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Newsletter / Upcoming Events
Newsletter Important Website information (must read) Upcoming Events in the next 4 weeks June Edition of the Newsletter - Below is a copy of the monthly newsletter "Coastal California Journal", which is the first newsletter of our combined organizations. Enjoy the content, and give us feedback on how we could improve our newsletter. Website Update - Given the maintenance issues with LearnDesk this week, we implemented a contingency plan to create an event-tracking mechanism o
mike
23 hours ago2 min read
Coastal California Photographers Weekly Update
Week 24 - June 7 Mike Mercadante Highlights Event Reminders Recent Blog Posts Member Recognition June Edition of the Newsletter - Shortly, you will receive a copy of the monthly newsletter "Coastal California Journal", which is the first newsletter of our combined organizations. Enjoy the content, and give us feedback on how we could improve our newsletter. Website Update - Given the maintenance issues with LearnDesk this week, we implemented a contingency plan to create an e
mike
2 days ago3 min read
CCP Website Changes
June 5, 2026 Motivation Recently, LearnDesk went down for maintenance unannounced on May 31st, and as of 6/5/2026, it remains down. This behavior is totally unacceptable, so we are acting on our contingency plan. On Monday, I deferred some of the website rebranding changes to implement a ticketing mechanism within the website. As a result, I’m turning off the LearnDesk events page and enabling the new event registration capabilities on the website. While you will see some vis
mike
3 days ago3 min read
Share Your Vision with Ventura County: CPP Photo Exhibition at the Ventura County Fair
Every photograph tells a story. Some capture fleeting moments of beauty, while others reveal the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary. This summer, Coastal California Photographers members have a unique opportunity to share those stories with tens of thousands of visitors as part of our special exhibition at the Ventura County Fair. The Ventura County Fair has long been a celebration of community, creativity, and local talent, making it the perfect venue to showcase the d
Chris Martens
Jun 13 min read
Coastal California Photographers Weekly Update
Week 23 - June 1 LearnDesk - Is currently down for maintenance. I will send out a message when maintenance is complete. Website Update - A series of minor updates have been made to the website this week. Some Menu modifications reflecting the future content will be rolled out in the next couple of weeks. You will see some new pages marked as Under Development. The Blog is now located in the Resources Menu We added a monthly critique menu, where we will post galleries of merit
mike
May 313 min read
Getty Center Visit Instructions
July 14th, 2026 The final day for sign-up is June 26th. Sign up prior to June 26th If you want a service merit, please send me your PPA Number We will need to carpool; we have a limited number of parking passes A brief Zoom will be held the week prior to the event to answer questions and arrange car pooling To sign up for the event, click here Itinerary and Important Information: Please be on time! We cannot wait for late arrivals. Don’t just type “Getty” into your GPS. The
mike
May 313 min read
Monthly Photo Critique: Through the Looking Glass
Photography has always been about more than simply recording what we see. It is about revealing what lies beyond the obvious, discovering hidden stories, and inviting viewers to experience the world from a fresh perspective. This month's challenge, "Through the Looking Glass," encourages photographers to do exactly that. The theme invites you to explore the idea of looking through something, whether literally or creatively. Your image may capture a view from outside looking i
Chris Martens
May 302 min read
V.C Fair Photo Exhibition Opportunity!
Photography Superintendent – William Horstick Assistant Superintendent – Patricia Gladstone Coastal California Photographers Guidelines for submitting images to the 2026 V.C. Fair Point of Contact – Ron Kaplan We have been given the opportunity to display images of CCP members during the 2026 Ventura County Fair. This is NOT a competition. This is open to current paid CCP members. These guidelines outline how to submit an image for consideration. We will be allocated 2-
mike
May 93 min read
2026 April Springtime in the Sierras
During the trip, we plan to capture the night sky, sunrise/sunset landscapes, and wildflowers in the Alabama Hills, Owens Valley, Volcanic Tableland, Bishop Canyon, and Buttermilk Boulders.
mike
May 81 min read
Capture the Thrill of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship at Laguna Seca
The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship Weekend returns to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca from September 4 to 6. This season finale promises an electrifying showdown as the best open-wheel drivers compete on one of North America’s most challenging circuits. For photo enthusiasts eager to master auto racing photography, this event offers a perfect opportunity to capture the speed, skill, and drama of high-stakes racing. The Corkscrew turn at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca,
mike
Feb 183 min read
Learn Photography Through Our Engaging Events and Workshops
Photography is a skill that grows best when practiced and explored in a supportive environment. While tutorials and books offer valuable knowledge, nothing compares to hands-on learning and real-time feedback. Our site hosts a variety of events designed to help photographers at every level improve their craft, connect with others, and find inspiration. These events provide practical experience, expert guidance, and a chance to explore new techniques in a friendly setting. Wor
mike
Feb 183 min read
CIPPA May 2025 Image Competition ~ Best of Show & Category Winners!
