Passages

  • Posted on 31 August 2008
  • By The Editor
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Larry Tapper 1934-2008
For members of the Camera Committee, it seems that Larry Tapper has always been there: at the monthly meeting with a funny story from a recent outing; at the fundraising auction with fine black & white landscapes, at the annual picnic with a delectable dish; at the workshop with a fresh perspective on composition and solid advice on exposure. Most recently he has been in the electronic Focal Points newslet- ter with lovely slideshows of aerial photos of the California landscape.

He came to the Sierra Club through River Touring and maintained a long relationship with that group, leading trips that featured good eats as well as good paddling. But it was not long before he discovered the Camera Committee. It was back in the 1980s, when the Bruce Barnbaum, John Sexton and Ray McSavaney were honing their leadership and instructional skills. They set a solid example for Larry, who started leading for Camera Committee as well.

An attorney on workdays, Larry was a detail-man. He enjoyed planning outings and workshops as much as conducting them. He scouted backpacks down to the campsite with counter-height rocks for cooking and always near a good trout lake. The photographers enjoyed his cooking as much as the paddlers. His trips often included interaction with local photographers and environmentalists.

Once, for an Eastern Sierra/Owens Valley road trip, he block-booked a motel and discovered that we'd be sharing accommodations with an antique car club. Of course, he called the car club for their itinerary. That year, photos from the Alabama Hills looked truly 'vintage' with Model Ts amongst the rock formations.

When Larry retired from the law, he continued to lead Camera trips, but he focused more on flying and trekking. He and his wife Joyce traveled frequently to Nepal, where they forged relationships with mountain families. They sponsored children in education and have been working with the Didi Project to enrich Nepali communities.

Larry leaves behind a legacy in photos and, more importantly, in friends and fam- ily connected to the natural world through his enthusiasm and leadership.

- Joan Schipper

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