November 1, 2010 - Professional Photographers Association of
Transcription
November 1, 2010 - Professional Photographers Association of
n o v e m b e r 2010 Supporting Professional Photographers for over 56 years OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS, INC The Power of the Classics An Advanced Study and Exploration into the Fine Art of Portraiture with Garbiel Alonso, M.Photog.,Cr., F-TPPA Sponsored by at Elgin Community College • Elgin, IL • November 10, 2010 Registration opens at 8:00 AM • Program at 9:00 AM Cover Story on Page 9 • Yellow, Cyan Magenta • Photography: Hope for the Future? • Real Life Parties • Rocking the Boat Again • Setting Yourself Apart •Using Layers to Create Believable Images • Here I go Again • Recapping - Fall Into Northern 303 S. Donald Avenue Arlington Heights, IL 60004-6850 Website: www.ppani.org E-mail: [email protected] Inside this issue Volume 45 • Number 11 • November 2010 FEATURES 8 Yellow, Cyan, Magenta 9 “The Power of the Classics ” - Cover Story 11 Photography: Hope for the Future - Bill Hedrick 14 Myths and Facts about Thanksgiving - Mike Krumboltz 15 Real Life Parties - Mary Fisk Taylor 16 Rocking the Boat Again - Norman Phillips 17 Setting Yourself Apart From the Rest - Cindy Cofer 19 Using Layer Styles to Create Believable Images - Al Audleman 22 Here I Go Again - Norman Phillips 23 Recapping - Fall Into Northern in Photographs Northern’s End-of-the Year Celebration of members achievments in 2010 Gabriel Alonso Father and son commercial team share their experiences and growth in other areas of photography. Marketing tool for bringing in new clietns. Raising interesting question on how the profession presents itself. Utilizing the Scene Machine in her studio photography. Tyring something new with Photoshop. Getting into an exercise regimen does not have to be intimidating. DEPARTMENTS 4 New Member Applications 6 President’s Message 7 Editor’s Notebook 28 November Program Registration Information 29 Directions to November Program at Elgin Community College - Elgin, IL 30 Up-Coming 2011 Programs The Northern Hi-Lites is the official Publication of the Professional Photographers Association of Northern Illinois, Inc. (PPANI) Published monthly for members and others for information of industry matters, personal achievements, and news of this and other associations. Acceptance of advertising, or the publishing of press releases does not imply endorsement of any product or service by this association, publisher or editor. Permission is granted to similar publications of the photographic industry to reprint contents of this publication, provided that the author and Northern Hi-Lites are credited as source. Articles, with or without photographs, are welcomed for review for inclusion in this publication, however, the editor reserves the right to refuse publication, or if accepted, the right to edit and use on a space available basis. Articles may be submitted on CD’s, either Mac or MS-Word format, or via E-mail. Send all communications, articles or advertising to: Editor - Northern Hi-Lites • 303 S. Donald Avenue • Arlington Heights, IL 60004-6850 • E-Mail: [email protected] The Northern Hi-Lites welcomes advertisers. Please support our advertisers as they make this publication possible. Those wishing to advertise in the Hi-Lites should contact the editor at the e-mail address listed above. Deadline for each issue is the 1st day of the month prior to the month of publication. November 2010 2 Northern Hi-Lites PPANI 2010 OFFICERS: President Sarah Johnston, M.Photog.Cr., F-PPANI, CPP 835 A South Virginia Rd. • Crystal Lake, IL 60014 • 815•459•1481 • E-mail: [email protected] 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Cindy Romano, M.Photog.Cr, F-PPANI, CPP Position Currently Vacant 17706 Garden Valley Rd. 815•568•1181 Woodstock, IL 60098 [email protected] Secretary Treasurer Position Currently Vacant Michael Barton, M.Photog.,Cr. MEI, CPP, F-PPANI, A-APPI 117 S. Batavia Ave. Batavia, IL 60510 630•761•2990 [email protected] PPANI 2010 DIRECTORS: Chairman of the Board Matthew Kane, CPP, M.Photog., F-PPANI 540 N. Bell School Rd. • Rockford, IL 61117 • 815•319•5504 • E-mail: [email protected] Host Chairman (11) Lisa Howard 1425 W. Schaumburg Rd. #243 Schaumburg, IL 60194 800•557•1816 [email protected] Equipment Chairman (11) Library Chairman Michael Fisher, Cr.Photog,, CPP, F-PPANI, Position Currently 620 N. First St. Libertyville, IL 60048 244•217•8226 [email protected] Vacant Program Chairman(11) Print Chairman (10) Membership Chairman Kerri Weiss Bruce Van Pelt, M.Photog.MEI, CPP, F-PPANI Duties assumed by 6N430 Clydesdale Ct. 2880 N. 4639th Rd. Executive Secretary St. Charles, IL 60175 Sandwich, IL 60548 [email protected] 630•788•9773 815•786•8898 [email protected] [email protected] PPANI - EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Editor/Publisher - Northern Hi-Lites - Webmaster Joseph A. Weber, M. Photog, Cr., F-PPANI E-mail: [email protected] PPANI Webmaster: Joseph A. Weber, M. Photog, Cr., F-PPANI [email protected] or 847•217•4431 Contributing Photographers: Scott Ballinger and Peter Yu November 2010 3 Northern Hi-Lites New Member Applications The following applications have been received to date. In accordance with the PPANI constitution, names of applicants are published for approval by the entire membership. If you have any information that would make the applicant ineligible, please contact the PPANI Executive Secretary. If no objection is received in writing in 10 days after publication, the PPANI Board will then act upon the application. Benjie Urbina Active Voting Member Wedding Moments Photography Crystal Lake, IL Jamie Gower Active Voting Member for you.photography Quincy, IL Have you invited a photographer you know to become a member of Northern this Year? PPA INFORMATION Professional Photographers of America 229 Peachtree St., NE • Suite 2200 International Tower Atlanta, GA 30303 1•800•786•6277 404•522•8600 Fax: 404•614•6400 Web Site: http://www.ppa.com Illinois PPA Certification Coordinator John Metcalfe M.Photog.,Cr., CPP, 618•462•6431 Michael Voegele M.Photog.,Cr. 618•654•7291 Illinois - PPA Councilors Cindy Behnke M.Photog.,Cr. 708•479•6700 Bret Wade M.Photog.,Cr. 217•245•5418 Sarah Johnston M.Photog.Cr., F-PPANI 815•459•1481 Cindy Romano M.Photog.Cr.,CPP, F-PPANI 815•338•1181 Sheila Rutledge M.Photog.,CPP, F-PPANI 630•221•0079 Jill Sanders M.Photog.,Cr., CPP, 309•697•9015 Daniel Thornton M.Photog.MEI.,Cr., CPP, F-ASP 618•466•3434 Kurt Wade M.Photog.,Cr. 217•525•2722 Councilor by PPA By-Laws Bert Behnke M.Photog.Cr.Hon.M.Photog., CPP Past President 708•479•6700 Dominic Iodice M.Photog.Cr.Hon.M.Photog., CPP Past President 815•356•7222 Robert Lloyd Cr.Photog,Hon.M.Photog., CPP Past President 217•627•3511 NOTICE: The financial statement of the Professional Photographers Association of Northern Illinois, Inc. is available to members upon request. November 2010 4 Northern Hi-Lites November 2010 5 Northern Hi-Lites President’s Message Sarah Johnston Master Photographer Photographic Craftsman Certified Professional Photographer F-PPANI So this month I would like to use the platform of the Presidents Message to send out some very heartfelt Thank-Yous! I would like to thank Michael, Terry-Jo, Peggy Sue, Rick and Thom, for lending your time and your amazing talents to make the Geek Lounge the huge success that it was. To the PPANI Board, Bruce, Mike, Michael, Kerri, Lisa, Matt, Joe and Cindy. You all put so much blood sweat and tears into the planning and execution