Digital Imaging

Hi Architects, Welcome to our next AWS Melbourne Well-Architected User Group Meetup for 2026, including more exceptional speakers and topics! :-D At each meetup we covered off various pillars in detail, best-practices and insights from industry leaders that specialise in the Well-Architected Framework. And giving away drones, of course. Lots of drones. **Please also note that AWS Security now requests a company name and company email where it is available. If you are a student, please list your institution and your student email address at that institution 👍** We’ll be updating throughout the month with more speakers and our speakers so far this month include: * **Mike Taylor, Solution Architect, TiDB** **Will your data infra keep up, if your product goes viral? Well-Architected lessons from Kimi and Manus** As AI transitions from static prompts to autonomous, action-oriented agents, traditional data architectures often break down under the pressure of unpredictable scaling and relentless write workloads. We will explore the infrastructure of two massive-scale AI platforms, Kimi and Manus, through the lens of the well-architected framework. * **SkillzLab Well-Architected Build Session** **Well-Architecting App Build-off** In this build session, we will have a live build-off with Students competing with AWS Builders and a drone for the most upvoted well-architected app on the night. This month's menu will include: * Pizzas * Beer: Nastro Azzurro * Wine: Big and red 🤤 NB: Please check in up the stairs from the ground floor to the Mezzanine Level. So come join us at 5:30 for a 6pm **SHARP** start, followed by beer, wine, pizza and friendly networking after our talks :-) Tired of Linkedin’s "thought leadership”, spam and advertising? Join https://well-architected.me/ , the AWS community built for architects, developers and cloud professionals. * Connect with experienced AWS practitioners * Preview upcoming AWS Meetups and relive past content * Create and review beautiful AWS case studies in minutes * Prepare for AWS certifications with curated quizzes * Show your manager and reports you’re well-architected (Please note that by registering to attend you agree to your details being shared as and where required with Amazon Web Services and AWS Well-Architected User Group partners)

🌏 Make new international friends in Melbourne. Come alone, practise your English, and enjoy a relaxed social night. 😊 A friendly meetup for networking, language exchange, and real conversation — open to everyone. Why People Love Lounge Asia 🍜 Asian-focused event 🤝 Many guests come alone 💬 No need for perfect English 🌏 No games or forced introductions — just enjoy the conversation Lounge Asia began within the Asian community, so people from Asia often feel comfortable and at home here. At the same time, everyone is welcome — locals, expats, travellers, students, returnees, digital nomads, and globally minded people. ━━━━━━━━━━ How to Join 1️⃣ Tap "RSVP" on this page 2️⃣ Show your Meetup QR code at reception 3️⃣ Collect your name tag and start meeting people ✅ Free entry for the first 145 RSVPs ✅ AUD 5 after the first 145 RSVPs, or within 24 hours before the event ✅ RSVP early to get the best deal ✅ Limited capacity — please RSVP early Many people attend alone, so don't worry if it's your first time. ━━━━━━━━━━ How to Find Us 📍 Venue Diesel Bar & Eatery Melbourne CBD ⏰ Time Every 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6:00 pm 🚶 Getting There Enter via Little Lonsdale St only. No entry from inside Melbourne Central. Our Lounge Asia organisers will be there to welcome you 😊 ━━━━━━━━━━ 🍺 Please Support the Venue This event is free or low-cost because the venue supports our community. Please purchase at least one drink during the event. Your support helps us keep organising events at great venues. ━━━━━━━━━━ 💚 Please Be Respectful Lounge Asia is a friendly social event where everyone should feel comfortable and welcome. 🚫 This is NOT a pickup or dating event. Anyone who makes others uncomfortable may be removed immediately. Not allowed: harassment, unwanted attention, MLM / crypto / religious recruitment, or anything that makes others uncomfortable. Organisers reserve the right to refuse entry or ask anyone to leave. 🪪 A valid government-issued photo ID is strictly required for entry. No photo ID, no entry. Driver's licences must be issued by the government of the country where the event is held. 📸 Photos and short videos may be taken for community and promotional purposes. If you prefer not to appear, please let an organiser know when you arrive. ━━━━━━━━━━ Lounge Asia is already growing in Australia and is now expanding across Asia — Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore. Our goal is simple: More friendship, more understanding, and more genuine connections across cultures. 📱 Instagram: @_lounge_asia 🎥 Watch Event Video: [\[WATCH EVENT VIDEO\]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNak_cu9CXw) 🎁 VIP ACCESS (Founding Members) Join the VIP list for early access to our official app & special party invites. [👉GET VIP ACCESS](https://forms.gle/t6GXAjTNFECetVuZ8) ━━━━━━━━━━ 🌏 Come say hi! Hey, come hang out! 来一起玩吧！ 一起來聊天吧！ 気軽に遊びに来てね！ 편하게 놀러 와요! มาเจอกันนะ! Tới chơi nha! Tara, sali ka na! Yuk, gabung! Хамтдаа цуглацгаая! Komm einfach vorbei! Jom join kita! See you at Lounge Asia!

