Eight hours one way is a long time to sit in a car. Mom and Camdyn came to see us for his 3 month pictures.
Mike’s little art project
April 28, 2008 By Leave a Comment
PPA (Professional Photographers of America) affiliated print judged was held at the Northern Light Convention in Fargo on Sunday.
I entered 4 prints (which is known as a print case). Due to the weather, just getting the prints to Fargo was frustrating…the actual judging just added to it.
Print competition brings out the worst in emotions of photographers. You can pour your heart and soul into what you think is a great image only to have your hopes dashed by a print judge. Emotional attachment to an image can skew your vision.
The PPA has several “degrees” that you can earn through classes, teaching, volunteer service and print competition. To qualify for your “Master of Photography” degree, you must get a merit on a dozen or more images in print competition. To get a merit, you must score an 80 or above. You can enter 4 prints per year.
Now getting an 80 is not an easy thing.
A nice smiling portrait for Grandma isn’t going to cut it. You almost have to photograph with competition in mind. The goal is to hone your skills and become a better photographer.
The point system is used with scores from 100 to 0 as follows:
Exceptional: . . . . . . . . . . .100-95
Superior: . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94-90
Excellent: . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89-85
Deserving of a Merit: . . . . .84-80
Above average: . . . . . . . . .79-76
Average: . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75-74
Acceptable: . . . . . . . . . . . .73-70
Unacceptable . . . . . . . . . . . .69-0
You don’t see very many prints get into the 90′s. It does happen, but not very often. Even more elusive is the perfect 100 score.
Images in competition are judged using the twelve (12) elements of a merit image:
1. Impact
2. Creativity
3. Style
4. Composition
5. Print Presentation
6. Center of Interest
7. Lighting
8. Subject Matter
9. Color Balance and Harmony
10. Technical Excellence / Print Quality
11. Technique
12. Story Telling
Now I wish I could say that I had all four images receive merits. Going “4 for 4″ is great, but it didn’t happen this time. What I do have is four very nice 16×20 display prints.
Print competition is expensive and ultimately frustrating. It’s a process of growth. Like God, the print judge polishes our rough edges through trial and fire and gives us correction in our ways.
I will continue my journey of growth. Wisdom comes from good judgment. Good judgment comes from bad experience.
Digging out
April 27, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Dacey and Rachel were excited to get out on Saturday morning and shovel a path to the studio.
The roads were terrible in the morning. The Interstate was still closed as of noon north of Brookings. Getting off the I-29 was a 20 minute ordeal. Trucks were parked everywhere on the side of the highway. The line of cars trying to get off was very long.
The competition prints for the affiliated regional judging at the Northern Light Convention in Fargo arrived a little late. My thanks go out to Jayne Erickson for transporting my print case. The print competition is today.
This morning is so much better than yesterday: you can drive on the roads without any worry.
Not to make anyone nervous but Dad called this morning to ask if I was ready for 8 to 10 inches of more snow later on this week. A few weeks ago I would’ve told him that he was crazy. It’s completely possible after looking outside today. I’m ready for green grass, leaves on the trees and 70 degrees with no wind.
Tiffany & Jeff’s engagement session
April 26, 2008 By Leave a Comment
We spent the day with Tiffany & Jeff. They came from Wisconsin for their engagement portraits today.
Here’s a couple of fun ones.
More snow!
April 25, 2008 By Leave a Comment
I am really trying to stay positive this year but…
I HATE WINTER!
This morning I was one of the speakers giving programs at the Smith/Zimmermann Museum in Madison for the Madison elementary students. I drove into Madison on icy roads. By the time the kids left at 11:30, we had major snow coming down. After a stop at the grocery store, I drove 20-25 mph all the way home to Rutland.
I made it home safe and sound but I did drag bottom most of the way home. All of our sessions have cancelled for today and tomorrow’s activities are in doubt. I have several competition prints that need to be delivered to Fargo by tomorrow afternoon for the affiliated judging at the Northern Light Convention. The interstate closed mid-afternoon today from Brookings to the ND border.
Here’s what our van looked like earlier today with the studio in the background.