of this. Your dedication to the plan showed in the final result. The comments from speakers, vendors and attendees were all so positive. This would not have ever happened without all of your work AND working together as a team. I know it was not always smooth and easy, but you stuck with it and it worked so very well!! To everyone that volunteered during the 2 days, Rosalie, Ken, Karen, Sheila, Ray, Jan, Tom, Beth, Dave, Tim, Trisha, Dot, Bruce and Darwin. Your help was more than appreciated. This could not have run as smoothly as it did without your help. To our photographers for the weekend, Scott and Peter, -Thank you, thank you, thank you, for recording all of the great moments throughout the entire event. To all of the vendors- ACI, Gemini Moulding, Advanced Imaging, Madcamp Backgrounds, Evald Moulding, Canon USA, My Photo Impressions, White House Custom Colour, GP Albums, Michel Company, Shooting Gallery Backgrounds, Posh Prints, Fabricfoto, Dynamic Designs, Graphic Authority, Barton Booty, Salome, Ice Prints, Bright Cards, United Camera Repair, and Macgroup. Thank you for all of the support you have shown PPANI. We also had 13 people come and take the PPA Certification Exam. Good Luck to you all! So happy to see you taking the word Profession in Professional Photographer seriously!! For those that chose not to attend the Fall Into Northern- I am sorry. You missed one HECK of a 2-day event!! On to this month. Gabriel Alonso is a gentleman from Texas. He is an amazing artist, photographer and musician. A Master Photographer, PPA Juror and someone I am proud to call friend. He is coming up to our group to fire us up once again. His images are amazing. Masterfully posed and lit. He is certain to share great information on how he has achieved his success and what you can do to improve your business Timing is great as we head into the Holiday Portrait Season. Also remember to sign up for the PARTY on December 3, 2010. PPANI’s social event of the year. No education, just fun and fellowship. Always a great time! Hope to see you all soon, Sarah Johnston M. Photog. Cr., CPP, F-PPANI November 2010 6 Northern Hi-Lites Editor’s Notebook Joseph Weber Master Photographer Photographic craftsman F-PPANI Executive Secretary • Director of Membership Publisher / Editor • Webmaster Happy November Birthdays to: Randy Musselman (11/1); James Richardson (11/12); Jan Fitzsimmons (11/18); Peter Yu (11/18); Barbara Baie (11/19); Brett Paul (11/19) Dot Ward (11/19); Bob Kramer (11/22); and Allen Woodman (11/18). Congratulations to Lisa Francescon for completing and achieving PPA Certification status. Congratulations to all those who recently passed the PPA Certification exam. We look forward to your completing the remaining Certification requirement. I am still recuperating from the pressures of Fall Into Northern. I am pleased that this event is now behind us. The last time Northern put on a 2-day event was back in 1996, 14 years ago. Times were much different back then. Businesses were flourishing. Our membership numbers were much larger than it is today. Northern accomplished something extraordinary this year in bringing together speakers, exhibitors and attending guests, both members and non-members for 2 great days of education, fellowship and fun. Was it hard work. You better guess right, because something of this calibre just didn’t fall off the back of the turnip truck and come together easily. Much of the behind the scene work, our membership will never realize. I extend my thanks to all our board members and volunteers for all their hard work in bring this event off smoothly and very successfully. We have learned much from this experience; and much is already in the works looking towards next year. Look for some very unique opportunities that have not been done here before. Great ideas are on the horizon and coming to Northern. It’s the same for each and every meeting we have, it takes a lot of coordinating efforts between many people both in this association and outside resources. We do this for continuing education of our Northern membership. We believe in the importance of continuing education for our members, even when there is a plethora of other entities sucking away precious time with other educational events. Some of those events are of high quality. From others experience, I have heard that a few events are just a means to gather people for selling their products and services under the guise of offering good quality information. This association has always been on the cutting edge of bringing the best of the best program speakers to our membership. It is our promise that Northern will not loose that focus in whatever it brings to its membership. Education is most critical in continuing to raise not only our own quality of products and services and expertise. But also reaching out to those on the horizon, who yet to know that there is a group of professional photographers who are willing to help them grow into the profession. Be aware that there are many photographer, particularly here in Illinois, who are members of PPA, and those that are not, who do not yet see the need to belong to a professional association, that offers more than an expensive membership fee and a monthly magazine. Northern reaches out to more than 1,250 photographers in Illinois alone each month through our advertising. These are photographers who are not members of Northern. I just don’t understand why they are not. Can someone give me an insight to why they are not a member of Northern? What are we missing in being able to reach out to them and invite them to participate? At times I feel like I am hitting my head against a brick wall. And, it really hurts when I do that. Our membership as a whole needs to reach out and extend a personal invitation to every photographer they know and are in contact with to at least check out what Northern has to offer. Invite them to come to a program that is if interest to them. Our members are one of our best marketing tools. Can we count on everyone to share the “secret” of what Northern can offer to those that don’t know? I would like to invite all Northern members to participate in the “Cyan, Yellow and Magenta” End-of-the-Year party on Friday night, December 3, 2010. This is the time to celebrate Northern’s accomplishments during 2010. Especially the accomplishments of it’s members in Northern Print Competition during 2010; and those who will be receiving Northern Degrees this year. This in itself is a personal accomplish for the recipient of these special recognitions. But all Northern members should also be supportive and recognize their fellow members in receiving these accolades. For those who attended last years dinner it was a great event enjoyed by all. Plan to join your fellow members on Friday night, December 3, 2010 at Riverside Banquets in Geneva, IL. Time for cocktails is 6:00 PM. It’s worth every penny. And, the time you spend with Northern, for just some great fun time is unforgettable. And finally, a very Happy Thanksgiving to all. November 2010 7 Northern Hi-Lites November 2010 8 Northern Hi-Lites The Power of the Classics An Advanced Study and Exploration into the Fine Art of Portraiture with Gabriel I. Alonso, M.Photog.Cr., F-TPPA Wednesday, November 10, 2010 Sponsored by: This presentation is designed to achieve two goals: To re-kindle the fire in the heart of the experienced portraitist who has been in the trenches and needs a fix, and to bring the intermediate level professional up to a higher level of