**Details - Coding Night!** Bring your laptop and your iOS, visionOS, macOS, tvOS or watchOS project to the combined CocoaHeads & Android GDG coding night. Everyone is welcome to our all-ages alcohol-free event. Hosted in a professional environment to allow you to work on your project. Get help from industry experts who are on hand to help you out. • What we'll do: We'll help you setup up Xcode and start your first project. We'll help answer your questions re how to get to the next phase of your project. • What to bring: Your laptop, a copy of Xcode, a project you'd like to hack on. Before arrival, make sure you're grabbing a fresh copy of Xcode from the Mac App Store (Apple Menu then App Store then search for Xcode, Install. Link: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/xcode/id497799835?mt=12) Doors open at 5:45 PM at our host the Mantel Group, Level 2/452 Flinders St Melbourne. Message via Meetup or Slack if you are arriving after 6:00 as the lifts won't let you up. The hack night will wrap up at 8:30.

[Merri-bek Tech](https://www.merri-bek.tech/), a group in the inner northern suburbs of Naarm (Melbourne), invites everyone involved interested in tinkering with grass-roots technologies in support of a **Sustainable**, **Resilient** and **Just** future - to join us for the **Naarm Solarpunk Meetup** in a new location in Carlton. This time we are meeting on the Mezzanine Level at Melbourne Connect, 700 Swanston St. More details below. Following on from our workshop in May we will be doing some hands-on hacking as well as welcoming everyone who wants to talk further about getting involved in the group or finding out more about positive, grassroots tech futures. On the night we will be doing, * Merri-tek LoRes Node install and setup, support and general questions * Raspberry Pi setups * Linux OS installs * Your sustainable, resilient and/or just project :) Come and talk with us! MBT members will also be ready to talk further about what we do, what we hope to do and how you can join in. **About the Naarm Solarpunk group** Some of us are technologists, and will be showing off software or hardware projects, and others are more interested in community organizing, responding to the climate crisis, or building local resilience. Whatever your area of interest, or your level of skill, you're absolutely welcome to dive in. At the meetups we'll have a show-and-tell time for any projects that you're working on, as well as occasional short presentations. The space will be hosted by volunteers, and we'll actively work towards inclusion through applying a [code of conduct](https://www.contributor-covenant.org/version/2/1/code_of_conduct/). Merri-bek Tech has some projects that you might be interested in updates from, including our attempt to build P2P mesh network based community hosting on Raspberry Pis, and our project to run a local fediverse social network. We aspire to keep this meetup **Solarpunk** as fuck. We support the hackers, tinkerers and makers and misfits. There are plenty of other spaces for big corporate green tech, so bring your hobby project, not your day job, unless that job is firmly rooted in the solidarity economy. We are not value neutral. We'll start with Merri-bek Tech's [values](https://www.merri-bek.tech/about/values/) and [principles](https://www.merri-bek.tech/about/principles/), and build from there together. In particular, in the context of ongoing genocide, we will ask you to leave if you're associated in any way with the weapons industry. This meetup will be hosted on the stolen, unceeded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. **Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.** Image alt text (honestly meetup, get your shit together): The image is a illustration of a future, sustainable city. There is human-scale, green tech, repair shops and urban gardens.

