PPA Today

Small Business Health Fairness Act (H.R. 525) Passes in House

Thanks to the efforts of photographers, and other small business owners, the Small Business Health Fairness Act (H.R. 525) is one step closer to becoming a law. A bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives voted to pass the legislation by a margin of 263 to 165, with five members not voting. To see how your member of Congress voted, go here: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll426.xml

The fight to allow small business owners to band together across state lines to purchase health insurance now moves to the U.S. Senate. On that side of Capitol Hill, the bill is known as S. 406 and is currently in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Professional Photographers of America will keep you informed as this second phase of the battle for more affordable healthcare develops. In the meantime, Professional Photographers of America will continue to engage in face-to-face lobbying and to work with our allies in the Association Health Plan Coalition to move this legislation forward.

Once again, we thank to everyone who took the time to contact their member of Congress on this issue.

Create Contact Sheets, Picture Packages, and Online Galleries with Photoshop

This week on CreativePro.com, author Denis Graham show you how to quickly and easily create contact sheets of your digital images, picture packages for your printer, or even online galleries, all using the automated features in Photoshop. Check out the excerpt from his book Photoshop CS: Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks at http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/22130.html?cprose=daily.

Buy the book at amazon.com: Photoshop CS: Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks

ExpressDigital Darkroom Wins the 2005 American PHOTO Editor’s Choice Award

ExpressDigital, the leading provider of digital workflow software, internet storefronts, and lab solutions, has won the American PHOTO Editor’s Choice Award for ExpressDigital Darkroom software.

American PHOTO looks closely at the state-of-the-art imaging technology that enables photographers to turn their vision into reality. The American PHOTO Editor’s Choice Award is the
most authoritative and comprehensive award issued in the industry, honoring many imaging
products essential to readers. It is ‘the best of the best’, a symbol that conveys to consumers –
quality products on the cutting edge of technology.

ExpressDigital Darkroom was released in March of this year, and has seen a great response
from the photographic community. Thousands of photographers are using the new
ExpressDigital Darkroom software to effectively manage their daily photography workflow.

Photographers use ExpressDigital Darkroom to capture, manage, enhance, proof, sell and print
their work. ExpressDigital Darkroom software also allows photographers to publish their photos
to the web with a click of the button, where photographers sell their work to clients on-line on
www.PhotoReflect.com storefronts. ExpressDigital Darkroom also has built-in connectivity to
Labtricity enabled labs, allowing photographers to send their prints and packages electronically
to their fulfillment partners.

“We are proud of the success of ExpressDigital Darkroom and the thousands of professional
photographers who use it everyday”, says Graham McFarland, President and CEO of
ExpressDigital. “We are honored to receive the 2005 American PHOTO Editor’s Choice Award
and accept it on behalf of our customers”.

Pre-Publication Special Offer for PPA Loan and Showcase Books

PPA’s International Judging & Annual Exhibition of Professional Photography has become renowned throughout the world for setting the standard by which photographic imaging is judged for both artistic and commercial appeal.

For working and aspiring professional photographers — as well as photo-enthusiasts— wanting inspiration and ideas to stimulate their creative processes toward enhancing their photographic images.

These annual publications present the results of this international judging, in two beautiful editions. Order now at special pre-publication prices through November 30, books are scheduled to ship Dec. 15, 2005.

To pre-order your copy go to http://www.marathonpress.com/default.php/cPath/62_65_111

Photoshop Training Camps by Software Cinema

Software Cinema has announced a series of one day training camp seminars at locations across the US. Price with pre-registration is $49.

Jack Davis, author of the Photoshop Wow books, will be demonstrating Adobe Photoshop CS software. Learn some of the coolest, as well as some of the most useful techniques around, from a true photoshop master.

Eddie Tapp is one of the most knowledgeable speakers in the digital photo industry. His extensive background in commercial, portrait and fashion photography gives him unique insight into the challenges of today's digital world.

Jane Conner Ziser is one of the most experienced instructors in retouching & producing images with Photoshop & Painter. Her engaging style, impressive knowledge  and entertaining way of presenting techniques make her one of today's top photo imaging trainers.

For a complete list of dates and locations, or to register, go to www.software-cinema.com/camps.php.

PPA Action Alert: Small Business Health Fairness Act

On Tuesday, July 26th, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a bill that will make it easier for photographers to get more affordable health insurance. We urge you to contact your representatives and tell them to vote in favor of H.R. 525, the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005.

The Small Business Health Fairness Act will allow professional associations to offer members group health insurance on a national basis -- similar to the way large corporations and unions are permitted to offer employees in various states the same coverage. By allowing small business owners to band together across state lines, this bill will increase competition in the insurance market and drive down premiums.

