Many of you know that I started the iPhone Photography Meetup Group about four years ago. I started the group as a way for me to get out more and socialize with fellow mobile phone photographers. At the time, and there still is, no other photography group in the area devoted to mobile phone photography. The group has been fun and I’ve met some very interesting people along the way. But the true inspiration for starting the group and introducing me to the Meetup system was Vickie Lewis. Vickie came to SSCC as a guest speaker to talk about her experiences as a photographer for People and National Geographic magazines. At the end of her talk she mentioned her contact information which included a Meetup group she started. I joined Vickie’s group, The Montgomery County Photography Meetup Group as my first group, attended a few meetings and liked what I saw. That’s when I started my own Meetup group.
Well almost one year ago, Vickie tragically passed away after battling cancer for a year and a half. Before Vickie moved back home to be closer to family and continue her care she turned the Meetup group over to Les Picker. Les ran the group for the last eight months but in his words “my travel photography commitments simply do not allow me to bring to the Meetup the dedication and focus that I feel is needed. That, and the fact that the drive from my home in Havre de Grace to Silver Spring for every Meetup, proved to be difficult at best”.
Les reached out looking for a volunteer willing to take on the role as Organizer of the Montgomery County Photography Meetup Group.
I volunteered. I hope to continue the group’s mission “To create a fun, supportive, light-hearted community of people who want to share their passion for photography” that was started by Vickie Lewis many years ago.
Today the group consists of about 2,300 members! I will need help in the form of a leadership team composed of members of the Montgomery County Photography Meetup Group. This team will help organizer Meetup events, greet new members to the group and provide support to existing members. If you are in the group and this is a role that would interest you please let me know how you would like to contribute. You can send me a private message via Meetup to start the conversation.
If you are not already a member then please take a look and join if it appears this is something you would enjoy. This group’s activities will consist mainly of photo walks and informal gatherings. There are many very good local photographers and organizations that make a large portion of their income conducting workshops and seminars. I do not wish to compete with them so any workshop or seminar posted to the Meetup group will be on behalf of another entity.
Likewise, the Meetup group will be very different than SSCC membership. SSCC membership includes a monthly guest speaker, like Vickie Lewis, that will inspire you, competitions and an evening to take a closer focus at photography concepts. Consider the Montgomery County group as an additional photography resource, it’s not competition to SSCC.
I look forward to meeting you soon, Michael
https://www.meetup.com/The-Montgomery-County-Photography-Meetup-Group/
Maryland Photography Alliance Member Club News:
Harford Photographic Arts Society began in 2008 as a 501c3 organization that accepted members by print submissions and payment of an annual membership fee. Some HPAS members are volunteer photographers for local 501c3 events. HPAS is currently meeting at Mountain Christian Church in Joppa, MD. Their meetings are held on the third Sunday on the odd months from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Meetings are devoted to a photographic challenge and the results of the previous challenge. This month’s challenge is Transportation. HPAS is a small group looking to grow in its association with the Maryland Photography Alliance.
The Arundel Camera Club was founded in c. 1957 to promote the art, science, and education in all aspects and fields of photography. We meet at 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday evening at the Severna Park High School when school is in session. Meetings alternate with programs of informative speakers (educational, technical, how-to, tutorials, etc.) and photographic competitions. Competitions cover monochrome prints, color prints, and digital. Members compete in the Novice category until they accumulate enough points to advance to Unlimited. Meetings are open to the public, but only dues paying members may enter competitions. The club also has monthly photographic field trips to locations of interest. Social events include the Christmas party, summer picnic, and End of Year banquet and awards ceremony.
In January we will host our annual exhibit at the Glen Burnie Library. Our contest theme for January is Open, so anything goes. Our January speakers include Christine Edwards on reflections, and award-winning photojournalist Scott a Dine on surrealism.
Harford County Photography Group (HCPG): The “2017 Member Showcase” video was premiered at the December party and was a huge success. The 27 minute music video included outstanding images from 24 photographers. Steve Sattler will be HCPG’s 2018 President, and Brian Bohn will remain on the BOD as Past President.
Creative Photography Society (CPS): The BxW Series of presentations started in September and have been a huge success. Future presentations will be on “Architecture in BxW”, “Travel and Street in BxW” and “Workflow Processing & Printing in BxW”. www.cpsbaltimore.org
The Gaithersburg Camera Club primarily serves upper Montgomery County, though members come from all over. The club meets twice each month from September through May. The meetings are held on the second Monday and fourth Monday of each month at Parker Hall in the Asbury Retirement Village near Lake Forest Mall. The first meeting of each month features a guest speaker, followed by a question and answer session, and refreshments. The second meeting each month consists of digital projection and print competitions, with critiques from the judge. In December, club members and spouses enjoy a holiday party, and in June, the club holds its Annual Awards Banquet, when end-of-year competition and special recognition awards are presented. Please visit our website at www.gaithersburgcameraclub.org.
The Carroll County Camera Club is a place for the novice and advanced photographer alike to come and share the joys of photography. Our club is not based on competition, but rather on sharing ideas, techniques, and creativity to the mutual benefit of all of our members. We meet twice a month year round on the first and third Mondays of the month. Check out our web site to learn more: www.carrollcountycameraclub.org
The Bowie-Crofton Camera Club was formed in 1962 by the new homeowners in the “Levitt sections” of Bowie.
Meetings are held on Mondays (start time is 7:30 p.m.) from September through May, with monthly field trips on weekends too.
Meetings are open to the public. Stop by and see what we are all about. You can find us at www.B-CCC.org for more information.
The Silver Spring Camera Club was founded in 1950 when 50 people gathered to form a club with a mutual interest in photography. From those early beginnings, the club has prospered and remains very active in the Silver Spring community. Learn more at www.ssccphotography.org/