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!

Registration is Now Open!

Thanks to an overwhelming response from Photoshop World Boston attendees and the endless emails, blog comments and Tweets from members who can’t wait until October gets here, Photoshop World registration for Las Vegas is now open! This gives you even more time to make your plans and take advantage of the Early Bird discount, which is open until August 28.

But that’s not all. NAPP is very pleased to announce that this year, we have negotiated for the lowest hotel rates in Photoshop World – Las Vegas history!

Guests can stay at our official host hotel, the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, for an unprecedented $134/per night, and if you’re looking for the ultimate in luxury, registrants can stay at our second hotel option, THEhotel at Mandalay Bay for only $164/per night!

These rates are for single or double occupancy and both hotels put you right in the middle of all the action by putting you in the same hotel as all your PSW instructors!

A quick check through the archives revealed that these prices are $20 – $25 lower than the rates we had back in 2005. With rates like this, you know these rooms will fill up even faster than normal. You have until Monday, September 7, 2009 to reserve your room, but don’t wait until then to do so because these rooms will definitely be gone. Please see our Hotel/Travel Information page for all the details.

Plus, everyone who registers for Photoshop World during the month of May will be automatically entered for a chance to win one of two FREE Pro Pass upgrades! (Prize will be substituted if the winners have already upgraded).

In Boston, we debuted a new perk for our PSW 4+ alumni called the “PSW Speed Pass” that entitled our alumni special access to front row seating in every class.  We are happy to announce that not only will the Speed Pass be returning in Las Vegas, but we are adding additional seating privileges at certain events AND we are making 50 extra passes available for purchase on a first come, first served basis. Please see our pricing page for details on this and all our PSW upgrades.

And finally, we have made some changes when it comes to the content and frequency of our Photoshop World emails. At the beginning of every month leading up to October, we will be sending out an e-newsletter with all the latest Photoshop World news, sneak peaks from the instructors on their classes, quick Photoshop tips, giveaway announcements, and the occasional downloadable goodie (such as brushes, presets, palettes, etc.).

This is just the beginning of everything we plan to implement over the next four months in order to make this Photoshop World the most rewarding and fun experience we possibly can for you!

See you in Vegas (baby!)

Vegas Baby!

We’re putting the finishing touches on what’s new for Photoshop World – The Western Conference and registration will be opening next week!

We’ve also made some changes to the Photoshop World Emails. Gone is the “Top Ten Contest.” Instead, we will be sending out a monthly “E-newsletter” that contains all the latest updates as we gear up for Photoshop World. We’re also planning some really cool, random drawings too so be sure to SIGN UP and get in on the fun!

Ok… That’s all for now. I have to get back to work if we’re gonna launch this in time.

Just remember:

What happens in Vegas… can be removed in Photoshop if you know what you’re doing!

PSW is YOUR Conference! Tell Us What You Thought.

Wow. It’s hard to believe that PSW was just two weeks ago! Here at NAPP HQ, we are already gearing up for PSW – The Western Conference in Las Vegas, Oct. 1-3, at Mandalay Bay.

Image courtesy of NAPP Member, Don Ricklin. Click the image to see his Flickr PhotoStream

This is where you come in. Photoshop World Boston was our most successful PSW yet and we want to make it even better! We are currently pouring through all your feedback slips from the event, which I’m sure will be full of helpful tips, but I need more from you: the PSW blog readers and social media users.

Boston was our first real foray into bringing the PSW experience to the web. Last year in Vegas, I think there were maybe ten people at the event using Twitter. This year, there were probably hundreds and by the time Vegas rolls around, there could even be thousands.

Social media is exploding faster than ever and we want to stay ahead of the curve if possible. The best way that I can think of in order to do that is with your help.

Give us your feedback on the social media aspect of PSW:

• What did you like?
• What didn’t you like?
• What would you have liked to see more or less of?
• Give us your POV as an attendee
• Give us your POV as a non-attendee
• Is there a SocMed tool out there that we’re not using that you think we should? If so, tell us about it and, more importantly, tell us why.

NAPP members: Photoshop World is your conference! Everyone who attends PSW is a NAPP member (did you know that non-NAPP members receive a one-year NAPP membership as part of their conference pass?) Help us make this a better experience for everyone and as an added bonus, I will randomly select one blog comment and give its author a special prize!

Thank you!

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.

What I Learned at Photoshop World

It’s Sunday and now that I’ve had a day to rest (and ~finally~ sleep!) after the whirlwind of awesomeness that is Photoshop World, I thought I’d take a moment to reflect on a few of the things that I learned from the experience…

