WPPI Throwbacks to 2007

Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment,
until it becomes a memory.
Dr. Seuss

by Skip Cohen

I should be embarrassed over my lack of organization of files and images from the past, but for some strange reason, I'm not! Throwback Thursdays, have become one of my favorite posts to share because they're always about memories, and thanks to images I find in my stash. And, so often I'm surprised with what I find. 

These are all from WPPI 2007, and I want to apologize to whoever the photographers were. If these are your images, I'll gladly do a second post and give everyone credit. They were all in a file on a disk I downloaded in 2008 and sent to me as a pdf.

WPPI had grown so much that in 2007, we took over both the Bally's and Paris hotels. These are from three different locations on the properties - two different ballrooms for the trade show and outside, near the moving walkway at Bally's. 

At the junction of the hallways between the two hotels, there was a display dedicated to Monte Zucker, who passed away earlier that year. Sorry, but I don't remember who pulled everything together for the shadow box on the right, but I know Clay Blackmore and Jeff Medford were involved. You'll also notice an "In Memoriam" portrait of Monte in the Canon booth.

Monte's another wonderful memory who comes rolling back with Throwback Thursday. He was instrumental in so many careers of professional photographers. He was also a key to getting WPPI started at a time when most of the industry didn't see a need for another conference. At that time, none of the organizations recognized part-time photographers. WPPI was originally launched as a foundation to help professional photographers who weren't yet full-time. 

Throwback Thursday is about memories, but it's also reinforcement for the career path, so many of us have chosen. Most of the time, I suggest you use throwback images as a marketing tool to remind Mom how fast the kids are growing, etc.  But today, why not take the time to look through your stash of old photographs?

It's a great time to appreciate all the memories, and a good day to take a few minutes to enjoy what's in your rearview mirror!

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