Executive Board Chairman Ellis Williamson Ewilliamson17@nc.rr.com
President Rose Mary Cheek rosemarycheek@charter.net
President Elect Ned Winn studiomail@nc.rr.com Vice President Adrian Henson adrian@adrianhenson.com
Treasurer Tim Hester tim@timhesterphotography.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 Rose Mary Cheek Member Highlights Contributing Writer Catherine Kouri Articles & Sales Submissions First of the Month Publication 15th of the Month
Secretary Danny Daniel useralex2493@aol.com
Executive Director Loretta Byrd Loretta@ppofnc.com
PPNC 427 Greenleaf Road, Angier, NC 27501 919-796-4747 www.ppofnc.com
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.
2
Who Are We? The Professional Photographers of North Carolina (PPNC) is NC’s largest association for professional photographers. We are an affiliate of the Professional Photographers of America, led by an elected Board of working professional photographers. We are a non-profit, member owned association. We are a community in tune with each other’s challenges. Together, we help each other succeed. From a monthly digital magazine with numerous tips and techniques, to one of the state’s largest photographic conventions and trade show, competitions, seminars, and more, PPNC’s members are connected.
Contents From the Editor
From the President Page 5 Stand Out and Be A Star Recap of Winter Seminary by Christina Holcolmb PAGE 6 Spring Seminar Page 14 Member highlight-Ellen LeRoy by Catherine Kouri Page 18 The Magic Bank Account by Deborah Hendrix Page 25 Carolina Photo Expo Highlight Larry Lourcey The Fine Art of Seniors Page 26 Jen Hillenga-Portraiture Page 30 Living the Adventure by Chuck Hill Page 34 Inspiration How busyness crushes our souls by Claire de Boer Page 42
On the Cover This months Member Highlight Ashley - Biltmore by Ellen LeRoy
An affiliate of
Fans of Professional Photographers of North Carolina
Page 4
3
From the Editor This issue is jam-packed with highlights from our Winter Seminar and our upcoming Spring Seminar. Catherine Kouri is back on track with our Member Highlights and she's done a great story on Ellen LeRoy you will not want to miss. I cannot believe that February has almost flown by, things in the studio have been busy for this time of year, which we are grateful for. I'm excited about our Spring Seminar coming up March 18th-20th at East Carolina University. Tom McCabe and his crew have worked hard to present us with a wonderful learning experience. I'm going to share one of the fun things I love to teach in my basic photography class, painting with light. This will be a fun evening so be sure to plan on being there. I'll provide the pin lights and the backgrounds, y'all just need to bring small perfume bottles or clear or colored glass bottles. It's not as easy as you think. Rose Mary Cheek, Editor
PPNC Directors & Seminar Chair Eastern Directors
Angela Blankenship abphotography2008@gmail.com Marie White Marie@turnerwhitephotography.com Seminar Chair - Tom McCabe tommccabe46@earthlink.net Seminar is Mar 18-20, 2016
PPA National Councilmen Cassie Stone Janet Boschker Joy Batchelor-King
Central Directors
Deborah Hendrix porbydeb@gmail.com George Joell george@gpjoell3photography.com Seminar Chair- Renee McCardell info@mccardellstudios.com Seminar is Jan 23-25, 2016
Western Directors
Brian Allen puregrit@hotmail.com Cathy Anderson Fabulous.photog@gmail.com Seminar Chair - Stephen Dey photo@charlotteimage.com Seminar - TBD
4
SEPPA Rep. Loretta Byrd
From the President District competition was held in conjunction with Virginia's Annual Convention. I understand there were over 1100 entries, and about 70% were digital and 30% print. Results are in, so we hope to share the details next month. Speaking of competition, you know I have spent many years in the Print Room. Attended judging school, and thought I knew everything there was to know about competition. I remember talking with Randy McNeilly, PPNC's famous print guru about entering prints. Asking him one time if he thought my image would score an 80? He looked at me puzzled and said "why would you want to just score an 80? The goal should be to present an image that in your mind would score 100." If we really stop and look at our images as Adrian Henson put it so well, take away everything that a judge would look for to deduct points like: Sensor Dust, Halos, Over-sharpening, Crooked