THERMAL
PHOTOGRAPHY IS
THE DIFFERENCE AT TINDALLS
J.J.
Tindall, owner of Tindall's Professional
Photography on East Main Street in
Lincolnton, talks with a customer on the
phone. Photo by Jon
Mayhew/TCS
By
Jon Mayhew
For 15
years, J.J. Tindall saved lives as a
paramedic with Gaston County EMS, also
known as GEMS.
He
turned in his resignation one day to
pursue his dream to save something of a
different sort: to own his own
photography studio and save family
heirloom photographs.
Since
1998, Tindall and his wife, Brandy, have
owned and operated Tindall's Professional
Photography.
"I
knew when I turned in my resignation at
GEMS that I wanted to retire in my own
photography studio," said Tindall,
36. "We started the studio out of
our hope, professionally photographing
weddings."
J.J. Tindall
(left) prepares to show a wedding picture
frame to the 2006 Apple Queen, Valerie
Fite, who si getting married in a couple
of weeks. Photo by Jon
Mayhew/TCS
Today,
J.J. Tindall conducts more than 500 photo
shoots per year, literally taking
hundreds of pictures per shoot. Regarding
weddings, Tindall said he averages about
25 weddings per year.
Thermal
photography is the difference in
Tindall's photos. Tindall said he would
never use ink jet or photo jet in his
photo processing.
"In
thermal photography, images are burned
onto photo paper unlike ink or photo jet
processing," said Tindall. "Ink
and photo jet pictures fade in six
months."
Thermal
images, however, don't show signs of
fading until much later.
"Thermal
images are rated at 100 years before
starting to show fade," said
Tindall. "Thermal pictures will
start to fade at 200 years in dark
storage, like a photo album."
One
highlight of Tindall's photography career
was in 2007 in Charlotte when pop singer
Hanna Montana came to town.
Tindall's
Professional Photography was the
photographer of choice.
"They
called me," said Tindall.
J.J. Tindall (left)
and his wife, Brandy (right), handled the
Hanna Montana (center) photo shoot in
Charlotte in 2007. Photo
Contributed/TCS.
Tindall
said he was the only photographer allowed
backstage.
"We
were there for over two hours, taking
pictures of her meet and greet,"
said Tindall.
Besides
professional photo shoots like Hanna
Montana, Tindall has donated his time and
talents to many local causes including
Lincoln County Apple Queen and the
Downtown Development Association's annual
Hog Happenin.'
He's
also done professional photography shoots
for local organizations like Carolinas
Medical Center - Lincoln; Houser
Transport in Vale; Lincoln Economic
Development Association; and
Lincolnton/Lincoln County Chamber of
Commerce.
For the
last two years, Tindall has been devoted
to photography full-time.
"There;s
no espenses spared in photography,"
said Tindall.
J.J. Tindall
holds a portrait of Chief Richard Eagle
of Iron Station. Photo
by Jon Mayhew/TCS
Tindall
said a major misconception of photography
has to do with the dawning of the digital
image.
Not
everyone can do photography.
It's
apparent in the clients that come to
Tindall with wedding photographs that
need to be repaired. In 2007, Tindall
fixed 11 sets of wedding photographs that
were taken with ink or photo jet
photography.
The
processing of the photos, said Tindall,
isn't the same.
"In
my opinion, ink and photo jet printing is
far below thermal imaging in quality and
photo life," said Tindall.
And what
about the automatic setting on the
digital camera?
"It's
non-existent here," said Tindall.
"My photography is done manually.
Nothing's set to automatic."
Tindall,
a Lincoln County native who graduated
from East Lincoln High School in 1990,
said he plans on being in Lincoln County
for a long time.
Growth
county-wide has helped his business grow
over the last ten years.
"We're
truly blessed that our town has been able
to grow," said Tindall,
"instead of being left behind like
other towns."
Tindall's
Professional Photography is located at
409 East Main Street in Lincolnton. J.J.
and Brandy can be reached at (704)
748-1998 or (980) 429-0514. See their ad
on the home page of The Carolina Scoop.
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