Last week I attended Photoshop World in Las Vegas. It was an amazing week of Photoshop and photography instruction along with a huge dose of motivation to come back home and create. It was also a personal milestone as it was the 10th Photoshop World as an instructor. You would think that after 10 Photoshop Worlds it would get easy , but it really didn’t. There were still butterflies in my stomach leading up to the Concert Photography in-depth workshop and I spent the night before my Photoshop Night and Low Light class sitting in my hotel room practicing the new class instead of exploring Las Vegas.
The week kicked off on Tuesday, the day before the full conference started with in-depth pre conference workshops. Scott Diussa and I have taught a class on concert photography along with a full live band shoot. Usually we photograph Big Electric Cat, a band featuring Scott Kelby, Kalebra Kelby, Felix Nelson, Tony Llanes, and Scott Stahley, but due to timing and schedules we hard to go with a local cover band called Rebel Soul. They really stepped up to the occasion and gave the attendees some great looks. Scott Diussa and Scott Kelby both joined the band for the last two songs making for a great photo opportunity.
The class went really well, and the photos we got in for the contest were all really good. It was really difficult for Scott and it to narrow it down to just three.
The conference kicked off the following morning with the keynote where Adobe had Joel Grimes talk about his use of mobile devices to edit on the road and Julieanne Kost showed off many of the new features in Photoshop CC. It was also when Scott and I presented the top 3 images from the concert class and have the attendees vote on the winner.
Then the classes started and I went off to record some podcasts for the Photo Focus network. Then off to do portfolio reviews for the afternoon. I saw some great photography, but I did have a really interesting discussion with one of the attendees. She had taken the concert pre con the day before and ended up with me as her portfolio reviewer. It turns out that she thought she wanted to be a concert photographer but taking the class showed her how hard it was. I think she was embarrassed to tell me about her change of heart, but I was actually really glad that she found out before spending a ton of time and money and then finding out she hated it.
There would be more photos of the middle day of the conference but I took advantage of the Nikon sensor cleaning and my D4 spent the day getting cleaned.
So what could Glyn be photographing in the staff room on the final morning?
These are the room moderators, the group of folks that keep all the classes running smoothly. As an instructor, I cannot tell you how fantastic it is to have these guys right there to deal with anything that comes up.
I missed Dave this time around as he could not make it to Las Vegas in person, but he was there in spirit…. and of course he was there in the middle of Glyn’s talk on compositing.
I spoke in the Peachpit bookstore about the Fuel books that I have written. It was great to see the line at the Fuel of Fortune wheel. Hopefully more folks will find out how great the line of Fuel books is.
The Adobe booth is always packed with different presentations. Some of the presenters that I managed to see where Julieanne Kost, Aaron Grimes, and the most dedicated speaker of all, Russell (Pirate in Real Life) Brown.
I’m a huge fan of Wacom products. Looks like Moose is a fan as well. Here he was showing a little editing at their booth on the expo floor.
Erik is a huge fan of Gene Simmons… or maybe not. It was great to see him doing some live shoots on the expo floor. I love the Rogue FlashBenders and it was great to see them in use.
Julio was there assisting everyone. Never met a happier guy. Always got a smile and really knows his stuff. Here he was helping Erik Valind break down after a live shoot.
Drones are everywhere these days. Randy is a master at using these to capture the world around him. DJI nada cool booth where they could safely fly drones, showing the attendees what they can really do.
The SmugMug crew ROCKS. I host my portfolio on their site and am really happy with the way it looks and more importantly how responsive they are when I have a question.
Frank Doorhof doing a live shoot at the Rogue FlashBender booth. I thought i was being sneaky but he saw me anyway. Always amazed at what Frank can do with just single light.
I know what you are thinking, what is Shamus from the WWE doing at Photoshop World? Actually it’s Wes from Wacom. It was great catch up with him.
Jake Peterson presenting at the Adobe booth. It was great to see him talk about his photography and his use of the Adobe products.
Always been a fan of the Hoodman products. I use the CompactFlash cards and have an eyecup on the D4.
The Kelby One / Peachpit booth had a number of great presenters. Here Brian Smith discusses not only his portrait work but the images used in his Sony Snapshots to Great Shots book as well.
Brian and Rob… pretty sure they are up to no good.
Books were selling like hot cakes.
There was a ton of interest in the Kelby One online training. In case you are interested, I have a concert photography class there. One of the only concert photography class available anywhere.
Kevin presents at the Adobe booth to a full crowd. There is no other place where you will this many great photographers and Adobe experts in the same place.
At the end of the conference, there dis a wrap up presentation where some of the new instructors get to present to all the attendees. This time around, the presenters included Tim Wallace, Moose Peterson, Lindsay Adler and Roberto Valenzuela. Just hearing these four talk for a few minutes each was outstanding. They not only know their stuff, they are passionate about sharing that information with everyone.
The closing ceremony this time around also had my friend and co-teacher give away the Nikon branded guitar.
Larry gets ready to MC the closing session of the conference. Lots of cool giveaways and some laughs to wrap the whole thing up.
It was a pretty full room, so Peter Hurley, Pete Collins, Glyn Dewis and Steve all decided that the floor was pretty good option.
Here is Scott Diussa and the winner of the Nikon guitar.
One last group shot and the conference is officially over till 2015.
The final night in Las Vegas was spent with a pretty motley crew going out to dinner, then catching some sights on Fremont Street. Fun night out shooting.
Camera envy???
RC lines up the group shot at dinner. We kept having to retake it as more people joined us.
Vegas isn’t a subtle place.
RC hard at work.
Sometimes it’s all about the background action
Thank you to everyone who came to my sessions. I appreciate it more than you know. And thank you to Scott, Kalebra and everyone at Kelby One for putting on such a great conference and having me be a part of it.
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