Photoshop World 2012 Avatar

It’s becoming an annual tradition… NAPP member Kevin Stohlmeyer has once again created his super cool Photoshop World avatar for our first-ever conference in Washington, DC. If you’ve already seen the PSW brochure, then you’ll notice that the new version gives a tip of the hat to this year’s theme! So if you’re planning to attend PSW, feel free to use Kevin’s updated avatar to shout out to the Social Media world that you’ll be attending the conference this spring!

It’s that time again! With Photoshop World only thee months (and counting) away, I thought I would share my new 2012 Social Media Avatar with everyone. Show your support for the World’s largest photography, lighting and Photoshop Conference by joining our social media campaign! 

Here’s how:

First, download the PSD file HERE.

To modify, simply drag and drop your headshot into the document and remove the “Your Photo Here” Layer. Be sure to position your headshot layer between the “Backdrop” and “Overlay” layers.

Next, create a layer mask to blend your headshot into the image. 

As an added bonus this year, I have included a “Button” layer that you can manipulate onto your image. 

Save the final image as a .jpg file. Remember Twitter has file size a limitation of 700k. Reduce the quality in the .jpg dialog box as needed. Now you are ready to join the campaign for Photoshop World 2012!

Enjoy!

Kevin

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.

Photoshop World Wrap Up – From Kevin

Well another Photoshop World has gone by and this year’s event has definitely set the standard for future events. Looking back, I will remember this year’s PSW Vegas as the “Networking” conference. I think I met more people this year than I have ever met at any conference- and I don’t mean just exchange your cards (I went through 150?!), but actually having conversations and getting to know people.

My two favorite experiences this year was a “Meetup” I held at House of Blues on Monday and the Official Tweetup. The first was for a small group of Twitter/Facebook friends who arrived early for the conference. We were all joking about how it is hard to picture how people really look without having the Twitter/Facebook avatar to go by.

Then there was the larger than life PSW Tweetup on Tuesday. I loved that Erik Valind and the gang from Wescott step up each year and do a great job with the photo booth. Even the Photoshop Product Team got involved in the festivities (see my earlier posts). Again, this was a great place to meet a lot of the people I have been talking to in social media over the past year and turn online acquaintances into real world friendships.

In case you missed Mel’s and Theresa’s posts, here is the link to the PSW Vegas Tweetup 2011 images on Flickr. And if you did miss their posts, shame! Read them – they have great insights. Be sure to check out my shot along with my buddy Ken Toney modeling a fun shirt we produced for the event featuring the Photoshop Guys.

As for the sessions, I love seeing Bert Monroy speak at every Photoshop World. Each time I get a glimpse into the genius it takes to pull off massive artwork like his “Times Square” piece. His techniques and tips using both Photoshop and Illustrator always inspire me to do better in my own work. Julieanne Kost was on fire this year with jokes, stories and great techniques and Photoshop Hall of Fame inductee Bryan O’Neil Hughes showed some great “Hidden Gems” at the Adobe Booth.

But my new favorite presenter at Photoshop World has to be David Black. Even though I am not a photographer by trade, I attended his “Guide to Sports Action Photography” and was blown away. I think one of the reasons this session appealed to me was it wasn’t another technique and equipment presentation. David simply showed his body of work on screen and talked about his work ethic (get there early and stay late). He talked to the group about his passion. He is a great presenter and can really involve you in his thought process and convey the emotions from his work. When you come to PSW, make it a point to attend at least one of his sessions.

Then there was the expo. There seemed to be a lot more time dedicated to the expo hall this year, which was great. There were a lot of big name vendors including Adobe, Wacom and FJWescott and smaller vendors that I learned about and will definitely be throwing some business their way. The highlight for many was the Wescott Shootout Booth. Each day, four new models and vignettes took shape and allowed photographers to get some great shots. Congrats to my buddy William Beem on winning the Shootout Contest held on day 1 and Patrick LaMontagne for releasing his new DVD at PhotoshopCafe.

Other highlights for me personally were seeing my friends from Wacom and getting to test drive the new Inkling. Many thanks to Wes, Dan and the crew for letting us play with their newest product. They literally had it shipped to them at the conference just so they could see it. Little did they know many of us wanted in on the fun too. I also got to participate in iStockphoto’s Photoshop Wars this year along with my friend Pete Collins (after heckling him from the front row). It was a very hectic and challenging contest against Corey Barker, but the good guys prevailed and Pete and I were declared winners. Many thanks to the folks at iStock for sponsoring this fun contest this year.

