2003 Workshop & Luau Registration closes October 18

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|| SportsShooter.com: News Item: Posted 2003-10-12

2003 Workshop & Luau Registration closes October 18
By Robert Hanashiro, Sports Shooter

Photo by Grover Sanschagrin

You can't beat fun at the Workshop and Luau. In a fun scene from the 2002 Luau, Ben Liu, left, a chimpy 'impersonator,' Chimpy, and Jack Gruber enjoy each other.

It's a classic case of good news / bad news: We had an overwhelming response for the Sports Shooter Workshop & Luau 2003; however because of this huge number of registrants, sign-ups will end at midnight Pacific Time, Saturday Oct. 18.

We have over 435 people signed up and because of this high number, we have closed several of the breakout sessions because they are at seating capacity.

The first Sports Shooter Workshop & Luau was held two years ago and was hosted by Nikon with 80 students participating. Last year, there were over 320 people attending (both students and professionals), necessitating the move to the Manhattan Beach Marriott Hotel.

The Workshop & Luau has registered participants from as far away as Tokyo, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii and Canada, including 10 from Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario.

And speaking of students, Brooks Institute of Photography has the largest turnout, with 47 students currently registered. There will be a big Bulldog contingent, with 18 sign-ups from Fresno State University --- The Kahuna's alma mater!

(Hey Western Kentucky! What happened??? Only 3 sign-ups this year!)

I think what I am most happy about is the diversity of the participants ... students from programs like Missouri, RIT, Ohio U and the University of Florida ... and those from smaller programs at places like the University of Oklahoma, Stephen F. Austin State University and Hawkeye Community College.

Also what is great to see is the variety in speakers and classes we are offering this year ... from a course on balancing work with career and revitalizing your photography (Rod Mar's "Getting a Life: Or, Remembering to Live Yours") to the lighting classes (conducted by Robert Seale and Joey Terrill) to understanding the business end of photography (Rick Rickman's "Don't Get Ripped Off, You Stupid Entrepreneurial Ignoramus!") to covering wars and conflict (by award-winners Wally Skalij and Jack Gruber) to the Sports Shooter Jedi Master Series (with Sports Illustrated's Peter Read Miller and V.J. Lovero and photography legend Andy Hayt) --- there is literally something for every photographer out there.

We have not one, but two great contests this year. The Workshop & Luau mail-in contest will be a sports portfolio competition (broken down into student and pro categories) ... and the recently announced Student Shoot Out. Both of these contests will be judges in open sessions, so registered participants will be able to watch and listen to the comments of some of the top photographers in the business as they decide the winners.

What we are all about at Sports Shooter and the Workshop & Luau is helping our fellow photographers and education. So it is very gratifying to add up the number of students attending and see that it is over 250.

I received an email recently from a SportsShooter.com member that queried: "Bert, I have a bet with a fellow photographer that (Steve) Frischling was the first person to register for the Workshop & Luau. Can you help me out here? It's worth a steak at The Outback."

Photo by Jason Burfield

Mike Treola was the first person to register for the 2003 Sports Shooter Workshop and Luau.

Looking over the registration data, it looks like you owe your colleague a nice rib-eye steak (get it with the sauteed 'rooms!) --- Mike Treola was the first person to register for the Workshop & Luau 2003.

(And this obviously begs the question: Who was the first student to reg? Answer: Sam Craft.)

This year also sees our first full trade show at the Workshop & Luau. Companies confirmed for the trade show are: Nikon, Samy's Camera, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Hoodman, Epson, Lightware and Lexar.

The Sports Shooter Workshop & Luau is a labor of love for the organizers, staff and faculty. The event is run by an all volunteer crew that donate their ideas, energy, money and most importantly, their time.

The Workshop & Luau is sponsored by the great people at Nikon. Thanks to Ronal Taniwaki and Bill Pekala for their vision and generosity in making this event possible.

Thanks to everyone that has signed up ... and will over the final days of open registration. We'll see all of you in Manhattan Beach on November 7 and 8... remember to go Hawaiian and wear a Hawaiian print shirt!

MAHALO!

Related Links:

2003 Workshop and Luau details

Related Email Addresses:

Robert Hanashiro: bert@sportsshooter.com