Updated September 04, 2007

That new Certificate of Completion Students receive free telephone support? Check it out from the link inside!

That TPC has ventured into the digital video business? It is a logical following being that we have been involved in video for many years but never promoted it through TPC. We just thought you might like to know. Maybe Tom will write another book or two?

That Tom Jenkins is currently staying in the Tampa Bay region of Florida, and is conducting Private individual and Private small group lessons? Please contact Tom from the "Contact TPC" link on our Homepage. Private individual lessons run about two to three hours each, and cost $30 for each lesson (not per hour). Small groups (up to six persons) run about the same time for each lesson, at a discounted cost of $20 per student -- all lesson payments must be made in cash. Students must be 18 years or older, and must provide his or her own location for the lessons. Tom's travel costs are not included in the aforementioned prices, however he only charges for mileage ($1.00 per mile round trip) plus the cost of the lesson. You will learn far more from Tom's presense and personal attention than you will from self-tutoring yourself. Tom will also accompany you or your group on a private photography outing of your choice at no extra charge as early as the end of the Lesson on Flash Photography, or based on your or your group's desire(s) -- additional Field Trips are priced on a Per Hour/Mileage basis in accordance with the Private Lesson pricing. Again, contact Tom with your requests. Private students will also receive discounts on any of Tom's Books purchased during any private lesson -- the purchase of Tom's Books are not required, however you will probably find them helpful for your self-study and future use. The hours and days of the week available are at your discretion, as Tom knows that everyone may not have a regular M-F 9-5 obligation. Also, email support is included with all tutoring requests.

TPC is working on a a Certificate Course for all you Portraiture enthusiasts out there. We are almost finished with our Beta program using several beginning photographers looking to take the professional step towards creating her or his own business. Look for the announcement on our Homepage in the near future.

PayPal now offers you, the buyer, the option of either establishing a PayPal Account for your Online Purchases from TPC and other Online stores, or to make each of your purchases from TPC through PayPal a one-time event. During your order process with TPC through one of our PayPal Shopping Carts, you will be afforded the opportunity to choose between establishing a PayPal Account or making this your only Online purchase; this way, your credit card information is not stored in an Online PayPal Account nor with TPC, providing you with the extra protection so many people expect from their Online shopping sources. Plus, TPC wants to make ordering easier for you, too.

Tom researches each new student's camera and equipment so that he can become about as familiar with what she or he is using without actually going out and buying one just like it himself? How else could he know how to help you through that thick thing they call an Owner's Manual?

During the last year, TPC has been out building a whole new portfolio of images for use in teaching students, both new and experienced, and both film and digital on how to perfect her or his style of photography? Even though Tom has had to slow down a bit (creaks and groans, but no whining), he still seems to find the occasional moment to time it just right in capturing more images that are not only great teaching aids, but look great framed on his walls at home, too. Plus with all the new introductions in technology, Tom has been doing his homework by researching not just the new cameras, but the new ways to help you, the student, apply all the new bells and whistles that come with both the new film and digital cameras. And of course, your Books are never go out of date because of TPC's Lifetime Email Support.

Tom will be on location in Charleston, SC Tuesday through Friday (5 August - 8 August); he will still have Email contact, but it may be a bit slower than usual.

PayPal™ is now, as of 04 August, 2003, the method of payment used to process all orders placed for TPC's offerings; we have made this decision based on the results of a study from current students and interested parties. PayPal offers a Secure https:// Website where you can easily and confidentially setup your own personal account knowing that only PayPal retains your sensitive personal information. And, even if you don't have a PayPal Account when you decide to place an order with TPC, our new PayPal Ordering Process provides you with the opportunity of generating a Free PayPal Membership while you are ordering. Simply find the item you would like to order, click on the PayPal Button, and follow the instructions; it's that easy! If you have questions, please address them to TPC's Consumer Support on our Homepage.

Concerning TPC's Sunshine Skyway Bridge shoot, all but one student used TPC's Exposure Calculator for computing his or her exposures for capturing lightning along with some surrounding existing light; Tom has posted a couple of his shots in his personal online gallery of example images for students. BTW, according to the potential student who did not use TPC's Calculator, he did not fare as well as everyone else; he admits, by photo comparison, that TPC's Calculator would have helped in more ways than one. "Live and Learn".

Tom will be shooting tonight, 8 July, at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on the south side rest area and maybe the south side fishing pier, as well. This excursion is for fun, but if you want to learn some tips or meet Tom in person, you are welcome to tag along. Don't forget your tripod and cable release! As an update, 6 students and potential students were on hand for this outing; we're all anxious to see each's results.

TPC's Download versions of our Books are now, as of 1 July, 2003, only available to Educational Institutions for use in their Computer Labs. We made this decision based on the demand from both Education Departments and the percent of sales comparing Book Orders versus Download Orders.

The chick hatched only 5 days ago; it couldn't be cuter! My months of patience were rewarded; talk about working my subject. I'll use these new images in upcoming lecture presentations.

