I have returned from my whirlwind trip to North Carolina's Gardner-Webb University where I participated in a one-day lighting course taught by the acclaimed photographer Joe McNally.
The students basically acted as grips on the shoot. We hauled gear and were allowed to guide the direction in which the shoots went. We used both Nikon Speedlights and ProPhoto packs. I definately picked up a few techniques that may be adapted into my own style.
It was very interesting to watch how Joe approached a photo shoot as a Nikon shooter (at a time when everyone seems to be going Canon) and a human being. He talked about photography as part of his life and it helped to hear that even a famous photographer finds this life to be extremely challenging. My friend Patrick Contreras helped me process the experience when he said, "Conferences like that help artists know that we are not alone." I now know that my hardships as a photographer are not unique.