articles/Editorial/editorialfebmar05-page1
by Mike McNamee Published 01/02/2005
By the time you read this you may well be at Focus or on your way back from Focus. If so we hope your feet are not too sore. It only seems like days since our convention even though it is now almost 2 month away. The whole affair was a grand success and to judge by the sack loads of mail, megabytes of emails and phone calls you thoroughly enjoyed it too. The trade show was packed and busy, the seminars ranged from packed to overflowing and even the early birds were attended by large numbers of bleary eyed revellers.
The dinner was the usual boisterous affair including some novel uses of digital cameras in the close vicinity of gentlemen's kilts (we're thinking of renaming the Canon Rebel the Canon Commando).Other reports have come to our ears but decorum does not allow the recounting in a family magazine such as this. For some, the highlight of the evening was the attempt by your editor to leave the proceedings early, via the back of the stage. Following a heroic rescue, at lighting speed, by Tom Lee, demolition of the set was narrowly avoided. However we did notice a lot of mocking laughter from certain tables and you should be aware that we know your names and where you live and that the M62 is not that long. We will be visiting (in an Italian sort of a way).
During the evening, the only time the gathering was brought to order was to listen to a report from member, Robin Bryant, of the Salvation Army. Robin, fresh back from the tsunami disaster area in Asia, held the meeting in spellbound silence as he related the work that he and his colleagues had been carrying out with the children struck by the waves. As ever the Army where the first on the scene, delivering practical help and assistance and to further help them the convention attendees contributed more than £1,500, split between the Salvation Army and the chosen charity of last year's Photographer of the Year Andrea Barrett (Breast Cancer).
There are so many people I could thank on your behalf but a special mention should be made of our lecturers who gave so willingly of their time and also our wonderful models who enlivened so many of the practical workshops. A special thanks also to our team in Rhyl and their helpers without whom the whole thing would not have been as much fun. Don't delay in booking for next year (many have already done so) or you might be disappointed.
There are 24 days to get ready for The Society of Photographers Convention and Trade Show at The Novotel London West, Hammersmith ...
which starts on Wednesday 15th January 2025