Carolina Photographer July 2014 by Fuller Royal

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Executive Board Chairman Paul Wingler paul@pwphoto.com President Bruce Williamson brucewilliamson49@gmail.com President-Elect Ellis Williamson Ewilliamson17@nc.rr.com Vice President Rose Mary Cheek rosemarycheek@charter.net Treasurer Ned Winn studiomail@nc.rr.com Secretary Adrian Henson adrian@adrianhenson.com Executive Director Loretta Byrd Loretta@ppofnc.com CAROLINA PHOTOGRAPHER MAGAZINE is a monthly online publication of the Professional Photographers of North Carolina, Inc. Editor Rose Mary Cheek rosemarycheek@charter.net 828-322-2862 Sales & Business Manager Loretta Byrd Executive Director of PPNC 919-796-4747 Articles & Sales Submissions First of the Month Publication 15th of the Month PPNC 427 Greenleaf Road Angier, NC 27501 919-796-4747 Acceptance of advertising does not carry with it endorsement by the publisher. Opinions expressed by Carolina Photographer or any of its authors does not necessarily reflect the positions of the Professional Photographers of North Carolina, Inc. Association financial information available upon request.

On our Cover

At 6ft tall 350 pounds and tattooed from head to toe meeting Brian Allen for the first time is a little intimidating. After talking with him for more than 5 minutes you begin to realize there is so much more to this guy than meets the eye. Brian loves God, loves the downtrodden, loves his family, and loves photography. Brian's photography catches a deeper side of people that refuses to gloss over the imperfections and scars that he believes captures the beauty of who we really are. He has used his photography to help bring awareness to social issues like homelessness and extreme global poverty. He believes we need to be more aware of the hurting and broken around us and make a difference where we can. Make sure to check him out on Sunday for the devotional at the Carolina Photo Expo. He will have just returned from Africa two weeks prior and will share his heart on how our images matter and how lives can forever be changed by the art we all love.

From the Editor Now is the Time . . . . I cannot believe we are already in the dog days of summer. Here in western Carolina we are experiencing a reasonable, yet mild summer but the heat is definitely on the rise. Not only the weather, but the upcoming convention. Our Carolina Photo Expo will definately be among the largest, brightest and the most fun we have ever had. We are extremely fortunate to have with us our wonderful President, Bruce Williamson. Dedicated, focused, and a hard/smart worker guiding our PPNC onward. Indeed to a path of excellence. "Thank you Bruce," sounds so miniscule compared to all his efforts and results. This event will be a not soon forgotten convention. Look further in the content for a sneek preview of the great speakers. We have a wonderful panel of judges. It will be interesting to see how many people enter prints this year. There is nothing like having your print hung in the Court of Honor on display throughout the convention. Needless to say, get going on those competition prints and get them ready, we have less than a month to go. And good luck! Rose Mary Cheek, Editor

PPA National Councilmen and Directors

PPNC Directors Brian Allen puregrit@hotmail.com Willis Brown wbrown11@nc.rr.com Dannie Daniel useralex2493@aol.com Misty Felde imagesbymistyfelde@yahoo.com Mardy Murphy MardyMurphy@aol.com Robert Yarborough rlyphoto@nc.rr.com

Seminar Chair & Directors Bob Henderson bhphoto47@earthlink.net Tim Hester tim@TimHesterPhotography.com Cathy Anderson cathyyount@gmail.com

Bill Goode Cassie Stone Janet Boschker Joy Batchelor-King Adrian Henson

From the President We Are Family ! ! “Reflecting Back, Looking Forward, Remaining Focused, Staying Positive” Bruce Williamson

Reflecting Back - As I approach my 65th birthday in a few days, I am constantly reflecting back on my life to determine the things that really matter to me and things that I am truly thankful for.

At the top of my list is my “Family”. As I was growing up, my parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins all played an important role in my life by laying foundations of encouragement, love, respect, determination and hard work. When I met my wife Debbie and we started a family, I had to draw from my “Family Mentors” and apply the teaching and training to my children. Now that I am a grandparent, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to share my “wisdom” to my grandchildren with the hope and prayer that they will become successful in their endeavors. PPNC has a rich heritage and many long-time members have shared their knowledge with the members that have followed. I have had the opportunity to visit with

some of the past PPNC presidents and they have been kind and encouraging in their observation of the changing of the photography industry and PPNC. Even though they enjoy talking about the “good ole days”, no one wants to return to that era. They realize that “Business as Usual” does not apply to PPNC any longer and we are facing challenges unknown to their generation. They also expressed encouragement and optimism with skills and talents that the new generation of photographers offer to PPNC. Looking Forward - I am excited about the changes that PPNC has made as we move forward. The organization understands that for PPNC to grow, we must address the needs and concerns of our current and future members. We must be willing to accept aspiring photographers in our organization and provide them with the resources that they need to be successful. It has been my experience that PPNC members have always been willing to help fellow photographers whether they are a beginner or a master. Therefore, I challenge the leadership to develop and adopt policies and procedures to help make that happen. 5

Remaining Focussed - As photographers we control many settings on our camera; ISO, f-stop, shutter speed, raw or jpeg, depth of field, focal points. Many shoot in raw and make adjustments in software editing programs in post production. However, if we fail to focus on the image, it is difficult to bring the subject back in to focus. It is important that we as an organization, remain “Focused” on Our Mission: “Dedicated to Advancing Photographic Imaging as an Art and a Profession” and Our Objectives: 1) To advance photography in all of it’s branches, both as an art and as a profession. 2) To create, foster, promote and maintain cordial relations, cooperation and interchange of thought and opinion freely among its members.

cont'd on page 19

Photographic Society of theTriangle

PPA State Affiliates

Certified Professional Photographer By Dave Goldman, CPP, North Carolina Certification Liaison

Two of the biggest questions I get asked by potential or declared candidates when it comes to preparing for the CPP exam is “What do I need to know” and “What resource should I study?” I can tell you that both of these questions are pretty easy to answer. Before I get in to those two questions you need to understand one thing about the exam that is very important. The Certification Committee follows the standards for certification established by the Institute of Credentialing Excellence (“ICE”). The ICE sets the guidelines for creating the written exam for certification, ensuring the questions are relevant to professional photography today. ICE also provides support and information for maintaining the certification process to the Certification Committee. What do I need to know? You are in luck. The awesome folks over at the certification department at PPA posted a wealth of information which can be found at the following link: http://www.ppa.com/cpp/ content.cfm?ItemNumber=4168#cppexam.

