Travel and Advertising Photographer Susan Seubert 2018 – The Year In Pictures

2018 was an extraordinary year for travel and exploration!  I circumnavigated Iceland (twice), sailed in French Polynesia, island hopped in the Caribbean, gave a TEDx talk in Virginia, photographed stories here in Oregon but also in Ireland and Canada, spent time surfing and snorkeling with sea turtles and other ocean creatures in Hawaii, taught a photography workshop in Arizona and explored Europe by river boat.

Below is a collection of pictures from 2018, which I hope you enjoy.

If you want to see what adventures are in store for 2019, please follow me on Instagram.

Thank you for visiting my blog and Happy New Year!

 

We started the year off in Hawaii!  Here is a Humpback whale slapping its tail against the surface of the ocean outside of Lahaina Harbor, Hawaii

My friend with an Hawaiian Day Octopus, found while snorkeling off of the island of Maui, Hawaii

After delivering my TEDx talk in Virginia, I headed off to Ireland.  The colorful streets in the Cathedral Quarter in Belfast, Northern Ireland

The Peace Bridge that spans the River Foyle and joins Ebrington, to Derry, (Londonderry), Ireland

Traditional Irish Music being played by local musicians at the Guildhall Taphouse, located in the Guildhall outside the old walls in Derry, Ireland

From Ireland, I flew to Barbados, where I would begin my Caribbean adventure.  Horses from the Bridgetown Garrison being led by their groomers into the Caribbean Sea at Brownes Beach, Bridgetown, Barbados

Sailing the Caribbean on the S.Y. Sea Cloud, a 4 masted luxury yacht

Part of our itinerary for the Scottsdale, Arizona National Geographic Photography Workshop is photographing at the Bein Horse Ranch, Scottsdale, AZ

It’s always a pleasure to participate in the Portland Gay Pride Parade, Portland, OR, USA

In June, I headed to Iceland.  Here are the famed Latrabjarg bird cliffs, Bjargtangar, Iceland.  Notice the teeny, tiny people standing on top of the bluff.

Icebergs populate the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Iceland

One of the beautiful fjords, Siglufjordur, Iceland

The Herring Musuem in Siglufjordur, Iceland

The Atlantic Puffin colony on Flatey Island, Iceland

One of the young participants in the Fiesta Mexicana in Woodburn, Oregon

For August, it was Canada! Customers enjoying the rooftop bar, Copper, at the Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

The view of the Bytown Museum and the flight of locks 1 (one) through 8 (eight) as seen from the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Throughout the summer in Ottawa, yoga enthusiasts head to the property of working federal government buildings on Parliament Hill for free yoga classes; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

The iconic view of Parliament Hill from Major Hill’s Park, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

The Elora Mill Hotel and Spa is a luxury hotel and spa in a historic building that is perched over the Grand River in Elora, Ontario, Canada

Horses, which are used by the local Mennonite population for transportation by horse-and-buggy, parked by the side of the road Elora, Ontario, Canada

Exploring the Grand River in a Punt Boat ride in Elora, Ontario, Canada

I flew from my hometown of Portland, Oregon to Tahiti where I checked into the Hotel Intercontinental in Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia

The atoll of Tahanea in the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia

Hermit crabs dining on a coconut on the atoll of Tahanea in the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia

After my adventure in the South Pacific, I headed to Budapest.  The Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest, Hungary

A private concert at the Palais Lichtenstein, Vienna, Austria

Early morning in Regensburg, Germany

St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna, Austria

The walled town of Würzburg, Germany

 

Editorial, Commercial and Travel Photographer Susan Seubert Gives TEDx Talk at EHC

Last month I was invited to give a TEDx talk at the Emory and Henry College in Virginia and it was a smashing success!  This was my first TED talk and I was asked to address what it’s like to have a DIY career as a travel photographer for big name clients like National Geographic  and the New York Times. It was a challenge to memorize a 12 minute talk because although I’ve done a lot of public speaking, I’m used to the crutch of a podium and my computer for prompting me in the right direction.  The other pressure came from knowing that you have 6 or so video cameras trained on you, recording your every breath.  It took many meetings over Skype with the TEDx committee at the college to settle on the final monologue, which focuses on the importance of other people who help make your career and dreams possible.  The talk offers some encouraging words for young photographers, so feel free to share this with anyone who you feel might benefit.

