Las Vegas

Pour yourselves a Campari and soda, dekeOpolitans, it's time for another Martini Hour. This week's installation is the last of those we recorded in Las Vegas, in the VIP lounge we retired to after our live show at Photoshop World, with two compassionate, inspiring, life-affirming teachers of photography. On my right, fine-art photographer, teacher and all-around leather-sportcoat pony-tailed source of calm inspiration, JP Caponigro. On my left, photographer, art educator,  and all around cropped-hair SoCal surfer source of energized creativity, Chris Orwig.

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Sometimes a hat is just a hat. Unless it's a hat drawn during a lesson with two amazing masters of Photoshop 3D, Bert Monroy and Corey Barker. A lesson that took place in the VIP lounge of our Martini Hour Las Vegas Extravaganza. Then, said hat is a testament to the ability of good teachers to teach highly visual subjects in a completely audio format. And the improved 3D abilities of Photoshop CS4. Oh, and Corey taught me to draw a wine bottle, too. Because, you know, he gets me.

Hold on to your ugly, if three-dimentional, hats folks, here's what we have this week: Read more » 

Words of advice: If you ever find yourself drinking martinis and chatting with creative, charming digital imaging experts all day long in front of a live audience, I recommend finishing with guests who inspire and keep you laughing at the same time. Such was the case in this, the last of our live recordings from the Eyecandy Sound Lounge during Photoshop World, when Photoshop Diva Katrin Eismann and Notorious American Photographer Extraordinaire Jay Maisel appeared in front of our live audience in Las Vegas to talk with us about photography, photo retouching (or not), and the general state of the photographer's mind.

Here's what you'll experience in this lively loungy episode: Read more » 

It's time for more wow-goodness from the Eyecandy lounge. Jack Davis, one of our guests this week, just made fifty cents because I said, "Wow." Wow, Jack. Nice hair. In fact, this episode started out all about the hair. Ben Wilmore, despite being one of the most respected trainers in the industry, was nonetheless notable at Photoshop World because of his "sorta" (TM Deke) mohawk. Then Jack showed up with altogether faux hair. It was awesome. Just look at Ben's hair.

Here's what we covered in the third live episode: Read more » 

Welcome, martini swillers of all persuasions. It's time for another installment of Martini Hour recorded at Photoshop World live from the Eyecandy Lounge in the Mandalay Bay. In this second live installment, we sit down with a couple of amazing instructors who not only teach Photoshop, but also InDesign, Flash, Dreamweaver, and more. Namely, Terry White and Rafael "RC" Concepcion--both of whom, by the way, are man enough to enjoy a stiff appletini.

Here's what we discovered over our strangely glowing drinks: Read more »