Northern District Newsletter
VPPA
Affiliate of the
September 2014
PPA
Pre-flight Recipe by Michael Patch Northern District Officers
Recently, I had my first experience of my image, "Pre-flight Check," being accepted into the PPA Loan Book, and I thought some might enjoy the recipe for this image.
Governor Jeanette Burkle, FP
Ingredients
jeanette@galiephotography.com Lt. Governor Kathy Kupka, FP kathykupka@aol.com Secretary Mike Patch michael@michaelpatch.com Treasurer / Newsletter Editor Jim Sanders, AFP jimlondonsanders@mac.com
Minor
• • • • • •
A whopping lens you've never used A large tripod head you've never used A far away place you've never been before An unpredictable subject you've observed now and then A heaping amount of good luck A generous portion of patience
Combine all ingredients into a vessel of photographic experience and knowledge. Serves friends, VPPA judges, PPA judges, IPC judges and others Cooking Procedure Knowing I was going to be in an area where herons frequented, and knowing I was going to have the opportunity to observe, speak with and learn from Joe and Mary Jean Campanellie, I thought it would be wise for me to have some experience in bird photography. With that experience, I could relate to the successes and struggles of a bird photographer and have a working knowledge of using a super telephoto lens. After receiving some potential places to visit, I planned a trip and rented a 600mm f:4 lens along with a Wimberley Gimbal tripod head with plate mount. I had all of this shipped to my destination and picked it up at the UPS store upon arrival. After trying to photograph sea gulls, I ventured out to search for pelicans, egrets and herons.
Thinking that sunset would be a good time, I began the image recipe in late afternoon. Later I found out that sunrise is a better time since the water is usually more still than at sunset. After parking, I assembled the gear, hoisted it onto my shoulder and started walking toward the water. (NOTE: Add a shoulder pad to the recipe!) I slowly approached the water and noticed one or two birds, but nothing like I had hoped. I walked down the shoreline until I encountered a Snowy Egret and a Tricolored Heron. I set up the equipment, checked exposure, started observing and photographing. They seemed to be completely involved in hunting, and with the 600mm lens, I was not in their "space". I knew that Tricolored Herons could be comical in their fishing methods, so I gave greater attention to the heron. The light became better and I was enjoying the moment, but I had no good images and knew time was going to run out when the light did. Then it happened. The heron quickly lifted the wing facing me and began to systematically check its under-wing area beginning at the nine o'clock position and slowly rotating its head to about one o'clock. (Mix in the heaping amount of good luck now.) I chuckled and quickly tried to check focus and composition while firing the shutter. Within 15-20 seconds the heron completed the inspection and flew away. Later, I looked through these images to see what I had captured. Out of all of the images of the heron, there was one that stood out as "the one" that could be prepared for public consumption. The image was now cooked, but needed some presentation work before serving. Presentation Presentation suggestions came through many who visually "tasted" the image and gave their opinions. Suggestions came from photographer friends, mentors, VPPA Summer Seminar competition comments, and more photographer and non-photographer friends. The image went through various transitions through this process. The two most dramatic were the removal of a tree limb from the left bottom of the image and the horizontal flipping of the image. Serving Once the image was ready for presentation, it was submitted in the VPPA seminar competition and merited. I was encouraged to submit it to the SEPPA competition, and it merited there. As a second year PPA member, the PPA covered my entry fee to the IPC, so it was very easy to enter the image there. It merited and was judged to be included in the loan book. The meal received great reviews! I hope the "Pre-flight Check" image will provide joy to many while serving as a reminder to: • Always be open to experiment with new recipes for images they have not yet tried • Expand their horizons through trying photo equipment they have not yet used • Develop relationships that offer an open dialogue and constructive criticism that they may have not yet heard • Enter professional photographic competitions that will deepen skills that they do not yet own In the process, all can learn that their photography can still cook!
removal of tree limbs
cropping
On the following pages, enjoy the final version of “Preflight Check� along with all the 2014 Northern District IPC Loan Collection and General Collection merit images.
