PPGCS Newsletter: September, 2005

Volume 16, Issue 9

PPGCS members win awards at the Colorado State Fair
(click here for the results)

A Message From the President
September Meeting: Annual Guild Print Competition, September 15, 2005
The 12 Elements of a Merit Print
Meeting Reminder
Upcoming Events
Quotable Quotes
Renew your Membership
(Pricing and who to contact)
Membership and Advertising
Classified Advertising
The 2005 PPGCS Board of Directors

We had several PPGCS members exhibiting at the
State Fair. Two have won honors.

Renee Jinkins won First Place in the Category “Fine Arts Amateur (1st, 2nd, 3rd) - Photography/Digital Photography” for her photograph “Vee”; and Best of Show in the category “Fine Arts Special Award - Amateur - Photography/Digital Photography” for her photograph “Vee”.

Linda Kittiel had 4 photos on display; one, “Gathering at the Firehole”, has won Honorable Mention in the category “Fine Arts Amateur - Photography/Digital Photography”

Allison Earnest had her “Welcome Home” photo selected for exhibit in the Professional Division at the Colorado State Fair. Though she didn’t win any awards, not many photographs were accepted for exhibit and it is truly an honor to have been one of the chosen few to display.

We apologize if you had an image accepted and it wasn't mentioned here. Bring it up at the next PPGCS meeting!

A message from the President

Coming up for the September meeting will be the annual print competition for PPGCS. Here your chance to compete with your peers and to see how you are doing whether it be in Wedding, Portrait, Commercial, or Illustrative work. Tricia Turpenoff of Denver will be the PPA Master Photographer, that will judge the prints this year. Here's a great time to hear a critique on each print you submit at the next meeting.

There are 12 elements that make up a good print and they will be listed in this newsletter. Review them to help you create that stunning image for yourself or your client. From the September meeting, you will be able to make any changes if needed to then take the prints to the Professional Photographer's of Colorado (PPC) www.ppcolorado.com convention being held on Oct. 15-17. PPC print competition will be held on Saturday, Oct. 15th.

PPG's President,
Thomas Henn, PPA Certified, M.Photog. CR.

September Meeting:

Annual Guild Print
Competition, September 15, 2005

Here are the guide lines for entering the Print Competition at the September meeting.
Best wishes to all that will be entering this year.

ELIGIBILITY:

The entry must have been captured and created by the entrant.
The entrant’s name shall not appear anywhere on the face of the entry.
A maximum of four entries may be submitted per entrant.
No entry will be eligible that has been made under the supervision of an instructor or as a class assignment.
No two entries shall be of the same subject.
Entries previously merited at any PPA International Competition are not eligible including any image from a merited album.
Entry media includes photographic prints, transparencies and albums.
Entries in this competition are not eligible for entry in Electronic Imaging or Art Tech competitions by the same entrant at any time.

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION CATEGORIES

COMMERCIAL consists of Commercial and Industrial entries.
If a tear sheet is included, enclose it in an envelope attached to back, top, center of the entry.

PHOTOGRAPHIC OPEN will consist of Portrait, Illustrative, Wedding, and Album entries.

Transparency Entries

All transparency entries must be masked and mounted on a 12"x 12" black mat with the viewable area to be a minimum of 1-5/8" x 2-1/4". To allow display in the print exhibit, mat thickness cannot exceed 1/4".

Album Entries

Album cover size may not exceed 400 square inches.
No multiple volume albums are allowed.
Any studio identification or entrant’s name in the album must be covered.

ALBUM ENTRY CATEGORIES

Single Maker Entries
Images in the album must be the work of the entrant. No other photographer’s images are allowed.

What to Look For in a Photograph
The 12 Elements of a Merit Print

Here is a example of a print I entered this year in at the Regional and then at the National/International Print Competition. It scored a 95 at Regional and was selected for the PPA Loan Collection Book at the National/International Print Competition.

- Thomas Henn, PPA Certified, M.Photog., CR.

The most important things to remember when reviewing this material is that the elements are listed in accordance to their importance.

1) Impact

What you see first
What creates your first impression - It could be a strong feeling of power
What commands you to look - what holds your eye?
The impact could be any of the elements listed below

2) Creativity

Using your imagination
Being very original or a fresh approach on subject matter
Creative cropping
Creative use of subject matter
Content could be very abstract
Invention, design, feeling and imagination lifts the photograph into the realm of art

3) Style

Individuality: that character of the photograph that sets one work apart from the rest
The way of seeing or approaching a subject

4) Composition

Good placement of the subject matter
Harmonious proportions
Using dynamic symmetry to place most important objects in design
Good rhythm is created by repetition, whether it’s color, spaces, moods, or divisions of the photograph

5) Print Presentation

Does the presentation enhance the photograph?
Good cropping can add to the composition
Good color for the matting or mount can help
Daring to be different
Using something dynamic or being very traditional
Initial impression can be obtained by using creative mounting

6) Color Balance

A good technique for the photograph. A good selection of color for the subject matter or objects.
Using a very interpretative color (maybe not normal at all)
Creative use of color - example: complementary colors, dark against light, strong against weak

7) Center of Interest

Dominance of objects or subject matter
A group of subject and arrangement of objects so one center of interest prevails
Subject matter holds the eye with no distractions
Strength and definition gives the center of interest secondary points that are very important to the photograph, but you must always be able to come back to the center of interest

8) Lighting

Good Dynamic lighting appropriate to the subject matter
Strong mood can be created by the lighting
Lighting is the art of reproducing the characteristics of the subjects or objects

