The Hylton Performing Arts Center ~ Image from Nature Visions site.
I just got back from a wonderful weekend in Manassas Virginia where I attended the Mid-Atlantic Photo Expo. I gave a lecture on Sunday “A Blend of Art and Nature” and I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I might be – given the size of the venue and the fact the Art Wolfe was the keynote speaker.
Friday night my friend Mary and I went to dinner with Art Wolfe and Ellen Anon. Art Wolfe was very funny. He immediately set the tone for the night with a funny knee slapping comment that had us all laughing hysterically. The rest of the evening was met with interesting conversation (did I mention the Margaritas?) about a variety of subjects. Ellen Anon is a sweetheart, she is very nice to be around, she had a lot of great stories to share as well. Marilyn Gaizband and her husband Sam were also there and they were both very kind and shared lots of interesting stories. Marilyn wrote a book titled Kaleidimals, she very kindly gave me one of her books. I will share more of her book with you down the road when I get caught up.
During my time at the Expo I got to see lots of lectures including Art Wolfes “Between Heaven and Earth” it was fantastic and very inspirational. I also was able to sit in on a couple of workshops. Ellen gave her lecture “Understanding Visual Intensity”, it was a very interesting lecture and it really made you think about your images. Arthur Ransome gave a nice lecture “Seeing in Black & White” as did Kevin Adams who presented his lecture “Digital After Dark”, BTW He is a hoot!
On my drive down to the Expo my windshield was hit with a large rock which caused the windshield to crack-and keep cracking. This morning it is almost halfway down my windshield-yikes!
I do want to thank Don Rosenberger and Greg Daily for their support and help throughout the expo. Those two guys worked really, really hard to get everything organized and I think they did a great job. I look forward to attending next year. They have secured Seth Resnick as their keynote speaker and I can’t wait to hear the rest of the line-up.
Gary Farber from Hunts was there. He was able to assist many folks with their camera gear purchases. Gary gave me a Hoodman HoodLoupe which I am going to try out. If I like it you will see the review on my blog. I have heard a lot of folks saying how much they like their Hoodman Loupes so I’m anxious to try it out.
I also got to meet Ed Heaton. I hope to get to shoot with him in the near future!
I have already received some emails and blog posts with kind words and feedback from my lecture that I would like to share:
Denise
Excellent presentation at Nature Visions today Denise. I very much enjoyed your images as well as your commentary.
Terry Jackson
Denise…..
I was at Nature Visions for your presentation. You were most inspirational. I am ordering Fractalius today!!!
Eileen Murphy
Denise,
Thank you for a great presentation yesterday in Manassas. You are one dynamic and talented gal.
Regards,
John Monroe
Denise,
Caught your lecture/presentation at Nature Visions today. Thanks for a great presentation.
I still hope to get to one of your workshops in the coming year.
Dale Nelson
Hiya Denise
Was a real hoot (bird talk) meeting you.
Enjoyed very much your presentation Sunday @2.
Am heading to Chincoteague to shoot……..photograph
birds,sunrise and sunsets…..using some of the clues learned from
your talk.
Thanks for befriending me
Stay in touch
Dan
Hi Denise: nice round-up about the weekend. I know Ed Heaton. I’ve taken several of his workshops. He’s a great guy and a fabulous photographer! I also have a Hoodman Loupe. I like it for a variety of reasons but especially because I’m “of the age” that requires some help when either viewing (or reading!) things that are “small.” Kate
Hi Kate, Ed really seemed very nice and I have heard all good things about him. I already took the Hoodman Loupe out of the box and can tell I am going to like having this on the beach
denise
Denise, you weren’t nervous because you are a natural with people. I spent 38 years in education and often spoke to large gatherings so the first time I met you I noticed how engaging you were with people. I’m not surprised at all at how comfortable you felt in front of a large group. Keep up the good work.
Richard, You have been such a kind supporter of me and my photography. I just want you to know how much your kind words mean to me.
denise
Denise, congrats on all the positive feedback from the folks at the show. Sounds like you had a really great time and wowed them with your creative talents. Your images always impress and inspire me. Sorry to hear about the windshield…that can be scary…I myself had a very close call with a large white-tail buck at 4am on the highway yesterday.
Andrew, Thank you for the kind words. I hope you weren’t injured
denise
Denise – thanks for a great talk on Sunday! I am going to Chincoteague this weekend and I am pumped after your presentation.
PS – do you have any pull with the Fractalius folks to get them to release it in a Mac version????? Love this plug in and recently switched to mac and was disappointed they do not have it in mac version.
Hi Suzanne, welcome to my blog. Thank you for the kind comments. I wish I could get the company to do a mac version but they won’t, sorry. I guess it’s the one thing us PC users have
denise
Congratulations Denise. It sounds like it was a wonderful evening.
Thanks Phillip, it was a great weekend for sure
denise
Wish I could have heard your presentation. Congratulations on a (what I’m sure was) a great one! Interested in hearing your thoughts on the Hoodman Loupe. I have one but I have found myself scaling back on items when I go out in the field, and that is usually one I leave behind because of weight. Maybe I should carry it, but I usually review my shots when I get back, and if they are bad, delete them at that point. Still, I can see that it may help to set up a shot in field…
Thank you Andrea for the kind words, I’m excited to give the Hoodman Loupe a try. I will do a review as soon as I get a chance to use it a couple of times and get the feel of it
denise
Wish I could have heard the presentation. Do you ever come to Toronto?
Thanks Edith, I would definitely love to go to Toronto but I have nothing booked there yet
denise
My heartfelt thanks to you for inviting me to go along. It was a great time and I really appreciated the opportunity to hear the various speakers, all of whom had something to offer.
Thanks Mary, It was a good weekend and you were lots of fun
denise
It sounds like your experience was wonderful in many ways. I’m glad. As for how well your presentation was received, I don’t think any of us who have been fortunate enough to meet you would be surprised at that.
Thank you Dennis, That is very kind of you to say.
denise
Sounds awesome!! I’m glad it went well.
Thanks Adam, I appreciate it.
denise
Congrats, Denise. Sounds like the event went very well. Wish I could have gotten the chance to drive down and meet you but other commitments were on tap. Perhaps you’ll be in the area again some day.
Really nice feedback from some of the attendees. You should be proud of how this worked out.
Thanks for the kind words Jimi, It would have been nice to meet you in person, maybe next time.
denise