Want to join or renew your membership in the RAPC?
(For current members, please call the RA Centre to renew your membership at 613-733-5100. Or, in person, go to the Member and Guest Services desk in the East end of the RA Centre. Click here for contact information and hours of operation.)
The RA Photo Club brings together people who enjoy and want to learn more about photography. We welcome amateur photographers of all levels. Potential members are welcome to join up to three regular Tuesday meetings free of charge.
The RAPC offers a variety of options to explore and expand your photographic interests such as:
- hearing accomplished photographers speak on a vast array of topics;
- workshops and educational opportunities to learn how to create Audio-Visual productions, Fine Art images, Still Life images, and much more; and
- nature and urban outings.
More information is available here.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
RAPC Mission Vision & Values
Mission
A volunteer-driven club providing its members opportunities to increase their knowledge and to apply this knowledge to improve their skills and achieve their photographic goals and objectives.
Vision
To provide our members with a full range of programs and services that serve their needs regardless of their area of photographic interest or their current capabilities.
Values
Our club values:
gaining and sharing knowledge and experience across all aspects of photography
members who are involved and willing to help other members and the club
having fun through exploring and sharing photographic opportunities with other members
🥇Congratulations Sherry McLean
Fellow Club Member Sherry McLean won the gold medal in CAPA’s November 2024 Black and White Individual Competition, with her three photos; Icy Reflection, Never Forgotten 911, and On Silken Wings.
View Sherry’s and the other entrants’ photos here: https://capacanada.ca/competition-winners-2024-black-white-individual-competition/
2024-25 New Members Meeting
Dates and Presentations
-------------------------------------
All Club Members are welcome to join the meetings
Meetings are held in the Courtside “A” room from 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
January 14th - Still Life Group – Allan B Cameron. The Still Life Group provides members an opportunity to exchange ideas and techniques in both workshops and outings and to participate in an annual Showcase.
The photo homework for January 14th is horse(s), derelict building(s), and still life.
January 28th Competitions Committee - Manfred Mueller will provide an explanation of the Competitions Committee and its workings within our Club. As well aspects of the competition process, our ranking system, Inter Club events and CAPA Events.
The photo homework for January 28th: leading lines, depicting cold, and your neighbourhood (time to show it off!)
February 11th - Studio - Rick Harris will introduce the workings of our Studio, along with a tour of the Studio itself. The Club’s studio provides RA Photo Club members who have Studio Group membership, access to a fully equipped studio within the RA Centre.
February 25th - Education Team – Ross Laing will deliver an overview of his Team, its goals and objectives through presentations, seminars, and workshops. Most of the activities run for one to two hours, with some extending to half or whole days depending on the topic and/or activity.
March 11th - Studio - will provide a very basic introduction to studio lighting, with the intent of demystifying the complexity of this photographic aspect.
March 25th - Education Team will review lens selections for different photographic genre as well as some helpful advice for camera setup, again for different genre. There will also be examples of gizmos, additional equipment and add-ons used to enhance and simplify your photographic activities such as tripods, filters, macro rails, snoots etc.
April 8th - Roger Miller’s Technical Services Team will be featured. This key Club service provided by Roger’s volunteers is in the form of setting up and running the presentation equipment which can provide valuable tips on how to run software and set up presentations for yourself.
April 22nd - New Members Team will provide extensive firsthand help, advice and if requested, critique in preparation for the New Members Showcase.
April 29th - New Members Showcase in Clark Hall. If necessary, a pre-presentation meeting could be held in Courtside “A.”
May 13th - New Members Team review and critique.
——————————-
Completed:
September 24th - Introduction Meeting
October 8th - due to unforeseen circumstances, a general discussion took place and a casual review of ‘homework’
October 22nd - Randle Wilson presented on behalf of François Gadoury. The group meets the first Wednesday of the month from October to May to give photographers an opportunity for informal feedback on each other’s work.
November 5th - Nature Group – Paul Bertelmann. All Club members are welcome to participate in Nature outings which are announced throughout the year with an annual Nature Showcase being presented.
November 19th - Urban Group – Hughes St-Pierre. The Urban Group is a special interest group of the Club focused on shooting "people in their environment" and "urban landscapes" with an annual Showcase being organized.