Horizons, Color Banding, Out of Focus, Bad Composition, Bad Posing, Poor Skin Tone, Clone Tracking, Poor Presentation, Over Retouched, Too Processed, Artifacting, Depth of Field Too Shallow, Boring Subject/No Impact, Too Many Subjects, and on, and on. Adrian says "Avoid all of these and then find something that that knocks me back in my seat and then you have the beginnings of what might be a great Competition Print." To see his full list go to Photographer Friends on Facebook and search for blocked up shadows. In conclusion, with just five months until Carolina Photo Expo, so I encourage you to work on photographing, preparing, checking the list, and of course PRINT the image. My dream would be to have several hundred 16x20 prints line our halls after print competition and gold corners on all of them. Respectfully, Rose Mary Cheek 5
STAND OUT and Be a STAR Central Winter Seminar Recap http://shnewbornbabyphotographer.com Next, up on the speaker schedule was Ariana Watts, of Silver Feather Studios in Burlington, NC. She spoke on the benefits of building a strong brand and effectively promoting that brand through blogging and social media. She encouraged us to “put the YOU in our BIZ”. Her entertaining and personable presentation was a great example for all business owners. Many of us left with a goal to revisit our photography/business focus and consider narrowing our target to more effectively connect and serve our potential clients. We were additionally challenged to “#standout” by genuinely sharing our personality and connecting with our future clients. Check out Ariana at http://www.silverfeatherstudios. com
By Christy Holcomb The New Year rang in a stellar line-up and an exciting presentation of photography at the 2016 Central Winter Seminar in Greensboro. This year’s event was modified slightly due to the weather projections of “double digit” show falls and “crippling ice” for the Piedmont Triad area. Still, the photography stars shone brightly, thanks to the through planning of Renée McCardell and the many PPofNC volunteers. The show must go on… and OH, it did! Sandra Henderson of East Bend, NC kicked off the event with an informative presentation on “Owning the Newborn Session”. The following day, she continued her teaching by photographing a full newborn session in the foyer of the Revolution Mills Event Center. Demonstrating patience and confidence, I now understand why Sandra is often referred to as “the baby whisperer”. Her talent is immense! Please check out some of her images created from this teaching session. More of her work can be found at: 6
7
Te seminar concluded with Greensboro creatively fearless photographer, Traci Arney, of Traci Arney Photography. She spoke on “The Fine Art of Lightroom”. It didn’t take long before the whole class was out of our chairs to get a front row seat behind Traci’s computer monitor. Then, we found ourselves pushing the creative limits of our cameras and ourselves by using some items from Traci’s “bag of tricks”. We were “ooo-ing and ahhh-ing” the cell phone reflection effect. Check out some of Traci’s fun class demonstration images as well as her website at http://traciarneyphotography.com Familiar PPNC Members, Angela Blankenship, Ned Winn, Chuck Hill, Sheleria Cushman, and Carolyn Temple also shared in presenting this seminar. Angela’s presentation was on “Finding your Voice”. “7 Portrait Lighting Styles Every Photographer Should Know” was presented by Ned Winn. And “All About Print Competition” was lead by a panel of contributors, Sheleria Cushman, Chuck Hill, Carolyn Temple and Ned Winn. If you are wishing you hadn’t missed this seminar, make sure to put March 18-20, 2016 on your calendar for the PPNC Eastern Spring Seminar to be held in Greenville, NC. Speakers include: John Chandler, Chuck Hill, Burk Uzzle and Ellen LeRoy.
8
9
10
11
12
13
Tammy Bevins has been photographing people since 2004. Her sense of style, creativity, technical excellence and ability to connect with people on a personal level quickly catapulted her to become one of the most recognizable and sought after photographers in the area. She has won numerous awards for her work. Recently she has earned Photographer of the Year Award for South Carolina, awarded by the South Carolina PPA affiliate for three years in a row - 2012, 2013, and 2014. She has earned the degrees of CPP ad Master Photographer from PPA.
