Whew!

[gr82bart]

OK this is a very long post.

So I made my way back from a fun filled and packed week long vacation in my hometown of Toronto, Canada. APUG Conference, 4 shoots, GF, friends, my brother’s 30th birthday and helping my dad design his new deck and getting some starting materials. Whew – vacation seems like work!

Now about this APUG Conference…what a blast! What can I say? To those that couldn’t attend – nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah…LOL

First off, thanks to Bob Carnie who hosted, taught, organized and barked to get this together. John Callow did a fantastic job organizing the whole thing and putting all the details in place. Kevin Viner lent a great deal of support behind the scenes. I saw Laura, Dinesh and Ian (plus others whose names excapeme right now – I am sory) running around like foot soldiers.

And what to say to Father Sean - the Prime Being? Your vision started all this and will only grow and morph into bigger and better ideas, events and communities. Thank you and a subscription is not enough.

I had the pleasure of signing up to 5, yes 5, workshops. Here’s a small blurb on them:
1. Split Filter Printing with Les MacLean
Drugs and Rock&Roll have not stopped this wildebeest! As for the sex part, I hear he has a little “JP” tattoo on his rear! LOL

Les has inspired me to go back into my darkroom (kitchen) with a vengeance. I learned so much – post flashing brings out the details in the highlights more effectively, having a solid repeatable clinical process is a must, but deciding with one’s heart is the key, equipment is everything and the funky timer from RH Designs is essential.

2. PT Printing with Sandy King
Well I heard this was an amazing workshop, but alas, I spent an uninterrupted afternoon with my GF instead. OK I had a lot more fun with her.

3. Solarization with Bob Carnie
This man is mad, just mad. I mean who listens to Christina, Pink and Brittney? Who hums to the backstreet Boys and sings melodies a la Michael Bolton? Not Bob. All industrial metal at level 10.

Solarization is so easy. Expose, develop #1 for 1:30, quick flip to develop #2, 5s flash, develop some more in #2, stop, fix-fix, wash – done. Burning makes things more real and dodging makes things more unreal. Sounds easy, eh? Bob makes it so. Plus he’s the only person I have seen that flips the paper instead of shakes the tray, like the rest of us, for agitation.

4. Children Photography with Cheryl Jacobs
Everyone go take a peek at Cheryl’s avatar. See that gorgeous woman? That’s her in real life. There were many a drooling and ogling nerdy men (and a couple women too!)with GAS at that conference. Let’s all just admit to it.

Now to the serious stuff. Cheryl’s workshop was a refreshing departure from the usual techie, geeky photography workshops I am used to. She talks about emotions, environment, feelings and gets into the minds of the subjects. Interestingly, a lot of her communication styles and techniques, I use with my models! Hmmm….Thanks for the portfolio review too, Cheryl.

5. Music Photography with Margaret Malandruccolo
So this workshop is kind of a misnomer. It really was about taking band/singer pic in an environmental setting. What I like about it was just how close the event resembles fashion/glamour. Basically, you need lights, a MUA, stylist, location, assistant and a kewl subject. Content wise it is also similar in the sense that you’re combining fashion, glamour and art to make a marketing vehicle that will sell the subject. It’s also good to know that TFP/TFCD is alive a well in the industry, especially to those just getting started.

I met so many APUGers. It’s good to put names to avatars and monikers. Too many to list here:

• Jeanette’s a hoot. Just a hoot.
• Dinesh and Travis, we three need to meet again. This time you guys can assist me on of my shoots. Why see the girls at the Brass, when the girls at the Brass are who I am shooting?
• Dave, I am so looking forward to shooting with you in Nevada. Sabrina’s all psyched too when I told her.
• Suzanne’s a pretty calm and collected person on this site, but she was all blushy, apparently when the Canadian Border Services Officer asked where she met her traveling companion, JustK – they met online! LMAO
• Peter Schrager is like 20 minutes away from me, but it took 500 miles for us to finally meet. It won’t be the last time. Anyone who is new to LF photography should take one of Peter’s classes. I didn’t, but kind of watched when I had some free time and he takes the time to ‘splain things.
• You guys won’t believe me, but Blanksy’s a calm cool person and nice guy to boot. I also peeked into his workshop and he was explaining things in a calm methodical fashion. Like a refined professor, actually. Blansky! Who would of thought, eh?
• All I can say about Simon from Ilford is that Kodak Execs should learn a thing or two about customer focus from that man. Since Agfa Scala is dead, I’ll shoot all Ilford now and send it to dr5. In fact I shot a test roll up in Toronto so I’ll see how it turns out. Simon is down to earth and he and his peers have a long road ahead of them to make Ilford a long term sustainable venture. They have to balance their huge numbers of SKUs and their demographic demands. Simon, from my personal point of view, increase the prices and harmonize the SKUs as you see fit. Ilford is no good to any of us dead.
• There were several couples there which is great - I remember two one from Maine or New Hampshire and the other from Michigan.
• It was a pleasure to meet Rob Skeoch, Mark Layne, Jason Schlachet, John Scott, Robert Teague, Bill Smith, Paula Chamlee, Greg from London, ON, and so many more APUGers.

