1/2 The Experience

What an awkward name for a Photoshop World post, but that sums it up for me.  I only got to experience 1/2 of Photoshop World due to a family emergency.  Not seeking out any pity from you though, I felt privileged to get the experience that I received.

I arrived in Vegas on Tuesday, which was about a day before most PSW attendees got into town.  I definitely took advantage of my early arrival — I walked roughly five miles that first day leading myself on a photowalk of the strip.  Later that afternoon, I met the one and only @NAPP_News (I call her Nantz) for dinner.  It was that first evening that I also met the one and only Scott Kelby.  Scott was extremely kind and I am happy to say that I didn’t freak out — I was worried about meeting all of my Photoshop / photography idols, because I wasn’t sure if I would be able to hold a normal conversation.  Later that evening I was lucky enough to meet and hang out with Matt Kloskowski, Corey Barker, Jason “TheScriv” Scrivner and other NAPP employees.  Not kidding, these are some of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet or take a cab ride with.

On Wednesday, pre-con day, I was fortunate enough to attend David Ziser’s Wedding Photo Shoot class.  David Ziser is pretty much my all-time favorite wedding photographer and if I could embody the style of any one wedding photographer, it would be him.  The best part of this pre-con is that I felt like it picked up where David left off in his Digital Wake-up Call tour.  David captured some amazing shots during the pre-con and it was incredible to see the man in action.  Wednesday night brought the Forum / Twitter Tweet-up and I am happy to say we exceeded our own expectations.  At one point in the evening there was close to 150 people at the House of Blues for the gathering.  It was awesome to see some of my favorite Tweeps and incredible to get the opportunity to have face to face conversations with them.  By Wednesday night, I could already feel the week starting to catch up with me and I was happy to hit the sack somewhat early to prepare for the PSW Keynote.

When Thursday morning rolled around, I was pretty much ecstatic and ready to roll.  The PSW Keynote was a first for me and I was live blogging with Nantz and Scott Bourne.  I saw Scott at the Tweet-up, but never had the opportunity to speak with him and since I have been following his work for what seems like ever, I was honored to be live blogging with him.  It was interesting to live blog the keynote and to be able to interact with those that were following along at home, we had people from all over the world reading our live blog which is AMAZING!

On Thursday I made it to two classes and to the EXPO before I had to catch a plane back to Kansas City to be with my family.  I was lucky enough to attend classes taught by Dave Cross and Scott Kelby.  While both classes were awesome, I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get to experience the other several classes that I had lined up for Thurs, Fri and Sat.  I do, however, have my PSW Workbook and it is a beast.  I am excited to be able to look through it all and learn on my own while I eagerly await the opportunity to get the other 1/2 of my Photoshop World experience in Orlando next spring.

I urge you to make arrangements now for March 25-27, 2010 – Photoshop World Orlando will be an experience you won’t want to miss.  See you there!

Kristopher Saim is an experiential marketing professional and photographer in Kansas City, MO.  You can follow his 365 project by clicking here.

Looking back and forward

I’m a new photographer. This past summer I took a Non-major Digital Photography class at the University of Utah. Each assignment brought such energy and fun that I could think of nothing more. With inspiration from my instructor I decided to add a second major of photography to my already declared Film Major.  Within hours after officially becoming a double major, I’m browsing Facebook and see an ad about Photoshop and it’s a NAPP ad for Vegas. I follow the links, read all about it and send it to my instructor. The student price was fantastic and I knew within minutes, I would find a way to make it to Vegas.

The couple months proceeding I tried to get someone to come with me but as time grew closer, I knew I would be going alone.  Looking back, I’m actually very grateful. I met people I wouldn’t have met and learned stuff I wouldn’t have otherwise learned.

I use the Dave Cross trip planner and spent a couple hours reading about all the classes and deciding which ones to go to.

Now it was just waiting to leave……

Arriving alone to a place you have never been is always filled with anxiety. Going to learn about something you hardly know anything about is a bit overwhelming. Would I trade it for the world? Never.

