Grand Rapids Camera Club Hall of Fame 2012

Marie Velting jointed the Grand Rapids Camera Club in 1972, at that time slides were the dominate competition media. Her favorite photographic subjects are moths, butterflies and larva. Marie and her husband John have spent months, and in some cases years, in raising them. She prefers to photograph butterflies and day flying moths outside, where she can see how the light is shinning on them. Portraiture is Marie’s 2nd favorite subject, and has done very well as she finds “people a joy to work with”. Marie enjoys the monthly meetings especially the competition where she now enters in the print division. Never passing on an opportunity to show her work and what she has learned from her contemporaries and years of experience.

Marie started competing in 1973 and by 1975 she was named “Photographer of the Year” in Class B Slides.In 1977 alone she had 665 merit points and 6 honors and because Marie continues to compete she remains in the top five for total merit points. She has served as a judge and judging coordinator and conducted workshops on various slide presentation skills.

Along with her photographic skills, Marie also found time to get involved with the camera club organization itself, serving as competition chair, secretary, board member, committee member and hostess. She was honored with the Distinguished Service Award in 1986 for all her efforts.

Marie’s love of nature photography has gotten her involved with both Southwestern Michigan Council of Camera Clubs (SWMCCC) and Photographic Society of America (PSA).

She has co-chaired SWMCCC Nature Division competitions for many years, received a number of awards for her photographs including the Gold Metal Award in Nature Slides in 1986. She has earned a Fellowship in SWMCCC.

PSA bestows honors upon selected individuals each year in recognition of their contributions to the advancement of the arts and sciences of photography through personal achievement and service. Marie is a “Diamond Star Exhibitor” and an Associate in PSA.