RPS January 8th Meeting - Speaker: Greg Strelecki

Speaker: Greg Strelecki has been a teacher of photographic art for many years. He earned his BFA in Photography at the Art Center College of Design. For the past 11 years, Greg has been the Image Department Chairman at The Creative Circus in Atlanta. Before that he taught photography at The Portfolio Center in Atlanta for 5 years. Greg has been a speaker at Photo Expo East in New York City and has judged many photography shows. Greg is also a master at traditional black & white printing. He lives in Madison, Georgia.

http://www.gregstrelecki.com/

Printed materials from the January 8th presentation at RPS can be found here.

RPS January 22nd Photo Review - Judge: Rion Rizzo

Theme: Open

Judge: Rion Rizzo has more than 20 years of experience in architectural photography, and his hands-on approach and creative style has earned his work many awards and accolades. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Rion is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology and a member of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), the Architectural Photographers Specialty Group (APSG), and an Allied Member of the Atlanta Institute of Architects.

http://www.creativesources.com

RPS February 5th Meeting - Speaker: Larry Winslett

Speaker: Larry Winslett is a nature photographer and passionate environmentalist who has chronicled the natural world in many parts of North America. His photography has focused on the protection of native biodiversity and its habitats and has been featured in a variety of publications such as Sierra, Wilderness and Wild Mountain Times. His work can also be seen in four permanent exhibits at Stone Mountain Park and his presentation to RPS will feature a slide show about shooting at the Park.

http:// www.larrywinslett.com

Deliver 8x10 Entries for Expressions of Light Show (at meeting on Feb 5th or at RVAC on Saturday Feb 10th).

RPS February 26th Photo Review - Judge: Patrick Williams

Theme: Vintage/Open

Judge: Patrick Williams is a local professional photographer. It was in his senior year of high school that Patrick.discovered black and white photography…he spent hours and hours (and more hours) in the darkroom at Stone Mountain High School.

In college he started shooting professionally and paid for his college degree shooting events. By the time Patrick graduated at 23, he had already shot over 700 events and been published worldwide. When he finally graduated, it was time to get a ‘real job'. So, he sold all of his photo equipment and quietly walked away from photography in pursuit of the perfect job.

After five unhappy years in corporate America, he left his job and ‘found' photography again. Ever since then he has been making up for lost time….with a passion!

He still shoots many weddings and events every year, but also freelances for magazines, shows in galleries, shoots portraits and spends a ton of time on the computer exploring the latest programs available for digital photographers.

For a look at Patrick's work, visit his websites at http:// www.patwilphoto.com and http://www.theartisinthedetails.com.

RPS March 5th Meeting - Speaker: Charles Needle

Speaker: Charles Needle is a longtime RPS member (and presenter/judge), Charles teaches over a dozen workshops per year nationwide and abroad. (He will be teaching a more in-depth 1-day workshop on digital slide show production on Saturday, March 3rd from 10 am to 4 pm at his home in Alpharetta. More information at http://www.charlesneedlephoto.com/workshops.html

Charles is also an award-winning fine art and editorial nature photographer with a unique eye for design and artistic interpretation. He is a charter member of NANPA (The North American Nature Photography Association), Fujifilm USA Talent Team member, and represented by two stock agencies. His images are also currently on display in 2 metro Atlanta REI stores.

This month's topic will be Creating Dazzling Digital Slide Shows, and the talk will include a multi-media digital slideshow set to music. In addition, Charles will discuss slideshow software, digitally processing, editing & sequencing images, as well as digital projectors and projector color calibration for slideshows.

To learn more about Charles and his work, visit his website, http://www.charlesneedlephoto.com

RPS March 19th Photo Review - Judge: Frank Gibson

Theme: Roswell

Judge: Frank Gibson is a rare native of Atlanta and graduated from the Atlanta School of Photography. Although for a number of years his livelihood was generated through the field of graphic arts, he never completely gave up his passion for, and pursuit of, photography.

His career as a full-time professional photographer began eight years ago when he shot a wedding without telling the customer. Rave reviews for his unique style, led to the establishment of his own business and he has never looked back.