• Chapstick is your friend. Never leave the hotel without it!
• Note To Self: Make a bandolier… stock it with bottles of 5-Hour Energy Shots… Have it on hand at all times.
• The Foam Fingers RULED for giving directions! (I’m still hearing, “Ballrooms A, B, & C are down this hall,” in my sleep!)
• Coordinate with as many vendors as possible ~beforehand~ and get the skinny on what they would like me to “tweet” to everyone following.
• Get a fact sheet together of every possible statistic I can think of about PSW in case I run into any hard-nosed reporters like that sweet ol’ couple there reporting for their “Club Newsletter.” Seriously. The conversation went as follows:
  • Reporter: So, how many people would you say are here?
  • Me: Well, it looks like we’re tracking upwards of 3,000 people today here at the Expo.
  • Reporter: No, no, no… I mean overall.
  • Me: Well, it’s Thursday and I have no idea how many people may walk-up for the Expo tomorrow.
  • Reporter: Ok, then how many people from different countries are here?
  • Me: Ummmmm… I don’t know?
  • Reporter: What do you mean you don’t know?! Is anyone here from China?
  • Me: Ummmm… I don’t know?
  • Reporter: Is anyone here from Japan?
  • Me: …. Maybe?
  • Reporter: What about Korea?
  • Me: (Turning to whisper to Paul Wilder) Is this a joke? Are you setting me up? ;D
  • Me: Hey! I met someone from Italy today!
  • Reporter: Great! Where in Italy is he from? Genoa? Rome?
  • Me: ….
  • Reporter: Lady, you really don’t know anything about this event, do you? (walks away)
  • Me: (Shouting after them) Canada! This place is full of Canadians!!!
• Never get on Kathy’s bad side (Scott’s Assistant) she has one heck of an arm! (You would have to have been at Midnight Madness to get that.) Hee hee!

There’s a lot more that I learned but the point is, everyone learned something at Photoshop World this year. Now, it’s time for you to show us!

Please leave a comment here telling us what you learned. Give us links to your photos, or better yet, put together a post and send it to me! I will do my best to publish every post (or link to a post) that I get!

One of the biggest aspects of Photoshop World (in my opinion) is the level of inspiration our instructors try to instill… How were you inspired? Let us know!

Email all posts, links, pictures etc to topten[at]photoshopuser.com

John Paul Caponigro = Blog Awsomeness!

Seriously, next to our own Scott Kelby, John Paul Caponigro has to be the most dedicated blogger/PSW Instructor I know.

When Scott launched his co-blogging initiative in Vegas last year, John Paul became the glue that corralled everyone’s blogs together.

If you want to seriously follow all the action here at Photoshop World, Mr. Caponigro’s latest post contains links to all the instructor blogs out there!

John Paul Caponigro FTW! =)

Press Release From PNY

PNY Products Help Designers and Photographers Capture, Store, Edit and Share at Photoshop World 2009

PNY Technologies® announced that it will demonstrate its wide range of high-speed memory cards, high-capacity storage solutions and powerful PNY NVIDIA graphics boards at Photoshop World 2009 ( Booth #405), being held March 25th–27th 2009 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Mass.

Visitors will experience why PNY is “The flash memory choice of the National Geographic Emerging Explorers Program”, how PNY memory upgrades and professional PNY NVIDIA graphics boards can enhance Photoshop and how NVIDIA Quadro® CX can accelerate the performance of Adobe® CS4.

“Whether you are looking to capture, store, edit or share, we will have a cutting-edge solution for you,” said Jeff Medeiros, senior business development manager, PNY Technologies. “The focus of our booth is to demonstrate to designers and digital photographers how they can integrate PNY’s products into their workflow to allow them to achieve higher quality results in a shorter amount of time.”

Show attendees and media professionals are invited to the PNY booth to experience how its diverse line of products is used to:

Capture
PNY will demonstrate its complete line of high-speed, CompactFlash™, SecureDigital™ High Capacity, xD Picture Cards™ and MicroSDHC flash cards that meet the speed and capacity requirements for the most demanding photo and video equipment.

Store and Share
PNY will showcase a range of compact and durable USB Flash Drives with capacities up to 32 GB. PNY’s Solid State Drives will also be on display; these light and durable drives are offered in 64GB or 128GB with 90MB/sec. read and 70MB/sec. write speeds.

Edit

PNY will demonstrate how creative professionals can maximize their productivity with NVIDIA Quadro by PNY graphics solutions that are built for Adobe professionals. Spotlighted will be the NVIDIA Quadro CX, which comes bundled with Adobe Premiere® Pro CS4 and is designed specifically to accelerate the performance of Adobe Creative Suite® 4 and Encore® CS4 software.

Visitors will experience fast, even, and efficient photo management features with PNY GeForce graphics cards. Also on display will be PNY memory solutions demonstrating how they can improve system performance, allowing digital photographers the ability to increase their speed and power when editing photos.

For additional information visit the PNY web site at www.pny.com or to learn more about what PNY will demonstrate at Photoshop World 2009, visit: http://www.pny.com/PhotoshopWorld2009.
About PNY Technologies, Inc.
Established in 1985, PNY Technologies®, Inc. is a leading supplier and marketer of NVIDIA® Quadro® by PNY Technologies professional graphics boards and XLR8™ and Verto® brand consumer graphics cards. The company also offers a full line of high-end memory upgrade modules, flash media, USB flash drives, portable hard drives and flash peripherals.

Headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., PNY maintains facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit http://www.pny.com.

Wednesday Pictures

Here’s a taste of what happened yesterday…

PSW Pics from Pre-Con Tuesday

As you can imagine, there is a lot going on today. However, Scott Kelby’s awesome assistant, Brad Moore, took some time out to get me some pictures to publish from yesterday’s pre-con events. Enjoy!