29th Annual FOTOfusion Announced

Douglas Dubler: Spaceforce

(PRESS RELEASE)_(West Palm Beach, FL – January 11, 2024) Fatima NeJame, president and chief executive officer of the world-renowned Palm Beach Photographic Centre (PBPC), today announced that the nonprofit organization’s 29th annual FOTOfusion would include 24 FREE Community Presentations by world-famous photographers during the popular five-day cultural festival where creativity and technology fuse. 
 
“These FREE Community Presentations are informative and productive opportunities for professional and hobbyist photographers to engage, connect, and network with some of the leading names in digital photography,” says NeJame.

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In conjunction with FOTOfusion 2024, the Palm Beach Photographic Centre is presenting the following FREE Community Presentations at the Mandel Public Library auditorium in downtown West Palm Beach:
 
Wednesday, January 31
** 10:00 am to 11:00 as
Copyright: Know It or Blow It
With Debra Weiss
Copyright = $$$. Understanding how to put copyright to work for you is crucial to your success as photographer. Predatory image rights demands and widespread image theft can leave a photographer's business in jeopardy. Learn what you need to succeed. Knowledge is power.
(Community Presentation 601)
 
** 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Iridescence: The Art of the Iris
With Douglas Dubler
A detailed discussion and slide presentation of his recently published book on Irises and an in depth technical and aesthetic background on his transition from an editorial beauty photographer to the world of macro flower photography. 
(Community Presentation 602)
 
** 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
A Unique 50 Year Career of Capturing Beauty:
From Fashion to Conceptual from Beauty to Nudes
With Robert Farber
Enjoy a 5-minute video tour of Farber’s studio: an entertaining journey of the story behind some of his iconic images and how his career evolved From Fashion to Conceptual ...from Nudes into Beauty... to Re-Imagined, Conceptual to Video Art.  His unusual 50-year career path has been the impetus to launching a unique online Mentorship and Coaching Center whose mission is to inspire and motivate serious photographic artists to reach their goals, both creatively and financially. 
(Community Presentation 603)
 
** 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Photographing an Environmental Story
With Peter Essick
Essick will share insights into 30 years of photographing natural areas, human altered landscapes and ecological restoration.  (Community Presentation 604)
 
** 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm
Photographic Seeing:
Constructing & Deconstructing Images
With J. Thomas Lopez
PowerPoint presentation using photographs of the past to engineer and reverse engineer what makes them iconic and how to use that to make images have more impact.
(Community Presentation 605)
 
Thursday, February 1
** 10:00 am to 11:00 as
Everyone’s a Photographer:
How to Deal with It and What You Can Do About It
With Debra Weiss
Anyone can take at least one good picture today and Instagram is living proof of that. Not only has it made everyone believe they’re a photographer it’s completely altered the way everyone from ad agency art directors to interior designers find talent. With 3.2 billion images and 720 thousand hours of video shared online daily, getting noticed seems like an impossible task. This program will help you to better understand how to cut through the clutter and put you on the path to achieving your goals.
(Community Presentation 607)
 
** 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Portrait Sketching on the iPad
With Jeremy Sutton
See how Sutton sketches a portrait from scratch using the Procreate app on the iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil. Pick up artistic process and technical tips and insights along the way. Besides the artistry, enjoy the entertaining way that he paints live.
(Community Presentation 608)
 
** 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Water, Water Everywhere!
With Craig Blacklock
In puddles, streams, waterfalls, lakes, and oceans, water is a subject that many are drawn to, but few have mastered. For 47 years, and in most of his 19 books, Blacklock has photographed the interface of land and water in wilderness areas. He has explored a myriad of ways to interpret his chosen subject matter, from large format color landscapes to black and white nudes, to abstract reflections in both stills and video. He will cover the technical issues, particularly in selecting the shutter speed to control blur in moving water and show examples of his work in both stills and videos. While not required, this lecture is strongly recommended for anyone taking the Water, Water Everywhere FOTOshoot.
(Community Presentation 609)
 
** 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm
A Funny Thing Happened to my Camera
With Dan Burkholder
The photographer will outline the way the iPhone has forever changed the photographic landscape with its ease of use and powerful camera features. Learn the latest and greatest ways to use an iPhone to create amazing photos during travel, family events, and personal projects.
(Community Presentation 610)
 
