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.

 

[image_frame style=”framed” title = “Editing at Help Portrait” align=”right” width=”158″ height=”300″][/image_frame]Join fellow PSNWA members and guests as we celebrate the Holidays and say goodbye to 2016 with our Annual Pot Luck Dinner at the new PSNWA Gallery & Studio in Bentonville. Fried chicken from AQ along with tea and soda will be provided. Members are asked to bring a side dish or dessert.

Again this year’s potluck will include the annual PSNWA canned food drive to benefit a local food bank that needs its shelves restocked. We are asking everyone attending to please bring a canned or non-perishable item to benefit the charity. (Please make sure the food isn’t expired or close to expiration.) PSNWA will match contributions up to 100 cans of food.

Kris uses traditional photographic techniques to create abstractions from everyday objects by closely focusing on the truest form of the object. His current series is based on plants and the relsemblance to other organic forms. Kris’ work has been part of several exhibits throughout Northwest Arkansas and his work can be found in private collections in Arkansas, Virginia, California, Minnesota and Michigan.

Kristoffer Johnson is from Rogers, AR. He began working with photography in 2003. In 2014 he received a BA in Journalism from the University of Arkansas. He later received a BFA in studio art from University of Arkansas in 2015. He served as the Photo Editor of the U of A Student Newspaper “The Arkansas Traveler” from 2013-2015 and was the Photographic Society of Northwest Arkansas Exhibits Chairman from 2015-2016. Kris is the photographer/ darkroom printer for  Shiloh Museum of Ozark History.