Back from Green Bay

[Tom Deering <tdeering@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Pat and I drove to Green Bay, continued on to Duluth, and returned through
Canada.  We covered 2750 miles in eight days-- 51 hours total behind the
wheel.   One reason we drove was so that I could take more equipment with
me.  We fully packed the trunk and back seat of a rented Buick.

I presented two workshops on Saturday, one on medium format stereo.  I
brought all kinds of equipment for demo purposes.  I put my digital camera
on a tripod, and connected it to a video projector.  This let me show a
magnified view of the smallest details.  For example, showing the siamesed
Lubitel's linkage was much easier with a live image eight feet across.

I'm by no means a MF expert, so I just told the medium format story in
capsule form, hitting cameras, viewers, mounting and projection.  The
question and answer part went perfectly, with a lot of enthusiasm from the
audience.  Quite a few MF people attended, and some offered ideas and
suggestions as we went along. There were 100 chairs set up, and my wife Pat
says the room was full, so I am pleased with the response.  I try to make
my presentations entertaining.

I also gave a workshop on digital image editing.  I have given that one a
couple of other times, but I'm not sure I tailored it well for the stereo
audience.  My wife says it went fine, but I can never tell afterwards.

As for the rest of the convention, I enjoyed it more than last year.  I
don't know how, but the quality of the slide shows in the Stereo Theater
seemed much improved.  Apparently anyone who submits slides is accepted,
and last year I seem to have caught every single poorly-shot show.  This
year, many more shows were tastefully composed and most were edited.  The
red plastic glasses were very cool, and I plan to wear mine to the local
NYSS meetings, even if there is no slide show.

I saw less of the trade fair than last year.  I was a bit pre-occupied, and
made my way around pretty rapidly.  I spent more time at Paul Talbot's RMM
table, and he seemed to have a nice location.  I thought he did a good job,
considering he had very little time to prepare.  I spent no money at the
trade show; I am a rock.

Harry Richards and his crew made one decision that was pure genius. (The
rest were merely excellent.)  The Embassy Suites was utterly perfect
location.  It was the right size, with adequate facilities.  The parking,
the rooms, the staff--really tops.  The bar and restaurant were better than
average for this kind of convention

The free happy hour was the lubricant that seemed to be missing last year.
(I have been associated with another convention which always has a
"hospitality suite", stocked with beer, sodas and snacks.  It's always the
focal point, because you can rest your feet and meet your friends there.)

The drive back through Canada involved a stop near Duluth.  A day on the
lake with Mom, then back in the car for 25 hours.  As we followed a course
north of four of the Great Lakes, we saw the most beautiful countryside and
virtually no traffic.  Having said that, next year I plan to fly.

Tom Deering

---
Tom Deering    tdeering@xxxxxxxxxxxx

*  Y2K Alert: In the next five months you will receive hundreds
*  of sincere-sounding declarations of doom which are _wrong_.
*
*  Think before you forward email to everyone you know.