Join us every **Wednesday at 5 PM** at the Emporium food court (located behind Grill’d Burger Restaurant in the CBD, not near Melbourne Station) for a dynamic networking event tailored for filmmakers, actors, and film enthusiasts. Afterward, we continue the evening with Happy Hour drinks at a nearby bar and a chance to grab dinner together. Understanding that schedules vary, feel free to join at any time that suits you. Rain or shine, our community has gathered every week for the past year, maintaining a consistent and welcoming environment. Our group has grown remarkably, with a **weekly turnout of over 50 participants**, blending newcomers with regulars to create a vibrant, diverse community. Feel free to bring friends interested in filmmaking; it’s a great way to introduce new faces to our expanding network. Whether you’re a writer, actor, animator, or independent filmmaker, come share your experiences, discuss current projects, or chat about favorite films. This event fosters connections among like-minded individuals, encourages friendships, and opens doors for collaboration. At **7 PM**, we move to The Carlton Club, a five-minute walk away, where we continue networking in a more formal rooftop setting over drinks and food. This change of venue offers an ideal environment to keep conversations flowing. **RSVP** to help us gauge attendance and become part of a growing network of film professionals and enthusiasts. Though the event begins in the afternoon, the relationships you build here can last well into the night and beyond. **What to Expect:** *Our Wednesday meetup is primarily a large networking event for industry professionals. There’s no set theme, workshop, or speaker. It’s a relaxed gathering where filmmakers, actors, and creatives can connect, discuss projects, share needs, and learn from each other. Conversations flow freely around the table, fostering an environment of growth and camaraderie. Beyond Wednesdays, we also host exclusive events such as table reads, cinematography workshops with Panasonic, member screenings, and more. Each week brings fresh dialogues—some participants discuss their weekend shoots, others exchange insights with seasoned producers and directors, and a few engage in filmmaking exercises. It’s a space designed for creative engagement without strict structure or formal oversight.* *Note: Our community emphasizes collaboration, friendship, and goodwill rather than promotional activities. If you wish to promote a workshop, course, screening, or similar event, please contact the organizers first. Promotional privileges are generally reserved for trusted, long-standing members.

**What if psychical abilities (psi) can be cultivated in earlier life?** What are the implications for modern society and our perception of the world? A new theory based on entropy and perception may hold the answers... After 70+ years of controlled studies into psychical phenomena, scholars still lack a cohesive theory of what makes them possible.... **In this presentation, Dr Alex De Foe** draws on his 15+ years of research to model psi as an emergent lifespan experience - understanding it in relation to neural development and entropy, experiences often reported by children. Drawing upon the "free energy model" in perception and social neuroscience, Alex will make the case for cultivation of psi in pivotal states of consciousness. Part 2 will focus on experiential analysis to support the argument, including case studies and a short practice task called 'Image Streaming' that engages aspects of the mind at the periphery of experience. **Image Streaming** is a technique that bridges the divide between the conscious, unconscious, and super-conscious mind, related to Michael Thalbourne's concept of 'transliminality', in which material flows between these dimensions of mind seamlessly. **Case studies will be presented from:** * Research into out-of-body experiences (OBEs) and lucid dreams * A new theory on archetypes and the collective unconscious * Speculative accounts at the bridge between spiritual emergence and spiritual 'emergency' **About Dr. Alexander De Foe (PhD, M Couns):** * Academic at Monash University (2021-2026). * Runs a research program on mindfulness/consciousness * At RMIT University (2016-2021), he managed a virtual reality lab focusing on embodied cognition and social neuroscience. * Published over 30 peer-reviewed studies/papers on consciousness, perception, and general psychology. * Chair of the Australian Centre for Consciousness Studies * Committee Member of the Australian Institute of Parapsychological Research * Associate Editor at the Anthropology of Consciousness Journal. **Post-Event Social Lunch Hangout (12.45 - 1.45pm)** NOTE: TRYING OUT NEW LUNCH VENUE... Afterwards, you are invited to lunch with everyone at **Gopal's Restaurant** (5min walk from the venue) **PLEASE NOTE:** * **11AM Start -** Please be considerate and arrive early. * **$10 Cover Charge:** Room hire, facilities, and running costs.

**Details** Join us for networking, drinks and a good time catching up with fellow Power BI and Microsoft Fabric enthusiasts **Agenda:** 5:30PM - 6:00PM Welcome and Networking 6:00PM - 7:00PM Speaker Session **Topic:** An Evening with the Microsoft Fabric CAT Team **THE SPEAKER -** Phil Seamark - Phil Seamark works on the Microsoft Fabric CAT team and is an accomplished database and business intelligence (BI) professional. Phil has an in-depth knowledge of the Microsoft BI stack along with extensive knowledge of data warehouse (DW) methodologies and enterprise data modelling. Phil has expert knowledge in all facets of BI/DW including planning architecture, project management, dimensional modelling, performance tuning, ETL design, development and optimisation, report and dashboard design as well as installation and administration. Phil has written several books DAX and Data modelling and has also blogged extensively at dax.tips **THE SESSION** The Microsoft Fabric CAT (Customer Advisory Team) is touring ANZ and dropping in for an evening with us. Expect demos, war stories, and straight talk about what's working (and what isn't) at the biggest Fabric customers in the world. We'll range across the stack, covering OneLake, semantic models, Spark, real-time intelligence, performance, and whatever has just shipped. Plenty of time for Q&A, plus a few hot takes from the product group. Bring your hard questions. **Sponsors:** **Vivanti** A big thank you goes out to our sponsor, Vivanti, for their support of this Meetup; providing the venue as well as drinks for attendees. **GET AI** A big thanks to GET AI for sponsoring the food. GET AI is a Microsoft speciliased consulting company focussed on building AI solutions in the Microsoft Ecosystem https://www.getai.com.au

