Test Drive | Page 61

Special Issue Seminars on Techniques, trends and methods in contemporary photo art Telavi (Georgia) 26–27 April 2014 Information about the event and press releases were distributed among the target audience, in social media as well as through a news agency. They were also sent to the professional and amateur photographers registered in the database of the organization’s web-portal. The Association of Photographers of Georgia (AFG) received more than 70 applications from various regions of the country. The main motivation of the applicants to participate was to improve the professional skills and learn the latest techniques as well as take part in practical photographing. Fifteen participants have been selected representing nearly all the regions of the country, including the cities of Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Rustavi, Gori, Batumi, Sachkhere and some smaller towns. Among the participants, there was a resident of Saingilo, a citizen of Azerbaijan. This town was historically a Georgian settlement; presently it is under Azerbaijan jurisdiction but some Georgians speaking their native language still reside there. The seminar opened with a presentation of SAY CHEESE! Project. Armenian photo artists held lectures and master-classes. Artashes Martirosyan spoke in detail about the issues of studio lighting, the specifics of work with models and held practical shooting sessions with the audience. He also demonstrated the instruments of image processing using of special software. The presentation by Vigen Mnoyan The composition of Picture and Portraits was also of great interest. The President of the National Association of Photographers of Armenia (NAPA) Sergey Hakopyan shared his business experience in the area of photography. The second day of the seminar was devoted to pictorial photography and HDR technologies. Georgian photo artist Mzia Lekveishvili presented an overview of monocle as a new trend in photography while Tengiz Phakadze did a practical demonstration of how to produce a monocle and held practical shooting sessions. 61