Specification. This breaks down all of the sections of the test by percentage and items. This is a great place to start and see what you will need to know for the exam. The exam is very comprehensive; practical, hands-on experience is a big help if you plan on doing well. What resource should I study? PPA has posted another great link that covers the CPP Exam Overview and Resources: http://www. ppa.com/cpp/content.cfm?ItemNumber=4152. There are many resources that you can study to prepare for the exam. Please be aware that you do not need to read or purchase these resources to take this exam. This resource is a general study guide for the fundamentals of today's imaging industry. Another wonderful resource is the CPP Certification Guide, written by Al Audleman. The price for the guide is $99.00, approximately the same price as the London Photography book and IMHO is much more current for today’s standards. The guide is con-

For more about the specifics on the actual test breakdown, you can go to the following link: http://www.ppa.com/files/ pdfs/cpp%5Ftestspecs%5F1213.pdf and download the PDF file. This is the Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) Test

stantly upgraded via candidate feedback. The study guide is written around the CPP Exam Specification and breaks down all of the technical information related to each section. The guide also contains the current test specification and all of the requirements to become certified, including your image submissions. For more information about obtaining the CPP Certification Study Guide, “The Road to Certification for the Professional Photographer”, you can contact Al Audleman at al@asaphoto.com. If you have any questions about the certification process please email cppmailbox@ppa.com for assistance or you can contact me at dave@davegoldmanphotography.com

Great Changes in Store for the Carolina Photo Expo in August! No one would deny that the last 10 years have brought rapid changes to the photographic industry. We have all had to evolve and adjust, yet the classic

skills. Choices include 1. Five different day-long private classes 2. 12 key-note speakers that are leaders in their spe-

skills of photography and sound business practices remain important and critical to our success and ability to distinguish ourselves as professionals. While keeping the best of the former PPNC Annual

cialties 3. Private one-on-one mentoring sessions 4. Visiting vendors in the trade show to learn about new products and services

Convention, the brand new Carolina Photo Expo aims to appeal to a broader audience of photographers at all levels, genders, and specialties. Not only should this benefit our industry, but also our organization. The Carolina Photo Expo offers a wider variety of opportunities that attendees will be able to choose from to improve their business and photographic

5. Hands-on demonstrations and shooting opportunities with guided instruction 6. Social networking events 7. Watching and listening to the judging at print competition (or behind the scenes in the rowdier Club 79, where the audience can freely talk and often plays games relating to the competition.) Topics this year cover a broader spectrum of photographic genres than ever. These include pets, boudoir, weddings, bridal portraits, social media marketing, fashion, Painter, landscapes, album design, sales techniques, lighting techniques, posing, Photoshop, high school seniors, classic portraiture, composition, newborns, children, and SEO.

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Expo will be held at the Sheraton Imperial near the Raleigh-Durham Airport, just off I-40.

The convention starts on Friday, August 14th. PreCon classes include Lighting by Design with Ned Winn; Pet Photography with Mona Sadler; Beauty Bridal, and Boudior with Scott & Dodie Huffman; and Yin-Yang â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Balancing the Art of Photoshop. Print competition will begin Friday evening with a great panel of judges, our Jury Chair is Randy McNeilly, from Florida Joe & Mary Jane Campenellie, from Virginia Jamie Hayes, from Tennessee Michelle Parsley, from South Carolina, Lonnie Hoke, and Heather Michelle Chinn. So get those print ready for competition.

On Saturday, our headline speakers begin. First, Beth Forrester will share her very successful pricing strategies as well as her top 10 tips for increasing your average sale. Then, Tamara Lackey will offer her amazing insight and inspiration as she helps us redefine how we view our photography and our businesses. Print competition will continue with the addition of Club 79 to add to the fun. In the afternoon, the trade show will begin, where dinner will be provided. Fashion photographer Lindsay Adler rounds out the evening with a presentation on the incorporation of

fashion techniques into client portraiture and weddings.

Sunday starts with Alycia Alvarez as she walks us through modern baby and children portraiture. The trade show continues with the addition of live demonstrations. At 11am, we are excited to have rising- with four Pre-convention classes. In addition, print competition star photographer Brian Allen for our devotional, titled “Changing the World One Click at a Time.” After lunch, Joe Edelman will present a program on his successful techniques in beauty and glamour portraiture. To end the day, we will have a “Duck Dynasty Family Reunion” with barbeque, the Band of Oz, and lots of bandannas and camouflage! Anyone who powers through the party can enjoy a late night shoot-out till the wee hours. Monday morning starts off with the Munoz Brothers, who have won numerous first place SEPPA and PPA awards in wedding photography. Then, in the afternoon, Tim Walden, a well-recognized leader in the portrait industry, will teach on all aspects of the portrait photography business, showing you how to rise above your competition. The evening ends with our annual awards presentation where the winners from the print competition will be announced. For Hotel Reservations

CALL

919-941-5050

Things wind down on Tuesday, but not before more great speakers present valuable programs to help your business. Rebecca and Jason Weaver will cover set design, marketing, and shooting to attract high school seniors. Gary Hughes will teach about improving your Search Engine Optimization on the internet, which is a vital part of being successful in today’s market. If you’ve always been interested in Painter, top educator Heather Michelle Chinn will be giving a day-long beginner class to get you started in Painter 12 or X3. It’s an amazing opportunity to learn from the best! Visit www.CarolinaPhotoExpo.com to see more details about the schedule, hotel accommodations, the programs, print competition, and to register. In addition, you can keep track of the latest news at the Carolina Photo Expo Facebook page or by following us on Twitter. You may even happen upon special deals and prizes! The Expo offers an amazing amount of education at a low price and we welcome all levels of photographers who seek to improve their craft and business skills. The daily rate for the general public is $89 if you register on our website before August 13this $179. If you are a PPNC member, your admission may be free depending on the membership package you chose. The trade show is free to attend. 10

Has Copyright Gone Too Far Google Hangout Recap By Professional Photographers of America (PPA) | the discussion turned to upholding outdated laws and applying them to If you weren’t watching R Street’s modern society. Those in the online Hangout about copyright reform last audience who asked questions about month, you were missing a seriously how this was working against the little concerning conversation. guy - i.e., freelance writers, e-book authors, small creative business ownThe question of the day was “Has ers - were largely ignored, and their copyright gone too far?” plight in fighting infringement was only briefly acknowledged. Some of R Street invited Tom W. Bell, author of the book Intellectual Privilege, Der- the panelists even suggested that they ek Khanna of R Street, Mitch Stoltz of shouldn’t have property-like protecthe Electronic Frontier Foundation and tions for their work because it would Ryan Radia of the Competitive Enter- stifle others’ creativity. prise Institute to express their opinUm, excuse me? ions. The discussion began with each of the panelists introducing their take on modern copyright law, and what he But the talk ended on a note that everyone could agree on: “We can do thought should be done about them. better than what we have,” Bell said.

raphers on Capitol Hill, month after month, advocating for small business copyright owners. You should join the movement for copyright reform so that things CAN move forward sooner than later. How? Simply letting your opinion known to your local representative (this hyperlink will help you identify who’s yours!) You may think that your impact is a small water droplet, but if we ALL take a moment to tell them why it’s important to protect our works, we’ll be that much more. If you don’t quite know what to say, you can check back to the blog for a template letter you can use. After all, what is an ocean but a multitude of drops? In the mean time, here are some easy ways to help you contact Congress!