expertise. The vehicle to get there is the same for both, the rediscovery of the vast knowledge contained in classical portraiture. From the masters of the renaissance to today’s industry leaders, our craft has changed little – except for the tools we use. “How can you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been” and “The more things change, the more the stay the same”. These are the two themes that will drive this class into a better understanding of our craft. Offering a vast breadth of experience and photographic skill, Gabriel Alonso is one of today’s premier classic portrait artists. His talent and expertise combined with his immense insight, exceptional artistic composition and heightened sensitivity to the client’s desires allow him to capture the essence and timeless expression of beautiful moments in images his clients will cherish for generations. Gabriel’s Credentials & Experience: • Holds the Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degrees presented by the Professional Photographers of America. • Serves as a Qualified Affiliated International Print Juror and as a member of the Photographic Exhibitions Committee of the Professional Photographers of America • Lectures at International, National, Regional, State and Local conventions as well as for Affiliated Schools. • Manager and Portrait Artist for both Gittings Texas and Gittings West Studios. • Regional manager and Portrait Artist for McWhirter Portrait Studios at Neiman Marcus in Houston, TX. • Portrait Artist for Wyndham-Leigh Portraiture in Washington, D.C., Fort Worth and Dallas, TX. • Owns and operates Gabriel Portraiture in Fort Worth, TX. His exceptional work has been selected for the Masters Loan Collection of the Professional Photographers of America and has been exhibited at the Eastman Kodak display of Disney’s Epcot Center. But more importantly, his images grace the walls of satisfied clients throughout the world. PPANI Members $40 • Non-Members $60 Registration opens at 8:00 AM • Program at 9:00 AM at Elgin Community College • Elgin, IL November 2010 9 Northern Hi-Lites Gabriel I. Alonso M.Photog.Cr., F-TPPA November 2010 10 Northern Hi-Lites Bill Hedrick Editor - Texas Professional Photographer Photography: Hope for the Future? Father and Son Team Says “Yes!” They seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. But, at the 2009 Texas Professional Photographers Convention, the father and son wedding photography team of David and Luke Edmonson made their debut with some of the most stunning images of the show. It was quite obvious that the guys were not beginners, winning a Judge’s Choice Ribbon. Distinguished Print Ribbon, Trophy and Kodak Gallery Award… not to mention Highest Print Case Total for a First Time Entry. So, the first question one might ask is, “Where have these guys been all this time?” Actually, David and Luke Edmonson have been in the Dallas area for quite some time, originally working as commercial photographers who made a somewhat surprising transition into the world of wedding photography at a time when many other professional wedding photographers are throwing in the towel. But the story of who they are is overshadowed only by the story of how they got where they are now. Back in 1974, David Edmonson (Luke’s father) established his own business called “The Image Factory.” After merging his company with an ad agency for a year and a half, David realized this was not the direction he wanted to go and eventually re opened under the new name of “Edmonson and Father Photography” in 1984. “It was a way to honor my father (Luke’s grandfather), who had been one of my biggest advocates in supporting my endeavors,” explains David. It was that close relationship between father and son that Luke had always admired about his father and grandfather. “I remember my father and his dad taking annual trips around the country to shoot stock photography,” Luke recalls. “My father was a professional photographer and November 2010 my grandfather, who was a U.S. Navy photographer in WWII, did photography as a passion. Although I grew up in the family business, it wasn’t until my sophomore year in college that I realized what I wanted in life. I wanted what my father had in his life... every day being different, going places and doing things you wouldn’t otherwise do if it wasn’t for the fact that you are a photographer. But I wanted to differentiate myself from my father, so I earned a degree in Filmmaking. Although my images moved and my dad’s images were still, both involved the art of storytelling.” In 2002, at the age of 28, Luke joined his dad’s commercial photography business. At last, they would be working together as a father and son team... or so they thought. The only problem was that the world of commercial photography was not accomplishing that goal of working together. Luke found himself doing an assignment on the West Coast while his dad was working another job on the East Coast. “I went to him and said there had to be a way to accomplish this goal. My father didn’t know how to make it work commercially so I suggested to him that we look at adding wedding photography to our services,” Luke recalls. “I think Dad’s initial reaction was one of horror He was thinking back on wedding photography styles of the past. But the posed pictures had given way to a more ‘storytelling’ style that was just becoming popular and that connected with his advertising background. So, in 2003, we launched Edmonson Weddings.” Continued on Page 12 11 Northern Hi-Lites Photography: Hope for the Future? Continued from Page 11 At the time, neither father nor son realized how smoothly the transition to wedding photography would be for them. As David explains, “Pretty much everything we did commercially had to tell a story. Weddings became the ultimate storytelling process and I personally gravitated to it because I enjoyed working with brides, grooms and their families on one of their most special days of their life.” His son, Luke, agrees. “Our background in commercial, advertising and editorial allows us to be very relaxed during the wedding day. It’s actually much more stressful to shoot on assignment with art directors and models.., with a limited time and unknown environmental situations. So, weddings came easily for us.” Of course, work is work and even a father and son team have to be able to divide the responsibilities of the business. “With his youth, Luke is the more natural people person. He is the face of our business. With my love for the darkroom and with Photoshop being the new darkroom, I spend my time creating the visual look of our brand of imagery,” explains David. Both men admit that technology has kept them nimble as they’ve grown, so they can focus on what they love the most. For David, it’s shooting, interacting one on one with clients and spending time in the digital darkroom. Luke enjoys creating lasting relationships with clients and vendors. He answers e-mails, makes phone calls and works on marketing and the websites. “My happiest moments are when I’m shooting,” says Luke. “Everything else is the work you do for the reward of being out there and creating. As we’ve grown, we’ve realized that our time is better spent being out there instead of being a slave to the computer,” he adds. Although they travel internationally to photograph some of the most elaborate weddings imaginable, Edmonson Weddings didn’t always cater to such an elite clientele. “The first year we put up our wedding sign, we didn’t have a single wedding