[Please excuse the cross-posts on APUG and photo.net]
Just a few lines to share my experience.
I drove down to Springfield yesterday to attend the conference, and found it a quite rewarding experience. Michael Smith and Paula Chamlee were the reasons I came, as I wanted to see their work in person, and boy, wasn't I in for a treat. I am sure it's not for everyone, but Michael and Paula now have a fan in me. Jack Holowitz's session on LF portrait was excellent also. Jack is very unassuming; his work is much bigger than his words, and speaks for itself, to use a cliche.
I throughly enjoy the print sharing sessions; it is invaluable to be able to see the works in person, especially in processes I am unfamiliar with (I was curious about Platinum/Palladium specifically), and there were a _lot_ of very high quality work there.
The keynote presentations were very entertaining and interestting (Rob Gibson's on Historical (Civil War) Photography) and David Muench's on LF landscape photography), even if theirs is not my kind of photography.
I didn't spend too much of time in the vendors area, (I am on an equipment diet :-)), though it seems quite well attended and stocked;
I saw and even touched an Ebony camera :-). I escaped with only a $35
damage (for a lensboard).
Too bad I cannot make it today to hang out at the reception and perhaps meet some faces to put with names I recognize here and other LF net forums, and also meet other LFers in the area.
If you are within driving distance and can make the time, I highly recommend the experience. Kudos and thanks to Steve and View Camera Magazine, and also to the Western New England LF group (Bruce Barlow, Gene Laford, et al). From all apperances on the first day, you guys did a great job hosting the event. Hope the rest of the weekend went as well.
- Phong
Bookmarks