Denver Geekfest 2011

Here’s the corresponding Facebook page for Geekfest 2011

GeekFest. The most frequently asked question is “what is it?!”

Well, it’s the best little photo conference with the worst, geekiest name out there. Every year, it’s suggested that we need to do something about the name, but in the end, it kind of fits. The name actually started as a joke, in reference to a group of geeks who’s all come together to geek out about photography. (If anyone has a better name though, I’m all ears!)

The first one was in DC with about 10 of us crammed into David Holloway’s basement. APAD was in its infancy and we all just wanted to put faces with names, so we devised a plan to get together for a meetup. We did a shootout on the Mall for the Fourth of July festivities, and talked photo all weekend. It was awesome and intimate and invigorating to know that there were some like minds out there.

From there it went to Fort Lauderdale, where we got about a dozen people, sleeping head to toe in every room of my small studio apartment, including two in the kitchen and one in the bathtub. I worked at the Sun-Sentinel then, and decided it’d be awesome to have some of my amazingly inspiring coworkers, like Angel Valentin and Mike Stocker speak to our small group. It also allowed me to approach Lisa Krantz, who I didn’t know at the time outside of her badass work at the Naples Daily News (about 2 hours from me, right across Alligator Alley). I emailed her, explained my mad photo crush, and asked her if she’d come share her work with us and hang out for the weekend. She’s been one of my best friends and still one of my biggest sources of inspiration since.

From there we’ve taken it on the road to Austin, Chicago, Portland and then found a homebase for the last three years in St. Petersburg, Fla. (where I work now, and where we have an awesome photo community and a great accommodating town).

Looking back on the speakers over the years amazes me. We’ve been lucky enough to have such talented presenters such as Ben Lowy, Penny De Los Santos, David Holloway, Khampha Bouaphanh, Carlos Javier Ortiz, Jon Lowenstein, Scott Strazzante, Wes Pope, Jamie Francis, Beth Nakamura, Karen Ducey, Alan Berner, James Rexroad, Bruce Ely, Robbie McClaran, Laura Lo Forti, Susana Raab, Lane Degregory, Preston Gannaway, Ross Taylor, Boyzell Hosey, Bob Croslin, Michael Williamson, Ted Jackson, Allison V. Smith, Damon Winter, Pat Farrell, Sam Abell, Bryan Moss, Dai Sugano, Alexis Lambert, David Hanschuh, Nicole Frugé, Lisa Krantz (2x speaker!), Greg Kahn, Liz O. Baylen,Zack Arias, Ben Rusnak, Todd Heisler, Deb Pang Davis and Mike Davis share their work, their stories and their wisdom with us.

Whoooooo…Amazingly talented list… I hope I’m not forgetting anyone!

It’s evolved over the years, from hanging out with friends, crammed 10 deep in sleeping bags and small spaces to nearly 150 people checked into area hotels last year and an incredible 3-day lineup jam packed with speakers galore. In the past we’ve formed teams and had shootouts, been delighted by the wonders of spoken word artists at photo slams, raised money for friends at print auctions, held BBQs, hosted shuffleboard nights and air hockey tournaments (Ariel Zambelich defeated Bruce Ely for the championship trophy!).

The folks at the NPPA asked me recently what we were doing with our little homegrown, grassroots photo conference that they weren’t with theirs. (It’s rumored that we had a better attendance than the Atlanta PJ Seminar this year.) And I think it’s simple. I’ve always tried to make the weekend inclusive, not exclusive. Our speakers are diverse, varied and hand-picked (not the same ol’ same ol’. Hell, some aren’t even photographers, just awesome story tellers, creative types and inspirators with something to share). We make it clear that they’re here for one reason: to inspire. But I’ve found that they also come to be inspired, to hang out, to soak in the weekend too… so awesome to see Damon Winter and Pat Farrell, fresh off their Pulitzer wins, hanging out playing shuffleboard with those young guns hoping to emulate them. We also don’t do things (formally) like portfolio reviews, because I hate the thought of creating an atmosphere of us vs them. We also try to make it fun. Extracurricular activities are just as important as phototivities. How cool is it to go have a beer with Sam Abell or Allison V. Smith? How rad to see Alan Berner out working an assignment with a team during a shootout? I think I get just as much from those moments, those random conversations, those chances of getting to know someone away from the podium than I do from hearing them speak.

So if you’re asking yourself what it is, I’d ask you to come check it out for yourself and find out what it is to you. Because I think it’s different things to different people, but mostly it’s photo love at its finest. It’s a welcoming group of photo geeks who have evolved from names, emails and photos shared electronically over the APAD listserv to friends with familiar stories and bonds that have made us like family.

So yeah, I can’t wait for the next dose of inspiration. Hope to see you at the next family reunion, make a few new friends and come away incredibly inspired.

Geekfest DENVER :: Sept 16-18, 2011. Mark your calendars! More info soon.