This is one of those days you re-visit for a long long time.
For starters, I can’t believe that I was shooting with — and learning from — the absolute best hockey photographer bar none. Secondly, I offer my thanks to Bruce Bennett and Berger Bros. for the seminar, and to @richieguziorphotos for this picture (and for transportation from the store to the rink). I knew that Mr. Bennett held seminars from time to time and I promised myself that if he ever came to Southern California, I would drop everything to attend.
Spoiler alert: I needed to both drop everything and travel cross country.
The seminar was held at, and in conjunction with, Berger Bros. in Syosset, NY on October 5, 2024. This is the type of trip that I always dreamed of and — at the same time — found so thoroughly indulgent that I needed to be talked into it. My wife pushed me. Brad Berger (owner of the store) pushed me. My boss said to let others cover for me on campus and to go.
Let me tell you: it was 100% worth it.
I am going home a better shooter. I have a better understanding of what the most-prolific hockey photographer thinks is a good shot vs. an OK shot vs. a bad shot. It was a lot packed into a single day — and so much so that I will be processing it for a long time to come.
