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PPA Today: PPA Competitions Archives
Recently in PPA Competitions Category
By: John Owens, Communications Specialist, PPA
I've always been a "believe it when I see it" kind of guy.
As I boarded the bus with the rest of the PPA staff for our field trip to Gwinnett Tech, I wasn't sure what to expect from my first photographic competition. I'd written about the 12 Elements of a Merit Image and felt I had a firm grasp on them, but I hadn't seen them in action. They were just a list.
On the ride over I kept envisioning an American Idol-esque judging panel, or a Gordon Ramsay-type screaming at a helpless puppy in a photograph. My competitive background is in hockey, and I felt fairly certain that no one would drop the gloves, but who knows how heated the judging might get? What if someone attended and disagreed (strongly) with not earning a merit? If an image doesn't merit, does it get shipped off to an island of misfit images?
So yeah, I was excited for the International Photographic Competition, if a little misguided.
We arrived at Gwinnett Tech after a 30-minute drive from PPA HQ in downtown Atlanta. We entered the cafeteria where staff member and former PPA board member, Rich Newell, M.Photog.Cr., and chairman of the Photographic Exhibition Committee (PEC), Randy McNeilly, M.Photog.Cr., MEI, API, gave us the rundown for the IPC.
"For some members, this is why you're involved," began McNeilly. "I think you're going to see this event grow quite a bit in the next few years."
As they started to rattle off some numbers, it seemed like the growth was already in full-effect. At this year's IPC, nearly 5,000 images would be judged during the week. In the first year of IPC, eight images were judged.
For the first time this year, participants could sign-up for text message alerts to be immediately notified when their image was judged. The new feature was so popular, 1,200 text messages were sent in the first day, which was no doubt also a credit to the judges' efficiency.
In addition to the judging of the images, a record 1,500 images also requested individual critiques--a 250% increase over last year. Needless, to say, the IPC judges were in for a busy few days.
Then we learned that on top of the judging and critiques there was also a Judges Workshop taking place, where 38 students were taking the program to join the prestigious ranks of an IPC judge. So there was plenty going on! After our briefing, the staff was released to (quietly) roam the halls and pop into rooms to soak it all in.
I first headed into the large lecture room where the Judges Workshop was taking place. The room was dark, save for the light of a half-dozen Mac computers in the far right corner and a lit canvas in the left corner. The student judges were split into two groups, the left practicing the judging of print images, while the group at the Macs was mock-judging digital images. The 38 prospective judges was an impressive number, because as I learned from McNeilly, they can't exactly just show up. Even just being a student judge is actually years in the making.
They are entered into the program after they take the 40-hour Judges Workshop. But no, this doesn't mean they are a judge yet. Before they can become a judge, these brave photographers must earn their Master Photographer degree. It takes 13 merited images to achieve a Master's degree, and with a maximum of four submissions per year (none of which are guaranteed to merit), it can easily take six years or more.
Next they must start seeking out state competitions and tell them beforehand that they would like to be a judge. They spend three years judging at affiliate competitions and are evaluated by the existing judges. A committee then looks at the evaluations and votes on who can enter the fold.
Prospective judges must meet the minimum of three state competitions and have received five critiques, but no one gets in with the minimum. There are currently 114 total official judges. About two make the cut to join them each year.
But it's not just about becoming a judge for those attending. It's just as much about gaining an inside perspective to the competition.
New Jersey photographer, Mike Dill, CPP, was among those who, more than anything, came to improve his own photography.
"I wanted to see and learn what goes into the judging process so I could do better in future competitions," said the action and sports photographer. "I've watched competitions live before, but this gives me the opportunity to go behind the curtain and learn what goes into a winning image.
"It'll be a huge help to my photography to be able to evaluate my own images as well as become a judge in the future."
After a few more rounds of mock judging, the group took a break, as did the rest of the judges who were scattered in classrooms around the school. I immediately got the sense that they all knew each other, it almost felt as if they were attending an elite photography summer camp.
They wore matching black, short-sleeve, button-down shirts and gilded medals hung from their necks. Some had just a few pinned to their lanyard, but others had medals going all the way up the ribbon to their necks. They were the rewards of years and years of competition and merit earning, and the judges wore them proudly (in fact, I learned later they are required to). I could see them eyeing each other's tally, much like myself and the rest of the staff were, to see who among them was the best.
That's right, at the IPC, there's even competition amongst the judges--each striving to fill their lanyards to the brim like the lifetime members among them. But for these few days, they volunteer their time and fly out from all over the country to name the best of the best, and to push those who ordered critiques to be better.
After the short break, the judges went back to their respective rooms. I followed a group to a room for print submissions. I guess you could say submitting a print image is the old school method of competition, since printing and mailing four images can cost up to $800 versus just emailing some high-res JPEGs. But certainly from a spectating standpoint, the print submission room gave a better feel for what the competition was all about.
This batch of images was in the first round of judging, and would either merit or not merit. That means their brave owners decided to skip their district competition and submit directly to the IPC. Those images that earned an electronic seal (80 or above) at their respective district competitions go straight to loan judging. The difference in the judging is, at the IPC, there is no numerical scoring like there is at district competitions. Here it's either a yes or a no.
This room is much like the left side of the Judges' Workshop. The only thing illuminated is a large canvas, with a rectangle cutout in the middle to display the image. Images are clipped onto a three-sided rotating easel by white-gloved volunteers. The dark, the quiet and the lack of fingerprints gives a real weight to the competition.
