The Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning Returns to NJ July 24-26, 2015
The balloons are returning to central NJ! For the 33rd year, the QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning is happening at Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ from Fri. July 24 to Sunday, July 26, 2015. The number of photo opportunities (especially when about 100 balloons are in the air), are always incredible. I’m personally excited to see the Darth Vader balloon return, joined this year (for the first time) by Yoda.
The weather, based on a quick look at weather.com is looking ideal for all three days of the festival, which is important because if it is too windy, the balloons are not permitted to launch. There are planned morning and afternoon balloon ascensions on Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26 at 6:30am and 6:30pm. There is also a “Balloon Glow” during the Saturday evening concert that is a truly incredible spectacle.
Photo from the Saturday evening “Balloon Glow.” ©Andrew Darlow
Special Opportunity for Amateur and Professional Photographers
On Friday morning 7/24 at 6:30am the festival organizers allow members of the press as well as amateur and professional photographers/videographers to attend a “Pre-Festival Media Launch” for no charge (parking is also free). I plan to attend once again on Friday morning to take photos with many other pro and amateur photographers and videographers. Experiencing the sun rising with the balloons all gathered in one place is truly breathtaking. Below is a self-portrait from last year’s Media Launch taken with a GoPro camera. I’m sporting one of my favorite ways to carry my gear–using The Wedding Photographer’s Vest from TheVestGuy.com. Another favorite accessory (the Peak Design Capture PRO Camera Clip), allows my camera to hang securely from my chest. For more information, including parking instructions, see the bottom portion of this page on the festival’s website.
Hanging out with two cameras in tow during the media launch. Two cameras makes is possible to easily get wide-angle and telephoto images quickly. Photo © Andrew Darlow
I also mentioned the Media Launch on the Meetup Group that I run (it’s called The Art of Photography, Photoshop and Lightroom). Anyone who is passionate about photography is welcome to join for no cost. I will be announcing a few workshops and other events related to photography in the upcoming weeks.
What to Do at the Festival
There are many family-friendly events at the festival, and there are MANY food options, including a multitude of food trucks and a “pop-up” QuickChek store. The bands that they have lined up look fantastic, and there are quite a few musical acts that play both day and at night (see the schedule for exact dates and times). You can either purchase reserved seats if you want to get close to the stage, or you can just enjoy the show from a lawn chair or blanket outside the main show area with your ticket to the festival since all of the concerts are all held outdoors. I was there last year for the Joan Jett concert, and she and her bandmates rocked the house!!
Music acts at the 2015 QuickChek Festival of Ballooning.
For a good overview of the show, here is an informative interview from CBS News with Executive Producer of the show, Howard Freeman.
Ticket Information and Discounted Tickets Available Until 11:59 pm Thurs. 7/23/2015
Ticket information can be found on this page, including links to information on how to purchase balloon ride tickets. General Admission Tickets are $10 for children (age 4-12, children 3 and under are free) and $24 for adults when ordered by 11:59pm on Thurs. 7/23/2015. After that, they are $15 and $35 respectively. Other ticket options can be found under the “Tickets” section of the website.
Any general admission tickets purchased are valid for one day only. You can also avoid a $3.50 per ticket online ordering fee by purchasing tickets at a QuickCheck store (here is a link to a page where you can search for a QuickChek location).
BookCon 2015 Returns to NYC 5/30-31 – Tips for Navigating the Show and Links
Love Books? I know I do. For the last three years I’ve been attending the BEA (Book Expo America), which is primarily an industry show for the book business. Last year, someone got the idea of running a consumer book show akin to Comic Con, which is a huge event that celebrates all things related to the comic book industry, held annually in multiple cities. I must say that it was a very good idea! Last year’s BookCon show was packed with people celebrating the very wide world of literature, from romance novels to stunning photography picture books (I personally favor these over the romance novels, but that’s just me).
BookCon will be returning to the Jacob Javits Center in New York City on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, 2015. Last year was the first running of BookCon, and it was held on one day, but this year (undoubtably due to its success), it’s running for two days.
One of the entrances to Book Expo America 2015 (same location as BookCon 2015). I think Snoopy is starring in a new movie and some new books too! Photo © Andrew Darlow.