While each panelist agreed that mod-

You can watch a replay of the Hangout at R Street Institute’s YouTube, or check out PPA’s Copyright Resources for sample contracts, letters, the full copyright kit or some useful guidelines for you and/or your clients.

ern copyright law needed to be worked on, they disagreed on what needed to be fixed - Bell argued for “the founders’ idea of copyright,” in reference to the Copyright Act of 1790 and soon

Yes, indeed! But it’s up to us to initiate this change. And when we say ‘us’, we mean all of us image creators, photographers, artists at large! As you know, PPA is representing photog11

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF NORTH CAROLINA PRINT COMPETITION RULES 2014 PURPOSE The purpose of this competition is to challenge photographers’ creativity and allow them to match their work against that of their peers. Photographic prints and albums will be judged relative to the 12 Elements of a Merit Print. (For more information including video tutorials and reference materials go to www.ppa.com/competitions/ international.php.) These rules pertain to still images entered as prints created by traditional photographic processes as well as those captured or created electronically. ELIGIBILITY 1. Any member of PPNC, PPA or SEPPA in good standing with dues paid and received by the PPNC Executive Director by Friday, March 1, 2013 is eligible to enter.

2. Portrait Open: Entrant must have captured and/or created the original exposure. Electronic Imaging: Entries must have been sourced, composited, manipulated and/or produced by digitally by the entrant 3. A maximum of 12 entries may be submitted per entrant. Any combination of Master Artist or Portrait Open entries may be used to make up the 12 total entries. No entry will be eligible that has been made under the supervision of an instructor or as a class assignment. 4. No two entries shall be of the same subject. 5. Entries previously entered, including any image from an

album, and merited (receiving a score of 80 or higher in the PPNC Exhibit) are not eligible. 6. Entry media includes photographic prints, digital submissions, physical albums and digital albums. 7. The entrant’s name shall not appear anywhere in or on the face of the entry. SUBMISSION OPTIONS Entrants may submit either prints (photographic or press printed images presented for judging under lights) or digital submissions (digital files presented for judging on a monitor), or a combination of either entry type.

damage other entries or pose a danger to print handlers will be accepted. Masonite, glass, stretcher frames or conventional frames will not be accepted. 3. A digital reference file must be uploaded with each print entry. This file must be a reasonable match to the submitted print entry (image and presentation). File specifications are the same as under the Digital Submission categories.

Digital Submission See digital entry tutorial at www.ppa. com/competitions/international.php.

Print Submission

1. Entrants may submit printed images of any shape and size on a mount board a minimum of 80 square inches to a maximum of 480 square inches, with the largest dimension no longer than 24 inches. (Recommended mounting thickness is 1/8” to 3/8”.) 2. Print entries must be mounted on standard mount material (double weight mat board, gator board, ¼” foam, or Sintra). “Float” mounting is accepted at the entrant’s risk for damage. Images on metal and mounted to another standard material must have rounded corners and smooth edges. No mount that could potentially

Files must be sized so the longest dimension is no more than 4,000 pixels (20 inches at 200 ppi). Each file must contain an embedded color profile of either sRGB or Adobe RGB1998 and be saved at a JPEG quality setting of 10.

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION CATEGORIES You may enter one print case per classification (photographic open and/ or electronic imaging), with a maximum of 6 entries per case. Each case entered requires a separate case fee.

1. Photographic Open. a. Portrait Sub-Categories: Children Groups Men

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF NORTH CAROLINA PRINT COMPETITION RULES 2014 Women Pictorial Pets and Animals b. Commercial Sub-Categories: General Photojournalism Unclassified Scenic Fine Art c. Wedding/Social Event Sub-Categories: Bridal Portrait Wedding Candid Social Event Candid d. Albums Sub-Categories Events Single Maker Events Multi Maker Non-Events

2. Artist Imaging (Formerly EI) This category allows the entrant to demonstrate their electronic and/or imaging skill and expertise. Entries will be judged for digital, artistic and technical proficiency. Entries must have been sourced, composited, manipulated and/or produced by digital means. Images entered in this classification are not eligible to be entered in the Photographic Open category by any entrant. Any entry that has been reproduced from an existing photograph, portrait, graphic or any other artwork produced by another person must be accompanied by permission from that maker and pasted on the back of the entry. SUBMISSION OPTIONS: Entrants may submit either original art, (painted, illustrative, photographic

or press printed image presented for judging under lights) or digital submission – (a digital file presented for judging on a monitor.) Physical Art Print

1. Entrants may submit physical images of any shape and size on a mount board a minimum of 80 square inches to a maximum of 480 square inches, with the largest dimension no longer than 24”. (Recommended mounting thickness is 1/8” to 3/8”.) 2. Print entries must be mounted on a standard mount material (double weight mat board, gator board, ¼” foam, or Sintra) “Float” mounting is accepted at entrant’s risk for damage. Images on metal and mounted to another standard material must have rounded corners and smooth edges. No mount that could potentially damage other entries or pose a danger to print handlers will be accepted. Masonite, glass, stretcher frames or conventional frames will not be accepted. 3. If an entry includes guide images, they must be included on or be mounted on the face of the entry. 4. A digital reference file must be submitted with each physical entry. This file must match the submitted print entry (image and presentation). This may be a high quality digital photograph of the original art.

File specifications are the same as under the Digital Submission categories.

ALBUM ENTRIES

Album entries may be submitted in the form of a Physical Album (an album printed and bound as a book for judging under lights) or a Digital Album (a set of digital files to be judged as sequential layouts on monitors.) You must designate one of the following categories for each entry. 1. Events: Use this category for time-sensitive social events, such as weddings, bat mitzvahs, etc. 2. Non-Events: Use this category for portrait and storytelling albums. NOTE: Multi-maker & single-maker albums will be judged as one category. PHYSICAL ALBUM ENTRY

1. Album covers must be between 63-400 square inches. 2. No multiple volume albums are allowed. 3. Any studio identification or entrant’s name in the traditional album must be covered.

DIGITAL ALBUM ENTRY See digital entry tutorial at www.ppa. com/competitions/international.php

1. All page/spread files must have the longest file dimension at 4,000 pixels (20 inches at 200 ppi), have an embedded color profile of either sRGB or Adobe

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF NORTH CAROLINA PRINT COMPETITION RULES 2014

2. 3. 4. 5.

RGB 1998 and be saved at a JPEG quality setting of 10. Each page/spread file may contain as many images as you desire. An entry shall contain a minimum 5 page/spread files up to 36 page/spread files. Files are to be numbered in viewing order using two digits (i.e. 01.jpg, 02.jpg, 03.jpg, etc.) All individual files must be compressed into a single ZIP FILE. ZIP file must be named: Album Title.zip (i.g. Summer Wedding.zip.) Studio identification or entrant’s name cannot appear on any file within the album entry.

MULTI-MAKER ALBUM ENTRY

1. Each participating photographers must have a minimum of 20% of his/her images in the album. 2. Each entrant must pay the appropriate entry fee. 3. Each entrants entry form must use the same title, and be uploaded. 4. Multi-maker albums will be judged as one entry.

