The photograph below was awarded a blue ribbon to Louise Michaud last weekend at the annual PPAM convention located at the Radisson Hotel in Plymouth, MA.
PPAM stands for Professional Photographers Association of Massachusetts which is an organization affiliated with the International Photographers Association and Professional Photographers of America (PPA). PPA is a worldwide association which exists to assist its members in achieving their professional, artistic and fraternal goals; promote public awareness of the profession; and to advance the making of images in all of its disciplines as an art, a science and a visual recorder of history. The Massachusetts state affiliate, PPAM is comprised of more than 200 photographers suppliers and image makers.
We love this photograph not only for the beautiful natural light that forms flattering depth around the subjects face but because it tells a wonderful, true story. It’s a photojournalistic styled image documenting a special moment of the bride’s entrance. Her white limo slowly pulls up to the chapel; the tinted window rolls down just enough for the bride to see in true color what surrounds her special day. Her mother and sister are captured in the reflection of the window below her smiling face, watching and supporting while it all sinks in.
The judges of PPAM’s annual convention believed the mother and sister were inserted into the image via Photoshop. That comment brought up a few thoughts about the industry and its fast changing times.
I wonder if any other photographers in the industry feel the same nostalgia referencing to old photojournalistic photographs. There was great value behind one very well composed, black and white balanced image. We knew the patience and time that went into it. Whether it was days sitting out in nature waiting for the right amount of clouds and sunshine to cast shadow over a landscape or weeks in a war zones risking life to capture that one image which evokes such emotion the rest of the world FINALLY gets it. No, now we are seeing a new generation. Which we will embrace, and learn to love, but for now it almost seems as though the mystery of photography is gone. The awe of Photography was to create a 2D form of a moment in time that is of something real. There was no Photoshop, where you could easily insert an illusion into the photograph. The quick age of wonderment around guessing whether it was or was not created in Photoshop has also passed. People now automatically assume that what you create is no longer “real†but is all digitally enhanced and manipulated with computer technology.
As of now, professionals still hold value to these photographs printed on various styles of fiber paper, as it is apparent when locked in a volt in some of the world’s best museums, but will that change? In the future, what are we going to hold value to, regarding imagery?
Image was taken in front of St. Elizabeth Seton North Falmouth, MA
The reception was held at New Seabury Country Club. For more information visit www.newseabury.com