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Guest Blogging for My Photoshop World Pal Michelle Hedstrom

Trish Logan: Posted on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 11:04 AM

Answering Your Questions About...

GUEST BLOGGING FOR

PHOTOSHOP WORLD PAL

MICHELLE HEDSTROM OF

OGRE PHOTOGRAPHY

check her out on the web at:

www.ogrephotography.com

Glad to see that you have been reading our blog.

We got a HUGE response last Friday when we shared a guest blog spot we did for Michelle Hedstrom, of Ogre Photography,

a friend I met at Photoshop World in Las Vegas.

Many of you requested the full blog again, which you can find at:

http://www.ogrephotography.com/node/131

Excited about your response,

I wanted to share some additional thoughts about the experience:

Michelle Hedstrom and I met as part of a Facebook group headed to PSW~Vegas, there were probably 30 or more members in the FB page.

For some time prior to the PSW, we all exchanged comments, opinions and ideas on everything from illustration, graphic design, photography and Photoshop trying to figure out the best classes to take and of course always,

where to eat & what to drink when we got there.

(not in that order)

Once we everyone met and got to know each other a bit, we talked about equipment, what we could shoot while in Vegas and on one very funny day, we even had a creative collaboration on just to how much chaos we could cause in the floor of the expo, dragging in some of

the most talented, funny people I have ever met into the fun.

Along with everyone else in that group, we laughed hard and smiled often during our time at PSW. From the shoot in Nelson, NV on Monday morning with a very small group then at the face to face meeting with the cool kids at the House of Blues on Monday night.

We were having a BLAST as the weed started and PSW hadn't even begun.

Wednesday kicked off the Photoshop World conferences where we sat with small groups of friends, breaking off after the keynote to attend our classes. Some sessions we attended with friends and some alone.

We seemed to join coincidentally, however, day after day on the floor of the expo shooting at the Westcott booth and just hang out. We all talked, cameras, Photoshop, lighting, freebies and giveaways, who had what... and of course the lists of what we all wanted but couldn't afford.

We looked at our friend's portfolios on iPads, iPhones, cell phones and even beautiful matted prints. We shared, we learned and we laughed.

I enjoyed the friends I made that week, was glad to be a guest blogger for Michelle and hope that she will be doing the same for me very soon. I look forward to her sharing her love of concert photography

and extreme action sports.

I know when you see her amazing images you will be as floored as I was!

Keep an eye out!

Thanks again for following our blog and emailing me your questions!

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My Week in Review ~ Vegas Style!

Trish Logan: Posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 10:39 PM

My Week in Review...

Vegas Style!

Wow... Where do I start?

I just came back from LasVegas where I spent 6 days, making some amazing images and

amazing friends.

My trip was planned a year ago when I attended my first

Photoshop World in 2010.

I new from the moment I attended the opening ceremony last year, that I would be back again!

This year, I had the chance to go 2 days before the conferences started and spent time just roaming around, making pictures and hanging out.

Day 1:

Let me start my saying that the day before I flew out, I recieved and email giving me the opportunity to take a day trip with some FB friends that I had never met, (that's another story), to go to Nelson, just outside of Vegas with a bunch of photographers.

The added bonus for me was that Frank Doorhof a photographer from the Netherlands would also be there. I have been a fan of his fashion photography for sometime. To have the opportunity to watch him shoot in such a small group setting was incredible! I went, shot, watched and learned from a master. Yup I was right it was INCREDIBLE!

For me my first day in Vegas was very awesome. I met some of those facebook friends for the first time on the trip to Nelson. My friend Jackie flew in just in time to make it to a meet up at "The House of Blues" that evening . The same Facebook friends I met earlier that day and lots more gathered that night and I don't mean like one or two, I mean like 20 or more.

They were fun and friendly, greeted me with a hug or handshake and even teased me here and there like we were old friends. Starting off my week making so many new friends made the classes and the whole Photoshop World experience all the better.

I had friends to eat with everyday, sit with in classes and explore the expo floor with. It was like that old shampoo commerical the one that says I told two friends and they told two friends and so on and so on. That's how the week went from that night on. I met some friends and they shared their friends and I shared my friends and so on and so on and so on.

By the end of the week, it was impossible to be in a room and not know at least 15 or 20 people. Ah the power of social networking! Got to love it.

DAY 2:

Headed out to the Valley of Fire first thing in the morning with my friend Jackie. We spent the entire morning rambling through the desert with no goal other than to at some point see the Hoover Dam and take great pictures.

Working as a portrait photographer, it's been a long time since I shot any kind of landscapes. The desert yielded the most beautiful scenery and colors I have ever seen.

I broke out my tripod and did some HDR shots. Loving the warmth of the sun on my face and having no where to be. We sat at some points and just enjoyed the moment. Not even taking a single photograph. At other times we shot tons of the same scene just trying to show the beauty of it.

(Here are some of my favorites)

We did make it to the Hoover Dam that day too! Just the size and height of it was breath- taking. We walked along the top and made sure to cross into Arizona so we could say we did it and entered a different time zone.

It was hokey but it made

us laugh.

DAY 3:

PHOTOSHOP

WORLD BEGINS!

This year, I had the added bonus of making it into the finals for the Guru Award in the photography category. It all started when I recieved and email from the Kelby Media group informing me that I was one of 3 photographers vying for the Guru which would be announced at the opening Keynote ceremony. I didn't tell anyone for a few days for fear if I said it out loud it would go away. I finally told friends after reading that email for the 100th time. It was unbelieveable news to me.

