CAPTION: A couple walk on the beach in Thursday, Sept. 10 in Treasure Island, Fla. White sand beaches and low tides accompany the Gulf side of Florida’s southern coast. Note: Over exposure was used to achieve the washed out look.

TECH SPECS: f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 400, 70mm

THOUGHTS: This frame was a sight to see with it’s white beaches and sparkling ocean. As a child my dad said the Gulf side was dirty water and contained unsightly beaches. How wrong he was. With a little over exposure, I was able to pull off a nice rendition of a dreamscape.

BACK STORY: I recently returned from a photo gathering in St. Petersburg, Fla. called Geekfest. It’s an event hosted by A Photo A Day or APAD (aphotoaday.org) for the promotion of still imagery.

An old McDonald’s restaurant slogan can only sum up the 7th annual Geekfest experience event this past weekend: Food, Folks and Fun.

While it was only a three-day event, it felt like it lasted a month. And quite honestly, I didn’t want it to end.

For only $100.00 anyone could come and be around some of the best group of people in the photo-j industry. Several dozen gathered to hear the likes of Sam Abell, Bob Croslin, Nicole Fruge, Bryan Moss, Allison V. Smith, Damon Winter, Dai Sugano, Alexis Lambert (media law), David Handschuh and Patrick Farrell.

While days were packed with speakers, the nights were alive with eating, drinking, socializing, shuffleboard, a silent auction, the beach and more.

In a time of turmoil for our industry it was a refreshing and awe-inspiring to hear positive news of why our jobs, staffer or freelancer, still rock.

I don’t care who you ask, I got paid to see today. To experience life. To cry. To laugh. To live. To learn. You really can’t beat that. While I could be wasting away in a cubicle I’d rather be out showing the world what life is all about through the power of the still frame.