Imaging USA 2024 Wrap Up!
Published: January 31, 2024
Imaging USA 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky was, how should we put this? Nothing short of amazing. We are so pleased to have hosted this year's conference at the Kentucky International Convention Center for the first time ever. Photographers from near and far made the journey to join us for pre-conference classes starting on the 25th and kicked off the first day of the main show on the 28th bright and early with photography classes from a range of different topics.
We were entertained by your bright smiling faces, we enjoyed seeing all the reunion hugs, and we celebrated the achievements of our peers. The three days of this year's show were packed with learning, networking, and lots of celebrating. Photographers connected and practiced their skills at Networking Avenue on opening night and then headed directly afterward to the Welcome Party in the beautiful Omni Hotel. Our entertainment for the night was the phenomenal Blue Water King's Band and they "ROCKED that!" as Shawn Lee would say. Attendees wore their finest derby wear and we LOVED seeing all the awesome hats!
The International Photographic Competition (IPC), sponsored by SONY was a major hit among attendees, with preliminary judging rounds drawing in a huge crowd on Saturday night. Monday night's Final judging rounds thrilled us to our core, and we won't forget the feeling we felt in that ballroom full of expectant photographers. As images were eliminated and voted forward into the next rounds of judging, shouts and joyous screams filled the room. Gary Jones, the winner of this year's Grand Imaging Award, humbly accepted his trophy and prize. His mother, who was the subject of his natural portrait entitled, "The Destination Ahead," watched lovingly in the audience and could be heard saying on many occasions afterward how proud she was of her son, Gary.
On the final day of Imaging USA, photographers attended as many classes as they could, cruised through the aisles of the Expo and made purchases, and finally, they ended the night at the Closing Party, sponsored by Fujifilm. Our feet were tired by the end of it, but we still had some energy left to dance. We can't thank all of this year's attendees for the enthusiasm, joy, and generosity they shared with their community of photographers. We are looking forward to seeing you at next year's show! Save the date for Grapevine, Texas from February 2-4!