VPPA
Northern District Newsletter May 2014
Affiliate of the
PPA
Lisa Carter Newborns
Monday, May 19th ~ 1:00-4:30 ~ Gitchell’s Studio ~ 618A Forest St. ~ Charlottesville What an exciting program we have planned for this month! Lisa Carter will be sharing her techniques for newborn photography during an afternoon of learning at Jim Carpenter’s studio. And for just a little added note about Lisa, “Goddess” won first place in the portrait of a woman category at SEPPA. “Goddess” was also honored with Best in State for Virginia and Best in Show overall. Congratulations, Lisa!
Here is just some of what Lisa will be covering. • We will talk about tips and techniques to achieve the artful images of newborn babies that everyone is in love with today! • We will go over posing tips, props, and how to prepare the parents for this once in a lifetime session. You can see more of Lisa’s photography at www.photobylisa.com.
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Lisa Carter, Cr. Photog., CPP Lisa started her photography career as a part time photographer while working a full time job in textile and raising her two children. Her business grew thru word of mouth referrals and she made the move to FULL TIME in 2002. Her business has remained a residential studio to this day. She is a member of PPA and PPNC since 2002, and VPPA since 2006. Lisa earned her CRAFTSMAN DEGREE in 2010 and also passed the Certification Exam for CPP. Currently working towards her Masters degree, Lisa has two PPA Loan Prints in the 2007 and 2012 collections.
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What Do You See?
by Michael Patch
One rainy October afternoon in 1996 while photographing images of Vermont, I encountered a small clearing in which part of a red-tinted rock was showing through the earth. It captured my attention with its color and design. An assorted display of multi-colored maple leaves dotted the land having been released from the tree on which they had previously resided. One leaf caught my eye and I placed it on the red-tinted rock. I observed it through the camera’s viewfinder, and as I turned it several different angles, the scene slowly revealed itself to me. I thought of the centuries and even millennium the rock had existed and how quickly the life seasons of the leaf had passed. My mind saw the contrast of constant and variable, infinite and finite, foundation and frailty. As I pondered, watched, and listened, I heard each speak a message to me. Rock: “Find strength knowing that My presence will provide support for your journey.” Leaf: “Find peace in what you have been created to be, and be that creation with your whole being as long as you live.” The Rock became a symbol of God who knows our weakness, yet loves us with an everlasting love and empathizes with us taking on our colors throughout life’s experiences. The leaf became humanity in all of its beauty and frailty yielding to its inevitable fate while faithfully shouting praise of its Maker. Tears were on the leaf, and I could tell the Rock had been crying, too. I wondered if the tears were of sadness for the journey’s end or gladness for a race well run and the promise of a crown of glory. I soon realized they were for both—sadness and joy, and I wept with them. I was sad for I knew that this moment at this place would never exist again, yet the joy of this moment was overwhelming. I captured the scene and continue to hold the moment in my heart. Some will look at this photograph and see a leaf on a rock. What do you see?
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It was a great day with Kevin Hurley at our April workshop in Culpeper. David Lee Michaels was there videoing for the VPPA website educational series.
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“To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as of a precise organization of forms that give that event its proper expression.� Henri Cartier-Bresson
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