In the photography world, I can only equate it to feeling like I made it to the academy awards. Sitting in a special section seeing your image up on the big screens and hearing them say my name and show my entry was unreal. It's true it is an honor to be considered even though the Guru went to someone else. I will never forget the moment.

This is the display outside the expo that showed all the finalists.

Below is the image that I submitted was a 14-1/2 minute long exposure taken in Quebec at the Basillica of Saint Anne DeBeaupre' a place believed to be the site of miracles. It was very simply called "The Blue Basillica". Getting that email was like my mini miracle.

With the Opening Ceremony over, classes began. I sat in on sessions with some of my photographic heros. Learned from some of the best photographers and instructors in the industry. They were fun, engaging and very approachable. They welcomed our thoughts and comments eagerly and encouragingly.

Between classes everyday, the expo floor opened. The highlight was the Westcott lighting booth. The booth was set up with 4 bays to shoot with different models each day. That seemed to be the place where we would gather and hang out with new friends and old, shooting, laughing & just creating chaos when the models left the booth we would jump in and photograph each other it was hysterical. Below are some of my favorite shots of the models and friends.

And so it went for 3 full days. Learning, shooting, laughing and networking. We wrapped up our conferences on Friday afternoon. I said goodbye to my new friends and old. The week was unforgettable more for the friends I made than for the classes I took. Spending a week in the company of my peers has always been what Photoshop World is all about. I learned that my first time there, it was reinforced this year when I spent the week hanging with the "cool kids" and you know who you are!

Late Friday night I flew out on the red-eye first to Boston and then on to home and family in Maine. If you asked how I spent my last few hours from 5 to midnight in Vegas before heading to the airport my answer would be with friends and a camera in my hand.

Here are some of the last shots from Vegas!

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Mentors, Peers & Proteges' (The 1-2-3 Recipe)

Trish Logan, L&H Photography, LLC: Posted on Thursday, August 04, 2011 11:10 PM

Mentors

Peers & Proteges'

(The 1-2-3 Recipe)

I have been thinking of the many things both good and bad that have brought me to the life of a full-time professional photographer.

Honestly, once I passed the initial leap of faith to jump in, experienced and survived the never-ending expenses of starting a business in an extremely difficult financial climate, not to mention the cost of equipment and trying to keep up with new technology that gives everyone the ability to snap a photo at will via laptop, cell phone, ipod not to mention a multitude of toys that render image making available even to the smallest child, it really has made me stronger and better at my craft, and has kept me pushing to be better and better.

I bought my first digital camera many years ago after tucking my film camera away. People told me taking pictures with this new technology is a easy as: 1-2-3

Looking back at it now, that may actually have been a VERY true statement...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For me the 1-2-3 that brought me to be a Professional Photographer has included the

following ingredients:

1) My Mentors:

I truly believe that everyone no matter what your path in life may be, should have a mentor. I have been fortunate enough to have two that have guided me along the way. I believe that a good mentor is someone who shares wisdom when times are hard, teaches you patience and helps you understand concepts and ideas that you may struggle for years to attain without guidance and support. A mentor should inspire and encourage you, be someone you can hang out with and ask questions without feeling inadequate. Having a mentor(s) is the best way to find answers to questions that clarify your vision and aid in you in achieving your personal/professional goals.

Professionally, doing business requires skills, as a beginner, I was lucky have my mentors serve as my guides. We all encounter a client who reject our work or proposal, we all deal with having computer crashes, equipment failures, or it just may even be that a reader hated your blog post. (hope you don't)

During these times, we all need someone to turn to for advice, someone who has been there and survived the crashes and uncertainty. Believe me, this is very important. It is a very good thing to have someone to work things through with.

Ingredient #2 ~

My Peers

Being a member of professional communities has allowed me to find others that consider me an equal and treat me as a theirs. Be it a fellow novice or master in your chosen craft. Having a peer group has value beyond belief. It allows to you connect with others that are on the same wave length and share your love of craft.

Having a friend who you consider to be of equal caliber is a great thing. You can spend all day talking about equipment and technology, rant about the things that irk you, or even jokingly insult each other in a constructive way. This is actually healthy, because having a friend who is close to your skill set (or slightly above you) is what will keep you evolving.

Ingredient #3 ~

Having A Protegé

Nothing beats having a person to teach the important things in life and career to, someone you can guide along the path he/she really wants to take. Because you have been there once, you can easily guide someone who is about to follow a similar path. Plus young people have lots of wild ideas that may help you remain creative.

For every established photographer, I hope that you have one or two beginners that you are teaching. Even if you don't see yourself as a Mentor, sharing information, ideas and skills with someone eager to learn, grow and succeed in your profession is a worthy course to take.

Remembering the mentors that have helped you along the way and having a "Paying it Forward" attitude will bring you great

personal and professional satisfaction.

I personally will always look to my Mentors with undying thanks, enjoy the warmth and acceptance of my peers and encourage and support younger generations in the their endeavors to achieve their dreams.

For some this may seem obvious, to others it might not, but I wouldn’t be on my current path without the help I have received from others along the way.

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Professional Photography

Guest Blogging for My Photoshop World Pal Michelle Hedstrom

My Week in Review ~ Vegas Style!

Mentors, Peers & Proteges' (The 1-2-3 Recipe)