ppa ipc

Coming soon!

If you are a PPA member you’ll be able to stream the International Photographic Competition (IPC).

Even if you don’t have images in the competition there’s a wealth of information and ideas that get shared during challenges.

A challenge is put forward whenever one of the jurors doesn’t agree with the result of an image being accepted as a Merit or non Merit. The challenger states his/her reasons. The other jurors respond with their thoughts and the challenger has an opportunity to rebut then the image is scored again. Sometimes it seems as if the judging is moving quickly. But, please remember there are 7 sets of eyes, 6 jurors and the Jury Chair, and any one of those may challenge the result. Sometimes if an image goes by and a juror feels it was missed the image can be called back for further review. We are all charged with doing the absolute best for our makers while still protecting the value of the Merit which is the basis for earning the imaging degrees of Master of Photography and Master Artist.

By the way PPA members are invited and encourages to watch the process live. The event is held just outside Atlanta.

The address for streaming the event is http://stream.theipc.org

Tune in August 3-6 and Be More Inspired!

Competition Judging Live Stream

  • Monday, Aug. 3, 8: 15am-6pm
  • Tuesday, Aug. 4, 12:15-9pm
  • Wednesday, Aug. 5, 9:15am-6pm
  • Thursday, Aug. 6, 8:15am-6pm
IPC Live with Booray Perry

  • 11am & 2pm
  • 2pm & 6pm
  • 11am & 2pm
  • 11am & 2pm

ppa loan collection image

Here’s one of my images that was accepted into PPA’s Loan Collection last year. Here’s a link to all eight images that either were awarded a Merit or Loan Collection status.

tsa cheers

Photographer Kevin Ames and I were having a conversation about making people’s days better. I shared with him that when I travel I always wish the flight attendants a great flight before they have a chance to greet me. This really lights up their facial muscles, especially when they’ve had a day full of weather delays or been hassled by harried passengers who are delayed on their flights.

tsa precheck

“Hey! Thanks for help keeping us safe.”

Kevin shared that he addresses all the TSA personnel with a hearty, “Hey! Thanks for help keeping us safe.” I added this to my travel routine and noticed a huge shift in attitude whenever I have shared this thought with TSA.

We all appreciate being appreciated and I would like to turn Kevin’s thought into a movement. Whenever you travel any people you come into contact with try to make their day a little better.

If someone is wearing a good looking outfit or any thing that you notice that’s interesting let them know. I know I’m on the outgoing side and you might not be but at the very least let’s try it on the TSA people. Make everyone feel a little better and it spreads… Believe me. Any time you can make someone feel a bit better it like dropping a pebble in a pond. It doesn’t look like much until you see the rings spread out from that one little splash. When there are lots of small compliments shared and the concentric rings start to intersect that before you know it someone will be sharing a compliment with you…

Yours in Creative Photography,    Bob

 

 

tppa convention speaking

Hey that image looks really familiar! Oh it’s mine…

It’s fun seeing your work in print.

Speaking later today at the Texas PPA convention at the La Torretta Resort in Conroe, Texas and found this magazine on the counter from when I spoke here in January.

TPPA magazine cover

Texas PPA Magazine cover

Looking forward to giving my program nad sharing some of the techniques that made it possible to create this image…

Just thought I’d share with you.

Yours in Creative Photography,      Bob

marketing through service

Sharing your knowledge with others is a form of service and I highly recommend it for helping to keep your face of perspective clients.

I have been writing a newspaper column to help the people in my community to create better photos when they are using their cameras. Several things happen when you think this way and share your knowledge… You give a hand to people. They see that something might be more difficult than they thought which helps to move people away from the thinking that creating a photograph is just pushing a button on the camera. And, you set yourself up as the expert.

Here’s an example of a recent published piece…

newspaper article on photography

Article appeared in the Villager publication in Sedona, Arizona.

The important part from a marketing standpoint is the last piece that says, “Professional Photographer Bob Coates is a 16 year resident of VOC. To see more of his work check the web: Commercial, www.bcphotography.com; photography education, www.successful-photographer.com; artwork, 1-bob-coates.artistwebsites.com”

How are you marketing your business???

Yours in Creative Photography,    Bob

ppa imaging competition

Wanna make better images?

I do.

Always.

Which is why I continue to participate in the Imaging Competition through Professional Photographers of America (PPA) after 16 years.

Probably the word Competition should be removed as it implies that you are competing against others as at a sporting event. Not so. You are competing against a standard and your personal past performance. This is an incredible learning opportunity

Entries are open for the International Photographic Competition (IPC).

PPA IPC

You can get more details and see a slide show of the 2014 PPA Loan Collection here

If you are a PPA member and not participating in Photographic Competition I believe you are missing out on one of the best benefits of your membership. The feedback you get from putting your images in front of trained fellow photographers is very important. I would have to say that Imaging Competition has been one of the driving forces in making me a better photographer, growing my skills exponentially.

Take advantage of this opportunity. If you get the chance PPA members can view the judging live in Lawrenceville, just outside Atlanta, GA. Another option is to view the judging via the Live Streaming. If you have images in the competition don’t forget to order the critiques for your images. You get a video review with one juror giving you feedback on what was good about your image but even more important how it might be improved.

So get your images together and compete with yourself to be the best photographer and image maker you can be.

Yours in Creative Photography,         Bob