Didn’t that groundhog promise 6 more weeks of winter?
Rachel & Kyle’s guestbook
April 24, 2008 By Leave a Comment
We did Rachel & Kyle’s engagement portrait session right after a recent snowstorm.
To see their guestbook click HERE.
Dillon’s 1st birthday
April 23, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Dillon spent his 1st birthday with us at the studio this morning.
Here are his one year panel and a magnet for the family refrigerator.
Bobby
April 22, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Yes, we are still photographing seniors. Here is one of Bobby’s favorite.
Paul & Kari’s Guestbook
April 18, 2008 By Leave a Comment
To see Paul and Kari’s guestbook click HERE.
Claire
April 17, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Claire came to see us for her 3 yr portrait session. Here is her birthday magnet.
Skylar
April 15, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Skylar’s 3 yr Birthday Club magnet.
Skylar is right at home in the studio. He loves having his picture taken when he isn’t busy playing with legos.
Winter again
April 13, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Thursday evening right after we lost power.
Blowing snow sticking to the road made the drive home on Friday afternoon difficult.
Beautiful main street Rutland covered in snow.
Kaleb’s session continued…
April 12, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Kaleb came in today and finished his senior session cut short by a power outtage Thursday afternoon. The weather is better but the slush hasn’t melted off the roads yet. We are off to the Oldham tonight to photograph the Oldham-Ramona prom that was postponed last night due to the spring blizzard.
Kaleb
April 11, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Kaleb came yesterday afternoon for his senior session. His session had to be rescheduled twice before due to snow, but yesterday we just went for it. Of course, the weather did not cooperate any better. We had to send him home early after the power went off and on, off and on and then stayed off. We are finishing his session tomorrow.
We are under a blizzard warning since last night. This is what it looked like in Rutland just before we left for Madison. The school is less than a block away.
Seth and siblings
April 7, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Seth was on the move. We did get him with his siblings long enough for a few images then he was squirming away and back to playing.
Ice is our friend!
April 6, 2008 By Leave a Comment
We are more than three months into our workout program. We are stronger, faster and better than ever before. We are also in pain after Justin at the Community Center in Madison puts us through our paces.
Ice is our friend. It deadens the sore knees and shin splints so we can function the day after our workout.
Has it gotten easier?
Easier is a relative term. The first two months of personal training was an exercise in personal torture, pulled muscles, tweaked joints and sleepless nights – getting up every morning was like the first few scenes of the movie “North Dallas Forty”. In the last few weeks, we’ve discovered that we don’t hurt quite as much. We can lift our arms above our heads without the primeal scream.
Life on the backside of thirty is not easy. The body does not recover as we think it should. Reclaiming youth and turning back the clock is hard…but possible.
The end result will be felt this summer. Weddings are a tough workout. When we do a friday and a saturday wedding, we feel it for a few days. Now it will be easier to bounce back faster.
Ice is our friend.
Maddison
April 4, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Maddison came in for her two year old portrait this morning.
No matter how hard we tried the hat did not stay on for very long.
Good bye Ralph
April 3, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Today, photographers, friends and family gathered to say good bye to Ralph Richter in Watertown.
Ralph was a mentor and friend to so many of us professional photographers. We owe him a debt of gratitude because he raised the standard.
Last year, Ralph was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the SDPPA.
At his retirement party held on March 1st of this year, Ralph held court one last time and blessed us with one last slideshow.
Good bye my friend.
Say Hi to Liberty
April 2, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Liberty came to see us today with Mom, Dad and big brother Skylar.
Starting 4th month
April 1, 2008 By Leave a Comment
We made fitness an important priority in our lives this year. We are starting our fourth month of serious workouts since the start of the year.
We belonged to the Community Center in Madison for years, but we haven’t used the available facilities and programs. Like most people, we made the change at the start of the new year. We’ve enrolled the services of a personal trainer to help with the process.
You may be thinking that having a personal trainer is a luxury that you can’t afford. In reality, we spend only $20 per hour session to work with Justin. For us, that is money well spent. We are investing in our health so we can enjoy life more.