The panel of six judges sits in a row maybe five feet from the displayed image. A seventh judge, sat to the side, announces the name of the image before it is displayed and oversees the scoring. As an image rotates into view, judges take turns approaching the image, getting within inches to examine every corner, every detail of the frame. Glasses on, glasses off, and then return to their seats to record a yes or no on an iPod.
The first two images do not earn merits, and then a third. A pattern starts to form as a fourth does not merit, but then it happens.
Total game changer. If a judge voted against the majority decision, they have the opportunity to challenge the result and argue their position, either for or against the image earning a merit. Then each judge says how they voted and why, highlighting details in the image they love or elements they find lacking. It might be the tiniest detail that they love or hate, every aspect of the image must have meaning and must be perfect. A judge might love a particular image, but that still might not be enough for them to vote in its favor. Their respect for the industry outweighs their passion for an image they're seeing for the very first time.
After they've all taken another look and discussed their thoughts, the judge who offered the challenge gives his or her rebuttal. Then they re-vote.
The constructive debate format takes the judging to another level. Their careful care examining each image is part of the reason only 30 to 40 percent earn merits each year. After about 20 minutes, the judges rotate to be sure they are seeing images from every angle. The judges complement each other on strong challenges that reverse the group decision and always offer thoughtful descriptions of what they're seeing. Color, texture, focus, exposure, depth, light, sharpness, technique, presentation, impact, tonality and design were all used in the discussion for a single image.
Those complete images that earn merits move on to another round of judging for the Loan Collection. This round, the finals, if you will, is even more tightly scrutinized. Here, a great image is just that, it takes more to enter the Loan Collection. The challenges are even more passionate, and discussions even more in-depth. In the end, only 682 images entered the 2013 Loan Collection and will go in the Loan book and be on display in Phoenix at Imaging USA.
From the print competition I headed over to the critique room. Patty Geist, M.Photog.Cr., a little Nebraskan photography sparkplug, was one of a few judges scattered in a Mac lab reviewing images. Wearing a headset, she told the image creator what she liked and didn't like about the image. Where it excelled and where it needed improvement. She offered suggestions and showed the image owner specifically what she was talking about with her cursor. It might not be her favorite part of being a judge, but Patty appreciates the value in the critiques and offered an easy answer to anyone thinking about getting one in the future.
"If you haven't submitted an image to competition before--of course!" she said. "If your image didn't merit, it's the only way you're going to learn why."
Judges giving the critiques are generally seeing the images for the first time unless they were on the panel by which the image was judged. If they were, this gives added value to the critique, because they have already seen it and judged with the help of five others.
"That way my individual paradigm isn't the sole influence," said Patty.
At the end of each critique, the judges encourage the image owner to go to Imaging USA for one-on-one sessions with an official judge.
"Here it's just a one-way critique, but there we can answer the specific questions they might have about their image. We told them what to fix, but there we can tell them how."
After another morning of judging and critiquing upwards of 1,000 images, everyone took off their judging caps and once again became friends at camp as they broke for lunch. One hundred-some photographers brought together in the same room by the great unifier--pizza.
Although I'm not a photographer, I can sense when I'm around greatness, and they had the medals to prove it. The International Photographic Competition is the past, present and future of photography all at once, and judging by the passion and camaraderie of those esteemed photographers, they all seemed to be aware of it. You'd have to see it to believe it.
So why enter? Why get a critique? Why attend? To get better. To be a part of the present and the future. And hey, maybe it will inspire you to be more.
For my part, maybe the 12 Elements extend beyond just photography. Did I touch on them all?
- Impact - This is the sense one gets upon viewing an image for the first time. Compelling images evoke laughter, sadness, anger, pride, wonder or another intense emotion. There can be impact in any of these twelve elements.
- Technical Excellence - The quality of the image itself, as it is presented for viewing, is taken into consideration. Retouching, manipulation, sharpness, exposure, printing, mounting, and correct color are some items that speak to the qualities of the image.
- Creativity - This relates to the original, fresh, and external expression of the imagination of the maker by using photography medium to convey his or her idea, message or thought.
- Style - There is a number of ways, or styles, as it applies to creating an image. Style might be defined by a specific genre or simply be recognizable as the characteristics of how a specific artist applies light to a subject.
- Composition - This is important to the design of an image, as it brings all of the visual elements together and contributes to expressing a purpose. Proper composition holds the viewer in the image while leading the viewer to follow the direction intended by the creator. Effective composition can be pleasing or disturbing, depending on the intent of the image maker.
- Presentation - This is the finished look that affects and contributes to the impact or intent of an image. The mats and borders used, either physical or digital, should support and enhance the image, not distract from it.
- Color Balance - The color harmony and the way tones work together effectively supporting the image can enhance its emotional appeal. Color balance is not always harmonious and can be used to evoke diverse feelings for effect.
- Center of Interest - This is the point or points on the image where the maker wants the viewer to stop as they view the image. There can be primary and secondary centers of interest. Occasionally there will be no specific center of interest, when the entire scene collectively serves as the center of interest.
- Lighting - There is no image without light and judges evaluate the use and control of light, how dimension, shape and roundness are defined in an image. Whether the light applied to an image is manmade or natural, proper use of it should enhance an image.
- Subject Matter - An image's name should always be supporting the story being told.
- Technique - The approach used to create the image is reflected in the technique used. Printing, lighting, posing, capture, presentation media, and more are part of the technique applied to an image.
- Story Telling - This refers to the image's ability to evoke imagination. One beautiful thing about art is that each viewer might collect his own message or read her own story in an image.