One lasting memory I will have from this year’s Photoshop World came out of an act of kindness. I was attending another function along with some of the instructors when a woman from Texas came into the room looking lost and puzzled. I noticed before she shyly walked away that she had an “I’m a Stranger” button from the Dinner with a Stranger program. I went over and asked if she was lost and she said she was. I offered to help her look around the Border Grille until we found the rest of the DWS party. The memory I will have is the response she received when we walked up to the table and everyone greeted her. They were warm, inviting and genuinely happy to see her. I walked away with the warm feeling that people you meet at PSW are genuinely nice folks and I actually wanted to stay with them! I know it was mentioned at the Wrap Up event that Mandalay Bay Security had made it a point to tell the conference organizers what nice people we all are, but this small gesture by a group of “strangers” really drove the point home for me.

This is the last thing I want to share with you as a Guest Blogger for PSW- It’s not just about the sessions you go to, or the techniques you will learn, it’s about the PEOPLE. It’s about instructors who care (as David Black so eloquently stated in the Wrap Up), it’s about meeting new people and expanding your network, your friendships and learning from others. You never know what or who will influence you when you attend an event like Photoshop World, but you can be assured that you will leave inspired, motivated, and elevated.

Many thanks to Nancy, Tom, Karla, Pete, Mel, Theresa, David, Kristina, William, Ken, and many many others who made this Photoshop World an event to remember.

Photoshop World Wrap Up – Best Of from Theresa

I’m back home now and back to work, but still dragging from a week of sleep deprivation. This was my second Photoshop World and even though it was different than last year, it was still an amazing experience. I want to share of few of my “PSW Best Of Experiences”. These are my personal observations, but I am sure they are shared by others.

The Best Overall Part Of Photoshop World

The conference evaluation asked, “Tell us what impressed you the most.”

The PEOPLE impressed me the most. All the people that make up Photoshop World are what makes PSW so special. This includes the attendees, the instructors, the NAPP employees and the expo vendors. Every single person I met was wonderful.

The Best Class

My favorite class was “Playing With Time” by Julieanne Kost. I learned things about Photoshop that I had never previously explored. Honestly that doesn’t happen too often for me. Julieanne imparted a ton of information in a rapid fire, humorous way. I was like a sponge soaking it all up. Now I need to go try some time lapse photography of my own.

Best Expo Booth

Anyone at Photoshop World with a camera, (which is pretty much everyone) will tell you the Westcott Booth blew everyone away. The models were over-the-top amazing. I filled a 4G card on the first afternoon.

The painted Alien Girl was one of the favorites. This was my entry to the Shoot It First competition. I was honored to be part of this competition and excited for Michael Reeves when he won. CONGRATS Mike!

Later in the afternoon I found myself on the other side of the camera lens. I’m not exactly sure how this happened, but I’ll just blame it on Vanelli. Looking out at 50 camera lenses pointed at me practically gave me a heart attack. Truthfully though, I learned a lot from the other side, and taking direction from Vanelli.

Thank you Lorne Marcum for this image.

Best Photoshop Tip

I really shouldn’t admit publicly that I didn’t already know this. I learned it during Bert Monroy’s class, “Painting With Photoshop”. When he showed it to us, I just kind of gasped and said, “OMG, how did I not know that?”

Try this check box under layer style blending modes. Knowing what this does will save me time and aggravation for almost every Photoshop design project I create. That’s a pretty good ROI for attending Photoshop World.

I’m already missing everyone and looking forward to my next PSW.

Footnote

I read Mel’s Recap while I was posting my own. I swear I didn’t read hers before I wrote this, and we didn’t talk about it either. I love that our reflections are so similar, especially the part about the people. Mel is one of those people. I’m so glad we met through Photoshop World.

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!

Emotional End of Show

Well, I guess it’s true- all’s well that ends well and Photoshop World 2011 Vegas came to a fitting end with the Wrap Up event.

Hosted as always by Larry Becker, this years show came with a very emotional ending. Starting with a great presentation by Joe McNally (in absence) showing his 9-11 portrait series and giving his background on this moving exhibit.

Moose Peterson also gave a very compelling show of his work with stunning images and a moving soundtrack. Moose never disappoints.

Then came David Black who gave a very heartfelt speech about how one person can make a difference in another’s life.

Finally, and to my surprise was Pete Collins- the “new” Photoshop Guy. At first I thought Pete was going to be comic relief and show a tutorial, instead he gave his own story of how Scott Kelby and NAPP influenced his life. It was very moving and inspiring overall and Pete really touched us all with his presentation. Oh and quick note- Pete speaks Thai.

