President's Message
SCVPA President’s Message
December 2023
As we close in on another year, I just wanted to say a few things, sort of a reflection on 2023.
We took our first overnight trip of the year in March when we went to the Salton Sea, several members went along and we got some really good images. We had day trips to the Descanso Gardens and Placerita Nature Center where we saw Marcelo being chased by a turtle!
Our May Digital Image Competition saw Helen Henry win Best of Show for her image titled “Perfect Light for Flight”
We held a workshop at the clubhouse where were made 10 different portraits with one light. We also held a workshop where we made portraits with a pizza box and a white balloon!
In August we had our Hit Me With Your Best Shot Competition which was won by Rodrigo Aberllo and was judged by Ted Dayton.
In October we went on our “Fall Colors” trip up to Bishop Creek Area where again we got some amazing images, some of which you’ll see at our first meeting of the year on January 9th.
In November Bob Driver won Best of Show for “The King”, an awesome image of a lion which scored a 100!
December saw a great showing at the “Christmas Party” where we had almost 30 in attendance! Marcelo Del Valle won the “On Location” Photographer of the Year!
Speaking of On Location - we start up again on Monday, our first On Location is the San Buenaventura Mission located at 211 E Main St. Ventura CA 93001. This was the 9th and last mission consecrated by Saint Junipero Serra. Founded on March 31, 1782 and has never closed!
Monday, January 1, 2024 we will start a new “52 Week Photo Challenge”, Every Monday I will announce the new challenge for the week. I’ll leave it up to you but I’d like to see you go out and shoot the challenge then post the image instead of pulling images from your files…the purpose of the challenge’s is to get your camera off the shelf and into your hands so you can practice the craft of photography. I have come up with new and hopefully exciting challenges that I hope you will enjoy.
If I am re-elected again in May, that will begin my 10th year as president of the SCVPA, I really cannot believe how fast these 10 years have flown by, I am also grateful for the friendships I have made during my tenor as president. I look forward to leading the club again and for the adventures that we may have this year, trips are planned to the Lava Tubes in February, Red Rock Canyon/Fossil Falls, Alabama Hills, Eureka Dunes in Death Valley, San Pedro Harbor Village, Bristlecone Pines, Cambria - Hearst Castle, Bishop Creek - Crowley Lake, the Racetrack in Death Valley.
There will be workshops - flash photography, portrait, dog photography, and others.
In January our guest speaker will be Amanda Thompson and her topic will be photographing the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve. And in February, Ronny Vanvoorhis will talk about iPhone Photography and his book in which all images are made with an iPhone.
We will have our Spring (May) and Fall (November) digital image competitions, our Hit Me With Your Best Shot (August) Competition and our On Location - Photographer of the Year contest.
So there is a lot going on in 2024 and I hope you will join us and really get involved with the club. This way we will all grow as photographers.
In closing I’d like to say Happy New Year 2024 should be great!
Kevin