by Brian Lucy | May 14, 2020 | GNPA News, Newsletter
Each year, when your GNPA membership is about to expire, you’ll receive an email renewal notice. You can use that email to renew your membership, and/or change your membership category. We encourage you to use the link in the email to renew, rather than going directly to your Member Page.
The email you receive should look similar to this, with your invoice attached:
Just click the ‘Click here to view this invoice’ link at the bottom and you will see your complete renewal invoice, with the invoice number, invoice date, amount due and membership category.
If you agree with all this information, click on the first grey PAY button (circled in red) toward the bottom of the example invoice shown to the left. That should complete your renewal.
However, you may want to change your membership category, or have questions about the information in the invoice. Perhaps it’s about your expiration date, or you want to upgrade to a Lifetime or Family membership. In that case, save and forward your email to membership@GNPA.org with an explanation of what you’d like to change. We will get back to you as soon as possible and assist with making any corrections or changes.
When your renewal is processed, you will receive an email stating your renewal has been successful. If there is a problem with your credit card information, a similar email will be sent stating your credit card was declined or failed to process correctly.
Should you receive a notice that your credit card was declined, and you believe it should not have been, please forward your email to membership@GNPA.org with an explanation of the issue. We will reply as soon as possible and assist you with completing the process.
Once your membership is renewed, we recommend you log into the GNPA website using your username and password.
When logged in, you have access to the GNPA home page and member home page (see image to the right). At this point you can view your Member Landing Page.
(This is also where you can register for any current open activities or field trips. These notices change frequently, so check often to find new activities or trips).
Now, go to your Member Profile to verify that your membership status has been updated to “active,” and your expiration date has been extended out one year.
Just below the name badge that shows your name, chapter and membership type, select My Profile (circled in red above). This is where you can view, update or change any information about your membership.
We suggest checking your profile to confirm your new expiration date, member type and status, email preference and chapter affiliation.
If you have any questions or issues with your Member Profile, please send an email to membership@GNPA.org with your question. We will answer your questions and help you make any corrections.
We hope these instructions will make your next renewal quick and easy.
by Brian Lucy | May 14, 2020 | Newsletter
Make Your Images More Compelling
By Alfie Wace
Whenever my photography is displayed, whether at an art show, festival or gallery, one of the most frequent comments I hear is “great composition!” Initially, I would attribute those kind remarks to the fact that I was following the Rules of Thirds and utilizing leading lines in my images. But as I analyzed my work more carefully, I realized there was an additional element at work, one that I learned years ago as a student at Southeastern Center for the Arts in Atlanta.
During my studies, I had the supreme privilege of working with some phenomenal photographers, including Neil Chaput de Saintonge, Bruce Barnbaum, Alison Shaw and, especially, Cole Weston. At that time, digital photography was far off on the horizon. Shooting in manual mode was the norm, and we relied on the basics: aperture, shutter speed, film ISO and composition. But I came to understand and appreciate an additional composition element, which I refer to as “The Western Eye.” And no, this has nothing to do with cowboys and Indians! Rather, it’s about how our eyes are trained to read.
For example, in the Far East, the Asian script system is written from top to bottom, as such:
In the Middle East, Hebrew and Arabic are written and read from right to left. This is how their eyes are trained from childhood: top to bottom, or right to left:
But in European and western cultures, our language is written from left to right. That’s how our eyes have been taught to perceive the world. It’s how we read, and what is most natural and comfortable for us.
That’s why the most compelling images, in my view, are the ones where the “story” begins on the left and moves across the page. David duChemin refers to this concept as “visual mass” in his eBook Drawing the Eye. (1)
Here are a few of my images that incorporate The Western Eye theory:
So yes, keep the basic composition rules in mind. But an understanding and use of The Western Eye, in my opinion, provides the opportunity to elevate your images to a higher level of visual excellence.
- David duChemin, Drawing the Eye https://craftandvision.com/collections/all/products/drawing-the-eye
Alfie Wace has been a professional photographer for 30 years. She has been a GNPA member for seven years, is the founder and member of the Coastal Chapter, serves as EXPO Committee Chair, as well as serving on the Communications Committee and Conservation Committee. Alfie resides on Tybee Island.
by Brian Lucy | May 1, 2020 | GNPA News
Brian Lucy, GNPA Conservation Communications Chair
This week’s post features the winner’s from the Landscape category.
“Landscape photography is the art of capturing pictures of nature and the outdoors in a way that brings viewers into the scene. From grand landscapes to intimate details, the best photos demonstrate the photographer’s own connection to nature and capture the essence of the world.” – photographylife.com/landscapes
Week 2 – Landscape Category
1st Place – Art Stiles
“Fishing at Marben PFA” by Art Stiles
Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 ED VR II
Focal Length: 185mm
Aperture: f/8
Exposure: 1/30
ISO: 200
Location: Mansfield, GA
Date: Nov 10, 2017 8:45AM
During our monthly, now Zoom-held, Conservation Committee meeting we were discussing how this series of blogs is a great way to highlight the winning entries from the winter project. After about ten minutes talking about the winners Tom Wilson reminded us that while showcasing the top shots is important that the real win was hundreds of photos that GNPA was able to provide our conservation partner.
