To have Robert Hanashiro, a USA Today staffer with more talent in his left pinky finger than I possess entirely throughout my body, come introduce himself to me in the kindest, most genuine manner possible on the first hour at the SSA... It was the most surreal experience possible.
But that was the reality of this workshop! Industry professionals like Robert, or "Bert" (although I'm not sure I technically qualify to be able to call him anything other than Mr. Hanashiro) Matt Brown, and David Honl, to just name a few, were all there in a two-day workshop to further our understanding of light. They all sincerely cared, and genuinely wanted to help each and every one of us grow. If there were moments of stress or frustration, the veneer never cracked, every pro on staff was genuine.
Having the privilege to work with subjects like the LA Derby Dolls & Cal State Fullerton's athletes to create sports portraits using both strobes & speedlights, it was a real-world classroom to learn, create, stumble, and above all.. fail. Each academy participant was given the chance to fail, trouble-shoot, and work through each problem individually with professional help, if we struggled too much. Something I thought to really be important to our experience. No one gave us a lighting set-up that was predetermined, we determined it... Each instructor gave us the kick in the ass, Matt Brown especially (better believe I did LAPS across that CSUF soccer field with lenses & cables!), and threw us out on the field to play. It was absolutely fantastic.
There is an infinite list of people to thank who helped create this two-day workshop, from teachers to assistants to sponsors to the subjects, but I have the deepest gratitude to each and every person who made the SSA Lighting Luau possible through their combined efforts, there are truly not enough words to thank everyone.
I cannot wait to attend the Fall SSA!
(well, if I get in...)
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