Another Arizona POTN get together (4)?

Happy Birthday!

Thanks for the birthday wishes...

Lemme see what I can find out Kenny.

sunset yesterday from 1st Water trail

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …ndevilstormin/8​464494750/

this morning in SanTan Valley

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …ndevilstormin/8​466153107/

Pretty clouds.....

I got stir crazy on Sunday.... so grabbed my camera bag and went up to the lake for some quiet time..

Late afternoon sun...

Awesome shots Kristy, is that Lake Pleasant?

FYI, your watermark looks duplicated in shot 1 or is that purposeful?

Great shots! It looks like everyone is enjoying the weather and the resulting great skys.

Here is a couple from Sunday with two different views of Pinnacle Peak:

1.

Excellent images, folks. I'm counting down the days to the Luke Airshow (weekend of 3/16). For those up for a drive, the Yuma show is the weekend prior.

dngphoto wrote in post #15605138
Awesome shots Kristy, is that Lake Pleasant?

FYI, your watermark looks duplicated in shot 1 or is that purposeful?

Thanks! it is Lake Plesant... good call! yeah.. I accidentally uploaded my "web" version to smugmug... so there is a duplicate watermark. I need to fix it.. but my computer crashed big time last night and I haven't it out yet.... Hate using the lap top.. such and old-school junkie with my love for the keyboard on my desktop... lol

nice shots there bob.. love the cholla....

-AP- wrote in post #15592463
So I've got to tell this short story and somewhat rant.

A friend of mine had some old aviation art drawings, which she was trying to sell for months on end. I reached out to a few people and had no luck. I referred her to the CAF in Mesa and for some reason she said they weren't interested and weren't even very nice to her.

So, I shot a few emails to a couple of folks that may benefit from these very nice drawings and did not receive any responses back. So I guess no interest.

I then thought, hey, I could probably post these on another forum I visit that's aviation related in sense with radio control planes and helicopters. Along with that site, I thought I would sign up at the Arizona Aviation Photographers (AzAP) site. I often visit there and would love to contribute. Especially since I see the group most places I visit such as Coolidge, Casa Grand, Mesa Gateway and Falcon field. Heck, I even fly out of some of these places several times a month.

Well, I submit the registration to the group and it turns out access is not granted instantly and goes through the site administrator. No big deal, I'll wait. Later on I get an email asking to fill out several questions related to why I am interested in the group and to show some of my work and website. I answer all the questions and also explain I was hoping to list my friends art works. Later the next day a gentleman PM’s me from the RC site that was interested in the art pieces. I send his inquiry to my friend and ironically, the man was friends with her father, who was friends with the artist. This man had ¾ of the entire collection and these pieces would make it a complete set of over 40 drawings and magazine advertisements. Wow!! What a small world. To make it even better, my friends father (who is deceased BTW) was one of the starters of the New York Aviation Society. This was such an amazing experience for my friend that she donated the entire collection to the organization at no cost.

So moving forward, the Arizona Aviation Photographers (AzAP) send me yet another form to fill out (email questions), which I did, and also told the administrator I sold the art work (my friend gave a way, but there was no need to tell him the story) he asked if I planned to contribute and I said “of course!” I have been wanting/hoping to join regardless.

Well that was it, I didn’t hear back….

Until today........ They denied my request with the message below:

Subject: Re: Arizona Aviation Photographers (AzAP)

Thank you for your interest in the Arizona Aviation Photographers group and forum. Unfortunately, the AzAP Executive Committee has decided to reject your membership request. We feel that since your initial request to join seemed to be just to promote your friend’s aviation art, that you wouldn’t be a good fit within the group and our group’s social structure.

Thanks again, and please continue to enjoy our website.

All the best,

I have got to tell you I was absolutely flabbergasted in the denial. WTF!!! I’m trying to help a friend, contribute to the community, and share in the interest. I filled out several inquiries from the admin and answered every question.

I flippin see these folks all the time!! What a let down and complete disappointment in this group.

It’s a total shame that a community could be so judgmental, inconsiderate and flat out insulting. I had a few other back and forth emails with the admin after the first message above and he seems like a straight up person but Geeze!! Come on, get over yourselfs!!

Seeing as I run in some of the same circles and do a fair amount of business that is aviation related, I will make it a point to share my experience along the way.

What a joke! No good deed goes unpunished!!

So that’s my rant. I think I’ll do a little blog post about it and be over it as well.

As a long time AzAP member, I feel a need to respond to your rant and offer a differing viewpoint. AzAP is one of the most well respected aviation photography groups in the southwest. This high level of respect has been earned through years of effective relationship building with PAO's, airport directors, and aviation industry leaders. This respect allows AzAP and its members to enjoy unique, and is some cases one of a kind, access to many municipal airports, military airfields, and aviation museums. Many of the wonderful images that Jay, myself and other AzAP members post on POTN, Fred Miranda, and other websites would have been impossible to capture without the special relationships AzAP has forged.

The respect I speak of is not just my opinion. It is communicated to AzAP regularly and validated by the various entities and organizations with whom AzAP has solid associations. As you might imagine, maintaining that respect and those relationships is paramount to AzAP and it makes it imperative that they ensure that all members (old & new) share a common interest that helps maintain and enhance what AzAP is all about. Every legitimate and respected photography club or group I know of has standards established to qualify and maintain membership - AzAP is no different.

Unlike your rant on the internet, AzAP did not attempt to criticize you publicly, they simply told you (privately and respectfully) that they would not approve your membership request and explained to you the reasons why. That you felt the need to post a negative public rant just reinforces to me that AzAP made the right decision. It is an unfortunate situation really, as you otherwise appear to be a good photographer and could have made an nice addition to the AzAP family.

Superstition Mntns from 1st water trail

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …ndevilstormin/8​491334314/

same mountain, different day

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …ndevilstormin/8​492957609/

Jay?
http://www.azfamily.co​m …in-Phoenix-193109181.html

Hi guys, I was just checking out the Luke Airshow, and it seems it has been cancelled due to an "impending budget cut". I was hoping to bring my kids and test out a new lens while there. Any other air shows (other than Yuma today) in the area?

I was all over it Ryan. Thanks...

This is the P-51 Mustang that was in town with FiFi