I met the most wonderful people and learned things I never expected to learn. For example, sitting in the hallway close to the Tattoo convention, I met Randy (a very talented photog and instructor ) and as we both were taking advantage of the internet access from the Tattoo show, I learned how to make money with my pictures. This wasn’t expected and I’m grateful. Speaking of the Tattoo convention, I am really curious how many of us got inked.  I didn’t tell my husband about mine for a couple days…lol

Walking down the strip on Saturday night with my new friend, Misty we ran into fellow photographers and had the most wonderful night taking pictures on an impromptu photowalk. I learned more from watching these photo veterans  in just a couple hours then I have taking pictures all summer. It’s too bad my camera battery died…lol

I LOVED the Expo and learning more about my camera, products and even much needed things like organizing my business was like a kid in a candy store. I had to first walk around and take it all in, then get the nerve to talk and learn what is out there. By far, I think my favorite vendor was BlinkBid. For someone who attempts to be organized, everything little thing helps.

Sure I learned sooo much from the classes. I’m still trying to digest everything my brain was loaded with. It’s what I learned outside of classes as well that was a pleasant surprise and really put the icing on the cake. My twitter and facebook posts have convinced my fellow students to join me at the next PSW.

Thank you for allowing to me to be a guest blogger and reflect on my thoughts of the weekend. I can’t wait to go back and share with others the amazing time I had and keep growing as an artist and photographer.

PSW – Not just “Photoshop” World

Its Wednesday morning, and I am finally coming down from the excitement of last week’s Photoshop World. I’ve been thinking about writing a wrap-up for NAPP about the experience, and I really wanted to point out that although they call it Photoshop World, the sessions cover more than just Photoshop.

My interest this year was in photography classes. Having spent very little time studying photography (isn’t it aim and shoot?), I have focused largely on landscapes and outdoor photography. But I really wanted to learn lighting and portraiture photography and so my entire time at Photoshop World had almost nothing to do with Photoshop. It was all photography classes and I learned so much!

Here’s the run down of my personal Photography and Lighting track at PSW.

• Joe McNally’s “Location Lighting”. In this class he showed how to light a very unconventional subject (Vanelli) using a variety of set-ups, including reflectors. He talked about relaxing the model, and establishing good communication, and setting the mood on the set.
• Jim DiVitale’s “Still Life Photography Shoot -Live” He used a very basic setup of small tops and covered techniques of using light and shadow to emphasize different aspects of a photo, and to create different moods. I also learned of a fairly inexpensive method to tether your camera to your laptop to get a quick look at your pictures as you take them.
• “The Perfect Panoramic” also with Jim DiVatale provided some great tips on improving my images using one of my favorite subjects: panoramics, and how to add back into Photoshop a feature that helps when composing them.
• Helene Glassman talked about how to create great portraits in her session “The ABCs of Digital Portraiture” – with a little Photoshop thrown in. It was fascinating to see the various lighting styles (glamour, butterfly, split light are just a few) that can provide so many different looks in the finished portrait.
• “Seeing the Light” with Jack Reznicki. Truly a master, Jack showed that moving the light around your subject can make a huge difference, sometimes a smaller light is better, and shadows can add as much to a picture as the conceal.
• And finally, Jack Reznicki’s “One Light for Real People” was a huge eye-opener, where he used people from the audience as subjects along with just one soft box to create some truly impressive pictures. By moving the backdrop to different locations, moving the model closer and in different relations to the softbox, he was able to create completely different looks in the pictures.

All in all a fantastic series of classes, and I just wish I had been able to attend other photography sessions with Joe Glyda, Alan Hess, Moose Peterson, Laurie Excell and the legendary Jay Maisel’s sessions as well! But, now when my home studio lighting kit arrives in the next week, I will be ready to try out all the various things I learned from these masters.

- Ed Pflager is an IT Professional working in Business Intelligence, an MBA student, and an amateur photographer and Photoshop user. You can see more of his ramblings and some of his work at www.edpflager.com

And They're Off…

Although Photoshop doesn’t officially begin until tomorrow, the pre-conference day got off to an awesome start.  I got downstairs thinking I might be the only one in line at about 9:30, man was I shocked to see about 200 people already in line waiting for registration / sign-in to begin.  The folks at NAPP are pretty awesome, they made the process fast and it was highly efficient, definitely a great experience for this newbie.

