS to accept the club’s utilization of the facility.  By March 2007, GVR reiterated the cost split between GVR (21%) and the club (79%) with a $150,000 estimated cost for the project excluding furniture and fixtures, and the requirement for the club to make a 25% down payment.

That prompted a major fund-raising effort. The goal was to raise at least $66,000 ($36,000 toward construction and $30,000 for fixtures and equipment). By October 2007, the club was able to contribute $31,497 to GVR for construction of the tenant improvements, and it was reported that this amount would probably be the final amount of the club’s contribution.

While construction was underway, the club began purchasing and storing furniture and equipment. Remember when you had to purchase components and build your own computer? Ron Stein had reported that eight computers had been assembled, Windows XP-Pro operating systems had been purchased and monitor purchases were pending. 

Twenty-two computer tables had been purchased  along   with   two     L-shaped 

mahogany desks for the lobby area. The Relocation Committee had purchased 30 task chairs for the computer stations, a three-drawer lateral filing cabinet, a two-door storage cabinet, two 42” round tables, 12 side chairs, three oak bookcases and the slat-wall display panels. The club collaborated with GVR on the purchase of two refrigerators (one for the club) to obtain a 10% two-fer discount and arranged for GVR to install a bulletin board next to the club’s entrance. Apart from computers and monitors, if you look around, you’ll be amazed that pretty much everything the club purchased almost 20 years ago is still in use today.

There were issues with GVR concerning Kino Room scheduling. The “agreement” with GVR was that the camera club would first schedule all its activities and that the balance of open time would be available for GVR use. The club estimated it needed 16-19% of the available time and considered the Kino Room its main classroom owing to its larger size compared to the East Center Studio. [We’ll talk about loss of the Kino Room and its impact on club operations in next month's installment.]

In addition to the Kino Room, the new facility included a hands-on classroom accommodating 12 students with their own computers; a digital darkroom for printing, editing and scanning; a matting and framing studio; and a reception area. Overall, the new facility was three times larger than the East Center location and would better accommodate the club’s more than 800 members.

After nearly three years of collaborating with club members and their contributions and fundraising to assist with construction costs, equipment and furniture, the club moved into its new facility in February 2008 and hosted its first Open House in March 2008.

Over the next few months, we will be exploring different aspects of the club’s history. Please stay tuned for future installments in this newsletter and on the club’s Facebook page. If you have historical information you’d like to share, please contact Tom Parker no later than March 15, 2026, so we can include it in the April newsletter.

GVR Centers' Photo Exhibits 

I want to thank all the members who have brought in photos to be exhibited! The club has over 100 photos up for display! We currently have the Desert Hills Auditorium and will have new photos up at West Center this month. 

Our top contributors include: Ron Stein (34), Pat Lindemann (23), Wendell Werner (15), Rick MacDonald (14), Beth Stonebrook (12), Kik Holmes (10), Rick Myers (9) and Kathryn Engle (9).

Be sure to stop by the club and the GVR centers to check out the beautiful photos!

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

Our Field Trippers have put together a huge list of trips with great photo opportunities for you to take advantage of. We need your Field Trip photos for our Facebook page!

Be sure to send me your favorite photos so I can post them in Facebook. Those photos are also where I get to choose the Photo of the Month featured in the newsletter each month. Your photo could be chosen next!

Sue Ready, Facebook Coordinator

Photo of the Month

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

January was packed with SIGs, field trips, Travelogue, Speaker series, Showtime, and special interest classes! You can find all the club activities on our website.

For upcoming events, the On Assignment SIG is back, and the new Astrophotography SIG has sparked interest in a photopills class. The basic camera class is off to a great start, giving participants a deeper understanding of their cameras.

Don’t forget to check out the lab and explore what’s available for everyone to use.

The club is busy, but there’s always room for new activities for our members.

It’s been brought to my attention that classes specifically designed for a particular camera are in demand. I’m looking for people interested in leading basic camera settings for Canon, Nikon, Sony, and others. We’re looking for ways to meet all our members’ needs. If the club can help with new offerings for members, please contact Jim Gardner at jgardner65@comcast.net.