Enjoy and thanks for visiting!

2017 The Year in Pictures for Travel and Editorial Photographer Susan Seubert

My how time flies! 2017 was another whirlwind of travel and exploration: I visited both poles, watched dolphins in Mexico, went whale watching in Hawaii, marched with three million of my fellow Americans in Washington, visited castles in England, had my first true Guinness in Ireland, hiked along the coast in Wales and explored Vancouver, BC by boat. I took over 20,000 photos while on assignment this year which although is not a record, it’s certainly a lot of images!  Below are a few of my favorites, marking my global journey for this past year.  My hope is that by showing the beauty and diversity of this marvelous world, that you will be inspired to travel.

I started the year off on assignment for Vox Media, shooting a story about my hometown of Portland, Oregon. Here is the view of Mt. Hood from Pittock Mansion.

First stop on the 2017 World Tour: Baja! Always one of my favorite places on Earth, the Gulf of California is wild and beautiful. We enjoyed a sunset beach bbq at Puerto los Gatos.

Second stop: Washington D.C. for the Women’s March. We will persist!

Third stop: The ‘Au ‘au channel off of the coast of Maui to witness the annual migration of Humpback Whales from Alaska. We’ll be heading back there this year!

Next up, Antarctica in February. This was the last trip of the Antarctic season, so we explored the southern ocean to see incredible landscapes and wildlife. Here is a Gentoo Penguin colony with gorgeous ice in the distance.

One of my favorite places on Earth: Gold Harbour, South Georgia. Here we were treated to a rainbow and King penguins on the beach.

I opened my show, “Not A Day Goes By,” at the Froelick Gallery in April. The work was also shown at this year’s Venice Biennale.

I have been photographing John Yeon’s, “The Shire,” in the Columbia River Gorge for the last 7 years and the book was finally published. The Portland Art Museum used one of the images to announce the show about Yeon.

In May, my family and friends joined us in Venice for my opening at the Venice Biennale! Definitely a high point in my artistic career, the Biennale is the most prestigious venue for fine art on the planet. Picture here is me with my mom on the balcony of the Palazzo Bembo, home to the European Cultural Center that hosted the exhibition.

After returning to the U.S. from Italy, it was back across the puddle for adventures starting in Arctic Svalbard where polar bears ruled the day!

A once in a lifetime sighting: we watched a polar bear take a bearded seal, then proceed to have a feast. Even our Norwegian guides had never seen such a site! This is why traveling with National Geographic makes all the difference.

After spending time in Svalbard, we headed over to the famed fjords of Norway. We hiked and explored these beautiful waterways which was a joyous experience.

Back in Oregon, science rules! We were some of the first in the United States to witness a total eclipse of the sun. I photographed it through a spotting scope.

The diamond ring effect during the total eclipse of the sun. Taken in McMinnville, Oregon.

The end of August took me back to school at the Maine Media Workshops where I learned about short form, multimedia storytelling from the master himself, Bob Sacha.

I had a brief moment at home before heading back to Europe, where Ireland awaited! I landed in Dublin and after visiting the stunning Library at Trinity College, we headed straight to a pub for a proper pint of Guinness!

From Ireland we sailed for Wales, where we visited the lush Bodnant Gardens in the rain.

After exploring Wales for a few days, we headed to England, where the charming town of Fowey welcomed our rather large ship into port.

After my adventures on board the National Geographic Orion, I flew back to North America where I had an assignment to photograph lovely Vancouver, British Columbia. We had stunning weather! This is the Grouse Mountain Skyride Surf Adventure, with views back to the city from the top of the aerial tram.

As soon as I wrapped the shoot in B.C., it was back across the Atlantic to meet my husband in beautiful Bordeaux. Here is Le Miroir d’eau at Place de la Bourse in Bordeaux during the blue hour.

After eating and drinking our way through France, we hopped an EasyJet flight to Venice, to take in the sights, and my show, one last time. Here is the Basilica San Marco in the morning, Venice, Italy.