In addition to having shot over 260 weddings from Chicago to Florida, he is in much demand as an event photographer. In 2005, he was the host committee’s only photographer for the G8 Summit held in Sea Island. He also shoots top-client events for the president of American Express as well as other functions.

Frank characterizes his work as “photojournalistic style action photography.” This compelling style of “ photographic story telling” has already led to a sold out calendar for 2007.

You can preview Frank’s terrific work at www.frankgibson.com

RPS April 2nd Meeting - Speaker: Jay Fletcher

Speaker: Jay Fletcher is a renowned photographer who graduated from Georgia State University with a BBA in marketing. But there is nothing academic about this self-taught artist with a unique style and an unrivaled eye for tone and texture.

Everything Jay does flows from the heart and demonstrates his undying passion for his art … a passion that was first ignited in High School when a teacher showed Jay how to make a pinhole camera from a shoe box. The shoe box is long gone, but the passion remains.

Jay has been creating incredible photographs for 26 years, providing his customers with incomparable works of art and priceless memories. His enduring love affair with photography manifests itself in each of his remarkable portraits, creating heirloom photographs that generations to come will cherish.

As well as being the leading black and white portraiture artist in the Southeast, Jay has also established a reputation as one of the most prestigious and creative photographers of his time. His inimitable portraits have earned the respect of his peers and captivated his clients, who include major political figures, Hollywood personalities, and many of the world’s rich and famous people.

In addition to being a successful photographer for 26 years, this native Atlantan has also built a thriving business through his studio, Fletcher Portrait Artist, which is located in the heart of uptown Atlanta.

If you love artists who pour their very souls into everything they do, you will love Jay’s uncompromising, heartfelt photography in the Passion of Life. This book possesses that special power to stir your emotions, touch your heart and invoke memories that move you to tears.

See Jay’s work at www.fletcherphotography.com and www.jayfletcherphotography.com. His studio is located in Buckhead at Phipps Plaza.

RPS April 16th Photo Review - Judge: Jefferson Collins

Theme: Open

Judge: Jefferson Collins was introduced to photography in his teens while majoring in Graphic Design in North Carolina. Upon graduation, he decided to pursue his interest in photography and design as a fulltimecareer path, and enrolled in the prestigious MFA program in Visual Communications at the Berlin University of the Arts. Receiving his MFA, Jefferson moved to New York City and pursued specialized studies in Advanced Lighting under Dan Rubin at the New School University/ParsonsSchool of Design.

Jefferson worked in New York for fourteen years on such diverse projects as photographing the cuisine and architecture of Vermont Country Inns, to fine art glass sculpture.

In addition to commercial assignments, Collins is currently active in Atlanta as a photographic educator, teaching professional courses at The Creative Circus, the Photography Center of Atlanta, as well as conducting his own European workshops in Prague, Czech Republic.

Jefferson has exhibited his fine-art photography in both solo and group exhibitions in Atlanta, Raleigh, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and San Diego, as well as Internationally in Berlin and Moscow.

For a look at his work, visit www.jeffersoncollins.com.

RPS May 7th Meeting

The Cherokee Photography Club was established as a social club with the goal of providing a forum for photographers of all levels, novice through professional, the opportunity to share with others their interests, ideas, experience, and passion for the art of photography.

This month, members of the CPC will share that passion with us in an informal, light-hearted, roundtable presentation. Using various media, including DVDs and Powerpoint, they will show their competition and award-winning images as well as offer commentary and memoirs about their shared photographic experiences. They have titled the program "Promoting Photography through Social Intervention." Bob Stewart and Kim Bates, founders of the club, have organized this unique program. Don't miss what promises to be entertaining evening. For more information on the club, please visit www.cherokeephotographyclub.com.

RPS May 21st Photo Review - Judge: Michael A. Schwarz

Theme: Silver

Judge: Michael A. Schwarz is an independent editorial, and corporate photojournalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. Over a 25-year career, Michael has completed more than 6,000 assignments for publications like USA Today, Fortune, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Sports Illustrated, Time, Newsweek, LIFE, National Geographic, The New York Times, National Geographic Traveler, U.S. News & World Report, Business Week and Forbes. His corporate clients have included The Home Depot, UPS and The Coca-Cola Company.