2. $20 per image for SEPPA and PPA members only, (non PPNC) who preregister 3. If not pre-registering, each entry must be uploaded online, by entrant, at Print Salon. NOTE! Entry fee and payment must be received by 12:00 p.m. on Friday, August 15, 2014. SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS 1. For any entry to be returned, it must be shipped in an approved print case. Cases must be received by 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, August 13, 2014. 2. Ship to: PPNC Print Exhibit, Loretta Byrd, 427 Greenleaf Rd., Angier, NC 27501 3. Hand delivered cases will be accepted in the Print Salon, Royal B, Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Durham, NC on Friday, August 15th, 2014 between 9am and 12:00 noon. 4. Payment to PPNC must be enclosed with entries. 5. If not pre-registering, uploading of image file of each entry is still required. 6. PPNC assumes no responsibility for damage to entries.

FEES

1. $15 per image for PPNC members who pre-register on the internet . Only 6 images will be credited towards merits.

NOTE: Failure to comply with these rules may result in disqualification of entry. The decision of the Print Salon Committee is final. HOW TO PRE-REGISTER ONLINE FOR PRINT SALON 2014 1. Go to www.printcompetition. com 2. Request password and/or logon 3. Pre-register your entries (ALL IMAGES MUST BE TITLED) 4. Upload your sample images for each entry 5. Print back labels and attach to the back of each entry 6. Print your completed entry form 7. Print shipping labels 8. Ship/Deliver Each case should include: · Entries · Pre-registration form · Payment

NEW MEMBERS

The following PPNC members have received the Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) designation since our last convention. They are:

Rico Allende, Elizabeth Anders, Janna Ashton, Sharon Beadnell, Cory Bean, Lauren Beasley, David Metz, Dennis Beck, Adrion Bell, Sandra Benton, Christer Berg, Ruth Brandin, Juan Briceno, Chris Caggiano, David Cain, Peachtree Camera Repair, Bobby Carlsen, Eugenia Carraway, Kathleen Carroll, Roderick Charles, Wanda Clayton, Data Color, Delores Davis, Carolyn Dillon, Jeff Dugan, Claudette Fairley, Erin Feagin, Leonard Fikes, Glenn Forsythe, Christy Frost, Paulina Gwaltney, Rinat Halon, Jennifer Happ, Robert Harper, Eddie Harris, Laura Harris, Tim Hays, Sandra Henderson, Sonia Houghton, Sarah Jacobs, Charlie Jarman, Laura Jolly, Megan Jones, Eric Keene, Lorrie Kennedy, Kathy King, Durwood Koonce, David Kuhn, Margaret Langley, Ashley Latham, Paige Lee, Erica Letchworth, Andrew Levengood, Julie Mallett, Jeff McClure, Jesse McDonald, Caroline McGath, Steven Melamed, Toyette Minor, Ann Norment, Tanya Odom, Tracy Owen, Linda Packard, Erin Clemmer Painted Portraits, John Payne, Sigma Photo, Cato Pinkney, Jennifer Priddy, Eugene Purcell, Matt Renn, Danielle Riley, Daniel Rothra, Jose Sanchez, David Snook, Steve Strickland, SweetLight Systems, Lisa Wheeler Thayers, James L Thomas, Allen Thornburgh, Jordan Tickle, Eve Turek, Sandy Tyson, Lauren Vick, Linda Wehler, Catherine Whaley, Amber Willis, Pete Wright, and Kiona Zappe, Signa Tyson. *

Georgina Quinn Thomas McCabe Mona Sadler Lili Engelhardt Dave Goldman Steven Jamroz Be sure to congratulate these people because this is a great accomplishment. There is nothing like the satisfaction of setting, and achieving such a high standard of professional excellence. Our hats off to each one of them.

*(as of Jan 1 - July 15, 2014)

MORE ON PRINT COMPETITION For Local Competitions… New to the game? Get your feet wet by competing in your PPA affiliated local guilds’ or associations’ competitions. It will help ease your nerves and feel things out you will score a round of critiquing, increasing your chances for success at the next level. Check PPA’s theLoop for more advice on entering local competitions. There are two local affiliates in North Carolina, in Raleigh there is: Photographic Society of the Triangle; Contact Cindy Smith, posr@aol.com. Professional Imaging Group of Eastern North Carolina, Contact Mona Sadler, mona@coastalpetportraits.com.

Entering print competition is one of the best ways to push yourself to be more. You’ll learn where you stand— how your photography matches up with your peers. You’ll learn about the 12 elements of a merit image, and start incorporating them into your daily photography. You’ll learn what it takes to create a merit image, and if you stick with it, work your way up to the Loan Collection. You’ll learn you’re capable of so much more than you imagined. It’s perfectly normal to be a little nervous going in, but don’t be afraid of getting better. It’s easy to get involved. Fine-tune your best images and submit either prints or digital copies. A professional is good, they know they are good, but they strive to be better. We are Professionals!

Entering print competition is one of the best ways to push yourself to be more.

And if you can, make sure you attend the judging at our Carolina Photo Expo August 15 – 19, 2014. All photographic competitions are open to the public, and it’s the best way to maximize your learning potential. Whether you’ve entered images or not, watching is a great way to grasp what the judges are looking for. The PPA-approved jurors are some of the best in the business—photographers who truly care about raising the bar in the industry. You can even pick their brains during breaks! Our Judges for this competition are Jury Chariman, Randy McNeilly from North Carolina. Approved Affiliate Judges: Joe Campanellie from Florida, Jamie Hayes from Virginia, Lonnie Hoke from South Carolina, Judges in PPA Affiliate Training: Mary Jane Campanellie from Florida, Michelle Parsley from Tennessee and Heather Michelle Chinn from South Carolina. Be sure to welcome them all.

State Competitions… Competition critiques at this level are often held live, providing insight into improving your work. It’s the perfect place to start if you don’t have access to a local guild or association, and this is where you also get your feet wet.

New Members Entering for the first time… PPNC has an award called the President’s Award; it is specifically for a first time entrant only. The most important thing about this award it is that it is calculated on a cumulative total of 6 images. This is where new members make a mistake, they are so excited to enter competition and are not aware of this award and enter one or two prints. And once you have entered, then you are no longer eligible for the President’s award. So I try to explain and encourage new members to wait a little before they enter competition, find a mentor, there are many in our association who will help you. Then when you enter your very first competition, be sure you have six entries. If you need any information about Print Competition, or want help, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Rose Mary Cheek, Print Chairman

12 ELEMENTS OF A MERIT PRINT 5.) 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.

The Photographic Exhibitions Committee (PEC) of PPA uses the 12 elements below as the “gold standard” to define a merit image. PEC trains judges to be mindful of these elements when judging images to the PPA merit level and to be placed in the International Print Exhibit at Imaging USA, the annual convention. The use of these 12 elements connects the modern practice of photography and its photographers to the historical practice of photography begun nearly two centuries ago.

6.) 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.