- Broad lighting 3:1 ratio
- Selective focus, with minimum depth of field
- Short lighting 3:1 ratio
- High Key Image - This image should demonstrate the proper technique in lighting a subject for a high key result. Note: 'Key' in an image describes the overall tonal range in which an image is created. This includes background, props & clothing. Therefore, a High Key image is an image where the predominant tones in the image are brighter than the mid tones. High Key images are typically lower in contrast than Low Key Images.
- Low Key Image - This image should demonstrate the proper technique in lighting a subject for a low key result.
- Rule of Thirds - This image should demonstrate subject placement and organization.
- Use of Shape, Form, and Texture - This image should demonstrate these basic elements of art.
- Balance (symmetrical or asymmetrical) - This image should demonstrate the principles of balance achieved through subject size, placement, weight or color.
- Color Harmony - This image should demonstrate the harmonious relationship of color to create focus on your point of subject. Note: Color harmony delivers visual interest and a sense of order. In portraiture, color harmony can help draw the viewer's eye to the point within the image which is most important.
- "S" Curve Line - This image should demonstrate the "S" curve or feminine posing.
- Assertive, Angular, or Masculine Line-This image should demonstrate an assertive, angular or masculine pose.
- Architectural - This image should demonstrate the commercial application of architectural photography.
Better yet, if your image scores high enough you will become part of the PPA Loan Collection and have your work displayed to over 10,000 of your peers and the general public at Imaging USA, January 12-14, 2014, in Phoenix, AZ.
In an effort to inspire you to enter the competition and to show you how some of these loan images are created, here is a past loan collection image and the story behind it.
Voila! This is "Our Rhapsody in Blue" by Allison English Watkins, M.Photog.Cr, CPP.. You'll find the story on how this image was created below!
Watkins is an award-winning portrait photographer and owner of English Photography, in Park City, Utah. "Our Rhapsody in Blue" is a portrait of fellow photographer, Kris Doman, M.Photog., CPP, and her family, and was captured on the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah.
According to Watkins, Doman wanted a vintage-style portrait with a particular set of colors.
"The Salt Flats have little with which to build a dynamic pose for five people, so I went in search of some specialty furniture to match Kris's vision," said Watkins. "The minute I saw this chrome black and white chair and stool I knew I had found a perfect match. We arrived 15 minutes before the sun dropped over the horizon, providing the absolute sweetest lighting to work with."
If you're wondering what equipment was used to create "Our Rhapsody in Blue," here is the nitty-gritty on camera, lenses, lighting and software used in the creation of the image:
Camera & Lens: Nikon D300 camera, AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens with a Singh-Ray LB warmer polarizing filter
Exposure: f/5.6 for 1/20 second, ISO 200
Lighting: Natural light
Software: Processed in Adobe Photoshop for retouching along with Nik filters to increase clarity and vibrance. Watkins also repositioned the horizon of the mountains for compositional purposes.
"I wanted to capture the texture of the landscape, so I chose a slightly higher camera angle and shorter lens so as not to condense the ground detailing," said Watkins.
When working toward creating award-winning images, make sure you pay attention to your camera and lens settings. Play with angles and lighting. Shoot for error AND for success.
We hope to see your images entered in this year's International Photographic Competition, held July 29 to August 1, 2013, at Gwinnett Technical College just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Be sure to enter your images by June 28 to avoid late entry fees!
Judging is free and open to the public, so if you can come by, take advantage of this great learning opportunity and hear your (or others') images judged in person. You'll get tons of priceless feedback that will only help you in the future.
So, don't be scared, enter the competition today!
Better yet, if your image scores high enough you can become part of the PPA Loan Collection and have your work displayed to over 10,000 of your peers and the general public at Imaging USA, January 12-14, 2014, in Phoenix, AZ.
In an effort to inspire you to enter the competition and to show you how some of these loan images are created, we'll be sharing some past loan collection images.
Check out 'Golden Arches' by Steve Jessee, M.Photog.Cr, CPP, and read the story of this images' creation below!
Jessee, a specialist in landscape art photography and senior portraits at his studio, Associated Photography, in Princeton, WV, created "Golden Arches" while exploring shooting locations in Washington, D.C.
"I stepped into this beautiful hallway (part of the U.S. Postal Service building) to get out of the rain," says Jessee. "The leading lines and the arches woke up my senses to capture the moment."
Are you wondering what equipment was used to create 'Golden Arches'? Well, read on for the nitty-gritty on camera, lenses, lighting and software used in the creation of the image.
Camera & Lens: Nikon D7000 camera, Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED (2.1X) lens
Exposure: f/5.6 for 1/125 second, ISO 800
Lighting: Available light
Software: Processed in Adobe Photoshop 6 with a Topaz Adjust 5 specify filter to bring out the full color range. Jessee applied a glow to the hanging lights, and that's when the title of the image came to him.
We hope to see your images entered in this year's International Photographic Competition, held July 29 to August 1, 2013, at Gwinnett Technical College just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Be sure to enter your images by June 28 to avoid late fees!
Want to learn more about the criteria on which a competiton image is judged? Read about the 12 elements of a merit image.
Judging is open to the public, so feel free to come and hear your image judged in person. You'll get tons of valuable feedback that will only help you in the future.
So, don't be scared - enter the competition today!
"Competition? Yikes!! I could never handle the criticism, it would be too nerve wracking. I know I am not good enough yet."
These are just a small sample of the things I have felt myself and heard others say with regard to print competition. But let me share my experiences to include one thing I did that I strongly recommend you not do.
