Mitchell Franz is a photography major at Syracuse University S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
A little over three years ago, I joined a Photo a Day, APAD, after meeting Melissa Lyttle at Women In Photojournalism in Austin (because men are welcome too).
So I joined the APAD listserv and the inspiration has come in everyday to my inbox since, but once a year there has been a gathering of APAD members and photographers called Geekfest. Geekfest is all about inspiration.
Geekfest 2009 group photo. (Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News)
Although I am young, I have seen photographers commit unethical practices to their photos, a newspaper industry plummet, and lots of photographers lose their jobs or unsure of where they will be in the next few months. It is a scary time especially for a college student that wants nothing more than to be a photographer, and a successful one at that, in these tough times.
There was a point in my life where I thought about not pursuing a career in photography, but APAD quickly reminded me that choosing a different path wasn’t right for me. I love photography and am passionate about it just like the people on APAD and more importantly the ones that come to Geekfest.
After going to Geekfest last year, I had high expectations for this year and I was not disappointed.
I left more inspired than ever before. My thirst for photography was enriched. As I sat in the Poynter Institute and the St. Petersburg Times auditoriums, I was more inspired and passionate than ever before. From the likes of Sam Abell to Damon Winter to Allison V. Smith to Nicole Fruge and on and on, I knew sitting there that in my life I had to be a photographer and that it was possible and it could happen.
Photographer Sam Abell shows a photo of his wife shortly after she was diagnosed with cancer. (Tim Galloway)
My head was swirling with ideas on how I wanted to do things, different concepts I wanted to explore, and personal projects that I wanted to shoot…for just myself not for anyone else. I was able to learn more about location lighting and the freelance business – two areas that immensely interest me. Also Sam Abell showed me how to compose differently and think about a photograph’s life and how we are connected to it.
Besides the inspiration, there is socializing, networking, and all around good times at Geekfest. Between eating with new and old friends, hitting the bars and clubs up at night, and the awesome shuffleboard we played on Saturday night, there was surely something for everyone.
Photographer Sam Abell at Geekfest 2009. (Tim Galloway)
I have been to many workshops and conventions, but Geekfest is different. Friends asked me, “Where you going this weekend?†and I couldn’t reply to them easily. At Geekfest there is such an appreciation of photography and photographers, a level of inspiration like no other, and just this total camaraderie of visual people.
A friend, Tim Galloway, dropped Rob Hart and I off at the Tampa Airport at the end of Geekfest. He told us he was glad to be driving back to Detroit by himself because he would have time to think about all that was said and shown at Geekfest. I haven’t talked to Tim since he made it back, but I bet the drive from Florida to Michigan wasn’t long enough to digest all the awesomeness that the Geekfest weekend included.
But no matter how great Geekfest is every year, it stems from one amazing woman’s hard work and dedication; Melissa Lyttle. I cannot write a more thought out, elegant piece on Melissa than Sol Neelman recently did so I would just recommend visiting his blog post. I do want to say how thankful I am for all of her work, mentoring, and friendship. She is definitely a “pioneer†as Neelman says in his post.
Alexis Lambert gives a humorous lecture on media law during Geekfest 2009 in St. Petersburg, Florida Saturday, September 12, 2009. (Matt Roth/Patuxent Publishing Company)
My last point regarding this year’s extravaganza known as Geekfest is the price. A small $100 is what gets you to hear some of the most talented, inspiring speakers and photographers in the industry. You are sure to leave motivated. If inspiration isn’t enough for you, which it should be, then there is the good times and networking that happens too. I have made some great friends through Geekfest and was able to make new ones this year.
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