Andrew Dolph
Good morning from Columbus!
On behalf of the Board of Trustees and its members, thank you for coming out to the 2023 ONPA Convention at Midwest Photo! This event was the largest gathering of photographers in Ohio in recent memory – certainly since the COVID era.
There are so many names to list responsible for making this come together, I’m afraid I’d miss one if I began. Pulling off conventions takes a team, and I’m thankful for the seasoned veterans who have done this year after year. I’m also thankful for the newer team members that brought energy and fresh ideas to the table during planning and execution. The annual convention is an opportunity to celebrate what we do, share our feelings revolving around the pursuit of producing good photography and videography, as well as a platform for learning.
Discussions about the 2024 convention have begun. We are extremely excited to grow upon the experiences shared here this weekend in order to continue bringing the membership and their supporters an educationally rich, diverse convention experience.
Thank you to our gracious host, Midwest Photo, and our sponsor-partners and supporters: Canon, Nikon, SONY, ThinkTank, BlinkBid, World of Used Photography, and the NPPA.
Here’s some memories. Please share yours on our social media channels, or tag us, if you feel so inclined.
Friday
So many great people contributed in different ways to create lasting memories. Bob DeMay brought some relics in from ONPA years-past, including the NPPA charter from 1957.
Melissa Lyttle, former NPPA President, donated some koozies she had left over from former A Photo A Day (APAD) gatherings that made for good laughs during the Board-hosted dinner for our speakers.
Saturday
We are so pleased and grateful for the presence and dedication of Lori King’s Buckeye Visualist podcast. Interviews will be dropping in coming days.
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Los Angeles Times foreign correspondent and staff photographer Marcus Yam provided an incredibly insightful and powerful presentation that touched upon his beginnings, how he became interested in photojournalism, and an unparalleled depth to the in’s and out’s of conflict photography overseas. There were so many insightful takeaways that are broadly applicable to what the group of mostly domestic photographers do from day to day. Here are some of mine:
- Be human first
- Immerse yourself with the people you’re covering – be with them
- Perseverance pays off in unexpected and rewarding ways
- Luck is a large component of success
- Choice of perspective can make or break a story
- Have a plan, and have backup plans
- Always get names – always
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“If you see another photographer, you’re in the wrong place.” – Marcus Yam
The Robert S. Carson award was presented to Karl Kuntz, former Picture Editor at the Columbus Dispatch.
The Robert S. Carson Memorial Award is considered ONPA’s highest honor. The award is presented for outstanding contribution to photojournalism in Ohio. Recipients are not required to be members of ONPA.
The award was created in memory of the late Robert S. Carson of Akron, an ONPA founder and camera repair extraordinaire whose desire to help news photographers was second to none.
Carson kept photographers cameras operating in top order, he contributed heavily to ONPA financially and was always available to help his clients.
While camera repair was his business, he was first a photographer.
A highly engaging panel discussion was led by Board President Andrew Dolph, with photographers Marcus Yam, Cara Owsley, and Angelo Merendino. Topics covered revolved around the photographer’s respective backgrounds, the challenges of the stigma of parachute journalism, authenticity, safety, and how we all cope and recharge given the dynamic and stressful nature of our jobs.
We concluded the convention day with portfolio reviews which carried over to social time at Columbus Brewing. Reviewers were: Marcus Yam, Cara Owsely, Angelo Merendino, David Foster, Craig Holman, and more. Thank you to all.
See you next year!
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