WPPI Part 2

Mike drew a large crowd at the Lexar Booth as he shared about shooting an entire wedding using only available light!

Alex Rodriguez, Kenny Kim, David Escalante, Shane Melenbacker, UncleRay

Dane Sanders, Robert T. Williams and Mike at the Pictage Booth

Mike with the amazing people from La-Vie

If you haven't checked out Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, it is a great organization to get involved with.

Thirst Relief mentoring session

David Escalante, UncleRay and Kenny Nakai

WPPI Part 1

We've been having an awesome time out in Las Vegas here at WPPI! Here is a small video and few photo to sum up the first couple of days.

Dinner at Le Café with Uncle Ray and Anna, Shane and Erin Melenbacker, Mike Steelman, Michael Norwood, Mike Colón, David Escalante, Travis Hoehne, Harald and Aundrea from Blu Domain


A bunch of the guys after dinner

Jim Garner with Mike and Ray

Mike shopping for glasses with Anna Santana

Vegas Update Soon!

WPPI is in full swing and I've got a big update coming soon! We have
been busy but also our internet connection has been less than excellent.

I'm off to the Blu Domain party!

Sent from my iPhone

In Paris!!

WPPI Speaking Schedule

Thursday & Friday, March 14-15, 2008

WPPI Plus Class (Bally's South Tower Suite 5910) 8:30AM-5:00PM

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Pictage Partner Con Lecture 3:20PM-4:05PM

Monday, March 17, 2008
Platform 8:30AM-10:30AM ( Skyview 5/6)
Lexar Booth 1:00PM
Pictage Booth 3:00PM

Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Lexar Booth 1:30PM
Pictage Booth 2:00PM
La-Vie Booth 3:00PM
NILMDTS Booth 4:00PM

Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Lexar Booth 10:30AM
La-Vie 11:00AM
Thirst Relief Mentoring 9:30PM

New DVD Promotional Trailer!!

Check out the trailer made by the talented Ron Dawson of Cinematic Studios for our upcoming DVD filmed from the Master Your Craft Tour!

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS)

I'm making this post with a heavy heart hoping to get more photographers involved with this wonderful organization - Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. I've been involved with NILMDTS for the past year. Photographing babies for these families has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I've posted below some recent messages I've received from Kathleen, the mother of baby girl Parker who I photographed last year. Her letter was so touching and it made me realize how important it is to do these sessions.

This morning, there was a feature story appropriately named "Healing the Heartbreak" featuring a NILMDTS photographer Jessica Person on MSNBC this morning that nearly brought me to tears. I'm so glad that NILMDTS is getting this publicity! I know that many photographers will join the team and change so many lives because of this. - CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Here are the messages I received from Kathleen...

On Feb 15, 2008, at 1:47 PM, Kathleen Hudson wrote:

I can't write this without sobbing, which is probably why I've never written it before, and for that I apologize.

Thank you, Mike.

I don't know if you remember me....we met on February 22, 2007, the day you came to Hoag Hospital to photograph my daughter Parker, who was born 17 weeks too soon, and didn't live very long after her birth.

I can't believe it's been a year, next week. I can't tell you how profoundly painful this past year has been.

All the same, I want to thank you from the depths of my soul (forgive me....I am just grief-struck at the moment....)..........it's hard to find words.

Without you, and your wonderful gift, I would be lost. Her precious face, her hands, her feet....(that big toe!)...would be only memories to be ravaged by the passing of time, were it not for you.

I remember, in the hospital, begging for the nurse to take a picture, because I know how awful my memory is and I couldn't bear to ever forget Parker's face.

I truly expected a polaroid or little snapshot, and would have been grateful for that. But you came. You honored my daughter, and you gave us a gift that I will treasure for the rest of my days.

I apologize for not telling you sooner, how very much Alan and I appreciate your time, your talent, and the warmth with which you treated all of us.

Mike. There are no words.

"I'm eternally grateful" doesn't even touch it. I don't know what to say. Thank you.

You are a very big reason that I can even survive this.

Kathleen Hudson

ps....I also apologize for the medium, but please understand that anything handwritten would be tremendously waterlogged at this point, and illegible. My shirt is wet and there are splatters all over the desk! I don't even bother to wipe the tears away at this point. They come too fast.

Take care,
Kathleen


On Feb 22, 2008, at 11:04 PM, Mike Colon wrote:

Hi Kathleen! I am so happy that you wrote! I can't tell you how much your letter means to me! Parker is so precious and I reflect on our time together often! I pray for you that God will give you the strength you need to get through the pain you speak of. Your letter is such an encouragement for me to continue doing sessions like this. I would love to share your letter with other photographers who do this work to inspire them to shoot more of these sessions. I'll keep it private if you wish. Thank you so much for writing, I hope we can keep in touch. Warmest regards, Mike


On Feb 25, 2008, at 11:13 AM, Kathleen Hudson wrote:

Hi Mike,

I'm back in the real world today. Yucky! I liked our little weekend escape. We went to Mammoth. It snowed the whole time!