We flew back to the U.S., and no sooner had we touched down, then I had some meetings to attend in our nation’s capital, so I flew to DC for a quick trip.

Then, it was back to Hawaii for us. I was fortunate enough to be invited to photograph the Keiki Hula Festival at the Ka’anapali Beach Hotel. It was inspiring to see these young people carrying on the Hawaiian tradition of hula.

My husband got to catch a few waves before I had to wave goodbye and head off to…

Cambridge!! I had a fantastic shoot for the Charles Hotel. We spent a week making a library of images for the hotel’s new web site. I’ll post more about this shoot once the job is live!

Luckily for me, there was still time after Boston to head back to Hawaii, where I was able to enjoy some beach time with my husband. Cheers to an incredible 2017!

 

Susan Seubert Photography 2015: Year in Review

From Australia to Antarctica, Albany to Alaska, 2015 was filled with photographic adventures!

January 2015 began with the National Geographic annual photographers’ meeting in Washington, D.C.  This is always a fun event – an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, old and new.

The Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument, as seen from the Tidal Basin, glow in the evening light.

 

I trained for back country emergency medicine with courses through REI and NOLS, rounding it out with CPR certification.  It was an enlightening experience. The course is taught outdoors, and the weather was nice enough that it was actually fun to work through all sorts of emergency scenarios.  I now am prepared to help first-responders in the event of an emergency, should one arise while I’m on assignment in a remote area.

Wilderness First Aid class taught outside of Portland, Oregon

February 2015

…took me whale watching in Maui.

One of the best times to visit Maui is February when the population of Alaska Humpbacks migrates to the ‘Au ‘Au Channel to mate and give birth, right outside our back door.  It’s amazing to sit on the beach and watch these gigantic animals frolic in relatively shallow water.  If you stick your head underwater, you can hear the males singing.  It’s truly magical!  I took several whale watching trips and have settled on my favorite – the VIP Ultimate Whale Watch out of Lahaina. We will be returning February 2016 to go and see these majestic creatures.

Humpback whales in the ‘Au ‘au Channel, Maui, Hawaii, USA

March 2015

…was dominated by working with the crew at Staples on a shoot in Los Angeles.

It was so fun to work on a back lot at Universal Studios plus it’s always nice to go to sunny climates for work.  It was great to make new friends and I look forward to working with Staples in 2016!

 

Here is Susan framing up one of our shots on “Wisteria Lane.”

Our third location was on the Universal Studios Backlot. We shot on the same street where Desperate Housewives was filmed. I wonder how many selfies we all took?

Happy client. Smiles all around.

April 2015

…opened my show, “The Fallacy of Hindsight,” at the Froelick Gallery.  I was pleased with the response, and it was covered well by the press. The opening also overlapped with the highly regarded Portland photography event, Photolucida.

“Entwined”, 50×40″, Digital Pigment Print from Wet Plat Collodion Negative, 2015, edition of 15, signed, numbered and dated on verso, model: Twinka Thiebaud

The installation at the Froelick Gallery of Susan Seubert’s show, “The Fallacy of Hindsight”

May 2015

…and we were back to our island home in Maui for a couple of weeks to enjoy the sun, sand, and surf.  Mid-trip I headed to New  York City to give a talk with Ralph Lee Hopkins, Dan Westergren, Bob Krist, and Art Wolfe for a very well-attended OPTIC 2015 conference.  I was one of the 5 keynote speakers on the first day of the OPTIC event.  Working with National Geographic, Lindblad, and B&H was a very satisfying experience.  I look forward to OPTIC 2016!

Holding a 1200mm prime on stage at the OPTIC 2015 Conference in New York City

Speaking to a packed house with over 700 people in attendance – standing room only!

June 2015

… on the train from Seattle to the Jasper/Banff areas to photograph a story about the Rocky Mountaineer for National Geographic Traveler Magazine. This was a technically challenging shoot, but good planning helped me get “the shot” of the train at sunrise.  It was also the first time I worked on the side of a mountain – the Via Ferrata on Mt. Norquay – where I had to photograph while rock climbing.  It was exhilarating and I would do it again in a heartbeat!  The weather was absolutely gorgeous, the people were fantastic, and the landscape was breathtaking.

