When we first put out the call for session topics, people started tossing out some good ideas, and some crazy ideas!
Here’s a list of those good and crazy ideas… If you’re not sure what you want to talk about at PhotoCamp, browse this list and find a topic that interests you… or, feel free to add your own ideas in the comments…
- Strobist stuff
- Photowalks
- Photo Sharing (online, offline, etc.)
- Ownership (copyright, All rights reserved, Creative Commons, public domain…)
- Photographer’s Rights
- Point and Shoot (doing the best with non-SLR gear)
- So you want to be a Professional Photographer?
- Cheap (Photography) Tricks
- HDR Photography
- Show Your Best!
- Image manipulation software (especially FOSS like GIMP or free like IrfanView) and image manipulation webware (picnik.com, fotoflexer.com, snapmania.com’s Tourist Remover, reshade.com/online-image-resizer, and even rsizr.com’s seam carving)
- Teach me how to navigate my new DSLR
- Beginner Photoshop
- Darkroom/Film Workshop
- Night time photography (both strobist and nonstrobist)
- Photo management software–differences between Lightroom and Capture and anything else out there
- Photojournalism (I want photojournalists to talk about what they do…)
- Pinhole Photography
- Raw Converter software comparison
- Workflow examples (asset management, import, processing, export and printing)
- Studio Portraits
- LOLCats
- Intimate Photography
- Basics of Matting and Framing (Interesting/Different hanging methods, Low cost solutions, High cost solutions)
- (CHDK) Canon Hacker’s Development Kit
- Kids! (Let’s have kids there, let them take photos, etc…)
- Physics/Light
Remember, there is no guarantee that a session with a specific topic will happen, unless you help to make it happen. If there’s something on this list you really want to learn, make sure you speak up… and if you’re dying to tell people what you know about one of these topics… you’ll make someone very happy by sharing your knowledge with them.
Do you tag your photos?
If you use Flickr, you’re probably familiar with tagging - a way to add keywords to your photos - but tags are also used by sites like delicious.com, Vimeo, SlideShare, and many others…
So we have a few suggested tags for you to use when you publish your photos, videos, slides, or whatever you create at PhotoCampMilwaukee.
- photocampmke - nice and short tag for photocamp
- photocampmilwaukee - a bit longer, but if you really prefer the whole word, feel free to use it (use the short one and the long one if you want to be safe.)
- photocamp - a generic tag, includes any photocamp that happens anywhere
- upcoming:event=1518729 - event specific tag, used by Upcoming and Flickr
- bucketworks - if it’s a photo at Bucketworks, they loved tagged photos and often show them in slide shows
- milwaukee - just showing some hometown pride
- wisconsin - some of us happen to love the Midwest
You’re free to use any tags you wish, but the photocampmke/photocampmilwaukee/photocamp tags will definitely help people find your photos from the event easier.
If you want to go crazy, many people also tag thinks like canon, nikon, 18-55mm, 50mm, etc… but hey, it’s up to you!
Any other suggestions for tagging things?
So when will people be at PhotoCamp? Well, when you registered, we asked you… and here’s the results so far…
| 9AM - 12PM |
 105 |
| 12PM - 3PM |
 135 |
| 3PM - 6PM |
 100 |
| 6PM - 9PM |
 52 |
12PM - 3PM seems to be when most people will be in attendance, this is good, as we’ll have time for some quality networking, as well as sessions and shoots.
Although if you don’t plan on being there at 10AM I’d urge you to think about it, and make it if you can… The opening is really a crucial part of the whole event, and where you’ll get to find out who does what and see the sparks that will ignite the fire of connectivity.
Well that sounds weird… but trust me, you should try to be there at 10AM if you can… 
(Note: We’ll update this post as more people register…)
Don’t worry about being intimidated at PhotoCamp, as most of the folks who have registered fall into the Amateur category.
| Total Beginner |
17 |
| Amateur |
90 |
| Semi-Professional |
51 |
| Professional Photographer |
7 |
| Model |
 4 |
We do have some Total Beginners but it looks like there will be plenty of people there to help them learn what they need to get comfortable with photography.
