Northern Virginia Photographic Society, Northern Virginia's Camera Club

History of the Northern Virginia Photographic Society

In March, 1965, Sil Horwitz, held a meeting at his home in Springfield, Virginia, to discuss ways and means of organizing a camera club to serve all of Northern Virginia. The meeting was attended by a group of Northern Virginia amateur photographers, Everett Johnson of the Greater Washington Council of Camera Clubs (GWCCC), and Jim Burchfield of the Washington Star.
Afterwards, handbills were distributed and notices were placed in local newspapers inviting all interested persons to an organizational meeting at the Richard Byrd Library in Springfield on April 7, 1965. Twenty-two amateur photographers attended the meeting and formed what became the Northern Virginia Camera Club. A few had been members of the former Springfield Camera Club, but many were new to an organized camera club. However, they all shared an interest in developing their photographic skills. The members elected Sil Horwitz president, Ted Kirkham secretary, and Harry White treasurer. A committee was formed to write a constitution, and the new club voted to join the GWCCC and the Photographic Society of America (PSA).

 

Workshop sessions, which were started in 1973, proved helpful in bridging the gaps between novice and more advanced photographers. In that year several club members volunteered to make themselves proficient in various specialized techniques and to present programs demonstrating those techniques to the membership. Subsequently, the same programs were presented at several other camera clubs in the Washington area.

 

The classes of competition were expanded in September, 1974. The slide making competition was divided into Novice and Advanced classes, giving the club five classes of competition – two each in monochrome prints and color slides and one in color prints.

 

During the 1974-1975 season, the Executive Board worked on revising the constitution, by-laws, and rules of competition. They completed the task in mid-May 1975, and the membership ratified the revisions at a regular meeting at the Robinson School on June 4, 1975. The club also voted to change the name to the Northern Virginia Photographic Society.
The following photographer of the year awards are named after members who have made important contributions to our Society.
  • Photographer of The Year – Advanced Monochrome Prints – Sil Horwitz Award
  • Photographer of The Year – Novice Prints – C. William Valencourt Memorial Award
  • Photographer of The Year – Advanced Slides – Ollie Fife Award

Sil Horwitz Award – Advanced Monochrome Prints

Sil Horwitz, FPSA was one of the original founders of the Northern Virginia Photographic Society over 33 years ago and, although he has retired to Florida, he remains active in photography and is still exploring new worlds. He is currently the Webmaster for the Photographic Society of America and, for years, has written a column in the PSA Journal on new photographic products. A few years ago, we were honored when Sil came up from Florida to attend NVPS’ annual banquet.
This was a chance for some of us newer members (only 10 years in the club) to meet Sil personally and hear his views on several subjects. The club was then in an internal debate on digital imaging and manipulation and Sil was very frank with his views on the subject. He was excited about the future possibilities.

 

This award not only honors its recipient, but also honors Sil for his more than 33 plus years of contributions to amateur fine photography in NVPS, PSA and other groups around the country. (Written by Sherwin Kaplan – FPSA – Fellow of the Photographic Society of America)

 

C. William Valencourt Memorial Award – Novice Slides

C.William Valencourt was a tremendous member of the Northern Virginia Photographic Society. Bill joined NVPS around 1978. In the course of his too brief stay with us he was Workshops Chairman one year, served a term as Vice President for Programs, published FOTOFAX for two years and assisted in its publication almost every year, and spent a couple of years as Secretary/Secretary-Treasurer of the Greater Washington Council of Camera Clubs working to straighten out its books and other affairs. Last, but not least, Bill was President of NVPS in the 1981-82 club year. But, Bill was more than an untiring worker in tasks that were less highly visible. He was always ready to help anyone in any way he could to assure smooth operation of our club, to further its growth, and, in particular to help newcomers to the club and novices in the making of color slides. Because he felt strongly that many of our competition slides could be improved by cropping he held slide mounting workshops on a number of occasions.