The Rocky Mountaineer passenger train as seen at dawn near Exshaw, Alberta, Canada, with Heart Mountain reflected in the Bow River

On location at Peyto Lake in Banff, Canada

The Via Ferrata on Mt. Norquay, Banff National Park, Canada.

July 2015

… found me trekking across the globe to Broome, Australia, where I met the National Geographic Orion for an adventure with National Geographic Expeditions on the Kimberley Coast of Australia.  The geology is some of the most unique in the world and there is an abundance of wildlife.  Sea snakes, crocodiles, sharks, dolphins, wallabies, and a myriad of bird species made this trip spectacular.

Naturalist David Cothran tasting ascorbic acid defensive spray from green weaver ants in the Kimberley, Vansittart Bay, Australia

Naturalist Anthony Capogreco checks underwater for jellies and crocodiles at Crocodile Creek, The Kimberley, Western Australia

Gwion Gwion, or Bradshaw Rock Art, dated to be perhaps 50,000 years old, at Jar Island, Kimberly Coast, Australia

Crocodile, King George River, Kimberly Coast, Australia

Hugging a Boab tree for good luck at Vansittart Bay, Kimberley Coast, Australia. Photo by Cristiana Damiano

At the top of Twin Falls, King George River, Kimberly Coast, Australia. Photo by Adam Cropp

August/September 2015

…exploring the inside passage of Alaska, one of the most unspoiled places on earth, is best visited by small ship. This expedition is one of my favorites.  On this expedition we explored small fjords and remote islands, then transited into British Columbia where several First Nations tribes reside, including the Haida people. This area includes the UNESCO World Heritage Site of SGaang Gwaii.  While anchored outside of Glacier National Park, we were treated to a display the Northern Lights. Among the amazing wildlife sightings were the rare displays of cooperative bubblenet feeding by humpback whales, the very same population that I had seen earlier in the year in Maui.

The Eagle Dance, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

A much larger cruise ship at Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, USA

Humpback Whales bubble net feeding south of Morris Reef, Inside Passage, Alaska, USA

The Fairweather Mountains at dawn as seen from a ship, Inside Passage, Alaska, USA

Northern Lights as seen just at the entrance to Glacier Bay National Park, Inside Passage, Alaska, USA

October 2015

… I headed to Tucson, Arizona for a shoot with the Tanque Verde Ranch and J Public Relations.  I love riding horses. It was great fun riding through the desert landscape and quite a contrast to the lush green of my Pacific Northwest.  There were also the unforgettable prickly pear margaritas!

Riding at sunset at the Tanque Verde Ranch, a dude ranch located on the outskirts of the Saguaro National Park in Tuscon, AZ

The Spa at Tanque Verde Ranch, a dude ranch located on the outskirts of the Saguaro National Park in Tuscon, AZ

Joe Valdez, legendary cowboy, at Tanque Verde Ranch

 

The Prickly Pear Margarita at Tanque Verde Ranch

As a digital photographer, I must keep current with the software I use to process those thousands of files. In my experience, the finest training is the D-65 course taught by Seth Resnick and Jamie Spritzer, offered only in their home in Florida.  The side benefit of the class is the great wine and food!  If you are looking to take your digital workflow to the next level, I recommend this course.

D-65 Lightroom Training Course in Florida

Castagna Restaurant has been a long-time commercial client. This year I photographed a gallery refresh for their cafe and restaurant, two of my favorite places to eat in Portland.  We had a great time making images for their photography needs.  This award winning restaurant is not to be missed whether you are a native to the city or an out of town guest looking to sample some of the finest Pacific Northwest cuisine.

Mobile studio!

Working on the classic Castagna burger.

Cucumber, Egg Yolk, nasturtium at Castagna Restaurant in Portland, OR.

Nasturtium dish at Castagna Restaurant in Portland, OR.

November 2015

…and I’m flying from coast to coast twice in one week!  I enjoyed sharing speakers’ duties with Ralph Lee Hopkins, this time at the New York State Museum in Albany, NY for National Geographic Seminars.  We had a great day with good attendance. What a pleasure it is to work with personable and talented colleagues.

