The Southern Oregon Photographic Association has been documenting the unique people, places and culture south of Lane County, and around the world, for more than 60 years with creative flair.

The group includes approximately 30 members specializing in a wide range of focuses, from landscape photography all the way to humor-based art.

“It’s just about getting together with people that love photography,” said Barbara Tricarico of Ashland, vice president of SOPA. “Everyone has got their niche.”

The group participates in monthly competitions, photo field trips and meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Medford’s United Church of Christ, located at 1801 E. Jackson St.

Some of the photogenic spots the group has visited include the Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge; Tulip Lake in British Columbia, Canada; Steamboat Springs in Colorado; many of the waterfalls within Southern Oregon and more, Tricarico said.

The camera club includes an array of creatives including SOPA member Neal Thompson, who has been with the club since 2001, specializing in macrophotography and natural settings.

“For years and years I was doing landscapes and all of a sudden I changed and ended up doing macrophotography, primarily of insects,” Thompson said. “A lot of it has to do with identifying (insects), but mostly it’s doing macrophotography with multiple images focused at different levels, then combining sharp parts of each photo; so that what I’ve been doing.”

Terry Tuttle, who’s been a SOPA member for 28 years, holds a wide range of expertise in the photography space, capturing anything from dog portraits to closeups of fascinating fungi.

“I pretty much do everything; I’ve done weddings, I used to do events and I’ve shot for the (Jackson) County Fair for a few years,” Tuttle said. “I think I really appreciate the social part of it, being able to interact and meet with other photographers, and I’ve made some good friends over the years.”

A major aspect of the club is the monthly competitions they participate in, going head-to-head against dozens of photography clubs across the West Coast under the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs.

The Monthly Electronic Imaging Division competitions — better known as EID’s — entail submitting up to three photos to be judged and graded by other camera clubs across the United States.

“You can put (forward) three images: monochrome, altered reality or a traditional photo,” Tricarico said. “Usually another club — we have clubs in Oregon or as far as Florida and New England — judge it on a scale between 5 and 9 with half-points.”

Monthly competition winners’ images go to the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs annual photo competition, squaring off against photos from approximately 32 other clubs in Washington state, Oregon and California.

“They get the best images from all the clubs, and then have to narrow it down to the 10 top images from each category,” Tricarico said.

The SOPA club is one of the most esteemed groups under the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs umbrella, with the local club consistently earning a spot in the top three each year.

“We’re competing with top clubs in Portland and Boise and Seattle,” Tuttle said. “There’ve been years where we were number one, and we’re always in top two or three, generally.”

While SOPA includes a prestigious cast of some of the best photographers in the Rogue Valley and beyond, the group is always willing to welcome in new members.

“If you’ve got a good eye, you have a good chance in our club,” Tricarico said.

The group’s next meeting will be held Jan. 16, when Dale Robinette, former actor and still photographer who has photographed over 150 films, will present “Making Movie Magic.” 

Robinette’s work includes “Up in the Air” (2009) with George Clooney and Vera Farmiga, “The Help” (2011), a movie that was set in the pre-civil rights South which added emotional depth to his filming experience. More recent assignments include “La La Land,” winner of six Academy Awards, “Wonder,” and the recent “Barbie.”

Robinette’s presentation will consist of images that illuminate the famous films and faces, and give a peek at some behind-the-scenes shenanigans.

To learn more about SOPA, check out the club’s award-winning photos or inquire to join, visit sopacameraclub.com.