Events

Michele Sons is a fine art landscape and nature photographer, writer, and educator based in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, with clients including National Geographic, The Wilderness Society, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Smokies Life, Eastern National, and other non-profits that serve our nation’s national parks. Her work tends toward quiet, pared-down, subtle representations of her deep reverence for the natural world. Fog, mist, and soft light are intrinsic elements present in many of her images. Michele's uniquely nomadic background, advanced degrees in environmental biology and physical geography, and a 20-year corporate career in spatial analysis provide a personal perspective that informs her creative focus on connection and expression. Michele empowers creative outdoor photographers to find meaningful connections with nature and grow in their artistry. The Art of Place is Michele’s holistic education resource for landscape and nature photographers, encompassing the entirety of the art and craft of photography. Through her eBooks, private online mentoring, and private field workshops, Michele shares her unique approach to expressive image making. Learn how to connect with the natural world and express yourself confidently and creatively. Michele also teaches regularly at online and in-person conferences across the United States. The Art of Fog Join me in the fog! Together, we will explore the magic of this moody weather phenomenon. Spanning both art and science, The Art of Fog will review selected topics such as: the types of fog and the meteorological elements necessary for formation, forecasting tools, symbolism and the ways in which its emotional and visual effects on the landscape can inject mood, and a case study in applying this knowledge in the field. Inspirational images will be included throughout the presentation. After this session you will have a deeper understanding of fog, and more importantly, a greater appreciation of how you can employ it as a powerful artistic element to inject mood into your expressive photography. Adapted from my eBook The Art of Fog: A Primer for Expressive Landscape & Nature Photography in Fog.

Marcel Bourque has been a member of the Montreal Camera Club since 2020. Photographing Boys Hockey Description: This past winter I started photographing 9-to-11-year-old boys’ hockey (disclaimer: one of my grandsons is a player). I quickly ran into a series of challenges such as bad lighting, bad sight-lines, limited access around the arena, post-processing ISO 35,000 images, and so forth. In the talk I’ll review what I was asked I was trying to achieve, the equipment I used, the challenges of shooting in low-light arenas, and the post-processing issues I ran into.  

Patrice is dedicated via his photography to capturing passion, emotion, and the athletic achievements of competitors at every level, including para-athletes. His images freeze the intensity of the moment, creating compelling portraits of athletes and highlight the behind-the-scenes contributions of volunteers, officials, and spectators. Patrice’s photography has been featured in the New York Times, the Times of London, and the French magazine Le NouvelObs. Becoming a Freelance Photographer My recent journey to becoming a freelance photographer.

Member of the Montreal Camera Club since 2005, my interest in photography started young, when my uncle gave me a Polaroid camera and spoke so passionately about photography. My parents were glad because it 'calmed me down' a bit. The combination of artistic and technical requirements helped me focus and have always kept me interested in photography. Another milestone to spark my interest came from a summer camp counselor that shared the same passion my uncle had. His hand-colored Black & White images were memorizing, as was the darkroom he had set-up- I was hooked. I then attended the photography program at Loyola, covering university events for the university paper, and later worked with two wonderful Montreal photographers "Mia & Klaus" who encouraged me to pursue my passion. The great photographers Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Imogen Cunningham, Elliott Erwitt and many others continue to inspire me. Keeping an open mind, learning, and sharing all help me to be an active participant in life and help me to give of myself. Tuscany / Umbria  From Firenze to Pescara and around the Gargano peninsula, visiting the villages where my grandfathers came from, what a gift! Traveling through central Italy, with great food, wine and amazing gelato. Firenze, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Montepulciano, Siena, Orvieto to Pescara. Then retracing history with my daughters to Carunchio (Chieti) and the Gargano to San Marco in Lamis (Foggia).