April 11-14, 2024 Villas by the Sea – Jekyll Island, GA
REGISTRATION:
The registration fee for the 15th Anniversary GNPA EXPO is $195 and covers the following:
Two keynote addresses from two nationally renowned photographers.
Friday’s keynote will be given by Tony Sweet
Saturday’s keynote will be given by Lisa Langell
Lunch on both Friday and Saturday, just before the keynote addresses
Four Short-Session learning sessions on Friday afternoon from our field trip instructors
Anna DeStefano (Creative)
Horace Hamilton (Sunrise & Sunset)
Jerry Black (Birds/Topaz)
Larry Winslett (Water/Filters)
Jamie Anderson/Bill White (Milky Way/Night Sky)
Special Session by Bill White (Past President) on Saturday afternoon,
Legal Issues in Photography – Copyright, AI, and Metadata
Two sunset photography experiences
Friday evening with Doug Flor (President) – Horton House parking lot
Saturday evening with Anna DeStefano (Vice President) – Jekyll Island Fishing Pier
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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
Tony Sweet – a multi-talented artist, who didn’t start his photography career until the age of 44. He had a brief experience with a borrowed camera as a grade-school student. He was definitely hooked, but his parents wouldn’t buy him a camera. As he grew to adulthood, he expressed himself as a jazz musician. It wasn’t until 30 years later when he made a chance decision to buy a camera for a vacation that Sweet was able to pursue his first art form, photography.
With the support and guidance of professional photographers and his peers and after reading many books, Sweet developed his passion for nature photography. Sweet began being influenced by the authors of the first few photography books he read, mostly John Shaw. Sweet began to be attracted to selective focus, camera movement and more abstract types of images. Twenty years into his photography career, Sweet is internationally recognized, has been published in many major magazines and books and has authored 5 books. He also offers a full complement of instruction: online courses, lecturer, author software trainer, private programs and location workshops. Tony Sweet Photography Tony lives in Acadia, Maine.
Lisa Langell – A nature photographer and birder from the age of eight, Lisa is the founder of Langell Photography, LLC. She started her business in 2010 after long vibrant careers as a floral designer, educational psychologist, consultant and in helping launch and manage two startups that grew into leading companies in the Ed-Tech space. Since then, she has earned numerous awards and has been published in Outdoor Photographer, Arizona Highways, Ranger Rick, Images Arizona, and more. She is an Image Master for Tamron Americas, an Ambassador for Fotopro Tripods, and is a judge for ViewBug.
Lisa loves creating nature photography and art that is inspired by her background in psychology and design. When Lisa isn’t having fun making photographs, she’s thriving on teaching photography—most often in Alaska! Her humility and passion for both shines through in how she provides memorable, fun, and educational experiences that enrich, invigorate and expand photographers’ minds in wonderful ways.
The Georgia Nature Photographers Association (GNPA) is excited to announce the grand celebration of its 15th anniversary at the GNPA EXPO 2024! Scheduled to take place from April 11 to April 14, 2024 at the Villas by the Sea in Jekyll Island, Georgia. Jekyll Island is known for its breathtaking coastal beauty, driftwood beach, Spanish moss covered trees, historical sites and serene ambiance serving as the perfect backdrop. This event promises to be an unforgettable four days of inspiration, education, nature’s incredible beauty and most of all, gathering with old friends and making of new friends.
As a testament to its decade-and-a-half journey in promoting the art and passion for nature, GNPA is pulling out all the stops for this special occasion. GNPA has been at the forefront of fostering a community of nature enthusiasts, and the annual EXPO stands as a testament to the organization’s commitment to the art and craft of nature photography. This 15th anniversary celebration promises to be an unforgettable event uniting nature lovers from across our 9 Chapters. GNPA EXPO 2024 will feature an array of captivating activities, including our “Welcome Aboard” opening gathering, meet your Instructors, workshops with the two keynote speakers, instructional field trips, a photo contest “Georgia On My Mind” with 15-1st Place, 15-2nd Place and 15-3rd Place Ribbons, “Best in Show” trophy, enlightening sessions by two esteemed keynote speakers and at the close of the Expo there will be an announcement of the rules and timeframe of the “Post Jekyll Photo Contest” with lots of awards.
Participants will have the incredible opportunity to enhance their skills and broaden their photographic horizons through diverse field-trips conducted by our GNPA instructors. These sessions will cover various aspects of nature photography from sunrises, sunsets, night photography including the milky way, water in movement, inland & shore birds, creative images and an adventure through the Okefenokee Swamp for sunrise and sunset by tour guides.
One of the highlights of the event includes hearing from two renowned keynote speakers, Lisa Langell and Tony Sweet, acclaimed figures in the world of nature photography. Tony and Lisa bring with them a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and inspiration that is sure to captivate and motivate attendees. Special giveaways during their sessions from Lisa & Tony!
The GNPA Board, Committee Members, Chapter Coordinators, Instructors and the Keynote Speakers are excited to see you at the 15th Anniversary EXPO 2024! It will be an opportunity to celebrate the beauty of nature through the lens and be a part of this remarkable milestone in GNPA’s journey.
Mission
Georgia Nature Photographers Association is dedicated to helping nature photographers of all skill levels improve their photography, learn and grow, network with outdoor photographers and participate in exciting trips and events. Through our work, we share our appreciation for the natural world and spotlight the value of nature as a photography special interest.
Our goal is to become the Southeast’s premier nature photography club, and we welcome your help guiding and molding GNPA into the amazing future ahead.
EXPO 2024! Save the date, April 11-14, and let the celebration of nature’s wonders begin!
