Please contact Anthony Marill (a.marill@verizon.net <mailto:a.marill@verizon.net> ) if interested in the backdrop described below.

Looking to sell a classic full-length, Lamar Williams original backdrop for $500.00. (I paid $1200.00.) It is 10.5′ wide by 21′ long. It’s perfect for that full-length bridal portrait or a classic portrait look. 10 years old and rarely used.

Please note, the backdrop is not extended fully on either end in the vertical image.

Located in Rockville near 270 and Falls Road

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We are off to a great start!

The first MDPPA print competition of 2010 was fiercely competed by many decorated veterans and talented newcomers.   It was satisfying to see a substantial competition in the Illustrative, Portrait, and Wedding categories.  As a professional organization with most members working in one or more of these areas, we can be justifiably proud:  the number of participants, number of entries, and the quality of the work presented in these categories clearly demonstrated Maryland’s vitality and talent.

If you participated in the March competition, thanks and congratulations!  You are a winner whether or not your prints received a Maryland award.  While all of us benefit from the insightful critiques of the judges, the education of rigorous print competition is particularly indelible when the critique, given so generously and impartially, is of your own work.

If you did not participate in the March competition, you missed an opportunity to improve your work.  I hope that you will join in the fun in 2010.  The June competition beckons!

Here are the results of the March competition:

• Thirty-six prints competed in the Portrait category.  With scores of 82 points, Best of Show went to “Golden Grad” by Vanessa Ard (non-master) and to “Goddess in the Garden” by James Roy (master).  Charles Bilconish’s “Camo” earned first place honors with a score of 83.  Second place honors went to “Silent Prayer” and “Subtle Seduction” with scores of 81, both prints by Kim Lynch.  Third place was shared by six prints scoring 80s:  “Got You in my Sights” by Charles Bilconish, “Wet and Cold” by Ryan Courtade, “Chicks Dig Me” by Pam Long, “Hard Times by Mike Busada, “High Buttes Alcove” by Bert Pasquale, and “Quiet Confidence” by Vanessa Ard.  Corners went to prints “Goldie Locks” by Mike Busada and “Introspection” by Roger Hammons.
• In the Illustrative category, thirty-one prints competed.  With a score of 86, James Roy’s “Buried Alive” was honored with Best of Show (Master).  Jenna Beers took Best of Show (Non-Master) for her print “Blaze,” which scored 83.  First place honors went to “Desert Uplift” by James Roy, which scored an 85.  Christina Martin’s “Temptress” scored 83 and earned second place honors.  Third place was shared by Jenna Beer’s “Ruin” and Lydia Miller’s “Graceful Dancers” with scores of 81.  Corners went to “Passage” by Jenna Beers; “Curiosity Killed the Cat” by Vanessa Ard; “Up We Go” by Ryan Courtade; “Snowy Creek” by Lydia Miller; and “Bobsled Orchid,” “Red Slipper Orchid,” and “Settling In for the Night,” all three by Paul Biederman.
• In the Wedding category, there were 19 prints submitted.  James Roy’s print “Desert Flower” scored an 87 and was selected as Best of Show (Master).  Lydia Miller’s “Kissable” scored 81 and was selected as Best of Show (Non-Master).  First place honors went to Blyton’s “My Angel,” Michael Dunphy’s “Love’s Twilight Glow,” Kim Lynch’s “Her Amber Eyes,” Christina Martin’s “Contemplation,” and Web Wright’s “Public Display of Affection” and “Taking a Break.”   These prints scored 80s.  Second place honors went to Jim Ritch’s “Field of Dreams,” which scored 78.
• Six prints were entered in the Commercial category.  Best of Show went to James Alley’s “Showing Off,” which scored an 80, while Paul Biederman’s “NY Cab Ride,” which also scored an 80, earned first place honors.
• In the Album category, Michael Dunphy earned Best of Show honors for the wedding album “Ilana and David,” which scored 80 points.  There were no additional awards in this category.