Michael is a 3-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, has received numerous awards from the Pictures of the Year competition and was a winner of the Dag Hammarskjöld Award for Human Rights Advocacy Journalism. LIFE Magazine chose Michael as one of the ten best young photographers in the U.S. He collaborated with writer Ellen Spears on the book "The Newtown Story: One Community's Fight for Environmental Justice.", published in 1998.

You can catch Michael around the U.S. as one of the lead teachers of the Nikon Digital School. Since 2002, Michael has contributed to the curriculum and presentation of this popular class. More than 10,000 people have attended his classes.

http://www.michaelschwarz.com

RPS June 4th Meeting - Speaker: Bill Fortney

Speaker: Bill Fortney is currently Nikon Professional Services' tech rep for the Southern US and Nikon's liaison person for the Nature Market. In the past he has been a high school teacher and football coach, AP Rep, medical photographer, and marketing relations person. In 1991, he and his wife Sherelene founded the "Great American Photography Weekends" and for over 12 years ran the field events for the company, including over 250 events in every major national park and in Africa and the Galapagos Islands.

You can find out much more about Mr. Fortney on his website, http://www.billfortney.net

RPS June 18th Photo Review - Judge: Audrey Goolrick

Theme: Open

Judge: Audrey Goolrick is a freelance architectural photographer who has worked on both the east and west coasts in the commercial and advertising fields and has been published in a number of magazines. She receieved her technical training in Photography at Nothern Virginia College then worked with E. Alan McGhee, one of the country's leading architectural photographers.

Audrey was recognized as one of the top 100 color photographers in the U.S. in three national competitions sponsored by Photographers Forum Magazine. She is currently awaiting the final results of an international competition in which she placed in the top 5% of over 23,000 entries.

For numerous years, she has taught at the Smithsonian Institution's Resident Associate Program, offering classes in Architectural Photography and compostion and design courses specifically for Photographers.

RPS July 2nd Meeting - Speaker: Craig Tanner

Speaker: Craig Tanner will be giving a presentation titled "From Ordinary to Extraordinary - Strategies for Dramatically Increasing your Creativity as a Photographer"

Based in part on Craig's Next Step Creativity Workshops, this presentation is about breaking with the convention that photography is a documentary process where we wait for or seek out the perfect conditions for a photograph. In this visually rich presentation Craig explores powerful techniques for transforming almost any subject matter, quality of light, or situation into a pathway for more creativity. The ideas presented in this class offer a variety of exciting tools and techniques for making your photography a more personal and inner-guided journey where potential photographic obstacles are converted into inspiration, creativity and beauty.

Visit his new online photography diary at: http://www.craigtannercreative.com/lightdiary/

Craig began photographing as a way to share his lifelong passion for landscapes and wilderness places. His photographs have appeared in numerous national and regional publications including Backpacker, Outdoor Photographer, Landscape Architecture and Unique Homes.

He also produces advertising photography for major corporations and his fine art images are widely collected and exhibited.

For more information on Craig’s outstanding background, visit: http://www.craigtannercreative.com.

RPS July 16th Photo Review - Judge: Bard Wrisley

Theme: Open

Our judge for July’s photo review is Bard Wrisley. The theme this month is self-portrait.

Bard Wrisley, a native of Atlanta, has devoted his career to photographic excellence since 1975. He has had the opportunity to make portraits of hundreds of fascinating people from world leaders such as the Dalai Lama, President Jimmy Carter and Andrew Young to almost every CEO of Georgia’s top corporations including Coca Cola, Bell South, Turner Broadcasting among many others. He has also photographed many dignitaries in Atlanta’s art world.

In addition to corporate work, Bard serves the individual and family fine art and portrait market with his business The Legacy Portrait.

Active in the world community, Wrisley donates his time and talents to such causes as the Upper Chattahoochee River Keeper Association, The Depung Loseling Monestary Sacred Music/Sacred Dance, The Tibetan Children’s Village, and Camp Sunshine. Professionally, he has been very active in the American Society of Media Photographers Southeast Chapter since 1980.