**What if psychical abilities (psi) can be cultivated in earlier life?** What are the implications for modern society and our perception of the world? A new theory based on entropy and perception may hold the answers... After 70+ years of controlled studies into psychical phenomena, scholars still lack a cohesive theory of what makes them possible.... **In this presentation, Dr Alex De Foe** draws on his 15+ years of research to model psi as an emergent lifespan experience - understanding it in relation to neural development and entropy, experiences often reported by children. Drawing upon the "free energy model" in perception and social neuroscience, Alex will make the case for cultivation of psi in pivotal states of consciousness. Part 2 will focus on experiential analysis to support the argument, including case studies and a short practice task called 'Image Streaming' that engages aspects of the mind at the periphery of experience. **Image Streaming** is a technique that bridges the divide between the conscious, unconscious, and super-conscious mind, related to Michael Thalbourne's concept of 'transliminality', in which material flows between these dimensions of mind seamlessly. **Case studies will be presented from:** * Research into out-of-body experiences (OBEs) and lucid dreams * A new theory on archetypes and the collective unconscious * Speculative accounts at the bridge between spiritual emergence and spiritual 'emergency' **About Dr. Alexander De Foe (PhD, M Couns):** * Academic at Monash University (2021-2026). * Runs a research program on mindfulness/consciousness * At RMIT University (2016-2021), he managed a virtual reality lab focusing on embodied cognition and social neuroscience. * Published over 30 peer-reviewed studies/papers on consciousness, perception, and general psychology. * Chair of the Australian Centre for Consciousness Studies * Committee Member of the Australian Institute of Parapsychological Research * Associate Editor at the Anthropology of Consciousness Journal. **Post-Event Social Lunch Hangout (12.45 - 1.45pm)** NOTE: TRYING OUT NEW LUNCH VENUE... Afterwards, you are invited to lunch with everyone at **Gopal's Restaurant** (5min walk from the venue) **PLEASE NOTE:** * **11AM Start -** Please be considerate and arrive early. * **$10 Cover Charge:** Room hire, facilities, and running costs. **The MTS is committed to providing events that align with and further The three objects of The Theosophical Society:** * To form a nucleus of the universal brotherhood of humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour. * To encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy and science. * To investigate unexplained laws of nature and the powers latent in the human being. However this being stated, the MTS does not endorse any health, spiritual, science-related, philosophical or theological /other assertions or claims made by any facilitator we host.

Weather looks reasonable on Sunday. Participants are invited to join us for a walk and talk about science, philosophy, AI and emerging technology. **Schedule** * **10.30** am – Meet outside the entrance to the Royal Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre (near the Observatory House, and a walk away from the Shrine of Remembrance) * **11.00** am – Venture into the gardens and walk the outer path anticlockwise, spiralling inwards towards the lake * \~1.00 pm – (optional) Lunch by the lake, (BYO or there are Terrace Café options) **Getting there:** If coming by **tram**, get off at Stop 19 - Shrine of Remembrance/St Kilda Rd **Parking** is free on Anderson St far side of the Botanic Gardens ([near eastern gate B and Tecoma gate C](https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne-gardens/interactive-map/)) subject to time limits in some stretches (mostly 3 hrs) - which is the only free parking area near the gardens that I can find. Check signage on the day. See this [PDF for more detail](https://athsvic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The-Tan-Parking-Map.pdf). **Possible discussion topics** * Latest AI models - Anthropic's Mythos and Fable blocked after US bans foreign use * AI Pause / Stop - will it work? (Regulatory catch-up, xrisk, global-coordination & geopolitical arms races, enforcement & logistics, existing capability overhang) * Technical AI safety - Mechanistic interpretability, linear probes, RLHF, behavioural evals * General AI alignment approaches: control vs motivation: \- control \(External Constraints\) focuses on building walls *around* the AI to restrict what it can do, trip wires etc. \- motivation \(Internal Alignment\) focuses on changing the AI’s inner desires so it *wants* to be ethical/help humans/act in accordance with the well-being of all sentience * AI ethics: how is it related to AI safety? What should be the target for AI alignment? Should the target be aggregate human preferences, religious doctrine, moral naturalism or something else? * Metaethics and ethics * Moral realism: a stance-independent moral ontology, useful for capturing non-arbitrary moral choice * Moral anti-realism: error theory, non-cognitivism, moral relativism etc * Can AI be fault-tolerantly aligned to moral realism or anti-realism? * Is sentience required for moral reasoning or moral deliberation? Can it be a hindrance? * Moral progress and indirect normativity * AI safety, automated persuasion, the orthogonality thesis * How epistemics (including science) makes progress * Health, wellness, and how to live a good life * Latest trends in AI: ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude * Economic impacts of AGI, automation, and unbounded inequality * UBI and universal wealth redistribution * The likelihood of future doom or utopia * Human augmentation and hacking human potential * Plato's cave * Fun theory and value theory "All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking." - Nietzsche, *Twilight of the Idols* Philosophy discussions can feel quite sedentary - hence our experiment in cross-pollinating exercise with engaging discussion. Exerting mind and body together may produce a fascinating dynamic. A sedentary lifestyle (and, by association, philosophy) has been linked to depression, anxiety and chronic stress. Ease the anxieties of the armchair philosopher engaging in mental gymnastics with minimal muscle movement - join our raggle-taggle crew of aspiring philosophers walking the talk. Healthy body, healthy mind. Bring elemental protection (umbrellas, sunscreen, etc).