** 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm
The Emotional Landscape
With Matt Stock
Nature and landscape photographers going back to the days of Ansel Adams have connected with the greater landscape in an emotional as well as an aesthetic manner. For Stock, photography becomes the medium for an emotional and spiritual connection to the landscape. Through the use of experimental contemporary photographic methods such as light painting as well as classic analog methods such as wet plate collodion, lumen prints, and cyanotypes, he connects with the land in a way that goes beyond the literal. In this talk, he will share this perspective and why he sees the South Florida landscape in particular as “more than just a swamp” and why he returns to the land repeatedly searching for a connection to the greater landscape. 
(Community Presentation 611)
 
** 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Gartel: Digital Titan
With Laurence Gartel
A survey of masterworks created over a 48-year career, along with a selection of book covers, magazine covers, articles around the world, a single Artist's pioneering effort promoting Digital Art as a force and aesthetic with which to reckon. Now, four decades later, everything is digital. ABSOLUT GARTEL, FORBES, GRAMMY AWARDS, NBA Championship Finals, NASA, "Think different" ad for Apple Computer, First Electric Art Roadster launching TESLA for Elon Musk, are just some of the iconic images produced by Laurence Gartel. Witness some of his latest projects which he will showcase for everyone to see. 
(Community Presentation 612)
 
Friday, February 2
** 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Identifying Your Practice:
Are You an Artist of Photographer?
With Daile Kaplan
From the outset of photography, pioneers sourced fine art to develop a photographic vocabulary. This presentation will reference artists who’ve crossed over from cinema, painting and sculpture into photography, including Anna Atkins, Eduard Steichen, Man Ray, Constantin Brancusi, Barkley Hendricks, Arthur Jafa, and Jay di Feo. This fun presentation will offer new ideas about image-making.
(Community Presentation 613)
 
** 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Intro to iPhone Photography
With Dan Burkholder
This class is perfect for image makers just entering the exciting world of iPhone photography. Get a firm grip on which apps are best for shooting, editing, and stylizing iPhone photos. But this class is more than a list of apps to purchase; participants will learn iPhone/iPad techniques that will make their photos look the way they want—from straight to highly stylized--with no geeky jargon or hassle. Leave this class with renewed excitement for photography adventures.
(Community Presentation 614)
 
** 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
A 60-Year Long Journey in Photography
With David Burnett
Highly acclaimed photojournalist at home and abroad, David Burnett is also known for being an entertaining yet thoughtful raconteur. His stories from his six decade journey in photography offer a most unique perspective on major events he covered. This year’s recipient of the prestigious FOTOmentor Award offers an intimate view on world leaders met along the way—US Presidents and international figures. The co-founder of Contact Press Images talks about his passion for the medium and questions it faces today: transformation of the editorial landscape, issues related to misinformation and truthfulness. In addition, he will discuss his usage of a wide range of photographic formats along with insight into some of his iconic images and amusing moments.
(Community Presentation 615)
 
** 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Everyone But David: ‘Contact’ Seen and Told
With Robert Pledge
Pledge, who co-founded Contact Press Images in New York in 1976 with David Burnett, talks about the aspirations, achievements and legacy of their almost a half-century old ‘boutique agency’ through the powerful imagery of the other dozen photojournalists of nine different nationalities whose work collectively constitutes its permanent collection. Their remarkable combined photography depicts major events, issues and faces that shaped the last forty years of the 20th century, from the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 to the destruction of New York’s Twin Towers in 2001, with compelling incursions into the first two decades of the new millennium.
(Community Presentation 616)
 
** 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm
TRUTH
With Tony Bannon in Conversation with David Burnett and Robert Pledge
With the tradition of eloquence located in the privilege of the last word, Anthony Bannon will provoke discussion with Robert Pledge and David Burnett, co-founders of Contact Press Images, a benediction of sorts attentive to the pious claims of the press. Together they will wonder about the life span of Truth. For example, can truth live with family secrets? With a surprise party? With a camera? With the genocide just outside of town? With the press? ` With a business plan? With the last contempt of court, or of Congress? With the white lie? Does truth introduce beauty, or make us human? Dr. Bannon will encourage audience participation. 
(Community Presentation 617)
 