Bard’s personal dream, now in the works, is a book titled Portraits of Wisdom that will share stories told by 100 men, women and, in some cases, children, whose keen insights can inspire others.

For more information, visit Bard’s websites: www.bard-images.com and www.legacyportrait.com

RPS August 6th Meeting - Speaker: Mark Alberhasky’s

Speaker: Mark Alberhasky’s passion for photography spans more than 30 years. As contributing photographer to Nikon, commercial clients, and international publications, his images are driven by special light and strong graphic design. Camera in hand, Mark is comfortable chest deep in water off the coast of Venezuela to capture a windsurfer or inches away from a sterile operating field in an operating room. When not behind the camera, Mark is a physician in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Earlier this year, Prix de la Photographie Paris awarded Mark a third prize in Photojournalism for his entry titled “Portraits of Early Human Life.”

International travel provides an ever-changing background in which he finds inspiration. A Nikon mentor to the American PHOTO trek series, image Master for OxO Software, contributor to Lowepro and consultant for HP, he teaches and speaks internationally.

You can view his work at www.imagema.com and “google” him for a look at his impressive photographic accomplishments and contributions.

RPS August 20th Photo Review - Judge: Peggy Cozart

Theme: Open

Judge: Peggy Cozart has worked as a freelance photographer since 1989, shooting for numerous publications, agencies and corporations. She also taught at the Showcase school of Photography for nine years. This January Cozart took on her latest role as director of communications for the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association.

Last chance to drop off proofs for RPS Fall Show.

RPS September 10th Meeting - Speaker: Perry Dilbeck

Our speaker for September will be award-winning photographer and nationally acclaimed Georgia Author of the Year, Perry Dilbeck.

Dilbeck, a native of McDonough, Georgia, became interested in photography at the early age of fifteen. Throughout his college years, he earned an Associate of Arts degree from The Art Institute of Atlanta, a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Georgia State University, and a Masters of Fine Arts degree from Savannah College of Art and Design - all in photography. He has spent several years as a freelance commercial photographer with many large corporate clients in the metropolitan Atlanta area. For nearly eight years now, Dilbeck has been a photography instructor at The Art Institute of Atlanta.

For the past ten years Dilbeck has worked on a series of black and white images entitled - The Last Harvest-Truck Farmers in the Deep South which tells the story of the fading lifestyle of Southern truck farmers. Photographed primarily with simple plastic cameras called Holgas, this work has been published worldwide in many photo magazines. Images from this series have been collected nationally and exhibited in galleries throughout the United States.

Perry Dilbeck has achieved much recognition for his work and was most recently awarded Georgia Author of the Year for The Last Harvest-Truck Farmers in the Deep South. He also received an artist sponsorship from Blue Earth Alliance in Seattle, WA. In addition to this, in 2006 the National Geographic Society-All Roads Project nominated The Last Harvest project honorable mention. The Texas Photographic Society awarded Dilbeck a fellowship in 2004 and he was also named a Vision 2003 Award Winner from the Santa Fe Center for Visual Arts. In addition, Perry was awarded a sabbatical from The Art Institute of Atlanta for Summer 2003.

Visit www.perrydilbeck.com for more information and a look at his evocative images.

RPS September 17th Photo Review - Judge: Valerie A. Dibble

Theme: Smooth

Judge: Valerie A. Dibble has been an Assistant Professor of Art Digital Photography and Printmaking at Kennesaw State University since 1999. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Arizona State University, Tempe and a Master of Fine Arts in printmaking at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. She has taught dozens of courses including Art History, Dimensional Design and Digital Imaging, and Advanced Study in Printmaking. She has been awarded the Distinguished Teacher, Distinguished Scholar and Distinguished Service awards. She has also received a Governor's Teaching fellowship and numerous grants. Professor Dibble is also the owner and operator of Studio "D" fine art printmaking. Her own work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, publications and is included in many collections. Visit her website at www.valeriedibble.com for more information about her, and a gallery of her impressive work.

