I’m new around here (at least from a participation standpoint) so I don’t have a lot of experience to back up my comments, but I think this is a great idea. A couple of thoughts on how this could work from my perspective:
I’m not on any social media platforms, so I’d use this as a way to make connections that I can’t easily make elsewhere. I’m more interested in using this as a way to facilitate in-person interactions. Virtual options could benefit those groups with more widely dispersed members, but participating that way doesn’t interest me much (maybe it’s because I’m on so many conference calls for work every day that I prefer in-person communication during my free time).
I like the idea of using NPN as a communication tool for regional groups to organize meetings or activities more so than posting pictures and getting feedback. I appreciate the way feedback is set up now. Maybe there’s a way you can tag a group in a post if you are looking for feedback from specific people?
A chapter would need two or three leaders to keep the momentum going and to share the load. If it’s just one person, it doesn’t take much for a conflict or lack of time to derail a group if it depends on a single person.
I could see myself using regional forums to reach out to others about local conditions, areas to shoot, etc. when I’m traveling.
I’m not the most social person which is perhaps why I find myself drawn to the mostly solitary pursuit of landscape photography, but I do recognize the need for community and discussion; especially one that transcends the digital world.
Great idea! I have some friends in the northeast who were very active back in the early days of NPN. They always reminisce about the in person events they attended. Perhaps a Great Lakes chapter? Based on my experience with nature based photo clubs and Meetup groups, I suggest a combination of planned and impromptu events. I’ll have to give more thought to specifics.
David, I this is a great idea. From my experience of creating and being the first Regional Coordinator for the Outer Banks Region for the Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association and speaking on my experience with coordinating the structure of our regional chapter, I really enjoyed having that local area group of photographers to get together in person (before COVID) and also getting together for outings. I know with NPN it would be on a much larger scale of Regional Chapters, but I think it would be a wonderful idea. I would love to be able to have a Regional Chapter where people could connect and interact together on a closer level. Whether these Regional Chapters would most likely include a very big area, but having a these Regional chapters would allow photographers in that Region to be able to connect, talk, increase membership and even do a outings depending on how often these chapters would want to meet in person and then still have the connection online to talk about regional topics and regional conversations within the chapter. This would create great camaraderie within the Regional Chapters. So that is my view of Creating Regional Chapters for NPN.
I love this idea and can echo some of the same ideas above. I am in Central Oregon, Bend, and would love to meet up with fellow NPN members for shooting opportunities in Oregon as well as other regions. Have van, can travel! I also like the idea of knowing people locally who can share their photographic insights, camaraderie and who share NPN ideals.
I’d definitely be interested in participating in this endeavor. I would be willing to be involved in the leadership of a local group. I’m currently the president of the Camera Club here in Bozeman and could see some overlap in these communities.
Hi David,
I think a regional group could bring true supplemental value to NPN. The relationship building among all levels of photography experience could be a win-win for all. My only suggestion since I’m still learning how to navigate the NPN platform, is to start with four hosted meetups annually. Say one for each season. One of the keys to success is to have the host who knows the specific area that would be visited. Otherwise people could become frustrated if the time was not well organized. If the group was successful it might be natural for certain photographers to meet in-between.
I think this is a great idea. The only thing I would advise is to keep politics out of such meetings. Show the same respect for one another as you would like to receive. Make it strictly about photography. This seems like an obvious thing but it wasn’t in my case.
I think that is a very good Idea. But, it could be a problem: the dispersion and the loss of contact of all the members of NPN. It could be difficult to share images, thoughts, etc in two sites/levels.
Perhaps - depending of the number of members of a region - it could open the possibility of personal encounters/developping regional projects, etc.
I like the idea, mainly to have groups that could facilitate getting together in person. I wouldn’t be interested in being in charge of a group, but I’d be happy to help with logistics/info for get-togethers in my area.
I think less specific groups would work better. Just geographic regions, where folks could get together for anything or something specific, as wanted.
Yes, having separate pages/spaces on NPN for anyone to post in to inquire about conditions, meetups, etc. Agree that they shouldn’t be for posting pix for critique.
I could see that being helpful for last-minute planning, for example.
Wow! Thank you all so much for the incredible engagement and thoughtful feedback. We’re thrilled by the level of enthusiasm and the fantastic ideas shared. It’s clear there’s a strong desire within the NPN community to connect on a more local level, share experiences in the field, and build deeper relationships.
What We’ve Heard Loud and Clear:
Strong Desire for Connection: The overwhelming feedback is positive, with a particular excitement for in-person meetups, sharing local knowledge (like current conditions), and building camaraderie with fellow NPN members nearby. Many of you shared fond memories of past meetups and the value they brought.
Protecting the Core Critique: Several of you rightly raised concerns about potentially diluting the main critique forums. Let me be absolutely clear: The core NPN critique process will remain unchanged and central to our mission. Any regional initiatives will be complementary and focused on social connection, local information sharing, and organizing activities. There will be no critique within these regional spaces, but I do believe there is some interest in sharing local photos without critique. We will establish very clear guidelines on this.
Flexibility is Important: We appreciate the insights regarding geographic distribution and the need for flexibility. Member-led, potentially broad regions, and leveraging tools like the User Map (great suggestion, @Leo_Catana & @Dick_Knudson!) seem like the right approach.