After picking up my registration materials, I headed back upstairs to wait out the two hours until my pre-con class started (and to check out all of the stuff that came in my registration packet.  Some of my favorite items in the packet would have to be the 20% off coupon for Nik Software products, my second favorite item is a discount offer for a Spyder3Studio or Spyder3Elite calibration system ($100 off the former and $50 off the latter when you place an order at the B&H booth at the Expo).  Definitely items that I plan to look into!  In addition to those great offers there are some great book specials and a list of presentations from PhotoshopCAFE.com that I do not want to miss.

When I finished going through the registration materials, I decided to check out the Photoshop World Workbook.  Let me tell you folks, they aren’t kidding when they tell you it is as big as a phone book.  This is one thick book and it is packed with information.  I am honestly stoked about reading it.  And by reading it, I mean the whole thing!

The next item on my agenda was my pre-con: Wedding Photo Shoot with David Ziser.  I am definitely a David Ziser fanboy.  I have seen all his Kelby Training videos, I have a couple of his DVDs, I have pre-ordered his upcoming book, and I have attended his Digital Wake-up Tour.  The man is awesome.  He can light photos like no other.  If you haven’t checked him out, you should!  The pre-con was great.  From 12-6, we talked about all of the major steps involved in a wedding shoot with a huge focus on lighting.  David worked with a model bride and groom and by the end of the session had produced several signature shots from the “wedding”.

Next up is the Tweet-up / Forum Party at the House of Blues and the week is just beginning.

Make sure you check out our Live Blog for the Photoshop World Keynote, I will be live blogging alongside Scott Bourne to bring you the news as it happens…

Photoshop World–The Classes

Hi, it’s Janine, and today I’m going to tell you about the heart of Photoshop World Conference–the classes.

1. THE BIG BOOK

When you register, you’ll receive a huge book (last year it was 816 pages) that has all the notes, for (almost) all the classes. That’s right, you have the notes to classes you didn’t even attend! Which means you don’t have to take notes during class, you can just concentrate on what the instructor’s doing.

You don’t have to carry the book with you, some people just leave it in the hotel room. But here’s why I carry mine. I like to follow along in the book during class, and add any little extra things the instructor might share (keyboard shortcuts, book or website recommendations). I also use the book to decide what classes I want to take–I can glance through the notes and get a quick preview of what the class is like.

Whether you take the book with you or not, PLEASE rip out the evaluations at the back and take them to class with you. NAPP takes these evaluations very seriously, they read every one. If you forget yours, there should be extras at the back of the classroom.

Oh, and extra copies of the book are available for sale in the Tech Expo. Holiday gift for a friend who couldn’t attend?

2. WHAT CLASS SHOULD I TAKE?

Can’t help you here. We all have different interests, a class I loved may be too easy for you, or something you’re not interested in. Look through the notes, check out the instructor on Kelby Training (the first lesson of any class is free, even to non-members).

The classes are designed to give you as much information as they can in one hour. They’re a great way to try something new. I took an InDesign class from Dave Cross, even though I’ve never used the program. It gave me a great taste of what the program does and how to use it. RC’s Dreamweaver class didn’t teach me all about Dreamweaver, but it gave me confidence I could learn to use it.

Former attendees? If you loved a class and want to recommend it, please comment below and tell us why!

3. HOW CAN I KEEP TRACK OF THE CLASSES I WANT?

That’s easy, get Dave Cross’ PDF planner. Choose your first and seccond choices for each time slot. You can always change your mind later, but at least you’ll have a plan. (I usually change my mind two or three times a day.)

4. GETTING TO CLASS

The convention center is huge, but NAPP is very good at maps, and signs, and otherwise making sure you get where you need to go. Also look for NAPP staffers, who are very friendly and helpful. Hint: find the restrooms first.

Water (coffee in the mornings), extra pens, and evaluation forms are available at the back of the classroom. While it may be fun to get there early and sit right in front of the instructor, most of the action takes place on the big video screens–make sure you have a good view.

