Official Ubuntu Developer Summit Oneiric Ocelot (UDS-O) Group Photo and Personal Photo Set
After 8544 miles traveled, 16 days on the road, 40 GB of RAW photos, and two days of post-travel coma, I've posted the official group photos and my personal photo set from Ubuntu Developer Summit Oneiric Ocelot (UDS-O), which took place at the opulent Corinthia Hotel Budapest (formerly Grand Hotel Royal), Budapest, Hungary, EU (9th – 13th May 2011).
Insanely hectic as usual, it was a challenge keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Luckily, there were enough lulls to give me a chance to meet a bunch of new faces and catch up on some of my favorite Ubuntu projects.
UDS-O Photos CC BY-SA 2011 Sean Sosik-Hamor
In addition to the above SmugMug galleries, I've added the group photos to Facebook for tagging! And if you've ever wanted to see what goes on behind the scenes, and how the flight cases get packed for UDS, check out the UDS-O Logistics Gallery.
About the Shot
Unlike UDS-N in Orlando, where I found out on short notice that I would be the official photographer, I came a bit more prepared this time. Toting my Lowepro Fastpack 350 stuffed with a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM on top of the usual Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, and a pair of Canon 580EX II Speedlites, I was ready to rock.
Immediately upon arriving at the hotel and checking in, I scouted locations, and found a gorgeous spot to take the group photo shooting down from the fifth floor catwalk into the Southeast atrium. Bathed natural light from the skylights and the six-story street-facing glass wall, it was a prime location. Unfortunately, the hotel staff disagreed with my selection, and pushed us into the lobby, attendees spilling haphazardly up the main staircase when it came time to actually shoot the group photo.
The venue-approved location was definitely less than ideal, and it’s obvious that the hotel just wanted to show off their historic staircase. It forced me to shoot at a strange angle, hanging out the window of a high-floor guest room window overlooking the lobby, with mixed tungsten, CFL, sunlight, and shadow. Luckily, I’m not phased by dangerous heights, as I’ve had my share aerial photography experience strapped into makeshift harnesses in doorless Cessna, Enstrom, and Robinson aircraft.
Making sure all attendees would be visible in the group photo required quite a bit of pre-planning and creativity, as there were many pedestals and balconies. Liberal use of pink high-vis gaffer tape on the floor marked the boundaries of the frame, and verbal instruction ensured that everyone actually got into the photo...including some creative trolls folks who made their way up to the first floor balconies! I lost count of the number of times I shouted, “If you can't see my lens, then I can't see you!”
The rest of the photos shot throughout the week were captured utilizing either natural light, or by dragging the shutter with an E-TTL Speedlite bounce flash and catchlight panel. I got some odd looks shooting the outdoor bar and cafe photos at night, as I had the Speedlite pointing straight up into the air, with only the catchlight panel bathing the subject with fill flash. Direct flash would have overexposed, but the catchlight panel had the desired effect.
Additionally, the indoor Orfeum Club photos also utilized a strategically-placed remote Speedlite bouncing off the mirrored ceiling to create some interesting effects.