**Saturday 20th June** Adorn yourself in your warmest witchy finery, grab your drum (if you have one) and come and join us as we call back the sun and celebrate the season of abundance-consciousness. If you have a song or poem which relates to the season, bring it along, and in the spirit of the season, some food to share. **MIDDAY – YULE RITUAL – THE SOLAR CONJURATION** A banishing of the ***Winter blues***, and a blessing of the ***Yule log***, precede the percussive energy raising and chant to call back the sun, culminating with the symbolic lighting of the ***Yule log*** and the spreading of the light and magic. Basking in the warmth and energy of the blazing ***Yule log***, we’ll then spice things up, as we conjure a ***magical Solstice brew*** of (non-alcoholic) mulled wine, to warm the heart, lift the spirits, and cultivate abundance-consciousness. **AFTERNOON – WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION** An afternoon of feasting and fun with seasonal poetry, storytelling, chant and song to honour and celebrate the solstice season. **IMPORTANT INFORMATION – Please read** **Please respect others - if you have any symptoms that may be covid or flu, we ask that you do not attend - we thank you for your consideration..** **TIME:** From 11am **COST:** $20.00 **BRING:** Food to Share **ENCOURAGED but OPTIONAL:** Seasonal Poetry or Song. **WHERE:** 130 Boronia Rd., Vermont, Melbourne, 3133 03 9873 3736 [esoteric666@optusnet.com.au](mailto:esoteric666@optusnet.com.au) [www.esotericbookshop.com.au](http://www.esotericbookshop.com.au) esotericbookshop.org

**Welcome to our Linguas Thursday Social + Language Exchange Meetup 🌍** We meet weekly at **Thursday — Asian Beer Café** **Level 3, Melbourne Central** **211 La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000** We will be in the are called the Chairmans Lounge. It is roped off. We ask that you **purchase a drink at the bar** or **pay $3.5**. *** ### 💬 Find your people (New!) Looking to practice a specific language? Post in the discussion using: * **#LearnSpanish** * **#LearnEnglish** * **#TeachEnglish** * **#LearnJapanese** * etc. 👉 This helps others find you faster and makes it easier to connect. *** ### *** ### ⏰ What to expect We consistently have **100–120 attendees** every Thursday (across multiple Meetup groups). People arrive at different times — **best time to come is between 6PM and 9PM.** Come solo or with friends — most people come alone and join conversations naturally. *** ### 🌏 Who attends? A mix of: * Native & non-native English speakers * International students * Backpackers & working holiday travellers * Professionals & expats * Local Australians You’ll meet people from: Europe, China, Japan, Korea, Latin America, and more. *** ### 🗣️ Why join? 👉 A relaxed, social way to practice English 👉 Meet people from around the world 👉 No pressure, no structure — just conversations *** ### 🍕 FREE DRINKS & FOOD FOR FRIENDLY VOLUNTEERS! We’re looking for **friendly volunteers** to help welcome newcomers and keep the vibe social. 👉 You’ll get: * Free drinks (beer/soft drink) * Food (pizza, wedges, etc.) * A fun team to hang out with No experience needed — many of our volunteers are **first-timers too**. Interested? 👉 [www.Linguas.au/Volunteer](www.Linguas.au/Volunteer) *** 📲 **More info:** [https://instagram.com/Linguas.AU](https://instagram.com/Linguas.AU) or **@Linguas.AU**

