The Maryland Photography Alliance has been busy with several initiatives directed towards improving the quality of area judges, offering educational seminars, improving member club finances, and encouraging interaction with member clubs. Here are a few updates:
“Learn and Earn” Program – MPA is launching a new program where members from MPA clubs can receive discounts on educational seminars and workshops. Plus, MPA member clubs could potentially earn a commission for each person registering from that club. We’ve been working hard on this one and our first seminar will be “Street Photography: What the Masters Can Teach Us” by Leo Howard Lubow.
- This 1-Day seminar will be open to the public and will have a list price of $125.
- Members from a MPA club will receive a $26 discount, bringing the cost down to $99.
- A registration website has been created and the participant will indicate his/her primary MPA club. Go here to see more: www.mdphotoalliance.org/leo/
- A member club could receive a commission for every participant who indicates a primary club. Final details are being worked out on revenue share.
- Future “Learn and Earn” programs will have different discounts and revenue share.
“Judge Certification” Program – MPA has developed a partnership with Roy Sewall, as the trainer of a group of eight prospective judges late in 2018 and early 2019. Each training period will consist of three mandatory sessions. Completion of the sessions, along with Roy’s approval will certify a judge as competent for judging a camera club competition. The judge will have the tuition of the sessions paid by MPA. In return each judge will be required to judge two competitions at an MPA member club at no charge over the next two years. The advantages to this program are many. Clubs save money by attaining judges at no cost, the quality of judging will improve and judges get training that could improve their own artwork.
The first training session is FULL but MPA is taking nominations for the second period of training that will take place early in 2019. Seats will be filled on a first come basis. There is no charge for a member to participate, and there is no cost to the club. Anyone interested should contact MPA at: mpa@mdphotoalliance.org
MPA Website – The MPA website has improved aesthetics and some new content. We hope you’ll take a look and help spread the word. The site is at: www.MDPhotoAlliance.org. Check out the new content under the MPA News link.
Save the Date – The 2nd Annual “Odyssey of Light” Seminar is going to take place on Saturday April 27, 2019. Two great topics – Landscape Photography and Street Photography. Two great speakers – Canon of Light Photographer Ken Sklute and two-time Pulitzer Prize Winning Photographer Essdras Suarez. The previous event sold out in three weeks and we expect another quick sell out.