On April 28, 2026 at 6:00 p.m., Lancaster Photography Association will be learning how to critique our own images by having a "You Be The Judge" night. We meet at the Antelope Valley Senior Center at 777 W. Jackman St., Lancaster, CA.

We will start out with a short presentation about judging criteria and what judges look for in an image. Then we will look at photographs that you have sent in and elicit critiques from those of you in the audience about each image. We will look at the positives and what could be improved for each image.

Learning what to look for in a competition image is a very helpful skill to have as you progress as a photographer and enter competitions, whether in LPA, S4C, SPA, PPA, or PPC. These skills also help you as you are out shooting photographs and thinking about what you want your final photo to look like, adjusting your location/lighting/settings accordingly. 

We will also have our normal Photosharing at the beginning of the workshop. Send up to 10 photos to Kathy at kc_newman2001@yahoo.com by 04/27/26.

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83220018761?pwd=aB5sxM517Xk44Pp2SZNqU0AoPktTXk.1

Join us on March 24, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. for a hands-on Headshot Workshop at the Antelope Valley Senior Center.

We will have several backdrops set up with various lighting options, and we will spend our time taking photos of each other!

Headshot photography is an essential skill for a photographer these days, as everyone is in need of headshots and personal branding photos for their business, website, or social media. Being able to take headshots is a great marketing tool for your growing photography business. If you are working on promoting yourself as a photographer or just want a fun new Instagram, Facebook, or X profile picture, this is the workshop to come to!

We all enjoy having new photos to use on our social media pages, and this is an opportunity to get a variety of images from our fellow photographers. Come prepared to get your headshot taken and to take headshots of your friends. Bring any props you may want to include in your photos.

We will also be spending time at the beginning of the workshop for photosharing, so don't forget to send Kathy up to 10 photos to share. kc_newman2001@yahoo.com

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89917138269?pwd=cg8eX0rqKCM1GQA3tFUydER5PM1ORy.1

On February 24, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.,  Lancaster Photography Association will hold a Magic of Waterdrops workshop at the Antelope Valley Senior Center. We will explore the fascinating art of water drop photography in a hands-on creative workshop designed to reveal stunning reflections, tiny details, and abstract beauty. Kathy Newman will share some information regarding lighting, set-up, and camera settings, and then you will have time to check out each station set up around the room.

During this session, you will discover techniques for capturing:

• Water drops suspended on dandelion puffs for dreamy delicate images.
• Flowers reflected inside individual droplets for dramatic minature scenes.
• Water drops on glass with colorful backgrounds to create vibrant abstract designs.
• Oil drops on water reflecting colorful designs underneath.

What to Bring:

• Camera with manual controls
• Macro lens or close-focusing lens
• Tripod for sharp results
• Off-camera light - speedlight or constant light

Come experiment, learn new techniques, and have fun discovering how small details can produce big visual impact!

We will also be doing our normal PHOTOSHARING. So don't forget to send Kathy Newman up to 10 photos by Monday, 02/23/2026. kc_newman2001@yahoo.com

Zoom link for Photosharing and Kathy's presentation: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82700272779?pwd=rZI3oI6sufuzyNICWpmuwRltorfbdE.1

 

 

Instructor: Kathy Newman

Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - 6:00 p.m.

Join us at the Antelope Valley Senior Center for an inspiring and educational workshop with Kathy Newman, as she demonstrates how to add textures to photographs to create expressive, artistic results using Adobe Photoshop. 

In this session, Kathy will walk participants through the creative process of working with layers and blend modes, showing how textures can enhance mood, depth, and visual interest in an image. Whether you want to add subtle richness or transform a photograph into a fine-art piece, this workshop will provide practical techniques you can apply right away.

What You'll Learn:

• What photographic textures are and how they affect an image.
• How to use layers to apply textures non-destructively
• An overview of key blend modes and when to use them.
• Tips for achieving artistic, natural-looking results.
• Creative inspiration for incorporating textures into your own work.

This workshop is suitable for photographers with a basic working knowledge of Photoshop, who want to expand their creative tool-kit and explore new artistic possibilities.

Come ready to learn, experiment, and be inspired!