Three years ago I entered my first print competition at the Professional Photographers of Colorado (PPC) annual convention. I had all the emotions mentioned above with the overriding one being that I didn't belong in a competition like this. I was hoping my prints would get a quick score (with no challenges being made by the judges that would involve discussion of my entries) and that I could then quickly slip out the back door!
Earlier that morning, my wife Laura and I stopped off at a favorite Mexican restaurant for breakfast. I had a spicy burrito built around chorizo (a spicy Mexican sausage) and New Mexico style red chile. My thinking was that on this day of potential embarrassment, I was going to at least have one thing I really enjoyed! The anxiety of my first competition in front of professional photographers drifted away as I savored the rich flavors of that burrito.
During the print competition that day, all four of my entries had juror challenges with one of them having no less than four separate challenges! The impact of my anxiety and excitement on my digestive system along with that burrito was very unpleasant. Not to worry, I will spare you the details of that drama and its resolution. But notice in addition to anxiety, I mentioned "excitement.""
As those juror discussions occurred, rather than feeling embarrassment, I was feeling excitement as they discussed things they liked and things that needed improvement. I had never received this kind of valuable input before and the learning it represented was exciting to me! In a single day, I learned things that would have otherwise taken many years to learn, if ever. Rather than saying, "I can't believe the maker did this to this image", their comments were to the point and professional. I was elated to be learning so much.
So now, two years later, in addition to entering the Southwest District Competition to which I belong, I entered the West, Northeast, and Southeast District Competitions while varying my entries some in each competition. And most importantly, I opted to pay the extra $35 for critiques of my entries. Of course any merit scores I received outside of the Southwest District can't count towards automatic merits by entering them under seal to the IPC.
But what I was after was the learning, and there is no better way to learn by experience than by participating in these print competitions. With the convenience of being able to enter digitally, I could gain all this knowledge and experience without incurring the cost of preparing prints and shipping them off to all these competitions. It's a great deal!
The digital age of photography has raised the benchmarks and the entrants into this profession. This is a good thing in my opinion, but the one thing that can't be debated is this is the reality. If you strive to be competitive in this market, you cannot afford to not be a PPA member and benefit from all the educational opportunities that PPA offers.
So, with the deadline approaching for the 2013 International Print Competition, be sure and submit your four entries and by all means be sure and opt for the video critiques! Then compete in your state PPA affiliated and PPA District competitions as they start up in the fall and next spring. I guarantee you will be glad you did!
And for my final word of advice, skip the spicy burrito on competition day!


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Beaucoup Beauty
Material List
- Wilton Round Pan- 6 and 8 inch
- Wilton Round Pan- 10 x 3 inch
- Wilton Decorating Tip, No. 2
- Wilton Icing Color-Rose
- Wilton Ornaments: 6-1/2 inch Cake Bows
- Wilton White Ready-to-use Rolled Fondant-80 ounces
- Wilton Rolling Pin
- Wilton Roll & Cut Mat
- Wilton Easy-Glide Fondant Smoother
- Wilton Buttercream Icing Recipe
- Wilton Royal Icing Recipe
- Wilton Cakes N More 3-Tier Party Stand
- Wilton Floral Collection Flower-Making Set
- Wilton Confectionery Tool Set
- Wilton Flower Former Set
- Wilton Gum-Tex™
- Wilton Meringue Powder
- Wilton Cake Circles
- Wide Satin Ribbon- Brown, 76-inches long
- Double-Stick Tape
- Cornstarch
Project Instructions
Step: 1
Assembly: In advance, add 1 teaspoon Gum-Tex to 12 oz. of white fondant; tint rose.
Step: 2
Roll out fondant 1/8-inch thick; cut flowers using forget-me-not cutter. Cup flowers on thick foam using ball tool. Add tip 2 white dot centers in royal icing. Let dry on small flower formers dusted with cornstarch.
Step: 3
Tint cake bows rose following package instructions.
Step: 4
Place 1-layer cakes (3 in. high) on same-size cake circles and prepare for rolled fondant. Cover cakes with fondant; smooth with Fondant Smoother.
Step: 5
Wrap ribbon around base of each cake; secure with tape. Attach flowers with dots of icing.

subset: commoncrawl


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The full impact of this policy is already being felt as colleges see enrollments of Pell Grant-eligible students decline as new regulations are put in place.
What is also becoming obvious is that students aren't the only ones being hurt by the effort of congressional budget hawks. The economic development of the state is also being put at risk.
As Alabama has worked to attract new industries, one of the things that has been to its advantage is the network of community colleges and trade schools where students can be trained for manufacturing jobs that are in great demands. When companies seeking to relocate ask how Alabama can help them, Calhoun County Economic Development Council executive director Don Hooper is quick to point out that "workforce development is always at the top of the list."
Cuts in the Pell Grant program and limits on how long a qualified student can remain eligible are taking a toll on the number of students seeking that training. Gadsden State Community College and other two-year schools have noticed a decline in enrollment. Though it is too early to clearly link that to what is happening to Pell Grants, school officials are certain that limiting financial aid is making a difference.
Although there is a possibility that students may get some assistance through the Workforce Investment Act, that federal program will not be able to reach as many people as Pell Grants did.
So, Alabama's plans for the future are again in jeopardy. After decades of denouncing government spending as wasteful and unnecessary, the state faces the realization that the very cuts we have been demanding may make Alabama less appealing to the industries it is trying to attract.