image to show. We started out charging $1,000 to shoot a wedding. But we hustled through creative ways to pursue leads,” Luke explains. “I would receive a lead and would be instantly emailing them with one hand while dialing their number with the other. After determining whether or not it was a good time for them to talk, I would start by telling them they didn’t need to write down anything because I had already emailed them my information and that, what I really wanted to do was to listen to what made them and their wedding special and unique.” That first year, Edmonson Weddings photographed 85 weddings. Realizing that a volume wedding business was not what they really wanted, David and Luke raised their wedding price to $1,500. For the next two years, they photographed over 100 weddings per year. “By 2007, we were emotionally burnt out and we began searching for a new approach that fit our attitude and style. We tried another approach for about a year that involved pre designing an album and making the money on the back end,” says Luke. “But it created a monster in the amount of work we had to do and we really didn’t like the direction it was taking us. So, our biggest leap of faith came when we raised our prices and stopped including a bunch of apparent value via products in our packages. We were very forthcoming with our pricing but positioned ourselves more as artists.” This new concept also had a downside. Luke explains, “That change and every time we raised prices virtually eliminated our existing client base overnight. To get ahead, we had to market to people who were above us on the food chain. I feel that I should not be able to afford myself... nor should anyone I know or anyone in my family... but that’s OK. Once you do this though, you have to figure out November 2010 Continued on Page 13 12 Northern Hi-Lites Photography: Hope for the Future? Continued from Page 12 how to improve who you are and what you do and swim to the top again. You can’t just remain the same and raise your price. Our first multimillion dollar wedding came along because we had become experts in what the client was looking for and, for this particular client, it was Indian weddings.” The Edmonson’s banker was Indian and asked if they would photograph her son’s wedding in New Delhi. “After going to New Delhi and photographing a five day wedding, we really began to understand the culture. Instead of being outsiders, we learned how to simply try to interact with them in meaningful and sincere ways. We learned that people from different cultures don’t expect you to be just like them, they just love it when you try, in some small way, to share their world. Ultimately, it honors them,” Luke recalls. So, how does this success story shed a glimmer of hope in a profession where professional photographers are dropping wedding photography from their list of services? How does this success story relate to photographers who have seen their wedding business go to “new” photographers who “don’t know an f stop from a bus stop?” “We hear that all the time,” says David. “I can’t imagine people dropping weddings or talking about how the market is becoming too saturated by new people just starting out. To me, that’s exciting and shows us the growth and future of the wedding industry as being alive and real. I understand that not everyone is in a market such as the DFW area that has over 55,000 weddings every year. We also hear about people saying that the economy is the way it is and they only have two weddings booked this year. They typically follow that up with a statement about how they were talking to their photographer friend who has only booked two weddings this year himself. Together, they conclude that it’s all because of the economy or new photographers or whatever. I would suggest that they are talking to the wrong people. If you want to know what you’re doing wrong in your business, go ask the people who are the busiest! Maybe they are doing something that you are not doing.” “The public doesn’t even know that the reason they like November 2010 a photo is because it evokes an emotional response that makes their heart go ‘blip’ inside,” says Luke. “Most photographers don’t get this either. That’s why so many new people who can’t pose, light, compose or control their cameras on their own are booking clients. If you are a good and established photographer who takes technically perfect photos that have no life, no emotional response, then you are not listening to what the ‘new’ photographers are getting right! But the good news is that, once that idea sinks in and you’ve embraced it, you’ll have a leg up on someone who doesn’t know how to do the things that separate you from the competition. The other secret ingredient is that people like to give their money to people they connect with. If you don’t have a personality that people enjoy being around, it is impossible to have long term success. We must work on our hearts and personality as much as we work on our craft of posing and lighting.” According to the Edmonsons, weddings are one of the few things that people will still spend money on during an economic slow down. “Do your market research on your competition,” says David. “Look at their photography, their business model, and their heart attitude in their approach. Then, honestly reflect on it. If there is an area you can grow in, make a decision to invest in what it is going to take to grow in that area and plant the seeds to harvest later. There is never a quick fix. It’s about a long term approach and strategy. If you aren’t getting the results you want, you need to change something about your equation. If you don’t change and stay nimble, don’t expect for success to seek you out. Success is waiting for you to take action. It takes faith to patiently wait for it to arrive.” David and Luke Edmonson have defied the odds of today’s wedding market. But both men are humble about their success and their passion for photography. “Personally,” explains David, “I see God as the author of all creativity. His light is the best light.” Luke agrees, “It’s very easy to walk around and say ‘I made this’ or ‘I did this’ and ‘look at me!’ But pride is a dangerous thing. Sometimes things that we pursue don’t become a reality until we have this realization. It’s not about ‘me’ and ‘what I do.’ God is our best agent and doors open and close according to His timing.” Reprinted from the Texas Professional Photographer June/July 2010 13 Northern Hi-Lites Equipment for Sale Canon 5D Body with battery grip and 2 batteries $1,900.00 1- Canon f/1.2 USM Lens New - $1,200.00 1- 20’ x 20’ Background Light color for dance schools - value $950.00 Asking $500.00 Please call Cindy Romano if you are interested: 815-568-1181 Myths and Facts About Thanksgiving by Mike Krumboltz Thanksgiving is a uniquely North American holiday. But are those “facts” we learned in school really true? Is Plymouth Rock an actual, well, rock? Did the pilgrims really eat turkey and pumpkin pie? And who made the holiday “official”? The Buzz Log investigates some of the myths and realities of the beloved holiday. Was there really a Plymouth Rock? Kids are taught that when the pilgrims arrived in America, they landed on Plymouth Rock. Well, it might not have gone down like that. According to George Mason’s History News Network, the Plymouth Rock theory rests on the “dubious testimony” of one man. Historians argue that pilgrims first landed at Provincetown (not Plymouth). Still, one can visit Plymouth Rock if so inclined. According