Precon 2017 was a Hoot!

Yesterday’s Precon was a blast. We went to Stallion 51 in Kissimmee and Stallion holds a collection of mustangs by some really nice people. Not only were they kind enough to pull out their two planes, both called Crazy Horse, onto the tarmac for the students to shoot static but also they let everyone work with the models inside the hangar where they were being caretakers of three more mustangs.

Between the planes and the models, Marissa and Terra, there was lots to work with and lots to learn at Precon. Terra here was one of our models and she did a great job. She was dressed like Rossie the Riveter and with the great hangar light, planes in the background and her facial structure it was an easy shot. Something everyone was taught to utilize more was how to capture the shots with making it harder on themselves.

Whoot Precon!

Today is the first day of Photoshop World and every year it kicks off with Precon. A day of hands on workshops that last all day and cover a wide range of topics. Now I have been to many of the Precons over the years but the one I’ve gone to the most is my Dad’s Photo Safari. Each time it’s been to a different place, off site from the conference, and each time it’s been a lot of fun.

Now I’m sure where we are going today, but it’s supposed to be planes and pinup models which sounds like an awful lot of fun. The last time we did that everyone was having fun.

Photoshop World is Around the Corner!

Photoshop World 2017 is just five days away! I can’t believe how fast the year has gone by since Vegas but I can’t wait to be back in Orlando teaching. It’s been so long since Orlando I don’t even have a recent photo from there. But that’s okay, with great classes and lots of great people I have no doubt this year will lead to a few. I’m honored to be teaching two classes this year so be sure to check out the Kelby Theater Thursday and Friday.

Precon is Here!

Tuesday maybe the first official day of Photoshop World Las Vegas 2016 but today is Precon day! This is the day where instructors take groups of students out to various locations to learn in the field. Over the years I have gone to many precons and each one was fun and helpful. This year I will be again going with Dad on safari to another unknown Las Vegas location for a photo shoot. I’m not sure what the subject will be since the last few years has been race cars, old ghost towns and even the inside of the Hoover Dam. Look for my post tomorrow on what the safari had in store and some of the images it produced.

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It’s Official!!!

When I started in Photography I was told that it would be a lot of hard work. I grew up around my Dad and saw what the life of a photographer had in store. It had some amazing moments and it had some sad ones. Every business is like that, photography is no exception. Despite that, In my freshman year of College at MSU Bozeman I decided to go into photography. That was back in 2006. A couple of years, and a few thousands images later, I launched my blog in 2008. With the blog came all new challenges and a much steeper learning curve, as the pressure to succeed further grew. In 2009 I went from being just a wildlife photographer and went into Aviation, which was an huge mental switch. Aviation also brought on all new rewards. In the last six years many amazing things have happened. Between flying around in WWII airplanes, sitting on a rock in Alaska to photograph a critter that no one knows about but now people do, to doing a commercial shoot with Epson, and countless articles and photo projects since. The time has just flown by.

PSW Instructors

Last year my good friend Russell Brown at Adobe asked me if I would be interested in speaking at the Adobe booth in Las Vegas. Without a doubt the answer was yes. Albeit I was nervous as ever at the thought but the opportunity would only come once. It was at Las Vegas, at Photoshop World, at the Adobe booth, that I got the next big opportunity. There in the crowd was Scott Kelby, and as I was focused on the lesson I was teaching, I saw he was smiling. Afterward, he called me over and asked, “do you want to speak at the Kelby theater next year?” The answer was again yes! Albeit I was even more nervous. Last week it became official. I am now a Photoshop World Instructor, part of a group of some of the best photographers in the world. What could be better? While I don’t know what I will be teaching yet, I can’t wait to be able to teach amongst so many other amazing photographers. Thank You Russell, Scott and everyone else at Kelbyone for such amazing opportunities!

Photoshop World Atlanta!

Photoshop World is less than a month away now! I’m so excited, twice a year the greatest gathering of instructors and students come together for three days of just pure fun. It’s education at its finest. You get to hear from the industry leaders on the latest technology, newest toys and sharpest techniques. What more could you ask for? If you don’t have this on your bucket list this year then put it on it! If you are going then I will see you in Atlanta.

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Photoshop World is next Week!!

It’s literally almost here! Only a couple of more days and I will be at Photoshop World Vegas! I simply cannot wait. If there was any one event that brought creativity, energy and inspiration together in one place for four days this is it. Having gone to PSW since 2009 I am greatly looking forward to seeing what this event has in store!

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This shot was taken while I was walking around Washington DC in the Spring of 2012 at Photoshop World. At that time it was late Cherry Blossom season and the tourists filled the streets making it difficult to find a clean calm shot. Not my norm to photograph people, but when you have a shot you have to take it. Just goes to show where the inspiration of PSW can take you.

A group of People

One of the really cool aspects of the Precon this past Tuesday was the re-in-actors that came in and posed for in front of the planes. These guys actually do this as a hobby between there regular jobs. They go around to different events and try and bring back the look and feel of the era. They really are good WWII reinactors. At one point they were laying underneath the wing of the C-47 which was a common thing to do at air force bases. Ground crews would use the shade produced by the planes wing to cool off. As you can see, in the hot Florida sun, these guys had the same idea.

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In the Camera Bag:
Nikon D3, 24-70 AF-S f/2.8, on Lexar UDMA Digital Film

Precon is Here!

After months of waiting and preparing it’s time for Photoshop World! Having just flown in last night I am totally pumped to be back in Orlando for PSW. Right now there is no better way to start off the week then with the Precon. Every event I have been too in the past has had great Precons. Each one is different and each one yields different results. I truly cannot wait to see what happens at today’s Precon Photo Safari.

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In the Camera Bag:
Nikon D3, 24-70 AF-S f/2.8, 70-200 VRII, on Lexar UDMA Digital Film

Happy Halloween!

It’s Halloween! some may have celebrated this past weekend seeing how Halloween falls on a Wednesday this year but nevertheless it is today! I hope everyone has their costume ready I have no doubt that my good friend Russel Brown does. After all he seems to be the costume master. As I was trying to figure out what to blog for Halloween this year I realized that I already had a bunch of fun and scary files from this past years Photoshop World. Russel did a great portrait session as Dr. Frankenstein and his Monster for Westcott. It was electrifying.

In the Camera Bag:
Nikon D3, AF-S 24-70 f/2.8, on Lexar UDMA Digital Film



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