Photoshop World, in Boston after a 2-year hiatus, was quite a candy-store for photography enthusiasts and professionals. In addition to hundreds of informative tutorials and speaker-led sessions on Photoshop, Lightroom, design, video, and digital photography, there was a vendor trade show. If you missed Boston, the next conference is scheduled for Las Vegas, in October.

Back in the middle ages of computer shows, companies gave out a hard copy of presentations delivered. As electronic media advanced, most shows now give you a CD or links to PDFs and presentations online. Photoshop World bucks that trend and still delivers a tome of its presenter’s work. This wonderful 900+ page resource includes information from the over 100 classes taught on site during the 3-day training conference. In addition to the conference sessions are pre-conference workshops, Nikon and NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) theaters, panels, Guru Awards for attendee submitted photographs, portfolio reviews, and late-night events, including and the Photoshop Midnight Madness.

Due to time constraints, I attended the vendor expo and one excellent conference on Color Management for Photographers Using Photoshop CS4, presented by Andrew Rodney. I also attended an amazing 2-hour 7-photographer panel, “The Art of Digital Photography.” This was absolutely riveting. There must have been 1000 people in attendance, and no one walked out in the middle. (I’ve not sat still and so mesmerized by anything since I was under anesthesia!)

Each photographer presented his work, like a testimonial to all that photography can be. While Jim DiVitale’s piece looked like a photographic resume, heavily photoshopped in places, Joe Glyda’s presentation gave us permission to shoot anything. Unlike the others, his photos were all taken during his week in Boston, and the subject was simply shadows, it was humorous and illuminating. Jay Maisel‘s offering covered 4 months of everyday photos from Thanksgiving to St. Patrick’s Day and let us glimpse his life. Joe McNally showed us a portfolio of his magazine photography that captured the spirit and beauty in scenes of life, while Vincent Versace’s portraits came alive and each reflected a whole life. John Paul Capinigro brought us back to the artistic edited art, which escaped that photographic look. This was his representation of our environment, while the last presentation of Moose Peterson inserted us into the environment and wrapped us in sprawling vista and up close wildlife.

Photoshop World may seem pricey; tickets range from $149 for valid students to $699 for non-NAPP members), but the sheer volume of available information, tutorials, combined with your direct access to experts makes this a reasonably priced event.

If I’ve perked your interest in photographic editing, you should check out the related resources at OWC. Most importantly, we carry the Adobe Creative Suite 4: Master Collection and the Adobe Creative Suite 4: Production Premium, plus a full selection of Wacom tablets. A number of the photographers also recommended NEC and Dell monitors, which we also carry.