Berks Photographic Society

Valerie Hoffman “Garden Photography”
2025-04-07 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
– April 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM: Valerie Hoffman will share her insights on “Garden Photography”
Valerie Hoffman loves photography AND gardens! This photography educator who has led many Photo Treks and workshops is also a member of BPS. Valerie cannot remember a time in her life when photography was not a passion. From a very young age, she began taking pictures and learning the fundamentals of photography. This passion led her to pursue a degree in photography, as well as embark on a career in the photographic retail world. For more than 25 years I worked in the industry, selling photographic equipment and helping customers with their photographic needs. In 2009, she began teaching private photography lessons, then group classes and workshops.She loves sharing her 40+ years of photographic knowledge and helping inspire people to take their photography skills to deeper and more creative levels.
Valerie describes her presentation this way, “Spring is here (in April, of course:), and for those who love to capture the beauty of flowers in bloom, there’s no better time than now to head out to a local garden and create some beautiful images. And the best part is that here in PA, we have a ton of great places to visit. They don’t call the Greater Philadelphia area America’s Garden Capital for nothing!
Even for those who are less inclined to photograph flowers, their variety and bold colors provide a great opportunity for some creative images.
Join me as I take you on a journey through some of my favorite local gardens. We will discuss the best times to visit for different blooms, best conditions, along with tips on gear, composition, camera settings and more!”

John Barclay will present “Through the Lens of Love”
2025-04-21 19:00 - 21:00
April 21, 2025 at 7:00 PM: John Barclay will present “Through the Lens of Love”

John Barclay says, “If you are like me, you’ve probably chased after images, even images you might have seen searching for inspiration on social media. You may have even created a checklist to be sure you got exactly what you planned for. You have likely gone out with expectations only to be disappointed when the conditions were not right, or you did not find what you had hoped for.

Realizing that photography is a creative art form, I am constantly exploring new ways to connect with my subject. Over the last few years, I have been learning to fall in love with rather than just photograph what I am drawn to. Love? Really? What does love have to do with it? That is what this presentation will disclose. How does the love of my subjects influence my photography? It boils down to this — I photograph what makes my heart sing!

In this presentation, I will share stories and my thoughts from a 20 year journey to where I now look through the lens of love. I hope you will join me.”

John Barclay is an award winning freelance photographer based in Bucks County, PA.
John is a passionate photographer, enthusiastic workshop leader and inspirational
speaker, presenting his programs to audiences around the world. John is an Ambassador for Maven Filters and Lensbaby, and, well known, for his Topaz Webinars. John’s work has been published in a number of books and magazines, including the highly esteemed Lenswork Magazine, and is treasured by a number of private collectors.
Recently, Johnwas the recipient of an excellence award from B&W Magazine, had his B&W Aurorafolio featured in Lenswork. John was chosen by Dewitt Jones to participate in his www.healingimages.org program. You can learn more about John, his work, and, view his workshop schedule at www.barclayphoto.com

Mike Moats “The Properly Equipped Macro Photographer”
2025-05-19 19:00 - 21:00
May 19, 2025 at 7:00 PM: Mike Moats will present “The Properly Equipped Macro Photographer”
Being a properly equipped macro photographer is not just about the equipment, but also equipping yourself with the how-to knowledge of macro photography. Mike will cover the most important equipment for macro photography, how to control depth of field, composition, and finding character in your subjects.
Mike Moats is an international award-winning full time pro macro photographer from Michigan. He is a Tamron Image Master, Vanguard Pro, and his articles and images have been published in many photo magazines for over 15 years. He has a Macro Photo Club online with over 2,800 members, from 29 countries. Mike teaches workshops and speaks at photo conferences throughout the US.
https://www.mikemoats.com/
This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation. For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/.

Dutch Bagley “NYC Photography”
2025-06-02 19:00 - 21:00
June 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM: Dutch Bagley will share his perspective on “The Awe of Capturing Architecture”

Dutch says, “Photographing a city’s architecture is an enriching experience that allows you to capture the essence and character of urban landscapes. It is essential to identify the purpose of your photography. Are you aiming to capture the historical essence of the buildings, create a portfolio for architectural firms, or simply explore the aesthetic aspects of the structures? Knowing your purpose will guide your approach and the type of shots you seek.

Watch along as I demonstrate my process to identify, capture and create the types of images that, to my great fortune, have been accepted into international competitions.”

Dutch’s photographic education is a self-taught one, exploring all aspects of image making. When capturing an image, Dutch tries to see the final result, ‘before’ pressing the shutter. He believes that what we observe, feel and experience, forms the core of one’s life’s story. Part of his story is reflected in photographic images taken in an instant of time, in his world, that here and now. The act of processing those images allows him to express how deeply, either with awe, joy or sadness, those moments in time have affected him. His images are how he tells his story.

He has been photographing for his pleasure since the 1970’s with large format cameras and some film and DSLR’s. In 2014 he joined his first camera club, which evolved into becoming a member of many other clubs and photographic organizations, entered national competitions and made photographic presentations to local clubs. His favorite subjects are: architecture primarily in NYC, abandoned buildings and single exposure intentional camera movement.

