Perspectives on Photography, Pitt State University

This weekend, I was invited to Pitt State University by SAPS (Student Association of Photographers).

On Friday night, Matt and I met many of the members of SAPS, along with the director, Mike Gullett and fellow presenters Jerry Poppenhouse and Carla Wehmeyer.  We had dinner from Wheat State Pizza and finished the night reviewing the student’s portfolios.   We saw some really nice images.  The students should be proud!

It took a little longer than normal for us to get from Pittsburg to Lamar that night.  Right after we left Pitt State, I got pulled over and got a ticket for going 35 miles per hour.

Not 35 miles per hour over the speed limit….

just 35 miles per hour.

Seriously.

I’m pretty positive that people walking on the sidewalks were going faster than I was.  Oh well…it had been YEARS since I’d had a ticket, so I chalked it up to being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Obviously, my luck was REALLY crappy that night.  That, or someone had written “Here Piggy Piggy” on my back windshield.  I’m not a paranoid person, but I think they were out to get me that night.  I watch my speed like a hawk the rest of the time.  We stopped at a gas station so Matt could get a drink.  No more than a couple of minutes later, I saw blue lights in my rear view mirror….AGAIN.

I knew I wasn’t speeding.  If anything, I was going slightly slower than the limit.  What was my crime this time?  Failure to turn signal.  Or so he said.  Matt and I thought I had used it, but the cop didn’t.  Fortunately, he was honest and told us that he was looking for impaired drivers and let us go.

Many people have told me that driving a Mustang GT350 would be a cop magnet, but since moving to Missouri, that has definitely been true.  In 3 months, I’ve been pulled over FOUR times.  FOUR!  Before moving, I hadn’t been pulled over in more than 6 years and it has been 8 years since I’ve gotten a ticket.

Okay….that has nothing to do with my speaking engagement, I admit it.  Back to the topic…

On Saturday, we went back to Pitt State for the “Perspectives on Photography” seminar hosted by SAPS.  Below is a snapshot of many of the members who worked to put the seminar together.  Great job, guys!

We again had pizza for lunch before settling into the seminar room to see who won the photography contest.  Congrats to the winners…that’s such an awesome feeling!  Elliot Sutherland, a graduate of Pitt State, spoke about photojournalism, then it was my turn.

My program was about flattering posing and studio lighting.  Thanks a bunch to my model, Kaci Dillingham, (below) for being patient and awesome!

The turn out was also awesome…about 100 people.  I really really really wanted to get an iPhone image of the crowd from my point of view…very impressive!  In true Jessica fashion, I totally forgot to do it.   Luckily, Matt remembered to snap a couple of shots of me teaching my seminar.

It went well….at least I think.  I talked a whole bunch and I got a ton of great questions…that’s got to be a good sign, right?   I always wonder if my ramblings make sense to anyone but me.  Quite a few members of the crowd came up to me afterwards and asked some more good questions and let me know that they took pages of notes and learned “more in that hour and a half than a whole semester at college”.  WOOT!  That’s a good feeling! 

I was invited by Mike to come back in the spring and talk to his class.  I can honestly say that I’m looking forward to it!