The instructors don’t have time to take questions during class, but most will stay for a few minutes at the end. There will probably be a line. This time is really for a quick question about the class. Please don’t take this time to remind the instructor you met them briefly five years ago. All the instructors will be roaming around the Tech Expo during the day–that’s a great time to meet them and get your book signed.

If you find a class is not for you, no problem, just leave quietly and find another class.

5. DON’T FORGET THE EVALUATION

You’re going to hear this a lot, but the folks at NAPP mean it. They want your honest opinion, any suggestions you might have, anything you think was left out. The instructors are constantly changing and improving their classes, and your evaluation means a better Photoshop World for all of us next year.

Don’t forget, there are classes going on in the Tech Expo, too. So if you miss an instructor, you might catch them later over there. Classes in the Tech Expo are free, but seating is limited.

If you see me in class, come say hi. I’ve got curly brown hair and a BRIGHT pink tote bag. Where will I be? The Moose and Joe Photo Safari. RC’s Photoshop/Dreamweaver/Lightroom. Scott Kelby’s Portrait Retouching (both parts). Jay Maisel’s Light Gesture & Color. Vincent Versace’s Practical B&W Conversion. Ben Wilmore’s Mastering Curves.

Unless I change my mind again!

Janine Smith is a writer and photographer in Los Angeles. She is @JanineSmith on Twitter and http://janinesmith.com on the web.

Choosing classes

Over the last few weeks I’ve seen a lot of calls out on the web from first time and even multiple-time Photoshop World attendees, asking for help in choosing the sessions they should go to. While this is just my advice, it helped me last year, and its what I’ve done this year.

Go to the Photoshop World schedule website and take a look at all the sessions (there’s over 75 of them!). The folks at NAPP have organized the various sessions into related groups called tracks like Lightroom, Design, Photography, Techniques, and Photoshop Fixes. Now think about what you know and what you would like to learn more about.

• If you are a fairly new Photoshop user and want to learn more about what you can do with the program, look at the Photoshop 101 or the General Photoshop tracks. On Thursday there are 3 classes that will show you a little of everything, including masking techniques, layer styles, automation features, and the recommended order for retouching faces (Painting with Photoshop 10:45, Work Faster with Smart Objects and More 12:00, and Retouching Faces Step-by-Step 6:15). On Friday, you can learn the Top 10 Things You Should Know in Photoshop (9:30) and quick and easy fixes for common problems in Photoshop (Fix It in Photoshop 8:15).

• Heard a lot about Lightroom or InDesign but not really sure what all the fuss is about? LightRoom Basic Training (Thursday 10:45) and Introduction to InDesign (Friday 10:45) will give you a look. I sat through the LightRoom session last year, and this year, I’m looking at the InDesign one.

• Maybe you have been using Photoshop strictly for touching up photographs and would like to get a little more creative. You can take a class in Photoshop Creative Effects (Thursday 10:45) or learn how to turn pictures of pets and wildlife into paintings (The Art of Animal Photo Painting – Friday 8:15).

• For the working professionals who want to improve their productivity, you can attend sessions in the Techniques and Productivity tracks, with topics like Image Compositing for Advertising Illustration (Saturday 11:00) and integrating Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign together to simply your work (Creative Integration and Photoshop Friday 9:30).

While you are looking through the schedule, take a piece of paper, and write down the session name and starting time if it interests you. Don’t worry about having multiple classes at the same time though. One of the nice things about Photoshop World is that you can change your mind whenever you want during the conference about what session you are attending. You are not locked into a set schedule.

Once you have your list of classes, download Dave Cross’ Photoshop World planner and start entering in the classes you are interested in. Have two at the same time? No problem! You can enter one as a second choice. After you finish choosing your sessions in the planner, you may still have time slots free. See what’s available during those times and if it interests you, add it in. If nothing interests you (c’mon nothing?!) then you have some time to relax, socialize, grab something to eat, check out the Guru Award entries, or just put your feet up.

Now, save the planner, and print it off for your trip, or download it into your PDA or phone. You are ready to go. Hope this helps you a little!

