After hours party fun at Club Ibiza

What a treat! Party-goers were treated to dinner, drinks and entertainment provided by the rockin’ and rollin’ Big Electric Cat. Lead vocalist, Kalebra Kelby wowed the crowd with her awesome singing abilitymwhilenthe crowd enjoyed the dance floor until the early hours of the morning. Many attendees were able to mingle with the instructors from whom they’d learned during the day. Meeting new friends and exchanging photography ideas, this was another opportunity to enjoy some extra time with fellow NAPP members, instructors and creatives. The European NAPPsters tore up the dance floor, led by Calvin Hollywood and Glyn Dewis, accompanied by Stephanie Cross in this photo.

Reason #254 to Come to PSW

Ladies and Gentlemen- Big Electric Cat

Photoshop World After Hours!

The PSW Hashcaster Site Returns!

Photoshop World DC is just around the corner, which means that the PSW Hashcaster site is about to go live to help you constantly find the latest news!

There have been some great improvements to Hashcaster this year, including the ability to add video so all you video buffs out there, be sure to tag any Photoshop World videos you share with #PSW12 on Twitter so we can add them for all to see. Here’s a helpful guide to show you what Hashcaster is all about.

What is Hashcaster?
Hashcaster is a real-time Twitter curation platform setup to help you find the best content tweeted at Photoshop World and to help you easily identify and connect with top influencers.

Why you should use Hashcaster?
Keeping up with a fast trending hashtag on Twitter can be like drinking from a fire hose. It’s almost impossible to keep up with all those tweets, links, photos and videos generated by the thousands of attendees and non-attendees at an event. Hashcaster solves this problem by curating all this content into organized channels that you can view at anytime through the event’s Hashcaster web site.

However, Hashcaster doesn’t stop there. The Hashcaster platform continually monitors the hashtag Twitter stream to identify top influencers and contributors at the event, making it easier for you to connect with the who’s who.

Finally, you can become a top influencer yourself; the Hashcaster system evaluates each and every tweet in real-time to identify nuggets of knowledge and diamonds in the rough at PSW. One of those diamonds in the rough could be you!

How can I access Hashcaster?
You can access the Photoshop World Hashcaster site through your web browser, smartphone or tablet by visiting http://psw.hashcaster.com/home

How do I get my tweets, links, photos & videos on Hashcaster?
Hashcaster does all the work. You simply include the hashtag, #PSW12, in your tweets and the Hashcaster system looks after the rest. It’s that simple. Please note, we are still tracking the #PSW hashtag but a lot of non-Photoshop World attendees have been using it lately, so #PSW12 will be the event-related hashtag this year.

How do I become a Top Influencer on Hashcaster?
The Hashcaster system is continually evaluating the Twitter stream to determine who are the top influencers at any given time. This list of top influencers is literally updated with every new tweet. Becoming a top influencer depends on a whole range of factors that help the system identify those people that have the most positive impact on the hashtag community. Although there is no way to guarantee that you’ll become a top influencer, the following do’s and don’ts can help increase the likelihood that you’ll make the list.

Things that make you a positive contributor on Hashcaster.
• Tweet unique tweets with relevant content frequently.
• Get a story published on Hashcaster by tweeting high quality links to topical articles and blogs.
• Contribute photos or videos to Hashcaster.
• Retweet interesting and relevant tweets form other community members.
• Have a high Klout score.
• Have lots of followers in the hashtag community.

Things that make you a negative contributor on Hashcaster.
• Do not tweet out the same tweet over and over again.
• Do not tweet promotional links with little or no story content.
• Do not retweet every tweet in an attempt to increase you ranking.
• Do not use auto tweeting services that replicate your message across many user accounts. (this will get you blocked)
• Do not include profanity in your tweets (this will get you blocked)

Some final tips?
We have learned that people who share important event announcements and who tweet their experience (like quick tips that they learn in classes) not only become ranked contributors, but make lots of new friends along the way in the #PSW12 Twitterverse. Engage in the conversation (don’t be shy), don’t tweet anything you wouldn’t say in public, and support fellow Tweeps with generosity and good will.

Have fun!

So You Want To Be In Pictures?