There are panel discussions, author interviews on a big stage and in conference rooms, as well as many, many book signings. One of my favorite interviews/presentations last year was with author and photographer Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York. Brandon is returning this year, and here’s a link to Brandon’s presentation and poster signing schedule at the 2015 show. I also got to see Grumpy Cat up close, which she didn’t appear too excited about, but I didn’t take it personally :).
An example of what you’ll find at some of the booths at Book Expo America and BookCon. Booth Photo © Andrew Darlow. For more information about this vendor, visit Beaver Books.
A Few Tips for Navigating the Show
Walking the show floor without a plan can be overwhelming, so I recommend taking a look at what’s happening at the show, then decide which talks/booths you’d like to visit. If you want to get a book signed by a specific author, you can bring your own copy (they may or may not have copies of the book available that you’d like to own).
BookCon Ticket Information
BookCon Adult Tickets for Saturday are $35 when purchased online prior to the show and $45 when bought onsite. Sunday tickets for adults are $30 when purchased online prior to the show and $40 when bought onsite. And as I noted last year, definitely consider bringing the kids! A good portion of the show contains children’s books, games, etc. Tickets for children 6-12 are just $5. If last year is any indication of the attendance, I would recommend purchasing tickets in advance. It’s a good way to reduce wait times when you pick up your badge for the show, and to avoid the possibility of it being sold out. I noticed that all the VIP tickets are already sold out for this year’s show.
Viva le Book!
BookCon 2015 Quick Links
Main Show Page
General Info/FAQs
Link to Buy Tickets
BookCon Twitter Feed
BookCon’s Facebook Page
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WPPI 2015 Overview – Show Returns to Las Vegas on 2/28/2015
I’ve been attending photo shows sponsored by photo organizations, publications and other industry groups for over 20 years, and there are a few that really stand out in my mind for the quality of programs and the trade shows that usually accompany them. One of them, the PhotoPlus Expo, happens each Fall in New York City (you can read my review of the 2014 show here), and another fantastic one (Imaging USA) is being held this year in the beginning of February in Nashville, TN.
I just received some information about the programming schedule for The Wedding & Portrait Photography Conference and Expo (WPPI) 2015, which is returning to Las Vegas from 2/28 to 3/5/2015. Even if you don’t plan to attend, there is a lot of great information that can be found by reading through the course descriptions and following the news about the show on Twitter, Facebook or the show’s website. Below is the full text of the press release, which covers a lot of information about the event. Some of the things I found most interesting are the new photo walks, the four day hands-on filmmaking class that looks like a great opportunity for those interested in diving into (or improving their skills in) the world of “moving pictures,” and Joe McNally’s two-hour keynote, scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, from 8-10 pm. If you’ve ever had a chance to attend a Joe McNally talk or view one of his presentations online while he shows his outstanding imagery, it’s always enlightening.
PRESS RELEASE (reproduced in its entirety)
Photo Walks, PLUS Classes and Keynote by Joe McNally Highlight New Education and Inspiration at WPPI 2015
Reduced Prices for New One-Day Plus Classes, 50 Photo Walks through Las Vegas, and Intense Four-Day Filmmaking Track Exemplify WPPI’s Dedication to Innovative Learning
New York – December 30, 2014 – The Wedding & Portrait Photography Conference and Expo (WPPI) continues to be the most anticipated event of the photographic industry, and for good reason. For one week each year, thousands of photographers and filmmakers gather in Las Vegas to try new products, expand their skillsets by taking premier, hands-on educational courses, and network with friends and industry leaders. The annual conference promises new events and educational additions each year and WPPI 2015 promises to continue that tradition.
“WPPI has built a solid foundation by providing unique ways of educating our attendees – creative learning techniques, events, and technologies are all part of the fabric that makes up the WPPI experience,” explains Jason Groupp, WPPI director of education and membership. “WPPI 2015 is filled with new seminar tracks, an amazing lineup of Photo Walks, an inspirational keynote by Joe McNally, and two very exciting networking parties. We’re giving our attendees the chance to learn directly from their role models. These are priceless lessons that will stay with our community members forever.”
