The Prairie Region of Photographic Arts is a regional association of amateur photographers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, who have a wide variety of photographic interests and experience. There are two classes of membership in PRPA—Individual and Club.
Membership
There are two membership classes in PRPA, each with a different fee and list of benefits. An Individual Membership is for an individual and has the most benefits. A Club Member is someone who belongs to a club which has taken out a Club Membership in PRPA, and has limited benefits.
Individual Membership
Any amateur photographer from Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta is eligible, whether a member of a club or not.
Fee is $35 per year.
Eligible to enter all PRPA competitions. They may enter the two club competitions (Everest and Gerry Fish) only as part of a Member Club.
Eligible to participate in the Print Circuit and Digital Photo Circuit.
Receive the quarterly newsletter “Prairie Focus” in either digital or print format.
Eligible to vote at the AGM.
Eligible to receive a member discount, when offered, at the PRPA June Outing.
Club Membership
A member of a club which is a Member Club of PRPA.
Any photography club in Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta is eligible.
Fee is paid by the club, making all of the club’s members a PRPA Club Member for that year.
Fee is set at $1 per registered member of the club as of the end of the previous June.
A PRPA Club Member may also, on submission of the application form and fee, become an Individual Member of PRPA.
Eligible to enter the club competitions (as part of the club entry).
Eligible to enter the Hand of Man and the Gail Christensen Artistic Expressions digital competitions.
Receive the Prairie Focus newsletter in digital format.
Eligible to receive a member discount, when offered, at the PRPA June Outing.
Anyone wishing to become an Individual Member of PRPA may submit their membership form and fee on their own, or through their club representative, to the PRPA Treasurer. The annual membership fee is set each year at the AGM. It is currently $25 per person.To use the fillable PDF forms, first download and save it to your computer. Open in Adobe Reader (or any PDF program), type in the information, and resave. Print and attach with your check or send by email with payment by e-transfer.PRPA provides the opportunity to compete with other amateur photographers beyond your local camera club. The competitions are friendly and the judges’ comments provide helpful feedback. The winners are awarded certificates and ribbons. Digital image competitions are held in both fall and spring; print competitions in the spring. PRPA member clubs take turns judging the competitions; each club is requested to judge at least one competition each year.
PRPA Competitions
PRPA provides the opportunity to compete with other amateur photographers beyond your local camera club. This is especially advantageous for members of small clubs or individuals in areas lacking a club. The competitions are friendly and the judges’ comments provide helpful feedback on ideas to improve your photos. Prizes are certificates and ribbons.PRPA member clubs take turns judging the competitions. Each club is requested to judge at least one competition each year.Fall Competitions—November 15 deadline
Everest Club Competition—digital image
Hand of Man—online digital image competition
Russell—pair of images depicting opposites on a given theme
Fall Digital Image competition
Ann Dies Digital Slideshow competition
Spring Competitions—April 1 deadline
Gerry Fish Club Competition—print competition
Attanyi Salon—print competition
Human Portraiture—print competition
Sports in Action—print competition
Curtiss Lund Altered Reality—print competition
Portfolio Print competition
Spring Digital Image competition
Outing Competitions—deadlines TBA
Showmanship—slide show competition held at the Outing
Outing Competition—prints and digital images of photos taken at the June Outing
Print Circuits
The PRPA print circuits provides an opportunity to have your photos critiqued by other circuit members. The circuits can be especially valuable for individual members who have no active camera club nearby. Learn from positive criticism of your work and evaluate the work of others. It can be fun!
The Prairie Focus Newsletter
This quarterly newsletter keeps the members of PRPA informed and in touch. The newsletter contains:
information on upcoming PRPA competitions & events
competition results and images of winning photos
club reports describing activities of other camera clubs
reports on the PRPA board meetings and AGM
PRPA Website
At www.prpa.photography you will find:
more details of PRPA events, competitions and services
results and winning images of past competitions and circuits
past issues of the Prairie Focus newsletter
contact information and links to member camera clubs
PRPA Annual June Outing
The biggest event of the PRPA year is the annual outing which takes place on a weekend in June.The Outing begins on Friday evening with the Annual General Meeting and a presentation by a guest speaker. A variety of photographic tours and workshops are offered on Saturday morning & afternoon and on Sunday morning. The banquet and awards presentations are held on Saturday evening and include the Showmanship slide show competition and a slideshow of entries from the year’s digital competitions. Prints entered in the print competitions are on display during the weekend.The best part of the Outing is the opportunity to meet and fellowship with other PRPA members, and to view the photographs they had entered in the competitions during the previous year. Member clubs of the PRPA take turns hosting the Outing.Member clubs of the PRPA take turns hosting the Outing. The Outing usually takes place on a weekend in mid June at a location alternating between Alberta and Saskatchewan.