The time to take action is now. To contact your representative in Congress, paste this link into your browser: http://capwiz.com/ppaworld/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7449506

This will take you to PPA’s “Contact Congress” page where you will find a sample e-mail message you can modify and send to your representative. A brief phone call to your representative’s local office would also be an effective way to communicate, however, any action you can take to support this bill will go toward making health care more affordable and accessible to professional photographers.

Adobe Announces Winners of 2005 Adobe Design Achievement Awards

Adobe Systems Incorporated  today announced the winners of the fifth annual Adobe Design Achievement Awards, a program that honors talented student graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, animators, digital filmmakers and computer artists from the world's top design, film and broadcast schools. Using the latest Adobe products, more than 1,500 students from Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States competed in the annual competition.

"The Adobe Design Achievement Awards recognizes the talents of future creative professionals from around the world," said Melissa Dyrdahl, senior vice president of corporate marketing and communications at Adobe. "As we celebrate the program's fifth year, this competition continues to serve as a powerful way to recognize a new generation of creative professionals, showcase remarkable student work, and kick start some promising young careers."

In a ceremony last night at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, students were recognized for their achievements in nine categories.

As part of the awards program, Adobe organized a day of tours through New York's top studios. Twelve studios opened their doors to allow students to meet with the principals and see, first hand, how a professional studio operates. The studios include C&G Partners LLC, GQ Magazine, karlssonwilker, Inc., MTV Networks Creative Services, Number Seventeen, O, The Oprah Magazine, Ogilvy & Mather Brand Integration Group, PAPER Magazine, Pentagram, R/GA, Two Twelve Associates and VH-1.

Winners were selected based on overall impact, design execution and technical capabilities. Finalists received a trip to New York City to participate in the awards event, and to showcase their work. First place entries received US$5,000 and a selection of Adobe products. The winning entries can be viewed at www.adobe.com/education/winners .

Photomuse.org to offer online exhibit of photography

The George Eastman House in Rochester, New York and the International Center of Photography in New York City have formed an alliance to bring the collections of those two groups together for the public.

PhotoMuse.org, the collaborative website of the George Eastman House and International Center of Photography Alliance, is currently under development. When completed, the site will provide in-depth access to the extensive photography resources of both institutions. Due for completion in the fall of 2006, the site is expected to include nearly a quarter million images.

According to the directors statement on PhotoMuse.org, "Photomuse.org is the online expression of the alliance of The International Center of Photography (ICP) and George Eastman House (GEH). While our museums each maintain websites supporting their respective programs and exhibits, ICP and Eastman House collaborate in building Photomuse to provide online resources for the study of an important cultural subject: photography at work in the world. We invite all students and scholars--be they academic or recreational--to use this site and to assist us in making this a useful and authoritative learning tool. "

Buy Corel Painter IX at the Upgrade Price

Starting today, Corel has introduced the Corel Painter Open Upgrade Program for customers in North America and the United Kingdom. Until August 31, 2005, the Corel Painter IX upgrade policy has been broadened to include any graphics or imaging software package from the following companies: Adobe, Macromedia, ACD Systems, Corel (including Corel Painter Classic, Painter Essentials, and any previous version of Painter), Microsoft, and Apple. For a limited time, Corel Painter IX is available through Corel and participating resellers at the upgrade suggested retail price of $229 -- a savings of $200 off the full suggested retail price of $429. Resellers may sell for less. For more details, please visit www.corel.com/painter/openupgrade.

There is also an update available for those of you already on Painter IX.   The update provides customers with new features and enhancements including:

• Dual Monitor Support for Windows
• New Art Pen Brushes -- Customers who download the 9.1 update will receive 10 brushes in total, which include the five brushes previously introduced in the Art Pen Brush Pack.
• Enhanced Dab Type Support for 'Rotation' Expression
• Enhanced Support for Mac OS X Tiger -- Corel Painter IX 9.1 now provides even better overall performance when running on Tiger.

To download the Corel Painter IX 9.1 update and to access a full list of included enhancements, please visit www.corel.com/painterix/91update.

Win a Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro Camera

Fujifilm is giving away several FinePix S3 Pro cameras this summer. Attend summer school at any of the locations listed below and you will be eligible to win.

Join Fujifilm's Technology Advisors for your free hands on demo and meet representatives from Tamron, Bogen, and Kingston for demos of S3 Pro Compatible accessories. Meet Fujifilm StudioMaster Pro Authorized Labs that can assist with your printing needs. Attendance qualifies you for special product offers not found anywhere else.

• Photographic Specialty Week, Las Vegas, Nevada
  July 20, 2005
• Hollywood, California
  July 25, 2005
• Irving, Texas
  August 1, 2005
• Sturbridge, Massachussets
  August 8, 2005

Visit fujifilm.com for more information.