**The date is approximate and could change based on the condition of the sunflowers.** **The map of the fields is in the album. There are FOUR fields this year, and they are at new locations.** **Do not expect to find sunflowers at the same location as last year!** Please refer to the website for the latest photo. [https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/publiclands/central/sunflowers.aspx](https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/publiclands/central/sunflowers.aspx) Area Regulations: The destruction or removal of any plants (including sunflowers) is strictly prohibited. Parking is only allowed in designated parking areas. Do not block gates. Violators may be towed and ticketed. Driving is only allowed on main roads (River Road, Hunting Quarter Road, and Sycamore Landing Road). Only authorized or emergency vehicles are allowed behind the gates. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed. Wildlife Management Areas are trash-free. No trash cans are provided. Please take all your trash with you. Commercial activities are prohibited. Directions: From the Capital Beltway, take Exit 39 (River Road) west toward Potomac. Proceed for approximately 11 miles to the intersection of River Road and MD 112, Seneca Road. Turn left and continue on River Road for about 2 1/2 miles. McKee-Beshers will be on your left as you head west on River Road. Tips for a successful visit: McKee-Beshers WMA lacks bathroom facilities, benches, and picnic tables. Please plan accordingly. McKee-Beshers WMA is home to ticks, mosquitoes, and poison ivy. Long pants and shoes are recommended. The sunflower fields can be hard to find. Please use the map provided to help you navigate to the fields. Be sure to spray for bugs, as it can get buggy. I have not seen any ticks in the area, but please double-check to be sure. Share only your very best, most interesting shots after the field trip, and keep it to between 5 and 10 photos. By sending in an RSVP and joining this meetup event hosted by the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I am also agreeing to the terms of the following release and waiver of liability, which shall be binding on my heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns. In consideration of my (and my child’s) participation in the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I do hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless the Organizer, its members, officers, directors, employees, and the leader(s) of this event from any and all liability by reason of any damage, loss, expenses, or injury arising from my (and my child’s) participation in this event, including that caused solely or in part by the fault of any and all of the above-named parties.

📸 Featured Model Workshop: Charisma Davis – $150 Date: July 11, 2026 Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Location: Sterling, VA (details provided after registration) Workshop Fee: $150 Reserve your seat through Meetup and complete payment to confirm your registration. Space is limited. Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate ⭐ Exclusive 1-on-1 Sessions Available After the Workshop Private 1-on-1 sessions with Charisma are available following the workshop for attendees only. Attendance at the workshop is required to participate in the 1-on-1 sessions. Styles: Fashion and Boudoir Includes: Use of studio lighting and assistance with lighting setups. Join us for a hands-on photography workshop featuring Charisma Davis. This small-group experience is designed to help photographers improve their portrait photography while practicing lighting, posing, composition, and working with a live model. Limited 1 on 1 spots are available, so reserve early. Rate: $70 per 30-minute session paid directly to the model at event. What You'll Gain Hands-on shooting time with a professional model Tips on lighting, posing, and composition Personalized feedback in a small-group setting Portfolio-worthy images to add to your collection What to Bring DSLR or mirrorless camera Charged batteries and memory cards Notebook (optional) 1-on-1 Session Schedule 12:30 – 1:00 — 1:00 – 1:30 — 1:30 – 2:00 — 2:00 – 2:30 — 2:30 – 3:00 — Andy W. 3:00 – 3:30 — Andy W. 3:30 – 4:00 — Samantha M. Cancellation Policy Refunds will only be issued if the workshop is canceled by the host. Questions? Email us at info@studio151photo.com.