Speaking for National Geographic Seminars at the New York State Museum

As soon as I touched down in Portland, it was back to the East Coast to do a shoot for Smithsonian Magazine in Washington, D.C.  Keep your eyes peeled for the April 2016 issue of Smithsonian Magazine.  Here are some behind-the-scenes shots to give you a taste of what’s to come.

On location at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

Working my magic back in Portland to finish up the project with Smithsonian Magazine

Having returned from DC, I headed straight to Netarts, Oregon, where I was on assignment for National Geographic Traveler to photograph a story about salt for their upcoming issue which will feature water as a theme.  Keep your eyes peeled for that one, too!  Here are a few BTS to whet your appetite.

Photographing Ben Jacobsen of Jacobsen Salt, in Netarts, Oregon

A shovel full of sea salt at Jacobsen Salt Company in Netarts, Oregon, USA. The salt is harvested from sea water pumped from Netarts Bay in to their facility located on the shore of the bay.

December 2015

…headed all the way south, down to Ushuaia, Argentina, where I boarded the ship, the National Geographic Explorer, for 3 weeks of exploring the Antarctic peninsula with National Geographic Expeditions.  Penguins, whales, seals, and ice were the dominating subjects of this adventure.  Our amazing Expedition Leader, Lisa Kelley, along with the captain, worked hard to make sure that we did not miss a thing.  We hiked in waist high snow, we sat and watched Elephant Seal pups, we watched Humpback Whales feeding, and then there was the ice.  Blue is the dominant color, and in Antarctica we saw miles of it.

Our fearless Expedition Leader, Lisa Kelley, on the bridge as we pass tabular icebergs around midnight.

A “weaner” elephant seal trying to suckle at my knee in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Photo by a very nice passenger.

Gentoo penguins on Cuverville Island, Antarctica

Icebergs, Antarctica

Chinstrap penguins on Half Moon Island, South Shetland Islands, Southern Ocean, Antarctica

Juggling snowballs at the top of the trail at Orne Harbour, Antarctica. Photograph by guest Courtney Thompson.

An Emperor Penguin with Adelie Penguins on an iceberg in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica

Adelie penguins and a Weddell Seal on an iceberg in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Thank you for visiting my blog!  Please remember that these images are registered with the U.S. Copyright Office and may not be used in any form without prior written permission from Susan Seubert.

Susan Seubert Photography in 2014 : An Amazing Year, in Pictures

From the North Pole to the sands of Hawaii, my cameras and I saw many incredible places.

Here are some of the highlights.

My year began in Birmingham for National Geographic Traveler for a story about the history of Civil Rights in the city, but from a traveler’s perspective. The assignment took me to the Civil Rights Museum and the inside of the 16th Street Baptist Church, both sobering experiences.  Birmingham also has a fabulous food scene from down home BBQ to some seriously delicious high-end Southern Cuisine.  The lively arts scene was a surprise, complete with small music venues and vegan restaurants.

The Wales Window at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama

The Bottletree restaurant, which offers vegan cuisine, and music venue located in the Avondale district of Birmingham, Alabama.

The next great assignment came from the Smithsonian Magazine : photographing the Von Trapp children who have made Portland, Oregon their hometown. We spent time climbing trees and jumping on rooftops with umbrellas to get some wonderful images of these multi-talented youngsters.

The Von Trapp children in Portland, Oregon

From there, it was off to Baja, where I taught photography on board the National Geographic Sea Bird.  We traveled throughout the Gulf of California experiencing all kinds of wildlife. Swimming with sea lions at Los Islotes, Orca whales bow riding at midnight under a full moon and huge flocks of elegant terns choosing their mates at Isla Rasita are just a few of the amazing encounters we had during our eight day voyage.  The wildlife experts on board kept our shutters flying.

Snorkeling with California Sea Lions at Los Islotes in Baja California Mexico Photographed with a GoPro Camera

Elegant terns and other sea birds gathering on Isla Rasita, Baja California Mexico

After a few loads of laundry and some face time with the kitties, it was off to Maui for the month of May, where I shot a story about Happiness for Prevention Magazine.  We had fun making smiley faces on trees in the lush, tropical forests.  We did street casting to choose our lovely models who expressed joy with their smiles and their feet. 🙂

A tree in the forest on Maui with a happy face made of natural materials.

pink flowers with a happy face in the grass with bare feet, Maui, Hawaii

From Maui, I flew directly to Quebec City for National Geographic Traveler where I spent ten days on assignment.  The European vibe and French speaking Vieux Quebec made me feel as though I had crossed two oceans.