See Dutch’s work at https://www.photographsbydutch.net/

Frank Smith “Travel Photography Near and Far”
2025-06-16 19:00 - 21:00
June 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM: Frank T. Smith will present “Travel Photography Near and Far”

Travel photography is more than just capturing beautiful locations—it’s about telling the story of a place through light, composition, and timing. In this engaging presentation, OM System Ambassador and seasoned travel photographer Frank T. Smith shares his approach to capturing the essence of both distant destinations and local landscapes.
With a passion for outdoor exploration, Frank has traveled across the globe, photographing diverse environments—from icy tundras to tropical coastlines and everything in between. Through his imagery and insights, he will discuss the key elements of travel photography, including planning, lighting, composition, and the patience required to adapt to ever-changing conditions.

Whether traveling to an iconic landmark or discovering hidden gems close to home, he emphasizes the importance of timing, adaptability, and understanding the capabilities of your gear.

Join us as Frank shares his techniques, experiences, and stunning visuals from his travel photography adventures, inspiring you to see the world—both near and far—through your own lens.

Frank T. Smith, a self-taught photographer with a lifelong passion for the art, discovered his love for photography at an early age. Specializing in outdoor and architectural photography, Frank has traveled on global journeys to capture the essence of remote locations, documenting both the people and their cultures, often supporting philanthropic causes.

As a proud member of the OM Ambassador program, affiliated with OM System (formerly Olympus), Frank utilizes the OM-1 and the OM-1 Mk II as his preferred cameras. When not venturing into distant locations, he explores local landscapes and seeks out unique architectural and urban decay sites for his photography.

Beyond his photography endeavors, Frank generously shares his time and expertise through in-person and online forums, delivering engaging presentations to diverse audiences nationwide. Recognized for his gift of communication and passionate approach, he inspires others through workshops, classes, and mentoring. Frank also serves as a judge for camera clubs and photography events, aiming to foster creativity and reveal the unnoticed.

In addition to his photography, Frank has been creating a series of videos showcasing his photo shoots and providing insights into the details of each shot, accessible on his YouTube page.

Widely respected in the commercial architectural photography community, Frank collaborates with developers, architects, engineers, and owners to capture the essence of their projects. His work has been featured in various media, marketing campaigns, print, exhibits, and philanthropic awareness initiatives.View Frank’s website at www.franksmithphotos.com.

If you are not able to join us in Suite 326 at the GoggleWorks, you can watch the presentation from home via Zoom.

This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation. For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/.

Bill Coughlin “Infrared Photography”
2025-09-08 19:00 - 21:00
September 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM: Bill Coughlin will present “Infrared Photography”

Photography has been a hobby of Bill’s for over 50 years. He remembers his first camera – a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye that used 620 Roll Film! That camera got him hooked on photography and over the next several decades he used various Canon, Nikon, and Fuji cameras. His first ‘real’ camera was a Canon FTb, full manual exposure of course. Bill is a Wisconsin native and he and his family moved to Pennsylvania in 1983. His first digital camera was the Sony Mavica MVC-FD5 which used a 3.5 inch floppy disk as the recording media! The image resolution was 640×480. With compression the floppy could store between 20 and 40 images!

With 4 children and 13 grandchildren, he has thousands of family pictures with many prints stored in boxes. His long-term project is to digitally scan all of them and share with his family.

Bill’s photographic journey includes many different photographic genres including macro, landscapes, portraits, a few weddings, travel, black and white, and infrared. He was introduced to infrared photography when his uncle used Infrared photos to tell the health of crops on his farm. The Infrared Camera could ‘see’ what the naked eye couldn’t see and that inspired Bill to experiment with various infrared filters and post processing techniques. According to Bill there is beauty to be found in unique and surreal infrared images captured with light from beyond the visible light spectrum.
On September 8th Bill will be giving a presentation on Infrared Photography. He will be discussing the light spectrum, options for IR photography, external filters, issues with various lenses, examples of IR photos using different filters, and his infrared photography post processing workflow.

In addition to serving as the Financial Secretary for BPS for the past five years, he is also Chairman of the Community Outreach and Engagement Committee. He coordinates getting volunteer photographers for various events held by non-profit organizations. Bill looks forward to sharing his Infrared Images and IR photographic techniques with you on September 8th.

UNCHAINED - Wildlife Photography For The Timid and The Brave presented by Mollie Isaacs of Awake The Light Photo Workshops
2025-09-15 19:00 - 21:00
September 15, 2025 at 7:00 PM: Mollie Issacs will present “Put More Life In Your Wildlife Photography”
Photographing animals, birds, and other wildlife can be exciting and rewarding. With the right techniques and a little knowledge, your wildlife photography can soar! Join Mollie Isaacs for this eye-opening peek into the finer points of getting the images you strive for. You’ll learn some pro tips and tricks that will elevate your wildlife and bird photography to a higher level. This program is educational, inspirational, and fun! You will come away with fresh ideas and a renewed enthusiasm for all the photography you love.
Mollie Isaacs is a professional photographer who specializes in Nature, Wildlife, Flowers, Birds, and Abstracts. She is passionate about photography, and loves to share that passion by teaching others. Early in her career she studied with Ansel Adams and Joyce Tenneson. She has won the Kodak Gallery Award 14 times, considered by some to be the “Oscar” of photography. Her work is in the Permanent Collection of the International Photography Hall of Fame, and has been exhibited at Epcot Center in Disney World, and Grand Central Terminal in NYC. She runs Awake The Light Photo Workshops & Tours, offers online Webinars, and personally leads photo workshops around the country and beyond. Read more about her and see her work on www.awakethelight.com.

