The Association of Texas Photography Instructors (ATPI) provides information and resources to teachers and students that work with photography, whether in Art, Journalism, Industrial Technology or Vocational curriculum areas.
ATPI publishes a newsletter two to three times a year that is sent to all members and to others interested in news about photography or the association. This glossy publication annually showcases some of the best student and teacher work in Texas and is currently sent to 500 individuals and companies.
In addition, ATPI annually sponsors a fall photography submitted print competition for students and teachers that includes a variety of categories including video and computer imaging. The 2011 ATPI Contest had more than 6,100 entries from around the state, Arizona, California, Kansas, Oklahoma and New York.
ATPI annually recognizes the top photography programs in the state. In the 2011-12 school year, St. Mark’s School of Texas captured the Top Program title for the sixth time. Scott Hunt leads the group at St. Mark’s. The top program award is based on a portfolio competition of student work. The Rising Star school was West Brook HS in Beaumont. Drew Loker is the instructor at West Brook.
The Star of Texas is ATPI’s highest award, presented to individuals and companies that have contributed to photo education in Texas. The award has been presented to five individuals and one company since the inception of this honor.
In May 1999, ATPI also began recognizing the top high school shooters in the state. This top “team” of ten student photographers was selected based on the awards they have received in state and national photography contests during the school year.
Since 1994 ATPI has held the Summer Workshop for Instructors Only. The workshop has provided teachers from around Texas and other states (including Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Virginia, Washington state and Wisconsin) with classes designed to help teachers become better teachers in such diverse areas as traditional black and white photography, alternative processes, studio lighting, and beginning and advanced digital imaging. In 2011, 30 teachers joined ATPI for three days in July at Texas A&M University in Commerce. Corporate sponsors have included Adobe, Apple Computers, B&H Photo and Video, Epson, Ilford, Macromedia and Olympus America.
In short, ATPI, a Texas non-profit organization, works to help the photography instructors of all disciplines work to achieve a higher quality of knowledge and teaching of photography.