We find ourselves at a crossroads. One path leads to a declining economic outlook. The other is far more prosperous. It will be telling to see what course of action the governor and the legislative leaders will now propose.


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April 21, 2014
April 21st, Screening of Gasland II
In this explosive follow-up to his Oscar-nominated film Gasland, filmmaker Josh Fox takes a deeper look at the dangers of fracking, the controversial method of extracting natural gas and oil, now
occurring on a global level
Co-Presented by: Food & Water Watch and Slow Food Huntington
Special Guest Eric Weltman of Food & Water Watch
Gasland Part II shows how the stakes have been raised on all sides in one of the most important environmental issues facing our nation today. The film argues that the gas industry's portrayal of natural gas as a clean and safe alternative to oil is a myth and that fracked wells inevitably leak over time, contaminating water and air, hurting families, and endangering the earth's climate with the potent greenhouse gas, methane. In addition the film looks at how the powerful oil and gas industries are in Fox's words "contaminating our democracy"
April 5, 2014
April 5th-6th, Just Food Conference
On April 5 and 6, 2014, Just Food will host the annual Just Food Conference in partnership with the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy. This two-day event will offer opportunities for the general public, food professionals, entrepreneurs, job seekers, CSA members, community organizers and farmers to come together for workshops, skill-building sessions, all-day intensives, and tours. The conference will provide attendees with opportunities to learn about national farm and food issues, CSA trends, and cooking and food preservation techniques, as well as ways to mobilize communities in order to increase access to farm-fresh, locally grown food. Click here for more info.
|Saturday, April 5:
|8:00am – 3:00pm
All-Day Intensives & Tours
(separate ticketed events; various locations)
|5:00pm – 7:00pm
Networking Reception & Fundraiser
(separate ticketed event)
Location: The Durst Organization at 1 Bryant Park
|Sunday, April 6:
|8:00am – 5:15pm
March 22, 2014
March 22nd, Homecoming Farm's 4th Annual Spring Awakening Petroleum, Poetry, and Peace
Homecoming Farm's 4th Annual Spring Awakening Petroleum, Poetry and Peace:
The Exploration for Ecological Hope, Economic Justice and A Sense of Place With Margie Swedish and The Peace Poets
Join Homecoming Farm on an exploration of our relationship with the Earth through the prism of Poetry, Spirituality and A Sense of Place, while facing the crises of climate change, fracking and the scarcity of available resources.
$20 – Lunch Included
Special Student Rates Upon Request
March 1, 2014
March 1st, TEDx Manhattan "Changing the Way We eat"
TEDxManhattan "Changing the Way We Eat" is a day-long event exploring our food system and our progress toward sustainability.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.
February 16, 2014
February 16th, Slow Food Huntington & The Huntington Cinema Arts Centre Presents: Our Food on Film Series; A Film Feast in Five Courses
Slow Food Huntington and the Huntington Cinema Arts Centre come together to bring you Long Island's first Film & Food Feast. An enchanted evening, highlighting our local food, the people who produce it, and the difference it can make. Each film will be paired with the featured food from the film, as well as a guest speaker, so that we can provide you with a glorious, local, seasonal and informative feast.
Click here to purchase tickets.
First Film: Growing Farmers – A film that addresses the issue of access to affordable farmland as the greatest impediment to young farmers starting out on Long Island, and what the Peconic Land Trust is doing to help them.
Speaker: John Halsey from Peconic Land Trust
First Course: Miso Vegetable Chowder
Second Film: Letting Salt Just Be Salt
Steven and Natalie Judelson are sea salt fanatics and the husband & wife team behind Amagansett Sea Salt Co. on Long Island, NY. They are New York State's only sea salt makers and one of only four artisan salt makers on the entire Eastern Seaboard- Speaker: Steven Judelson from Amagansett Salt Company
Second Course: Roasted Vegetables with Sea Salt
Third Films:
The Secret Life of Beef A film about how eating industrial beef contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, and its impact on our water, air and soil.
Speaker: Cristina Cosentino, writer for Edible Long Island
Divine BrineThe making of a local pickle company, here on Long Island.
Speaker: Robert Schaefer, Owner of Divine Brine.
Third Course: Veggie sliders with Grass Fed Beef Meatballs served with Divine Brine Pickles
Fourth Film: A Pasta Story- In the Hills of Tuscany, at Azienda SanCristoforo, the Pedrini family shares their passion for heirloom grains, biodynamic farming and making pasta.
Speaker: Jim Bancheri, Owner of Mascali-Larkfield Pasta & Mascali Restaurant
Fourth Course: Homemade Pasta Pomodoro
Fifth Film: Greyston Bakery- A Social Justice Film about a company that hires the hard-to-employ, and uses all of the profit to fund low-income housing, a day care center open to the community, a medical center for those with AIDS, and other community endeavors.
Speaker: TBA (Waiting to hear back from both Greyston Bakery and Ben & Jerry's)
Fifth Course: Greyston's Brownies with Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream
Food will be provided by iEatGreen and Slow Food Huntington.
February 13, 2014
February 13th, Edible Manhattan Presents the 4th Annual Good Spirits
Good Spirits has become one of the most popular cures around for cases of cabin fever.
Join Edible Manhattan as it pairs acclaimed spirits brands with celebrated local restaurants for an unforgettable evening that is sure to delight your taste buds, and give you the boost you need to make it through the rest of the winter.
