1 - Introduction
Now in its Sixth year, the Digital Summit is the annual event that Uwe Steinmueller and myself organize together. Since its introduction in 2003, this event has been extremely successful and has brought together photographers, students and manufacturers from all over the world.

2 - Unique Goals
Since the very first Summit Uwe and I have had several specific goals for the Summit. Here are some of them, in no particular order:

- Bring together people from diverse areas of Fine Art Photography so that they can exchange their different views, ideas, techniques and visions as well as network and learn from each other

- Create an event where the entire process of creating new images is taught. Unlike our Field Workshops where we focus on creating new images, or our seminars where we focus on processing images, the Summit is designed to teach you the entire process. We start by creating images in the field, this year in Zion National Park, then we proceed by teaching you how to convert these images from Raw, process and enhance them and finally print them, all under our expert supervision and the supervision of our guest instructors. Finally, we conclude by offering a print review of the work created during the summit so that you have strong feedback about the work you just completed as well as a good idea of what to do next, where to go from there.

- Offer the opportunity for participants to not only study with us but also to have the opportunity to socialize and interract in an informal setting propitious to 1 on 1 interaction and discussion. Photography is not just about learning how to do things better. It is also about learning why we do certain things. The why, in our estimate, is best taught one on one through casual interactions than through formal classroom presentations.

3 - Field Workshops
In addition we offer 2 days of field workshops afterwards for those who want to go even further and expand their portfolio through this unique photography opportunity. This year's field workshops will take us into the Escalante-Grand Staircase area where our focus will be to create new photographs and to explore personal style, vision and inspiration.

4 - Sponsors
From the very beginning sponsors have been a part of the Digital Fine Art Summit. It was our decision to invite sponsors and we did so for a very simple reason: because we believe that sponsors add a lot to the Summit as an event bringing people and technology together. Traditionally, our sponsors have brought their latest technologies to the summit, often introducing software or hardware that was just introduced. Our sponsors also explain the features of their software and hardware to Summit participants through presentations and 1 on 1 demonstrations.

5 - Raffle
Sponsors also offer gifts to participants, and these gifts are raffled during the summit. Every registered Summit participant is entered into this raffle. We usually raffle offerings from several sponsors, and the highlight is usually the printer raffle. We traditionally raffle out the desktop printers used during the Summit, and last year we also raffled a brand new Epson 2400 printer, in addition to software and other items of value to photographers.

6 - Special offers
In addition to the free raffle our sponsors also have special offers on their products for Summit Participants. Not only do you have the opportunity of trying a new product on the spot, using your own images, and thus in a real-life situation, you also have the opportunity of purchasing these products at a price lower than you would normally get it for.

7 - Guest instructors
One of the highlights of the Summit are our Guest Instructors. Each year we invite a photographer who is an expert in his field and who is recognized as such by the photographic community.
In previous years we have had presentations taught by Michael Reichmann, Charles Cramer and Joseph Holmes among the many other guests instructors that have participated in the Summit. Our 2008 Guest Instructor is Tony Sweet and we look forward to his teaching, knowledge and insights. Guest instructors are usually attending the Summit for a specific year, making it worth attending the Summit several years so that you can benefit from the different approaches followed by each of our Guest Instructors.

An Interview of Tony Sweet by Uwe Steinmueller will be available shortly. A link to the interview will be placed here when it is available. Make sure to visit this page again shortly to listen to it.

8 - Tutorial Sessions
Another highlight of the Summit are the tutorial sessions. This year's sessions will be taught by Alain Briot, Uwe Steinmueller and Tony Sweet. The tutorial sessions focus on the different aspects of the photographic process, from field work to image processing and printing, including composition, image enhancement, personal style and much more. The Summit Description page lists the Tutorial Sessions scheduled for this year.

9 - One on One work sessions
In the evening, as well as during the day in-between tutorial sessions, Summit participants have the opportunity of working one on one with myself, with Uwe Steinmueller or this year with Tony Sweet. This is a truly unique opportunity, since working 1 on 1 with any of us is normally possible only through a 1 on 1 consulting appointment, an approach which carries a much higher cost.

Working 1 on 1 with us brings all the benefits you can expect from individual instruction: you can ask and receive answers to specific questions about your work, you can get undivided attention regarding how to conduct specific parts of the photographic process, and you can expect us to focus on your needs only, instead of on the need of the entire class. This is something that many participants find valuable in our experience, and a reason why many participants return year after year.

10 - Fun
We do photography because we love it, not because we have to do it. This comes across in our approach to life, but it is something that is difficult to convey on our part, and difficult to understand on your part, over the web. It is best conveyed in person, over dinner or over a glass of wine, than over a website description, or an Email or even a phone call.

What I am trying to say, to cut it to the chase, it that besides being a fantastic opportunity to improve your work, to reach to the next step, to learn new techniques and to meet great people, the Summit is also a lot of fun. The atmosphere is relaxed and we are amongst friends who all share the same interest, the same passion for photography. Some of the greatest moments of the Summit are shared over dinner, or while admiring sunset, or simply while sitting and chatting about things. Some of the most memorable insights come when watching people work and understanding now only how they do what they do, but why they do it the way they do, why they chose this particular approach and how it has shaped their vision and their work.

So come and join us. We believe you will find the experience to be one you will treasure for years to come.

Alain Briot