Twelve elements have been defined as necessary for the success of an art piece or image. Any image, art piece, or photograph will reveal some measure of all twelve elements, while a visually superior example will reveal obvious consideration of each one

7.) 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.

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

8.) 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.

1.) 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. 2.) 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.

9.) 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 man made or natural, proper use of it should enhance an image.

3.) 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.

10.) Subject Matter should always be appropriate to the story being told in an image. 11.) 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.

4.) 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.

12.) 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. 17

Area Coordinator, Deborah Hendrix from Clemmons, NC is a NILMDTS ambassador in the Winston-Salem, Forsyth County area. As an area coordinator, Deborah is tasked with building community awareness about NILMDTS, serving as the first point of contact for families in need of services, and actively recruiting new photographers and volunteers.

Benefits of Membership Volunteers of NILMDTS are considered members of the organization. For a low annual membership fee, members receive a number of benefits, which will help them not only with NILMDTS sessions, but also in their professional career. Your annual membership fee helps NILMDTS to continue to provide these benefits to you.

Liability Coverage Members in the US and Canada will receive liability coverage for the work they do under NILMDTS. • Liability and Volunteer Insurance – NILMDTS holds insurance to help protect volunteers. You must be an active member to be covered. We also strongly encourage members to have your own insurance, as this will provide extra protection for your NILMDTS volunteer work. • Legal Services – Once in awhile, you may encounter a situation in which you may need legal advice. NILMDTS works with an attorney who can help advise you in the situation. Please call Headquarters with your concern.

*This coverage is not available outside the US and Canada at this time. Vendor Discounts A number of NILMDTS sponsors offer generous discounts on product for photographers. Most of these products can be purchased for your professional career as well. Please see our updated list of discounts in the Member Account. If you take advantage of the discounts, you will more than pay for your membership fee with this benefit alone. Marketing and Promotion Members will receive marketing and promotion support for their local services. • Brochures – Marathon Printing provides brochures to all NILMDTS members to promote services. Please contact cont'd on page 21

Here’s another Good Reason to Enter PPNC’s Print Competition… Entering print competitions gives you an opportunity to earn recognition for your creativity and excellence in professional photography. It also helps expand your knowledge, confidence and skills.

purchase any of the exceptional photo papers, including the PPA Hot One award winning metallic photo paper, fine art papers, and canvases included in LexJet’s Sunset portfolio of inkjet materials for professional photographic printing and fine-art reproduction. The winner will be chosen by the print-competition judging panel in the 2014 Print Competition. To

And here’s another possible benefit: You have the opportunity to win the LexJet Sunset Award. The winning print will be selected by the PPNC judges from those prints entered in the 2014 PPNC Print Competition and Exhibition, August 15-19, 2014.

qualify, the entries must meet the PPNC’s print-competition submission requirements, which you can find at the following link: www.ppofnc.com or www. printcompetion.com . For more information about the LexJet Sunset Award, contact Tom Gruss at LexJet,

In addition to a Sunset Award trophy, the winner will receive a $200 gift certificate that can be used to President's message (Cont'd)

with the CPE team, I am witnessing creative, innovation and positive ideas and suggestions as we put the finishing touches on the next major event for your organization, the Carolina Photo Expo! Going back to the beginning of this President’s Message, “Family is Important” and I am so excited and looking forward to the PPNC Family Reunion at this event!

3) To oppose violations and infringements of the rights of professional photographers or their organizations. 4) To propose and support legislation favorable to and oppose legislation unfavorable or prejudicial to the interests of Professional Photography.

The host hotel for the CPE is the Sheraton Imperial. Please make your reservation now to stay at the Sheraton and help PPNC meet its room block. By meeting our room block, we avoid paying rent for the classroom meeting space during the CPE. I know that I can count on you for your support. And finally, please register for this event by visiting www.carolinaphotoexpo.com and help promote CPE via email and social media.

5) To foster the practical benefits to be derived from professional acquaintanceship and discussions of subjects having to do with photography. 6) To fix and maintain ethical standards among its members.

7) To cooperate with any and all government agencies and departments having to do with the art and/or profession of photography.

Thanks so much for your support. It has been my pleasure serving you as president of the best photography organization ever; Professional Photographers of North Carolina!

8) To cooperate with other organizations which may be striving to accomplish similar purposes. Staying Positive - It is important that we, as an organization, remain positive as we move forward. Working

Bruce

PPA TODAY As a professional photographer, you deal with people’s insecurities in front of the camera on a daily basis. We asked OurPPA Facebook followers to share the craziest things clients have asked for, and the photography community came forward with some pretty ridiculous situations. Here are our favorite responses: • “A bride asked my husband to stretch her limo to make it appear more expensive.” Martha C. • “An architect asked if I could open the front door in Photoshop. On another shot he needed me to turn on all the lights. I told him that was level 7 magic and I was only in my 3rd year at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry.” Erica B. • “A bride who was taller than the groom asking me to stretch him after the pictures were all taken to make him look taller than her by a foot or so.” Jillian C. • “A middle-aged housewife once asked me to shoot ‘romantic, soft, tasteful photos’ of her for her husband, for their anniversary. She then produced an 18” stack of Hustler magazines, all opened to the centerfold as examples.” Anjani M.

• “At a newborn shoot, most babies are sleeping. One parent wanted me to Photoshop their child’s eyes open. Really? Not only that, but during the shoot they started annoying the sleeping baby trying to wake her up. Job well done. Now you have a screaming baby.” Michelle C.

• “While shooting a maternity shoot, the mom-to-be who was barefoot turns to her husband and says, ‘Honey, you need to take your socks off.’ Then looks at me and asks, ‘Or can you Photoshop them?’” Tyson P. • “I had a studio in Hastings, England, and we used to make copy negatives of old photographs on 10x8 film and retouch them. An elderly lady came in with a photo of her dead husband who was wearing a trilby hat. She asked my assistant if we could remove his hat. The answer was yes madam. Assistant asked what color was his hair, her reply was ‘Don’t be stupid - you will see that when your remove his hat.’ On another occasion a lady bought in 2 very dead stuffed monkeys to be photographed and framed. My wife asked the lady if she wanted them mounted. The lady blushed and said ‘No thank you, holding hands will be adequate. The joys of being a GP Photographer.’ Ian H.

• “To make sure her face cheeks were even because her collagen injections were not FDA approved. (And was given a before photo for reference).” Rachel T. • “Can you turn my head sideways for a profile photo? I like my profile.” Marty R. • “I once had to ‘remove’ a rather large penis on a horse. Bad enough, but then the family insists that he ‘never’ does that (which I took to mean the horse must really like me) *blushing*” Shannon M. • “’I don’t like my daughter’s outfit, if I take a picture of a skirt. Can you Photoshop it on her?’ Umm no.” Heather S. • “Can you iron my kid’s shirt in Photoshop?” Kristen J. Have a story to share? www.ourppa. com.We love hearing the shenanigans that happen in your studios!