February 3, 2014
February 3rd, Slow Wine US Tour NYC:3rd Edition
Join Slow Food for an evening of wine and discovery, at the Slow Wine US Tour: 3rd Edition. Using your own Slow Wine guide, a value of $25- included in the price of each ticket, you can taste your way through the regions of Italy, learning more about the quality, terroir and value of each wine. Join us to discover new wines and meet the people behind 70+ selected Italian producers who represent the Slow Wine values.
The third edition of the wine guide in English, Slow Wine, adopts a new approach to wine criticism and looks at a variety of factors to evaluate wineries in their entirety, taking into consideration the wine quality, typicity and adherence to terroir, value for money, environmental sensitivity and ecologically sustainable viticultural practices.
January 25, 2014
January 25-26th, HoneybeeLives Organic Beekeeping Classes
This two-day class will introduce students to Organic/Natural Beekeeping with a Biodynamic
Intro to Organic Beekeeping: Planning a New Hive for Spring
(Saturday 10am – 6pm)
Understanding and Caring For Your Bees
(Sunday 10am – 6pm)


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Food Vendors & Professionals
As a food vendor or cooking professional you need the high quality and reliability associated with well designed outdoor cooking equipment. In this category you'll find listings for products used by food vendors and professionals.
You can see these products every day at local food markets or community events across the country every day.
CoMet Gray Wave Propane CylinderItem #: 934-007
List Price: $119.99
Price: $69.99
You Save: $50.00 (42%)
Comet Gray Wave Propane Cylinder features a unique three-part design for decreased weight and reliability. Each Comet tank features a steel liner that is strong, corrosion resistant and meets all filling station requirements. Surrounding ... Learn More
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Propane Hose ExtensionItem #: HK60LP
List Price: $27.99
Price: $21.99
You Save: $6.00 (21%)
Need a litte extra room between your stove and your propane tank? With this extension you'll get 5 extra feet. You can hook more than one together if even more space is needed. Learn More
Camp Chef Propane TreeItem #: TREE
List Price: $46.00
Price: $39.99
You Save: $6.01 (13%)
The Camp Chef Propane Tree is a simple solution to the age old problem of having a lot of things that need to be connected to your propane tank but only having one propane tank. Connect the Camp Chef Propane Tree to your propane tank and then connec... Learn More


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Nashville, TN – (May 6, 2012) - Carrie Underwood will head overseas this summer to perform for the first time headline concert dates in Australia and the United Kingdom in late June to coincide with the release of her new album BLOWN AWAY. The new CD was released May 4 in Australia, and a special UK edition will be released there on June 18. These international shows on "The Blown Away Tour" are sponsored by Olay.
Carrie's UK show, which sold out in 90 minutes, will be held at London's prestigious Royal Albert Hall on June 21.
Her Australia tour dates will take her to Melbourne, Tamworth, Brisbane, and Sydney, wrapping at the iconic Sydney Opera House. Carrie made her first promotional visit to Australia last summer in support of the release of PLAY ON: DELUXE EDITION, which went on to reach Gold certification status in Australia.
International tour dates on "The Blown Away Tour" thus far include:
June 21 London, England Royal Albert Hall
June 26 Melbourne, VIC Australia Palais Theatre
June 29 Tamworth, NSW Australia Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Conference Centre
www.visittamworth.com (TRECC)
June 30 Brisbane, QLD Australia Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC)
July 2 Sydney, NSW Australia Sydney Opera House
Carrie has already announced 54 arena shows in the U.S. and Canada for the fall leg of "The Blown Away Tour," presented and hydrated by vitaminwater®, sponsored by Olay, and promoted by AEG Live. Special guest Hunter Hayes will open on the North American dates. Tickets will be available for "The Blown Away Tour" beginning Friday, May 11. Please go to www.carrieunderwood.fm or www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com for additional on sale information.
Carrie's two previous headline tours, 2008's "Carnival Ride Tour" and 2010's "Play On Tour," performed for a combined total of nearly 250 shows with 2.2 million fans in attendance, and she wrapped both years as the top-ranked female country touring artist.
Since releasing Some Hearts in 2005, Carrie has sold more than 14 million albums with Some Hearts, 2007's Carnival Ride, and 2009's Play On. She's amassed 14 No. 1 singles, six of which she co-wrote, and became the first country artist in history and the only American Idol winner ever to achieve 10 No. 1 singles from their first two albums. Underwood currently leads the nominations for the upcoming CMT Music Awards with five. She is a five-time Grammy winner, a two-time Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, a three-time Country Music Association and ACM Female Vocalist winner, and a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Full schedule of 2012 shows listed below including "The Blown Away Tour" dates and additional festival* shows.
