The Photographic Importance of HTL4

[postcardsfromthewasteland]

Hey all,

Well, I do this every year…my unsolicited plug for the Hit the Lodge series put on by JT Smith and Rick Hughes of Supershoots. (www.supershoots.com) There’s a reason why I do this every year to encourage photographers (and models alike) to attend: it will change the way you shoot, guaranteed.

I will also go further by saying, if you didn’t pick up an extra technique, style, or inspiration, you weren’t paying attention, which is hard to do given the plethora of activity of model shooting all about you. The underlying passion of photographing models and the female form is inherent and ubiquitous at HTL. Taking better images at HTL is inevitable.

It is also noteworthy that an images I shot at HTL2 went in to my United States Glamour calendar. Images that I shot at HTL3 went into a soon-to-be published book. Where will your images go?

I’ve seen workshops come and go, I’ve attended a few, and I’ve thrown a few. None compare to the teachings, networking, and the friends you’ll attain at the HTL series. I started going to these when it was Hit the Beach, now 5 years ago. HTL I-III and the Vegas Shoot were also attended by yours truly. Every time I learn something that improves my shooting tremendously. I've taken copious notes which I refer to this day.

When you take a look at the cost of the workshop, the number of days, models and instruction, it is by far the best on the market. Very little restrictions, just enough to ensure professionalism. JT and Rick have seminars well worth attending, and watch them shoot…you will learn, learn, learn, and learn some more. Robert Sanders will help you save your digital images (lest they go to the great abyss), and make them pop like you’ve never seen them. (You oughta see his work….you will sulk in photographic inferiority.) I’m looking forward to finally meeting Dave Blecman, and hanging with the great Rolando again. Mike Dixon is still probably surgically attached to his camera, and takes images of life like you’ve never seen. Bob De La Mora, the ultimate in nice guys and a great shooter, too. And Wayne Sclesky effortlessly makes all my images look like poop. (This isn’t hard to do, btw, but he tends to do it amazingly well.) And yeah, btw, the model’s attending this year are probably some of the best…last time I checked there were 14 models????? (Chant it with me….14 models. Not 1 or 2……FOURTEEN.) They’re shooting for 15 when all is said and done I believe. AND you also get makeup artists to support your shooting.

Re-read the last paragraph, look at the cost, and then tell me it’s not worth your time or money to attend. And if you bring someone, the expense goes down (see the buddy program on the model’s page) These are true talents and you can take away their imparted expertise to make your shooting Rise Up, which is the theme of this workshop. It’s about reaching higher, reaching your potential and beyond. (The inspiration for this theme came from a song about 9/11, and the ability to reach higher even in adverse times…here’s the link if you want the lyrics: http://www.drycounty.com/content/lyrics/song387.html )

I recommend you register expeditiously as JT/Rick are forced to turn people away…it jams up pretty quickly. This will be my 5th year. I can say and advocate that HTL always give you the tools and the inspiration to reach beyond what you know photographically and walk away with images you wouldn’t have obtained if you didn’t attend, and learning techniques you’ll keep and use long after it’s all over. You’ll walk away a better shooter, guaranteed.

Say hallelujah, baby.

Jim

Brittany, photographed by moi at HTL3
HTL4 Info