Poker and lunch with [b]!

So, I am finally getting around to this post. As you may have read in one of the earlier posts, I had the opportunity to go to Mike Colon's 4 day intensive workshop (Which I highly suggest to any photographers out there). On the last day of the workshop, Mike hosted a poker party which was a lot of fun. While at the party, in addition to all of the great people I had already met through the workshop, we were joined by some more remarkable and creative people in the industry: Photographers [b]ecker, Dane Sanders, and Jessica Claire, and branding specialist Gary Sikes .

I was amazed at how many "big players" (for lack of a better word) in the photography industry were there. I can honestly say that besides being great at what they do, they were all very nice people.

As the party started, the host himself (Mike) knocked me out first.



From this point on, I had to pull out the camera and take some shots.

Turning little stacks into big stacks


Going all in


The bitter end

As we had all guessed, [b]ecker won the poker game. I should know that's what you get for playing with a guy who won a seat at the WSOP.

Towards the end of the party, I asked if anyone wanted to have lunch and [b]ecker took me up on the offer. We had lunch at a great Mexican place called Javier's. While at lunch, it was a lot of fun to sit down and talk about how he runs his business, etc. Plus, he is a huge Angels fan so we had to talk a little baseball. Unfortunately he got the upper hand as they knocked the Twins out of the ALCS a few years back. For anyone, photographers especially, who enjoys reading blogs, you should check out [b]eckers blog, and his new project called the [b] school.

Here we are in one of his infamous self portrait style shots.


I would like to thank everyone I met in California for all of their comments, suggestions, and the beginning of many new friendships!

Later everyone!

- Jason