If you’re looking to expand your creativity by shooting video, don’t miss our FREE “Fundamentals of DSLR Filmmaking” workshop at this year’s Photoshop World in Washington, DC.

Taking place on Friday, March 23 from 6:30 – 10:00 pm, the class will teach you the principles of filmmaking and how to capitalize on what humans crave when they watch films—stories. Taught by Jeff Medford and Ross Hockrow, you’ll learn how to tap into the minds and hearts of people everywhere and satisfy their innate desire to hear stories.

This session, part of Get In Motion Tour, will teach you the building blocks of stories, the structure of stories, different storytelling techniques, and how to build stories on a timeline by editing it all with Adobe Premiere Pro.

In the process, you’ll master fundamental filmmaking techniques, including finding the right gear and learning how to use it to make successful, profitable films that will launch you into new and untapped income streams.

See you in DC!

Please note: This seminar is free to all current NAPP members and registered Photoshop World attendees. No registration or reservation is required to participate.

Celebrate “Moonlight Madness” at Photoshop World…

Haven’t registered for Photoshop World yet? If the answer is no, you may not want to wait too much longer!

If you sign up for Photoshop World before Friday, March 9, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in an exclusive Night Photo Tour of DC* (a $100 value). Taking place from 6:30 – 9:30 pm, the “Moonlight Madness” Night Photo Tour of DC, led by Cindi Hobgood of Scout Photo Expeditions, will take you by bus through The District to many of DC’s iconic sites and give you the chance to absorb, embrace and capture the beauty of Washington D.C.

The bus tour will include stops at the following iconic site: the Martin Luther King Memorial, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the The Iwo Jima Memorial and the Air Force Memorial. Click here for complete details on the tour.

To take advantage of this special offer, simply use this special code–PE12-NIGHTSHOTS–when registering online or by calling NAPP at 800-738-8513, M-F, 8:30 am – 7:00 pm EST.

So make sure to register today to get inspired education that will change your life and an expert-led night photo tour of Washington, DC!

* Limited to 50 participants. New registrations only. Not valid with other discounts/promotions, except the Alumni Discount.

Photoshop World Recap-Through Mel’s eyes

Well, it’s Monday and I’m back home in sunny Florida. I’m still trying to catch up on lost hours of sleep. Why so many lost hours of sleep? It wasn’t the late nights on the strip, rather the early mornings because I didn’t trust my wake-up call, nor alarm clock to wake me in time to get to PSW events every morning. I intended to blog more than once per day but the connectivity in the conference room area (and even outside) was spotty at best, but mostly unavailable. Therefore, instead of a daily blog I figured I’d end it on a recap of the week.

It’s truly hard to believe that a week ago was the 1st time I stepped on a plane in over a decade. Now, I feel silly for having that phobia but happy that Photoshop World forced me to get on that plane if I wanted to join the fun on the west coast. I would have missed out on the opportunity to meet so many friends with whom I’ve connected over the various social networking sites. You see, and I know I’m not alone on this: Photoshop World, for everything that it offers,  starts with the people. From the NAPP staff to the friends you’ve met, to the friends you’ll meet, to the instructors…the package starts with the people. I miss being away from my family but if I’m going to take that time, it’s great to be with people who share in the love of photography and are just so nice. People at PSW were overwhelmingly friendly. It’s a different world at that conference. I try to do my best to surround myself with nice people and think I do a pretty good job, but we’re talking about thousands of nice people in one place, for a similar purpose.

So, I mentioned that I went to the tweetup party on Tuesday night. Let me tell you, this is a great opportunity to meet so many other photographers. Not just that, but so many of the instructors who present at Photoshop World, as well as the faces of NAPP such as those affectionately known as the “Photoshop Guys”. That, coupled with the always awesome Erik Valind who captures the adventures of the evening with his awesome Westcott lighting setup, shooting the antics of all of the party-goers. You can find the photos from the tweetup here.

I missed the Opening Ceremony in Orlando so attending this one was a MUST. It did not fail to impress me. The runway fashion shoot featuring creations by local students was a hit! The camera shutters were firing away as Scott Kelby entered the stage to officially kick off Photoshop World. I am proud to say that my friend William Beem won the Photoshop World Alumni Photo Contest with his photo from the fashion show. He brought home a sweet iPad2 for his efforts!

