Based out of Halifax NS, the Photographic Guild of Nova Scotia aims to promote the art and science of photography amongst its members and the public through avenues such as competitions, field trips, seminars, workshops and public shows.
Our club
The Photographic Guild of Nova Scotia, or “Guild,” was founded in 1947 as “Colour Photographic Guild of the Maritimes”.
PGNS Founding Members – image provided by Cyril Smith’s daughter, Corinne Hoebers. Members include: Wayne Baird, Ed Bollinger, Seymour Crawley, Harold Davis, Russ Heffler, Tim Randall, Barbara Schwartz, Cyril Smith, George Sylvester, Cliff Wright, Peggy Wright
The Guild is one of the largest photographic clubs in Atlantic Canada, with over 150 members. Our membership consists of a wide range of age groups, with expertise ranging from the aspiring beginner to the advanced amateur and the professional photographer. Our members specialize in a variety of photographic styles and subjects, including abstracts, black and white photography, fine art, landscape, macro, nature, photojournalism, portraiture, travel, wedding, and underwater photography. While most of us shoot digitally, some of our members enjoy shooting film, and some use both media.
Learning by interacting with other photographers
One of the ways the Guild encourages the development of photographic skills is through competitions. Our members compete locally, nationally (CAPA) and internationally (PSA and FIAP) through the Guild. Many members also compete to a very high standard at an individual level. There is nothing like the impetus of an upcoming theme assignment to motivate a photographer to go shooting with his or her camera in pursuit of a winning image. By using one’s camera and viewing the images created by other photographers, members can learn how to improve their images. Guild members’ successes in competitions are acknowledged with merit certificates, awards and trophies at our annual spring banquet. Great photography and good food, who could ask for a better combination?
The Guild has numerous field trips each year. The goal is to encourage members to hone their photographic skills in the company of other photographers and to have fun while doing it! It is a great way to get to know other members, learn photographic techniques and be with others who enjoy the hobby. Only another photographer can understand how one can start down a trail and less than five minutes later become completely engrossed in capturing a photographic scene for the next hour or so.
The camaraderie amongst our members is further enhanced by our evaluation groups, which are hosted at members’ homes. This is another venue for our members to get together and talk about their images. Constructive feedback is given on their images, as well as tips on how to take or improve an image. It is an excellent way to make photographic friendships and to acquire new skills.
Our program also includes educational seminars and workshops designed to inspire and instruct. The Guild hosts one-day seminars on a variety of photographic techniques. For the last few years the Guild has hosted seminars on various aspects of digital photography.
Our newsletter, the Bluenose Focus, is produced three times a year. In addition to competition results, it contains profiles on members, news about upcoming events and competitions, as well as articles on travel, helpful hints and techniques.
Sharing our passion for photography with the public
The Photographic Guild of Nova Scotia is committed to promoting photography to the general public through exhibits, public audiovisual shows, workshops and competitions.
Every winter since 1995, we have field trips to the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park. The resulting images from these trips have led to a permanent photographic exhibit entitled “Winter In The Wildlife Park.” This exhibit is maintained by the Guild in collaboration with the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park and is seen by over 100,000 park visitors each year.
In an effort to acquire high quality images of Nova Scotia birds in the wild and geological subjects, the Nova Scotia Bird Society, the Atlantic Geoscience Society, and the Nova Scotia Nature Trust have also collaborated with the Guild by conducting competitions. These images are made available to the respective societies for educational use.
Nova Scotia is a beautiful province with numerous photographic opportunities. If you are ever in Nova Scotia, we would be happy to see you at one of our meetings and would enjoy talking about photography with you. We meet at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, 1747 Summer Street, Halifax, every first and fourth Sunday and every second and third Monday from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. from September to June.