to the Plymouth Rock Foundation, the rock once weighed thousands of pounds. Over the years, the rock split and parts washed out to sea. Pilgrim Hall Museum writes that the world’s most famous rock weighs around several tons, a big drop since its heyday. Today, the remains of the rock are housed in a special building so tourists can gawk from a safe distance. Photos aren’t exactly awe-inspiring. November 2010 Did the first Thanksgiving have turkey? Probably not. The Christian Science Monitor hosts an excellent article on the first Thanksgiving that happened back in 1621. According to the journals of several of the colonists, deer and large amounts of “fowl” were enjoyed by the pilgrims. However, instead of that being turkey, it’s more likely the hunters brought back duck or geese. So why did turkey become associated with the holiday? According to Slate, price may have been a chief reason. “Among the big birds, turkey was ideal for a fall feast. Turkeys born in the spring would spend about seven months eating insects and worms on the farm, growing to about 10 pounds by Thanksgiving.” Additionally, they were cheaper than geese. Good news for geese, bad news for the turkey. Who made Thankgiving official? Ladies and gentlemen, let’s give it up for President Lincoln! That’s right, Honest Abe is responsible for making Thanksgiving an official holiday in 1863. National Geographic hosts a blog on some surprising facts about the holiday and notes that Lincoln may have been swayed by magazine editor Sarah Josepha Hale, the author of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Historians say she was a big proponent of making Thanksgiving a national holiday. Mr. Lincoln apparently agreed. Reprinted from the Internet 14 Northern Hi-Lites Mary Fisk Taylor M.Photog.,Cr., CPP, ABI,API Marketing Tool for Bringing In New Clients 0ver a year ago, we opened a new studio in Midlothian, Virginia. This new studio is a great compliment to our existing high end portrait and wedding studio in Richmond’s west end. We wanted a new location that would be a more fresh and funky space that would allow us to create fun children’s portraits and to build a high school senior portrait business. We have been ecstatic with the community’s response and success of this studio. We have also been pleasantly surprised with the two new business models that have grown from this portrait studio. As a result, we have managed to build an event and party division that we never expected. Real Life Parties has been a fantastic way to make some extra income and, more importantly, to get potential clients in our door several times a month. The birthday and special occasion party option has become a valuable marketing tool and revenue source. It is not unusual for 25 or 30 kids and their parents to come through our studio on a Friday night or Saturday. These are all potential clients for our studio for future portrait or event business. We offer three different Real Life Parties options, from our very basic event to a “Party Like November 2010 a Rock Star” version. This is a turn key party that my clients love! The investment level for the parties is not in everyone’s price range. Even so, we manage to book one to two parties a month. These Real Life Parties are advertised on our Facebook page and a local Richmond mom’s blog. Both of these marketing tools are completely free and have proven to be very effective. The rest of my party bookings have come from referrals from other happy clients. All of the party collections include the use of our space and a 4x6 printed image of each party attendee or friend group. Therefore, each child or teen goes home with a fun 4x6 image from the event of either themselves or him or her with their friends. The larger event collections also include crafts, food, drinks and gift bags. We even have our rock star collections that include a birthday signature portrait, custom portrait invitations, thank you notes and a birthday press printed memory book after the event. For the larger events, we arrange for an ice cream man to be there. This is a sure hit with kids as well as adults! These parties obviously work well for birthdays but we have also celebrated other events as well, including cotillion after parties, graduation celebrations and bar/ bat mitzvah pre event parties. Regardless of the occasion we have some great families visiting our studio with their kids and teens. A member of our party staff greets them all and we keep a stack of complimentary Real Life session cards at the door for them to pick up if they are interested. To date we have been able to book over 22 portrait sessions from these parties, which is just the icing on the Real Life Party Cake! Reprinted from the Texas Professional Photographer 15 Northern Hi-Lites Norman Phillips Cr. Photog., F-PPANI Rocking the Boat Again? I anticipate that this screed is going to get me into trouble with many of my colleagues and not least with the Professional Photographer magazine editor. I have run into stiff counter attacks from two PPA presidents when I sought to make some critical comments. The response was vicious and demeaning and one sought to destroy my credibility in the most juvenile manner you could imagine. So I am bracing for another attack. I am putting on my flack jacket, as I am not sure how to diplomatically express the focus of this article. from her body and it, presented almost a chicken leg, not that of a pretty young woman. At first glance I was shocked, as it seemed to me the maker had little knowledge of posing technique. OK, so it was a flawed pose and we all are capable of screwing up once in a while. Yet another example, this time a bride and groom, the first thing that jumps at you is a dense shadow that runs across their white attire. All of us are subject to criticism and mostly we deserve it and can learn from it. I recall my friend Michael Ayres saying to me that as a prestigious professional organization we deserved a better magazine and I agreed and still do. OK, I know that producing a magazine is no easy job (I have been the editor of newsletters and even in those small publications there is a lot of work and thought required) and the staff at any serious magazine work their tails off getting it to press. So the effort put into it is not the issue. The content and quality is. The two of the three primary skills needed to produce acceptable professional images are lighting and posing. If our flagship magazine editors present images that fall far short in these skills what is the message we send to those new or intermediate skill readers? The only time such images should be used is when they are the subject of critiques to show both good and bad. In a previous article I rated the magazines that I receive while considering which to unsubscribe from, so if you read that article you will recall that our PPA magazine did not make the top three, but it should have done. Other than the quality of the production, which has nothing to do with the content I question the selection of many of the images included and this article is all about the images. When I received my most recent copy I was shocked at the cover image. If I had entered an image like that in competition I would expect it to totally fail, a 69 would be very generous. Later in the magazine is an image that could only be described as horrible and insulting to the subject. The subject’s leg was shown in the most unflattering way one could imagine and looked like it had been separated November 2010 But that being the case why present it for publication unless you are making a point. But the editor should first consider the quality of images to be presented to members of an organization that is designed to improve our skills. Does the editor not have sound grounding in professional photography? I don’t know as when I offered to present articles he simply ignored me and I need to make contact with him to find out why. There are many of us seeking to help members improve their skills through seminars and workshops and some of us have produced DVD’s and books for this purpose as well as one on one mentoring. Also, no matter at what level we may have achieved we too attend seminars and programs aimed at improving our skills. So when our flagship magazine presents us with images that do the opposite we should be concerned. New and aspiring professionals are misled when the magazine produces really unacceptable images, especially when it is on the cover. What is on the cover should be images that all of should aspire to. Done. Now I await the counter attack. Hopefully it won’t be with live ammunition. 