9) Subject Matter

An outstanding interpretation for the subject matter
Good camera angle for subject matter is helpful
Selection of a photogenic model or objet is important
Contrast here can be very creative in selection; example: old and young, warm and cool. All of these will complement your work

10) Technical Excellence

Is the print quality of the image itself as it is presented for viewing
Exposure
Focus and Sharpness
Printing
Mounting and color all speak to the qualities of the physical print

11) Technique

Different technique for the subject matter
Technique is the foundation of photography, but a knowledge of the art principles are very necessary
Using creative and abstract can help
Design brings abstract ideas into concrete form

12) Story Telling

A good strong statement
A complete story within the photograph
First glance has a complete meaning
Strong mood with the photograph, builds an emotional response challenging your imagination

MEETING REMINDER

September 15, 2005
6:30 p.m. Social
7:00 p.m. Meeting

September Meeting

Annual Guild Print
Competition
Min size 8x10 mounted on 16x20
Mount board

Categories
Commercial, Portrait, Wedding

ViewPoint
Retirement Center
555 Rockrimmon Blvd.
Activities Room

Upcoming Events

August 18 Guild Meeting
Grant Oaks - Digital Photography

Sept 15 Guild Meeting
Guild Print Competition.
Get your prints ready!
Prints must be min. 8x10 mounted on 16x20 board.

October 15, 16 &17 PPC Annual Convention
Print Competition & Trade Expo., Denver, CO

November 7 PPA Super Monday
(800) 786-6277
www.PPA.com

Nov 17 Guild Meeting
Basic posing and studio lighting with Chris Waldron.

December
Tour several local photographer studios.

Quotable Quotes

The person born with a talent they are meant to use
will find their greatest happiness in using it.

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Work for the fun of it, and the money will arrive some day.

- Ronnie Milsap

You may have a fresh start any moment you choose,
for this thing that we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down.

- Mary Pickford

Renew your Membership

Individual $100
Corporate Rates $150
Sustaining Member Rates $150

Contact a PPGCS Board member for details

Membership and Advertising

This is the official publication of the Professional Photographers' Guild of Colorado Springs, Colorado (PPGCS). It is published monthly for members and others for information on 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 the 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 Professional Photographers' Guild of Colorado Springs Newsletter is credited as source.

Guild Membership: Membership dues are $100 per year and include the monthly meetings, participation in the print competitions, free advertising, and newsletter. For membership inquires, contact Allison Earnest at 573-7880.

Guests: Guests may attend one meeting without charge. Thereafter, there is a $20 per meeting charge. Special meetings may cost more. Non Members may submit advertising for $5 per month.

Advertising Rates: A full page ad costs $50 per month or $480 per year, paid in advance. A half-page ad is $40 per month or $360 per year and a quarter page ad is $30 per month or $240 per month. Those wishing to advertise should contact the editor, Allison Earnest.

Classified Advertising

Advertising is FREE for members!
Please submit classifieds to Allison by the 3rd Thursday of the month.

CAMERA GEAR FOR SALE

NIKON N90S FILM Camera - Body Only - $200
HP PHOTOSMART PHOTO SCANNER
model #C5100A - never used; in the box - $75

BOGEN/MANFROTTO tripod (#3011) &
3-way pan/tilt quick release head (#3030) - $75

CANON Light-weight tripod
with 3-way pan/tilt quick release head - $10

Cushioned, threaded eye piece for NIKON N90S - $10

Focusing Screen for NIKON N90S
Matte Fresnel Type E #2583 - $10

Filters - round, threaded - 49mm:
Hoya HMC Skylight 1B - $5 / Hoya HMC Skylight 81B- $5
ProMaster 7 Cross-4/Star - $10

Hoya Diopters - 49mm set of 3:
+1, +2, +4 - asking $5 for the set

Contact Linda Kittiel
719-579-5299
or email lpk2@pcisys.net

HP LASERJET 2840mfp

It is perfect and has printed less than 200 pages. This is one of HP's hottest ticket items now and sells for $1,000. We have decided this is really overkill for what we need, and are going to go back to using our inkjet and scanner.

This is a network ready, full color laser printer/scanner/copier/fax. You can send scans as jpg or pdf to network folders or emails from the unit. You can also network fax. Very cool.

Click here for the Product Data Sheet

$835 FIRM for pickup in Colorado Springs... out the door, no tax!

Compare the price at shopping.com

I'll accept cash or check.

Any questions, please email me chris@jessicaperry.com
You can call me at 719.271.5910

Jessica Perry Photography
jessicaperry.com
719.232.9691

Advertise here

Contact Allison
719-573-7880

The 2005 PPGCS Board of Directors:

President	Thomas Henn, PPA Certified, M.Photog	481-8529
Vice President	Mark Kirkland	337-0622
Secretary	Linda Kittiel	579-5299
Treasurer	Mike Tanous	599-0299
Executive Director	Chris Waldron, Cr. Photographer, CPP	593-7721
Member at large	Linda Ralston	495-9446
Print Committee	Kent Stuck Terry and Pat Moore, CPP Allison Earnest	597-5097 264-9293 573-7880
Room Committee	Mark Alamo	447-9007
Hospitality	Wendy Schicktanz, CPP Mary Lynn Ashley, CPP Sandra Orsillo	590-8826 329-0396 351-3029
Greeters	Heather Sams, CPP	264-9293
Communications	Position open
Newsletter Editor	Allison Earnest	573-7880
Webmaster	Eric Murphy	660-1545