5-26 Baton Rouge, LA Bayou Country Superfest*
6-21 London, England Royal Albert Hall
6-26 Melbourne, VIC Australia Palais Theatre
6-29 Tamworth, NSW Australia Tamworth Regional Entertainment
and Conference Centre (TRECC)
6-30 Brisbane, QLD Australia Brisbane Convention and
Exhibition Center (BCEC)
7-2 Sydney, NSW Australia Sydney Opera House
8-12 Toronto, ON Canada Boots & Hearts Music Festival*
9-14 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena
9-15 Bridgeport, CT Webster Bank Arena
9-17 Providence, RI Dunkin' Donuts Center
9-19 Worcester, MA DCU Center
9-20 Reading, PA Sovereign Center
9-22 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center
9-23 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
9-26 Green Bay, WI Resch Center
9-27 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
9-29 Fargo, ND FARGODOME
10-1 Saskatoon, SK Canada Credit Union Centre
10-2 Calgary, AB Canada Scotiabank Saddledome
10-4 Vancouver, BC Canada Rogers Arena
10-6 Seattle, WA Key Arena at Seattle Center
10-7 Portland, OR Rose Garden
10-10 West Valley City, UT Maverik Center
10-12 Reno, NV Reno Events Center
10-13 Sacramento, CA Power Balance Pavilion
10-14 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose
10-16 Los Angeles, CA STAPLES Center
10-18 Bakersfield, CA Rabobank Arena
10-20 San Diego, CA Valley View Casino Center
10-21 Glendale, AZ jobing.com Arena
10-24 Dallas, TX American Airlines Arena
10-25 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena
10-27 Wichita, KS INTRUST Bank Arena
10-28 Springfield, MO JQH Arena
11-3 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena
11-4 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
11-7 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
11-9 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall
11-10 Hartford, CT XL Center
11-13 University Park, PA Bryce Jordan Center
11-15 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
11-16 Moline, IL i wireless Center
11-20 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
11-21 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
11-24 Indianapolis, IN Bankers Life Fieldhouse
11-25 Auburn Hills, MI The Palace of Auburn Hills
11-27 Pittsburgh, PA Consol Energy Center
11-28 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
11-30 Long Island, NY Nassau Coliseum
12-1 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
12-4 Albany, NY Times Union Center
12-6 London, ON Canada John Labatt Centre
12-8 Kanata, ON Canada Scotiabank Place
12-11 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
12-12 Chicago, IL United Center
12-14 Des Moines, IA Iowa Events Center
12-15 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
12-18 Memphis, TN FedExForum
12-19 Duluth, GA Arena at Gwinnett Center
12-21 Orlando, FL Amway Center
12-22 Sunrise, FL BankAtlantic Center


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Does what its meant to do. Worked well on my 70s Vibra LP copy project.
The color did not match the color of the existing pieces due to age. Dimensions were exact.
yes... the Cream tone is the correct....!!!!
I put this on my DOT studio, it was a great fit less then 5 min, and I was done. And I got it in less then 4 days. Thank you for your fast service!
I wanted to use it to replace the pickguard of an Ephiphone Les Paul (Korean) and didn't fit, but using it for the Gibson one worked well. There's a slight difference in color, but i think it's because the new pickguard is new :)
This pickguard requires additional trimming to make it fit on my Epiphone. I'm afraid my guitar needs an additional screw hole near the neck pickup to fasten it.
I ordered the "Custom" (b/w/b) pickguard when I "blacked-out" my Gibson LP Classic Goldtop, but when I tried to install it, it barely fit, without some slight modifications to both the upper area that fits around the neck HB pickup and the bottom screwhole.
It looks great, though!
I don't know why Ibanez doesn't put pick guards on their 335 style guitars, but this Les Paul one fit perfect on my AS73B Artcore.
I love when my StewMac catalogs come in the mail because it is full of upgrades to spark my imagination. Gibson are the best guitars on the planet and I wish I could get a tortoise shell pick guard to dress it up.
This for some reason did not fit in the normal position as the pick guard - the result? I went ahead and drilled a hole near the next of the guitar to make it fit. Something about the spacing of the pickups wouldn't allow this to fit correctly? it was strange.
All in all i made it work, and it works. now.
To add items to your order, select the check box next to the item you want. You can edit the quantity you wish to purchase here, or in Your Order.
To add items to your saved list, select the check boxes next to the items you want. You can edit the quantity you wish to save here, or in your Saved List.


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HCC students and staff participate in Cycle United
Submitted by Leigh-Anne Mauk on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 10:16am
Students and staff from Hagerstown Community College recently participated in the 2nd Annual Cycle United, an eight-hour indoor spinning event sponsored by the United Way of Washington County.
Cycle United was held on Feb. 11 at the Valley Mall in Hagerstown. Local gyms including South Pointe Fitness Center, Studio 6, Gold's Gym, YMCA Hagerstown, Ruff Fitness, Fit In Boonsboro, and the Fitness Center at Hagerstown Community College donated instructors and spin bikes to the event, which was held as a fundraiser for United Way.
Over 80 novice and experienced indoor cyclists participated in Cycle United including six HCC faculty and staff members and one HCC student. The HCC spinning team included biology and chemistry associate professor Bernard Murphy, of Hagerstown; physical education instructor and Fitness Center coordinator of Thomas Burge, of Martinsburg, W.Va.; disabilities support services advisor Katie Dyke, of Shepherdstown, W.Va.; human resources specialist Rosie Oberholzer, of Waynesboro, Pa.; and Fitness Center staff member Tony Clement and chemistry associate professor Nancy Thorpe, both of Williamsport. Student team members included Rachel Herrera and Jamie Yingling, both of Hagerstown. This year's event raised more than $45,000.
"In its second year, Cycle United surpassed last year's success by leaps and bounds," says Burge, who helped coordinate the HCC team for this year's event. "This event is so important because it not only promotes physical activity and a healthy lifestyle, but it also raises money for a great cause within our own community. If you didn't get a chance to cycle this year, you should definitely check it out in 2013."
To learn more about United Way of Washington County, go to www.unitedwaywashcounty.org.


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Back when I was a pup and living on the East Coast, California seemed as far away as China. We didn't have all these fast jets, and driving from coast to coast was unthinkable, at least for me.
Thank goodness travel has improved a lot, as I learned on my trip to Southern California for a visit to Dana Point. It's a lovely community about 60 miles from Los Angeles. Believe it or not, I found out about Dana Point by going to the Internet and checking it out through Google (what kind of name is that?). What I have discovered about the world in these few months has been astonishing. I'm seeing and using things that no one could have conceived of in the "good old days." Maybe we ought to just call them the "old days."
