In Focus: June 2024
This e-newsletter contains OPCC events, reminders, and news and will be published on the first Sunday of each month. Please send contributions to the newsletter to opcc4news@gmail.com. Contributions are due at noon on the Friday before publication, but if time permits, we will attempt to accommodate late contributions.
NEWS
OPCC Final Curtain Call Scheduled for Dec 2024
After much soul searching, many discussions, and considering a variety of alternatives, the board is planning to close down OPCC at the end of December. This difficult and sad decision has become inevitable due to dwindling membership, participation and volunteers.
Over the last few years, finding volunteers for key club positions has become increasingly difficult. COVID affected many things, including our club. Without volunteers, the Club cannot exist, let alone thrive.
The Board spent long hours exploring and discussing options. You may remember, earlier this year we held an open meeting with club members where we discussed alternatives and approaches. The best approach we found was to merge with our partner club, Olympia Camera Club (OCC). For a few years now, we have been sharing programs and costs with OCC for outside speakers, as well as holding a few joint field trips.
Merger talks are underway, with details being worked out. We expect that there will be a “chapter” of the OCC here on the Peninsula, with activities organized through OCC. We anticipate speaker night and share nights will continue via Zoom. The local chapter could also organize local field trips, occasional social events, small gatherings for group image shares, and other activities.
Plans include all current OPCC members will receive a free one-year membership in OCC for 2025.
PSA Interclub Round 3 Results
The results from Round 3 of the Inter-club results have been announced, and OPCC made a good showing in all three divisions we entered.
This annual competition comprises 3 Rounds. After the final round, here’s where we stand in each Division:
5th out of 20 Clubs in Color, Group E
18th out of 32 Clubs in Monochrome, Group D
3rd out of 30 Clubs in Nature, Group C
These successes are of due to the many wonderful images that OPCC members entered for consideration. Thank you to all the Club members who entered, and special congratulations to the following Round 3 award winners:
Marian Bodart, Color Division, “Winter Stillness” - Merit Award
Suzanne Anaya, Color Division, “Varied Thrush” - Merit Award
Bruce Fryxell, Monochrome Division, “Penetrating Stare” - Honorable Mention
Peg Hanson, Nature Division, “Catch Me If You Can” - Merit Award
Suzanne Anaya, Nature Division ,”Kit Siblings at Play” - Merit Award
Witta Priester, Nature Division, “Wait For Me Momma” - Merit Award
Bruce Fryxell, Nature Division, “A Mother’s Love” - Honorable Mention
Poems and Photos
From Kevin Talbot:
Thanks to all who contributed photos for collaborating with the Olympic Peninsula Authors (OPA) group for the "Poems and Photos" project. We had 40 photos submitted in total — 24 from OPCC and 16 from Olympia Camera Club. Heidi Hanson of the OPA group set a deadline of June 21 for their submissions. We can probably arrange a joint Zoom meeting where the authors can present their poems.
Clallam County Fair Photo Competition
It is time to start thinking about this year’s Clallam County Fair, which will be held from Aug 15-18. The rules for the Photo Competition have changed considerably from last year. This year’s rules can be found by clicking HERE. They will also be posted to our website. Pictures can be dropped off at the fairground on August 11-12.
We will need volunteers to operate the photo barn, and a sign-up sheet will be posted to the website in the near future.
SPEAKER SERIES
Christian Heeb - How I Became a Travel Photographer - June 20, 2024, 7:00 PM
Come travel the world with Christian Heeb. Christian trained as an Architect in his hometown in Switzerland before he pursued a professional photographic career in Germany. He and his wife have worked and photographed in more than 90 countries. Christian is the author of more than 200 coffee table books. Today he has dual citizenship, US and Switzerland, and permanent residency in Mexico. Christian will discuss his insights and will show images from his vast archive of travel photographs.
Field Trips and Workshops
From Kevin Talbot:
Seabeck
Daniel Mulkey has stepped up to help organize a few field trips. The first trip will be our annual visit to Seabeck to photograph the Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons feeding on the local fish. He's reviewed the Seabeck info and tentatively picked Tuesday, June 18th (low tide is 0.3 feet at 9:20am). We will probably want to be there not long after sunrise while the tide is going out. He won't be in town to lead it, but look for an email soon to confirm and make proposals on carpooling.
Port Angeles Underground
Daniel Mulkey is also working to organize a group trip on the Port Angeles Underground Tour for June or July. Look for an email survey soon to see who's interested and preferences on the day and time (tour choices are Friday or Saturday at either 10am or 2pm).
Annual Picnic
Save the date. Our Annual Picnic will be held at Salt Creek on August 24 from 11:00 to 2:00. The club will provide hot dogs and hamburgers. The rest will be potluck. Watch for more information.
NWCCC News
From Stephen Shoff:
2024 NWCCC Traveling Image Salon
Voting is open now for June. This month OPCC is voting on images from The Seattle Photographic Society. To view and vote for the images, click HERE and follow the appropriate links. Each month's voting must be completed by the 25th of the month. For “judging” and voting instructions, please review the first several paragraphs of the “Overview of the NWCCC Traveling Salon” on the web page. Please remember to vote.
NWCCC Annual Conference
The NWCCC Annual Conference is still tentatively scheduled for the Saturdays of November 9 or November 16. The Salon contest Rules and Guidelines are being reviewed and are anticipated to be announced in late July. They are working on improving communications.
Traveling Print Salon
The NWCCC Print director has requested feedback on the level of interest for resuming the Traveling Print Salon. The entry rules are likely to be revised to reduce the size of images that could be handled using mailers rather than large prints that need shipping boxes. Please let me know either by conversaton or by e-mail (sshoff.cp@gmail.com) if you would be interested in resuming participation in a Traveling Print salon.