John Chandler began his career in 1995 as an underwater photographer. In 1998 he published the first of three books reflecting the underwater beauty of the Western Pacific. In 2002, John and his wife Teresa established Chandler Studios shifting his photographic interests from the beach to the studio. John’s focus is now on Studio and Environmental photography that captures the “Circle of Life” comprised of high school seniors, brides, infants, children and families. John is a Certified Professional Photographer and an active member in both PPA and PPNC
14
Ellen LeRoy specializes in the art of island and beach wedding and portrait photographer in beautiful Emerald Isle, NC. Ellen’s unique understanding of the area and the lighting and weather patterns there enables her to capture the area and her clients in the best possible way. Ellen received her Master of Photography Degree from PPA in 2011. Ellen was recently interviewed and featured in the international magazine Professional Photographer for her expertise in beach wedding photography. Her photography has been featured magazines such as Southern Living, Coastal Living, Southern Bride, Carolina Bride, Crystal Coast Bride, Unveiled, and The Knot. Ellen has a fine art degree from Tulane University and studied figure drawing at Oxford University in England.
Ned Winn has served NC as a CPP liaison long enough to get his craftsman degree 3 times, and will be administering the CPP exam. He operates Persuasions Photography, Winn Portraits Studio, and does group promotions in Wake Forest, NC. Ned is currently an IPC judge-in-training and is PPNC’s President-elect.
15
Chuck Hill has a Master of Photography, Photographic Craftsman Degree, PPA four time Photographer of the Year, President’s award from PPNC, numerous publications in the PPA Loan Collection Book and his award winning images were chosen for display in South Korea Imaging Asia. He and his wife Wendy have owned Chuck Hill Photography: Custom Portraits and Fine Art Scenics in Hendersonville, NC since 1987. Special Guest Speaker Burk Uzzle: Burk is a most fascinating individual. He was the youngest photographer hired by Life Magazine at age 23 and was on the Life Staff from 1961 to 1967. He was a Magnum photographer from 1967 to 1982 and was president of Magnum in 1979 and 1980. Burk will give us insights into his career and his life in photography. .
Rose Mary Cheek, current President of PPNC. In addition to her studio work, she teaches Photoshop at the local community college in Catawba County as well as Basic & Advanced Photography. One of her favorite exercises with new students in her Photography class is tabletop light painting with a pin light, in the dark, photographing small crystal bottles. She will provide the pin lights and the tabletop backdrops, so bring your favorite (small) bottles to photograph. This will be a fun evening of hands on. 16
Friday, March 18
3:00-5:00 Saturday Shootout on campus 5:30 Dinner on your own 7:00 light painting with Rose Mary Cheek
Saturday March 19
9:00-11:00 Chuck Hill “Making money with Topaz Impression” In this class Chuck will demonstrate how he has expanded his product line to include paintings and art pieces he is creating quickly and simply with Topaz Impression and Photoshop. Over the past year Chuck has developed new products, including his Sports Action Art series, his Painted Buildings series, and the Art from Your Picture series. All created quickly and easily in Topaz Impression and Photoshop. All are bringing in extra income to his studio. 11:00-11:30 Devotional 11:30-1:30 Lunch on your own 12:30-3:00 Ned Winn CPP Exam Room 11:30 Lunch on your own. 1:30-3:00 John Chandler “Lighting – the Good, the Bad, and the Hybrid.” This fast paced presentation will explore, explain and demonstrate Speedlights, Strobes and Hybrid Flash assemblies. The basis of this presentation will be that before you can understand all that the new Hybrids are bringing a Photographer you have to first determine what kind of performance you need from your Flash. 3:30-5:00 Burk Uzzle “A life in photography” Burk is a most fascinating individual. He was the youngest photographer hired by Life Magazine at age 23 and was on the Life Staff from 1961 to 1967. He was a Magnum photographer from 1967 to 1982 and was president of Magnum in 1979 and 1980. Burk will give us insights into his career and his life in photography. He lives in Wilson, NC. 17
March 18 - 20, 2016 East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina REGISTER www.ppofnc.com
Sunday March 20
9:00-10:30 Ellen LeRoy “Finding the light” Ellen will lead a spontaneous walk where we look for great portrait lighting in unknown places. She will use a model to demonstrate how to get beautiful lighting on location in a variety of ways. Participants are encouraged to bring their cameras as we tackle a variety of unknowns and challenges, much as a wedding photographer or location portrait photographer faces when going to a new venue. 10:30-12:00 Tour of ECU facilities 12:00-1:00 Lunch 1:00-4:00 Keynote speaker Tammy Bevins Tammy is a very successful photographer from South Carolina. She is most well-known for her concept images and her success in the all-important print competition. Tammy will discuss her journey into photography and will be outlining her business approach and how she got to where she is today. She will offer some thoughts on the way she shoots seniors and how her approach might be different from the way some others are shooting them.
