Editors Note: You can catch Bill Fortney at this year’s Photoshop World in Las Vegas.

Bill Fortney is one of America’s premier photographers specializing in Landscape, close-up, nature, Americana, and travel. In his 44 year career, Bill has been a High School teacher and football coach, AP rep, Medical photographer, and Marketing Public Relations person. Bill was an official photographer for the Washington Redskins during his sports photography years.

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In 1991 he and his wife Sherelene founded the Great American Photography Weekends and for 12 years he ran the field events for the company, leading over 250 events in every major national park and in Africa, Europe, Canada, and the Galapagos Islands. Bill is the author of five photography books, including his newest – America From 500 Feet II. His original America From 500 Feet book done with his son Wesley is the largest selling aerial landscape book, on America, of all time.

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Now retired after 11 years with Nikon Professional Services, Bill teaches workshops through his company His Light Workshops. Once called in a newspaper article The Will Rogers of Photography, Bill is a committed Christian, and much sought after speaker, presenter, and workshop leader.

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‘I’ve done a lot of different things photographically, but today I shoot for fun and I teach because I love seeing other people get excited about it.’

‘…whether it’s a National Park or a city street, a photographer has to let what’s around them overwhelm them. They have to look at it and feel the beauty of what’s around them. The patterns, the color, the texture…if you’re in a beautiful forest or there’s a wonderful waterfall, or a river or the ocean…it’s not hard to be overwhelmed by them, because they’re so starkly beautiful to start with. But everywhere you go, you have to train yourself to not just look, but to observe. To really look into what’s there. Now thousands of photographs start to appear in your consciousness…I not only want to shoot that whole scene, I want to shoot this little part, and this little part, and this little part. And I want to come back when the light’s different and shoot it again.’

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Bill Fortney Classes: Las Vegas

If you’re planning to be in Las Vegas for the 30th annual Photoshop World conference (Sept 3-5), be sure to look up Mr. Fortney’s classes.

5 Secrets to Getting a Great Start in Photography! Wednesday Sept 3, 3:15pm – 4:15pm — The Five key things you must know to start learning the craft of photography. Becoming a great photographer requires a plan, and this is the plan!

Photographing Americana Subjects: Thursday Sept 4, 5:00pm – 6:00pm — A successful approach to photographing all subject Americana, from rusted cars and trucks to old barns, historic locations and antiques. Learn the tools, and techniques to improve your Americana photography. A special emphasis on close-up and tight compositions, and the tools and techniques for making winning images.

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Enter promo code PSWFOCUS414 to discount $50 OFF a full conference pass. For more information, head over to the Adobe Photoshop World 2014 Instructors page for a complete list of this year’s expert panel and the topics covered in more detail.

Bill Fortney Gallery Samples

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To view more of Bill Fortney’s work, please visit billfortney.com. For more information regarding upcoming (2015) workshops, please click HERE.