Street scenes from Vieux Quebec, the only fortified city in North America north of Mexico, Quebec City, Canada. Rue Saint Louis lighting up at dusk

Lower Vieux Quebec, also known as Quartier Petit Champlain, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

In June, I headed to Svalbard to work as the Photography Expert for National Geographic Expeditions on board the Explorer, a beautiful ice breaker.  We sailed among the ice sheets, spotting polar bears and photographing the most incredible blues I’ve ever seen.  The landscape around the North Pole cannot be properly captured in pictures, but we all did our best.

A polar bear with her cub on the pack ice in Svalbard, Norway

Austfonna Ice Cap on Nordaustlandet, Svalbard, Norway

Glacial Ice floating in Svalbard, Norway

Teaching photography has been a focus of 2014. In July, I taught a group of aspiring young photographers through National Geographic’s Student Expeditions program in San Francisco.  We explored Muir Woods, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the streets of San Francisco and magnificent Big Sur.  Later in the year I taught two one-day seminars in L.A. and Portland for National Geographic on “The Travel Assignment.”

Our group portrait with all of the National Geographic Student Expeditions at the Sutro Baths, San Francisco, CA

Our dusk shoot at the Golden Gate Bridge with Student Expeditions where we experimented with light writing and a group portrait

After wrapping in San Francisco, I photographed for several days on beautiful Bainbridge Island in Washington.  The subject?  Chickens.  Chickens and their coops for Amber Lotus, a calendar and card company.  Keep your eyes peeled for the 2016 edition of City Chickens and Their Coops!

Chickens and their Coops Calendar coming out in 2016, but it’s not too late to get your 2015 copy!

It was off to Switzerland in September for two weeks covering 1000 miles of Swiss bliss.  Every village and mountain peak was as picturesque as one would expect from this iconic country.  One of the many highlights was visiting a small creamery in the Alps that makes Alpkäse, a traditional cheese made entirely by hand.  I also hiked around the mountains, explored the country by train, car and boat, and (how could I resist?) sampled lots of chocolate.

A Swiss cheese-maker working on a batch of Alpkäse by hand in the traditional manner in a giant copper kettle over a wood burning fire at their cheese-making hut above Wengen, Switzerland

A Swiss cheese-maker working on a batch of Alpkäse by hand in the traditional manner in a giant copper kettle over a wood burning fire at their cheese-making hut above Wengen, Switzerland

What could be better than this? Crete. I flew directly there from Switzerland and was met by my husband — and my fixer.  We proceeded to spend just over a week shooting the western half of the island.  The food, people, landscape and architecture were outstanding. That story has already hit the newsstands in the Netherlands for the Dutch edition of National Geographic Traveler.

Street scenes in Chania, Crete, Greece

Evening street performers in the village of Paleochora on the southern coast of Crete, Greece, Europe

After Crete it was off to another island, our home on Maui, where we spent October and November surfing, stand-up paddle-boarding and, of course, making more pictures.  This time the assignment was for me: to explore the underwater world with a Canon 7D and an SPL water housing.  I photographed turtle after turtle, had a few octopus encounters and enjoyed a beautiful moment with a very large spotted eagle ray.

A spotted eagle ray at the reef at Black Rock in Kaanapali, Maui

A large, male Hawaiian green sea turtle swims peacefully over the reef at Kaanapali, Maui

Thank you to all of my clients for sending me on such remarkable journeys.

You’ve made 2014 marvelous!!!

 

Photographer Susan Seubert speaks for National Geographic Seminar on The Travel Assignment

Lower Vieux Quebec, also known as Quartier Petit Champlain, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada          image copyright © 2014 Susan Seubert

Public speaking, for me, was once a terrifying prospect.  Standing on stage in front of an auditorium full of strangers, lights low with maybe a dim spotlight on me, huge images projected on the screen behind me: this scenario was petrifying. Yet over the years, it’s become much easier for me to stand in front of an audience and speak.  Perhaps it’s from practice or maybe it’s simply the passing of time, but either way I am now much more familiar with myself and what I do than I was when I gave my first formal lecture.  It was to the Society for Photographic Education’s Conference at Evergreen State College in Washington.  I was 22 years old and had to excuse myself after the first sentence came out of my mouth as I thought I might pass out.

