Are You Missing Out?

It’s that time of year when a small group of individuals embark on a journey of service and vision for the future.  This group works tirelessly to make sure that photographers who want to succeed have the opportunity to succeed.  They spend hours planning meetings, making phone calls, writing emails and making sure there is money left over in the account.  We call these individuals, “Presidents”.

All across Texas, and at TPPA, Affiliate Presidents do their best to provide an outstanding experience and to help others learn how to create better images, become better business people and to find a network of reliable and trusted friendships.

They do this because they love the profession and they love to give back to the associations that have given them so much. It really is an honor for them to serve and they never loose sight of that.

Now, YOU have to do your part!

How?  By stopping whatever you are doing right now and paying your membership dues and getting involved.  If you are reading this note, you should invest and participate in the activities of your local guild, your state association and PPA.

I can’t even begin to tell you how much you will gain by getting involved.  Just last night, I visited the Dallas PPA to be a part of their “end of year” awards.  Everyone in that room was welcoming, warm and excited to be there.  Even if they were not in the running for a trophy, they cheered and encouraged those who were called to come forward.

Attendees also got to hear a very inspirational message from PPA CEO, David Trust.  This remarkable man is one of those individuals that have so much to share and to teach.  We are lucky to have him fighting for copyright reform for each of us.  His program earned a standing ovation.  I wish you could have heard it.

Texas School Executive Director, Don Dickson was there to add excitement in our anticipation to January 3rd at 11PM.  He also gave away a couple of scholarships.

It was also announced that they would have the one and only Tony Corbell in the house in January.

If you think this note is about the Dallas PPA – It is not!

It is about you.  That’s right, YOU!  What happened in Dallas last night happens all across Texas.  Presidents, officers and committees work hard each month to bring in speakers, hold print evaluations, present trophies, award fellowships, share ideas, network, acknowledge volunteers and to make sure YOU get plugged in.

All you have to do is pay your dues and show up.

If you are not in guild or a member of TPPA and your business is crashing and burning, stop right now and join your local guild and TPPA.

If you are working way too hard and not making the money you should be making, stop right now and join your local guild and TPPA.

If you are lonesome out there with no one who understands how much you want your photography business to work, stop right now and join your local guild and TPPA.

If you think you will never be able to enter print competition or earn your PPA Certification, stop now and join your local guild and TPPA.

If you ARE in a guild and a member of TPPA, make sure you are a participating member and not just standing on the sidelines. Get those monthly meetings and the TPPA events in your calendar and go!

If you are a participating member and attend meetings and events regularly, then let me simply say, “Thank you”. We appreciate you more that you know.

One last thing.  I would like to encourage you to give a nice shout out to your president.  They will appreciate it.

Linda Bauer – Austin
Mark Sykes – Brazos Valley
Rolf Kasper – Dallas
Malinda Julien – Ft. Worth
Cecy Ayala – Heart of Texas (Waco)
Kevin Falcon – Houston
Chrystina Straughn – San Antonio
Dusty Gorman – South Plains
Tammy Graham – 2018 President, Texas PPA

Life is better with PPA

Life is better with PPA
A journey from being alone to being with my “photo-framily”

Malinda M Julien, CPP
November 16, 2017

The mailman arrived with a small padded envelope last week. I hadn’t ordered anything lately and it isn’t my birthday, so I glanced at the address to see if it belonged to a neighbor. My mail-person is not OCD in any way, shape or form.

Malinda M Julien was the addressee. Return address? PPA! Inside was my 10 year pin. 10 years, at least on this go around, ..nice. I had joined back in the 80’s but living in West Texas where there was no PPA affiliate I dropped my membership for many years.

Ten years. Wow, time flies. When I moved back home to Fort Worth, the first thing I did was apply to the Fort Worth PPA. I was excited and even worried they wouldn’t accept me, perhaps my portfolio wouldn’t be good enough. I had just moved back and was working strictly on location and some in my garage studio, but something was missing.

