Imaging USA 2006

I didn't know there was a trade show for digital imaging! Found out at the last minute, packed up, jumped in the car and headed for Austin. Had reservations at a cheap motel, but when I saw the neighborhood I just couldn't do it. Logged on to their WIFI signal and used Priceline.com to book a room downtown. I had never tried this before, but after this experience I am singing their praises. I bid $80 for a three star room in the downtown area. What I got was a room at the four star Hyatt Regency with a view across Town Lake at the Austin skyline!

There were two days of seminars preceding the trade show, and those continued for the duration of the event. There was also a mentoring program, and critiques available. The Professional Photographer's Association had on display 2500 of the best work of the nation's photographers. That was valuable to me, so I could compare what I do with thousands of other photographers.

But it was the trade show itself that grabbed my attention. There were over 400 vendors -- everything from camera manufacturers, printers, inkjet supplies, software programs, albums, backdrops -- just about everything any photographer would need/want to use in their business. And the most important thing - show specials!

I only bought a couple things. But it sure was fun!

Just bought my biggest item online a few minutes ago. It's a new tablet by Wacom that is both an lcd monitor and pressure sensitive tablet. Very high resolution. Very expensive! But when I saw the demonstration I immediately recognized how much time it can save me when post processing photographs. See it here.

Personal revelation: One of my main roles in life is mentoring and motivating others. This is a theme I repeat constantly -- and did again with the new people I met at the show. It's like I can't help myself, I want everyone in the world to meet their full potential, and if anything I say can help -- I'm saying it.