Week 2 – Landscape Category
2nd Place – Jenny Burdette
“Boat at Sunrise” by Jenny Burdette
Camera: Nikon D610
Lens: Nikkor 28-300mm
Focal Length: 62mm
Aperture: f/13
Exposure: 1/320
ISO: 1250
Location: Bryan County, Fort McAllister Park, GA
Date: July 7, 2015 6:40AM
“The Wildlife Resources Division is so thankful for the Georgia Nature Photographers’ Association and the special partnership we’ve built. By providing beautiful Georgia-based photos, photographers are able help the agency spread the message of conservation while also showcasing the talented residents of the state of Georgia.” Aubrey Pawlikowski, Assistant Manager for Public Affairs, Communications & Marketing
Week 2 – Landscape Category
3rd Place – Joseph Kovarik
Camera: Nikon D800
Lens: Nikkor 16-35mm AF-S F/4G ED VR
Focal Length: 22mm
Aperture: f/11
Exposure: 3 sec
ISO: 100
Location: Dick’s Creek Waterfalls, Cleveland, GA
Date: July 7, 2015 6:40AM
Now is a great time to go through your photo library to find pictures to share with our conservation partners, The conservation page in the GNPA website has list of active requests for photos for you to select from.
To learn more about the GNPA conservation group email us at cons_volunteers@gnpa.org
by Brian Lucy | Apr 24, 2020 | GNPA News
GNPA Members Shoot it Out for DNR
Nearly 400 photos submitted for
GNPA’s Conservation 2020 DNR Winter Project
Last week we announced the full list of winners and this week we are putting our focus on the winning shots from the Challenge Category. With 384 submissions from 39 members across 5 categories our judges had their hands full selecting the top photos.
The biggest winner of GNPA’s first annual conservation photography project is Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Resources Division, which now has hundreds of amazing photos to use online and in their materials to help connect people to nature.
“The Wildlife Resources Division is so thankful for the Georgia Nature Photographers’ Association and the special partnership we’ve built. By providing beautiful Georgia-based photos, photographers are able help the agency spread the message of conservation while also showcasing the talented residents of the state of Georgia.” Aubrey Pawlikowski, Assistant Manager for Public Affairs, Communications & Marketing
Week 1 – Challenge Category
1st Place – Dale Asby
Roseatte Spoonbill Landing, Dale Aspy
Camera: Canon
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM
Focal Length: 140mm
Aperture: f/8
Exposure: 1/5000
ISO: 800
Location: Jekyll Island, GA
Date: April 6, 2016 9:39AM
The annual project is a key piece of GNPA’s Conservation Committee, whose primary goal is helping GNPA members become aware of how they can engage in GNPA’s conservation efforts, and help members develop the skills to make valuable contributions to conservation in Georgia.
2nd Place – Jenny Burdette
Brown Headed Nuthatch, Jenny Burdette
Camera: Nikon D500
Lens: Sigma 150-600mm
Focal Length: 550mm
Aperture: f/7.1
Exposure: 1/400
ISO: 900
Location: Gwinnett Co, GA
Date: Aug 2, 2019 5:04PM
With 8 official conservation partners of GNPA across the state, there is always a need for your help. From documenting cleanup events and families in nature to helping build a database of plants and wildlife, you can make a difference!
3rd Place – Paul Thomas
Young alligators in Okefenokee, Paul Thomas
Camera: Nikon D7000
Lens: Nikkor 70-200mm F2.8
Focal Length: 200mm
Aperture: f/8
Exposure: 1/1000
ISO: 1600
Location: Okefenokee Swamp, GA
Date: April 2015
GNPA is extremely proud of the difference that our Conservation Group members are making to have their photographs inspire current and future generations to connect with our natural world.
To join the GNPA Conservation Group email cons_volunteers@gnpa.org
by Brian Lucy | Apr 17, 2020 | GNPA News
Ghost Crab at Jekyll Island – Sara Aspy, GNPA member
Congratulations to all the winning photographers of the first annual GNPA Conservation Winter Project!
The project was a great way to support one of our Conservation partners, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Georgia.
With 384 photographs from 39 contributors across the state the judges had their hands full selecting the top photos.
To participate in future GNPA Conservation photography events email consvolunteer@gnpa.org
Thank you to everyone who took the time to contribute. We will be posting a full gallery of the winning photos on the website soon, and featuring a category in a blog post each week over the next five weeks.
And your winners are….
Wildlife
1st Place Blue Bird with Worms Jenny Burdette
2nd Place Coyote on Fallen Pine Joe Berry
3rd Place White Eyed Vireo Steve Rushin
Landscape
1st Place Fishing at Marben PFA Art Stiles
2nd Place Boat at Sunrise Jenny Burdette
3rd Place Dicks Creek Waterfalls Joseph Kovarik
Close Up
1st Place Ghost Crab Sara Aspy
2nd Place Cicada Metamorphosis Ricki Forbes
3rd Place Gopher Tortoise Steve Rushing
Story in 5 Shots
1st Place Eagle Drinking Steve Rushing
2nd Place Hummingbird vs Praying Mantis Diane Yancey
Challenge Shot
1st Place Roseate Spoonbill Landing Dale Aspy
2nd Place Brown Headed Nuthatch Jenny Burdette
3rd Place Young Alligators in Okeefenokee Paul Thomas
Grand Prize Winner
With one first place and two 2nd place photos Jenny Burdette
