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WELCOME TO THE TACOMA PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY!

We focus on promoting fellowship among our members, improving our skills, and stimulating interest in all branches of photography.

  • Learn from experienced photographers and meet new friends.
  • Enjoy Photography outings, guest speakers, & presentations.
  • Meetings are open to the public. All ages & skills are welcome.
  • Monthly print and projection competitions in-person & on Zoom.
  • Participate in PSA and NWCCC interclub & individual competitions.
  • TPS Annual Spring Fair Photo Contest is open to PNW photographers.

To join TPS or read more about a membership click here 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





To
see more competition results, log in and go to Competitions > Competition Results or click here.   A special "Thank You" to Ralph Reed, Bud Harris, Kristina Allums, Dawn Umstot, and Bruce Benson for contributing their photos to the top header of our website pages.

 

2025 Competition Dates And Monthly Theme Assignments

Monthly Themes are chosen to encourage people to explore outside their comfort zone by photographing something specific that is different.  They stimulate your imagination, creativity, and resourcefulness. They encourage you to look around and pay more attention to something you might not notice.  It takes just a little effort to look for these specific subjects, which, surprisingly, can be fun and interesting. Are you up to these monthly challenges? Take advantage of a new learning opportunity by trying something new, exploring, and having fun!  You might surprise yourself by enjoying a new photography subject or style. Don't miss out on the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills!

 The Theme subject must be the dominant subject/main focal point of interest.    PDF list of Themes to download

Wednesday Projection Meeting Dates
Themes

Thursday Print
Meeting Dates

September 3, 2025 (ZOOM only) Architecture - Entire buildings or portions, focusing on patterns, shapes, and textures
September 18, 2025
October 1, 2025 
Energy - Capturing dynamism, movement or vibrancy
October 16, 2025
November 5, 2025 Rain - Raindrops, reflections, abstracts . . . anything involving rain
November 20, 2025
December 3, 2025 
Curves
December 18, 2025
January 7, 2026 Selected Color (black and white with ONE color)  January 15, 2026
February 4, 2026  Human Elements - focus on people, emotions, and human  February 19, 2026
March 4, 2026 Hope - Visual representations of optimism or promise March 19, 2026 
April 1, 2026  Solitude  April 16, 2026
May 6, 2026  Bridges  May 21, 2026
June 3, 2026 Insects  June 18, 2026
July & August 2026 No Competitions during summer break  July & August 2026 
September 2, 2026 Long Exposure - Capturing car light trails, smooth water, star movements, etc.  September 17, 2026
October 7, 2026  The Decisive Moment. Making a decision about . . .?  October 15, 2026
November 4, 2026  Minimalism November 19, 2026
December 2, 1016 Large and Small  December 17, 2026

   

 

TPS Field Trips & Other Fun Events
Including Presentations, Workshops, Tutorials, etc.

Date Event & Location
Contact Member
TBA Fisherman's Terminal in Seattle
Douglas Hall
TBA
Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad Historical Shop Tour in Mineral, WA - vintage locomotives, weigh equipment, vintage shop, repair tools - minimum of 10 attendees required - A $10-$20 donation is suggested.
Gordy Lee
October 11 Mount Rainier Fall Colors Trip-Meeting place and details will be released soon Judi Kubes
October 19 Tacoma Stadium District - Details to Follow Rebecca Blackwell & Julia Bradley
October 25-27 Fall Colors weekend trip to Silver Falls State Park, covered bridges and the Portland Japanese Garden-details coming soon Judi Kubes
Fall 2025  Georgetown Steamplant!!!  I am working on a date for a private viewing to take place in the next few months.  Keep Posted. Judi Kubes

Additional day trip ideas that need a leader (pick a trip, pick a day, share with all TPS members):  Deception Pass (in March, September), Oregon Falls, Thomasson Farm (in Spring and/or Fall), Seattle Public Library, Gas Works Park in Seattle, Rhododendron Parks (there are several) in Spring and/or Early Fall, Mt. Ranier, Pt. Defiance Japanese Garden and Roses, Connells Dahlias in Tacoma, Tacoma B&W Street Photo walk.

Email messages will be sent to all members with details through the website email system. Dates are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather, event location closures, illnesses, etc. Members are encouraged to bring their family and friends as their guests (unless a participation limit is stated in the event details). Please share your photos on the Galleries Pages for each field trip event/location. You do not have to attend on the date the event is scheduled to post your photos. Click on the  Galleries  link at the top of this page.

All club members and their guests are responsible for paying parking fees, entrance fees, and State or Federal Parks pass fees for themselves. Check before you go to see if a State Discover Pass or Federal Parks Pass is required. You do not have to stay together as a group unless the event consists of a guided tour provided by the facility's staff. Please read the event details carefully to see if there are any restrictions, such as no tripods, monopods, flash attachments, handicapped accessibility limitations, strollers, pets, children, etc. Please RSVP to the contact member for all field trips.   

 

 

Wednesday, September 3 Projection Competition
September's Theme Is "Architecture"

Submit Photos - August 25 at 11:30 pm

Judging & Voting - Tuesday, August 26 until Saturday, August 30 at 9 pm

Review Meeting - Wednesday, September 3 - The photo review meeting will be held on ZOOM only with social time and optional critiques starting at 6:30-9 pm.

Meeting Location - ZOOM only for this meeting, otherwise our regular meeting place is at Curtis High School, 8425 40th Street, University Place, WA 98466  Google map

Directions: Turn into the small parking lot (by the reader board sign and the big rock).  There are also flagpoles by the main entrance.  Go to the outside door marked "Staff Development Room".

Submission Requirements:   See Monthly Competitions and Rules        

Award-winning photos will be placed in the Home Page slideshow. For more projection information and competition rules, click here.

If you are not a member of the TPS and would like to start competing in Print and Projection Competitions, join the TPS by clicking here.  We hope to see your photos in our competitions and meet you at our monthly Projection and Print meetings.

 

 

 

Thursday, September 18 Print Competition
September's Theme Is "Architecture"

Meetings are open to the public on the third Thursday of the month; however, you must be a club member to compete in monthly and annual print and projection competitions.

Submit Photos - Friday, September 5 at 12 am until Wednesday, September 17 at 11:30 pm - You must submit your photos online before the meeting.  Please note that we do not accept walk-in print registrations on the night of the meeting.  Therefore, please make sure you have pre-registered your prints on the website with a digital JPEG in sRGB photo of your print, before the cut-off date/time.   

Judge & Vote - The meeting is at 6:30 pm to 9 pm with judging, voting, photo review, and optional critiques in person.

Location - Waller Road Grange, 2708 64th Street East, Tacoma Google map

 

Submission Requirements:   See Monthly Competitions and Rules        

Award-winning photos will be placed in the Home Page slideshow. For more projection information and competition rules, click here.

    If you are not a member of the TPS and would like to start competing in Print and Projection Competitions, join the TPS by clicking here.  We hope to see your photos in our competitions and meet you at our monthly Projection and Print meetings.


     

     

     

    The Tacoma Photographic Society is proud to be a member of these two fine organizations:

     

       

    The TPS extends our sincere thanks to these local companies for helping make our TPS Annual Spring Fair Photo Competition a great success for us, and especially for all of the PNW photographer entrants! All photo entries are displayed at the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup each April.

               
     

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