Now you all must see the print submissions APUGers put in. There was some fantastic work there and I hope many of you scan your prints/negs and put them in the gallery. John Shiu’s and Robert Teague’s prints particularly stand out in my memory.

Some suggestions for improvement:

• Make it longer – 4 days minimum
• Make some of the workshops longer and hands-on
• More publicity – there was zero publicity in the local media and I was disappointed that there was no real mention with Contact
• The tent was a great idea, but there was no place to really sit down and socialize
• I still maintain you could have gotten more sponsors (particularly camera shops and competitor labs) and reduced the costs considerably – this I know for a fact
• You need a marketing/publicity person on the executive – John can’t do it all
• Teachers can’t be organizers can’t be attendees – that’s just a fact
• I still maintain you could have gotten ‘deals’ – with airlines, car rentals, camera shops, etc… I did with a hotel easily
• A 'spouse' ticket or itenerary
• Social events that is part of the program - like planned lunches and dinners - that are part of the price of the $75 pass

Anyway, the first conference was a huge success in my books. It was don to earth, it had a community feel, people were mingling and learning, and APUG was publicized to all the attendees.

Until next year.

Regards, Art. (I must have hit every bug in the state of New York on the way home!)

 

[BWGirl]

I'm also back home. Thanks for calling me a "hoot", Art... you know... the world really needs more 'hoots', now doesn't it! ? hahaha We did have a great time there, didn't we? Yeah... Blansky's not clinically insane after all! Who'da thunk it! But hey... he's married to a former cheesehead!

I agree with your suggestions for next year... maybe after the dust settles, and Bob & John & the others decide to do this again next year, they'll start a thread for suggestions.

See ya next year, Art!

 

[Travis Nunn]

...Dinesh and Travis, we three need to meet again. This time you guys can assist me on of my shoots. Why see the girls at the Brass, when the girls at the Brass are who I am shooting...

You know I'm going to take you up on that!

 

[thebanana]

I'd be happy to hold a reflector for you as well!

 

[gr82bart]

I'd be happy to hold a reflector for you as well!

With your handle, it makes my bad thoughts come so easily, but I won't write it here...

Art.

 

[sanking]

Larry,

An excellent post with great suggestions for improvement.

BTW, I could have sworn you were in my carbon workshp, with your wife Debbie, but you did not mention it in your comments. Please tell me that you were there so I won't think I am losing my mind.


Sandy

 

[jd callow]

Larry,

An excellent post with great suggestions for improvement.

BTW, I could have sworn you were in my carbon workshp, with your wife Debbie, but you did not mention it in your comments. Please tell me that you were there so I won't think I am losing my mind.


Sandy

Sandy,
You are thinking of Larry and Debby Gebhardt who are a great couple and took your carbon class. gr82bart (why or what is 'great to bart'? or maybe he means 'great tube art' which is slightly more meaningful.) is Art Liem.

 

[jovo]

Mr. Callow, it's time to take the egg off your face!!! People who do what you've apparently done so well should be posing with a glass of champagne!....and maybe an ice pack on your head

 

[jd callow]

John,
I tend to take myself too seriously sometimes so I think it is good reminder -- thanks for the kind words.

 

[Will S]

Art - please remember that some of our wives/so's who did NOT attend the conference might be reading this. Of course, that doesn't affect me as I am VERY VERY VERY happily married, but, you know, someone else who might have been there.

I should mention that Art's portfolio he showed in Cheryl's workshop was great stuff.

I thought John's comments at the roundtable on the use of cross-processing to help reveal the ridiculousness/absurdity of the 'murican experience (at least, that is how I took it) were very astute. No eggs were thrown at all.

Best,

Will

 

[gr82bart]

maybe he means 'great tube art' which is slightly more meaningful

John you're the only one that gets it!

Art.