- Ed Pflager is an IT Professional working in Business Intelligence, an MBA student, and an amateur photographer and Photoshop user. You can see more of his ramblings and some of his work at www.edpflager.com

Photoshop World Thoughts From A Newbie

Janine has shared some great tips from the seasoned veteran POV, but I wanted to share some thoughts about Photoshop World from a newbie’s perspective.  I know there a lot of us that are attending Photoshop World for the first time and I want to be sure that we all arrive in Vegas with everything we need to ensure we have a FIRST CLASS Photoshop World experience.

First off, have you started packing yet?  I am not suggesting that your suitcases be loaded up and sitting next to the door.  Have you gathered up all your laptop travel gear and checked your camera bag to make sure you have all the lenses, batteries, memory cards, card readers, power cords, etc.  While you won’t “need” your laptop to get the most out of your classes, chances are you will want to stay on top of email and upload all the great images you will capture while in Vegas.  Quite honestly, I am more concerned about my gear than I am about the clothes I am bringing.

But you have to wear clothes, right?  So start thinking about that too.  Think about the items in your closet that are most versatile.  If you are packing a lot of gear make sure you pack your clothes intelligently (airlines do charge now to check bags).  Choose the right shoes, don’t pack several pairs, just pack the two that will work best for you.  Don’t forget a lightweight jacket for the convention center rooms (I have been to plenty of Kelby Training Live sessions and they keep the rooms COLD).

You’ve got business cards?  Don’t leave them at home and make sure you bring plenty.  It’s not to late to place an order to ensure you have enough.  There will be plenty of people you will want to share cards with, don’t miss out on the opportunity to keep in touch with the new friends you meet.

Have you checked out Dave Cross’s Photoshop World Planner?  No newbie should head to Vegas without it.  Dave has created something that everyone can benefit from.  And yes, I think you should fill it out in it’s entirety.  With Dave’s planner, you can rest assured that you won’t miss the classes that you want to check out; however, make SURE when you check in at registration, you write down the room numbers for your classes and you become somewhat familiar with the layout of the rooms — otherwise, Dave’s planner won’t work!

Finally, make sure you check out all Vegas has to offer.  Sure, you are attending Photoshop World for all the photography and Photoshop information any human can possibly handle in three days, but don’t forget that Vegas is open all night long.  Hit the Tweet-up to mingle with your Twitter friends, sign up for a photowalk (there are several happening in Vegas), and get out of the hotel.  The Mandalay Bay has the BEST pool in Vegas, check it out!

Hopefully,  you found my thoughts of some value.  This can be the trip of a lifetime, but you’ve got to do some planning to get the most out it.

Kristopher Saim is an Experiential Marketing Executive and Photographer in Kansas City, MO.  On the interwebs you can find Kristopher on Twitter @ksaim and check out his blog The Kansas City Wedding Photographer.

Guest Blog: Choosing Classes at PSW

As Photoshop World draws ever closer, I am beginning to introduce some guest bloggers to the site who will be helping me cover the event. Today’s post comes courtesy of Terry Reinert, (aka: @TKRphoto) NAPP member, photographer, assistant to @Vanelli, and all-around good guy.

Take it away Terry!

Choosing Classes at Photoshop World

The sounds of typing and clicking drift softly through the office convincing your manager that you are hard at work. Yeah, right. The loud “WOO HOO!” gave you away… you weren’t working; you were registering for Photoshop World! After getting that “get back to work” look from your boss, you settle back down at your computer but work is the furthest thing from your mind. Why is that, you ask? Because you are way too excited and want to pick the classes you are going to attend at the conference. The list of classes is massive… how the heck do you weed through it and pick the ones that will be the best for you? That is where this blog post comes in… I am going to give you some tips to think about as you go through the class list to help you streamline your class attending activities.

