API at NECCC – Sunday

this posting is a day late because i’m still recovering from the whole NECCC experience. saturday night wrapped up nicely with a few more important connections being made. i met janice wendt from nik software and charles needle, a macro photographer from GA. both of them expressed an interest in working with API, which is very cool. stay tuned for more on both fronts, fellow photogs.

later that night i attended the awards ceremony. i tried to tuff it out but not knowing any of the recipients, i could barely stay awake. to tell the truth, i was loosing the last light of the day, so i quietly left and biked around campus, stopping at various points of interest and photographing till it began to rain. at one point it rained so hard i took shelter at a bus stop but continued to shoot thru the distressed plexiglas, lights echoing in the wet road with car lights streaking by. it was a real party.

sunday morning, after breakfast at the dining hall, (btw –the cranberry nut bread is to die for) i attended two presentations. gary needle is a macro photographer who had set up some shooting scenarios on saturday at the hi-jinx area. i was intrigued by his set-ups and curious about his results. he started his presentation with samples of his work… absolutely beautiful. then he covered equipment basics and surprisingly revealed some of his tricks, tips and studio set-ups. simple set-ups really but the results were magnificent.

i then treated myself by attending mark bowie’s “light of midnight” presentation. there are no words i could possibly write, to could describe what i saw. absolutely stunning images taken with exposure times of 2 minute to 6 hours , multiple exposures and HDR shots. all shot in complete darkness and occasionally lit with a mag light, headlamp, million candlelight flashlight or the night lights of surrounding buildings. there was one shot of a line of small pine trees, covered with snow and lit by the light of a nearby gas station, that took everyone’s breath away. mark admitted to us, that it took him 5 minutes to decide whether to take the shot or not… glad you did MB. as one attendee told mark afterwards, “i have a new hero”.

on the ride home, i came to one very important conclusion… you and i both know that the adirondack photography institute is fast becoming the place to go, for world class photography instruction …enveloped in the incredible beauty of the adirondack mountains… and now the members of the NECCC know it!

carpe diem, lightwriters.

API at NECCC - saturday

first let me say about of things about the rest of my friday. i met a lot of NECCC attendees and got a chance to ask them "when was the last time you photographed in the adirondacks?" most of the photogs said they vacationed there throughout their childhood but had never considered photographing in the park... my next question... "why?"

i reminded them that it was less than a tankful of gas away, they could pack up all their camera gear and extra clothing in their car, and not be restricted to an overhead carry-on, get 10% off their first workshop (that savings will fill up your tank) and then get great shots in the park... it's almost a no-brainer. they signed up for our emails, took the discount coupons and walked away, rearranging their calender while daydreaming of the incredible images they'll create.

i did get a chance to see one presenter after dinner. ray guillette presented a program on creativity and it reminded me of the details that one needs to practice every day to challenge oneself, creatively. what was very unique about ray's work... it was done on film.

today has been just as interesting here at the NECC convention. the hi-jinx rooms have drawn a lot of people and has produced some incredible results. there were macro shoots (including , black light set-ups, model shoots (the bikini model swinging from the big silver ring was certainly a fan fav), and hi-speed flash photography.

mark bowie was showing advance copies of his new book, adirondack seasons, an absolute stunning collection of work. his verbal expressions are equally eloquent and if you never see the image he has captured, his words will take you there just as easily. well done mark!

i also spoke with the people from onOne software, Canon and AutumnColor. more on that later. i'm still hoping to get to the print room and see the images that have been submitted for the competition. and then there's the awards ceremony later tonight.

check back later. i'll be sure to have more.

later lighwriters.

API at NECCC - friday

this is impressive. i mean the whole NECCC convention. truly organized and everyone is very helpful. audrey weigold has given me a personal tour of the exhibitors and i have to tell you... it is a treasure trove of products, talent and information. hunts photo is the flagship and gary farber has a crew of talented people unloading a boatload of product. i stopped by to introduce myself and gary was very busy but he stopped for a moment and said hello. stay tuned for an important announcement regarding hunt's photo and video and the adirondack photography institute.

i sat with joe lefevre briefly (joe is conducting a photo tour for API at letchworth state park in october) to discuss the buzz here at NECCC. joe is presenting "now that i'm here, what next?" three times this weekend and it "promises to be a very insightful program... you should pop in, georg". i'll try joe.

i did get a chance to ride around last night and take some shots in the golden light of the evening here at UMASS. the campus is stunning... old and new buildings, wonderful textures and very easy to navigate (with a campus map, compass or GPS). i brought my mt. bike and i gotta tell you, it's the best way to get around and work off those extra pounds.

gotta jet. need to set up the exhibit booth and get ready for all those hungry photogs who want to get to the adirondacks this season.

carpe diem lightwriters!

API's Eric Dresser at The Wild Center

See Eric on Tuesday, July 14th in The Wild Center’s Flammer Theatre as part of the Wild About the Adirondacks series. The presentation will take place at 11:30 am and again at 2:00 pm.

Featuring stunning photos of Adirondack wildlife, this show will be a journey through the seasons. During the presentation, Eric will discuss techniques used to capture images of his wild subjects. Whether you enjoy photographing or observing wildlife, this program will be an inspiration. “Capturing photos of wildlife and wild places has been a passion of mine for the past 30 years. I hope that these pictures will inspire an appreciation of nature in others. Our wilderness and wildlife need to be preserved, for they are the true barometer of our own future.” – Eric Dresser

Eric Dresser is an internationally published photographer who specializes in wildlife and landscape photography from the northeastern United States and Canada. His credits include Adirondack Life Magazine, National Wildlife Magazine, The Nature Conservancy, US Forest Service, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, L.L. Bean Catalogues and many more. Eric is also an instructor for the Adirondack Photography Institute. His first book “Adirondack Wildlife” will be available in the 2009. With over 35 years of experience in the field, Eric has developed many strategies for getting up close and personal with his wildlife subjects. His love and passion for our natural world can be seen in his photographs.

This program is free for members or with paid admission. For more information or directions please visit http://www.wildcenter.org/ or call 518-359-7800.

API is very excited to work with The Wild Center in offering Wild about the Adirondacks!