I returned to the Embassy Suites Friday afternoon to attend a couple of seminars.  Since my interest in photography is pointed towards digital photography I opted to check out a seminar called the Digital Darkroom.  I arrived at the scheduled start time of 1:00 PM, to be greeted by room crammed with eager attendees.  It was standing room only.  I was shocked that these traditionalists, who sometimes shy away from new technologies, would jam into a room to find out everything they could about the Digital Darkroom.  I think conference organizers were surprised too and were not able to find a larger room to accommodate this crowd.  As interested as I was in the subject matter, I couldn't bring myself to stand in a corner for this seminar so I chose to skip this one and go to the next room. 

      Next door a show and tell was in progress.  Photographers were displaying their work.  Here was a chance to see how the big cameras produced  fine art in its original form.  Again, I was surprised.   Most of the photographs displayed were 4 x 5 or 8 x 10 black and white prints mounted and matted with great care.  The pictures were beautiful but I must admit to a concern that remains unanswered at this time.  The whole idea, in my opinion, of using a wide format camera which can produce  large negatives is to give the artist the opportunity to make enlargements that can be wall mounted and enjoyed in large sizes.  I like to see landscape and scenic photographs displayed as  16 x 20's or larger.  I like to feel I'm really there, in the picture, not looking at a postcard sized reproduction.   Nevertheless the work was beautiful.

      That afternoon I attended a seminar called "Digital Output."  Again the seminar was heavily attended, but I got there early and got a seat.  Fortunately the hotel management and the conference organizers re-configured the room so very few had to stand.   The subject dealt with the various ways photographers can take advantage of new printing techniques using new technologies to make reproductions.  I didn't know there were so many new ways to reproduce photographs at very high quality.   I'm learning, but I'm still not convinced I need one of these cameras.  I always come away reeling from technical seminars.  I think it's called information overload.  It's like feeding too much data too fast into your computer and it freezes.  My brain was starting to freeze after this seminar so I decided to take the afternoon off and take a few pictures.  After all, this is Monterey.  Fisherman's Wharf was close by so I went there.  Here are a couple of shots I took as the sun was setting.