More insights to Photo North East

In keeping with my goal to blog on Monday nights from now on... which was one of the recommended things to do as a positive step to increasing the flow of your business... here goes... blog number 2! 

So you might ask... what actually happens at a state photography convention?  Well first off what means the most to me when I go to these events are the friendships with fellow photographers that are formed and the camaraderie we feel.  Unless you are part of a creative circle you might not understand this phenomena in total.  We creative types are kinda quirky, dorky, spacey sometimes (me... always looking at lights) and when we are together we feel comfortable in our skin.  We belong.  We understand each other... And boy do we know how to party!  Especially we empty nested middle agers :-)  

The next thing we do is learn... there are usually several speakers at any given time and you can choose which person that might match closely to what you are interested in.   

The first day of the convention we grabbed our computers and went to
Tim Riley

Using Lightroom to bring the fun and profit back into your business!

a Lightroom 3 class given by Tim and Chris Riley, photographers from Maine and the makers of a lightroom/photoshop tool called RPG keys. www.rpgkeys.com  Even though I have been using lightroom for years I did learn quite a bit about different ways to catalogue and that you can find some nifty free lightroom presets from www.ononesoftware.com and of course... I couldn't resist buying myself the keypad that is touted to save me much time in my post processing.  Unfortunately I haven't had a minute to play with them yet :-(   

There was an evening session that didn't interest me so a bunch of us hung out in the lounge chatting about everything and anything... boy did I get an education that night!

Day 2 found me at Mary Mortensen

The Art of Photographing Babies, Children & their Families

and while I enjoyed her energy and the fact that she does pretty much what I do and we share similar styles,  I really didn't get all that much out of her program.  She is a great photographer and very big on marketing and willing to share her techniques but despite trying really hard, I could not see doing any of those things in my day to day business practice.  I don't have 5 or 6 employees, or a huge studio that includes outside shooting gardens.  I don't charge $150.00 for an 8x10 and I can never see myself doing so.  There must be some wealth in the community in Wisconsin she lives in.  She certainly seems busy, but my focus here... in the Hudson Valley is to continue to cater to the service professions,  teachers, nurses, police, fire etc.... and I know they do not make what they should.  I appreciate what they do and want to not out price the working class from my studio.   So while I may have to raise my rates sooner than later,  I will remain grounded and committed to my clients :-)

Later in the day I was here... listening to  Jason Groupp

Shoestring TTL

Again... wanting to think outside the box of what I am used to.  I know how to use off camera TTL flash but prefer not to.  And this demonstration didn't change my mind at all.    I actually had to leave and go take a nap... maybe a little too much party the night before?  But Jason was a dynamic speaker and for those who want to cart stuff around with them to location shoots they probably learned quite a bit.  I am just finding I am simple... I prefer soft existing light... and proud of it :-) 

9pm brought the Animal House Toga party.... crazy costumes, fun times!  

Monday I was pretty much too wiped out for anything but  needed to take the Certified Professional Photographer exam that I had signed up for,    I had passed the portfolio test months before and keep telling myself that I would study at some point and never got around to it.   Baaaad idea.  The test started at 1:30...... exactly the time I needed a nap.  The room was cold and I was foggy.. not a great combination for taking a test, but I do what I have to do.  A good test taker I am, I whizzed through the 100 questions in about 50mins and left the room.  No turning back... Likely I didn't pass  but not sure I would have if I had studied.  Way too many questions on film cameras.  Stuff I don't know anything about.  And other things that I hold creative license to... some rules are just meant to be broken, so the answers were never what I would have done.  Anyway.. it all remains to be seen, maybe I will be surprised.  Waiting for that letter to come in the mail.  Will keep you posted. 

Hope you all had a great week and picked up your own camera at least once?  365 day project is killing me!   Till next time.....

My first blog.... insights from the NY state photo convention

So excited!  Finally... my first ever blog.  I have been meaning to write this and have had a link on my website for almost a year that linked to nowhere... motivation.....that is what I have needed and I found some this weekend at Photo North East convention in Woodcliff Lake NJ!  Time spent with fellow photographers, learning, socializing and networking can bring perspective back into your own life and business. Over the next few blogs I thought I would share some of the things I learned at the convention.