The Georgia Nature Photographers Association (GNPA) is excited to announce the grand celebration of its 15th anniversary at the GNPA EXPO 2024! Scheduled to take place from April 11 to April 14, 2024 at the Villas by the Sea in Jekyll Island, Georgia. Jekyll Island is known for its breathtaking coastal beauty, driftwood beach, Spanish moss covered trees, historical sites and serene ambiance serving as the perfect backdrop. This event promises to be an unforgettable four days of inspiration, education, nature’s incredible beauty and most of all, gathering with old friends and making of new friends.
As a testament to its decade-and-a-half journey in promoting the art and passion for nature, GNPA is pulling out all the stops for this special occasion. GNPA has been at the forefront of fostering a community of nature enthusiasts, and the annual EXPO stands as a testament to the organization’s commitment to the art and craft of nature photography. This 15th anniversary celebration promises to be an unforgettable event uniting nature lovers from across our 9 Chapters. GNPA EXPO 2024 will feature an array of captivating activities, including our “Welcome Aboard” opening gathering, meet your Instructors, workshops with the two keynote speakers, instructional field trips, a photo contest “Georgia On My Mind” with 15-1st Place, 15-2nd Place and 15-3rd Place Ribbons, “Best in Show” trophy, enlightening sessions by two esteemed keynote speakers and at the close of the Expo there will be an announcement of the rules and timeframe of the “Post Jekyll Photo Contest” with lots of awards.
Participants will have the incredible opportunity to enhance their skills and broaden their photographic horizons through diverse field-trips conducted by our GNPA instructors. These sessions will cover various aspects of nature photography from sunrises, sunsets, night photography including the milky way, water in movement, inland & shore birds, creative images and an adventure through the Okefenokee Swamp for sunrise and sunset by tour guides.
One of the highlights of the event includes hearing from two renowned keynote speakers, Lisa Langell and Tony Sweet, acclaimed figures in the world of nature photography. Tony and Lisa bring with them a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and inspiration that is sure to captivate and motivate attendees. Special giveaways during their sessions from Lisa & Tony!
“Georgia On My Mind” Competition:
Participants are to submit 1 entry by Deadline-Midnight on Sunday, March 3, 2024. All 1st Place winners (15) will be afforded the opportunity of a 4-hour Semi-Private Instructional Workshop on Thursday, April 11th, with either Lisa Langell or Tony Sweet (judges).
The GNPA Board, Committee Members, Chapter Coordinators, Instructors and the Keynote Speakers are excited to see you at the 15th Anniversary EXPO 2024! So mark your calendar (April 11-14, 2024) for this exceptional event. It will be an opportunity to celebrate the beauty of nature through the lens and be a part of this remarkable milestone in GNPA’s journey.
It’s time to book your room: Check in: Thursday, April 11th Check out: Sunday, April 14th, 2024
Villas by the Sea, 1175 N. Beachview Dr., Jekyll Island, Georgia 31527 1-800-841-6262 Mention you are a GNPA Member & give them our Group #537437 for your special rate (deadline for special rate is March 3, 2024)
Registration details and a schedule of events will be posted soon on the website.
Opening Registration: Registration Opens Soon at GNPA.org
Closing: Sunday, March 3, 2024
Mission
Georgia Nature Photographers Association is dedicated to helping nature photographers of all skill levels improve their photography, learn and grow, network with outdoor photographers and participate in exciting trips and events. Through our work, we share our appreciation for the natural world and spotlight the value of nature as a photography special interest.
Our goal is to become the Southeast’s premier nature photography club, and we welcome your help guiding and molding GNPA into the amazing future ahead.
Saturday, September 24, 2022, is National Public Lands Day. As part of commemorating this day, Friends of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites (Friends) hosts Your State Parks Day, a day when volunteers arrive at Parks throughout the state to participate in park projects and give back to the places that offer us a wonderful setting in which to enjoy nature. Friends is a Conservation Partner with GNPA and would love to have a photographer on hand at each park to record the efforts of the volunteers.
This year, Friends will launch a state-wide project, Project Blaze a Trail, where volunteers will remap all of the trails in Georgia’s State Parks to update the trail maps. Volunteers will track the mileage, log the terrain and difficulty of each trail, and re-blaze trails to make them easier to follow. Additionally, volunteers will perform trail maintenance and collect trash along the trails.
Along with Blaze a Trail, Friends chapters at many parks will also have other projects. Volunteers will help beautify areas around park offices and entrances, restore picnic tables, plant pollinator gardens, and a perform a variety of other tasks depending on individual Park needs.
Times may vary from park to park, but most participate from 9 AM to 2 PM. No problem if you have an afternoon commitment and need to leave a bit early. At some parks drinks and lunch will be provided and work usually stops between 12 and 1 when everyone gathers to eat. Entry into the Parks will be free for anyone volunteering, and there is usually a free t-shirt involved.
Friends is asking for photographers to take photos of the volunteers at work. Photos will be used on social media, in Friends publications and mailings, and may be archived to promote Your State Parks Day in future years. Our partners at Friends provide full photo credit to both the photographer and to GNPA whenever an image is used.
GNPA members are mostly nature photographers, not event or portrait photographers. However, Your State Parks Day is an easy event to shoot. Volunteers are glad to be there and love being photographed while they work. No special equipment is needed, just a camera. If you’re not there, someone will be taking photos with a cell phone – great for social media, but not so great for print purposes. Photographing this event is much like taking candid photos of your own family, including the group shots where someone is invariably looking in the wrong direction!
It’s a no-stress event.
Interested?? Please email Jenny Burdette at cons_friends@gnpa.org to get more information and/or sign up. She can provide more details on how to shoot the event, which park is near you, answer any questions, etc. Mark September 24 on your calendar and bring your camera to a state park for a fun morning!