Member Spotlight‌ Ellen LeRoy by Catherine Kouri years. After school, she gave private art lessons. Eventually, after marriage and while pregnant Ellen met a photographer who had learned portraiture while she was staying at home with her young children. When the children were launched in school, the young mother was then able to devote herself full time to her fledging photography business. Ellen was inspired by this example and proceeded to gradually build her own photography business while her two boys were young. When the time came and the boys went to school all day, Ellen had a full time business to run.
Emerald Isle photographer Ellen LeRoy is a woman with definite ideas and a clear vision of the art she wants to create. She first fell in love with photography in the darkroom at the North Carolina School of Science and Math where she went to high school. Ellen took advantage of the courses and amazing darkroom experience at NCSSM so much so that she placed out of the photography courses offered at Tulane University where she enrolled for college. Ellen was able to work as a darkroom technician at Tulane while also doing a photography independent study. After graduating with a fine arts degree in art and biology geared towards medical illustration, Ellen initially did not consider photography to be a viable career choice. So she went on to earn a masters degree in elementary education and taught school for five 18
photographing a wedding and that they make the work challenging as well as fun.The often long lasting relationships which Ellen forges with many of her clients are another sweet reward of this speciality. Ellen says inspiration frequently springs from watching and learning from other photographers whom she admires. She seeks to emulate the brilliant Jerry Ghionis with his eye for composition and his ability to elicit emotion from his subjects. Ellen is also inspired by the creative story telling work of Fearless Photographers, Two Mann Studio and Chrisman Studios. Analyzing the images of these masters leads her to challenge herself to try new methods and ideas to achieve her vision. In the last few years, Ellen has been exploring the possibilities of off camera lights like Canon 600 EX speed lights and utilizing more creative compositions. Being a committed learner, Ellen is always driven to grow and push herself to the next level in her art. Each year, she focuses on a particular skill and uses classes, webinars and work-
Born in Morehead City and reared in Henderson, native North Carolinian Ellen has always aspired to a clean and simple style of photographic art. She favors uncluttered backgrounds and shallow depth of field to enable her subjects to stand out. But above all else, light is the key element in Ellen’s images. She looks for the light, then the background, and finally waits for the best moment to shoot. After moving to Emerald Isle due to her husband’s job, Ellen threw herself into creating beautiful beach portraits in her new surroundings. After six years, Ellen was a bit restless for a new challenge and added wedding photography to her repertoire. She says she loved the vastness of the enterprise which included everything from portraiture and still lifes to photojournalism and landscapes. Ellen found the story telling aspects of wedding photography to be captivating because her clients’ emotions were so authentic at this most intimate moment in their lives. She says she actually enjoys the inevitable unexpected complications and surprises which occur while 19
cheap pricing to boost sales but is always willing to work out finances with a client who truly appreciates her work. Undoubtedly, clients also enjoy the upbeat style of Ellen’s sessions which she designs to move quickly. She travels light but her tools include a Canon 5D Mark III camera and her beloved f2.8 70-200mm lens. Ninety five per cent of her work is done on location but Ellen also has studio equipment to be used when needed. Perhaps the “North Star” philosophy that is the guiding light of Ellen’s artistic and business endeavors is her belief that her art is a gift from God intended to enrich the lives of those whom God sends her way. She says, “Whatever it is that God wants me to see, I pray that He will show it to me so that the client can treasure that memory, that moment forever.” Ellen’s spiritual and artistic sensibilities have inspired her to create