 

[gr82bart]

Art - please remember that some of our wives/so's who did NOT attend the conference might be reading this. Of course, that doesn't affect me as I am VERY VERY VERY happily married, but, you know, someone else who might have been there.

Who you looking at Willis?

I should mention that Art's portfolio he showed in Cheryl's workshop was great stuff.

Thank you for the kind words. I really have Bob Carnie to thank. Bob spent the time sorting through hundreds of strips of film to help me pick out which images to print. I may have a solo exhibition in a nearby gallery, if everything goes well, and I really have Bob to thank for the amazing printing he did for me.

Regards, Art.

 

[Sanjay Sen]

why or what is 'great to bart'? or maybe he means 'great tube art' which is slightly more meaningful

And all this while I was thinking gr82bart = great to be Art.

 

[krisbfunk]

1. Split Filter Printing with Les MacLean
Drugs and Rock&Roll have not stopped this wildebeest! As for the sex part, I hear he has a little “JP” tattoo on his rear! LOL

Les has inspired me to go back into my darkroom (kitchen) with a vengeance. I learned so much – post flashing brings out the details in the highlights more effectively, having a solid repeatable clinical process is a must, but deciding with one’s heart is the key, equipment is everything and the funky timer from RH Designs is essential.

2. PT Printing with Sandy King
Well I heard this was an amazing workshop, but alas, I spent an uninterrupted afternoon with my GF instead. OK I had a lot more fun with her.

3. Solarization with Bob Carnie
This man is mad, just mad. I mean who listens to Christina, Pink and Brittney? Who hums to the backstreet Boys and sings melodies a la Michael Bolton? Not Bob. All industrial metal at level 10.

Solarization is so easy. Expose, develop #1 for 1:30, quick flip to develop #2, 5s flash, develop some more in #2, stop, fix-fix, wash – done. Burning makes things more real and dodging makes things more unreal. Sounds easy, eh? Bob makes it so. Plus he’s the only person I have seen that flips the paper instead of shakes the tray, like the rest of us, for agitation.

4. Children Photography with Cheryl Jacobs
Everyone go take a peek at Cheryl’s avatar. See that gorgeous woman? That’s her in real life. There were many a drooling and ogling nerdy men (and a couple women too!)with GAS at that conference. Let’s all just admit to it.

Now to the serious stuff. Cheryl’s workshop was a refreshing departure from the usual techie, geeky photography workshops I am used to. She talks about emotions, environment, feelings and gets into the minds of the subjects. Interestingly, a lot of her communication styles and techniques, I use with my models! Hmmm….Thanks for the portfolio review too, Cheryl.

5. Music Photography with Margaret Malandruccolo
So this workshop is kind of a misnomer. It really was about taking band/singer pic in an environmental setting. What I like about it was just how close the event resembles fashion/glamour. Basically, you need lights, a MUA, stylist, location, assistant and a kewl subject. Content wise it is also similar in the sense that you’re combining fashion, glamour and art to make a marketing vehicle that will sell the subject. It’s also good to know that TFP/TFCD is alive a well in the industry, especially to those just getting started.

Ahh, this is what I was looking for! Great to see a good review of some of the workshops.. I wish I could have made it this year, but alas I went to the PPOC in Halifax with my class.. and oh boy did they push digital.. When anyone saw my film camera.. they'd stare and say "film??" and walk away like they just stepped in shit... seriously, this happened more than once. If I start saving now, perhaps I'll make it next year. yay apug! and ditto on the 4 day suggestion.. I say 5 or 6.

 

[gr82bart]

I say 5 or 6.

That'll kill Bob. Really!

Art.

 

[frugal]

Ahh, this is what I was looking for! Great to see a good review of some of the workshops.. I wish I could have made it this year, but alas I went to the PPOC in Halifax with my class.. and oh boy did they push digital.. When anyone saw my film camera.. they'd stare and say "film??" and walk away like they just stepped in shit... seriously, this happened more than once. If I start saving now, perhaps I'll make it next year. yay apug! and ditto on the 4 day suggestion.. I say 5 or 6.

Man am I glad I went up to Toronto instead of staying in Halifax for PPOC. Between not being a pro and not shooting digital, it doesn't sound like there would have been a lot there for me.

 

[Craig]

AWhen anyone saw my film camera.. they'd stare and say "film??" and walk away like they just stepped in shit... seriously, this happened more than once.

I was carrying my Fuji 6x9 rangfinder over my shoulder and I had more than one person stopping to chat and drool over my camera. Quite a differenece!