Of course the days were filled with various Photoshop World classes as well as classes, presentations and fun (Photoshop Wars) on the Expo Floor. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, my favorite hangout in the Expo hall is the Westcott Shooting Bays. I do stress that some attendees needed to share some of the space and let others have a chance to shoot. I saw many photographers in a front row seat chimping at their screens or refusing to move a little to the left or right so that fellow photographers could capture a few images as well. I know there is a contest where one can win gear, but it’s simple common courtesy. That said, the instructors that Westcott brings to the showfloor not only teach, but challenge you the photographer, to get out there and direct the model and be creative–nicely, of course! There are a great number of vendors on the floor presenting their software and products as well. I saw Terry White teaching at the Adobe booth as well as Dave Cross at the Wacom booth for example. It’s difficult for me to walk around the floor without the temptation to purchase something from everyone!

The Gameworks afterhours party was a great time. I’m not really into video games and such but it’s a great time to take a break and talk with your friends and make new ones. Most of the instructors and NAPP Photoshop Guys are there as well. It’s a laid-back time to meet those from whom you learn, in a casual environment. It’s definitely worth the cost of the ticket if you plan to go to D.C.

The other must-attend party at Photoshop World is Midnight Madness. I arrived as they were doing a Family Feud-style gameshow. This is a time when the crowd really gets involved and has fun with others from NAPP and the Photoshop Guys. And of course, you’ll meet Vanelli at the door, the ‘security guard’ so be sure to have your ticket handy. Tickets are available for free on a first-come first-serve basis early on the morning of the party.

Friday afternoon swiftly approached and I was starting to feel that familiar emotion of sadness. As the crew began to break down the signage and the ‘Photoshop World Conference/Expo Closed’ sign was displayed at the information booths, the inevitable was upon us: The closing of Photoshop World Las Vegas. The closing ceremonies did not fail to entertain. Various slideshows were presented by NAPP, Joe McNally, Moose Peterson, a little self-intro by Pete Collins (the new guy) and the emotional and amazing Dave Black followed by the awards and giveaways. I actually entered one contest, being chosen as a Westcott Shoot It First participant. Though my photo didn’t win, I was very proud of it and the fact that my confidence has gotten to a point where I’d even enter this contest. I will say that my friend Mike Reeves was a most deserving winner.

So, after I headed to the airport with my new friends and we said our final good-byes ’til next time, I had time to sit and eat some dinner before my red-eye flight. Who taps me on the shoulder but my very supportive NAPP guy friend Larry Becker. We had an opportunity to talk not just about photography but the other things that matter to us. We spoke of his son and my kids,  his new DIYs that he’s envisioning, future travel plans, his wife, my husband, the great time at PSW and that, he was finally getting over a fever. It was a great ending to an awesome week in Vegas!

If you’ve never been to Photoshop World, start looking into now. It’s in our Nation’s capital March 24-26, 2012. I can tell you about the events, share stories about the friendships I’ve made, show photos of the fun I had but it’s just not the same as actually being there. There truly is something to be said about those relationships that are formed at Photoshop World. I’d almost call this a fraternity of sorts now. Everyone is invited. We make plans before, during and after PSW. We blog about each other. We critique one another’s work. Photoshop World may start with an event but this is a year-round experience. Thank goodness it’s held semi-annually!

I hope to see you in D.C. I’d post photos here but for some reason it’s not letting me do that. You can find me on twitter @snapshotartist and we can talk all things photography, NAPP, and why you should be at Photoshop World!

Information overload and so much more!

After spending 2 hours trying to get a red-eye out tomorrow without getting completely broke in the pocketbook, I finally got down to the classes. Then, I remembered that my other life calls and I had to make my mommy/cheerleading coach/wife calls too! My husband’s one request? PLAY THE SLOTS! YOU HAVE TO HAVE FUN! Ummm…I have, without playing the slots. Incidentally, I finally did that this evening with $10.00, won $50.00 and immediately lost that. $10 loss is only slightly bearable because I’m so thrifty but…yep! I played, won, lost and…oh well! On to other things…