December 3rd - Galleries & Exhibitions – Jane Spencer. The RAPC has two galleries that offer a top-quality resource for displaying the work of club members. The possibility of resuming Ottawa Public Library exhibitions is being reviewed.
Tuesday Evening Presentations can be found here in Documents (Click on Resources/Presentations, Techniques & Tools/then appropriate year)
--------------------------------------------
List of Competitions for the upcoming Club year 2024-2025 click here
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Showcase Instructions and Deadlines for Club year 2023-2024 - Click here
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Club Program
Tuesday night meetings.
Clouds. They're always on the move. They churn and spin, they rise and fall...and a time lapse can transform them into breathing life forms! I will be talking about how I go about planning a storm chase, and the processes of capturing hundreds of images and processing them into a time lapse. Time permitting, I will also share some images from the backcountry, where I endeavour to find hidden subjects and compositions that perhaps no other photography-minded campers have even laid eyes on.
https://www.photographic-mh.com/gallery
http://www.instagram.com/photographic_mh/
https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelHigginsPhotographic
Lines & Curves - In this competition, images should capture the energy and emotion that lines and curves bring to an image.
- Geometry in Nature – images that capture interesting natural shapes and patterns like spirals, fractals waves, etc… This theme highlights the curve and repetitions found in the natural world or created within a photographic image.
- Landscape – images capturing interesting architectural shapes, leading lines, patterns in rural or urban environments. This theme focuses on curves, geometry, and visual rhythm in man-made surroundings.
- Minimal Still Life – simple, clean images of everyday objects arranged in repetitive patterns or positions to emphasize their curves and lines. This theme aims to find the curve and visual interest in mundane items.
- Motion and Flow – image capturing the curves and created by moving elements such as people, animals, vehicles, water, smoke etc. This theme focuses on using curves to show movement and energy.
- Kaleidoscope Curves – image featuring interesting reflective symmetry (where shape or pattern is reflected in a mirror line or a line of symmetry),or a kaleidoscopic effect. Images will showcase curves, lines, and geometric shapes found in modern architecture. Submissions can feature architectural details such as stairs, railings, windows, bridges, and other structural elements. Creative perspectives showcasing the artistry of modern architectural designs are encouraged.
Editing Criteria: Any editing techniques that do not employ AI tools are permitted. Frames or borders are not allowed.
Images that receive high scores in this competition will be considered for entry in the CAPA Club Lines & Curves Competition: https://capacanada.ca/2025-curves-lines-competition/
Details to be announced
Suliman will be presenting his 90 Seconds Photoshoot project: "Every image has a story".
He will talk about the importance of goal setting, and photography projects. Suliman will show his work through photos of his travels, and fun slides shows.
Further description of his presentation to follow.
People and Pets - The RAPC has traditionally had one composition where the topic was formal or informal portraiture.
In order to broaden the appeal of this competition, the types of images allowed have been expanded to include formal and informal portraits, street photography that singles out individuals or a small group of people and portraits of pets.
Images of wildlife, farm animals or other animals that are not normally considered to be pets are not allowed. Neither are general street photography scenes where people are not obviously the main area of interest.
Editing Criteria: Any editing techniques that do not employ AI tools are permitted. Frames or borders are not allowed.
With today’s sophisticated cameras and countless resources available for helping us learn how to use them, making beautiful photographs has never been easier. But is “beautiful” enough? In a world where 3.2 billion images are shared on social media every day, what makes your images worth stopping for? Do they tug at a viewer’s heartstrings? Do they tell an interesting story? Can they make people laugh or think or wonder? Have they anything important to say? In short, do they mean anything?
Details to Follow
Frank Gunn, an Ottawa native, started shooting for the Canadian Press in 1984 and hired on staff in 1992.
Frank will present his work in covering national and international sporting events along with many political and news events.
He was nominated for five National Newspaper Awards and has won three National Awards.
Not often do we have a Canadian Press photographer as speaker...an evening not to be missed!
Details to Follow
Please note: this is an in-person competition and will be taking place at the RA starting at 7:30 pm.
This is the Club's pre-eminent print competition and is being held for the first time since the the pandemic. Entrants are required to enter 5 prints that are connected to each other in a series, or that are a “sequence” of images with a story line. Judging is by a single judge with experience with monochrome images who will comment on each set of entries and then select a single winner. We look forward to seeing as many members as possible attending this premier event.