First, I want to say that the Heard Nature Photographers Club has always been dear to my heart.  Nature and photography have brought me much “spiritual joy” through the years.

I have been asked to write the history of the Heard Nature Photographers.  In writing the club  history, it is necessary to share how I got into photography, since my photography history and the club history are entwined. The following is really about how the club got started.

I “discovered” photography in early 1981 (might have been late 1980.  It was born out of my need for a hobby that would bring  relief from the stress of a very demanding job.  I first enrolled in 6 golf lessons and decided after 2 lessons that was not what I had in mind!  I quit my golf career.

I had made friends with staff at the Heard Museum and started “hanging around Heard”.  I subscribed to the Audubon magazine and joined the local Audubon birders group. The magazine included center spreads of beautiful color nature photography. One day, while considering what to do as a fun hobby, I looked at those photos and said to myself  “that’s what I want to do”.

At that time, Heard offered a very basic nature photography class - although I did not yet own a camera, I enrolled in a class beginning in February 1981.  I borrowed my husband’s rangefinder camera and did not have a clue what to do with it, and the instructor was no help..  I did learn a little bit about nature and  photo principles. The main thing I learned is I knew I was on the right path.

I finished the class and began the pursuit of a camera. Photography was in its heyday and there were several good camera stores, including one on Greenville named Camera King.  (Camera King also offered a basic photo class which I took).  The salesman tried to save me money and sold me a Fuji.  I got it home and I could not figure out how to look through the view finder - the problem being I am a “left- eyed” shooter.  I called Weldon and told him I had a problem.

He told me the only camera that would accommodate my way of seeing was a Nikon F3.  I had seen Nikon ads in the Audubon magazine stating the Nikon was used in the Space shuttle program.  I figured if it was good enough for the Astronauts, it was good enough for me.  So, I bought my first Nikon, spent a ton of money on lenses and equipment - I knew I wanted to do close up photos. I very soon discovered Canadian photographyer Freeman Patterson and soft focus photography.  That was exactly what I was looking for  - I knew that nature and soft focus close up photography would feed my soul.

After purchasing the Nikon camera, I enrolled in the next Heard Nature photo class in 1981. Angie Hayes and Theresa King were also in that class. We had a wonderful time,  got an introduction to nature photography, and became friends.

The Heard Nature Photographers was born

After the class was over, since we had so much fun,  I didn’t want it to end. I discussed my feelings  with Harold Laughlin, Museum Director, and suggested they should have an ongoing photography group that met periodically at the Museum.  Harold said he thought that was a good idea - that if I wanted to start such a group, to go ahead and do so.  (I could barely spell “ nature photography” at that time.)

I discussed the idea with the instructor, who didn’t really want to get involved. (Maybe he thought the club would be too much work, or perhaps competition)  He did give me a list of all prior class participants.  I mailed invitations to all those people and asked if they would be interested in participating in a Heard Nature Photographers group.  A few people responded.  The diehards were Theresa King, Nancy Storer, myself, and Angie. Dot McCalpin was one of the former class participants who attended the early meetings.  Dot became very involved and helped the club grow.

We initially met in a small room at the Heard.  In the early days  3 to 5, maybe 10 people would show up.  We started off meeting on the first Saturday, but changed to the 2^nd Saturday because the first Saturday was too busy for most people.  We sent questionnaires to find out what people were interested in.  We had “field trips” on the Heard sanctuary property to let people see what a treasure Heard is.  We had field trips to the Harmon satellite sanctuary  near Quinlan.  (Theresa backpacked with her 6 month old baby) We had fun and grew with the help from people who came to us from other Dallas clubs.  At one point, when attendance was low, Theresa  and I  discussed disbanding the group, but decided we would continue even if attendance was small,  because we were having fun at the Saturday Club outings.