For the first time, WPPI will host a series of Photo Walks – 50 total – led by some of the industry’s most renowned photographers and educators including Jen Hillenga, CM Leung, Tony Corbell, Rocco Ancora, Zach and Jody Gray, Jennifer Rozenbaum, and Kelly Brown. Attendees can choose to begin or end each day with an interactive Photo Walk conducted at a variety of locations in and around Las Vegas. A complete listing of scheduled Photo Walks can be found here; for more details on each walk, visit the WPPI Photo Walk Facebook page where many of the walk leaders are sharing ideas and schedules for their walks as well as answering questions on each session.
Catering to the positive feedback on smaller, hands-on classes, WPPI has added 10 new one-day PLUS Classes for 2015 for a reduced price; $149 each for members and students, $199 for non-members. Limited to 25 participants per class, attendees will benefit from a more personalized and intimate learning environment. Each PLUS class will consist of a 2-3 hour presentation, followed by hands-on training and an afternoon of on-location shooting.
Attendees are encouraged to participate in the online #WPPIKNOW Trivia Challenge. Photographers who answer each question correctly will be entered to win a free Full Platform Pass to WPPI. A Full Platform Pass is required for attendees wishing to take a PLUS/ Master class or Photo Walk. For those already registered, WPPI is giving the winners $99 to put towards the purchase of any educational class. To play, Like the WPPI Online Facebook page and look for the next #WPPIKNOW post or email in your inbox.
On Tuesday evening, March 3 (8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.), Joe McNally will take to the stage for this year’s keynote presentation. McNally has been recognized amongst the 100 most important people in the industry. His career has spanned more than 30 years with assignments in more than 50 countries, including shooting cover stories for TIME, Newsweek, Fortune, & The New York Times Sunday Magazine. After a day of interactive learning, attendees will be able to sit back, relax, and be inspired by one of our industry’s greatest photographers.
WPPI 2015 will again host an intensive four day hands-on filmmaking class led by Joe Switzer, limited to 20 students to ensure an intense and interactive experience. Participants will be part of the crew that writes, shoots, and edits the official 2015 WPPI video from beginning to end. The film will make its debut during the awards ceremony on March 4th.
Did Someone Say Party?
WPPI 2015 will be hosting two networking parties.
WPPI officially kicks-off on Saturday night, February 28 with its new evening event, Almost Famous. For the first time, WPPI will celebrate other talents of its members against a backdrop of their photography. Whether it be song, dance, playing an instrument or any entertaining talent, WPPI members are invited to strut their stuff in front of a live audience for a fun, entertaining and inspirational night. Hosted by Grand Master of WPPI Jerry Ghionis and proudly supported by Triple Scoop Music, this will be the perfect introduction to your 2015 WPPI experience! The showcase will be followed by a performance by a Triple Scoop Music artist for a night of fun and dancing.
Sunday night, March 1, will feature the annual Opening Party at Hakkasan, the hottest nightclub in Vegas which is conveniently located inside the MGM Grand. The party, proudly sponsored by industry giants Canon U.S.A., Inc. and Bay Photo, is exclusive to WPPI Full Platform Pass holders and includes an evening filled with drinks, glitzy photo opps, and dancing to the beats of the resident DJ.
On Monday evening, March 2, attendees will enjoy an evening under the open skies of Vegas by the MGM’s famed Producer’s Pool. Enjoy the company of your peers, industry leaders, and the sights of Las Vegas while sipping cocktails and enjoying music beneath the stars.
About WPPI
The WPPI Wedding and Portrait Photography Conference + Expo is the premier industry event for photographers and now, filmmakers, specializing in the creative and business aspects of wedding, portrait photography and filmmaking. Each year, over 13,000 professional and imaging professionals attend WPPI to learn new techniques from industry leaders, build new relationships to help grow their business, experiment with new products from major manufacturers to improve productivity, and to use Vegas as a backdrop while expanding skillsets and portfolios.
Additional information and a complete schedule of seminars and activities is available online at www.wppionline.com.
Related Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WPPIOnline
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RFWPPI