Saturday, September 12, 2015
9am to 4:30pm
Gannon University, Zurn Hall  Room 104, Erie Pa 16504 (Gannon map)
Tickets: $35 for adults, free for college and high school students
NOTE: **price includes lunch**

STUDENTS: Email paraydo2@aol.com with name and school.

The Life of a Photograph by Sam Abell

Billions of images are made each day but few survive and have a life of their own. Why is this? In his talk, The Life of a Photograph, acclaimed photographer and lecturer Sam Abell entertainingly answers that question by drawing on his 30 year career as a National Geographic staff photographer. 

In fascinating step-by-step sequences Abell illuminates the process and techniques that led to the creation of some of the most recognizable and enduring images of our time. In addition Abell relates the behind-the scenes adventures–and misadventures–of his life on world-wide assignments, a life dedicated to making photographs with a strong and meaningful life.

Sam Abell’s thirty-year career has been dedicated to achieving artistic expression through documentary photography. He has pursued his goals primarily through his lengthy, in-depth coverage for National Geographic magazine and its Book Division. At the same time, he has maintained a career as an artist, teacher, and author.

Sam Abell’s latest book, The Life of a Photograph, completes a set of three volumes begun in 2000 with Seeing Gardens. It was followed in 2002 with The Photographic Life.

“One of the things that I most believe in is the compose and wait philosophy of photography. It’s a very satisfying, almost spiritual way to photograph. Life isn’t’ knocking you around, life isn’t controlling you. You have picked your place, you’ve picked your scene, you’ve picked your light, you’ve done all the decision making and you are waiting for the moment to come to you….” – Sam Abell