NILMDTS (cont'd from pg 18 • Music – A large selection of music in which we have permission to use is available in the Member Account for the slideshow.

Headquarters to order brochures. • Marketing, Branding, and Logo Usage – NILMDTS provides in the Member Account a Marketing Guide as well as permission to use and access to NILMDTS logos and images for use.

• Retouching • Free Software – You will receive access to OnOne Software Photo-tools and Digital Skin to assist you with retouching work.

• Media – You will receive information on how to contact and respond to the media as well as Talking Points. • Displays – NILMDTS can provide you, upon request, with a display for an event in which you are promoting NILMDTS. These are used at photography, medical and bereavement type conferences to recruit more members to help more families. Additionally, the displays assist in educating the medical community about the services our volunteers provide. Session Production Support In order to produce the best quality product to our families, NILMDTS and its sponsors offers the following: • Slideshows • Several sponsors including Collages.net, and Emotion Media, provide slideshow production at no cost to our members. You just have to drop in your images and the slide show is created.

• If you are unable to retouch your images because you will not get them done in a timely manner or if retouching is not your expertise, NILMDTS has volunteer Digital Retouch Artists to assist you. Support Members will receive support to provide their volunteer services. • Headquarters Support – Staff at NILMDTS is available Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Mountain Time to help you with whatever situation you may come across. You may call or email us. • Private Member Account – Your private member account is stocked with dozens of the latest resources and documents you will need for your sessions, for hospitals, and a number of other events. These are updated on a regular basis. 21

You are also able to log your sessions and keep track of your sessions. Check back often to see new resources. • Forum Support – You can become a part of the Forum at www.nowisleep.com. The Forum is a place you can go online to receive support from photographers and advice on shooting, lighting, posing, and retouching techniques. • Grief Support Videos – As volunteers, we understand the sessions you take are extremely emotional. In the member account, you have access to a six-part grief support video. Training Members will receive training in a number of areas. • Online Training – NILMDTS provides online training for a nominal fee. Once you pay the fee, you can revisit the training as many times as you would like for a refresher. • Webcasts – You will further develop your skills for NILMDTS sessions and your professional career through these regular webcasts. • Professional Development Videos – In addition to our general training, a number of videos are available in the Member Account for you to view on retouching and other related skills.

Photographer Highlight Brian Allen

Brian Allen, unlike Steve Martins character in the movie “The Jerk” was not born a poor black child but he was born into an extremely poor family. Born into a chaotic world with an alcoholic father and an abusive mother he quickly turned to art as way of escape. Brian grew up with a love to paint, draw, and always had a camera in his hand of some sort, usually a disposable camera his Grandmother purchased for him. As Brian grew older he began to focus more on painting and sports

and laid the camera aside. In high school he placed 2nd out of 200,000 in the Scholastic

arts competition for NC and had his painting displayed in the U.S. Congress building for a year. He also received a $40,000.00 scholarship to Savannah Art institute in which, in his owns words, “ He quickly pissed away for girls, drugs and wild living.” He never ended up attending the school at all. He always wanted 22

to create nice art but could never find a way to make a living at it so he received an NC Insurance license. He managed a multi million dollar insurance company for 5 years, a job he said "I hated every minute of it. Nobody comes in happy to pay their insurance.” At that point in his life he began to get tattooed and fell in love with it completely. The artist that

began tattooing him offered him an amazing opportunity as an apprentice in a new shop he was opening in Wisconsin. That started his career as a professional tattoo artist. That has been his full time profession now for almost 20 years. About 5 years ago something about that long lost time with his camera began to awaken inside him and he bought his first digital camera. Brian

doesn't get caught up in the Nikon and Canon arguments because he shoots Sony. “ I shoot the black sheep of the photography world because it was always the best I could afford for the money and its never failed me.” Brian began to soak up everything

pertaining to photography like a sponge and went to every seminar and class he could find. “ My first photography convention was in Vegas at Photoshop world. I loved every minute of it and got to spend a day with Moose Peterson and Joe McNally. I also had my first critique where I found out I truly didn't know what a good image was and I sure wasn't creating them. It was an eye opener for me. I didn't get hurt, I went home and got better. I sat through some amazing people but one person made a lasting impression on me and that was Vincent Versace. Coming from the Versace dynasty he said when his brother was killed in Miami he realized all the money in the world didn't mean 23

anything. He told everyone that he wanted them to be able to do the same things he was doing. He knew many people there(me included) couldn't afford the software he was using. He gave way around 500 copies to everyone the of the Nik Collection and all of his actions. He said now there wouldn't be any excuses.”

Brian went away from that convention with a desire to be the best he could be and never looked back. Brian joined PPNC around 4 years ago and couldn't be more happy with all that he has learned from such an amazing group of talent. Brian said â&#x20AC;&#x153; His first PPNC convention wrecked him but in a good way. He was think-

ing about maybe leaving the tattooing industry for something different and more exciting so he thought maybe he will do weddings or something like that. He had done a few weddings and his hats off to the wedding photographers out there, He hated everyone of them. You will never work harder in your life than shooting a wedding. The first program he sat thru was Jennifer Hudson ( now Jennifer Thoreson) and realized that he needed to do what makes me happy and shoot what he felt passionate about. He then sat thru JuliAnne Jonkers program and that solidified it for him. He was not a wedding photographer, a seniors photographer, or a baby photographer, He was just a guy with a camera that wanted to create art that made himself happy. Thats what he has doneâ&#x20AC;?. 24

If you have ever seen Brian's work you can tell that he is definitely not someone you can pigeon hole into any one category. He has images in the PPA Loan collection that range from a sweet little baby girl, a home-

less older man with more wrinkles than a wet Shar Pei, and a landscape of sun rays across the Serengeti. He is also known for some of his more disturbing images with meat cleavers and masks made of skin. With all that said he is set to receive his Master of Photography thru PPA this coming year in Nashville. A pretty hefty feet to have entered his first competition images only a short three years ago. He would also like to acknowledge a mentor than helped him every step of the way and gave him a confidence in his

work that really drove him to be better and that would be Adrian Henson. “ Adrian was never too busy or never seemed uninterested in any problem or question he ever had" and Brian said "I wouldn't be were I am today in my photography had it not been for him. I can't say enough about what an amazing photographer he is but most importantly what an amazing person he is.”

for his 4th trip to that area to begin the planning stages to complete a school for the blind. That region is the poorest in the world with an average wage of four dollars a month. Brian said “ I thought I knew what poverty was. I have done homeless ministry and seen people with what I thought was nothing. I hadn't seen anything until I traveled to Africa. God broke my heart in a way I never Some amazing things you may not imagined and I haven't been the know about Brian to look at him same since.” Brian is also the misis that he has a love for the impovsions pastor at his church. He said “ erished and down trodden of his Jesus changed my life. I was a drunkcommunity and his world. He is an en, womanizing, angry, lonely peradvocate for Compassion Internason until I met him. He has allowed tional and has five sponsor children me to overcome the pains of my in Burkina Faso, Africa. He is in the past and has given me the chance to process of traveling at the end of July bring real change to hurting children 25

all over the world. Only God could have done that to this old bearded crazy tattooed guy”

Brian sells his art at galleries in his home town and at his tattoo shop. His work can be found at www. puregritart.com Everything he sells goes 100% to charity. The cost to finish the Sialoam School for the blind is around $40,000. Any one interested in helping can send donations made out to Relate Church, PO Box 872, Saluda NC 28773 with Africa School in the subject line and can be made online at www.relate. cc. All donations are tax deductable.