I got the notification I had been accepted and was thrilled and a little apprehensive going in. Jon and I went to our first meeting at the Colonial Country Club. We dressed nicely and headed out. Arriving way too early, we sat quietly in the lobby where there were other people who were wearing ribbons and pins with cases of printed works for competition. They were laughing and having a great time.

The meeting began and we watched as the beautiful images were placed on the print competition table. These were some fantastic works of art! I thought I could NEVER compete with those people! They were like shinning stars, like the Rembrandt’s of the photography world. How could I EVER compete with the likes of these people? I didn’t even dare speak to them. They knew each other, talked about something called Texas School and Kerrville. Making arrangements like giddy school kids planning a summer vacation. I saw them clap for each other as they got their ribbons and awards, encourage each other to maybe tweak this or add that to make their print just perfect.

What was this? Where I had been was a no man’s land for friends in the industry, competition seen as a game of f-stop football with either side bitter rivals. No one ever helped each other. Now, this behavior, and they meant it! I was hooked.

I entered my first competition with a piece called “The Guitar Player”. I won first in my category and member’s choice. I was on cloud nine and couldn’t believe how everyone was so supportive. (I later merited in my quest for Master Artist with this same print).

The rest, as they say, is history. I continued with FWPPA and am now serving my second term as Guild President. I joined TPPA a number of years ago and have helped by volunteering my time at Summerfest and Photogenesis. I speak at guilds and TPPA / PPA events. Made CPP my first time testing, with the help of my friends. Merited my first competition at SWPPA, with the help of my friends.

I have said “I am not going to compete anymore” and with my friends help, continued to compete. I am working on my Master Craftsman, Master Photographer and Master Artist simultaneously. With…. you guessed it, the help of my friends.

The people at FWPPA and TPPA have become my rock. The people I go to when I don’t think what I just did was good enough, or when I have doubts or excitement or brags, that truly my “photo Framily” understand. You see, they are no longer friends, they are my family – Photo
Framily.

You can’t win if you don’t get in the ring…. Get in the ring… it will be the best decision you ever made. No one, not one soul understands what we go through the way they do. It is invaluable as a relationship and a continual inspiration. I make it my mission to remember those days with every new photographer I come in contact with. Hopefully you will take a look at the Photo Framily you have around you and join them.

Be active, be a part, compete, get involved with your local guild and TPPA. Those 10 years go by fast, and it is always better with framily.

What is a Dinosaur Supposed to Do?

By Steve Kozak

It’s simple math, really. Let’s see how you do on the following:
110/5 = ?
110/10 = ?
110/20 = ?

Now, was that really so hard? If you round the answers to a number that corresponds to the nearest f-stop on your lens, then you are ready to create extremely accurate exposures with your portable flash.

Yes, you just learned how to use “guide numbers”.

Guide number/distance = f-stop.

But no more.

I just learned that this timeless, dare I say, “elegant” way of calculating the exposure of a portable flash – without having to use a light meter, has been removed from the test specifications for the CPP exam.

I’m guessing with the proliferation of photographers using TTL and flashes that have become so “easy” for anyone to use if they can put it on the camera facing in the right direction, they will get “acceptable” images. I just never strived for “acceptable”. As a wedding photographer, I hated under-exposed bridal portraits and over exposed groomsmen all because TTL tries to give an “average 18% grey” exposure. That is why in 33 years as professional photographer, I NEVER used TTL.

I tolerated the laughs and teasing I took because I use guide numbers. “Who still uses guide numbers?”, I would often hear. “I guess, photographers who like proper exposure.”, I would quip.

Now, I am not griping about guide numbers being removed from the exam, I am really questioning my own existence. I have taught thousands of photographers how to use a flash in manual mode the same way I learned to use a flash. It always worked. It never failed. Images were never over or under-exposed. All I had to do was quick, easy math.

But now, we are taking guide numbers off the CPP exam.

I once heard, “If you don’t like change, you’re going to hate extinction.”

Do I have to change my teaching because our industry feels guide numbers are no longer relevant? Or do I go the way of the dinosaur and just let them die off with me and keep pressing young photographers to learn the ways of their forefathers?

What should this dinosaur do?

Steve Kozak