16 Northern Hi-Lites Cindy Cofer It’s All About... Setting Yourself Apart from the Rest Before opening my studio, I was a stay at home mom, raising four kids in a small town in Kentucky. I started taking pictures of my own kids and eventually began photographing other kids as well and soon realized this was what I wanted to do professionally. By the year 2001, I was concentrating on perfecting my work and opening my own studio in the small town of Williamstown, Kentucky. In 2003, I purchased a house that used to be a doctor’s office. People were familiar with the location and it was easy to find. Like most photographers in a small town, I provide a variety of different types of photographic services.., seniors, families, children, maternity, executives and even boudoir. I call this my “Whispers of Romance” photography. I’ve even created a new website that features only boudoir portraits, depicting alluring, artistic, romantic and tasteful portraits. I realize that every woman desires to have a beautiful romantic portrait in her lifetime. This promotion has been so successful that I am now teaching seminars to other photographers around the country on boudoir photography and all of the other types of photography I do. In my programs, I share my general approach to marketing and using the Scene Machine as a creative tool, as well as lighting and posing and making simple props. My backgrounds are customized and personalized for each of my clients to compliment their ou n personality. Giving them the look they want is something they absolutely love. I love the total control and creativity I get with the Scene Machine. It saves me time and money and allows me to offer so much more and to sell more. My clients come back again and again because they know I can always do something different each time. I will never be stuck with just a brown or blue canvas or muslin. My customers know they will receive photographs above and beyond what they can get anywhere else. My first introduction to the Scene Machine came at the 2001 WPPI Trade Show. I immediately recognized the many creative opportunities it could provide for my business that would set me apart from everyone else. Having the Scene Machine in my studio has been the best investment and most profitable tool I’ve ever purchased. I knew right away that my clients would love having unlimited background variety. This new device would make my photography unique and different and would increase my sales and that was exactly what happened! Today, more than 8000 of my photographs are done using the Scene Machine. The Scene Machine has made all of this possible but I also put a lot of emphasis on the need for good posing, lighting Continued on Page 18 November 2010 17 Northern Hi-Lites Setting Yourself Apart from the Rest Continued from Page 17 and composition. I also work hard to make each session people and learn from them. The Scene Machine was exactly what I needed for my studio and I have never regretted my investment. I don’t consider myself to be a real technical person but the setup and instructional material that came with the Scene Machine was very intuitive. I was amazed at how fun and easy it was to learn and was immediately able to offer my clients an unlimited number of beautiful backgrounds that I never thought would be possible in my small studio. It gave me the competitive edge I needed to set myself apart from everyone else. If you are looking for something to give you an edge over the competition or just another way to express your creativity, I invite you to come to my studio and let me give you a hands on demonstration of the Scene Machine and show you the possibilities it has for your own business. You are invited to visit my websites, www. cindycofercreations. com or www whispersofromance.com. If you have specific questions about the Scene Machine, I will be more than happy to answer them for you. The Scene Machine is manufactured and sold by Virtual Backgrounds of San Marcos, Texas. They also teach seminars on using the Scene Machine at their facility in San Marcos. For more information on the Scene Machine, visit their website at www. VirtualBackgrounds.net. fun and exciting for the client and I am a firm believer in continuing education. I’ve been quite fortunate to have been able to study under some of the finest photographers in the country, includ- Reprinted from the Texas Professional Photographer June/July 2010 ing Monte Zucker and Joseph and Louise Simone. If you want to be successful, you need to associate with successful November 2010 18 Northern Hi-Lites ©Al Audleman M.Photog.Cr., CPP, API, FDPE, FSA, GFD Let’s try something new! Using Layer Styles to create believable images... Layer Styles, formerly called Layer Effects, are interesting in the things you can do with them. Usually they are used to make an image or text seem more dimensional and pop off the page using drop shadows and embossing. But with a couple “tricks” I am going to show you, you will se how else they can be used to create realism. Here’s the situation: You are asked to photograph a group. The problem is you will never get the entire group together at the same time. It may be students in the case of this tutorial, but most likely it will b attorneys or doctors, chamber of commerce board members, etc. Get the picture? So you photograph them separately in the studio or on location using an appropriate background, usually white or gray. This is done so you can drop them off the background in Photoshop later. Then you composite them in Photoshop after the shoot is done. So what do you need to consider first? Lighting! The lighting needs to be consistent quality … meaning from the same direction and the same softness on each subject. This means that if the exact composition … placement of each subject … is not planned in advance, then you may run into problem later. Why, because you cannot change the direction a person is facing by flipping him or her using the transform tool. If you do, the lighting will be backward for that person! How do you overcome this problem? I shoot three different shots of each person, one facing right, one facing left and the other somewhat straight on. Then you select the appropriate image based on how the client, whether it is a marketing person, an art director or the client directly, wants the people placed. Simple, huh? It’s much easier if you shoot the art director Figure #1 