Guest Speakers & events
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Jan. 26, 2026
Wendy Sparks, Jeff Torquemada
Wendy Sparks, Jeff Torquemada
Ethical Wildlife Photography
January confab of curlews, Buchli station marsh -- Carolyn Younger
Jeff Torquemada and Wendy Sparks will discuss the finer points of ethical wildlife photography at the club's Monday, Jan. 26, meeting 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.
Photo assignment theme: photographing wildlife in a natural habitat. Any animal photos will do. Submit two the images to [email protected].
Images for the monthly critique should be JPGs no larger than 2 MB and formatted at 72 ppi and
1920 pixels on the longest side.
File names should include the image title and photographer's first and last name.
If you wish your images to appear in a specific order, please number them accordingly.
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.
Photo assignment theme: photographing wildlife in a natural habitat. Any animal photos will do. Submit two the images to [email protected].
Images for the monthly critique should be JPGs no larger than 2 MB and formatted at 72 ppi and
1920 pixels on the longest side.
File names should include the image title and photographer's first and last name.
If you wish your images to appear in a specific order, please number them accordingly.
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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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