President’s Notes – July 2026
Next meeting
Monday, July 20, 2026 · 7–9 pm
- Member competition: Black & White Photography (see the results)
- Short presentation: Travels, by Rich Shore

📍 Patton Township Municipal Building Board Room, 100 Patton Plaza, State College, PA 16803. The entrance is on the left side of the building, and an easy-access sidewalk connects to the parking lot. Everyone is welcome to attend; you must be a member to enter the competitions.
This Month
This is the last meeting of the 2025-26 year. We will not meet in August. After tonight, our next meeting will be September 21, when we will present the new 2026-27 program.
The 2025-26 Year in Review
Tonight’s meeting closes out the 2025-26 season. Thank you to everyone who entered, presented, judged, volunteered and showed up on a Monday night. Here’s a look back at the year.
Competitions
Members entered 219 photographs across seven competitions this year.
| Competition | Entries | First place |
|---|---|---|
| October: Geometry | 31 | “Stairs” by David Whiteman |
| December: Night Photography | 29 | “Big Ben” by David Whiteman |
| January: Open | 37 | “House Fly” by Scott Pilutik |
| March: Landscape | 41 | “Atigun Pass, Alaska” by David Whiteman |
| April: Single-Light Portrait | 17 | “Gatsby Girl (Sara) at the Floridian” by Sam Knutson |
| June: Smartphone | 24 | “Antelope Canyon” by Chris Creager |
| July: Black & White | 40 | “Ibex Dunes Death Valley” by David Whiteman |
Speakers and presentations
- Guests: Eric Roman judged our Photos of the Year in September, and Jacki Spearly showed us Lensbaby photography in February.
- Members: Jane Liechty on night photography and shadows, David Whiteman on travel photography, Jason Smoyer on portfolios and flash, Jim Valent on his travels, Sam Knutson on photo-editing software and smartphone photography, Carolyn Todd-Larson on black-and-white photography, and Rich Shore on his travels.
- Zoom presentations with the Chagrin Valley and Pittsburgh clubs: Loren Fisher, Peter Turnley, Ian Hunter, Julian Elliott, Phil Penman, Shawn Greenleaf and John Kosmopoulos.
Members in the spotlight
- David Whiteman, Chris Creager, Jim Valent, John Larson, Rich Shore and Jason Smoyer placed in the 2025 Keystone Salon of Photography.
- Jim Valent’s drone show, From Above: A New Perspective, at the Bellefonte Art Museum.
- Club members’ bird photographs in the Bellefonte Art Museum’s “Among the Birds” window exhibition.
- Jason Smoyer, Lisa Marie Cirincione, Jane Liechty and Andre Chaszar in Images 2026, with an Award of Merit for Andre.
- Lou Saporito’s Great Blue Heron commission for Shaver’s Creek, and Andre Chaszar at the Palmer Museum of Art.
A special thank-you to this year’s officers, listed below, for keeping the club running.
Club News
“Among the Birds” at the Bellefonte Art Museum
Congratulations to all club members whose photographs are on display in the 24/7 Display Window, as part of Bellefonte Art Museum’s “Among the Birds” exhibition. The exhibit runs until August 30.

Images 2026
Congratulations to Jason Smoyer, Lisa Marie Cirincione, Jane Liechty, and Andre Chaszar, whose work is on display at the Images 2026 Exhibition at Schlow Library. The exhibition runs until July 31. Congratulations to Andre, who won an Award of Merit. Our club sponsors the Best Photograph Prize, which went to Elisha Eseonu for his photograph Fractured.
Member News
Congratulations to Lou Saporito, who was commissioned by Shaver’s Creek to create Great Blue Heron feather images for its “Awe of Birds” exhibit. The images will be on display in the first-floor gallery through August and then will move permanently to Shaver’s Creek headquarters.

Also, Andre Chaszar has a photograph on display in the Palmer Museum of Art, as part of Dreaming American Futures: Invitational 250. It will be on display until November 29. Congratulations, Andre!
The invitational celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States. Jurors selected works by 50 artists from nearly 300 entries, on the themes Activating Change, Bridging the Divide, Pursuit of Happiness, and A More Perfect Union.
SCPC Executive Committee 2026-27
As you know, I will not continue as president next year. Jason Smoyer has stepped forward to fill this position. If you are interested in serving on the executive committee with him, please reach out to either Jason or me.
Here is the committee as it currently stands. Some officers wish to continue, while others wish to switch or take a break. There will be many exciting changes next year.
| Club Officers 2025-26 | |
|---|---|
| President | Jane Liechty |
| Past President | Carolyn Todd-Larson |
| VP Competitions | Sam and Mary Anne Knutson |
| VP Programs | Jason Smoyer |
| VP Membership | Rich Shore |
| Social Media | Lisa Marie Cirincione |
| PSA Representative | John Larson |
| Exhibition Coordinator | Jason Smoyer |
| Webmaster | Carolyn Todd-Larson, Jane Liechty |
| Treasurer | Rich Shore |
Opportunities
Keystone Salon of Photography
Our photo club will participate in the 3rd annual Keystone Salon of Photography Competition this summer. This is a competition with about 10 other clubs.
The deadline for submission is October 19, 2026, at midnight (extended from October 5).
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