So the first thing that Tom and I did was watch print competition for the portrait category.  If you have never watched one you are missing out on a real learning opportunity, and entering one is a must in every photographers lifetime.  I put 2 prints into the portrait category.  Having not done as well as I had hoped last year I was more careful about the prints I chose for this one...  Portraiture is definintely the hardest category to compete in.  There are so many variables to portraits. 

My first print, titled "Believe" had quite some discussion I am told.  Going back and forth from the above average category 75-79 to the merit category 80-84 ( you need to be in the merit category to earn those blue ribbons that count towards earning a PPA Masters certificate)  This print ended scoring an 80.  Yay for a merit!   Thank you Madison Michaela Braren for your beautiful face that made this portrait all that is :)

My second photo titled "Someday my prince will come" also required some discussion between the 5 judges.. and boy did they pick this print apart.  Things that are part of the naturalness of the photo are now required to be "photoshopped out"  That I am not so sure I like too much.  The final score was 78.  Above average but no merit.  Funny that the judges here in the Hudson Valley gave this particular print the distinction of Print of the Year in 2010.  Thanks to Chloe Henshaw for her cuteness and thoughtful pose that adorns my sign out in front of my studio :-)

The 3rd print I entered was titled "Lee's Forgotten Ride"  in the illustrative category.  An old snow covered car I found outside of an autobody shop by where I live.  Several photoshop techniques and I came up with what I thought was quite and interesting print.  But of course there was much discussion between the judges on this one also... amazing how every little detail is picked apart.  But alas...an 80!

And lastly....my 4th print... titled "Under Pressure"  in the illustrative category of my neice Kerry catching a softball at an allstar game.  This print also won Print of the Year in Hudson Valley in 2010.  But not one word from the judges here... but a 3rd merit!  80 woo hoo!  

So after sitting through this for hours as they review not only yours but so many other spectacular photos, one might need a day at a spa or something... quite stressful it is!  But well worth it.  I now shoot many of my photos with the idea in mind that it might be my next competition photo.  Keeps me always creative and on my toes, trying my best. Striving to get to the next level like many of my peers have done.  I am amazed how there are so many creative souls in this world.   I highly recommend print comp to all my fellow photogs!  

Here are the 12 key elements needed for a competition photo.......

as defined by the PPA (Professional Photographers of America)

The Twelve elements listed below are in accordance to their importance.

Impact is the sense one gets upon viewing an image for the first time. Compelling images evoke laughter, sadness, anger, pride, wonder or another intense emotion. There can be impact in any of these twelve elements.

Technical excellence is the print quality of the image itself as it is presented for viewing. Retouching, manipulation, sharpness, exposure, printing, mounting, and correct color are some items that speak to the qualities of the physical print.

Creativity is the original, fresh, and external expression of the imagination of the maker by using the medium to convey an idea, message or thought.

Style is defined in a number of ways as it applies to a creative image. It might be defined by a specific genre or simply be recognizable as the characteristics of how a specific artist applies light to a subject. It can impact an image in a positive manner when the subject matter and the style are appropriate for each other, or it can have a negative effect when they are at odds.

Composition is important to the design of an image, bringing all of the visual elements together in concert to express the purpose of the image. Proper composition holds the viewer in the image and prompts the viewer to look where the creator intends. Effective composition can be pleasing or disturbing, depending on the intent of the image maker.

Presentation affects an image by giving it a finished look. The mats and borders used, either physical or digital, should support and enhance the image, not distract from it.

Color Balance supplies harmony to an image. An image in which the tones work together, effectively supporting the image, can enhance its emotional appeal. Color balance is not always harmonious and can be used to evoke diverse feelings for effect.

Center of Interest is the point or points on the image where the maker wants the viewer to stop as they view the image. There can be primary and secondary centers of interest. Occasionally there will be no specific center of interest, when the entire scene collectively serves as the center of interest.

Lighting—the use and control of light—refers to how dimension, shape and roundness are defined in an image. Whether the light applied to an image is manmade or natural, proper use of it should enhance an image.

Subject Matter should always be appropriate to the story being told in an image.

Technique is the approach used to create the image. Printing, lighting, posing, capture, presentation media, and more are part of the technique applied to an image.

Story Telling refers to the image’s ability to evoke imagination. One beautiful thing about art is that each viewer might collect his own message or read her own story in an image

Thanks so much for reading my very first blog.  I will share some other insights from the convention in the next one.