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Guest Speakers & events
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Nov. 24
Speaker: Elizabeth Bush
Topic: Exploring Mare Island
Speaker: Elizabeth Bush
Topic: Exploring Mare Island
Elizabeth amidst keels at Mare Island, circa 2011
Elizabeth Bush, a member of NVPS since 2010, is the Nov. 24 presenter. She served on the Board of Directors for approx.10 years, including as President and Program Director.
She has photographed at Mare Island on many dozen occasions since her first visit in 2005.
"In the early years there were select areas not accessible to the public due to toxicity remaining from the Naval Shipyard which closed in 1996," she recalls. "However, I could pretty much roam most areas freely, which was very exciting to me as a photographer.
"Over the years, Mare Island became a special destination for me artistically. I created two books and two slide shows specifically about Mare Island. The presentation for NVPS will be a showing of the second slide show: The Allure of Mare Island. This program debuted in 2012 at Napa Valley Museum, and was presented subsequently at Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum, the Napa County Library, and other venues."
Much has changed on Mare Island since creation of The Allure of Mare Island," she adds.
"I recently reviewed the slide show in anticipation of the NVPS Mare Island presentation; I was amazed to observe that much of what I was able to photograph at the time has since been obliterated altogether. Thus, this presentation provides a nostalgic historical perspective."
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Napa Senior Center, 1500 Jefferson St, Napa.
Theme for critique photos: Mare Island, inside and out.
(For those without images from Mare Island, an alternate theme of industrial buildings/sites will be accepted.)
Member photos for the critique should be submitted to [email protected] by the Friday prior to the meeting.
(A friendly reminder: Your submitted photo should be a minimum of 1920 pixels on the long side.)
She has photographed at Mare Island on many dozen occasions since her first visit in 2005.
"In the early years there were select areas not accessible to the public due to toxicity remaining from the Naval Shipyard which closed in 1996," she recalls. "However, I could pretty much roam most areas freely, which was very exciting to me as a photographer.
"Over the years, Mare Island became a special destination for me artistically. I created two books and two slide shows specifically about Mare Island. The presentation for NVPS will be a showing of the second slide show: The Allure of Mare Island. This program debuted in 2012 at Napa Valley Museum, and was presented subsequently at Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum, the Napa County Library, and other venues."
Much has changed on Mare Island since creation of The Allure of Mare Island," she adds.
"I recently reviewed the slide show in anticipation of the NVPS Mare Island presentation; I was amazed to observe that much of what I was able to photograph at the time has since been obliterated altogether. Thus, this presentation provides a nostalgic historical perspective."
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Napa Senior Center, 1500 Jefferson St, Napa.
Theme for critique photos: Mare Island, inside and out.
(For those without images from Mare Island, an alternate theme of industrial buildings/sites will be accepted.)
Member photos for the critique should be submitted to [email protected] by the Friday prior to the meeting.
(A friendly reminder: Your submitted photo should be a minimum of 1920 pixels on the long side.)
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Dec. 6
NVPS Holiday Party
NVPS Holiday Party
The club's annual holiday party is planned for Saturday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Napa Senior Center on Jefferson Street.
Set up time is 4 p.m.
As in the past, the club will provide the main meat and fish dishes with attending club members contributing salads, side dishes and desserts.
Set up time is 4 p.m.
As in the past, the club will provide the main meat and fish dishes with attending club members contributing salads, side dishes and desserts.
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Jan. 12, 2026
Wendy Sparks, Jeff Torquemada
Wendy Sparks, Jeff Torquemada
Ethical Wildlife Photography
Jeff Torquemada and Wendy Sparks will discuss the finer points of ethical wildlife photography at the club's Monday, Jan. 24, meeting.
The couple's shared a passion for photography and advocacy for wildlife and the environment brought them together many years ago.
They are passionate about preserving all things wild, and through photography, they strive to capture images that tell a story and evoke emotion.
