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Las Vegas was the site for the 7th annual NANPA Summit held at the Rio Hotel. Admittedly I was a bit taken aback at the notion of Las Vegas as the site for a nature photography convention. But I left the meeting realizing that the planners had indeed done a good job in selecting this location. The hotel itself was excellent with every imaginable convenience readily available and wonderful meeting rooms. They even managed to readily accommodate the approximately 700 attendees at mealtime with little waiting and a vast selection of well-prepared foods.
More to the point is the fact that there are a variety of beautiful natural areas including Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, Lake Mead, Death Valley and more, all within a reasonable drive of Las Vegas. A multitude of other great areas are just a bit farther away enabling many of us to combine the meeting with a chance to do some photography.
Corbin Harney, an elder spiritual leader and medicine man of the Western Shosone, gave the opening message that set the tone for many of the other keynote presentations. Harney reminded us all of the urgent need to take care of our Mother Earth, to not abuse her and take her for granted as so many seem prone to do. This admonishment of the need to take care of our environment was a theme repeated in many of the presentations.
Roger Ressmeyer gave the first keynote address titled "A Space Photographer's Odyssey." His presentation was filled with dramatic images of a variety of natural phenomena from volcanoes to eclipses as well as many images associated with space programs. These images went way beyond the stereotypic pictures of such subjects. Partially this was due to his access to places most of us will never be allowed to go, and partially to his well polished and sometimes innovative photographic techniques. His excellent narrative explaining details of the circumstances surrounding the images as well as some of the technical aspects of how he made the images, held everyone's attention.
Art Wolfe, Friday's keynote speaker, focused our attention back on earth with a captivating presentation of his journeys and the photos he took in preparation for his outstanding book, The Living Wild. By documenting many of the species of earth's wildlife and their necessary habitats, both Wolfe's book and his presentation bolstered the message from the previous day of the need to step back from our fast paced lives and think about the environment. Clearly Wolfe is using his extraordinary talents in order to help preserve and save the earth. An added bonus was his wonderfully comfortable presentation style in which he readily adlibbed and entertained the audience.
Klaus Nigge gave a keynote speech later on Friday in which he described his journey to photograph one of the rarest eagles in the world - the Steller's sea eagle. This eagle lives only on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula and other lands around the Sea of Okhotsk. His story was fascinating as he documented not only the eagle, but also the bears and volcanoes, as well as the few people who inhabit Kamchatka and who helped him in his endeavors.
Robert Ketchum continued the focus on the need to save our environment with his compelling presentation at the banquet. He began his presentation by revealing his early start and interests in photography, and then showed his evolution into increasing emphasis on environmental conservation photography. He was able to clearly demonstrate how he has used his photography to positively and significantly affect legislation to protect lands that were on the verge of being lost to "development."
For anyone who has wondered whether there was more to their photography than just making "pretty pictures which sell," Ketchum provided quite an inspiration and model of some very practical and vitally important ways our nature photography can have a major positive impact and influence on others.
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In addition to focusing on ways photographers can affect environmental issues, all these photographers who gave keynote addresses demonstrated the importance of having initiative and creating the opportunities to do photography in a way which impacts on others. However the most impressive and awe inspiring of all was Gordon Parks.
Gordon Parks, who is 88, sat and spoke to the huge audience as intimately as if he was addressing a small circle of admirers. He completely engaged the audience as he told his life story, from very literally living on the streets and being once tempted to turn to crime, to deciding he would become a photographer as a way to fight poverty and racism. Somehow over and over again he "made silk from a sow's ear," and repeatedly had the courage, audacity, tenacity, talent and good fortune to bluff his way into various opportunities. Ultimately he became one of the most versatile and accomplished photographers of our time.
This incredible man not only is gifted in photography, but he is an accomplished author, poet, composer pianist and film director as well. His photography spans a wider range than that of any other photographer I've encountered. From documentary to fashion to abstract, his images command attention. What a gifted man! And what an inspiration!
In addition to these outstanding speakers, there were breakout sessions on a variety of topics designed to expand participants' abilities, and portfolio reviews to give ideas of ways to improve photographically and marketability.
The impact of digital technology on photography was quite evident at the Summit, particularly in the trade show. There were many presenters showing how to start with traditional film and then move into digital printing via a variety of means from one's own scans and/or digital camera and printer to professional drum scans and high end printing processes.
Gone was any emphasis on Cibachromes Several of the booths showcased digital cameras that are starting to work their way into the photo bags of not only photojournalists, but nature photographers as well. Clearly this new technology represents a major element of future photography. In addition to digital revolutions, the trade show was, of course, a wonderful opportunity to examine new equipment and accessories. My personal favorite was the new flash bracket system designed by Clay Wimberley that readily attaches to plates without any pesky screws to lose. What a great innovation!
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly of all, the message of the need for photographers to support and help each other came through loud and clear. This was accomplished partially through the excellent presentation given by the high school student NANPA scholarship recipients as they expressed their gratitude to their mentors, the positive response to the members' slide show, the dialogue opened in the pros meeting, as well as through the networking occurring all day every day.
All in all Odyssey 2001 was quite a success, in my humble opinion!
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