It’s that time of year already, when people from all over the industry, gather together to get their learn on at the Photoshop World Conference & Expo. It is billed as “The Must-Attend Conference for Photographers & Photoshop Users” and after experiencing it first hand, earlier this year in Orlando, I couldn’t agree more.
“Designed to help you boost your training and experience, Photoshop World offers three days of pulse-pounding training from renowned experts in the field and a once-in-a-lifetime experience guaranteed to enhance your skill set and help your work soar to new heights!
Along with more than 100 classes over the course of three days taught by noted Photoshop and photography professionals, Photoshop World includes a number of interactive pre-conference workshops and an Expo open all three days. The Expo is attended by some of the biggest brands in the world showcasing the latest & greatest technology, products and services, giving people the chance to check out the coolest Photography and Photoshop-related gadgets and gear.”
My friends over at NAPP insisted that I had to go and experience it myself. I took it on good authority, as they are the ones that produce this epic event, and seeing that it was just a short drive down the I4 corridor that splits our beautiful state I figured what better time to see what it was all about. I’m sure glad I did!
The night before everything kicked off the crew over at NAPP News started creating a buzz online about an official “tweetup” out on the patio of the Rosen Center Resort, where everyone was staying. As I understand it a “tweetup” is a meet up that is organized on Twitter… and it works! We had a ton of people swing through for a drink and a hello, including a lot of the headliners like Scott Kelby and Joe McNally, who I quickly threw in front of the lens. You see just that morning Adobe had just released the latest Beta version of their new Lightroom 3 software and it had a cool new feature… Tethered Shooting! So that evening was the first time I had a chance to try it out and rather then taking a snapshot of my foot in the hotel room, I dragged some gear down to the Tweetup and decided to give it a trial run, in a real world setting. The program performed admirably and everyone quickly started hamming it up for the camera. Who knew so many photo industry people were just dying to get on the other side of the lens after a cocktail or two!
I couldn’t have asked for better assistance that night either as my Adobe Expert friend David Rogers was manning the laptop and not long after Tom Hogarty (Lightroom Product Manager) and Bryan O’Neil Hughes (Photoshop Senior Product Manager and Lightroom Product Evangelist) arrived on the scene and started fielding questions from the crowd. That is what’s great about Photoshop World, its an opportunity to go right to the source.
The best part of the whole experience though, came from meeting so many talented and great people in the industry. The energy was tangible and everyone so passionate about their path in life. To be a “professional” creative and find friends among like minded people really is a blessing.
- UPDATE – Apparently everyone at the Tweetup and the gang at Adobe had as much fun as I did that night! David and I have been asked back to photograph the event again and this time use the full version of Lightroom 3 as it has just been released. If you are planning on attending make sure to come out for the fun. See you in Las Vegas next week!
Join Adobe & The National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) at the #PSW Tweetup! 8/31 7:30-11pm @ Mandalay Bay (Vegas)
If are not able to attend, keep an eye on the Tweetup Vegas – Flickr Group to see all the great photographs as we post them. Here is the link to everything from Orlando’s event earlier this year PSW 2010 Orlando too.
Here’s a few shots from Orlando’s Tweetup:
