Google Plus Photographer's Conference

Last week I attended the Google+ Photographer’s Conference in San Francisco, May 22-23, 2012 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The day before, I attended a photowalk at Golden Gate Park which I blogged about already.

Some things I observed and learned at the conference:

Adobe Lightroom 4, Bridge, and Photoshop seem to be the digital tools of choice of many photographers.
There are just as many Nikon users as there are Canon users.
Be a good editor and curator of your work/portfolio. Only show your best work, and when you are ready, organize by a theme.
When writing Google+ posts, write to share, not to impress.

One of my favorite sessions were the Blind Photo Critiques, where photographers submit a set of photos (two to five pictures) to be critiqued live on stage, in front of everyone on the big screen. I just learned a lot listening to the panel on what makes a good photograph in terms of composition, lighting, focus, and so forth. Some Day 1 Video Sessions:

Google+ Photographer’s Conference Opening Keynote with Scott Kelby and Bradley Horowitz
How to Host a Successful Hangout with Trey Ratcliff and RC Concepcion
Building your brand on G+ with Guy Kawasaki
Tips and Tricks for G+ Panel with Brian Rose, Mike Wiacek, Vincent Mo, and Chris Chabot
An Evening with Jeremy Cowart

Some Day 2 Video Sessions:

10 Things to help Photographers on G+ with Matt Kloskowski, Trey Ratcliff, and Colby Brown
Optimizing your Images for G+ with RC Concepcion
What do you want next from G+ with Brian Rose and Mike Wiacek
An Evening with Trey Ratcliff and Closing (along with Scott Kelby)

A quote that I really enjoyed from Trey Ratcliff:

The left brain is for getting through life, but the right brain is for living.

Sunrise at Golden Gate Bridge from Battery Spencer at 6am.

Google Plus Photographer’s Conference 1

I used the Canon 5D Mark 3’s HDR feature to take the picture above. I post processed with Adobe Lightroom 4.1 (RC2). I took about a dozen shots of the bridge, but chose only to show my favorite. Again, editing which was a little difficult.