Tom has been following the care and hatching of a Sandhill Crane family for the last two months; today,14 June, 2003, may be the day when he first gets to see the newly hatched chick.

That the Download Versions of TPC's Books will only be available for ordering Online for one more month (until 1 July, 2003)? Our printed textbooks will still be available directly from OriJen Publications Online and through bookstores. The Download Versions are now being offered at a very reasonable Licencing Fee solely to public and private school computer labs within the 50 United States and Washington D. C. The Computer Lab Versions contain the same material as described in our Self-Study Course, including the Assignments Addendum. And as a bonus, TPC is including, at no extra charge, its Teacher Lesson Plan and License to use these Electronic Versions of TPC for up to 100 students per semester. Please have your school's Head Media Library person contact The Photo College from our Homepage via Email. All orders will be handled by Purchase Order. As another bonus, TPC's Email support will be provided to the teacher or professor in charge of each class.

That TPC's Online Lessons have been completely redone in a new format? Fewer pages, but an easier and more concise approach should help those of you interested in the thoughts you should be considering before you trip the shutter. And we've included lots of new photographs along with lists of what you will find explained in each textbook's chapters. Only the English-language versions are currently Online, but the translations will be finished as soon as possible.

That the Encyclopædia Britannica lists The Photo College as one of the Internet's Best Web Sites?

That a glitch on our server may have caused some Student Support Emails to be returned as undeliverable. If you have had difficulty trying to contact TPC via the support at thephotocollege dot com email address, we apologize. However, the glitch has been sent off to neverland, relieving us all of its ugly presence. We ask that Registered Students and TPC Customers to once again use the Support Email address; just copy and paste the green text into your Email software. Thanks for your patience.

That the "Vacationer's" series of Downloads is designed not only for you travelers out there. TPC's Vacationer's Series Downloads are the same as the printed Books we offer to those attending any of TPC's lectures and presentations. While the lectures we give are quite fulfilling, TPC's Vacationer's Series of Books (and Downloads) cover far more information than we can fit into three 2½ hour lectures. If you want to learn photographic technique the easiest, simplest, and fastest way, these brand new Downloads by TPC are the answer. Each Download is about 100 pages, providing information not necessarily covered in TPC's other Textbooks. Plus, you'll find over 35 new photographs from Tom's seemingly unending stock of educational photographs. Click the link on our HomePage or here for some PDF samplings from these Downloads.

That TPC has just updated and re-edited both Books I and II? Yep, we're always looking to update our Downloads and Books, and now, the Downloads have been upgraded to match the printed books more closely. The Downloads now include the Book I Chapter on "Finishing Your Photos", which is all about ways to make your small 8½ x 11 image into a Hi-Res 16x20 worth displaying. We also get in-depth with matting and framing techniques, along with how to scan your color negatives (regardless of the negative's size, or your slides for that matter) without having to buy that expensive film scanner. Chances are that you already have the equipment to digitize you chemical-based images.

We have even included the previously-printed-only version of our 50-page Chapter on Photography Underwater in the new Book II Download. Even if you are only a snorkeler, we've included experience from years of Tom being a Master Scuba Diver and Dive Master with Cave Diving and Underwater Photography among his many SCUBA Specialties. Check out these new additions to Version 4 of TPC's Books I and II; both over 300 pages each for your reading, educational, and "Fins to the Left" attitude, regardless of latitude. The countdown starts at 30...29...28... ...

That you can order TPC's 50-page Chapter on Underwater Photography as a stand-alone Download? This chapter covers a little history, a good bit about equipment choices, and, as usual, a bunch of photos by both Tom and his UW photog dive buddy, Monroe. Just Email us about this Chapter, or any Chapter for that matter; we're here for YOU to learn photography both above and below the Earth's waterline.

That while we sold the printable rights to what existed at the time of purchase, TPC retained the right to update our writings in any printed form we desired; this includes versions appropriate to those of you who own Palm and Pocket PC PDA's. Please be aware that, for example, our PT Book II is almost 11MB in the Palm O/S 4.1 format, so be sure your Palm (or Expansion Card) can accept a file of this size before contacting TPC about the Download. You will need to install, for example, the Adobe Acrobat Palm O/S onto your PC and your Palm PDA before downloading. We will also be offering a Pocket PC version of TPC's Book I&II, it's PSD&O, and the three Lecture Series Books. Please use our "Contact TPC" if you have any questions or interests. Please search both http://www.palm.com and http://www.adobe.com for Acrobat versions applicable to your PDA; there's a link further down in this list of "Did you know?"

That TPC plans on being in 10 key areas of the 48 contiguous United States in the next twelve months? We hope to lecture (or at least shoot) during each of these stops, depending on the schedule of local libraries and museums (yes, I'm older, but not old, so I suppose some museums have found an interest in their "relic" sections for me to speak). I imagine I'll find a few "dinosaurs" wanting answers to his or her questions. Let us know your requests and we'll see what develops.