Photography has given them a more intimate perspective on wildlife by allowing them to view it through the lens of a camera. They have spent thousands of hours observing and photographing animals, always waiting to capture the perfect light! All the animals in their photographs are taken in their natural habitat; they do not bait or compromise the welfare of any animal to capture an image. They aim to raise awareness and foster respect for all wildlife by providing visuals that remind people of the importance of connecting with nature on an emotional level. They aspire to create images that people will want to display in their homes, helping them stay connected to the world of wildlife. Their work has been featured in magazines, books, films, and art gallery exhibitions, and their art is permanently displayed in The Little Art Shop in Benicia, California. They teach classes on ethical photography and provide images to nonprofit organizations and ecotourism websites. Check their website to enjoy many of Jeff and Wendy’s images: https://www.jeffandwendyphotography.com Napa Valley Photographic Society (NVPS) promotes the art and science of photography, providing education, image appreciation, inspiration, exchange of technologies. Most months we invite guest speakers to evaluate our images. Guests are welcome to attend.
Check the website for more information on the January presentation at the Napa Senior Center, 1500 Jefferson St.
The couple's shared a passion for photography and advocacy for wildlife and the environment brought them together many years ago.
They are passionate about preserving all things wild, and through photography, they strive to capture images that tell a story and evoke emotion.
Photography has given them a more intimate perspective on wildlife by allowing them to view it through the lens of a camera. They have spent thousands of hours observing and photographing animals, always waiting to capture the perfect light! All the animals in their photographs are taken in their natural habitat; they do not bait or compromise the welfare of any animal to capture an image. They aim to raise awareness and foster respect for all wildlife by providing visuals that remind people of the importance of connecting with nature on an emotional level. They aspire to create images that people will want to display in their homes, helping them stay connected to the world of wildlife. Their work has been featured in magazines, books, films, and art gallery exhibitions, and their art is permanently displayed in The Little Art Shop in Benicia, California. They teach classes on ethical photography and provide images to nonprofit organizations and ecotourism websites. Check their website to enjoy many of Jeff and Wendy’s images: https://www.jeffandwendyphotography.com Napa Valley Photographic Society (NVPS) promotes the art and science of photography, providing education, image appreciation, inspiration, exchange of technologies. Most months we invite guest speakers to evaluate our images. Guests are welcome to attend.
Check the website for more information on the January presentation at the Napa Senior Center, 1500 Jefferson St.
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TBD
Guest speaker: Mike Depue
THEME: Celebration of things that are old
Michael Kenneth Depue
A July meeting glitch which led to a lively and unusual outdoor meeting at the Napa Senior Center also brought about a scheduling change for guest presenter, Michael Kenneth Depue. The contemporary artist who lives and works in Oakhurst will speak at a later NVPS meeting, the date to be determined.
The Michigan native studied graphic design and started a career as an exhibition designer before the computer age when designs were illustrated in gouache paint.
Michael has more than 30 years in the design industry and now works as a painter, photographer and graphic designer. In addition he has been accepted in 38 national and international juried exhibitions with awards from eight of them and has one piece included in the permanent collection of the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art in Wisconsin.
He considers photography a foundation of his paintings and he utilizes digital manipulation to create compositions and collages. Recently, he has authored and illustrated four children's books.
The consuming interest that informs his work, he says, is exploring the abstract and the historical while developing a hidden narrative.
To see examples of Michael's work visit: https://www.michaeldepue.com/
Photo assignment theme:
Celebrate all things that are old, faded signs or things with weathered textures or rusty patinas. For subjects, Michael suggests visiting antique or thrift stores, yard sales or flea markets.
For photographers wanting to go to the next level, try double exposure using first a texture and then a subject.
The Michigan native studied graphic design and started a career as an exhibition designer before the computer age when designs were illustrated in gouache paint.
Michael has more than 30 years in the design industry and now works as a painter, photographer and graphic designer. In addition he has been accepted in 38 national and international juried exhibitions with awards from eight of them and has one piece included in the permanent collection of the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art in Wisconsin.
He considers photography a foundation of his paintings and he utilizes digital manipulation to create compositions and collages. Recently, he has authored and illustrated four children's books.
The consuming interest that informs his work, he says, is exploring the abstract and the historical while developing a hidden narrative.
To see examples of Michael's work visit: https://www.michaeldepue.com/
Photo assignment theme:
Celebrate all things that are old, faded signs or things with weathered textures or rusty patinas. For subjects, Michael suggests visiting antique or thrift stores, yard sales or flea markets.
For photographers wanting to go to the next level, try double exposure using first a texture and then a subject.
Wild and Free
by Michael Kenneth Depue
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