Thankfully, that was not the case these past two Sundays when I had the opportunity to speak alongside National Geographic Traveler’s Director of Photography, Dan Westergren.  I had been asked by the National Geographic Seminar program to prepare a day long talk about “The Travel Assignment”, something with which I am now familiar.  The day was broken up into several segments in order to address the subject in as comprehensive a manner as possible in under 6 hours.  Dan and I took turns speaking depending on the subject. Occasionally we would interject a relevant story or address a specific audience member’s question during the other person’s presentation.  My subjects were the following: “How Portraiture Can Inform a Larger Narrative;” “What I Carry in My Daily Camera Bags and Why (using pictures to illustrate not only the gear, but also examples using different lens lengths, hello Canon and Think Tank!! );” and finally to present two stories shot on assignment for the magazine.  Dan’s topics were: “Photos We Love and Why;” “Histogram, White Balance and Composition;” “Mirror-less Cameras;” “Using Light;” and “Essence of Place.”

A highlight of the program for me was Dan’s opening sequence of, “Photos We Love and Why.”  November 2014 is National Geographic Traveler’s 30th Anniversary, and I am humbled and pleased to have one of my images included in their 30 Greatest Travel Photos in 30 Years.  Because these were the images Dan chose to show as part of the program, I was able to explain the behind-the-scenes of my image chosen, and Dan described the criteria he and his editors use in the selection process for the photos published in the magazine, and how those criteria had changed over time.  Considering that over 30 million images have been submitted to National Geographic Traveler and of those, approximately 34,000 have been published in those 30 years, I feel very fortunate that one of mine landed in the chosen 30.

In both Los Angeles and Portland, our audiences were terrific!  Everyone was engaged, positive, asked great questions and seemed pleased to have spent an entire Sunday in a darkened room, looking at pictures with Dan and me.  In fact, one of the winners of the 2014 National Geographic Traveler Photography Competition was in attendance at our Portland seminar. One of the many benefits of attending these seminars is that we allow a good amount of time for questions where anyone in the audience can ask and we are right there to answer.  Our goal is to be there to not only provide insight and information about the world inside National Geographic Traveler Magazine, but also to tailor the day for interaction with participants.  I always dine with the guests so we can possibly continue talking during lunch. Participants also received a handout which has not only the information we address during the seminar, but also a list of resource web sites for Travel Photographers.

I look forward to my upcoming speaking engagements. I will discuss my work during Portland’s upcoming Photolucida. I am scheduled to give a talk to the students at the Pacific Northwest College of Art during one of their “Career Chat” programs and also at the Froelick Gallery where I’ll be having a show of my work in April. I will be giving another seminar for the National Geographic Seminar program this coming spring. As the schedule becomes available, I’ll be posting about it on my social network pages as well as on this blog.

Presenting my portrait images at the Skirball Cultural Center Auditorium in Los Angeles for National Geographic Seminars, “The Travel Assignment”

Thank you for visiting my blog and have a great day!

Photographer Susan Seubert teaching for National Geographic Seminars

As I was preparing for my forthcoming National Geographic Seminars, I realized that in the last 10 years I’ve photographed over 30 feature stories for National Geographic Traveler Magazine, ranging from Beaujolais to Bangkok to Birmingham. 🙂

I look forward to sharing my experiences, tips and tricks of the trade for all who attend the National Geographic seminars on The Travel Assignment in Los Angeles and Portland.  For the schedule of events, click here.

Monks during prayer at Wat Suthat Thepphawararam, a royal temple of the first grade, one of ten such temples in Bangkok.

An art-light installation designed by San Antonio artist Bill Fitzgibbons called “LightRails” in the 18th Street viaduct near Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham, Alabama.

The village of Oingt, located in the southern part of the appellation of Beaujolais. Pictured here is a Fete de Conscrit.