shops to fine tune and expand that skill. A member of PPNC since the inception of her career fourteen years ago, Ellen believes her learning was greatly accelerated by going to conferences and learning from more experienced photographers willing to share their knowledge. She describes present day photography as a fast changing industry because it is so tied to technology. Ellen advises both new and experienced photographers to continually educate themselves lest they face obsolescence. On the business side of photography, Ellen LeRoy knows who her ideal clients are and how to attract them. She wants clients who appreciate photography as the art form it is and who see Ellen as an artist. These people are emotionally expressive and appreciate the “real moments” depicted in Ellen’s emotionally honest images. As an artist, Ellen values her work and speaks confidently about it. She does not use 20
many award winning images in national and international competitions. She earned her Master of Photography degree from PPA, the prestigious Kodak Gallery Award and the PPNC President’s award for the highest scoring new artist in printcompetition in addition to top honors in PPNC print competition over several years since 2011. More recently, Ellen created a successful camera strap business, www.AbieStraps.com, based on the ideal camera strap she herself always wanted. Besides being another learning opportunity for her, the business also provides funds to treat curable blindness in Third World countries, a passion project of Ellen’s. So what’s next for Ellen LeRoy, a talented woman who is always seeking to learn more and dig deeper into life? Maybe a short list of random facts about her life and experiences will lead you to conclude, as I have, that anything is possible for Ellen. Ellen is a direct descendant of Daniel Boone. Ellen was an eye witness to the Challenger disaster thirty years ago with her family. They were present at the launch because her cousin was the pilot. Ellen studied figure drawing at Oxford University in England and also played on the university’s volleyball team. Oh, and she does enjoy scuba diving, snowmobiling and eating at great restaurants. 21
22
23
The Magic Bank Account Imagine that you had won the following “Prize” in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private account for your use….However, this prize has a different set of rules…. The “Set” rules: 1. Everything that you didn’t spend during each day would be taken away from you. 2. You may not simply transfer money into some other account. 3. You may only spend it. 4. Each morning, upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400 for that day. 5. The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say ” Game over”! it can close the account and you will not receive a new one. So what would you personally do? You would buy anything and everything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all the people you love… Even for people you don’t know, because you couldn’t possibly spend it all on yourself, right? Actually this game is REAL! Shocked??? YES! Each of us is already a winner of this Prize…we just can’t seem to see it. The prize is – TIME…. each morning we awake to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life. And when we go to sleep at night, ant remaining time is not credited to us. What we haven’t lived up that day is forever lost…… Yesterday is forever gone…. Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at anytime without warning.. So what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds? Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars. Think about that, and always think of this: Enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think…. So, take care of yourself, be happy, love deeply and enjoy life. Here’s wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day. Start “spending”. DON’T COMPLAIN ABOUT GROWING OLD! SOME PEOPLE DON’T GET THE PRIVILEGE!