horizontal flipping of the image
2014 International Print Competition Northern District Merit Images
Michael Patch
Preflight Check PPA Loan Collection
4
Don Aittama
Me And My Shadow PPA Loan Collection
Jim Carpenter
A Quiet Moment PPA Loan Collection
Congratulations to Jim for earning the PPA Silver Photographer of the Year award. (4 merit prints including 1 loan print)
6
Jim Sanders
Cuts And More PPA Loan Collection
Christina Novak
Unshakeable Faith PPA Loan Collection
Congratulations to Christina for earning the PPA Gold Photographer of the Year award. (4 merit prints with 2 going loan)
8
Christina Novak
Love Grows PPA Loan Collection
9
Les Miller
Enchanted Forest PPA Loan Collection
10
Les Miller
Nature’s Staircase PPA Showcase Book
Liz Vance
Take Me Home—Please General Collection
Liz Vance
50 Shades Later PPA Showcase Book
Deborah Schmitz
Barely Thinking General Collection
Deborah Schmitz
Natasha General Collection
Jim Carpenter
Hear Me Brethren General Collection
Jim Carpenter
Another Loss General Collection 16
Jim Carpenter
I Am Smiling General Collection 16
Barbi Barnum
Southern Sunset General Collection
Don Aittama
Yesterdays GPS General Collection
Don Aittama
Mackinaw Bridge Gateway To The North General Collection
Gayle Driver
Sister And I General Collection
Gayle Driver
Wrapped In Dreams General Collection
Jim Sanders
Pop Henry’s Break Time General Collection
Jim Sanders
Dilemma General Collection
Christina Novak
Trapped In His Own Mind General Collection
Christina Novak
Five Reasons NOT To Date My Daughter General Collection
Michael Patch
Woodland Faces General Collection
Michael Patch
Play Me PPA Showcase Book
PPA Imaging Excellence Award For the 2014 International Print Competition, several photographers in the Northern District and throughout the state were honored to have one or more of their images to enter the prestigious PPA Loan Collection. For any photographer, the first print to go loan will always hold special significance. Along the way, some achieve a total of 13 Loan Merits. To recognize this special achievement, the PPA awards the deserving photographer the Imaging Excellence Award. Imaging Excellence Bar There are the rare accomplishments in PPA competition when 13 additional Loan Merits beyond the Imaging Excellence Award are earned. For this, the PPA awards this photographer the IE Bar. At Imaging USA in February 2015, Jim Carpenter will be receiving the Imaging Excellence Bar to recognize his recent achievement of 26 loan merits. CONGRATULATIONS, JIM!
A wonderful opportunity awaits... Trinity Arts Photo Club in Bedford, Texas has a monthly
competition for their members with a different theme for each month. Through past Northern District member, Barbara Berry, Trinity Arts Photo Club contacted me and asked if I would be willing to serve as the judge for the August competition with the theme of Fog/Dew/Mist/Rain. What an experience this turned out to be for me! For 44 images, I was challenged to offer a critique that would hopefully be helpful to the members. So much was there for me to give thought to. In the end, I expect I was the one who benefited the most. A pleasant surprise awaited me when I went to the Trinity Arts website. Jim Carpenter had been the judge for July. The theme for Jim’s critiques and scoring was Curves. Then, next month, Betsy Bailey will be judging images for the theme, Leading Lines. Serving as a judge for Trinity Arts Photo Club would be a wonderful opportunity for any VPPA member. If interested, please contact me, Jim Sanders, and I’ll put you in touch.
VPPA Summer Seminar Renaissance Portsmouth Waterfront Hotel September 13, 14, 15 Saturday, September 13
Sunday, September 14
11:00 AM Registration opens
Bert & Cindy Behnke
1:00-4:00 CPP Exam
“In Search of the Perfect Portrait” 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM / 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
2:00-3:00 Photobiz Presentation 3:00-5:00 Michael Corbin “Copyright Registration–Why And How” 6:00-8:00 Doug Mattice “How To Create A Woo-Hoo Business Plan” 8:00-9:30 Ken Conger “America, Africa, and Asia” 9:30 Hospitality Suite opens
LEARN! BUILD! GROW!
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Print Critique
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Model Shoot Out
9:30 PM Hospitality Suite opens Monday, September 15 (Extra Day for Extra Pay)
Robin Owen “Boudoir Photography” 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM / 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM