2021 N4C convention in Duluth – Cancelled until next year

The 2021 N4C convention in Duluth has been postponed until 2022.

Dear Conference Attendee,

It is with an abundance of caution along with much disappointment that the Duluth-Superior Camera Club has decided to postpone the 2021 Fall N4C Convention for the health and safety of members and our community. We were looking forward to “everything photography” that we had planned for you, but we do not want to risk anyone’s wellness given our areas uptick in Covid and the community spread of the virus. Also taken into consideration was the wildfires, drought, and that the leaves are already changing up here…creating potential issues with air quality and good conditions for our field trips.

Just so you know, we’re a hardy, hard working bunch at 46° North. The pandemic might have won this year, but we are planning on hosting the 2022 convention on September 22-25, 2022 at the Radisson Duluth-Harborview. While the speaker lineup may change, the conference framework will be the same and we will make sure you have a great educational and photographic experience.

The Radisson Duluth will work with each of you that reserved lodging. You have two options: a) Cancel your booking (nothing has been charged to anyone at this time) or b) keep your booking and use it as scheduled.  To cancel your room reservation, please call the hotel at 218-727-8981, if you don’t cancel they will charge you for the rooms. 

For your convention registration fees, you have two options:

  1. Roll over your registration to the 2022 N4C Convention on September 22-25, 2022. This makes it easy for you and it will help us plan ahead. You will also avoid additional charges if convention costs rise.
  2. Receive a full refund electronically through PayPal if you paid through PayPal(make sure to check your account), or in the mail via a paper check if you paid via check. For a refund by check if you paid via paypal, please contact Doug White by September 23rd with what form or to it roll over to next year. 

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and frustration this may cause and we look forward to greeting you at 46° North in 2022!

Sincerely,

Amber Nichols

Chairwoman N4C Convention Committee


Best of N4C presentation

On Wednesday, October 14, 2020, the N4C hosted a “Best of N4C” virtual awards ceremony via Zoom. This online event recognized photographers from N4C clubs who won awards in monthly contests during the 2019/2020 season.  

This event typically is held at the annual N4C convention. This year it was held virtually because the 2020 N4C convention was cancelled due to Covid-19 concerns.

Ron and Jennifer Tigges of Digital Dubuque, from the Dubuque Camera Club, hosted this event virtually. There were 27 attendees, representing some of the 38 clubs in the N4C.

Recognition was given to the following Dubuque Camera Club photographers:

  • Ronald Tigges, 3rd place, Digital Journalism, “Good Night.”
  • James Durrant, 3rd place, Digital Travel, “Nighttime at Falling Water, Pennsylvania.”
  • Stephonie Schmitz, honorable mention, Digital Travel, “Monument Valley, Arizona.”

Upcoming N4C gatherings:

  • April 30 to May 2, 2021 — Spring Mini-convention, Wesley Woods, near Pella, Iowa. More info here.
  • September 23-26, 2021 — Annual Fall Convention in Duluth, Minnesota. Hosted by the Duluth-Superior Camera Club.

If you missed the “Best of N4C” presentation, the full list of winners is available here. The video presentation is available as a 28-minute video on the N4CTubes YouTube channel.

March/April news & updates

Sorry to say, below is the upcoming Dubuque Camera Club meeting calendar. Along with the rest of the world, we are trying to keep our family and loved ones safe and healthy. In-person meetings are suspended (for now).

  • April 6, 2020 — Club meeting. CANCELLED. Submissions are still due.
  • April 20 — Club meeting. CANCELLED.
  • May 4 — Club meeting CANCELLED. Submissions are still due. No Digital Travel entries.
  • May 18 — Club meeting? VIRTUAL judging of Digital Travel.
  • June 1 at 6:00 p.m. — Potluck Picnic (We hope!).

Virtual judging is coming up!

If you’ve been reading the N4C posts and emails (or the N4C Bulletin), you’ll already know they have decided to (1) cancel the spring mini-convention, but (2) go head and hold the April and May contests.

What does it mean for club members? You can submit your photos to N4C competition, just like always! If you have questions, be sure to check the Competition page . As always, images may be up to 1920px on the longest side, file size no more than 750KB. Send in your April submissions by Monday, April 6th.

Because of the pandemic crisis, our club may need to come up with a process for online judging. Our club will probably need to judge DT virtually on May 18, 2020. (Details about virtual judging will be sent to club members by email).

March returns

Our club has received Digital Nature (DN) returns for March 2020 N4C competition submissions. Congratulations to these photographers:

Get ready for club exhibits

One of the perks of Dubuque Camera Club membership is being able to participate in club exhibits. We are preparing for a 2020 exhibit at the Dubuque Museum of Art.

TREES at DuMA. This year’s Dubuque Camera Club exhibit at the Dubuque Museum of Art will have a TREE theme. Be thinking about trees as you’re out and about this spring. Our club photographers have already submitted some beautiful preliminary images. Take a look at the club’s pre-Tree gallery!!!

Club members: If you would like to participate in this year’s DuMA exhibit, send up to 5 preliminary images to Ron or Ken. Make sure that your member number is in the filename.

Smokestack exhibit. Sadly, the Smokestack is one of the many businesses that closed when the Iowa governor declared a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency. The club’s exhibit there is postponed indefinitely. We hope to reschedule when the world returns.

Other N4C news: The N4C has had some openings on their board of directors. Our own Jennifer Tigges is running for a new position. Yay!!!

