William - Meetup Organizer of the Week - 4.28.08

Join me in Nashua, New Hampshire for a chat with our Meetup Organizer of the Week for April 28, 2008, William and his group, New England Photo Expeditions

William was nominated by several of his members to receive this recognition (well deserved, I will add).

The NEPE takes photography to new heights, seriously! They're not your everyday Photography Meetup. This gang goes for the gusto; photographic expeditions to interesting, albeit sometimes treacherous locals.

Just to keep things interesting, William and his staff of AOs are putting together a NEPE Photo Contest and later in the year, a coffee table book. Be sure to send us a copy!

Thanks, William. Your spirit and dedication to the NEPE is truly commendable.

How long have you been interested in photography?

I can't recall when I took a real interest in photography. It was later in my life. I started out experimenting with a camera I got as a gift. It was a simple point and shoot but some of the shots I have to say were pretty good. I looked into upgrading and soon realized that photography is pretty expensive. But I did it anyways and bought a early model Nikon DSLR. Over the years I continued to upgrade, buying more advanced systems, bigger and faster lenses, flashes, ect.... I am mostly into landscape and candid photography (practice alot on my kids). After I had the system I wanted and had all the accessories I looked into joining a photography club. I went to my first meeting and soon realized photo clubs were not for me. I just wanted to go and photograph something of my own.

Do you utilize conventional SLRs or are you strictly digital?

I use strictly digital. I like having the ability to see what I shoot, make the adjustment and shoot it again if necessary. But, I think the group itself is pretty diverse.

When did you originally find out about Meetup.com and decide starting a group was for you?

When I first joined Meetup I signed up for another photography group in the area. And although it was informative there was not much hands on as far as getting out there and shooting.

So I started New Hampshire Photo Expeditions and Later changed the Name To New England Photo Expeditions seeing as our expeditions take us all over the New England Area. The group took off fairly quickly and our numbers have steadily increased.

Photography Expeditions garners quite large RSVPs for your excursions. Do you rent transportation or carpool?

Transportation.. Hmm good question. Most of our events are one day excursions so many of the members meet us right on location for the shoot. For some of our longer trips or the trips that require us to drive from location to location we do try to carpool with one another.

What is the farthest you've traveled and have you ever stayed overnight at a location with the group?

We have done some overnights. In the spring of 2007 some of our members traveled up to Acadia National Park for a few days, last fall we went and photographed in different locations in Maine, NH, and Vermont. We have planned a few overnight trips and I am looking at some different locations for later in the summer and for the fall for our next overnight excursions.

Do you have a "most memorable Meetup moment" to share with us?

This question is easy!! A few months back we were doing a winter landscape workshop in Rockport MA. The day started out sunny, fairly warm, and for once in our groups history it wasn't raining or snowing. However, that would change quickly!!.

We were heading up to the top of a ridge when I noticed in the far distance the dark clouds closing in on us. By then the wind had picked up a bit and I made the comment to Roger(An AO, and the main subject of the Book Of Roger) that this didn't look to good. Now, before I tell you what happened next let me say I posted a message the day before the trip about dressing in layers because of the possibility of snow squalls which was forcasted earlier in the day. Well everyone dressed appropriately, all but one member. Me!!

I came in a pair of jeans, no hat, no gloves, and a ski-jacket with no liner because I didn't want to get to hot. Anyways, just as we got to the top of the cliff and with no possibility of escape, it hit!!. Half the group ran back down the cliff looking for cover, the other half, to far up the cliff got nailed!! Windswept blinding snow literally pushed us around the cliff. I took refuge behind a stone bench. I'm not sure where the others went but I did manage to look up and spot Roger who sitting there with no means to escape the winter blast.

I managed to get off a shot and record the first entry into the book of Roger. Here is the links to the photos of that day: http://photo.meetup.com/553/photos/?photoAlbumId=295107&photoId=3218287, http://photo.meetup.com/553/photos/?photoAlbumId=296417&photoId=3213651.

Your calendar is full for the next two months and already loaded with participants. Do you decide where to hold the events or is it a group effort?

I generally research and set up the different places to shoot. However, there are events planned and organized by our AO's. Other members have offered ideas that have turned out to be great Meetup ideas. During the groups Covered Bridge tour one of our members ask about doing a tour of the Boston Churches and within a few days it was researched and posted and it turned out to be one of best events.

Where do you see this all headed in the years ahead?

We have lots more to come for the upcoming year! If you take a look at our calender we are pretty busy most of this spring with expeditions happening all over the place. Starting in May we will have NEPE first monthly photo contest. We are also going to put together a year in review photo book which will chronicle all of our expeditions throughout the year.

On a side note: congrats to Missy who was recently promoted to AO in charge of SM's, quite the accomplishment.(sorry all, private joke). Take care of that ankle Missy.

Be sure to share your congrats with William in the Organizer's Forum