Yes, indeed, it was quite a show.

We are off to a strong start.  Let’s keep the competitive photography fires going.  I cannot wait to see the next Maryland masterpiece!

I haven’t participated in a print competition yet, but, I hope to dip my toe in to that water sometime this year. After seeing how it works behind the scenes, I have a little more confidence with checking in my print and having it in the competition. I think that everyone should get an opportunity to help out on competition nights.

I think that the judges did a good job. I did not always agree with what the score was, especially if I knew who the maker of the photo was. I wanted everyone to have a good score. As I’m a new member to the MD PPA, this was only my second print competition that I had ever seen. In comparison to the one in the Fall of 2009, this one had more entries and there was a buzz about the room when a photo would be presented. We were all listening to the judges, especially when a “critique” was requested.

I especially listened to what I could hear when they were reviewing it, even without a critique. It seemed that there were some holding their breaths, I did a few times as they deliberated on a score.

Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone that entered. It takes confidence, courage and faith to enter into a competition with your work. Good job!

I recently received my copy of “Guide to TTL Flash” by TriCoast Photography. I purchased the book back in October 2009. However, did not actually receive the book until February 2010. The reason was because the book has been such a huge hit that they could not keep up with the demand. After waiting so long for the book I was really hoping that it was worth the wait. After reading the book I was not disappointed at all. TriCoast Photography is Mike Fulton & Cody Clinton. You may have heard of them. They are well known for their use of TTL flash photography. They use Canon equipment and the book discussing how to use the Canon speedlight system, but Nikon users don’t fear. You can apply the same techniques with your speedlights. I myself am a Nikon user and had no problems.The book discusses in great detail how to use your speedlight in TTL mode off camera, and how to achieve those amazing glamour type images we have all seen in the PPA magazine. They start you off with the basics and move you forward to learn more advanced techniques.

They discuss using different accessories with your flash, flash compensation and using Radiopoppers with your flash. There are a lot of pictures in the book to give you a visual of what the final image should look like, but they also include pull back images so you can see the set up of how they got the image.

This book is great for someone who is just starting out and would like to learn about using off camera flash. I would suggest they work through the basics first and get a good understanding of that before moving on with the more advanced set ups. This book is really great for someone who already has experience with off camera flash and is looking to move their photography skills to the next level.

I highly recommend the book. You can visit their website at: www.tricoastworkshops.com

With April 15^th here, you’ve probably already made time to gather all your receipts and are done scrounging for additional deductions to help offset the taxes on the massive profit you earned last year photographing naturally gorgeous people with perfect hair, great skin and pearly-white teeth. At this point, you’re either patting yourself on your back for another year of stability and growth or you’re still re-working the numbers because you’re convinced that the digits at the bottom of your spreadsheet ought to be black and not red.

Before you put your books away, you might want to take the opportunity to do some analysis so that the rest of 2010 is better for you than last year. Here are a few simple suggestions that can do nothing but help you:

1. Accept the fact that the photography business is just that – a business. The fact that we get to titillate the right side of our brain is just a bonus to what we do to make a living.
2. PPA members: Compare your numbers against PPA’s Benchmark Survey recommendations to see where you stand. http://www.ppa.com/benchmark/ This is a very eye-opening experience if you’ve never done this before.
3. Honestly assess your financial weak points and come up with a plan to turn them into strengths.
4. Using last years figures along with your first quarter tallies, come up with a reasonable budget for the remainder of the year – and stick to it! Carefully consider the ROI (Return On Investment) for every purchase you make in your business. Just because the latest and greatest software or gadget is being shoved in your face does not mean you NEED it to make more money.
5. Brush up on your marketing and sales techniques for increased revenue. I don’t care what people say – your art does not sell itself.

The Maryland Professional Photographers Association mission statement includes advancing photography “in all its branches, as both an art and a profession.” We often indulge our senses with improving the art of our photography while neglecting the professional side of it. Do yourself (and the industry) a favor and spend some time this month to look at your numbers.