I’m not complaining but wow! My iPad is in overload with all of the notes I’ve taken from the awesome classes I sat in on today. Some, only for a few moments because it was THAT important to me to grab a bit of knowledge from them and with so many options, I split the difference and popped in and out of classes. I started the day of learning with Kevin Ames, moved to Cliff Mautner then to Rod Harlan and finally, Cliff again. I like the dude. I liked him in Orlando. I learn a ton from him…and I have NO plans to ever shoot weddings, but doesn’t the information spread across all genres? I hit the Expo floor for a few moments after FINALLY catching some lunch, I visited one of my favorite places, Westcott’s shooting bays. I’m getting brave. I asked models to change poses, rearranged sets and just had a great time within 5 minutes before I finally decided to give in to my exhaustion and grab a nap before starting up again with the evening classes. I concluded my 2nd day of classes with Terry White’s Facebook class and then being inspired by the ever-colorful Jay Maisel. I also decided to pop in on Midnight Madness. That was a hoot!

I didn’t come to Photoshop World with a strategy for the classes I would be attending. It’s been quite a hodgepodge. It has included wedding photography, lighting, and social media. There are so many classes to choose from here! Thankfully, I have the book and can read up about the classes I have missed.

Looking forward to seeing what my final day in Las Vegas has to bring!

Photoshop Product Team at PSW Tweetup

It’s not a tweetup until the Adobe Photoshop Product Team arrives (in style)!

Pre-PSW Checklist

Hi all, long-time attendee, first-time blogger. Just kidding. With less than a week to go I thought a recap for resources and tips for Photoshop World might be helpful.

For those first-time attendees or for those who want the inside scoop on how to get the most out of your Photoshop World experience, do not miss Larry Becker’s “First-Time Attendee Orientation” held Tuesday during the Pre-Con sessions. This event is FREE and is held in two sessions: 3:15–4:15 pm and 5:15–6:15 pm.

If you cannot attend Larry’s event, or want more information about Photoshop World or getting around Vegas in general be sure to check out my “Insider’s Guide to PSW”. You can download it here.

To help plan your schedules two electronic options are available for you. First is the PSW App by Shaun Welch available for the iPhone. If you don’t have an iphone or iPod Touch,  don’t worry there is the ever-popular PSW Schedule PDF by Dave Cross which you can download here.

Next, if you are on Twitter, be sure to sign up for the NEW Photoshop World Hashcaster Site for the latest information and roundup of all the day’s PSW news and important Tweets. You can sign up here. Speaking of Twitter, the Photoshop World Tweetup will be held Tuesday night at 8 pm just outside the registration area on the patio (same location as last year). This is a great opportunity for you to meet and network with other Photoshop World attendees and the instructors (including Scott Kelby himself).

Last, here is a handy checklist of things to remember when coming to Photoshop World:

1. Your Badge. It is the “must-wear” accessory at this year’s “Project Photoshop”.  You need it to get into any event during the conference. If you forget it, expect to be asked by staff to go back and get it.
2. Comfy shoes. As in shoes you can walk around in all-day and not get blisters. Learn from my first-year mistake. Ouch!
3. A sweater or jacket. Vegas may be 110° F next week, but the conference rooms are air conditioned so be prepared if you tend to get chills.
4. Water. There is water available in the back of the session rooms. However, if you are going on a photo-safari or photo-walk, bring water. In Vegas, it may be a dry heat, but 100°+ temperatures can sneak up on you.
5. Writing utensils. It seems every year I am borrowing my pen to the person seated next to me so they can fill out their evaluation forms at the end of a session. Don’t forget you may also want to take notes during the sessions.
6. Money. Now I don’t mean bring cash for the table games, but be sure to have your credit cards or cash on hand for the expo hall. Many exhibitors will be selling as well as displaying their wares and also there is the Kelby Training Bookstore. It’s like Target – expect to spend a lot more than you planned for.

Hope this list and resources help you make the most of your PSW experience. See you all next week in Vegas.

NAPP member, Kevin Stohlmeyer is an Adobe Certified Instructor, User Group Manager and Adobe Community Professional for Photoshop. A graphic designer specializing in digital illustration with more than 15 years experience in the field, Kevin has also been teaching the Creative Suite since 2000. Check out his blog posts at c2gps.com/blog.