conf. yes or no

[Aggie]

Simple question, do you want an apug conf/ gathering/Baccanailia (sp) ?

The earliest it would be is late spring 2005.

 

[roteague]

West Coast would be good, anywhere else is just too far from Hawaii.

 

[John McCallum]

Your Spring presumeably?

 

[modafoto]

Denmark would be GREAT!

Hmmm....ok, maybe there are too many Americans to bring this to DK. I may get the money to travel to the US.

See ya (maybe)

Morten

 

[Ole]

Denmark would be GREAT!

...
Morten

I agree, Morten! But maybe Norway would be even greater?

I sometimes go to Denmark for work, but I don't believe I can get my employers to pay the ticket across the Atlantic. At least not without the prospect of some really unpleasant job at the other end. I'd rather spend my own money on film and paper!

But there's always a chance that I might find my way over for a conference...

 

[juan]

Can we all crash at your place, Ole?
juan

 

[lee]

I have some experience with organising and promoting musical events (read concerts) and I would help as best I can.

If we are gonna do this we will need a lot of participation from the attendees as well as sponsors. We will need a location where there is an airport a good clean hotel and an area where those that want to photograph can do so. And the weather is temperate. None of this Death Valley in August stuff. AZ in the south is out most of the year. North Texas fails on at least one account and that is lack of desirable things to shoot. Sorry Jim, but Ks and Neb and the like fail that test also.

just a few thoughts right now.

lee\c

 

[jd callow]

We will need a location where there is an airport a good clean hotel and an area where those that want to photograph can do so. And the weather is temperate.

Leelanau county Mi, Traverse Airport more Hotels, B&B's and campgrounds than you can shake a stick at. Some beautiful scenery, some of the best beaches in the world --located on a fresh water inland sea with 30 or 40 miles of National Park coastline, and some very nice hidden beauties.

No public transportation, fairly expensive to fly to Traverse airport, but I think it would beat Vegas like a drum.

Just a thought...

 

[lee]

I would like to go to the Upper Pensiula of Mi. It looks to me like the gold mine country of Northern CA. I think the flys and mosquitos are as big a canarys tho.

lee\c

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

And summer music festival at nearby Interlochen.

 

[jd callow]

And summer music festival at nearby Interlochen.

And the BlissFest (folk, bluegrass and old time string) in July.

I would like to go to the Upper Pensiula of Mi. It looks to me like the gold mine country of Northern CA. I think the flys and mosquitos are as big a canarys tho.

lee\c

Early Spring and Autumn are the times to go to the UP. In the dead of summer mosquitos are bad, real bad, but the black flys are like flying gorillas.

Helen and I went in Nov. once. Although most parks were closed, they were not locked shut. We had unseasonably warm weather and it was magnificent. The UP forests are largely pine trees and other conifers so it stays green year round. There are few things that can match Superior in Nov. for power and beauty.

 

[lee]

I got to go to Houghton/ Hancock area several years agofor a week of work. Took 24 hours to fly from DFW to STPaul then to Marquette and then a 4 hour wait for the bus the airline sent and then a 4 hour ride up to H/H. Called my boss and told him it was like the movie Trains Planes and Automobiles. Very depressed area. Nothing has been built since the mid 1950's. It was March and snow was still around and piled way high. It was very cold every night also. The little fat Texas boy froze his huevos off.

lee\c

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Leelanau county Mi, Traverse Airport more Hotels, B&B's and campgrounds than you can shake a stick at. Some beautiful scenery, some of the best beaches in the world --located on a fresh water inland sea with 30 or 40 miles of National Park coastline, and some very nice hidden beauties.

No public transportation, fairly expensive to fly to Traverse airport, but I think it would beat Vegas like a drum.

Just a thought...

Been there, done that - would like to do it again! Beautiful area!Vinyards, Wineries Cherry orchards, etc.

As I recall, the tourist season officially starts in early April. Booking flights into/out of Traverse Airport can be a problem - very few flights - mostly commuter planes. On the second day of the tourist season, United offered me $900. cash plus a round trip flight anywhere in the USA if I would give up my seat on the airplane when I was departing Traverse Airport.

 

[jd callow]

I really do have work to do today but...

Some shots of the UP (remember I'm not a nature photog ):

 

[BWGirl]

And then there's South Haven, Kalamazoo, the Hot Air balloon festival in Battle Creek, but Copper Harbor in the UP...eh, der! haha Wisconsin's got nice stuff in the summer, too!
But if we are talking West coast, then how could we go wrong with the San Jose area? Wineries, close to the ocean, fairly temperate. Close to SF...a huge convention center & hotels... shopping, good food, several large universities (that may be available for housing). This area would win my vote hands down over Vegas!