I know that I briefly responded on my phone while I was up there, but wanted to let you know...please DO share my letter.

I have struggled and struggled with finding the right word, and I just can't do it. So bear with me.

What you did for us relieved me of the burden (not the right word!!) of struggling to remember her face, her features. It is so hard, under that much stress, to stop and look. To look with your eyes and your heart and to capture something that you know you will never, ever see again. To hold it in your mind's eye. During that much stress and grief, it is nearly impossible.

I would have felt like such a bad mommy if I forgot her face. Thanks to you that will never happen.

Anything I can do to help you encourage others to give the incredible gift that you gave us, I will do. I mean it!

I am sure it seems like a thankless task at times (and I am part of the problem)...it just seems like any detail dealing with the death of your baby that you don't absolutely HAVE to acknowledge, you don't. To acknowledge means you have to face it, you have to accept it, and that is a very diffuclt thing to do. I changed email accounts rather then unsubscribing from all the baby and pregnancy websites and email lists. Avoid, avoid, avoid. I've gotten very good at that. But there was never a day that I looked at her pictures that I wasn't profoundly grateful for you.

I wanted to let you know (though you might already know) about a photo retouching service offered by babyangelpics.com - they do a nice job, and will retouch until they get it right. Although she was the way she was, it's nice to see her without all the bruising. I am attaching one of your photos I had retouched, that I look at often.

Master Your Craft Seminar Update - San Francisco, CA

Hey everyone! David Escalante here, updating you on the last stop of the Master Your Craft tour: San Francisco! The last stop of the tour was filled with fun and excitement as Bob and Mike shared their expertise with the group. The very talented Ron Dawson of Cinematic Studios was on hand to capture some of the day for an upcoming secret project.

A big thank you to everyone who came out to the tour! It was so good to connect with old friends and meet new ones as well. Thank you to our sponsors as well: Apple, Epson, GraphiStudio, PPA, WPPI, Wescott, Calumet, Triple Scoop Music, and LiveBooks.

Mike has released the seats for The Colón Experience IX, a 4 day intensive workshop. This workshop has limited seats and is filling up quickly. The last 4 day intensive was awesome and everyone came away from it with inspiration and new ideas to grow their business! Here is what a few people had to say:

"The workshop is awesome, more than I expected. Mike’s discussions on technique and workflow have been extremely helpful. In just two days I’ve completely changed the way I shoot." - Phillip Glickman

"Wow...that's all I can say :) I have learned more in one day at Mike's workshop than I could have ever dreamed of. It's kind of like a light bulb coming on over your head..." - Courtney Fries

"I cannot say how impressed I am with Mike over the course of the workshop. He really has a genuine interest in teaching other photographers and wanting to help them take their work up to the next level." - Steve Goldhaber

Help Find Marilyn!

Please read the email below that my friend Joseph sent me a few
minutes ago. I can't imagine the fear this family must be
experiencing. Let's do everything we can to help!

Mike, I have a small favor to ask. I just learned yesterday that the younger sister of a friend and former Apple colleague of mine has gone missing. Her family is obviously doing everything they can to find her, but she disappeared from Québec City on Feb 17th and hasn't been seen since. I'm assuming she's still in Canada, as I've heard nothing of border control saying she's left the country, but of course anything is possible. Her family has a website with all current information online, and I'm doing what I can to spread the word. My friend Seal has posted it on his blog and I've posted it on my blogs here and here, my facebook and twitter. I'm trying to get it posted on a few technology blogs with massive readerships, and I've sent it to a few celeb friends in Hollywood with hopes of getting it exposed a bit more. Anyway if you guys would be willing to post something on your own blogs, I'd certainly appreciate it. It's tragic to lose a child, but in circumstances like this where you don't even know if they are dead or alive, abducted or worse, I can only imagine it's infinitely more painful and difficult.

Anyway I'd appreciate if you could just post a link to their website on your blogs – anything to gain exposure.

http://www.findmarilyn.com/

Thanks again,
-joseph

Mountain Lion Sighting at OFR

What a trip!  Check out the email I got from our neighborhood security here at One Ford Road!  I guess I shouldn't be too surprised considering I've already seen racoons, skunks, and foxes running around. 

Date: February 29, 2008 10:45:47 AM PST
To: mike@mikecolon.com
Subject: Mountain Lion Sighting at OFR

Dear Residents,
This is just a reminder that there is wildlife nearby this association and this morning a mountain lion was spotted near the Bison Gate. Please stay indoors if you can and only step outside if you are getting into your car. We have called animal control but unfortunately they said there is nothing they can do. Please be aware and stay cautious. Thank you.