though! Oops, did I digress to the old days? So let’s look at how to do this. Figure #1 shows the entire group after the selection has been made and the dropout work has been done. Each person was brought in from individual images and the basic composite is made up of eight layers in this case. They are placed based on which way they face. Next you need to decide on final placements and transform each person so the relative size is appropriate. Check out Figure #2 to see the final placement. Now comes the “realism” to make this image look like you actually shot it as a group. Select one individual to start with. I suggest the one closest to the light source. In this case, the tall guy in the suit on the right. Turn off all the other layers so it is not confusing. Next I used the Layer Styles option to add a drop shadow. See Figure #3. All you real need to do is click on OK in this case because we will deal with direction of light and softness separately. Next go back to the Layer Styles box and Figure #2 November 2010 Continued on Page 20 19 Northern Hi-Lites Using Layer Styles to create believable images... Continued from Page 19 … WATCH CLOSELY NOW! … Select the Create Layer option. (See Figure #4) This is the “trick!” What this does is turn the drop shadow into a separate layer. Kewl, huh! Now you can move it with the Move Tool (See Figure #5) to move it away and then use the Free Transform to rotate and scale it and distort it to be realistic (See Figure #6) and you MUST use the Gaussian Blur filter to soften it to match the original lighting on the subject! Finally you will need to add a layer Figure #3 mask to that layer so you can control the light fall-off and the parts near the feet that are not correct. Use the Gradient Tool (See Figure #7) to control the fall off. See Figure #8 to see the final result. OK, not quite the final result, because you will then need to lower the opacity of that layer to suit your particular image. So now what’s next? Do that same thing to each of the individual people in the image and you are through. (See Figure #9) Are you? Well, it’s not quite that easy, but the final touch is easier than person is between the light Figure #5 and the other person next to him or her, then they cast a shadow on the other person. You knew that, didn’t you? Good! Figure #4 Figure #6 So how the heck are we gonna do that? Can we use the Burn Tool or Brush Tool? Yep, but it will take way too long and not look good an yway. Most of you know my motto here … GET ‘R DONE! (Thanks, Larry!) Here’s what we do next. We create another drop shadow for each indi vidual the same way we did above, and make the shadows on their individual layers, just like before. Use the move tool to Figure #7 place it so that it falls on the adjacent subject correctly, taking into account the direction of light! The blur it and change the opacity so it looks good. And that’s it, huh? Not exactly since th e shadow falls on the background too. Not very realistic, is it? Now here’s another way kewl trick. Once again, select the subject closest to the light and add another drop shadow, use the “create Layer” feature again and move it to Continued on Page 21 November 2010 20 Figure #8 Northern Hi-Lites Using Layer Styles to create believable images... Continued from Page 20 place it over the adjacent subject. (See Figure #10) Then blur it as in Figure #11 to match the original light quality. You will now need to MAKE SURE the new shadow layer is directly above the layer containing the image of the adjacent person. Are you ready? Go to Layer>Create Clipping Mask and just click on it. (See Figure #12) Whoa, what happened? The shad ow now shows up on ONLY the image of the person below it. (See Figure #13) It is “reflected” off the pixels on that layer and is invisible Figure #9 where the layer below it is transparent. Not a hard concept but if you don’t get it, trust me! That is a complete ‘nother tutorial. But it does create realism! There is a little trick to save time if you want to use it. There is a shortcut … Option/Command G on the Mac and Alt/Control G on the PC … but there is an even shorter cut. Put the shadow layer directly over the layer you want it to fall on and then put your cursor right on the line between the layer, holding down your Option/Alt key. You will see a little symbol (See Figure #14) and just click. You will not have to use the drop-down menus to make it work if you use this trick. Figure #10 Now do that to all the other layers as required. Be careful as to where you place the shadow layer! It just takes a little thought … which is a normal process in Photoshop! Finally I added a little density to the foreground and background of my image and the final version was Figure #15. If you will look at Figure #16, you will see the stack of layer Figure #12 and where I changed some tonal values on some of the layer. Figure #11 ANOTHER TRICK! If you add an adjustment layer anywhere in an image, it affects ALL LAYERS below it! If you jus want it to affect ONE layer, the one directly below it, then use the Clipping Mask feature as discussed above and guess what? If only affect the layer right below it. OK, enough kewl things for one day! Figure #13 November 2010 Figure #14 Figure #15 21 Figure #16 Northern Hi-Lites Norman Phillips Cr. Photog., F-PPANI Here I Go Again I have several times touted fitness as a means to both prolong your life and keep you healthy in the process. As far as I am concerned it never changes. suggesting everyone indulges in the same routine as I do, which involves rapid power weight training that rapidly reduces the body fat to muscle ratio. One of the benchmarks for body weight is that at middle age and later we should be within six to eight pounds of our weight when we were in our teens. At nineteen I was one fifty six and currently I am one sixty-two, so I am about where I should be. Discussing this benchmark with several acquaintances I found that none of them were anywhere close to this and in fact were from fifteen to twenty pounds heavier. The chances are that if your waistline is almost as or greater than your chest measurement you have a health problem that you need to take care of. Recommended measurements for women is their waist should, at middle age or older, be five to six inches less than their bust and men the gap should be between six to nine inches. The les of the gap indicates weight that needs to be reduced. Unfortunately, due to my sons reluctance to produce offspring I have no grandchildren. But I live in hope. But if I get one or two to dote on I want them to see me as a fit and energetic granddad. But I also know that many of my colleagues are grandmas and grandpas. So the question is will their grandkids be visiting them in a retirement or old folks hospice or preferably as an independent grandparent proud to be able to entertain them without the assistance of a nurse or wheel chair? I decided a long time ago that I would be independent until my genes said my time is up. Hopefully that may not be until I am a hundred and fifty, so I have about seventy years to go. That so many tell me that I don’t look anywhere my age and that Real Age tells me that I am only sixty-six is credited to both my attitude and my exercise regimen. If I get lucky to get a grandchild or two I aim to be able to play any games they want and not get short of breath in the process. But currently and before I get that lucky I continue to perform as I have since my forties (except I have no longer a desire to shoot a full