Scott ended the presentation portion of the show thanking everyone for attending given the tough economic times and wished everyone a safe trip home.

If the keynote amazed and energized you, this Wrap Up really brought the conference to a fitting close with inspiration and emotion. I’m so glad I attended this year’s conference and can’t wait to see what 2012 Washington, D.C. has to offer.

Expo Floor Excitement

Moving into the final day of Photoshop World and the Expo hall was THE place to be after the early morning classes. Excited photographers and creatives, using the free Expo passes, joined the attendees on the floor. Vendors appeared to have brisk sales and curious customers anxious to take advantage of discounted tradeshow specials.

As busy as the awesome Westcott shooting bays have been throughout the week, today most certainly brought the big crowds. As they’ve done all week, the Top Pros continued to lend advice and educate photographers on everything from posing to lighting. The beautiful and talented models remained patient and friendly while accommodating photographers with various poses. I ran into many of my new friends here and we caught up on our PSW adventures and stories of exhaustion. I mean, this IS Vegas after all!

Time to head into Terry White’s class about how to use the iPad in the photography workflow. As an iPad user myself, I know that he’ll have great apps to recommend!

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!

Day Two Begins!

Welcome to day two! A lot of sleepy people showed up for Fay Sirkis first thing this morning after a fun night at Gameworks.

Adobe Senior Digital Imaging Evangelist Julianne Kost kicks off her second session of the day The Creative Composite. By the way, if you didn’t attend you missed Julianne singing her Tools Palette alphabet song. Priceless…

Photoshop World: Bring On Day Two!

Well, Day 1 of Photoshop World has officially ended and Day 2 is underway!

Starting off yesterday with the amazing “Project Photoshop” Opening Keynote was a blast (those guys at NAPP sure know how to have fun). Not only was the keynote fun, but it was a unique event in that Adobe had a special announcement for us: Carousel, a new product that acts as a multiple device photography solution. The Adobe team that created it was there to join in the announcement, which was so great to see all of those people that work so hard on great product experiences for us.
The keynote is also where the Guru award winners and Photoshop Hall of Fame recipients are awarded. It is so amazing to see the work that NAPP members create… All awards were well deserved!

After the keynote the sessions got into full swing. I attended Small Flash Basics with Joe McNally to kick off the morning… And what a way to start it off! Joe always has a fun and informative session, and really just to watch him work is awe inspiring. His audience can really bask in his passion for all things photography. I look forward to more lighting with him tomorrow!

My next session was Portrait Retouching for Photographers with the man, the myth, the legend– Scott Kelby. Talk about awe inspiring…He can retouch in Photoshop in about 30 seconds, whereas it would take me 3 hours! Which is of course why I’m attending PSW… to learn from the best.

After roaming the grandiose Expo floor and catching some short demonstrations from RC Concepcion and Moose Peterson, it was time for my final session, Making a Difference with Your Camera by Jeremy Cowart. This session was thought provoking and truly a great way to finish up the first day of PSW.

I look forward to more great sessions tomorrow and finishing up the day with Midnight Madness fun!

Meetup, Tweetup and oh! Those Westcott Shooting Bays!

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Yesterday morning, I had the opportunity to head out to the Valley of Fire with other NAPP members and Photshop World attendees. What a great opportunity to meet with my friends with whom Ive excitedly spoken about Photoshop World. We headed out to Valley of Fire, a landscape very unlike Florida! While most of the others worked on HDR photos, I took some time to play with my speedlights, with the beautiful desert landscape as my backdrop. Thankfully, Gudrun stepped in and allowed me to take one photo of her.

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Last night was the always awesome Tweetup Party with photography provided by my friend Erik Valind. Many wondered what kind of crazy antics would ensue. No, I didnt end up in the pool. Nothing too crazy other than many many photos taken in Eriks 6-light setup, to include strip banks and the awesome 7 Westcott parabolic shooting tethered to an iPad using Tethered Tools awesome gear and a really cool iPad stand.

After attending the Opening Ceremony I headed to my first class of the day. Following that, I excitedly headed to the Expo Floor. You see, I was flattered to be given the opportunity to Shoot It First at the awesome Westcott Shooting Bays prior to the opening of the Expo floor. Westcotts ever-talented and creative crew have designed 4 awesome shooting bays with props, awesome models, MUAs and amazing instructors giving helpful tips, sharing the knowledge and using various continuous lighting products and modifiers provided by Westcott. Though I havent had a chance to do much editing today, I wanted to share one of the photos I took of the Alien model this morning. Again, other than crop, there is no other editing..

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