ANNOUNCEMENTS

September 8, 2023

FALL SEMESTER REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION STARTS SEPTEMBER 8 @ 5 pm

Review the class catalogue listed on the EDUCATION page or download the pdf to prepare for registration.
(The last page of the catalogue has a checklist of all classes to make registration easier.)

On September 8 @ 5 pm, click on this link to register:

https://forms.gle/zzDtCQgpbjthdv4i8

Questions? Email [email protected]. The Education Committee hopes these classes start you on your journey of stretching your imagination & developing a personal vision with more creative and expressive images.

September 14, 2023

We are going to photograph the Milky Way on Tybee Island Beach on the evening of Thursday, September 14, 2023. If you have never seen or photographed the Milky Way, this is a great local area opportunity.

It should be a good night to see and photograph the Milky Way because there is a new moon beginning on 9/14/23. PhotoPills indicates the Milky Way will be visible from 8:53 PM to 12:16 AM.
We will leave for Tybee Island at 5:30 PM. That will give us plenty of time to get to: Tybee Island, scout out the beach location, and set up before sunset at 7:36 PM. It will be very dark on the beach! Plan on leaving the beach around 11:00 PM to return to Sun City .

Registration
To Register for the Milky Way on Tybee Island Beach Field Trip
Click on the following link to register for this field trip:

https://forms.gle/R4XzRDdmwDFRZZ7t7

September 25 – September 29th

We are returning to the Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway. On this trip, you will have three full days in the Smoky Mountains and travel the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. Hopefully the Fall Colors will be on full display during our trip Here is a brief overview of the trip!

Where: The Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway
When: Monday September 25 through Friday September 29th

Smoky Mountain NPS Parking Pass Required
The National Park Service as of March 1, 2023, requires a parking pass is required for all vehicles parking for longer than 15 minutes. Drivers, you will need to purchase, at a minimum, a weekly parking pass for $15.00 for your vehicle. There are several options for purchasing parking passes. I used the ONLINE PURCHASE & PRINT options. The process was quick and easy! The parking pass is linked to you license plate and is not transferable to another vehicle. The parking pass must be physically displayed on your vehicles dash! The Park Rangers were checking and writing up parking tickets.

For more information on and to order your Smoky Mountains Parking Passes, click on the following link: www.nps.gov

Itinerary
The following is a brief description of dates and destinations for the trip.

Day #1 – Monday September 25, 2023
• Depart Sun City for the Maggie Valley Area
• Looking Glass Fall – Brevard NC
• Blue Ridge Parkway Scenic Overlooks
• Group Dinner & Meeting

Day #2 – Tuesday September 26, 2023
• Oconoluftee Visitor Center – Photograph the elk in the fields and crossing the creek.
• Mingus Creek Grist Mill
• Cherokee, NC. Explore Cherokee and have a Late Lunch/Early Dinner
• Oconaluftee Visitors Center – Photograph the herd of Elk in the field and leaving for the night.

Day#3 Wednesday September 27, 2023
• Sunrise photoshoot
• Roaring Forks Motor Nature Trail in Gatlinburg TN.
• Ely’s Mill – to photograph a unique collection of old buildings, old trucks, and tractors.
• Gatlinburg – Explore Gatlinburg and have a Group lunch/dinner.
• Sunset photoshoot

Day#4 – Thursday September 28,2023
• Sunrise photoshoot
• Deep Creek Campgrounds Bryson City
• Photograph Tom’s Branch, Indian Creek and Juney Whank Falls.
• Bryson City – Explore Bryson City
• Group Dinner in Bryson City
• Sunset Photoshoot

Day #5 – Friday September 29, 2023
• Depart Maggie; Valley for Sun City via the Blue Ridge Parkway toward Ashville NC to experience some of the awesome vistas along the way!!

Hotel Accommodations and Restaurant Reservations
We are in the process of working with several hotels in the area to get the best rate available for the group. We are also looking at area restaurants for our planned group meals. We’ll send out that information to all the registrants.

Registration
To Register for the 2023 Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway Field Trip
Click on the following link to register for this field trip:

https://forms.gle/CpSg2zkiY22CKGGT8

If you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected]

CRITIQUE SESSIONS

Critique Sessions will return in January 2023. Sessions will be led by Rich Matheny and Sophia Shade. The current plans are to hold it once a month and each individual participant can choose if they want to submit photographs related to the competition or if they want to submit something else for critique.

Sessions are held the 3rd Friday of the month in the studio. Check the calendar to verify sessions. An email with session details will be sent out monthly. Contact Rich Matheny [email protected] with any questions.