What exactly is Club 79? It’s both a place and a state of mind.

As a place, it’s a room shared with fellow photographers who’ve entered a photographic competition through a PPA affiliate or state association. In pre-Covid days, all competitions were held in-person with judges in the same location. Most of the images were actually prints. In the past 5 years, digital has become more common and Covid restricted in-person gatherings.

On Friday, July 15, while the judging is taking place virtually for GPPA photographic competition, we’ll have a room set up at the Hilton Garden Inn in Columbus so that entrants can watch the streaming of competition together - celebrating achievements and encouraging one another as scores pop up. If you can't join us, you can still participate with us via the Exposed online platform - simply register for Exposed and you'll have access to all the speakers and Club 79!

There is no need to suppress your feelings of joy, excitement, or even frustration. If you are frustrated, what better environment to express yourself than with your fellow artists. If you do well, what better place to be as your friends congratulate you on your success.

Club 79 as a state of mind. With the scoring system, a photographer can earn a merit if their image scores an 80 or above. A score of 79 can be frustrating as the image was so close to achieving merit status, but didn’t quite make it. However, by listening to the judge’s comments and ordering a critique of your image, you can improve your image so that you can enter it again at a future competition. Learning and growing as a photographer and artist is one of the most important reasons to compete.

Registration is open until July 11 at 11:59 p.m.!