Rochester Camera Club plans 1st showing of work in July

"Enhance" by Benji Robichaud (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Shawn Pierce and Tanya Hervey are both passionate about photography, and were eager to share their passion with the rest of their community, which they did last spring after launching the Greater Rochester Camera Club.

This week, the club celebrated its first anniversary at its regular monthly meeting. Gatherings feature guest speakers and workshops, as well as time to socialize and discuss photography. The group also dedicates time each month to critique members' photos and reflects on what photographers did well with their work and what they can do to improve. The meetings conclude with a new photo challenge for the upcoming month.

"Both Tanya and I own photography businesses in Rochester, so we're familiar with everything that goes into pursuing this as a career or just as something fun to do in your free time," Pierce said. "We decided to start the camera club so that we could share our love for the art with our neighbors and be part of the city's budding arts community."

In its second year, the camera club remains focused on serving as a forum for photographers across all skill levels while also working to expand its footprint in the Rochester arts scene. This summer, the club will host its first photography exhibition at The Franklin Gallery at Riverstones Custom Framing on Main Street. The opening reception will be held on July 6, and is open to the public.

The group meets monthly each month except July and August, and membership dues are $35 per year on a May through April cycle. Anyone who is interested in joining may attend up to two regular meetings - those not featuring a speaker - as guests.

"Our goal is to build a strong community of photographic artists, and we're really proud of how vibrant it's become a year after we started the camera club," Pierce said. "We want anyone who is interested in photography, whether they do it for a living or are just starting out, to take part so that we can all develop our skills together."

Meetings are typically held from 6-8 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the Rochester Performance and Arts Center, 32 North Main St. The next meeting is scheduled for June 19.

For more information about the club, and to keep up to date on photo challenges and meeting information, visit the club's website and its Facebook page.