Tina Marie Vance-Crnic

Tina Marie began her photographic career at an early age and achieved numerous honors over the past 30+ years. She began her extensive education with an Associates Degree in Commercial and Industrial Photography, in Evansville, In. With continued education she achieved her Masters Degree in Photography from the Professional Photographers of America in 1995. At that date, she was the youngest photographer in the history of the PPA to receive this honored degree. Tina Marie also began to lecture across the United States early on at the age of 23 years old, teaching many professional photographers her gentle techniques of photographing children and families. She also attained a Craftsman Degree which is given for helping others hone their craft in photography. Tina Marie was asked to speak at the Professional Photographers of America National Convention on 3 separate occasions, in Chicago, New Orleans, and San Antonio. The first was also at the young age of only 23. Following that she lectured and was the Keynote Speaker at many of the following conventions; PP of Kansas City, PP of Michigan, PP of Iowa, PP of Nebraska, PP of Pennsylvania, PP of Arizona, PP of Indianapolis, Instructor at the International School of Photography, PP of Wyoming, PP of Kentucky, PP of Louisiana, Heart of America Regional Conference, and many more. At many of these conventions she also served as a Print Judge/Juror. Over the years Tina Marie has entered print competition and has won many awards. Among them has been Best Portrait of Show, Best Illustrative of Show, Top Photographer of the State of Nebraska multiple times, many Fuji Masterpiece Awards, numerous Loan Collection prints, and a print that was chosen to be displayed at the Disney Epcot Center to name just a few. In 2000, Tina Marie served as The President of the Professional Photographers of Nebraska, after having served on The Board of Directors for 9 years. Tina also was the Regional Coordinator for the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep organization, servicing 12 hospitals locally. With this volunteer position, she dedicated much time to photographing for families that lost a child(ren) during childbirth. Tina Marie is not just a photographer. She is a craftsman of the highest degree. She spent much of her photographic career photographing on black & white film, developing and hand printing all of her work on high quality, archival, fiber based paper, then the process of dry mounting to produce the highest of quality images. She is an expert of the art of black and white printing. At the base of her art is light. The subtle way it speaks to the artist and being able to translate that onto the printed surface. The pride she holds in her imagery is the ability to capture the very of the soul of the person(s) in front of her lens. From conception to fruition, she holds to the craft, not relying on someone else to interpret but being able to fluidly transition from artist to craftsman. Tina Marie has been using Canon equipment for much of her career, and for all of her digital work. Now she enjoys the ability to further perfect imagery using the lasted tools of the trade. She continues to learn, teach and mentor others in the professional realm of photography on a regular basis. In conclusion, she exudes enthusiasm for this wonderful craft, this wonderful art that is called photography. Bella Lucia-