Jazzfest (2 months late)

For the past few years Keri and I have driven to New Orleans in the spring for Jazzfest.  It is possibly the best trip we go on each year.  We love the music, the city, the friends, and of course the food.   If you haven't been, I can't recommend it enough.  This year was a bit different in that I was only able to go to the 'fest one day due to travel restrictions.  In addition to that, the one day I went... it was cold, windy, and rainy.  It took a normally slower Friday (versus Saturday) and forced most people to pack into the few spots of dry land.  The rest of the people were relegated to mud sloppin'.  So, overall, not the best experience, but we still got see a few great acts and eat some amazing food.

Sasha Masakowski

 Brushy One-String

 Ana Popovic

Imaging USA Day 3

Here is Day 3 of Imaging USA, including portfolio review, an aerial photo booth, the 8x12' Sharpie mural by Jai, and the Lifetime Achievement Award given to Greg Gorman.

The aerial photobooth.  Pretty cool idea from Leah and Mark

Jai's PPA masterpiece

Greg Gorman was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Award and Degree Ceremony Tuesday night.  Check out his website (specifically the celebrities) to see the incredible work he's done.  You've likely seen it before. :)

Imaging USA Day 2

Imaging USA Day 1 was a ton of fun, and Day two continued on with the same emotions.  Day two was where I realized what a historic organization PPA is.  To give perspective, I asked an employee "so, how many of these events have there been?"  The answer I got was "I dunno- maybe 120 or so?"  I knew PPA has been around, but I had no idea they celebrated their 50th anniversary as an organization in 1930!  You can read more about PPA's history here, including some amazing stories that range from World War I Signal Corps photographers becoming honorary PPA members to George Eastman introducing the first Kodak camera and film system to convention goers in 1888.  Once again, I was so happy to be a part of this historic organization and convention.

In addition to classes and the expo, PPA students were taking certification exams.

Dane Sanders giving away prizes after his class.

The Muñoz Brothers taught a very exciting and humorous live shooting class

Including posing tips...

The official PPA mascot for the event- Flash- heading downstairs to the Expo.

David Bergman showing the Nikon booth area how to snap great event and sport photos.

Photographing the volunteers proves to be quite humorous.  They were barking questions as me from below.  "What's your f-stop!?  What camera setting are you using?!"  When I would tell them my answer, they would always reply "NO! That's wrong!!!"  :)

Lindsey Adler teaching a small group of PPA students.

Michael Barton came away with a few awards at the Grand Imaging Awards ceremony, including photographer of the year.

This character also won an award for best image with his shot of the final shuttle launch.  I was amazed at how he took this photo.  Because NASA won't let anyone around for miles, he set up his tripod a few miles inside the "danger zone" the day before the launch.  He set the camera up on a sound trigger and hoped for the best.  The next day, he went to find his camera had captured a number of images, including this winning shot!

Imaging USA Day 1

Last August I was approached by the marketing director for the Professional Photographers of America (PPA).  She had seen some of the work I did at Social Media Day at Terminal West last summer.  She said she really like my event work and that they were unimpressed by last year's event photographer at their yearly Imaging USA event.   I was extremely flattered to be chosen as the photographer to photograph photographers.  :)  It was last Sunday through Tuesday at the Georgia World Congress Center.  It was a ton of fun, albeit a little crazy with over 10,500 photographers in attendance!

Though they had pre-classes Thursday through Saturday, Sunday was opening day of the Expo.  I had my lovely assistant, Curt, with me for part of the day.  He was a great mule on the Expo floor carrying my gear and also gave me the idea to borrow a monopod from Manfrotto to get some of the "aerial" shots of the floor.  People did look at my pretty crazy hoisting my rig 7 feet in the air, but it captured a few neat shots.  First up, I have a few shots from one of the most popular speakers, Jerry Ghionis:

My favorite shot of the weekend.  Can you tell who the excited audience volunteer is in this photo?

As people gathered on the 3rd floor for the Expo opening and ribbon cutting ceremony, my event contact, Sarah Ackerman, snapped this photo from above and posted it to Twitter.  With all the hustle and bustle of the #IUSA13 tag, the photo was at one point trending on Twitter.  :)

After the ribbon cutting:

My mule assistant heading down to the Expo with me.

Hoochie (not Coochie)

A few weeks ago I was asked to help my friend Erin at The Nature Conservancy's yearly donor event, "The Hoochie" (formerly "Hoochie on the Coochie").  They originally wanted to hire me, but I chose instead to volunteer my photography services for the event since it's such a wonderful organization- even if they scrutinize photography agreements more than any bride I've met with.  ;)    You can read more here about what TNC does. This year's event was hosted at the Top Hat Soccer fields in Buckhead.  I'm not sure what I originally expected, but I definitely didn't think anyone would put a soccer field in the heart of Buckhead's elite neighborhoods including the famous Tuxedo Road.  It really was beautiful driving through these neighborhoods before the event. 

The "pre-party" was hosted at the home of Martin and Jennifer Flanagan overlooking the fields.  I can't really describe how amazing this house was, so I'll let the first pictures speak for themselves.  The rest are from the event.  Enjoy!

The Georgia director of the TNC, Shelly Lakly, with Wendy and Hank Paulson (left to right).

Inman Allen, son of Atlanta's Ivan Allen Jr.

Fresh shucked oysters all night long.

Erin at the "Birds of Prey" show just before dinner.  I'm pretty sure she had no idea they'd have a python there...

The auction tent.