Southeastern Photographic Society

This month’s Learnshop will feature a variety of travel images from North America and South America by three SPS members:

• John Wiltshire: Locations in Canada
• Max Heine: The Mojave Desert, Palm Springs, and Joshua Tree National Park
• Heidi Natkin: Exploring Bolivia including the Andes, the Atacama Desert and the Uyuni Salt Flats

If you’ve ever wondered about traveling to and photographing these locations, or just want to be an armchair traveler and see some wonderful photographs, join John, Max and Heidi as they take us on a photographic journey to these diverse and fascinating places in the Americas.

Please join us for our October First Friday meeting featuring photographer Rob Giersch and enter our print image competition, “TRAVEL" (more information below.)

Photography can sometimes be a lonely pursuit, and the perfect escape for an introvert who is more comfortable hiding behind the camera, quietly capturing the scene unfolding before them. But what happens when you push yourself outside of that comfort zone and more actively engage in the world around you? This is one photographer's story about facing discomfort and how making that leap not only made for a few better pictures, but opened the door to opportunities, and a life, he never thought possible.

Rob Giersch grew up in North Carolina and from an early age was captivated by both the outdoors and photography. Adventure has always been the pursuit of an introverted engineer who spent 30 years working across the globe for The Coca-Cola Company, and photography was the perfect creative companion to capture those memories and experiences. In later years he decided to push himself as a photographer by pursuing side gigs in the adventure sports space, and now continues that passion full time. Rob strives to capture the energy and beauty of spaces few ever reach—or even know exist—whether urban, wooded, above, or below, wherever the action flows.

Back by popular demand and now an annual tradition — here’s your chance to share your work with fellow SPS members! Drawing inspiration from Brooks Jensen’s insightful project-based concept, “Seeing in Sixes,” we are asking members to stretch their creative wings and share a “project” of six images with fellow members. No competition, no critique, no judgment — just an opportunity to share a personal “project.”

What is a “project?” For our purposes, we are looking for a series of exactly six images portraying a common theme, exploring a place or person, telling a story . . . there is really no limit to what you can include in your personal project so long as something ties the six images together. It can be something you’ve recently shot or something you’ve been playing with for years. The only criteria (aside from good taste!) is that the images have something in common that makes them suitable for viewing in a collection. (Still confused? Go and watch last year's program here:
https://youtu.be/yAIGCgRqOic

Size your six individual images according to SPS guidelines and submit them, with a project title (I just need a title for the project, not for each individual image), to milsteenphoto@comcast.net by no later than October 17th at 9:00 p.m. (Note - we are looking for six separate images, not one image that combines six photos, and they can be any combination of formats -- verticals, horizontals, squares, whatever.) Projects are generally shown in the order received, so get your images in early! We’ll ask each photographer to say a few words about their project, either before or after their images are shown.

Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or a newbie, we hope you’ll share a project. And, even if you don’t have a project to share, please join us on-line for what promises to be a fun night of inspirational photography!

Please note:

October’s Learnshop will be ONLINE. The link will be sent only to those who RSVP to this announcement. Only SPS Members may submit a Seeing in Sixes project.

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SPS has three standing meetings each month for its members and guests. The First Friday Program and Competition features an outside speaker and a members' image competition. While competition entries at these monthly meetings are restricted to currently paid-up members, we ALWAYS welcome visitors interested in photography to attend. The Learnshops (fourth Tuesdays) and Coffee & Critique (second Saturdays) are intended for members, but again, we welcome visitors. If you attend regularly, we ask that you help support the club (which pays for the rental of the facilities, supplies, and equipment) by becoming a member!

Signing up on the SPS Meetup page does not make you an SPS member. SPS members pay dues to engage in many activities that are unavailable to guests who only sign up on the SPS MeetUp.

To pay your SPS dues or join SPS, visit:

Southeastern Photographic Society members please consider joining the SPS team for the 2025 NG3C Shootout on November 1st in Marietta, Georgia.

The Shootout is a very cool photo competition that includes camera clubs and about 100 fellow photographers from the North Georgia area. The event takes place in one day and includes timed shooting, juried awards and great prizes! It's a great way to make friends, show off your SPS pride and contribute your photographic talents. Sign up soon (see link below) if you are interested in participating so we can build our team of 20.

Stephen Weiss and Linda Nixon will be co-hosting the event.

Details for the North Georgia Camera Club Council (NG3C) Annual Shootout