September 2026

From the President...

Okay, where has August gone? It seems like, in the blink of an eye, we have another month approaching and that means it’s almost fall. We have a long way to go before it feels like fall around Green Valley.

My last place to visit for the summer is Bisbee. The first thing I have learned is that Bisbee is located in the Mule Mountains, That is not a mountain range that I have heard mentioned before. The town is located just 11 miles from the Arizona-Mexico border. Miners searching for copper found that the mountains were rich in gold and silver, too. The veins of turquoise that were discovered were named Bisbee Blue. Bisbee remained an active mining town until the 1970’s. The arts community then got busy and kept Bisbee from becoming a ghost town. With a population of 4,923 (2020 census) it is the county seat of Cochise County. The town is named after Judge DeWitt Bisbee, who was one of the financial backers of the Copper Queen Mine. Go on a tour of the Copper Queen Mine, traveling 1,500 feet into the mine. Stop in and have a drink at St. Elmo’s or the Room 4 Bar. They are Arizona’s oldest and smallest bars. Take the side streets to explore the murals and art alleys.

Fun fact: The town of Snowflake has nothing to do with precipitation. It was founded in 1878 by Morman pioneers and colonizers Erastus Snow and William Jordan Flake.

Club news: I’m sure that you have been getting eBlasts for the Film Festival and Photo Contest. We have been getting quite a few entries but would love to see more coming in. The submission deadline for both events is September 15.

The videos will be shown at Desert Hills, while the selected photos will be displayed at Las Companas. You have plenty of time to consider participating in one, or both, of these events.

As part of GVR’s “One Big Event”, they are holding a golf tournament on Saturday, November 7th. All of the clubs have been asked to sponsor a hole for this event and we are participating in sponsoring a hole. With that in mind, we will need two volunteers. There will be a small table and two chairs at the tee box. Setup time is 7:30am and the event should be over by 1:00pm. The club will provide you with brochures and other items for the table. Lunch will be provided by GVR, after the event, at the East Center. The tournament is being held at the Haven Golf Course. If you are interested, let me know (ck.holmes@sbcglobal.net).

If you have a new class that you would like us to start, let Jim Gardner know. Better yet would be if you are willing to teach that class. We are always looking for new topics, but we need members that are willing to volunteer to conduct them. I know that can be a tough ask, but think about it. Our club is only as good as our volunteers.

Speaking of volunteers, Tom Parker is always looking for field trip leaders. Think about helping with this as we start getting busier this fall. The field trip committee has been busy coming up with new locations, but we need some help leading them.

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

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, Matt 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 to Facebook page your vacation photos and fall photos. Submit your photos to suready@yahoo.com.

Sue Ready, Facebook Coordinator

Photo of the Month

Enjoy the amazing bird photography from Denise O'Brien.

"The field Trip to Patagonia could not have been better. The weather was remarkably cool, and the Patton Center looked great. The volunteers have worked really hard over the past few years, and it shows. It was a great day to add to our life lists on Merlin. I added Lazuli Bunting to mine. I used a Canon R5, 100-400 mm lens with an extender for this bird image.

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

The fall season is just around the corner at the club! We are working hard to update the SIG web pages, so you will be in the loop about what each group is up to and what they are aiming for.

We are also planning to add some classes throughout the season that cater to everyone’s needs and passions. For instance, Jim Lehman is excited about the possibility of film photography classes and would love to share his knowledge with all interested members. As we create these classes, we will keep you informed via email about meeting details.

If there’s something you are interested in that is currently offered, please reach out to me (Jim Gardner, jgardner65@comcast.net) and we ’ll do our best to make it happen!

Have a fantastic summer, and I ’ll catch you this fall!

Jim Gardner, Education Chair

Library News

Help Create a Lasting Memory 

September is the start of school and with that the plans for school pictures. It is a growing trend to have senior pictures taken outside a formal studio setting, often by a non-professional photographer. Maybe you have been asked to use your skills.

An outdoor or indoor setting or activity of the boy or girl can be an informal pose instead of formal. Sports, hobbies, pets, events, etc. are common poses.

The books in the GVR Photography Club Library offer techniques, tips, and examples of portrait photography. Look through the portrait, nature, street photography, black & White, lighting, IPhone, digital, composition, and creative/art. And don’t forget the many Photoshop books that can help enhance your photos.

Have fun helping a teen create a lasting memory of their senior year of school.

Speaking of books. HELP! My goal is to have the Library totally organized, with a catalog, by January 1. You may start to see a few outdated or irrelevant books on the top of bookcase and labeled FREE. I have been waiting to get more new books for the shelves — very little of the 2026 Library budget has been used. I need ideas for new titles! Please, if you facilitate a SIG, think of some titles that can supplement what you are teaching. Send me an email with your requests.

As we look forward to cooler days,

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 October 12, 2026.  Check the Club Calendar for meeting specifics 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

Calling all video makers,

To quote tropical troubadour Gene Mitchell:

I’m going on vacation, going on vacation, got my suitcase packed.

I’m going on vacation and never, never, ever coming back...

Relax — I’m kidding. When you’re retired, isn’t every day basically a vacation anyway.

Wherever you wander — across the street or across the ocean — you’re probably snapping photos and shooting video. Which means you already have everything you need to make a great video. Don’t let that footage sit there gathering digital dust.

If you get stuck, confused, overwhelmed, or just want company, swing by our Monday morning SIG. We’ll help you with iMovie, Clipchamp, DaVinci, Premiere, Final Cut Pro — whatever fits your style. They’re all great, and I need fresh videos for SHOWTIME.

Now go. Shoot. Edit. Repeat.

