FOCUS: Georgia nature photographers meet monthly in Lawrenceville

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By John Criminger |  The Georgia Nature Photographers Association (GNPA) is dedicated to helping nature photographers of all skill levels improve their photography, learn and grow, meet other outdoor photographers, participate in great trips and events, help others understand the value of the natural world, and give focus to a special area of interest in photography.

The GNPA is an active and rapidly growing club of nature photographers that covers Georgia and includes members from several other states. GNPA has chapters on the coast, across the central part of Georgia, and three chapters in the Atlanta area, in Smyrna, Roswell and Lawrenceville.  We’d like more, because we know a local club is the best way to reach out and include more people who love nature photography and want to learn and take trips with others with their interests.

The Northeast Atlanta Chapter is the largest of six chapters around Georgia, including Griffin, Savannah and Pine Mountain. The monthly meetings are always informative and feature regional and national nature photographers who critique photos, generously share photography and post processing insights and techniques with you, and more.

16.0906.woodpeckerWe invite you to visit our monthly meetings, normally the fourth Wednesday of each month (except November and December, when we combine for a Christmas Party. We meet in Lawrenceville at Cornerstone Co-working, 279 West Crogan Street.

We have had exhibits in places like Suwanee, Fernbank, and Callaway Gardens. In October, we will be exhibiting at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. That one will includes 24 nature photographs along with a painting of each one done by artists from the Roswell Fine Arts Alliance. Also in September and October, the winning photographs from the Callaway exhibit will be on display in the Aurora Theater in Lawrenceville. On October 15, we will have GNPA members at the Aurora for more information on the pictures and our activities.

Check out our past MeetUps and the photo albums of our chapter activities. To view our MeetUp page go to www.meetup.com/Northeast-Atlanta-GNPA-Chapter.  You can join our MeetUp group without belonging to GNPA; however, some activities such as field trips, print competitions and some workshops are ONLY open to GNPA Members. You can also find us at www.GNPA.org. There you can read more about our activities. You can also join GNPA on this site.

We have many photo competitions for members where they can earn recognition, win awards, and get recognition.

The GNPA adds to the fun with a huge annual get-together called the Annual Expo. That’s when members and participants meet for a weekend at a great venue, hold photo excursions, enjoy great food and meeting facilities. For this event, we bring in major nature photographers as keynote speakers who give you valuable insights, show you new and better techniques, and inspire us with great images.

At the Annual Expo, we also have our annual photo competition where winners are recognized with sizable cash prizes and equipment. For those who don’t compete and would still like a chance to take home the goodies, we raffle off hundreds of dollars worth of equipment to members. You have the opportunity to leave with some great new equipment when you attend. And we guarantee you’ll go away with new skills and places to go!

We are a friendly, open club that wants your feedback, good and bad. We are absolutely dedicated to doing it the right way! Comments and suggestions are always appreciated, so feel free to take the time to let the GNPA know your thoughts.

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