RPS October 1st Meeting - Speaker: John Clemmer

Speaker: John Clemmer has been an active member of RPS since 2004 and he is our guest speaker this month. John is a professional photographer shooting architecture, portraits, stock, and magazine work. His presentation is titled “Tips, Tricks, Techniques and Whatever”. No Photoshop or any other image altering software will be discussed, only ways to get results directly with a camera. John has been very creative with image making, and he will share this knowledge with us. Some of these tips and tricks will include how to shoot jewelry and other small products, the advantages of large windows, still life lighting with simple tools, textured images and iron-ons, and a few more. Most of the lighting equipment and accessories John will demonstrate can be found at places like Home Depot, Sam Flax and Dick Blick. John loves to share his knowledge, so be there with questions and pad & pencil!!

RPS October 15th Photo Review - Judge: Mike Moreland

Theme: Open

Judge: Our judge for this month is Mike Moreland, a professional photographer here in Roswell. Since launching Moreland Photography in 1985, Mike has gained worldwide acclaim as an artistic and innovative photographer. An Atlanta native, Mike received his Bachelor of Science degree in Commercial photography from the prestigious Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. Civic-minded and professionally connected, he is a member of Wedding & Portrait Photographers International, Atlanta Wedding Guild, Roswell Wedding Council, American Society of Media Photographers, Professional Photographers of America, and Nikon Professional Services.

Expert in several areas of photography, Mike’s work can be seen inside, as well as on the covers, of many national magazines including Women’s World, Redbook, Home, Better Homes and Gardens, Victorian Home, and Country Home. McGraw Hill recently published a 200 page coffee table book featuring Mike’s architectural work. He and his work have been featured in Rangefinder and Around Roswell magazines. Check out his website www.morelandphoto.com for a look at his work, and a list of his many awards.

RPS November 5th Meeting - Speaker: Ron Sherman

Our speaker for November is Ron Sherman. He will share images, insights and lessons from his 40 years as a professional photographer.

Ron has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a master of Arts in Communication from Syracuse University. He has been published in major national magazines including Time, Life, Newsweek, Business Week, Forbes and Sports Illustrated. Among his many corporate clients are IBM, Bell South, Coca-Cola and Eastman Kodak. Ron has completed photographic assignments on over 125 college and university campuses throughout the United States and Canada. He has a stock library of more than 100,000 color images which are leased for a variety of purposes. A yearly Atlanta calendar is published by BrownTrout and two hardcover Atlanta photographic books have been produced by Longstreet Press. He has been profiled by a number of photography publications and is listed in Who’s Who in America.

For more information on Ron and to view his incredible portfolio, visit www.ronsherman.com.

RPS November 19th Photo Review - Judge: John Mariana

Theme: Vintage/Vehicles

(Note that "Vintage" means the image could have been taken at any time in the photographer's life, "Vehicles" means the subject is any land vehicle. The vehicles do not have to be vintage.)

Our judge for November is John Mariana.

In 1980 John started using photography in connection to his art background to create color images. By 1984 black and white prints became his specialty. Today, John uses photography to create fine art black and white and color prints expressing his thoughts and artistic vision.

Until 1990, 35 mm was his preferred film format. Today, John uses medium format, large format negatives and digital files to bring a new and different look to his work. A uniqueness of composition, contrasts, colors and tomes comes from formal art training beginning at age 11. Formal art courses continued through his undergraduate studies. Although photography was not the first medium used as an expression of creativity, the early artistic training combined with photography gives his images a unique visual and emotional presentation.

Studies with such noted photographers as Howard Bond, John Sexton and Dan Anderson provided training in the style of photography taught by Ansel Adams in the Owens Valley Workshops.

John was president of the Chicago Area Camera Clubs Association in 1990, an organization of 40 clubs. He served as chairman of the Chicago Area Photographic School from 1986 to 1990.

John also co-founded the not-for-profit American Photographic Academy dedicated to Education In The Art Of Photography and provided two-day workshops with John Sexton, Jerry Ulesmann and others.

John is an excellent teacher and conducts numerous programs and in-the-field workshops throughout the United States.

For a complete schedule and a look at his stunning images, visit his website at www.jmariana.com.

RPS December Meeting

Note: No meeting in December. See RPS Annual Holiday Party - Print Swap event