Don't Stop Learning!

Jim Gardner, Education Chair

Library News

Street Photography

In street photography the photographer uses his or her skills for finding and capturing interesting subjects, good composition, and their personal style of expression to record everyday life. “Mood” is an important element of the finished photo — it should stand alone without explanation.

March is generally perfect weather in southern Arizona and an invitation to street photography. Think of farmers markets, art and craft events, festivals, sporting events, folks shopping, and even Photography Club field trips. And we are always aware of the respect for privacy if a person is readily recognizable.

There are street photography books in the Club Library under ST.

Becky McCreary, Librarian

News You Can Use!

Have you ever wanted to take a few of your photos and convert them to an artistic canvas? You can with software in our Photography Lab! The software is Dynamic Auto Painter which is available on two of the PCs.  For more information on this software, click here.

Here is an example before and after:

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 monthly Board of Directors meetings. Check the Club Calendar for the date of the meeting and attend in-person at the club, or remotely by registering using this link. 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

Tuesday, 3/3 at 2:00 pm

I’ve cooked up a truly fabulous SHOWTIME for March — the kind of program that makes you wonder why Hollywood hasn’t called us yet.

We kick things off with a Heron at Canoa Ranch Lake who gets challenged… or insulted… or maybe just side‑eyed. You decide. And then we follow up with the outcome. Is it the same Heron or a completely different bird with a good agent and a stunt double? You tell me.

Next, we head to Kansas — yes, Kansas — where we discover some surprising geographic features. Who knew the Sunflower State had more going on than tornadoes and Toto?

Royce then treats us to a fascinating tale about a traveling distillery. Yes, a distillery that travels. It’s basically the RV lifestyle but with better beverages.

Danny’s Rancho de la Osa segment will have you dusting off your cowboy boots and wondering if you should take up horseback riding or at least buy a hat that makes you look like you do.

Phil brings us the story of Fleischer Studios — Disney’s biggest competition back in the day — and how it all came crashing down. Think of it as a vintage Hollywood drama, but with more cartoons and fewer lawsuits.

And we wrap up with “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” at the Sphere — an experience so immersive you may leave believing you actually are in Oz. If you see flying monkeys afterward, that’s on you.

Bring your friends, bring your neighbors, bring that one person who always says “I should come to one of your shows sometime.” This is the one.

I’ll have the popcorn, coffee, and water ready — you’re welcome to bring your beverage of choice. No judgment. Well… minimal judgment.

Cheers — hope to see you there.

Todd F Taylor, Showtime Host

Travelogue

Tuesday, 3/10 at 2:00 pm

Our March 10th Travelogue on Tuesday, at 2:00 pm at Desert Hills, will start with a heartwarming video from Holly Chorba, taking a cross-country trip from Arizona to Williamsburg, Virginia with her grandson Zeke who was about gaining ownership of Holly's Lincoln town car.

The next video has Wendell Werner and his

wife taking a bus and rail tour of the gorgeous Canadian Rockies which also included a visit to Vancouver.

Kirk Hively entertains us next with a video of their car trip to Paso Robles, CA for a wine tasting adventure at some beautiful wineries.

Gayland Bender shows us through his excellent photography and the choice of music going with it, the beauty of the North Shore in Minnesota.

And finally, Kevin May travels to beautiful San Diego at Old Town, and Pt Loma where we watch wonderful filming of people parasailing from the cliffs.

This program is sure to delight - we hope you are all there to enjoy!

Sherrie Lee Lucia & Anne Karakatsoulis, Travelogue Co-Coordinators

Speaker Series

Tuesday, 3/17 at 2:00 pm

Let’s Take an Arizona Route 66 Road Trip!

Celebrate the Route 66 Centennial with Roger Naylor. Route 66 turns 100 years old in 2026 and author and travel writer Roger Naylor will discuss the Mother Road’s history and cultural significance. Arizona is the state that saved Route 66 and Naylor will tell that remarkable story. Learn about the astounding scenery, small town getaways, and mom-and-pop eateries that are still found along the Arizona portion of the Mother Road. If the Grand Canyon is the heart of Arizona, then Route 66 is the main artery.