I think Aggie and others had the right idea in the other post...get some ideas, get some general cost info & put it to a vote as to where to hold the first one. After that, we can talk about having it somewhere else (Are Denmark & Norway big enough to hold all of us??? hahaha )

Cool idea, and I'm excited about it!
Jeanette

 

[jd callow]

Tourist season starts on Memorial day and runs through Labor day. Early May is a great time to go.
a couple from the LP:

 

[Flotsam]

I always enjoy hearing of APUG members who are local to each other getting together to meet and enjoy photography but with active members spread from Australia to Denmark, it sounds as if a worldwide conference would be logistically daunting at best. Add to that the fact that creative folks tend to be, well... rather opinionated, all of the elements a complex event might be beyond the hope of reaching any consensus. (remember the simple "Name the Magazine" thread? There were as many suggestions as members. Poor Aggie finally had to close the thread. )

While it would be an enjoyable event, I have my doubts that it is really feasable.

 

[bmac]

Isuggest we all chip in and order one of these bad boys...

Dead Link Removed

Then any time there is a disagreement at the APUG get together, we can send the two combatants to the ring. The other members could wager on who was going to win, the proceeds would benefit APUG...

 

[mikewhi]

If we have it in the summer, the the Pacific Northwest would be a great spot. No rain from mid-july thru early Sept. Lots of outdoor opportunities for trips: Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, Cascades, San Juan Islands, Columbia River, Olympic Penninsula, rugged rocky shorelines, huge rainforests, etc. Glazer's for supplies, Seattle ARt Museum, Benham Gallery for photography. Lots of motels\hotels. Portland or Seattle would be good choices. Olympia is well located between them. A long way for Europeans to travel, though. Just a thought, but goood only in those mohths. Too much chance of rain in other dates.

-Mike

 

[modafoto]

A long way for Europeans to travel, though.

It's ok. then I have a perfect excuse to go to the US (I like the US, my wife thinks the US is bad).
Then I will come and enjoy meeting all the nice people from APUG. Great!
I may bring my 8x10 pinhole (made it in July).

Greetings Morten

(who in two will own 2 digicams as his new phone will arrive...why are there cams in all new mobiles?)

 

[Eric Rose]

Well there is always Calgary. Your US green backs go a lot further up here than at home, spectacular Rocky Mountains, world famous Lake Louise and the Drumheller badlands. Anything you would want to photograph with the exception of ocean is within 1.5 hours drive.

Great airport, good hotels and Ken Miller, Ian Greant, Jim Phillips (aka GreyWolf) the Calgary Large Format Users Group and myself just might take you to some of our favorite haunts.

Just ask Les McLean, he loved it here.

I also have access to a large commercial darkroom set up for both color and b&w. Just in case you wanted to process and print your stuff while here.

Besides photography, tours is what I do for a living, so organizing it would be a snap.

Eric

 

[jd callow]

I love Canada...

 

[Aggie]

Well there is always Calgary. Your US green backs go a lot further up here than at home, spectacular Rocky Mountains, world famous Lake Louise and the Drumheller badlands. Anything you would want to photograph with the exception of ocean is within 1.5 hours drive.

Great airport, good hotels and Ken Miller, Ian Greant, Jim Phillips (aka GreyWolf) the Calgary Large Format Users Group and myself just might take you to some of our favorite haunts.

Just ask Les McLean, he loved it here.

I also have access to a large commercial darkroom set up for both color and b&w. Just in case you wanted to process and print your stuff while here.

Besides photography, tours is what I do for a living, so organizing it would be a snap.

Eric

Calgary would get my vote! Been there long time ago, and it was wonderful. Eric is right about all the things being in the right spot, plus the value for your money is the best.

What say we start putting a committee together to work out all the things about it. I suggest Lee, mrcallow, Eric and anyone who would also like to help on the planning of this form a committee.

As to world wide conventions/conferences/tournaments, been there done that too. I JUST DO NOT WISH FOR IT ALL TO BE MY RSPOSIBILITY ALONE!

 

[jd callow]

Some of us talk louder than others which may give the impression of consensus. I think we should continue with the democratic process and take another 2 polls.

One to confirm location(s) -- Someone will need to compile a list from this thread as well as ask for final input.

In addition to locations, we may wish to have an option for coinciding get togethers as in 1 date multiple locations World Wide. If people wish to have an AU NZ and a Europe and a S/C American meet. They can convene their own group and we can all coordinate.​

Largest vote wins.

Finally we could vote on dates. If it were held in Calgary we might have to weight the results based upon Eric's recommendations/requirements.

 

[Aggie]

All I did was say I personally would vote for Calgary. that doesn't mean that is where it would be held. From personal experience with polls and such, the more you have of them the more you get conflicting info. It becomes more of a headache and nothing is ever solved. As for the committee, that is where it would be decided. As for place and time of year yes do polls, just be warned anything that had been decided on in a pervious poll will likely be turned around in the next poll. This is not to say that apuggers are children, but think of who had to make the final diecision in a large family? All the kids would have different ideas and all valid given certain viewpoints. It became the job of the parents to sift through it all and decide. So Committee first? Give options and ideas and then pools to see what of the options would work. BESIDES John I want to see you do that internet feed thingy you talked about. You can be the resident internet geek. Want the job?