The Single Easiest Habit to Change to Improve Your Life Forever Written by joshua becker Life change can be hard, really hard. There is a reason we make resolutions every January 1. We desire to grow and improve and live life to the fullest, but getting there takes discipline and work and effort. Too often, we fall short of the desired change we desire to embrace. But there is one change available to us that is as significant and beneficial as any of the others. The decision and implementation are really not that difficult. In fact, almost everyone I have ever met that made the change recommends it. Watch less television. Consider the negative effects of television on our lives.

It distracts us from the real people in our lives. The characters on television are not real. They are thought up in an office building and given life on a piece of paper. In contrast, you are surrounded everyday by real people living real lives. They need you. And you need them. It influences our spending habits. Corporations do not spend trillions of dollars in advertising hoping to influence you. They spend trillions of dollars because they know, eventually, they will gain some control over your spending.

It results in less intimacy with your spouse. Couples who keep a TV in the bedroom have sex half as often as those who don’t. And those are only the ones we are aware of. When we consider how television influences our worldview, impacts our kids, changes our mood, and demands our mental energy, the downsides of too much television make an almost airtight case to watch less of it. But statistics say we watch television nearly 40 hours per week. 40 hours! That is 2,000 hours we could have spent last year doing anything else, experiencing any other positive habit: learning, reading, growing, contributing, or pursuing a dream.

It costs us money. We spend money to power our television sets. Add in the cost of cable/satellite bills, dvd’s, Internet channel subscriptions, movie subscriptions, peripherals … and we’re When I decided to watch less telestarting to talk about real money. vision years ago, I was immediately forced to fill my evenings with It, literally, causes us less satissomething else. We spent more time faction with life. According to the together as a family. We spent more Journal of Economic Psychology, TV time outdoors. I began to write more. I viewers report lower life satisfaction, higher material aspirations, and more anxiety.

It is bad for our health. Numerous studies draw direct parallels between excessive television watching, obesity, and poor eating habits. But we don’t need studies to tell us we eat less healthy when watching television. We already know that. 26

decided to visit the gym in the evening. I took more control over my life and my decisions. These are all good things—healthy habits—and cutting out television provided opportunity for me to accomplish them. Not only are the negative effects of TV detrimental to our lives, the opportunity cost is great. There are just better, more life-fulfilling things we could be doing with our evenings and weekends. If you agree, here are some helpful tips to reduce your personal television watching habits. 1. Begin with the decision. Most of the healthy habits that emerge in our lives are the result of an intentional decision. If you agree that your life may improve with this simple change, embrace it. If you don’t think it will improve your life, review the above list again. 2. Less can be different than none. Put down your defenses. I’m advocating less, not none. I realize some TV can be educational and entertainment is not necessarily an exercise in futility. We still have one TV in our house that I watch occasionally. But I do watch far less… and maybe you should too.

3. Limit the number of televisions in your home. One of our first steps in reducing clutter in our home was to take the TV out of the kitchen. As an unexpected result, I began to discover how much I enjoyed cooking. And removing the TV out of our bedroom reminded me how much I enjoyed… 4. Find a good season to start. While this habit could be incorporated at any time, nice weather outside (or a busy season) provides a natural opportunity to enact a change—especially if you have family to get onboard. 5. If necessary, go it alone. Speaking of family, just because you are personally feeling challenged in this area does not mean they are too. That’s okay. Make the change in your own life first. Become the change you would like to see in your family. 6. Be intentional about planning something else. Go for a walk. Find a book. Join a club. Or pick up a new hobby. Intentionally picking something else to do will keep the temptation to a minimum. 7. Try to eliminate specific shows. It may seem easier to make sweeping generalities such as, “I’ll stop watching TV on Thursday nights,” “I’ll turn off the TV at 10pm,” or “I’ll cut out

all reality shows.” But for us, at first, it was easier to pick some specific shows that we could easily live without. When we started to experience the benefits of living life rather than watching it, it was suddenly easier to cut out even more. 8. Know it gets even easier over time. Television is a selfpropagating habit. It promotes its own self-interests by boldly declaring the Best New Show, Most Watched Network, Can’t Miss Episode, or Game of the Year. They play on our fear of missing-out. But as you commit to watching less, you are less persuaded by these claims because you see them less. Quickly you will realize you aren’t really missing that much anyway. Life change can be hard. But some decisions have a greater beneficial impact than others. And watching less television just may be your quickest shortcut to better living right away—it only takes the decision to hit the Power-Off button.

For more information visit http://www.becomingminimalist.com/ website and start minimizing.

Former President's Luncheon Make plans to attend the PPNC Former President's Luncheon. This luncheon will reunite past PPNC presidents and their guest. However, this year the PPNC membership is invited to join us for a reunion of PPNC Legends on Sunday, August 17 at noon in the Crystal Coast Ballroom. The event is free to former presidents their guest and only $25 for others. Be aware that there is limited seating. Contact Cindy Smith at 919-819-8488 or posr@aol.com to reserve your seat now.

PPNC president Bruce Williamson and PPNC Chairman of the Board Paul Wingler, invite you to attend the Former President's Luncheon and enjoy a delicious meal and wonderful fellowship.

When you logon to printcompetition.com and you are entering physical prints be sure to check out the awards that are being offered for physical prints by Kodak and Lexjet.

2013 KODAK GALLERY ELITE AWARD WINNERS.

1st Place: “When the Music Ends” Ben Shirk

Entry Guidelines for the KODAK Gallery and Gallery Elite Awards

2nd Place: “Nature’s Palette” Ken Martin

3rd Place: “A Moment to Dream” Robin Swanson

4th Place: “The Tree of Life” David Humphrey

MATTING FOR PRINT COMPETITION One of the 12 Elements of a Merit Print is as follows: "Print Presentation - Affects an image by giving it that finished look. Mats and borders used should support and enhance the image and never distract from it." This is an area of print competition that can make or break an image and it is definitely an area where less is more. The "mats and borders used should SUPPORT and ENHANCE the image" points to the less direction. Here are some of my past competition prints of which some are rematted some to give you a visual reference. Some of the makeovers go to the extreme to make my point. If ever in doubt about a mat (1) run it past a Master Photog, (2) compare it to mats in a loan collection book, (3) change it to black or white and see if you like it better, and (4) be careful ever using green. Green seems to be a tricky color on mats. I have only used it once because it was the only color that worked and it was a very dark, dark hued green on a print titled "Poison Ivy."

