Letter from IPW President, Mike Shipman:
 
Most of the organizations I belong to have a “From the President” section in their newsletter. I think it’s a good idea because it helps keep the membership informed about the direction and progress of the organization, and is another avenue of communication between members and officers. For those of you who don’t know me (and even those who do), a bit of background. I’m a self-taught photographer with a degree in wildlife biology. I came to Boise, with Monique, in 1994 from Colorado to attend graduate school at BSU for a master’s in raptor biology. I’ve worked as a Colorado state park ranger, for the Colorado Division of Wildlife and in the Zoology Dept. of the Denver Museum of Natural History, for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Ecology Research Center, U.S. Forest Service, and private consulting in Boise, where I wrote the bald eagle habitat conservation plan for what is now Tamarack Resort.
 
Naturally, my photography tends toward images of our environment from landscapes and recreation to environmental issues and wildlife. However, as a photographer and artist, my interest is not limited to nature subjects, but also architecture, abstracts, hot rods and classic cars, studio work and, more recently, people. I’ve been shooting entirely digital for about 4 years, but I also like alternative processes, primarily Polaroid emulsion transfers and SX-70 manipulation (until my stock of film runs out). I’ve been trying to make a full-time career of photography for the past three years, mostly in the realms of commercial, fine art, and stock. I also teach classes and conduct photo tours.
 
I joined IPW, I think, about 6 years ago. I’d been a member of the Boise Camera Club (BCC) since 1996 and had heard of IPW during that time, but it was described to me as a loosely-organized social group focused on fine art photography. At the time, I was going to school and not giving much thought to my photographic preferences, so I didn’t pursue IPW any further. During my membership at the BCC I held the positions of color print chair and Vice President. Later, I became disinterested in the formal, repetitive, and competitive structure of the BCC and joined IPW, looking for a group more interested in the art of photography than in points, ribbons and trophies. I thoroughly enjoy the variety of talent, the openness of the members to share, the community involvement, and the friendly competition IPW has to offer.
 
Before this gets too long, I’d like to share some thoughts I have about the coming year and perhaps the future of IPW. The best organizations are those that have the highest member participation. Organizations where members leave operations to a handful of individuals can tend to become focused on issues not in the majority interest. I’ve noticed over the past year or two that member participation has dropped somewhat. Is that because people are moving on in their interests, moving away, or IPW isn’t providing what members want? I’d like to find out what you want IPW to be and how IPW can serve you. The membership of IPW is composed of a very wide variety of individuals, from beginning photographers to long-time professionals, from younger to older. That’s a wide range of wants and needs to accommodate, but I think we can do it. Our mission statement is “To cultivate an atmosphere for exchange, learning, and creative expansion in the area of photography, and to provide educational opportunities in photography and related fine art forms in the State of Idaho.”  If we’re not dong that I want to know what we need to do to get back to it. If we are doing that I want to know what we can do to improve. We’ve been doing a good job maintaining our First Thursday presence and exhibiting at other venues, but that isn’t the main goal of IPW. I’d like IPW to organize some field trips, special program speakers at meetings, and host some small workshops for the community. We have enough talent within our membership to conduct dozens of workshops. I’d also like to develop a program to bring in new members. The organizational structure of IPW needs to be improved. Members need to be encouraged to serve on the board and hold officer positions, and those positions need to be challenging and satisfying so members will enjoy their term, learn something, and provide a visibly useful service. Communication with the membership can be better. IPW is a great resource for artists and the community, but it could be improved. I encourage all members to attend the April meeting, which will be an open discussion about your thoughts and ideas.  See the program notice below for more information.  

I look forward to a successful year full of new adventures. We might not get to everything done, but with your help we will accomplish a lot. Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions or concerns.

Mike Shipman
Blue Planet Photography
Stock * Commercial * Editorial * Fine Art * Classes/Workshops
www.blueplanetphoto.com
208.466.9340