Join us for the June General Meeting with award winning photographer Ed Cooley.

Love of nature, natural instinct and relentless pursuit of the perfect shot is evident throughout his work. His inspiring visions of the untainted landscape are breathtaking. Ed’s fine art landscapes and photographic exhibits have earned critical acclaim with 22 international photography awards in 2011.

Ed makes his home in the rustic Ozark Mountain region of Northwest Arkansas.

After years as a software engineer, entrepreneur and family man, Ed returned to his love of nature. He taught himself photography to share the wonderful locations he and his wife, Faith, were visiting. As his technical skills progressed, so did his passion for artistically capturing natural scenery. Over several years Ed spent more and more time exploring beautiful locations locally and around the country.

A near fatal accident, alone in the Arkansas wilderness, followed by a harrowing rescue and six months in rehabilitation would be a turning point in Ed’s life. He now travels worldwide photographing nature’s most beautiful and dramatic scenery.

Location to be determined.

Please join us on May 2nd at 7:00pm for a Town Hall meeting. This is your chance to interact with the Board of Directors to help influence the future direction of the PSNWA. We have several new Board members and this is your opportunity to get to know them and discuss future plans and activities for the Society. Topics of discussion will include: Classes, Events, Galleries, and Competitions. Also, as a group, we will also develop an online survey for the general membership. Again, this is your chance to  be an integral player in directing the future of the PSNWA.

The general meeting will be held in the Training Room at HFA (Harrison French and Associates) at 1705 South Walton Boulevard in Bentonville. Turn onto 18th Street and left into the parking lot. Drive between the two buildings to the back lot and enter through the northwest door (far right if facing the building). Please plan to arrive before 7:15, as the door locks automatically.

Time: 7:00pm -830pm

Refreshments will be provided.

The April General Meeting will feature photographer Deborah Billingsley, who specializes in fine art portraiture. Debra started using a camera at age 10, and has since studied with some of the best photographers in the world. She is the owner of the Deborah Billingsley Studio in Bentonville and has been capturing images home and abroad for more than 25 years. She is a Certified Professional Photographer and holds a masters of photography degree from Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Debra is also the area coordinator of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a nonprofit that proves bereavement photography to grieving parents who have lost a child at birth, as well as a member of the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Bentonville, Inc.

The general meeting will be held in the Training Room at HFA (Harrison French and Associates) at 1705 South Walton Boulevard in Bentonville. Turn onto 18th Street and left into the parking lot. Drive between the two buildings to the back lot and enter through the northwest door (far right if facing the building). Please plan to arrive before 7:15, as the door locks automatically.

<!-- [caption id="attachment_4590" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Charles Peek storm chasing.[/caption] -->

The March General Meeting will feature photographer and storm chaser Charles Peek.

Charles Peek travels across the country chasing all types of inclement weather. While severe storms that contain tornadoes are his primary target, he also chases lightning, flooding, winter storms and any form of weather that may impact the lives of people. In 2016 he traveled over 30,000 total miles in this endeavor.

Mike Martin, a native Arkansan, has been an avid nature and wildlife photographer for over 20 years. His photos have been published by the New York City Parks Department, the New York State Parks Department, the California Parks Department, and the Mississippi Wildlife Federation. He has also had a number of his photos published by regional magazines including “Arkansas Life” and “Our Ozarks.” In 2012, his photo of a Krider’s Hawk was selected by the Field Museum in Chicago for a kiosk display in the museum’s “Hall of Birds” exhibit that opened in October 2012.

Mike’s program will feature a slideshow of his bald eagle photos taken recently along the Chilkat River near Haines, Alaska. Following the slideshow, he will be sharing tips on achieving better focus with moving subjects.