The first example is an image titled "Bandit.â&#x20AC;? The mat is a light gray that matched the image with the width being about the width between the dog's eyes. Normally a mat (or a real frame for that matter) should have some relation to something of significance in the image. There isa white undermat with a thin border and a small shadow under the image layer. The second image of Bandit introduces a couple of issues. First the mat is too thin. Second the mat sticks out and calls attention to itself because it is too dark, even though it is a color from the image. It also makes Bandit look trapped in the mat without room to breath. He is a small dog so he should be small in the presentation.

The next image shows the original in which borderless sides are used to help support the running motion that is in the image. This version has a very hard to see gray keyline on the top and bottom. The second image has an even border with a very easy to see red keyline.

By using a thick keyline with a bright color you tend to look at the keyline and not the image. This is not where you want print competition judges to be looking. The mat color choice is as critical as the keyline. Here are two versions of the same image. Also note that the placement on the mat aligns the dog's left eye on the rule of thirds.

In the next example the subject in the image was already framed by the building so the horizontal edges are borderless. The image has a small mild blue keyline. The second version along with a complete border, has a thicker keyline and a mat color picked from the image.

Sometimes a blurred version of the image is enlarged and used as the mat. Other times in trying to be creative a gradient can be used on the mat. As long as it â&#x20AC;&#x153;Supports the Imageâ&#x20AC;? go for it but always try several versions to see which one blends best with the image.

The color of your mat can be critical and when you get a critique from SEPPA saying the color is too saturated and your image has a merit sometimes you should listen. Below is a image that I am beating myself up over not breaking the seal and fixing the mat color. Less is more, remember that.

Finally in the Master Artist category you should make your matting of the reference image(s) consistent and logical to the main image.

If you would like to see these images as well as a video on matting please visit: http://monasadler.blogspot.com/

Mona Kay Sadler, M.Photog. M.Artist. Cr., CPP, CPA

Humor Corner Telling funny short stories is an art in itself; just ask stand-up comedians who tell the same jokes over and over again and yet still elicit the loudest laughs from their audience each and every time. Indeed, it’s the delivery of the story from beginning to end that makes it hilarious, the building of anticipation until the climax, and the timing of the punch line that makes it a side-splitting tale. You may think that only those with natural comedic ability can tell funny news stories, jokes and punch lines like a pro. Well, we must say that even great comedians like Bing Crosby and Bob Hope have to practice their skills in telling funny short stories to small audiences before making it big in television and in theaters. Indeed, practice is the key to making your audience laugh over and over again. Here are a few tips from the pros that you can use to hone your own comedic talents. Keep in mind that you must learn to be flexible in telling funny jokes and short stories

since each situation and each audience demands a different approach. • Get your audience’s attention first instead of competing with other distractions. We suggest changing your voice to suit the characters in your story as well as using hand gestures and facial cues to do so. Your main aim is to let your audience visualize the story as it happens, which is all-too-true with funny news stories where you act as the anchor man and story subjects at the same time. • Tell your funny short stories according to the mood of your audience. For example, if your audience is relaxed, say, sitting down while enjoying coffee, then your story can be told in a leisurely way. But if your audience is on the move, say, moving through a busy lobby, tell your story in a faster way. • Change the story to suit your audience. Yes, it can be the same story but told in a different manner, with different characters, or with

different endings. This is how great comedians can elicit laughter out of old jokes – by revising old stories to fit the present audience. Of course, you must tell funny short stories with a straight face until the punch line and then laugh with your audience. Remember that the story is the funny thing here, not you per se.

SEPPA District Judging 2014: Awards Children: Distinguished Zeke Angela Blankenship

Events: Distinguished Still Fretting Those Old Lonesome Blues Ned Winn

Albums: First The Golden Age Pete Wright

Women: First Goddess Lisa Carter

Album The Golden Age Pete Wright Best in Show: Portrait Goddess Lisa Carter

Lexjet Temptress Pete Wright Canon par Open Pete Wright

Women Distinguished Temptress Pete Wright

Best In State: North Carolina Iris Mona Sadler

Pets and Animals: Distinguished Phoebe Mona SadleSocial

Book Your Room Now! The deadline for the special room rate for the Carolina Photo Expo will expire on July 21. Be sure to mention, "Professional Photographers of North Carolina", to qualify for $110 plus tax. It is very important that you ask for this rate and mention PPNC to insure we meet our room block. Call 919-941-5050 today.

I've got my room ! ! !

JOE DAVID ROBINSON Mt Holly, NC â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Mr. Joe David Robinson, 72, of Mt Holly, NC died July 12, 2014 at the Robin Johnson Hospice House after a long battle with cancer. He was born November 7, 1941 in Gaston County to the late Ralph David Robinson and Lula Staton Robinson. He was also preceded in death by his sister Sue Cooper and is survived by nieces and cousins. Joe Robinson was a deacon and a lifelong member of Goshen Free Will Baptist Church and he was a man strong in his faith of Jesus Christ. As a Christian man, he certainly set the example for others to follow. In 1963, he started his career as a barber in Stanley, NC and later opened his own shop in Mt. Holly in May of 1969. As a hairstylist, he was known by many both far and wide. Joe loved music, especially gospel music and played a variety of instruments which he learned by ear including the guitar, violin, keyboard, autoharp, banjo, and harmonica.

achieved his Craftsman Photographer Certification and also was awarded his Fellowship achievement. He also served as a past board member and he chaired the Western Guild Seminar. He never tired of learning. He was always on the front seat at every event and recently was working as a digital photographic artist. He was an amazing man that touched the hearts of many and will be missed. Funeral Services to celebrate Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life will be held at 7 PM Tuesday at Goshen Free Will Baptist Church with Reverend Clayton E. Burch officiating. Interment will be held at 10 AM Wednesday at Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 Tuesday also at the church.

Joe was also an accomplished photographer best known for his wedding photography and specifically his acute attention to bridal portraiture and posing. He was known throughout the state for these specific skills and Joe was always eager to teach others the skilled craftsmanship of artistic, traditional portraiture. Joe was a member of Professional Photographers of America for 34 years. As a member of Professional Photographers of North Carolina for over 35 years, Joe

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Joe Robinson Memorial Fund made out to Goshen Free Will Baptist Church, 1300 W Catawba Ave, Mt Holly, NC 28120 Arrangements handled by Benson Funeral & Cremation Services, Mt. Holly. www.bensonfuneralservices.com

Other Memorials 2014 Ricky Miller Mother in law Joanna Cumbo's Father Shirley Whiteneck Mother in Law Robin Cotten's Stepmother Jim Stephen's Granddaughter Joy Batchelor-King Mother in law Gerlonia Johnson's Father Mona Sadler's Father Adrian Henson's Grandfather

Professional Photographers of North Carolina

Beth Forester Ned Winn Tamara Lackey Mona Sadler Lindsay Adler Karen York Alicia Alvarez Tim Walden Joe Edelman Gary Hughes The Mu単oz Brothers Heather Michelle Scott and Dodie Huffman Rebecca Brown-Weaver and Jason Weaver