Inspiration comes in many forms. Still life paintings are just one of the lasting art forms that inspire us to learn, stretch our imaginations and create something unique. Artists have been capturing still life scenes since the Renaissance. In the 1600s, Dutch and Flemish artists created timeless images of flowers, tables clad with drooping table cloths and pitchers of cold water, wine bottles, fruit and even musical instruments to tell a story. Create a beautiful fresh floral arrangement to use in this workshop. Use simple set ups, props such as fruits, wine and other Dutch inspired items as part of our still life photography creation. Learn a basic still life layout, use of lighting and capturing style using your own DSLR camera or cell phone camera! Take home your floral creation, as well as photos and new knowledge to create your own piece of art! Enjoy wine and other refreshments as we work. What To Expect The flower arranging will be the first hour of this workshop. Working with flowers can be messy, so make sure to wear something you won’t mind getting a little dirty. We will follow this with the hands-on photography part of the class with opportunities to create different scenes and sets throughout the 2 hours. What Should I Bring? For the flower arrangement, you don’t need to bring anything out of the ordinary with you - we provide the flowers, vases, and tools you will need to create your arrangement. For the Photo session bring your DSLR or cell phone! We will provide props, backdrops, lighting and some inspiration! Our capacity is limited to 8 Students

\*\*NOTICE: The park is open for Sunrise Opening at 5:15 AM \*\* [https://www.novaparks.com/parks/meadowlark-botanical-gardens/events/sunrise-in-the-gardens-515am-opening](https://www.novaparks.com/parks/meadowlark-botanical-gardens/events/sunrise-in-the-gardens-515am-opening) From the website: Sunrise is the perfect time for a peaceful walk, birding, or nature photography. Meadowlark Botanical Gardens will open at 5:15am for guests to enjoy nature in the early morning hours. Please note: * Regular admission ($5-$9) and memberships apply. * Posed photography reservations are not available during extended hours. * These extended hours may be cancelled in the event of inclement weather. Please check [Meadowlark's Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/MeadowlarkGardens/) or novaparks.com for an inclement weather alert or call 703-255-3631 x0. * We will meet at the visitor center. Bring Water, a tripod, comfortable shoes, fully charged batteries, and empty cards There is no specific route in this park. Folks are free to wander around the trails in the park at their own pace. Check out Rob Trek's video from May 16, 2021: [https://youtu.be/QwNR_TuxM4Y](https://youtu.be/QwNR_TuxM4Y) For breakfast, after the field trip around 8:30 AM, we will head to The Virginian Restaurant, 169 Glyndon St SE, Vienna, VA 22180 Share only your very best, most interesting shots after the field trip, and keep it down to between 5 and 10 photos. Beauty, conservation, education, and discovery flourish throughout the year at this 95-acre complex of large ornamental display gardens and unique native plant collections. Walking trails, lakes, more than twenty varieties of cherry trees, irises, peonies, an extensive shade garden, native wildflowers, gazebos, birds, butterflies, seasonal blooms, and foliage create a sanctuary of beauty and nature. https://www.nvrpa.org/park/meadowlark_botanical_gardens/ By sending in an RSVP and joining this meetup event hosted by the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I am also agreeing to the terms of the following release and waiver of liability, which shall be binding on my heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns. In consideration of my (and my child’s) participation in the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I do hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless the Organizer, its members, officers, directors, employees, and the leader(s) of this event from any and all liability by reason of any damage, loss, expenses, or injury arising from my (and my child’s) participation in this event, including that caused solely or in part by the fault of any and all of the above-named parties.

## 📸 Featured Model: Alessandra – Only $150 She is a runway, published and overall amazing model!For the workshop segments, Alessandra will be shooting fashion. Date & Time: August 9, 10am-12noon (optional 1 on 1 opportunities after 12:30) Location: Sterling, VA (exact location provided upon registration) Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate (All are welcome!) ### 🛠️ What You'll Learn Join us for an immersive, hands-on photography workshop designed to elevate your skills! This session is perfect for hobbyists, aspiring photographers, and anyone who wants to build confidence behind the lens. We’ll cover: Learn the fundamentals of [e.g., portrait lighting or composition]. Practice techniques to [e.g., control exposure and use natural light]. Get tips for [e.g., setting up creative shots & working with models]. You’ll walk away with actionable knowledge and beautiful images to show for it! ### 🧑‍🏫 What Makes This Workshop Special Hands-On Practice: Bring your camera – most of the time will be spent shooting! Small Group Setting: Personalized feedback in an intimate group size (limited seats). Professional Guidance: Led by an experienced photographer who knows the craft inside and out. ### 🎒 What to Bring Your camera (DSLR or mirrorless preferred, but all gear welcome) Fully charged batteries and memory cards Notebook (optional, but recommended) ### 💲 Pricing Only $150 per person – reserve your seat today! Spots are limited, so book early to avoid missing out. ### 📢 Refund/Cancellation Policy Refunds will be issued only if the class is canceled by the host. ### 📅 How to Reserve Your Spot Click the "Attend" button to register. Complete your payment on Meetup to confirm your seat. Get ready to learn, practice, and have fun! We can’t wait to see you there! If you have any questions, please email us at info@studio151photo.com. Additionally, this beautiful model has agreed to offer 1 on 1 sessions, afterwards for a fee of $50 per half hour for fashion. Take advantage of these rates and use our studio lights to create dramatic and stunning images (Samantha will be there to assist with lighting setups)!!!! There will be a limited amount of 1 on 1's offered, so book early!!! Attendance at the workshop is required to participate in the 1-on-1 sessions. 1 on 1's (email us and we will update this list with your requested time!) 12:30 - 1:00 - 1:00 - 1:30 - 1:30 - 2:00 - 2:00 - 2:30 - 2:30 - 3:00 - 3:00 - 3:30 - 3:30 - 4:00 - Sam First come first serve, times only secured with payment.