25
Larry Lourcey
The Art of Senior Photography M.Photog, Cr., M. Artist, CPP Larry Lourcey is the quintessential portrait artist – in fact, it was his portrait that graced the cover of Professional Photographer magazine in 2013! In this course, Larry walks you through his process for creating images that don’t just portray your subject, but really captures the personality, emotion and drama of the moment. You’ll discuss the strategy and technique behind several of Larry’s masterpieces, and learn how to incorporate what he does into you own work. Topics will include: * Setting yourself apart from the competition * How to increase sales and profit * A breakdown of some of Larry’s signature image styles First and foremost, Larry Lourcey is a portrait artist. Since earning his Bachelor of Arts in 1992, con-
tinuing education has always been a priority. Countless art classes and photography workshops have helped to mold his style and technique. His work encompasses a broad range of styles- from fun, whimsical black and whites to elegant, traditional portraiture. He is also a talented painter, with a rich style inspired by artists like Pina Daeni and John Singer Sargent. His work has been featured in everything from the “Painter Wow” books to the cover of Professional Photographer Magazine. He has had several images included in the PPA Loan Collection, earning him the Imag26
Highlights ing Excellence Award in 2013. He has also been a finalist in the Grand Imaging Awards. In 2001, Larry earned his Certified Professional Photographer designation from the Professional Photographers of America, followed by his Master Photographer degree is 2007. In 2009 he became a PPA Approved Juror. Larry is a member of the Professional Photographers of America and the Texas Professional Photographers Association. He is also a past president of the Dallas Professional Photographers Association. He added Master Artist to his resume in 2016. See my portrait work at: http://www.lourceyphoto.com Become a Fan at: http://www.facebook.com/ lourceyphotography Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/larryphoto
27
28
29
Jen Hillenga Portraiture
After receiving and Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art and Graphic Design and working for several studios, Jen Hillenga started her own studio in 2004 with business partner, Kate Cosentino, in Savage, Minnesota. In 2008, they established an online superstore for Professional Photography products called Jen’sFabulousStuff.com. The store has quickly become the leader in online professional products for photographers around the world.
turn her images into artworks and gaining her international recognition and awards among her peers. Jen focuses on the story behind each image and the internal as well as external beauty of each subject by relating to her clients with sensitivity and humor.
In the years since opening Momento Images, Jen has been able to master her skills as a photographer as well as a digital artist, allowing her to
30
Highlights
31
Living the Adventure by Chuck Hill Two manly men, both Master photographers. A Ford F-150 pickup named “The Beast” and a pop up camper named “Muffin Top”. Put them all together for two weeks and a 3,224 mile road trip to the Florida Everglades and The Keys, and what will you get? Thousands of pictures taken and tales of daring-do that is the stuff of legend! Well...at least thousands of pictures taken.
It rained the whole time so nothing much to see there. We made our way south to Flamingo in the Everglades National Park where we set up camp in the most mosquito infested part of the world I have ever experienced. Deep Woods Off was our friend. I had started wearing my raincoat and gloves in a desperate attempt to stay as covered as possible. But the photo opportunities were numerous and the mosquito swatting - especially at night inside Muffin Top before we would turn in became a fun game. While at Flamingo we kayaked with the Salties and the Manatees.
When asked by my friend and fellow photographer/ adventurer Adrian Henson to go on this little soirée I figured it was because of my expertise in Nature and Landscape photography. But no, it was because, and I quote, “If an alligator or overly aggressive shark gets after us I figure you’re old and out of shape and I can out paddle you”. Oh did I mention we also had kayaks with us. So plans made, we met up near Columbia, SC and the Adventure was on! First stop was camping at Ft. Clinch.
From Flamingo it was off to Midway on the Tamiami Trail. Birds and alligators 34
the national Sunset Print competition. We stayed as guests of the good folks at Lexjet at the Lido resort. It was in a word, wonderful!
were numerous and everywhere we went photo ops were abundant. We visited the smallest post office in America where we mailed postcards home. We also visited Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. We purchased some art and went on the Big Cypress Walk. A two hour trek through the black waters...alligators, snakes and spiders be dammed! Of course the worst thing that happened was when I tripped over a hidden root and almost dumped my 5D Mark III into the water. Luckily my cat like reflexes saved me...and the camera. At one point our guide Scott asked if I would like to take the lead. To which I responded “Me?” “What the heck are we paying you for?” But I did, as did Adrian. After the walk in the swamp and the visit to Clyde’s gallery I was inspired to up my game as a nature photographer.