Jennifer Tigges, Dubuque Camera Club, nominated for Director 3.
Owner, operator of Digital Dubuque LLC. Videographer, photographer, web designer and project manager since 1989. Community advocate serving on the City of Dubuque Park and Recreation Commission, City of Dubuque Cable TV commission, Director, Friends of the Mines of Spain Board, and Assistant Scoutmaster, Boy Scouts of America. Assisted in fundraising, policy making and special event coordination in several nonprofits in Dubuque, Iowa. Recently became a Star Legacy photography volunteer. Member of the N4C Dubuque Camera Club since 2007. N4C 2018 Convention Co-Chair, planning committee, and public relations.
“I hope to bring more opportunities to younger members in the N4C and give a digitally focused prospective to promote growth and continuation of the N4C.”

Other news…

General Bob has had success with his photo of “Three Sisters,” a mountain in Canada. You may remember this image, because a version of this beautiful image was in the club’s 2019 Reflections show at the Dubuque Museum of Art. Congratulations to General Bob for the publication of “Three Sisters” in Landscape Photography Magazine.

Here’s an event that may interest all photography enthusiasts: Out of Chicago has switched from an in-person conference to An Online Global Photography Conference. It will be held April 24-26, 2020. They are offering an impressive range of online sessions and tutorials. Cost: $300. Click here to learn more.

Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is seeking submissions for their 2020 calendar. Deadline is July 1, 2020. Find complete information here.

Registration reminder: Finding Your Light

Finding Your Light, the annual N4C convention, will be held in Des Moines, Iowa on September 19 – 22, 2019.

If you plan to attend Finding Your Light, the annual N4C convention in Des Moines this fall, now is the time to register! Convention registration is open to Dubuque Camera Club members (all of our club members are N4C members) as well as other photography enthusiasts in the community.

Last year when our club hosted the annual convention here in Dubuque, we had a lot of fun! Our theme was Blufftops & Visions. This year the Des Moines Camera club is hosting the convention. They have planned some interesting banquet speakers, workshops, and photoshoots. See the full list of presenters here. Here’s a preliminary list of field trips.

If you are an N4C member and register by August 11th, you can get the early bird rate of $185. Non-member early bird price is $210. Your choice of lodging is extra. The event will be held at the Sheraton hotel in West Des Moines. Follow the Finding Your Light page on Facebook for more details.

SPEAKER HIGHLIGHT – Shari MillerEmbracing the Process, Practicing Gratitude(9-10:30 am, Sat., 9/21About Shari:Using…

Posted by Finding Your Light in Des Moines N4C Convention on Saturday, July 6, 2019

2018/2019 N4C winners

During a season running from Sept. 2018 through May 2019, members of the Dubuque Camera Club entered their original digital photography in the monthly N4C competition. The competition is judged on a rotating basis by 37 different midwestern photography clubs.

Ten of our club members earned first, second, third, or honorable mention awards. Their 24 images will advance to the annual competition at Finding Your Light, the annual N4C convention to be held this year in Des Moines in September 2019.

Many of our club photographers also earned merit awards. Although merit award images do not advance, these photographers received recognition from judging clubs. All of our club’s competition entries are posted in our online gallery. The N4C Winners galleries may be found here.

Submitting to monthly N4C competitions is one of the perks of Dubuque Camera Club membership. Receiving feedback from others helps us to evaluate our own work so we can learn and grow as photographers. Even if we don’t receive any awards, participating in the competition is a fun way to be involved with the club.

Competition winners
Thanks to everyone in the club who submitted photos to the monthly competition!
Mo/YrMonthCategoryImage titleFirstLastAward
2018-11NovemberDigital Altered RealityPainted Daisies EleanorSchuellerHM
2018-11NovemberDigital Altered RealitySuccess on attempt number 5  RonTiggesHM
2018-10OctoberDigital B&WForgotten Coon Hound   RonTigges1st
2018-11NovemberDigital JournalismOh Crap    RonTiggesHM
2018-10OctoberDigital PictorialHappy Halloween  RonTiggesHM
2018-10OctoberDigital TravelLate Night on the Mississippi Dubuque, Iowa  RonTiggesHM
2019-05MayPrint Panorama  Christmas in July         RonTigges3rd
2019-02FebruaryDigital JournalismRock Climber Scales Sheer Cliff Face to Summit RimDavidSmethers1st
2019-01JanuaryDigital TravelHorseshoe Bend DavidSmethersHM
2019-04AprilDigital PictorialBouquet of Fireworks Over People & Mississippi RiverRobertFelderman3rd
2019-03MarchDigital NatureWhat’s for Lunch    KennethKissHM
2019-05MayDigital TravelVirgin River at Zion National Park Utah KennethKissHM
2018-09SeptemberDigital NatureHummer    KevinMcTague2nd
2019-03MarchDigital NatureDowny Woodpecker 2 KevinMcTagueHM
2019-04AprilDigital NatureThe Landing   KevinMcTagueHM
2019-02FebruaryDigital TravelAuckland New Zealand    KevinMcTagueHM
2019-05MayDigital TravelGrand Canyon, Arizona     KevinMcTagueHM
2018-10OctoberDigital Altered RealitySmokydress           JoseGarciaHM
2018-10OctoberDigital B&WSmoke       JoseGarciaHM
2018-10OctoberDigital TravelMonument Valley, Utah     JoseGarcia1st
2019-05MayDigital PictorialBurrowing Owl           BeckyMatherHM
2019-03MarchDigital TravelCanyonlands of Utah            BeckyMather3rd
2019-01JanuaryDigital JournalismBellevue Barn Blaze     CaseyKleinHM
2019-03MarchDigital PictorialTrain Wizzes By At Morants Curve CoryHuntingtonHM