10:00 AM - Meet & Create - Depending on the weather we will do a walk about for nature/outdoor photography and content creation. 12noon - Lunch + Networking We’ll head to a local restaurant for lunch and continued networking and conversation.

HANDS-ON (Bring your notebook or laptop computer...) Have you ever taken a workshop and asked yourself why your images didn't look like the instructors or your images just don't have the polish that other photographers have? "FINISHING" YOUR IMAGES IS A KEY TO PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY SUCCESS! If you have taken any of our NVPPA workshops, PPA Super 1 Days, other 3rd party workshops, or held your own client sessions, this is the chance to get the knowledge on exactly what to edit to strategically take your images to the next level. Competition judges will notice these flaws first! The techniques applied are targeted to make your images way better -- FAST! You will LEARN HOW TO improve your portrait and lifestyle people photography by applying strategic edits to one or more images in Lightroom accompanied by some Photoshop (when necessary). These Lightroom techniques and unique application of these tools are seldom used but fast and effective. The students will be able to follow along with the edits using the same image as the instructor. A follow-along outline and practice files are provided. The Lightroom portion focuses on- and demonstrates the specific use of the basic and ADVANCED tools of the Develop Module; it's assumed you have some knowledge already of the Library Module, rating images, and organizing your images into Collections. PLEASE COME TO THIS WORKSHOP WITH YOUR SELECTED IMAGES FOR CRITIQUE OR EDITING ORGANIZED INTO COLLECTIONS AND READY-TO-VIEW! This will save us valuable time :-). HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THE TECHNIQUES YOU WILL LEARN: • Lighten & Resolve Shadowy Eye Sockets With Just a Click (No Brush)! • Add More Depth & Dimension to Your images! • Correct Bad Skin-tone & White Balance • Learn 5 Ways To Resolve Glare Or Highlights On Face, Cheek, Hands, or Shoulders (Lr And Ps) • Correct Catch Light Problems: Quickly Add a Missing Catch Light in an Eye W/O Ps and Only 2 Clicks! • Change Light Direction From Broad to Short • Identify & Correct Blocked Up Blacks. Why is this Bad? • Identify & Improve Bad Composition • Improve Focus or Sharpness: Quickly Understand the Sliders and Identify What Each Controls • Reveal & Correct Overexposed Highlights • Remove Stray Hair (Ps, Studio Example) ONE-ON-ONE INSTRUCTION! For the final portion, we will answer specific questions about your own images. Due to the small class size, you will receive individual and specific instruction! QUESTIONS: We will be glad to help with any questions. Please contact the instructor and host of this workshop by clicking on Philip's profile image above. You can also email workshops@gallery252.com (no spam please). TO REGISTER: 1. Please RSVP to the right or message/Contact Philip Brasch via his profile in the right sidebar to express your interest. You will not be able to RSVP with the button in the upper right sidebar if you are not a member in this group. 2. Either way, PLEASE complete this short and secure (https) Registration and Contact Information FORM (https://goo.gl/forms/HFsiT6bL9Ntx4nfx2) <== Click this to register for this course! We will not share this information to other parties. Or click or paste this URL into your browser: https://goo.gl/forms/HFsiT6bL9Ntx4nfx2 . *** RSVP NOW! *** INVESTMENT: There is an investment for this professional photography workshop of $89. NVPPA Gold Members (paid) receive a $10 discount. Contact Philip for the discounted link. • FIRST, please RSVP on this site so we can meet you and know you're attending. • SECOND, classes are purposely kept small so we need a commitment to hold your spot beyond 24 hours; please remit your investment here via PayPal for $89: https://tinyurl.com/yxsvw5rd • Onsite registration or after Wednesday 11:59pm the day prior to the workshop: $109 https://tinyurl.com/y4y8lzf5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------