This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation. For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/.

Ginnie Lodge “Still Life Photography”
2025-10-06 19:00 - 21:00
10/6/25 Ginnie Lodge “Still Life Photography”
follow up hands on session Oct 11th
https://ginnielodge.com/

“How AI is changing Photography!” by Bert Sirkin
2025-10-20 19:00 - 21:00
October 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM: “How AI is changing Photography!” by Bert Sirkin

Bert Sirkin describes his presentation this way, “Photography is undergoing a paradigm shift. AI changes everything – from camera capabilities to editing to generative AI. The future of photography as an artform is open to those who learn to use all the tools available to them. Learn how AI can help you increase your photographic creative potential.

I will explain, in simple terms, how AI works, what you can do with AI and how you can combine AI with the tools and skills we already have as photographers.

I will present perspectives you may not have yet have thought of. I will show you some of the more useful AI options available to photographers today. Gain valuable insights into the diverse applications of AI, including the groundbreaking AI features in Photoshop, alongside a range of other cutting-edge AI tools. We’ll look at how these tools can be combined to open up a whole new world of creativity.”

Bert Sirkin apprenticed at with a Professional Photographer in Boston when he was 18 years old and has done part-time Professional Photography since he was 19 years old. He’s taught various photography topics since 1970 and has spent 10 years teaching workshops in Everglades NP, Joshua Tree NP & Monument Valley Tribal park. He taught various computer programming languages at Capital Community Technical college in Hartford, CT for 20 years. He currently teaches online photography workshops and frequently speaks to photography groups.

This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation. For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/.

Tom and Meg Stoeri “A Photographing Experience from Scotland to Iceland"
2025-11-03 19:00 - 21:00
Long time BPS members Tom and Meg Stoeri say, “Join us as we present our experience as photographers on an expedition small ship cruise exploring the North Atlantic from the Orkney islands of Scotland through the Faroe Islands and on to circumnavigate Iceland by sea. From a neolithic settlement, through isolated but enduring small island villages, to new land being created in Iceland, we encountered challenging and unique photographing opportunities. All with the North Atlantic weather as a backdrop. It was memorable and we would love to present it to you.”

Ray Schneider “Visual Time Travel”
2025-11-17 19:00 - 21:00
November 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM: Ray Schneider will present “Visual Time Travel:How to Take Your Viewers on a Trip”

Explore how to compose pictures that draw the viewer in and that conjure a story in the mind.
Storytelling is a popular genre in the visual arts, but Ray Schneider will help participants do more than just tell stories with photographs. In addition to reviewing the core tenets of composition he will explore how composing pictures that are relatable, that evoke emotions, engage the viewer empathically and contain classic visual archetypes, dramatically increases the likelihood that the picture will take the viewer on a trip through their consciousness, past, present and future. The stronger this connection can be the more interesting and memorable the photograph will be.
During this presentation Ray will share pictures from a variety of genres including landscape, street photography and more. And he will offer ideas which come from the world of composition, perception, and cognitive psychology, for creating more impactful pictures.
Ray Schneider is a freelance photographer whose images span numerous genres including portrait, street, landscape, garden, animals, and events. An avid traveler, his images come from over 30 countries. He has published a book entitled What the Photographer Sees, available on Amazon and recently received a Portfolio Merit Award from Black and White Magazine. He teaches photography workshops and is also a speaker at camera clubs across the country.
Prior to becoming a professional photographer, Ray travelled the country as an operations management consultant. He is a recognized expert in process, quality and operations improvement consulting, with deep experience across a broad range of industries.
For Ray, seeing like a photographer is to perceive well. It’s creating images that are more than pretty pictures — hopefully — and that trigger the viewer’s inner-voice, that suggest a story, that evolve in the consciousness as they’re viewed, that invite a sense of curiosity, that cause one to pause and maybe take a closer look. www.rayschneiderphotography.com

This will be a paid event for non-members with a $10 donation. For non-members interested in attending, please register by making your $10 donation at https://store.berksphotographic.org/product/club-donation/.

Leigh Reeves hosts “How Would You Edit This?”
2025-12-01 19:00 - 21:00
December 1, 2025 at 7:00 PM: EDITING NIGHT with Leigh Reeves

Our member from Australia, Leigh Reeves, will host a special evening where several BPS members will show their own take on how they would edit an image he presents them with.

Annual Members’ Meeting
2025-12-15 18:00 - 21:00
12/15/25 Annual Members’ Meeting
