"Photostock 2008" - The 3rd Annual Northern Michigan Photographer's Gathering

[mfophotos]

Bill -- I had a great time, and enjoyed meeting a great bunch of people. I look forward to seeing what I got on 24 rolls of film from that week. Just a digi shot that I also got on film, but this barn was way cool... http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfobrien/2622584455/
Marc and I had a great time driving around and shooting.
Thanks so much for hosting such a fun event!

Cheers,
Mark

 

[Nicole]

What can I say, a fantastic event - well done Bill! Merlot was perfect!! The events were great!! Wish we had a few more days of this. It was a real pleasure to meet everyone that was there! I just loved the marshmellow sandwich (forgot the local term). You certainly don't need more than one! Dan's guitar playing and voice ( Firephoto ) by the fire at night was beautiful!! Thank you Dan!

You realise that it's all your turn to come to Australia now.

Photostock was the highlight of my month long trip and pure relaxation. I'm off on my flight home now from Toronto (will be home Wednesday afternoon). I'll check back in when I get home.

Anyone on Skype that was at Photostock?

(I must sincerely apologise though, since I was the only person with Merlot bottles (can't say "It wasn't me!", I forgot to take them with me to throw in the rubbish - so sorry!! I hope someone took them - and wasn't cursing this Aussie too much.)

 

[jmxphoto]

Wow, what an exended weekend! It was great meeting new people and reconnecting with those I met last year. I'd like to thank everyone for all the great conversations and sharing. Special thanks to Bill for organizing the event and opening his house and property to us all. Finally thanks to the presenters. I still feel like I'm decompressing from it all but I can't wait to see what I put on those 14 rolls of film!

 

[Gim]

What a great gathering. Educational, inspirational, and with the finest group of people you can put together. And, its all your fault Bill. Thanks for all you do.

 

[Marc Akemann]

Man, what a blast! That was the most fun I've had in quite a while. Bill you're an excellent host. Thank you many times over for all you did.

It was very fun watching Bill do his wet collodian process at his awesome trailer. His passion for it is more than evident and the results were magic.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting all the APUG'rs that were there over the last five days. What an absolute quality group of folks! It was great to meet and talk with the famous Nicole and assist her with the campfire shots of the singing and guitar-playing Dan "FirePhoto" Henderson (who was excellent!). Bombing around and photographing the beautiful countryside with one of the several Marks that were there, in this case, Mark "mfobrien" O'Brien, was great fun (thanks for the TechPan!). Hanging out and shooting with Tom "Toffle" from Canada was enjoyable, too (thanks for the Kodachrome 25!!!). Meeting the North Shore folks, Ike and Andrew and Thomas was great, as well. I'll see you guys in September! Can't mention everyone, but, for people like Vinny and Matt to come all the way from California, not to mention Nicole from Australia and Bob Carnie and his wife from Toronto, and others who drove for hours to attend, is a testament to Bill's integrity and, for that matter, to the integrity of Sean's APUG in general. Pretty cool stuff.

Anyway, the programs were excellent, the portfolios were jaw-dropping and I can't believe how fast it all went. I'm not one to wish my life away, but I can't wait for next year's Photostock!

Marc

 

[haterbrack]

Photostock 2008

I want to echo the senitments of all the people who went to Photostock and had a great time. I look forward to next year and plan on coming and being more active. Bill, thanks for getting this organized and being a great host.
It's clear you are excited about your "new" process. It got me interested.
Thanks
Tony Terbrack
PS. the portfolios were amazing.

 

[jd callow]

Tony,
Welcome to APUG!

 

[Dan Henderson]

I just loved the marshmellow sandwich (forgot the local term). You certainly don't need more than one!

Nicole: It is a "S'more." As in "that was good, I want some more." I can see you need to return to the US for additional lessons in "proper" english!

Dan

 

[Jerry Basierbe]

Dan,
I think Nicole must have been swatting some "muzzies" when you told her what they were called.

Jerry

 

[North Light Press]

Welcome to APUG Tony! Glad you found the place. It was good of you to come by and I hope you'll come again.

Everyone.... Thank you again. You're making me blush considering all I did was provide a piece of dirt with trees, a tiny cabin and an unfinished house. It was all of you that made the event what it was. I'm still buzzing as I go through all my photos. I have to say that this was the best one yet and it was all of you that made it that way. We HAVE to do it again soon.

I want to get an online photo album together and hope that you'll send me a few of your snaps. I didn't get to go everywhere and I'd like to see what you all got yoursellves up to. I'd also like it if everyone could send me something personal that you did on the trip. A photograph for the "Alumni Gallery" on the website. Also send a link to your website if you have one so I can give it a plug with your photo page. Send it by replying to one of the newsletters that came your way prior to the gather. I can't wait to see what you all did with the place.

Thanks again to each and every one of you!

Bill

 

[David Brown]

Group hug! :rolleyes:

We HAVE to do it again soon.

Just kidding. I am actually just a bit envious and want to crash this gathering next time it happens. If Nic can come from Oz (well, really from Toronto ...) then I could come from Texas. Yee Haw!

 

[Jerry Basierbe]

We HAVE to do it again soon.

WINTER!!!

Jerry

 

[dlin]

Bill, thank you for hosting another wonderful gathering. You are a class act and a real inspiration both as a photographer and as a human being. I had a wonderful time seeing old friends and making new ones. Seeing other people's work in person is always a highlight of these gatherings and this year was no exception. So many ways of seeing and each beautiful in their own way. I look forward to seeing people's photographs from the gathering here in the galleries and in person next year.

