Past Events

Plagiarism, so said Alfred Hitchcock to Jack Mitchell during his portrait session.  Just who are Central Florida’s Life Members?  Joe Barnell, Burton McNeely, Dennis Hallinan, Jack Mitchell and Augusto Valentin were honored on September 13 at the International Academy of Design and Technology in Tampa, FL for 25 years or more of membership to the American Society of Media Photographers.

Joe Barnell expounded on his knowledge of photography to the group assembled at the event.  Shooting over 1,000 covers for Readers Digest that took him around the world, from the Orient, to Europe, we saw the incredible versatility of his work.  As a founder of Image International Stock Agency in 1964, turning into Shostal Associates and finally selling to Superstock in 1987, Joe is still receiving the many payoffs from his images as well as having had the benefit of world travel and in having graced our country as one member of "the greatest generation".

Burton McNeely shared with the audience his extensive knowledge of stock.  How to shoot it?  What you got paid for it? How to list? How were the images used?  How do you make a good image better?  How do you shoot marine photography?  And he answered the most important question of all, What images sell?  A self prescribed Florida Cracker with a keen sense of design, lighting and technical know how, he divulged his greatest secrets.  Viewers saw as marine photography evolved, witnessed Burton’s innovative techniques, learned the history of stock and saw the evolution of photography from Hasselblad to the digital system that Burton now uses.

Dennis Hallinan’s images were viewed courtesy of Jupiter images with his story told by Burton.  As Cypress Gardens chief photographer, Dennis took many images.  He, too, was involved with stock and today his images are a vivid reminder of how great photographs are timeless.  His 40’s and 50’s pin ups are as relevant today as in the past.  Beautiful design, color, and humor graced the show.

Lastly, Jack Mitchell showed his iconic images.  Artists’ environmental portraits were breathtaking.  Texture, shape, design, and most importantly lighting to perfection were on display, a true professional in every sense of the word.  The essence of human kind captured for history.  The stars:  Arnold, Al, Meryl, and Debbie.  Robin and his genius.  Warren and John at their sexiest.  His portrait of John and Yoko was record setting for People Magazine in 1980.  And dancers, and dancers and great dancers.  As noted, Jack is currently working on his fourth book and the Smithsonian has recently acquired a large collection of his work.

The life certificates were awarded at the end of the event with a quote from the original president of ASMP, Philippe Halsman, which read, "Shouldn’t we — as it is done in a democratic society — unite our forces, take the leadership and try to make the ASMP the instrument and the symbol of our thinking and our aspirations."  I can only congratulate these gifted gentlemen on adding to the archives of American Photographic history.   And to Jack Mitchell, Happy 83rd Birthday!

The following photographs were taken by ©Justin Richards, of International Academy of Design and Technology, with a Canon 50D on loan from our CanonUSA representative, Chuckie Luzier whose closing remarks summarized the value of this event to all who attended.  Again, thank you CanonUSA and IADT for your support of ASMP.   A special thank you to our three presenters: Jesse Adair (ASMP Student Liaison West Coast - Board Member), Bonita Saldana, and Jeff Chambless.  All students or emerging artists with great dedication and foresight.   They knew where to get the goods--from the originals.

-Carlson