SUMMIT SPOTLIGHT CORNER
It's hard to believe we're getting ready to meet again for the tenth time. NANPA members will gather at the Doubletree Hotel in Portland this January, for our 10th Anniversary Annual Summit. So many things have changed
since our first Summit, but the friendships, inspiration, and learning remain the same.
I attended NANPA's first Summit in Fort Myers, Florida, in January 1995. My newfound friends and I sat around the tables each day and listened to speakers who included Dewitt Jones, Art Wolfe and George Lepp. It seemed that each speaker spoke directly to me. This year you will hear programs by them again.
Ten years ago we sat in that big ballroom for the entire Summit. Only if you were bold and had good timing would John Nuhn, Diane Jolie, or one of the other editors hold your images up to a window and give you feedback. We're way past those days. In Portland, you'll have a chance for formal portfolio reviews by photo editors from stock agencies, calendar companies, and magazines. You also can have photo/text packages or book proposals reviewed by editors from the National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Smithsonian magazine, and others.
You'll have a chance to enjoy breakout sessions by Tom Vezo, Courtney Milne, Rob Sheppard, Arthur Morris, Brenda Tharp, Larry Minden, and others. You'll have an opportunity to learn about developing your naturalist skills, shooting in your region, using images for advocacy, photographing underwater, and surviving a medical emergency in the field.
After that first Summit, professional nature photographers asked for a special place to share ideas and voice concerns. The idea of a Pro's Meeting was the result. If you're a working professional in the business with five or more years of experience, you'll definitely want to attend the Pro's Meeting. On the other hand, if you're new to the photography business or looking to begin marketing your photos, then plan on attending my session on surviving your first five years of business. It is offered at the same time as the Pro's Meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
There will be so many activities in Portland that you might have trouble deciding what to do. There are workshops by Robert Glenn Ketchum on Tuesday and more by Freeman Patterson, Jim Zuckerman, and Joe McDonald on Wednesday. Tim Grey has a Sunday workshop on digital workflow.
If you want to be behind a camera versus in a classroom, I suggest you attend one of the field trips. Groups are going to Cannon Beach, the Columbia River Gorge, the Northwest Trek animal park, and a small group will go to the zoo to shoot some special animals.
A decade ago, there was a small tradeshow with only nine tabletop exhibits in Fort Myers. In Portland, you'll have a chance to walk down aisles and aisles of display booths filled with tantalizing goods and services. There will be an equally impressive bookstore filled with books by NANPA members and products bearing the NANPA logo.
If you're a charter member, have attended all ten Summits, or attended the Summit in Fort Myers or the precursor in Jamestown, then you are a NANPA Founder. Plan to attend the special evening event on Friday, where NANPA Founders will be honored.
NANPA Annual Summits have changed much in ten years, but the friendship, inspiration, and learning remain the same. I hope you'll join me this January in Portland to celebrate and experience this anniversary celebration.
Kathy Adams Clark
Summit Advisory Council Chair | 