Todd F Taylor, Showtime Host

Travelogue

Can you believe summer is almost over! Seems like it barely began. We’ve got some fun things in the works and still have plenty of room for videos of your recent travels. Our first Travelogue this season will be Tuesday Nov 10, 2 pm at Desert Hills. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Send your videos 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:

• Thursday 09/10/2026 – Bird/Nature Photography: Agua Caliente Park (rescheduled from 08/27/26)
• Thursday 09/10/2026 – Sunset with the Bats – Campbell Ave Bridge
• Saturday 09/19/2026 – Skydive Arizona: Women’s Upright World Record Training Camp
• Tuesday 09/22/2026 – Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum
• Friday 09/25/2026 – Rolling Thru Time Auto Museum
• Saturday 09/26/2026 – Odaiko Sonora Taiko Drums Behind-the-Scenes
• Thursday 10/15/2026 – Bird/Nature Photography: The Paton Center for Hummingbirds
• Monday 10/19/2026 – Bird/Nature Photography: Peña Blanca Lake
• Tuesday 10/20/2026 – Skydive Arizona – World Skydiving Championships
• Saturday 10/24/2026 – Tucson Celtic Festival and Highland Games
• Tuesday 11/03/2026 – Bird/Nature Photography: Rancho Santa Cruz & Santa Gertrudis Lane
• Saturday 11/07/2026 – Cowboy Festival at Empire Ranch
• Saturday 11/07/2026 – Native American Arts Fair at Mission Garden

As always, we’ve got other field trips in the works, so be watching for announcements throughout the month.

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 fun summer and safe travels wherever your journeys may take you!

Tom Parker, Field Trip Chair

Photo Opportunities

The days are getting cooler, so the festival, fair, and rodeo season is starting to warm up. Highlights include Oktoberfests in Sierra Vista and Sahuarita, rodeos and county fairs in Sonoita and Douglas, a lantern festival in Benson, a Chile Festival at various locations, and the usual shoot-‘em-up action in Tombstone. Additionally, the Presidio San Agustin has resumed its walking tours.

Finally, don’t forget to enjoy free entrance to the National Parks on September 26 as part of National Public Lands Day. Learn more here. 

Grab your camera, smartphone, or other favorite digital device and take some great shots.

Historic Canoa Ranch

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

Colossal Cave Mountain Park

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

Titan Missile Museum

• Thursdays to Mondays, 9:45 am to 5:00 pm – prices vary, online reservations required
• 1580 W Duval Mine Road, Green Valley, AZ
• Find more information here.

Tucson 17^th Annual Comic-Con

• Sep 4-6, Fri 2:00-7:00 pm, Sat 10:00 am-6:00 pm, Sun 10:00 am-5:00 pm – prices vary
• Tucson Convention Center, 260 South Church Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Mainly Murals Walking Tour

• Sep 5, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm – $35, registration required
• Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 North Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Annual Showdown in Tombstone

• Sep 5-6, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm - Free
• 311 East Allen Street, Tombstone, AZ
• Find more information here.

Sonoita Labor Day Rodeo

• Sep 5-7, Gates open at 10:00 am, junior rodeo at noon, main event at 2:00 pm – $17
• Sonoita Fairgrounds, 3142 South Highway 83, Sonoita, AZ
• Find more information here.

Summer Night Market

• Sep 5, 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Free
• Old Tucson, 201 South Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

24^th Annual Roasted Chile Festival

• Sep 11-13, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm daily, locations vary - Free
• Various locations in Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Sierra Vista Oktoberfest

• Sep 11-12, Fri 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm, Sat 11:00 am - 11:00 pm, Sun 11:00 am - 5:30 pm - Free
• Veterans Memorial Park, 3105 East Fry Boulevard, Sierra Vista, AZ
• Find more information here.

Sunset Historical Tours at Mescal Movie Set

• Sep 12 and 26, 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm – $20, reservations required
• Mescal Movie Set, 1538 North Mescal Road, Benson AZ
• Find more information here.

Mexican Independence Day

• Sep 12, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm – Free
• Presidio San Agustin Museum, 196 North Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Vigilante Sunday

• Sep 13 & 27, 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm - Free

• 311 East Allen Street, Tombstone, AZ
• Find more information here.

Santa Cruz County Fair

• Sep 18-20, Gates open at 9:00 am - events, times and costs vary
• Sonoita Fairgrounds, 3142 South Highway 83 Sonoita, AZ
• Find more information here.

9^th Annual Lantern Festival

• Sep 19, 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm – prices vary

• San Pedro Golf Course, 926 North Madison Avenue, Benson, AZ
• Find more information here.

Hummingbird Banding at the San Pedro House

• Sep 19, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm – Free
• San Pedro House Visitor Center, 9800 East Highway 90, Sierra Vista, AZ
• Find more information here.

Barrio Viejo (Old Neighborhood) Walking Tour

• Sep 20, 9:30 am to 11:30 am – $35, registration required
• Rosendo Perez Park, 424 South Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ
• Find more information here.

102^nd Annual Cochise County Fair

• Sep 24-27, times, events and fees vary, rodeo at 6:00 pm Fri and Sat
• Cochise County Fair Grounds, 3677 North Leslie Canyon Road, Douglas, AZ
• Find more information here.

Sahuarita Oktoberfest

• Sep 25, 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Free
• Sahuarita Lake Park, 15466 South Rancho Sahuarita Boulevard, Sahuarita, AZ
• Find more information here.

Murals and More of the 4^th Avenue District

• Sep 27, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm – $35, registration required
• Corbett’s, 340 North 6^th Avenue, 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:

EOS Rebel SL1/100D, 18.0 megapixels

Excellent condition

I would be glad to meet with you and provide accessories.

I loved this camera but am traveling less and no longer using it.

Make offer.

Nancy Martin

nancytmartin@aol.com 520-207-0406

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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