He supported and participated in most of the field trips held during his membership. After his death there was an outpouring of expression by a number of our members of their appreciation for Bill’s help in, (1) learning of the existence of NVPS and the scope of its activities,(2) getting acquainted after they had joined, and (3) improving the quality of their work, particularly in the Novice Color Slide competition category. In view of Bill’s service to NVPS and its members and his constant attention to improving the work of our novice color slide makers,the NVPS Executive Board has established the C. William Valencourt Award for Photographer of the Year in Novice Slides. (Written by Greg Gregory)Note: due to the decline in novice slide entries, the C. William Valencourt Award for Photographer of the Year in Novice Prints.

 

Ollie Fife Award – Advanced Slides

C: Ollie Fife, FPSA. Born, Oliver E. Pfeiffer, April 2, 1912, Middleton, Massachusetts. Died June 14, 1996, Alexandria, Virginia. Ollie Fife, as we knew him, worked in the Lawrence textile mills while studying advertising in night school. He moved to New York City after the 1929 Stock Market crash and worked for a Madison Avenue ad agency before finding his niche in freelance photography. In WWII he became a Navy Chief Photographer’s Mate and designed and supervised the construction of a photo laboratory on board the aircraft carrier USS Sargent Bay from which he flew aerial photo missions.

His career included being a newspaper photographer for the New York Times, Sunday Times & Travel Section, US Camera, Camera, Camera Craft, Ladies Home Journal and the illustrated London News. After the war he moved to Washington, DC, where he worked for the State Department, and as a writer/photographer covered the White House, Capitol Hill, and the Embassies. For the USIA International Press Service as a staff photographer he documented State Visits of the Queen of England; the King of Belgium; the Crown Prince of Japan; Soviet Premier Khrushchev; Prime Minister Nehru; French President DeGaulle; the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg; the Emir of Kuwait; and scores of other foreign presidents, vice-presidents, and prime ministers as well as cultural and artistic groups. He retired from the USIA in 1976 after more than 25 years of service. In retirement he traveled extensively in the U.S. and abroad pursuing his lifelong interest in photography. Ollie was a Fellow of the Photographic Society of America and active in many of its activities, among which he was Photojournalism Division News Editor for many years, wrote numerous articles and lectured and presented programs at PSA meetings and conventions. He assisted many NVPS members and conducted programs and judged photographic competitions for area clubs. Ollie brought honor to the Northern Virginia Photographic Society by his presence. (Written by Lynn Maniscalco)

Other Society Awards
  • David E. Carter – President’s Award
  • Joe Atchison Award – For Outstanding Service to NVPS

