Photography - the writing with light - comes down to vision. It is the ability to see a final result in your mind's eye, and then to make it so with a camera.

Local military have been doing that for years through membership in the Tacoma Photographic Society.

"There is a quiet quality to photography," wrote Vietnam veteran Bob Wills, in an email.

Making the image itself is easy; seeing it in the first place is the challenge.

"The best camera one can use is the one you have in your hand at the moment you see what you want to photograph," said Peter Haley, a News Tribune photographer.

When a camera enters the picture, the imagination becomes tangible.

For the last 60 years, the TPS has kept the shutter open for those who wish to learn and improve on their photographic skills.

"Anyone interested in photography can join," wrote Roberta Marshall, the TPS's communications chair, in an email.

Membership is composed of beginning amateurs and long-time professionals.  The focus of the society is to challenge each other to progress in the art of photography.

Membership varies between 80 and 100 people.

"At our meetings, we also have a theme competition," continued Marshall.

"Members are given a theme to interpret each month.  The idea is to give members a subject they aren't used to photographing in order to learn new skills."

This approach seems to work. The TPS's website is well organized and features a number of excellent images.

"The TPS is very serious minded in improving everyone's photo skill," wrote Army veteran Alfred Harmon, in an email.

"The servicemember has experienced great moments that can lead to great adventures through photography."

The TPS meets twice a month at the Pierce County Library Administration Building at 3005 112th St. E. in Tacoma.  The meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are held on the first and third Thursdays of the month.

The first Thursday of the month meeting is called the Projection Division, where members look at, study and comment on digital images projected onto a screen.

The third Thursday meeting of the month is called the Print Division; members look at images printed on photographic paper.

"Members can bring two images to each division, per month, and the images are judged by other members," explained Marshall.

Specifically, the meetings consist of a competition in which each image is judged by a panel of three and then put to a vote by those in attendance.

All images are subject to comment by society members unless the photographer chooses otherwise.

The TPS sponsors field trips and classes, promotes an annual photo contest at the Puyallup Spring Fair, participates in an interclub competition sponsored by the Photographic Society of America, and takes part in various competitions through the Northwest Council of Camera Clubs.

"I've learned a lot from the club and from the workshops and field trips," wrote Sal Ahmed, in an email.

"My photography skills have improved a lot, and I'm glad that I've learned a lot from the club and from the workshops."

Another organization of interest is LensLearners, a group of shutterbugs that ranges from beginners to advanced photographers.

"We meet once a month, often for field trips throughout Pierce County and beyond," wrote Kathy Admire, in an email.

"We have a least one critique session in preparation for submitting to the International Salon and Washington Photographers competitions at the Washington Fair in Puyallup."

For more information about the Tacoma Photographic Society and the images produced by some of its members, visit its well-organized www.tacomaphoto.org.

To learn more about LensLearners, visit www.flickr.com/people/lenslearners/.

Two other sites of interests are https://psa-photo.org and http://nwcameraclub.org.