Ronald Angelo Johnson speaks passionately in Albuquerque Alpha Chi 2023
One of the things I like best about photographing national conferences, is getting to hear keynote speakers I otherwise never would. Such was the case with a very passionate keynote address by Ronald Angelo Johnson at the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society event in Albuquerque in March and April 2023. Mr. Johnson was an A+ speaker to photograph. Why? Because he was always looking up and out at the audience in all directions. He is an animated speaker with has hands and expressions. He moved around even out from behind the podium. Plus, even from these silent still photos, you can hear the inspiring story he shared with the audience. It was a privilege to get to hear him speak that morning at the conference.
The 2023 Alpha Chi National Convention from all angles in Albuquerque
I spent three days and over 18 hours of photography time with the members of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society delivering over 900 edited photos of the 2023 Alpha Chi National Convention held right here in Albuquerque, New Mexico at The Clyde Hotel (formerly the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque). I got to hear two amazing keynote speakers, listen in on dozens of student presentations, and get at least one question right in a trivia contest! Thank you to the team at Alpha Chi for choosing me as your conference photographer. It was a fantastic event to be a part of.
Event photography inside the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
I have been photographing various events for NAPAC 2022 around Albuquerque this week, one of which was an evening event at The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History which I had never been to before. NAPAC stands for North American Particle Accelerator Conference so the attendees have knowledge of nuclear science and thus it was a great idea to host part of the conference at the nuclear museum! Once the long time tour guides (they go by a different title actually) announced the choice of going with one about a certain topic and the other for another topic, I had the chance to get some candids of the NAPAC 2022 attendees in the museum itself, and also in setting sunlight, out on the grounds with various airplanes as the background. The photo above is my favorite of the event, as it seems to really have a story behind it. That gentleman in the photo was by himself the entire time wandering the interior and then exterior of the museum keeping to himself with his own thoughts.
Professional event photography at an awards event at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya
Event photography is really starting to return in 2022 as I went to the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa for a multi-day conference for employees of PayneWest. I actually made 30 headshots to start out the event, then returned the next day to photograph the awards ceremony seen here. While I still have reservations about being in a room full of hundreds of people who just flew in from all over the country, and I still wore my N95 mask during the entire event, it was also nice to feel the energy of a live event with everyone extra excited to see each other after a long time apart. Thank you to the team at PayneWest for choosing me as both your event and headshot photographer!
A return to photographing events in Albuquerque for SWE
The uncanny symmetry in timing of photography shoots continues, as nearly exactly two years to the day, and at the very same hotel, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque, I photographed my first indoor event since the pandemic started! It was a big return too, shooting 10 hours on a Friday and Saturday for SWE (Society of Women Engineers) having one of their WE Local events right here in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was great to be back photographing a multi-day conference and feeling the energy and excitement of such an event. Plus, I learned a lot too as I photographed the dozens of breakout sessions and the four keynote speakers. I really appreciate Rochelle, a local member, recommending me for this job as she was a former headshot client.
American Political Science Association, or APSA as they go by, had their 2020 Teaching & Learning Conference here in Albuquerque, and I was their official photographer for 13 hours of conference photography over 3 days! From a keynote presentation, to dozens of workshops, to a meet and greet, to a luncheon, there was a great variety of things happening at this conference that kept me busy as I went from ballroom to ballroom at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque.