Back on the road to Miami where we stayed with my Aunt and Uncle and ventured to Biscayne Bay. The
We had a brief reprieve from camping when we were asked by Lexjet to judge 35
next day we left Muffin Top parked in their driveway and departed for The Keys. After exploring Key West, which included visits to several art galleries for inspiration and a look at how the big dogs sell art, it was up early, boarding the Yankee Freedom and sailing the 70 miles to the Dry Tortugas. What a great, primitive place Fort Jefferson is. You can only get there by boat or seaplane. Fresh water has to be brought in, And there are no phones, no lights, no motor cars...not a single luxury. But it’s a fantastic place to photograph, snorkel, or lay on the beautiful pearl white sands of the two main beaches. The fort has a moat around it that is home to a 10 foot salt water crocodile. It’s believed that it was blown the 70 miles from The Keys to the Dry Tortugas during a storm. We didn’t mess with him and he returned the favor. We slept in our tents that night and about 2 am we got up to photograph the night sky. Our supper, breakfast and water were all from a cooler we carried ashore with us. The Yankee Freedom supplied a 36
great lunch of sandwiches, potato chips and salad.
home.
The next day back to Key West and up through The Keys stopping to photograph along the way and a brief stop for Adrian to get his Key Lime Pie fix. On into Miami to pick up Muffin Top, then headed
This was a great adventure for me. As I get older I realize that I don’t have many opportunities like this left. So I say jump at every adventure that is presented you. Don’t shy away from something uncomfortable because
comfort leads to a sedentary lifestyle and a sedentary lifestyle can lead to blood clots and blood clots can lead to death. Hank Williams sang “We’ll never get out of this world alive”. So we may as well go out kicking and screaming, doing something we love, and yelling, “Damn what a ride!!”. If you would like to read Adrian’s blog about the trip please visit http:// photographerfriendstrip.blogspot.com
37
bly for the first time in weeks, or even months. Within minutes I felt bored and was reaching for my phone, feeling annoyed when I didn’t have the password for the hotel Wi-Fi. In that panicked moment of what do I do now?
INSPIRATION How Busyness Crushes Our Soul
And then suddenly it hit me: I’m addicted to being busy. Which is ironic because there has been so much advancement in technology that is based on simplifying my life to reduce that hectic pace. My smart phone, with its apps, is like an appendage. I depend on it to give me what I need, and fast. With it I can multitask so much better than I could a decade ago. I should have plenty of downtime for my family and friends, right?
BY CLAIRE DE BOER / FEB 8, 2016 Busyness has become a trendy epidemic. And I think it’s slowly killing us. I’m almost afraid of asking friends to get together nowadays; I know it could be weeks before we find a date on the calendar that mutually works. What are we so busy with that’s pulling us away from human connection
Life on Overdrive The accessibility of smart phones and all the accompanying apps; ultra high speed internet, and the many modern conveniences that claim to make life faster and easier, have only left us with higher expectations and busy lives.
Busyness has taken a large hold of my life, so much so that I’m fearful of the consequences. A few weeks ago I went away for the weekend to Seattle with my husband. On arrival he dropped me off at the hotel and went to find a parking spot, and I headed up to our room and waited there for a good thirty minutes while he trawled the streets for an optimal space.
We are now able to pack more into our lives, and put pressure on ourselves to do so. But at what cost? Real human connection? Our health?
As I waited for him alone in the room I realized I had nothing to do — proba42
Technology advancements have helped lead us down this path but are they entirely to blame? When I compare my life to my mother’s at my age it’s like I’ve hit the playback button on my video stream. I can’t blame that on technology alone, so why is my life so much busier than hers ever was?
up with one another. And why do we want to keep up? Because our real human needs have never changed — we want to belong, and to be accepted, seen and loved.
The Need for More
Authentic Living
In the 1970s my mother kept a home and raised three kids. She didn’t work until we were all much older. Her social life revolved around friendships, the wall-mounted telephone, and the dinner table. Her world was so much smaller.
