Hello PSRI, and welcome back to what is shaping up to be another very exciting year for our club! I hope you have all had a great summer, and I am looking forward to seeing all of the images that you have crafted during our summer break. Our first meeting is Tuesday, September 11 where we welcome the club back. This informal meeting will be a great way to get back into the swing of things, to find out where the club is going, reconnect with some old friends and make some new ones, and I hope to see you all there!
As in years past this season is all about advancing the craft and art of photography. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned professional this year’s lineup of events is sure to kindle your passion and challenge your skills. We have presenters coming in from California, Virginia, New York and New Jersey to speak at the club. Additionally, we have several local photographers who will be doing Tuesday night presentations, who will then lead hands on workshops in areas like Seascape and Portrait photography! Our image competitions are always a part of the year, and this year we will have a new digital upload system that is designed to make your submission simple and worry free! A new digital scoring system for our judges to use will make life a lot easier on the judges and the PSRI folks who work so hard to make your competition experience a pleasure. Mentoring nights have always been tremendously popular, and this year will be no exception. So show up, sit down, and strap in because you are in for one heck of a ride!
One of the most important things about our club is our ability to share. Of all the people I have worked with in life, I find that photographers are the most likely, and most excited to share. Stories, tips, tricks, techniques, all of it. Have you ever said to a photographer “Great shot, how did you do it?” and not gotten an excited response? For the seasoned members of the group I encourage you to keep up the great job you do year in and year out of mentoring, and I challenge you to take it to the next level. For the new members of the club I encourage you to ask questions and get involved with the club. If you see an image you like, approach the creator. Engage with them, and learn. In my mind three of the most powerful words are “I don’t know”. Once you say that phrase to yourself, push youryself to find an answer.
While the calendar of events is looking pretty good, we have intentionally left several openings so that we can schedule the types of events that YOU are most interested in. To help us identify what aspects of photography you are interested please take a moment to fill out a quick and simple survey!
I look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday night!
Mike Dooley
President, PSRI