All the best,
Daniel

 

[deisenlord]

What a great weekend, Ann and I were bummed to leave such a beautiful place and such wonderful people. It's humbling and inspiring to meet such talented and creative folks each year. Your gathering is definitely a highlight of my "photographic year".

Thanks man,
Ike

 

[Jeff Bannow]

For those in attendance over the weekend, you saw Ted's bug shirt. Here's the link for those interested in ordering one - http://www.bugshirt.com. I'm thinking, as I sit here itching my mozzie bites, that it would have been nice to have over the weekend.

I developed my first 12 sheets, and they came out great. Not only did I get to meet all you great people, but it looks like I will be making some nice prints as well.

 

[jmxphoto]

Well here's a couple things fresh off the scanner. I pushed some Ilford Delta 400 to 800 and developed it in Xtol for 10min.

Jamie and his Cirkut:


The Group:


Little gloves:

Ok, on that last on I have to confess, Jeff told me he thought about shooting the little gloves on the clothesline. Was walking back from Bill's house after getting my insulin out of his fridge, saw them and had 1 shot left on my roll. So if you didn't get it Jeff, here it is. Otherwise, hat tip

-James

 

[jp80874]

What a pleasure to meet again or the first time, so many interesting and enjoyable people. How great to sit down to a meal, even breakfast at the Big Chicken, or a hillside at O’Neal Lake, and within minutes have a wonderful conversation going with strangers about out favorite subjects. Thank you Bill for making it happen. Thank you all for bringing so much to the party.

One mystery solved. Large Format camera builder Dick Phillips did not show up for dinner at Legs as planned. While driving back from visiting their son in Montana, Dick and Judy discovered their house in Midland had been hit by lightning. They drove straight through to assess damage and start replacing computer, garage door opener and answering machine that had been blown out. That didn’t stop them from being gracious hosts on my way back to Ohio.

John Powers

 

[Jeff Bannow]

Little gloves:
Ok, on that last on I have to confess, Jeff told me he thought about shooting the little gloves on the clothesline.

Very nice James. I didn't end up getting the shot of those gloves so I'm glad to see that you did.

I uploaded a few scans from the trip here: http://www.jeffbannow.com/gallery/v/WIP/
They are rough - I haven't done much adjusting and will be playing with brightness, contrast and tone when I get to printing them. I think they have potential though.

 

[df cardwell]

FOTAR MAN !

OK, I confess. It was dark, there was beer and I was talking to a fellow at Bill's about a Fotar.

I just don't remember whom.

Oberon Leinenkugel, I think.

Is that right ?

Anyway, please PM me. I think I have a stash of Fotar stuff
you are welcome to. Just DON'T ASK where it came from.

Don't.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Everything has had time to sink in now, almost a week after returning to Minnesota.

A few old friends, but mostly new ones. It was a very fulfilling thing to take part in. I met so many interesting and great people, not just talented photographers. My heart races when I think of the beauty of the area, and I specifically think a lot about how gracious Bill has been, three years in a row, to put up his land, time, patience, and resources to make this happen. I just showed up and had an awesome time!

I remember very dearly the last night we were gathered around the camp fire, with Dan's talented guitar playing and singing (you're good, man!). It was the perfect evening.
I got my portrait taken by two world class photographers in two days (gawk!). Thanks to Bill and Nicole for that!
I echo Bob Carnie's sentiments that perhaps we should see if the resources at the Birchwood Inn could be used. The proprietors certainly didn't seem foreign to the idea. You should have seen the light go off in the owner's eyes when I asked to view the facilities. They have a huge basement, as well as a very large room upstairs to house lots of people. And the rooms are very clean and well kept up.
All in all something I will never forget. Everybody helped make it special, that's for sure!
- Thomas

 

[Toffle]

I echo Bob Carnie's sentiments that perhaps we should see if the resources at the Birchwood Inn could be used. The proprietors certainly didn't seem foreign to the idea. You should have seen the light go off in the owner's eyes when I asked to view the facilities. They have a huge basement, as well as a very large room upstairs to house lots of people. And the rooms are very clean and well kept up.
- Thomas

I concur. I was actually thinking just today that there were so many passionate and skilled photographers present that you could easily mount a one-day public exhibition, wherein you could generate considerable interest, and even a few sales. Before anyone shouts this down, I was quick to veto my own notion... the weekend as it is is already jam-packed with activity (and more than a little revelry) I just don't see how such an event could fit in without adding an unnecessary level of complexity to what is essentially perfect in its present form.

Still, it does speak to the inspiration that has had me flying high since I first walked up the path on Van Rd.

Cheers,

 

[Marc Akemann]

Photostock '08 Pics - The Candids

Well, I've scanned the 4 rolls of 35mm candids I shot at Bill's place last week and uploaded them to my Flickr site. I edited the number of images down from 96 possibles to 74. The 22 images edited out were either repetitive or just plain no good.

Flickr is still kind of an experiment for me so if anyone has an objection to having the images being free to view for anyone on the planet, please let me know and I can make it so that only 'friends' on my contact list can see them...I guess. Suggestions are welcome.

I scanned the images to 8x12 at 300 dpi and you can take what you like.

Dead Link Removed

Marc

 

[Marc Akemann]

Photostock '08 Pics - The Candids

Oh, I forgot to mention that the images are in chronological order and can be viewed as a slide show. So turn on your favorite music and enjoy!

Dead Link Removed

Marc

 

[jd callow]

wow am i jealous

 

[blaze-on]

Nice job on the candids Marc..thanks.
I'm starting my last leg home today..had to stay and finish some stuff in Muskegon area and left Thursday.