Roger Naylor is an award-winning Arizona author. He has been the freelance travel writer for the Arizona Republic since 2007 and has been in love with Arizona since arriving as a wide-eyed college student. 

He has  authored  several  books and was inducted  into the 

Field Trips

Watch for a few short-notice field trips coming up for the month of March. We are trying to wrap up the "season" with as many field trips as possible before we "lose" vour seasonal residents.

Please consider becoming a field trip leader. We have some members who have stepped up and are now "in training".  They are joining other field trip leaders on their trips as observers before leading their own trips.

Monica Parker, Field Trip Chair

Photo Opportunities

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

Canon 5D Mark III Camera

Professional workhorse camera, durable, with excellent image quality. Dual card slots, 22.3 MP, 61 point autofocus, 6 fps continuous shooting, high quality full frame sensor. 

Price: $400.00

Contact Denise LeCount O'Brien at 309-830-0177 or rurt2dede@gmail.com

Mackie EM-91CU+ Microphone

      Including:

• Auray OMPF-33 Pop Screen
• Desktop stand with weighted base

Price: $50.00

Contact Danny Valenzuela at 602-568-5759 or dvsundevil@gmail.com

Sony Camera and Lens Package

• Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Digital Camera Body - 24MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor, BIONZ X Image Processor & Front-End LSI, 693-Point Hybrid AF System, UHD 4K30p Video with HLG & S-Log3 Gammas. Shutter count 8686.

• Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens: Combining impressive optical performance with lightweight, compact convenience, the 28-70mm Lens makes an ideal everyday lens. The popular 28–70 mm zoom range covers a variety of uses, from landscapes to portraits and snapshots. Built-in Optical Steady Shot image stabilization keeps images sharp and noise-free.

Like new condition. Both completely inspected and serviced by Tucson Camera. Meet at the club to view.

Price: $1,300.00

Contact Joy Coffaro at 425-306-1188 or info@joycoffarophotography.com

Various camera bags and large Amazon Basic hard shell travel case

Meet at the club to view. 

Price: Best offer.

Contact Joy Coffaro at 425-306-1188 or info@joycoffarophotography.com

Canon DV D Camcorder Kit

DC20/DC10 Manual, Digital Video Software, All cords, 7 blank DVD-R, Canon Wireless Controller WL-D86 & camera bag. Purchased at Best Buy 4-15-2006 for $726.07 and have the original receipt. I know it sounds silly but it is like new! I hope someone can enjoy!

Price: $100.

Call or text Diane Watts at 616-581-0052

Sony Cyber-shot

7.2 mega pixels with Sony battery charger Digital Camera

Price: $150

Call or text Diane Watts at 616-581-0052

Canon PowerShot SD 750 Digital Camera ELPH

Original Box with all guides & Digital Camera Solution Disk. Direct Print User guide. Purchased at Norman Cameras – Grand Rapids MI  6-8-2007 – Have original receipt.

Price: $200

Call or text Diane Watts at 616-581-0052

Canon PowerShot SD 750 Digital Camera ELPH

Original Box with all guides & Digital Camera Solution Disk. Direct Print User guide. Purchased at Norman Cameras – Grand Rapids MI  6-8-2007 – Have original receipt.

Price: $200

Call or text Diane Watts at 616-581-0052

FujiFilm Digital Camera

Fine Pix XP130 Series - water proof and shock proof in original box

Price: $200

Call or text Diane Watts at 616-581-0052 

Imperial Reflex 620 Vintage Box Camera

Price: $25

Call or text Diane Watts at 616-581-0052

Kodak Automatic 8 Movie Camera

Vintage 8mm featuring electric eye.

Price: $20 in original box

Call or text Diane Watts at 616-581-0052 

Do you have any used photography equipment that you want to sell or are looking for 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 25th 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 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 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. 

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