** 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Art is Good and Good for You
With Brendan Bannon
Art is good for your health. There has been much study on the relationship between art and health. Bannon’s global and local explorations have brought him into contact with health systems whether he is photographing for doctors without Borders or construction collaborative community projects. He will discuss projects he’s been part of that shape a response to trauma through the arts. From his early work with his mother who had Multiple Sclerosis to assignments with doctors without borders to projects with HIV orphaned youth, refugees and combat veterans and cancer survivors, Bannon’s evolving work brings the transformational impact of art to communities near and far.
(Community Presentation 618)
 
** 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
365: The Year in Pictures (The Year of SWIFTIES)
By Scott McKiernan, ZUMA Press
World renown picture editor and photo-journalist Mc Kiernan will present 365: The Year in Pictures. After the movie there will be a Q&A on the imagery and highlights of 2023.
Note: This will be held inside the Palm Beach Photographic Centre.
 
Saturday, February 3
** 10:00 am to 11:00 am
The Personal Project: From Part-time to Art Gallery
With Mickey Strand
How to get your work from idea to the art gallery?  As Vince Lombardi once declared, “Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.” This class will roadmap the Personal Project Path: 1. Define your project, its duration, and the end goals; 2. Growing your project, doors open & close every day, moving forward takes only one Yes; 3. Define the major players. You need connections for shooting, display, editing; 4. The finish line. This last step includes reviewing, editing, printing, mounting and hanging the project for its final presentation.
(Community Presentation 619)
 
** 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Ready Position: Time for a Creative Reset
With Susan Currie
Feeling depleted creatively? Unfocused and untethered? Thirsting to express yourself artistically, but uncertain of the path?  Join author and artist Currie for a brand-new creative immersion crafted to help you meet your true north and set you up for optimal creative flow. Sharing teachings from her book SUPERFLOW: Light Up the Artist in You, she will guide participants through an uncomplicated modern-day framework for unclenching the creative muscle and reclaiming the imagination.
(Community Presentation 620)
 
** 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Joyce Tenneson and the Heroine’s Journey
With Joyce Tenneson
An intimate journey with one of history's most influential female photographers. Tenneson will share her intimate journey towards personal fulfillment and self-actualization—what she describes as a necessary and essential "probing into her inner self", as well as a magical and inspiring exposure of her extensive and ever-evolving portfolio of work.
(Community Presentation 621)
 
** 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Photography in Transition:
How Museums and Galleries are Impacting the Medium
With Daile Kaplan
The new role of private museums. The strong appeal of emerging (vs. Historic) talents. The global reach of Larry Gagosian. The rise of contemporary art (vs Classical Photo) galleries. How to understand new cultural trends and its effect on photography.
(Community Presentation 622)
 
** 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm
Travel Photography Essentials
With Ben Willmore
Discover the secrets to taking stunning travel photos. Whether using a professional camera or just a smartphone, these tips and techniques will take your photography to the next level. Learn how to capture unique and authentic shots that will make your images stand out. See how to approach photographing locals with confidence and how to plan ahead for your travels. Led by Willmore, who spent over a decade living on the road full-time, exploring all 50 states, over 85 countries, and has circumnavigated the globe by sea. This class will help change your mindset so you can produce memorable and compelling travel images.
(Community Presentation 623)
 
** 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Scott’s TOP 10 LIST OF 2023 Big Headlines
With Scott Mc Kiernan and Guests
In homage to David Letterman’s infamous TOP 10 LISTS, FOTOfusion will feature the topics and trends of the last 12 months. The Taylor Year to ongoing terrible Tragedy in the Middle East and never-ending Russian invasion of Ukraine and human devastation. Rise and fall of bit-coiners and so much more. Participants are encouraged to bring their own headlines and share lists from The Year of Swifties. 2023’s biggest news will be broken down and how it was covered, from the perspective of a professional photojournalist in the field, to the newswire decisions, and how photo editors select what runs. Board discussion on how visual journalists cover this changing world, while trying to give a voice to those who live in the shadows and tell their stories with the dignity and respect they deserve. Come see Stories That Need to Be Told and Pictures That Need to Be Seen and Headlines to Remember!
(Community Presentation 624)