How do we live authentically? In our efforts to use “busyness” as a way to keep pace with the people around us and feel like we belong, are we in fact disconnecting ourselves from what we truly desire? It begins with living out of our core values. Does the pressure to put our kids in five activities a week come from a value, say, of connection and joy, or from a desire for our child to be just as good at baseball as
If my mother wanted to connect with someone she had to call them or knock on a door. She had to make the time for real conversation. Yes, those connections were few — she didn’t have the 700 Facebook friends I have — but they were real, consistent and regular. But I want so much more than that. I want the career, the kids, the house, the social life, the vacations, the clothes … I could go on. The problem is that society and technology have made it easier for us to have more. And the more we have, the more we want; the more want, the more we have to do to get it. We aren’t busy because we love the stress; we’re busy because we’re all trying to keep 43
30
Be More Prepared Copyright: PPA Helps You Be More Informed, Be More Prepared, and Be More Involved! PPA has a full time presence on Capitol Hill fighting for the rights of professional photographers. In fact, PPA’s CEO David Trust was recently in Washington, D.C. meeting with key lawmakers. Exciting legislation is coming out as early as this spring and PPA needs its members to be informed and ready to step up when called upon to help! Check out our most recent blog post to see our 2016 objectives and how you can help. PPA is always fighting for the rights and advocating for photographers. To learn more about PPA’s different legislative advocacy efforts go to PPA.com/Advocacy.
29
Johnny next door? And what will that child remember more: being pushed to excel in baseball, or laughing around the family dinner table?
moment, it loses its value entirely. I think I need to take my own advice. What does your “busy” look like? If your life is on overdrive, are the things keeping you busy in line with your core values?
When our lives are overloaded we need to start asking some hard questions about why we do what we do. Is it because the things we fill our life with bring us contentment and joy, or because we can do more, so we just do?
—We’d love to see you on Facebook. Join the No Sidebar community!
Slowing Down Society is racing ahead at 100 miles an hour, but our hearts and brains don’t know how to keep up. Our needs are no different now than they were a century or millennium ago.
New Members
There is so much opportunity around us — it’s like being offered a whole cake at once instead of just a slice. But we don’t know how to eat the whole cake and feel good; so we need to learn to accept just a slice at a time. Perhaps that one slice looks like concentrating on pursuing a dream, or connecting with family, or both. But it’s not everything all at once. The opportunity to do more is a wonderful thing, but if we’re too “busy” rushing from one thing to the next to be able to slow down and enjoy the 46
Michael Anderson Traci Arney Heather Carrow Helen Coats Dana Curle Susan Madrigal Melea Schneider Ariana Watts
ONLY 25 weeks
Memorials PPNC Member Sandra Gall's Father Loren D. Rudd, passed away February 4, 2016
PPNC Member Mark Jacoby died within the last few days.. remember Joan Jacoby and family.
47
35
The Value of Membership • Annual Carolina Photo Expo with Nationally Known Speakers Sharing the Current Trends in Photography with one of the largest State Trade Shows in the Southeast. (PPNC members attend for free) • Three seminars per year packed with education • East Coast School Photographic Workshops is a week-long event held each year with classes taught by top instructors from around the country, with classes from beginner to advanced. • Scholarships to East Coast School • Photographic print competitions – an excellent way to gain invaluable knowledge • On Line Membership Directory that is accessible to thousands of potential clients • A digital monthly magazine packed with ideas from posing and lighting to business and marketing • Private Print Critiques – Advice from a Master Photographer on how to improve your photographic images • Quarterly Shoot Socials – Networking and learning with other PPNC members in your trade area • Referrals – PPNC makes many referrals over the year. Once you become a PPNC member, our staff can refer your studio to potential clients. • Degree Program – The steps it takes to earn the PPNC Associate Fellowship and Fellowship degrees are symbols of quality and will strengthen your skills. Earning a PPNC degree is a way of telling potential clients to call you and not a competitor. • Networking – PPNC members develop friendships and relationships that last a lifetime. A fellow PPNC member is always available to help in times of crisis. • As a member of PPNC, you automatically become a member of the regional Southeast Professional Photographers Association, providing you with even more access to information and technology.SEPPA produces a monthly magazine full of information plus a biennial convention and trade show free to all PPNC members. • Insurance - Insurance for home based and store front studios (errors and omission and property)
43
www.carolinaphotoexpo.com