Please join me in New York City on May 3rd and 4th for the first annual OPTIC event! This is a free, 3 day conference taking place in venues around B&H Photo in Manhattan. OPTIC is sponsored by B&H and Lindblad/National Geographic Expeditions. OPTIC stands for “Outdoor Photo/video Travel Imaging Conference.” I’ll be there alongside some of my friends and colleagues: Dan Westergren, Ralph Lee Hopkins, Art Wolfe, Cristina Mittermeier, David Middleton and Bob Krist, and am also looking forward to making new friends.
I’ll be giving two lectures over the course of the three day event. You can see a detailed list of times and venues here.
On May 3rd, I’ll be giving a presentation about how to build a travel story. I have been a contributing features photographer to National Geographic Traveler for 11 years. Drawing from that experience, I’ll offer tips on how to best cover a travel story through photography. This lecture is designed for anyone, from the casual point-and-shoot photographer to the advanced amateur or pro. I firmly believe that we can all learn from one another, so I hope to elucidate by sharing my experiences as a professional travel photographer.
On May 4th the title of my presentation is, “Food Photography to Catch the Local Flavor.” I’ll show how food can be a unique way to document a culture or enhance a travel experience. From technical tips about how to make food look great to documenting traditional harvesting methods as a gateway to a larger cultural dialogue, I’ll share what I’ve learned to enhance your travel experience through your lens. Like the previous day’s topic on travel stories, this presentation is designed for anyone at any experience level who is interested in improving their images.
There are 19 speakers slated for this event and I encourage you to look at the web site and tailor your days based on your interests. Also, B&H will be hosting a trade show and likely have some great deals on gear. With this arrangement, you can immediately add to your kit based on the advice from all of the speakers. I know I’ll likely be doing some shopping!
Thank you for visiting my blog and see you in New York!
