"Smoke & Shadow: Cinematic Cigar Portraits"
(Constant-Light Night Session) 7:30 - 9:00pm
presented by: CDPHOTOG & J Grammond Photography
Continue the fun this evening with a cinematic nighttime shoot that merges Western grit with Holleywood-style mood. Using constant lights, smoke, and practical glows, you'll learn to sculpt dramatic portraits that feel like stills from a neo-noir film. Chris guides you through shaping light, crafting atmosphere, and creating portraits with depth, texture, and soul.
*This event is a FREE bonus session (thanks to Chris & Jay) - for those Shootout registrants that wish to participate. Friday night, after the Keynote.
Location: TBA
Lunch n' Learn on Saturday;
presented by J Grammond Photography:
"Fading Ads Of The Twin Cities"
On brick buildings throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul, overlooked, fleeting symbols chronica the cities' past. Champion, John Deere and International Harvestor still tout their agricultural equipment, and Gold Medal and Pillsbury Flour remind everyone where those now global companies began. Weathered proclamations from Grain Belt, Jacob Schmidt and Gluek's Beer offer glimpses into local brewing. Ads from Schmitt Music and Dahl Violin Shop recall a thriving art scene. Local hardware stores and grocery stores hawk long-gone wares through elegant painted announcements.
Saturday. Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm. Location: TBA.
Night Owl Session: Aces & Embers: Western Poker Night Portraits. Led by Chris Dickinson. Step into a scene with cowboys and cowgirls gathered around a poker table. Using constant lights and warm practicals, you'll learn to build mood, shape faces, and create narrative-driven portraits filled with texture and character. Cards, cigars, whispered tells. Every element becomes a storytelling opportunity. Capture the authenticity and cinematic atmosphere of a night at the table. Saturday. Time: 8:15 - 10:15pm. Location: TBA.
Sunday Evening Afterglow: Milky Way Photography at Devils Tower. with Tomas Alvarez. Stay after dark for an immersive Milky Way photography experience beneath the skies near Devil's Tower national Monument. This hands-on add-on session will guide participants through manual focusing, exposure settings, and creating striking night images of the Milky Way. A Live Move-Shoot-Move tracker demonstration will showcase how tracked exposures can dramatically improve detail, color, and noise control in astrophotography. We'll also discuss simple stacking and post-processing techniques to help participants continue improving their night photography at home. Sunday. Time: 8:30 - 10:00pm. Location: TBD.