Our 2nd quarter Image Competition was held Monday, May 12th. We had 47 excellent entries in 9 categories: Architecture/Industrial, Fashion/Editorial, Illustrative, Lifestyle, Nature/Wildlife, Landscape, Open Nature/Animal/Landscape, Portrait Studio, and Photojournalism . The judging by 3 experienced PPC Judges: Antonie Didienne, Dea Bachard Meyer, and Michael Van Auken was excellent. Each judge brought a different view and critique skill set. Kudos to all who entered, every s
Dan Holmes
May 13, 20251 min read
CIPPA February 2025 Image Competition ~ Best of Show & Category Winners!
Our 1st quarter Image Competition was held Monday, February 10th. We had 49 excellent entries in 11 categories: Commercial, Fashion/Editorial, Creative Imaging, Electronic IMaging, Illustrative, Lifestyle, Nature/Wildlife, Landscape, Open Nature/Animal/Landscape, Portrait Studio, and Photojournalism . The judging by 3 experienced PPC Judges: John Powers, Elizabeth Toller, and Kristi Elias was excellent. Each judge brought a different view and critique skill set. Kudos to all
Dan Holmes
Feb 11, 20251 min read
CIPPA August 2024 Image Competition ~ Best of Show!
Our 3rd quarter 2024 Virtual Image Competition was held Monday, August 12th. We had 42 excellent entries in 10 categories: Architecture, Commercial, Fashion/Editorial, Illustrative, Lifestyle, Nature/Wildlife, Landscape, Open Nature/Animal/Landscape, Portrait Studio, and Photojournalism . The judging by 3 experienced PPC Judges: Eleanor Gray, James Trapp, & Michelle Pennings was excellent. Each judge brought a different view and critique skill set. Kudos to all who entere
Dan Holmes
Aug 22, 20241 min read
x-rite Calibration Software Update no longer supports i1 Display
Recently I updated my X1 software only to find out that it no longer supports the i1 Display by x-rite. This device and others in this family are no longer supported. As you might imagine a few unkind words were said! Fortunately, I noticed a link that said we don't support this anymore, but Calibrate Profiler offers a solution. I didn't want to throw away a functioning device. So, I downloaded the software, reviewed the UI, and decided it was worth the $39 for their software
Mike Mercadante
Jul 10, 20241 min read
Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens
4/16/2024 CIPPA members enjoy another beautiful day at the Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens. The weather was gorgeous with the beautiful Santa Barbara hillside covered in poppies, and Iris. We wanted to share a few photos from the outing for everyone to enjoy.
Mike Mercadante
Apr 19, 20241 min read
2023 CIPPA Merit Images
2023 was another superb year of image competitions, with wonderful images and excellent judging! Of 188 total entries, there were 125 merit winners ~ well done! Please enjoy the slideshow!
Dan Holmes
Feb 19, 20241 min read
2023 Photographer of the Year Award
Photographer of the Year Photographer of the Year Award is awarded to the individual with the highest aggregate score of their four (4) best scores in three different categories. An individual must have entered at least six (6) entries spanning at least two (2) separate competitions to be eligible for this award. 2023 Photographer of the Year - Endre Balough Category Awards The award is given based on the highest aggregate score of an individual’s four (4) entries in a single
Dan Holmes
Feb 16, 20241 min read
CIPPA Image Competition ~ November 2023 ~ Best of Show!
Our final Virtual Image Competition of 2023 was held Monday, November 13. We had 46 excellent entries in 7 categories: Animal, Family, Illustrative, Landscape, Lifestyle, Nature, and Photojournalism. The judging by 3 experienced PPC Judges: Duane Murphy, Bruce Bonnett, and Cindie Wolfe was excellent. Each judge brought a different view and critique skill set. Kudos to all who entered, every single photograph had emotional meaning and impact. All the Merit images can be se
Dan Holmes
Nov 28, 20231 min read
Compositional Elements - More than just Rules!
“Break the Rules”? Nope – in almost every case, a compelling photograph or image contains compositional elements that draw our eye into the image, hold our attention, and create an emotional response or connection. A simple take on the rules of composition: “yup – they are there because they work”. Yet, something about us makes us rebel against “rules”, so let’s just call them “elements” – and there are a lot of them! Here, I’ll break down this photograph into 4 elements that
Dan Holmes
Aug 3, 20231 min read
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