May 2011 Photo Seminar a Big Success

by William Morton and Thom Hiatt

TBC presented it’s third in a series of Pro Speaker Seminars currently held at San Diego City College’s Career Technology Center on Saturday, May 28, 2011. Organized by Tony Amat of A/R Event Photography and Thom Hiatt of TBC Creative Multi-Media, this third edition of the series featured four speakers. A great turnout of about 70 students, amateurs and professionals enjoyed the seminar, complete with lunch catered by Da Vinci Fine Foods and underwritten by NIK Software . Photos below by Johnakin Randolph for A/R Event Photography.

William Morton, Jane Mitchell, and Tony Corbell of the May 28th Photography Pro Speaker Series seminar at San Diego City College.William Morton, Jane Mitchell and Tony Corbell pose for a group shot after the seminar.

26-time Emmy® Award-winning broadcast journalist Jane Mitchell, author of One on One – My Journey with Hall of Famers, Fan Favorites and RisingStars, opened the program. Her new book chronicles a selection of famous athletes’ stories. As described on her website, “No one else has interviewed or done in-depth personal biographies on this particular collection of athletes.  For some, the One on One program is the only in-depth and comprehensive story on their life.  As the television programs have become a part of the sports archives and landscape in San Diego, this book, with Jane’s unique experience sharing their stories, serves as a little slice of history beyond the replays of the TV shows.”

TBC co-founder Thom Hiatt presented the many opportunities available with Social Media, especially for photographers. Showcasing a brief history of communications, from news print to current mobile technology, Hiatt encouraged attendees to think of themselves as business owners, show off their best work via popular social media, and communicate with customers and prospects with blogs, eNewsletters, and even traditional printed newsletters and postcards.

William Morton, owner of Morton Visuals, presented a segment on “Color – Get it RIGHT!” William identified the three major segments of a digital photography workflow and the importance of properly managing your color throughout the entire image-making process. With tools such as the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport, you can calibrate your camera to ensure that the initial image capture renders accurate colors. Then tools such as the Datacolor Spyder3 Studio can take you the rest of the way through the process, profiling your monitor and your printer (for each ink/paper combination). Once everything is profiled you can start a new image-making session with a known good color target to ensure that you start with (and maintain) good color.

Tony Corbell was the day’s “keynote speaker.” Tony’s accomplishments are extensive, and he has become a well-known photo educator. He has written articles in every major photographic magazine in the U.S., Japan, the U.K. and China. He is currently one of a select few Approved Photographic Instructors from the Professional Photographers of America…and he’s the biggest Beatles fan alive. Tony’s presentation on light was all about understanding the quality of light and utilizing light in all of its forms. He definitely kept the audience’s attention throughout, with many of the students seeking him out afterwards to pose for photos with them.

Lorenzo Gunn was on hand to showcase some of the beautiful photo books from Burrell Color Imaging, Phillip Abel was showing off the cool toys from Mamiya America Corporation and promoting their awesome MAC on Campus program, and Matt & Matt of Bongo Bytes were on hand to show software and lots of cool gadgets. Many thanks not only to all those involved but to all those who came out on a Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. It seemed like everyone learned a bit, and hopefully got some inspiration as well.