I’m very tired. I’m sitting now at the dining table of the Appalachian State Loft in New York City. The sheer plethora of information that I received over the course of this weekend is quite overwhelming to me at this point. It is, however, more than exciting, for I feel like a kid on the day after Christmas - I have all these new toys to play with.
Still, though I have a lot of work to do before I can start playing. I have 10 full pages of notes written, along with a five pound stack of handouts, brochures, magazines, and business cards, all of which need to be meticulously sorted through if I’m going to get the most out of my newly obtained information.
The people I met this weekend are amazing. When you have a moment, please take a look at their websites. The work that these photographers produce is first rate, though their most admirable quality, I’ve found, is their openness and candor when it comes to sharing their experiences. Just a quick look through their portfolios is a learning experience. Be inspired, as I was.
On Friday morning, I had the opportunity to meet one of my heroes, Walter Iooss. Mr. Iooss is one of the best sports photographers alive today, his work ranging from action to editorial. In 1993, his photo book called “Rare Air”, about Michael Jordan made such a huge impact on me that I still have it sitting on my coffee table in my living room today. It is not an exaggeration to say that Walter’s book is a huge reason I’m passionate about both photography and basketball
Donald Miralle, like Iooss, is a sports-photography genius. Unlike Ioos, however, Miralle is in his 30’s. He proves that sports are naturally artistic, displaying fervently in his images a passion for capturing this artistry.
From 30’s to 20’s: Dustin Snipes sees things that many sports photographers do not see. You may think that an old woman and a chihuahua could not be in a sports photograph - Dustin proves you wrong.
Also on Friday, I was privileged to meet Joe Buissink. I first became aware of Joe when I saw him in a promo for Apple’s photo editing software, Aperture. As a wedding photographer, Joe has an uncanny ability to capture not only images, but also the feelings that came along with those images. Looking at his portfolio is like attending the perfect wedding. Even as an acutely observant photographer, I found myself looking at his images from a solely sentimental perspective. His work provokes this reaction.
Saturday was incredible. To start my day, I met three young photographic geniuses, all of whom were selected for PDN’s 30, a feature profiling the best young and emerging photographers around the world I won’t say much about their work, for the images speak for themselves. Suffice it to say that as people, these three are among the most accommodating and kind photographers you’ll ever meet.
Finally, my weekend concluded with a chat with Judy Herrmann and Mark Starke, a husband and wife photographer team. At this time, Judy serves as the president of the American Society of Media Photographers. I was particularly inspired to learn that Judy and Mark live in the small town of Elkton, Maryland and they are still able to do business with clients based in the big cities (New York, LA, etc).
Today was my rest day. I took an interesting walk through New York City with my camera (I am now able to say that I’ve been yelled at by a member of the NYPD.) I’ll show you some images of the city sometime soon.
I am going to try to hit the sack early tonight. Travel tomorrow.
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