Photostock 2012

Photostock [foh - toh - stok]
noun
1. a gathering of photographers in Northern Michigan



Spider web O'Neal Lake

   Photostock originated and organized by photographer Bill Schwab with the goal of "sharing work and inspiring one another to be better photographers and artists." Mission accomplished Bill. I met so many photographers the first official night of Photostock my head was spinning.There was a father and college son from Arkansas, a truck driver from England, a college Dean from New York, a photo podcaster from Ohio,  working and retired professional photographers and a lot in between. One gentleman said he barely even makes his own photographs, he just has a love for photography.    Most of the photographers I met there shoot film from 35mm to 8x10 with a few digital shooters. infra red, traditional black and white, wet plate and the list goes on. Every format every process is welcome and embraced. After the short sign in and meet and greet at the Birchwood Inn Harbor Springs, MI (photo op) a group of us headed to the historic Legs Inn (photo op). It was a beautiful country drive with winding roads (photo op). OK I think you get the 'picture'. There are photo ops everywhere and Bill knows them all.



Wet Plate

Legs Inn

 
    Back at the lodge that evening Bill gave a wonderful presentation of his work and his guided tours of Iceland. He also gave an inspiring talk to the diverse crowd of photographers about the creative and artistic process. His enthusiasm and excitement for the craft is contagious. The entire weekend I am told is just packed with sharing work, making work, demos and camaraderie in a very relaxed atmosphere. Oh, and I will neither confirm nor deny that a keg of Oberon led me to stay up until 1:30 and convince others get up at 5am and go shooting with me.



Photogravure Demo By Bill Schwab

    Early the next morning we drove down some really long two tracks in the middle of no where and I just started thinking. Where are we? Is my GPS on?! When we hit the end of the trail the morning sun was just beautiful, water, dead trees, forest. I was totally out of my element making me feel like a scared little puppy. Where is my windowless studio? No strobes, no moving one tree 2 feet to the right, no art director, just aperture, shutter and my eye. Most of the time I just walked around trying to remember how to see. Yeah, my images I did take pretty much looked like crap, but what happened though as I left my comfort zone (again) my creative brain got a jump start re-enforcing what Bill said in his talk. That if you are in a rut change it up like equipment or venue.



Portfolio Sharing

Moring Fog O'Neal Lake

    Unfortunately I had to leave after just one day. On my drive home I filled two napkins with ideas for future shoots that had nothing to do with nature or landscape. I was so inspired after just less than 24 hours that I can only imagine what I would have taken away if I where able to stay the entire weekend. I am told the weekend continued with a pinup style demo with a model, a presentation from Suzanne Revy and one from Andrew Moore.
    I am so glad that my good friend and fine art photographer Dan Henderson encouraged me to go for even one day. It was on an impulse on Wednesday eve the day before Photostock that I decided to go (I will neither confirm nor deny that Oberon played a part in my impulsive decision to go). In truth the whole adventure was out of my comfort zone with the socializing with new people and nature photography. Despite that I had an amazing time. So everyone right now join in my impulse for next June and mark your calendar for Photostock 2013. You can thank me later.