wedding or a bar mitzvah), and cannot believe that end of October will mark another year to my longevity. I still seek to create images as I have for so long and always have an eye for something special. My camera is still an extension of my minds eye. It rarely is not in my hand as I travel around and which sometimes irritates my wife who thinks I should leave it at home sometimes. My recent roaming has been dedicated to capturing images of my hometown for a book I am creating. There are all kinds of articles and research about body fat ratios but there is a common theme that indicates that for males a ratio in excess of fifteen percent is a threshold to numerous diseases and for women the ratio is twenty percent. The most common ratios are eighteen and twenty four percent respectively and a very large percentage of Americans are well in excess of these numbers, hence many of us are obese, an invitation to both heart problems and Diabetes and related illnesses. Getting into an exercise regimen does not have to be intimidating. You can start slowly and see results in four to six weeks. Walking, jogging and other aerobic exercises will slowly reduce your weight and make you feel better. Start slowly and build up your rate of reps and steps. Too many lose patience when results take longer than it is hoped to get results. Just remember how long it took you to get out of shape and simply commit to a program. Women need to use resistance exercises in order to build strong bones that will reduce the chances of osteoporosis. It will also assist in both muscle tone and skin tone, the latter reducing the need for high priced creams. Men need to use weights too and if they cannot get to a health club a few weights in the basement will suffice. The combination of aerobic and callisthenic training will make you fitter than you are right now if you are not into the program and your body fat to muscle ratio will improve and so will your concentration at the computer when you are editing your images If we read all the surveys and studies we learn that a healthy fit body also generates an active and acute mind and facilitates sharp focus, which we all know is most helpful when using our cameras. We also learn that our body fat ratio (fat/muscle) is critical to how our heart responds to the stress we put it through. The stress comes from various aspects of our daily routines. A minor skirmish with a spouse or an offspring creates stress as does other times during the day when little things don’t go according to plan. As a photographer the slightest issue with a client or with our computer or actions in Photoshop or Light Room as well as a day covering a wedding or other high profile event adds to the stress factor. Stress is one of the causes of many heart problems, so being fit and controlling our body shape and weight are critical to our health. Rick Trummer, who says I sound like the Gecko on the Geico ads, inspired the attached image. You will note that my hair when that image was created still had color. But when you next see me you will see that most of the color has gone and left gray and white. So, the regimen I am on does not protect me from going gray. But I feel good, so what the heck. I accept that because I have always been in athletics and trained with weights it may be easier for me to keep up my six days a week exercise program. But I recall that for a time I was so busy that I allowed muscle to go to fat and before I knew it I was a hundred and eighty four pounds instead of one sixty. That brought on Type II Diabetes. Happy shooting and may all your images earn an eighty or better. Needless to say a dramatic change was called for in order to lose twenty-four pounds, which took about six to eight weeks. The Diabetes is totally controlled with diet and exercise. OK, I am not November 2010 22 Northern Hi-Lites Fall Into Northern Photos by Peter Yu and Scott Ballinger November 2010 23 Northern Hi-Lites Photos by Peter Yu and Scott Ballinger Fall Into Northern November 2010 24 Northern Hi-Lites Photos by Peter Yu and Scott Ballinger Fall Into Northern November 2010 25 Northern Hi-Lites Photos by Peter Yu and Scott Ballinger Fall Into Northern November 2010 26 Northern Hi-Lites Photos by Peter Yu and Scott Ballinger Fall Into Northern November 2010 27 Northern Hi-Lites Program and Registration Information Program Date: WEDNESDAY - November 10, 2010 RESERVATION DEADLINE.........12:00 Midnight, Wednesday, November 3, 2010 The Power of the Classics An Advanced Study and Exploration into the Fine Art of Portraiture with Gabriel I. Alonso, M.Photog.Cr., F-TPPA Elgin Community College • Elgin, IL Fox Valley University & Business Center Program Fee ............$ 40 - PPANI Members $ 60 - Non-Members Registration opens at 8:00 AM • Program begins at 9:00 AM Reservations can be made via the internet on the Northern Website: www.ppani.org Program fee payable via credit card when registering on-line or by cash or check at the door. Regardless of method of payment all registrations must be made on advance on-line before the deadline date, otherwise late registration fees apply. November 2010 28 Northern Hi-Lites Directions to: Elgin Community College N Fox Valley University & Business Center 1700 Spartan Drive • Elgin, IL 60123 Fox Valley University & Business Center The Elgin Community College main campus is located just four miles south of the Northwest Tollway (I-90). Exit the tollway south at Randall Road to South St, which is the second traffic light south of Lake St. (Rt. 20) Take South St. east to Renner Drive or to Second St. and turn south to Spartan Drive. Park either in lots 9 or 10, which are directly across from the Fox Valley University and Business Center. Northern programs are held in the Siegle Auditorium which is located in the Fox Valley University and Business Center. For more detailed directions from your address to 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, IL go to http://maps.google.com November 2010 29 Northern Hi-Lites Northern meets on the 2nd Wednesday, except in May when it is on the 3rd Wednesday. 2010/2011 PROGRAM SCHEDULE November 10, 2010 Gabriel Alanso, M.Photog.,Cr., F-TPPA “The Power of the Classics” Sponsored by Miller’s Professional Imaging Program Time 9:00 AM June 8, 2011 Tammy Wolf and Tamara London “Method or Madness” Print Competition Waubansee College • Aurora, IL December 3, 2010 PPANI End-of-the-Year Party Riverside Banquets - Geneva, IL July 13, 2011 Beth Forrester, M.Photog., Cr., CPP. Kishwaukee College - Malta, IL 2011 Programs February 9, 2011 All-Day Print Competition Waubansee College • Aurora, IL March 9, 2011 Jeff Dachowski, M.Photog., Cr., CPP. Carolle Dachowski, Cr. Photog. “From Hanging Drywall, to Hanging Wall Portraits” Elgin Community College • Elgin, IL April 13, 2011 Jon Johnson, M.Photog., Cr. “High Scool Seniors with a Fashion Flare” Print Competition Kishwaukee College - Malta, IL August 10, 2011 Jim Churchill, M.Photog., Cr. Elgin Community College • Elgin, IL September 14, 2011 Michael Timmons, M.Photog., Cr., F-ASP Tina Timmons, M.Photog., Cr. “Beyond Image Capture” Print Competition Waubansee College • Sugar Grove, IL October 2011 Dennis Hammon, M.Photog., Cr., CPP Location - TBA November 9, 2011 Mark Brandes, M.Photog., Cr. Elgin Community College • Elgin, IL May 18, 2011 Steve Tarling - UK Photographer “Your Wedding Day, Your Memories” Location TBA Print Competitions for 2011 February 9 • April 13 • June 8 • September 14
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