Review of Photography Seminar: The Digital Photographic Edge with Bruce Dorn and Maura Dutra
I just came back from iDC Photography’s the Digital Photographic Edge with Bruce Dorn and Maura Dutra in Southfield, Michigan. It was an interesting experience. I’m glad I got the pleasure of meeting Bruce and Maura(iDC Photography) at the dinner at Fishbones the night before.
First Thoughts of Bruce Dorn
I’ve seen Bruce talk at [tag]WPPI[/tag] a few years back. I wasn’t too impressed. I was rather bored by his lecture about different types of color of light etc. But I thought I’ve given them another chance.
The Night Before Dinner Get Together at Fishbones
Yesterday evening, Harold from Modern Photoglyphs, Prem and Cheridy of [tag]Arising Images[/tag], and John (another DWF’er; sorry I don’t know what his company was) met to eat with Bruce and Maura. He gave us an interesting taste of what they were going to talk about. They’re very humble and friendly individuals. Being able to meet the speaker before the event just makes the experience a totally different experience. I probably wouldn’t have attended their event have I not have attended dinner with them.
The Digital Photographical Edge
What I really appreciate about Bruce and Maura’s (iDC Photography) non-assaulting sales approach. I think this comes from being receptive to the target audience. Nobody really likes being sold and sit through hours of trying to “pimp” your product. Often when you goto a educational photography seminar is the half content half sales pitch that comes with the seminar. What Bruce and Maura were trying to show was how they would work through a workflow of shooting and designing albums.
The most surprising part of their way of working through their shots is their interest in painting. Through corel painter they meticulously paint photos that they find visually interesting. Some of their photos have been works that have sold to Canon Photography execs and sold for as much as $30,000+! What I’ve learned about corel is that the art that they produce is very unique and different
Interestingly enough, one of the greatest things they’ve taught is show what you love. That is probably what I feel i’ll get most of. They’re products and individuals and appreciate experimenting with techniques and different things. As Dorn credits that it’s a lot of luck. What I appreciate is that Dorn also harps on an idealistic message; quality can bring you far places that cannot normally go. I really like that to see that there are people like Bruce that do quality work and get the clients that they want.
The images they show are very inspiring. They push the boundaries of wedding photography and make pushes yourself to try new things as Bruce conditions his listeners: “As an art director has previously told me show what you love to do.”
The way Maura works through albums so quickly is very refreshing; its an interesting different way of working through photos. Her sense of design, space and
I wasn’t really to interested in the painting part. But it was worth seeing for the first time in person. I now understand the craft of the art. Ironically, I also won a copy of Corel Painter X. I don’t know if I can keep this. I might have to give it to someone who is more passionate about this and pay for some expenses I have currently. Like I told Maura I would have to get a Wacom tablet to be able to utilize Corel Painter X to its full potential too. Sure I bet I can draw well and win awards doing corel painter; but I feel I have other priorities at this time.
Final Thoughts…
If someone asked me if it was worth attending I’d definately say its worth the $50-$70 to listen to two masters just love to talk about what they love to do passionately: from painting, to photographing, to designing albums, to lighting, etc. Listening to anyone talk about what they love without any sales pitch is at least worth visiting.