David E. Carter – Presidents Award

David Carter (1938-2008) had an enormous impact on the growth and development of the Northern Virginia Photographic Society. Dave grew up in Michigan and participated in several camera clubs as a young man.
He completed his post-graduate psychology studies and earned his doctorate in New York before accepting an assistant professorship at Georgetown University in the early 80’s. When he joined NVPS in 1983 he brought his significant photographic skills, teaching skills, keen vision and understanding of visual design, and knowledge of camera club activities. He devoted this wealth of knowledge and talent to our organization and has left an enduring legacy that includes:
Starting two regular activities that continue today and into our future. The monthly FORUM meeting and the Member’s Gallery show are attributed to Dave’s early leadership although he always deflected credit to others for their ideas and assistance. His On Location column appeared monthly in our FOTOFAX newsletter. Dave’s meticulous writings and directions could lead anyone right to his tripod holes. His research pointed out items of interest for photographers and non-photographers. These writings became a significant part of a Field Trip Guide Book published by the Northern Virginia Alliance of Camera Clubs and remains useful today. Dave authored or co-authored several other Alliance publications. Dave served as FOTOFAX newsletter editor for a number of years. Since that time our newsletter has received an award almost every year from the Photographic Society of America for its excellence. Dave conducted many workshops and his influence was infectious. His Night Photography workshop (with Gary Silverstein) sent us off in a new and delightful direction.
His Learning from the Masters workshop (with Jim Steele) taught us to see how the great painters used design and light in their work; and as a result his influence made our visits to museums and art galleries a more pleasurable experience. His Macro and Close-up Photography workshops were inspirational to many of us. Dave showed us that we didn’t have to buy expensive equipment to take advantage of these techniques. We could use extension tubes, tele-extenders, diopters and reversing rings and achieve extraordinary effects. (Written by Ed Funk)
The award was established in 2007 and the award is presented to the President on the completion of service at the end of the year. The award is a plaque prepared each year for the outgoing president.
Joe Atchison Award – for Outstanding Service
The NVPS organization can only function because of the dedicated service of the members serving in elected and appointed positions. In an attempt to provide some recognition to these deserving individuals, NVPS has established the Joe Atchison Service Award. It was established in memory of Dr. Joe Atchison and for his many years of service to the club. This is the highest award given by NVPS to any member.
The first recipient was Dave Carter in June 1998. Other recipients have been Erwin Siegel, Greg Gregory, Ed Funk, Joe Miller, Andy Klein, Sherwin Kaplan, and Bill Prosser.
The recipient for the award is selected from those individuals nominated by club members. Criteria for the award include: Length of service to the club, and functioning as a role model and an inspiration to other members over the years.
The nominations are confidential and the selection is made by a panel of past presidents of NVPS. The selection of a recipient of this award is optional and only is presented when a nominee meets the criteria of the award. Nominees of the award are strictly confidential.
This was established in 1998 and is also presented at the Awards Banquet to an individual who has performed outstanding service to the club over a period of many years. It is intended to reflect the values that the leadership of NVPS deem important for the good of the club and is perhaps the most prestigious award that can be conferred on a club member.
For this award nominations are accepted from the general membership and considered annually but need not be awarded each year. The following criteria are used for consideration:
  1. Length of service
    The extent that this service has changed the club for the better
  2. The extent that the individual being considered is a role model to other members
  3. The extent that the individual being considered is an inspiration to other members
Gloria Seeman Memorial Award
This award is presented to the best Monochrome image of the year. Unfortunately there is little known about the origin of this award.

Past Presidents of NVPS

1965-1966 Sil Horwitz 1991-1992 Ed Funk
1966-1967 Ken Murray 1992-1993 Zanne Tillman
1967-1968 Harry White 1993-1994 Josh Taylor
1968 – 1969 Bob Crosby 1994 – 1995 Carolyn O’Connor
1969-1970 Lars Janson 1995-1996 Andy Klein
1970-1971 Newell Terry 1996-1997 Jim Wood
1971-1972 John Attinello 1997-1997 Katrina Marsha (09/97-10/97)Resigned (Moved to Atlanta)
1972-1973 Royal Burkhardt 1997-1998 Janis Higdon 11/97-06/97
1973-1974 Alan lsicson 1998-1999 Frank Mertes
1974-1975 Bill Hezlep 1999-2000 Wayne Wolfersberger
1975-1976 Tom Hady 2000-2001 Chuck Veatch
1976-1977 Jim Steele 2001-2002 Joe Miller
1977-1978 Joe Stroske 2002-2003 Janis Boyce
1978-1979 Greg Gregory 2003-2004 Mary Ann Setton
1979 – 1980 Kathy Steele 2004 – 2005 Carl Zelman
1980-1981 Glen Ohmund 2005-2006 Ralph Edwards
1981-1982 Bill Valencourt 2006-2007 Sam Schaen
1982-1983 Dave Naley 2007-2008 Scott Musson
1983-1984 Esta Gladstone 2008-2009 Tom Brett
1984-1985 Erwin Siegel 2009-2011 Sandi Croan
1985-1986 Brice Harbert 2011-2012 Bob Friedman
1986-1987 Dave Carter 2012-2013 Willa Friedman
1987 – 1988 Gretchen Kolsrud  2013-2014  Mike Whalen
1988-1989 Fred Siskind  2014- 2015  Georgette Grossman
1989-1990 Craig Wineman  2015-2016 Jamie Kiechlin
1990 – 1991 Sherwin Kaplan  2016-2017  Kevin Egan
 2017-Now  Bill Millhouser
NOTE: Help us update the history.
Tell us what you believe were significant events/decisions since June 1975.