Leadership & Structure: We recognize that successful chapters will need dedicated members to help organize. The idea of co-leaders (thanks, @eric18!) is excellent. We also appreciate the suggestions for different types of meetups (location-based, seasonal, RV-focused - thanks @Keith_Flood & @tom.marin!).
Moving Forward: A Phased Approach
Based on your feedback, we want to move forward thoughtfully. Instead of launching everything at once, we propose a phased approach:
Phase 1: Guideline Development & Volunteer Call (Now - Late May):
We will draft clear guidelines for Regional Chapters/Groups based on your feedback. This will define the scope (connection, local info, meetup planning – not critique), expectations for leaders, communication methods, and how these groups will function within the NPN platform.
Call for Pilot Leaders: We need a few enthusiastic members to help us pilot this! If you expressed interest (thank you @holgermischke, @Jim_Erhardt, @Paul_Holdorf!) or if this discussion has sparked your interest in helping lead an initial chapter in your area, please reach out to me directly (@David_Kingham) or email editor@naturephotographers.network by May 31st.
Phase 2: Pilot Program Launch (Early June):
We’ll select 2-4 diverse pilot chapters based on volunteer interest and geographic spread shortly after the deadline.
We will set up dedicated online spaces (non-critique discussion forums/categories) for these pilot groups on NPN.
Provide support and resources (like guidance on using potential tools like integrated video calls if feasible) to the pilot leaders.
Phase 3: Learn & Refine (Summer 2025):
Work closely with the pilot chapters to see what works well and what needs adjustment.
Gather feedback from pilot group members and leaders.
Refine the guidelines and support structure based on real-world experience.
Phase 4: Broader Rollout (Fall 2025 onwards):
Based on the success and learnings from the pilot, we will open up the process for forming more Regional Chapters across the NPN community, using the refined model.
Parallel Exploration: Location-Based Meetups
We also love @Keith_Flood’s idea of facilitating less formal, location-based meetups (e.g., “Anyone going to Death Valley in March 2026?”). We’ll explore creating a dedicated space or simple process for members to post travel plans and coordinate spontaneous meetups, separate from the more structured Regional Chapters, which would private to NPN members.
Your Continued Input:
This is just the beginning. We’re committed to building this with you. Please continue to share your thoughts, especially regarding the proposed plan. And crucially, if you’re interested in being part of the initial pilot leadership, please let us know!
Thank you again for your passion and commitment to making NPN an even stronger community.
Thank you for this. I think it’s a great idea - I mean we’ve had regional “chat groups” for a while, but that feature hasn’t really been used much. From what I’m reading however, it seems there is good interest in local get togethers.
I know at a minimum, it can be fun and it’s always good to meet new people and get to know someone face to face rather than just online… Diane M., Tony S., and I met a couple of years ago at Pt Reyes National Seashore and had a great time shooting together. I foresee more of these types of get togethers.
I did want to point out one caution. Depending on the gathering, the location (ie. National Park,) you need to consider this. I know we all want to follow the rules… any organized gathering in a National Park could draw attention and require permits. Permits then lead to insurance, etc. etc. What do you plan on doing to mitigate any “sponsored” gatherings.
Personally, if I travel with a group of friends or family and we all happen to enjoy photography, I don’t think that’s an issue. It’s the “sponsorship” or any other fine details that become important. You wouldn’t speak to a ranger and say, for example, “Hi, I’m a chapter leader on NPN and we’re here with a few members on a photo excursion…”
Anyway, I wanted to bring that up. For me, I’m planning on such a gathering in 2026 with another member who I’ll remain nameless for now… More to come later on this year. It won’t be a sponsored NPN event… but perhaps it works out that all who come, happen to be NPN members?
What will be NPN’s stance on these gatherings, say at Federal facilities like National parks?
Hi Lon, That’s an excellent point, and as someone who strictly handles permits and insurance for workshops, I really appreciate you raising this. While park definitions of commercial use can be ambiguous, the key factor typically involves money exchanging hands for that specific event. We will make it crystal clear in the guidelines that NPN is solely acting as a facilitator for informal, non-commercial connections where absolutely no fees are charged for participation. With this approach, emphasizing individual responsibility for following park rules, I’m confident we can avoid permit issues for these types of casual meetups.
I’m really happy to see this discussion and would love to see regional groups as you’ve defined them. Some of the ideas (and cautions) are excellent and I totally support the ideas.
I also really like the idea of a dedicated space for location-based meetups.
I’ve created a new category on the forum called Regional Chapters, with a subcategory for General Regional Discussions where we can keep the conversation going. If you’re interested in starting a chapter in your area—even if you don’t want to lead it yourself—go ahead and post about it to see if anyone else is interested. You can also @mention other members you know are nearby to help get the ball rolling. This is very much a soft launch and we’ll shape things based on what works for everyone, so I’d love to see more ideas and suggestions there. Thanks again for being part of this!
David,
This sounds like a good plan and I really appreciate the massive effort on your side to make that happen.
I am still very much interested in organizing a Dutch/German chapter in my area.
Best,
Holger