One of the nice things about Photoshop World is that you do not have to sign up for classes prior to or at the event. You just show up at the room the course is being given in and grab a seat. So what is the big deal about picking classes now? Well, to have a plan so you know where to go for each time block instead of standing in the hallway trying to figure it out and then showing up late to the class you finally decide on. Not only that, but with a little pre-planning you can maximize your learning. You’ll see what I mean shortly…

Terry's "boss" doin' his thang @ PSW

Your Photoshop World registration includes the conference workbook that has all of the detailed notes supplied by the instructors with screen captures and graphics that follow along with EVERY class that is taught at Photoshop World. The workbook is amazing… I still reference the workbook I got from the Orlando 2008 Photoshop World as well as a few prior conference workbooks I jacked from Vanelli when he wasn’t looking. Terry 1, Vanelli 0. WOO HOO! Anyway, the workbook allows you to get the knowledge from every class even though you can only take a fraction of the classes; you’re not a quantum particle, sorry. Everyone got your assigned pocket protectors on? Great, let’s continue…

All the classes at Photoshop World are grouped into tracks based on the content of the course. The tracks offered at the upcoming Photoshop World are General Photoshop, Photoshop 101, Design, Photoshop Fixes, Productivity, Lightroom, Techniques, Creative Suites, Creativity, Photography, General Photoshop, Motion Graphics, Digital Photography, and Print/Prepress. It is important to note that you do not have to pick a track and stick with it; you can take classes in any track without fear of Photoshop World Security showing up. You don’t want that to happen… you’ll have to get a new cell phone number shortly thereafter.

Ok, I think its time to layout those tips for picking classes that I mentioned…

• Pick one primary class and at least one secondary class for each time slot.  You will probably run into a few cases where you want to attend multiple classes offered at the same time.  So have a backup plan in case you want to change your mind at the last minute.
• If you are attending Photoshop World with a friend then coordinate your class picks with them. My wife is a killer artist and also attends Photoshop World. I tend to take the classes offered under the Photography, Digital Photography, and Photoshop tracks. She goes with the Creativity and Design track courses. After the conference we go through the lesson plans in the workbook and explain to each other what we learned.
• If you are attending Photoshop World alone then network, make some friends, and then refer to #2 on the list explained above! Need help networking? Read my post about how to network effectively at Photoshop World conferences here.

• Keep an eye on the Photoshop World website in case any changes are made to the schedule so you are prepared instead of looking like a space cadet trying to find a class that no longer exists at the conference.

• Same as the above… when you get to the conference on the first day, look over the schedule boards or talk to one of the NAPP support guru’s to get the latest information. Wait… maybe I shouldn’t recommend that… after a few hundred people ask them about the schedule based on my recommendation they are probably going to sick Photoshop World security on me… and he already has my cell phone number!!! DOH! (Editor’s Note: Any last-minute changes to the schedule will be announced by the PSW moderators before each class. Other than that, please assume all info on the schedule boards is correct…. We will sic security on Terry if our staff is mobbed based on this post. ;D)

Use the PDF class picker utility that NAPP usually puts out before the conference. I believe Dave Cross is the one that puts it together. I didn’t see a link to it on the site as of the writing of this article so keep an eye out for it in the future if they do release another one. It is a good way to stay organized instead of having to create your own spreadsheet (for you engineering types) or scribbling on napkins (for you Joe McNally types). (Editor’s Note: Yes. Dave Cross creates a PDF to help you pick your classes. It should be available soon. Keep checking the PSW blog for links.)

Don’t forget the free classes on the Expo floor! They are given during the breaks in conference classes so that it is easy for everyone to attend. Just because they are on the Expo floor and free doesn’t mean they don’t contain great info! Get there early so you get a seat near the front.

Monitor the official conference hash tag (#PSW) search page on Twitter. If you see a tweet from someone saying they attended a class that you wanted to go to then contact them. Meet them at the conference or set up a time to call, email, or IM so you can trade notes. (Ed. Note: GREAT IDEA!!!)

And now for some reference material…

Class Schedule on PSW Website.
Class Schedule on PSW Brochure.
My blog on networking at PSW.
NAPP Forums for Pre-Conference Networking.

Vanelli photo courtesy of Dave Loebig. Used with permission.