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81079888379?pwd=z0aRMUpCbepQJDhyUsUCF6XsC2hcUB.1

 

On October 28, 2025, Lancaster Photography Association will have a workshop night with a swap meet for our un-needed camera gear and learning what some of our members keep in their camera bags. 

Our swap meet will occupy the first half hour to hour of our meeting time. Bring the camera gear you have outgrown or are no longer using to sell or give away. One person's clutter is another person's treasure! We are facilitating this event for our members to be able to buy and sell their camera equipment.

There will be a variety of both small and larger items available, cameras, tripods, lenses, camera straps, frames, photo accessories, etc.

Please bring cash, checks, or use paypal or Zelle for payment.

The second half of the evening will be "What's In Your Bag?" We will have several members share what they keep in their camera bags on a regular basis, what extras they find essential to keep on hand, and what specialized items they find handy for specific circumstances, such as for macro, traveling, or on a wildlife excursion. It will be fun and educational!

We will also do our normal workshop photosharing, so send up to 10 photos to kc_newman2001@yahoo.com.

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85249321454?pwd=h4Vzh333RaAotxCRuZPuXYFavbXvq9.1

On September 23, 2025, Kathy Newman will share her exploration into the world of refractography - the art of creating images with light, camera and NO LENS!

She attended a workshop that LPA had ten years ago with Bill Debley, which really intrigued her and captured her imagination. So of course she had to try it out!

Learn how to use refracted light that your camera sensor captures to create colorful abstract images that are unique every time. 

Kathy will share some of her favorite images, the technical details, and demonstrate the technique (if we can get the room dark enough).

Join us at the Antelope Valley Senior Center at 6:00 p.m!

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84658829765?pwd=tShYkD8XSKaBRzVVMHqXwH1up6bKyS.1

On August 26, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at Antelope Valley Senior Center, Roy Patience will speak to us about the world of focus stacking - from visualizing the scene to producing the results. There will be numerous images, a few insects, many flowers, a few spiders, and only one equation. He will introduce you to focus bracketing and focus stacking.

By the end of this presentation, you will have the information you need to try your first focus stack.

ZOOM LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81502695548?pwd=2iFKh5mRYtQd5of66Zx51EaGI1vs35.1

Roy Patience Bio: Roy received his first camera, an Asahi Pentax, in 1963 and that began his journey into closeup photography. 

His first accessory was a set of Spiratone extension tubes that allowed him to take all sorts of photos of tiny objects. After graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in Physics, he spent 35 years in the defense industry, working for General Dynamics and Hughes Aircraft on a variety of projects ranging from reconnaissance airplanes to all sorts of space-based infrared sensors. After retiring, he renewed his interest in focus stacking of the natural world, ranging from wildflowers to insects to sand. That required numerous bits of new equipment like macro flashes, automated focusing rails, bellows, reversed enlarge lenses, microscope objectives, and specialized focus stacking software. Now that newer cameras have incorporated focus bracketing into their firmware, he has more technology to master. 

Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Antelope Valley Senior Center

Are you planning to enter your photography in the 2025 Antelope Valley Fair: Whether you are a first-time entrant or a returning exhibitor, join the Lancaster Photography Association for a hands-on workshop to help get you fair-ready.

This informative workshop will walk you through every step of the entry process and give you valuable insight into what the judges are really looking for.

Kurtiss Humphrey (CoChair) will guide attendees through the registration and submission process, including deadlines, category selection, mounting guidlines, and tips for a successful and smooth entry. If you've ever had questions about how to enter, this is your chance to get answers directly from the source.

Kathy Newman (CoChair) will share insider tips on what the judges are looking for, based on years of experience. Learn how to present your work in the best light, what makes a photo stand out, and common mistakes to avoid. Whether you are aiming for a blue ribbon or just want to see your work displayed, this portion is a must-hear.

WHY ATTEND?

Understand how to properly register and prepare your photos.

Learn how to choose your strongest images for competition.

Discover what makes a photo award-worthy.

Get inspired and ask questions in a supportive environment.

This event is open to the public, and especially valuable for photographers of all experience levels. Whether you shoot with a DSLR, mirrorless, or smartphone camera - everyone is welcome!

Don't miss this opportunity to step confidently into this year's AV Fair Photography Exhibit. See you there!