And hey, we’ve even got a few Professionals Photographers there to share their wisdom with the people…
It looks like a great mix of skill levels!
(Note: We’ll update this post as more people register…)
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Kevin Stohlmeyer. I am an Adobe Certified Instructor in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign at C2 Graphics Productivity Solutions. I am also the Higher Education Coordinator for C2. A big long title which means I work with colleges to develop training and curriculums for their creative programs. I also the co-manage the Milwaukee Adobe User Group and Graphic Design Meetup.
Why are you attending PhotoCampMilwaukee?
To learn the latest techniques for digital photography and be inspired by other artists and photographers.
If you were to lead a session, what would it be about?
Photoshop and Camera Raw techniques.
Tell us one random fact about yourself.
I’ve used Photoshop since version 1.0 (I miss the photobooth icon) and I sing Karaoke.
Where can we find you?
Website: www.c2gps.com
Website: www.milwaukeeaug.com
Website: groups.adobe.com/people/f7fe4831e3
Here’s a few images from Kevin Stohlmeyer
Right now we have over 100 people registered for PhotoCamp… That’s pretty cool!
We’re excited about the possibilities for people to connect and learn from each other. We’ve got a good range of experience in those registered… While the majority seem to be in the amateur range, there’s some pros and some newbies coming as well, but I’m confident everyone will find something unique to share with others.
I know you’ve already registered, but what about your friend, you know, the one who really wants to learn a bit more about photography, or your other friend, who is really interested in modeling, but has no idea where to start… Tell them about PhotoCamp, and then send them to the registration page.
What is a day of photos without models?
Our good pal Jenn at Bucketworks has put out the call for anyone who likes modeling to come to PhotoCamp, so if you are interested in doing portraits or otherwise working with a model for some of your shooting, we should have some on hand. How cool is that!?
We’ve even tweaked the registration to allow models to register.
Photographers, bring photo release forms… Models, bring business cards… I’m sure you will all want to work out one of those TF* deals I keep hearing about…
Are you a film shooter? They still exist you know!
Larry Clarkin just dropped off a bunch of 35mm film, and I know a few people mentioned the possibility of setting up a darkroom at PhotoCamp, so while it may be a (mostly) digital world we live in, we are happy to welcome and film fans at PhotoCamp.
Got some film supplies, a film camera, or any of that old-time photo gear? Bring it along and hopefully some other film fans can do something cool with it…
OK folks, this is the schedule…
- 5:00AM “Unofficial” PhotoWalk
- 9:00AM Doors open for PhotoCamp
- 10:00AM Opening Ceremonies
- 11:00AM - 1:00PM Lunch/Networking
- 1:00PM - 5:00PM Sessions/Shoots/Etc.
- 5:00PM - 6:30PM Dinner
- 6:30PM - 8:30PM Sessions/Shoots/Etc.
- 8:30PM - Closing Ceremonies!
If you want the “early experience” there is (supposedly) a group meeting around 5AM to do a sunrise photowalk… We’ll try to get details from one of the brave souls doing that… But, the real deal… PhotoCamp officially opens at 9AM. Show up around 9AM, and we’ll get the ball rolling by 10AM with introductions and explanations of how it all works. You’ll also have a good chance to mingle and network either before the Opening Ceremonies or afterward while we dine. (Yes, lunch will be provided…)
After lunch we go straight into the good stuff, sessions, shoots, walks, discussions… We take another break for dinner (thanks to those sponsors!) and then back into more sessions, shoots, walks, and discussions. We gather again at 8:30PM and close it up.
Oh, we’re also working on a special “Post Processing Party” - a party after PhotoCamp where we can let the good times roll a bit more, with food, and “special” beverages… There would probably be a small cover charge for this, though we’re also trying to get a party sponsor if possible. (Are you interested?)