New & Returning PSW Instructors

Photoshop World Vegas sees the return of two beloved instructors, Deke McClelland and Dr. Russell Brown. Plus, it also marks the debut of a new instructor, concert photographer, Alan Hess.

Alan Hess is a freelance photographer and author based in San Diego, CA. His work includes commercial photography on a wide variety of subjects and concert and backstage photography that has appeared in numerous online and print publications including Vintage Guitar and Relix Magazine plus numerous promotional purposes and music packaging.

He is a key contributor to the Lexar Pro Photographer Web site for concert photography and technology articles and has appeared in both Photoshop User magazine and Scott Kelby’s Photoshop Insider Blog.

Alan has written two Digital Field Guides for Wiley Publications: The Sony A700 DSLR Digital Field Guide and The Sony A200 DSLR Digital Field Guide. Both are available in all major bookstores and online booksellers.

Alan is taking the bull by the horns and diving into his first Photoshop World experience with a brand new pre-con workshop and a brand new class!

In his Real World Concert Photography pre-con, you will Learn how to capture high-voltage concert images and overcome lighting challenges in a live photo shoot session. His class, Concert Photography From Capture To Client, covers concert workflow from securing credentials, picking the right gear, shooting just three songs, no flash usage, downloading and editing images, to outputting to website galleries. He’ll cover high ISO, low-light shooting, importing and tagging in Bridge and Lightroom, to editing selected images in Photoshop and creating outputs for different clients.

Visit Alan’s website to learn more about him, see samples of his work, and read his blog. You can also follow him on Twitter.

Our two returning PSW instructors really need no introduction.

Russell Brown at the PSW Boston Keynote Speech

2002 Photoshop Hall of Fame recipient and 2008 Emmy Award Winner, Russell Preston Brown is the Sr. Creative Director at Adobe Systems Incorporated. Dr. Brown shows users how to work – and play – with Adobe software and if you believe his motto, “Learning about Adobe Photoshop should never be boring,” like we do, then you know you’re in for a treat!

Join him on Oct 1 right after the Keynote Presentation for “The Russell Brown Show” and discover the latest Photoshop CS4 tips, tricks and techniques from the man himself!

Deke at PSW Vegas '07 Courtesy of O'Reily DigitalMedia - Click the picture to hear an interview from then

Deke McClelland is a veteran Photoshop instructor with over 80 Photoshop books under his belt, including the popular “… For Dummies” series among many others.  His creativity, style and sense of humor truly embody what the Photoshop World experience is all about and we are delighted to have him with us in Vegas!

I could go on about Deke but seriously, go visit his website. You’ll learn a lot and have a blast!

Deke will also be teaching a brand new pre-con workshop called “Photoshop Channels & Masks” and his classes include: What You Missed When You Skipped Photoshop CS4, Understanding the Calculations Command, and Don’t Fear the LAB Mode.

Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime learning experience. There really is nothing in the world like Photoshop World!

Scenes From the NAPP Photo Safari

The NAPP Photo Safari pre-con workshop is always guaranteed to fill up fast and this year was no exception. During the Safari, Moose Peterson and Joe McNally teach the attendees various techniques as they shoot and turn their cameras around so everyone watching can see what they are talking about with their various shots…

The only problem is that, unless you are standing very close-by at that moment, you may miss a shot when they show it to the crowd. To help remedy that, and to give everyone else a glimpse at the Safari, we were able to obtain some of the shots from Joe McNally’s assistant, Drew Gurian. Thanks Drew!

“Here’s a few shots taken at the NAPP Photo Safari where Joe McNally and Moose Peterson stuck out the cold, along with 70 other brave folks, and four fabulous models.  Everything from location assessment to wireless TTL lighting techniques to color-correcting gels to natural-light reflectors were covered throughout the day.” - Drew Gurian

For even more on the NAPP Photo Safari, be sure to visit Moose Peterson’s blog and watch the video he uploaded today… and if you want even more behind the scenes info from the Safari, please see Moose’s blog post from that day with another video and some stills.

Thanks guys!

PS: If you’d like to see some of the shots taken by our attendees, @jtamagini has started a Flickr Group for Photoshop World Boston.