That TPC is once again "on the road"? We, like most 'normal' people, take a holiday once in a while, and this time is no different than any other, except for the length of our holiday. We'll be traveling again for more than a year, trying to improve upon and add to our current portfolio of instructional photographs while also trying to "practice what we preach" about everything we include in our books. We hope to include the photographic results of our new adventures, in a separate Book, in late 2004. Give us a hand, as we're only doing this for you!

That Tom is writing a novel? Can you believe it? And it has nothing to do with photography, or so he says. No deadline has been established, but we''ll keep watching and waiting; will you?

That TPC has added a new member to the Staff? Tom's Mom, Margaret has been pried out of retirement to handle all sales while TPC is "on the road". Send Margaret a "Welcome to the Staff" at TPC. Her talents as a lifelong Cost Accountant will be a welcomed addition to what we call, "All in the Family."

That Tampa's own WTVT Channel 13 broadcast their interview with Tom Jenkins on Monday, 8 July at 6:55 PM during WTVT's "What's Right with Tampa Bay" news segment? The interview was a total success concerning not only TPC, but all those associated including photography students of new and old; we cannot thank Deanna and the entire News Staff at WTVT-13 enough. "Tampa Bay - Say "Hey!""

That TPC's Course Assignments are designed for those of you who already own a small or medium format camera system, however TPC also supports those of you wanting to learn using more basic or introductory camera systems? Contact us if you have equipment requirement questions.

That TPC also fully supports students who use digital cameras for their photography? After all - technique is technique, regardless of your type of image recording medium.

That professional photographers, product and portrait studio owners, advertising agencies, public and private schools, and domestic and international military forces use TPC's Books and Downloads to train their new and existing Staff Members?

That TPC was a winner in one of PlanetPDF's latest promotions? Click here to learn more about PlanetPDF and TPC.

That TPC is one of the few remaining "Free" Online resources for anything?  So many previously "Free" online services have fallen by the wayside, yet TPC keeps adding to its offerings of freely available information; we were even featured in Fortune Small Business Magazine. When we say something, we mean it!

That our Free Online Lessons are accessed over 1500 times per day by public and private schools, plus individuals like you?

That most PDA's (HP, Compaq, and Palm) can run our software?  Go to: Adobe Acrobat Reader for the Palm and Pocket PC

That every photo presented in our Online Lessons, Downloads, and Books was taken by a member of the Jenkins family specifically for teaching photographic technique ? We shoot for you! Plus, we have a few pretty pictures hanging on our walls.

That our photos were taken in many different countries around the world? (Do you recognize anyplace?)

That every photo presented in our Online Lessons, Downloads, and Books was taken by a professional photographer in the Jenkins' family or ancestry?

That TPC has been teaching photographic technique for over 30 years? And that Tom's ancestors have been consistantly teaching art and photography since 1901?

That TPC does not endorse specific products or accessories, but that we will help you with designing your photographic arsenal?

That Brutus had not yet eaten before his nefarious attempt at fame?

That TPC is safe for use by all people regardless of race, creed, religion, national origin, or age?

That no shutter-fingers were damaged during any of our photo sessions? But we did, on occasion, surreptitiously feed a bison, and a squirrel, just for fun. OOhh!, outside the envelope for us, eh?

That many of the photographs we use were taken with digital cameras rated as low as 640x480 DPI? And others were taken with disposable cameras? We teach you how to take great photos without any unnecessary expense. We teach 'photographic technique'.

That TPC uses only the techniques taught in the lessons for its photographic examples? I can't count the number of times I've been 'smacked' for not turning my camera vertically.

That we now have students in over 100 countries?

That Tom has 3 great children? ("Adult" is the term THEY use.)

That we offer Teacher Lesson Plans which also include Student Assignments?

That our Software will run on both the PC and the Macintosh?

That TPC will tailor its Self-Study or Certificate of Completion Course to your goals and interests?

To visit Charleston, South Carolina - your camera will love it!

That we offer any of our Book Chapters as individual or custom combination downloads?

That our email support is second to none, and is good for Life?

That a horse at full gallop will have all four hooves off the ground at the same time?

That TPC is a not-for-profit educational organization? (Great education at great prices) We're philanthropists - look it up.

That TPC does things, "The Cowboy Way?" Ranger Doug said so.

That we use the PDF format because we don't think you should have to wait forever to view an online image?

That you should never look a horse in the mouth when it has a gift for you?

That sometimes, when making a list, I lose track of the point I'm trying to make?

That TPC is usually available 7 days per week?

That we will support certain specialized photographic technique topics which are not included in our Software or Books?

That TPC has new offerings in the works at all time?

That we'll keep adding more to this list?

That fins always start "To the Left"?

That you should never drink upstream from the heard? Or the herd?

That a two-sentence student query can result in a 3-page Email reply? We want you to understand what you are doing.

That Wilbur Smith writes the best fiction-based-on-fact we could ever recommend. If you don't know about Mr. Smith, ask Becky, or Wilbur himself.