It was a bit scary to read through Google that the 60-mile drive from L.A. to Dana Point can sometimes take close to two and a half hours "because of traffic," it says.
All I can say is I'm glad I wasn't driving.
On my visit to Dana Point, I was hosted by Bob Levine – another Bob L. In fact, I'm told it caused a bit of confusion in the Dana Harbor Bridge Club, a great facility and one of the top clubs in the country.
I always comment on the weather wherever I go because I like to go outdoors. It's fun to play bridge, but when you're in Southern California, where the weather is almost always fine, it's really tempting to get away from the bridge table for a bit.
The photo above is the "other" Bob L with me at a gazebo overlooking Dana Harbor, a really nice part of the California coastline. I guess Bob Levine thinks of me as the "other" Bob L, too, but I guess I've been around longer.
Bob Levine is really proud of his dog, Journey, a poodle who was very interested in me when I arrived.
You never know with dogs, but Journey was more than friendly. I found out from his owner that Journey is "first dog to learn how to play bridge." The concept is intriguing, of course, and if it's true perhaps I should recruit Journey as a partner. He is closer to my size, after all, than most others who have offered to play with me.
I was very impressed with the Dana Harbor club. What a terrific facility! As with the other places I have visited, the players were interested, especially considering that while I was there they had two Bob Ls.
If you have been reading these postings, you know I like to talk. It's something I've discovered about myself since I got "back in the game," as the Bridge Bulletin cover reported last summer.
Well, for once I'm going to give up the podium for a special occasion. While I was in Dana Point, I met Bob Levine's friend, Jacob Weisberg, who writes occasionally for the Dana Harbor bridge players. He's a fun guy, so I thought I would give up a bit of space so you could read his report about my visit. You can see both Bob Ls with Jacob in the photo below.
Bob L Meets Bob L
By Jacob Weisberg
Did you see the cover of the July issue of the Bridge Bulletin? It alerted ACBL members that Bob L was "Back In The Game" and that we should be on the lookout for him because he was traveling the country and might show up at our club. If he does, it asked us to welcome him.
Imagine the surprise of our own Bob Levine. He thought, "Hey, who is this "other" Bob L? I'm Bob L." So Bob Levine wrote to ACBL asking about this possible impostor.
ACBL decided to enlist our Bob L in the national travels of the ACBL Bob L. It asked our Bob L to host the ACBL's Bob L when he came to Southern California.
Of course, our Bob Levine had no idea what this meant. How much did Bob L eat? How much did Bob L drink? What kind of sleeping arrangements would he have to make for the traveler – and what about transportation? Even though the July issue of the Bridge Bulletin showed Bob L with a car, would the vehicle make it all the way out here to Orange County? Would it pass our smog tests? And what would Gayle have to say about this?
Well, it all worked out, and if you were at the club on Thursday, Nov. 12, amidst that giant crowd that virtually overflowed into the street, there was Bob L, at the table with Bob Levine.
Notice, I didn't say that Bob L was playing with Bob Levine. Fact is, Bob Levine was playing with Gayle Gerth. They came in second in "A" North-South.
So what's this about Bob L being at the table? Well, my pard and I were East-West, and when we came to their table, there were Bob Levine, Gayle Gerth and Bob L. Yes, there was Bob L, just sitting on the table.
Fact is that ACBL has been sending him to clubs around the country, to be hosted by people like our own Bob Levine.
In a special interview granted to this reporter, Bob L was so thankful for the reception he got from our members. Bob L has been all over the country but nowhere has the sun shined so brightly and the game been so warm, friendly and competitive as his visit with us at Dana Harbor Bridge Club.
Thanks, everyone, for helping him feel so welcomed. When he gets back to Memphis, he's sure to tell the people there that Unit 538 in Southern California has it "all together."
Nice job, Jacob. That pretty much sums up my stop in Southern California. I'll be back before you know it at the Fall NABC in San Diego.
Tags: Dana Point


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These Cute Kids Grew Up To Be Supermodels
It's the attack of the towering models in sky-high heels! There they go, a lost tribe of Glamazons, clomping down the runways with their severe eyebrows (thanks, Cara Delevingne!) and straight razor cheekbones, out to conquer the world — or at least nab every single yellow cab and decent table reservation while the rest of us mortals huddle around in the toxic slush and make faux smoke rings with our icy breath. It's New York Fashion Week, folks, and while the catwalkers may have grown into something resembling another species, we dug deep into their Instagrams, discovering Throwback Thursday and Flashback Friday snaps that prove that, once upon a time, they were just kids like you and me. —Sarah B. Weir, Yahoo Shine


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'Touchless' Chrome's here: Prepare for more search shouting
It's bound to happen to someone this holiday season. You're up to your elbows in a Thanksgiving (or Hanukkah) turkey's chest cavity when you're hit by a nagging feeling that you've forgotten a key part of the recipe. Most of us would have to spend the next five minutes scrubbing bird innards off our hands and then drying them off enough to check the recipe without dirtying the screen or keyboard. Until now.
As of Tuesday, Chrome users can keep their mitts all up in that bird's business and simply shout a search for "super easy and intrusive Thanksgiving turkey recipe" across the room at their browser. So long as you've got a new Chrome extension installed, all you need to do is give the "OK, Google" command that will be familiar to users of Google Now on Android devices followed by your search or question.… Read more