Looking for honest reviews of the Flashbus Tour

I've read some blog postings of attendees of the Hobby/McNally Flashbus Tour and they all seem to be gushing a bit. That's good if you consider I've already paid my tuition to attend, but I'm looking for a more objective opinion. Anyone from POTN been to one yet and have anything to say or recommend for someone else about to attend?

BTW, I'll be attending the Houston stop on March 26.

I would love to hear an unbiased review myself. I think the majority of info surrounding these events are from the strobist-crazed masses, or the people who have a strange obsession with Hobby or McNally. I don't see what more you can get from a tour like this than what they've already shared online or in existing videos, or from others doing the same thing on Youtube, etc.. for free.

Don't get me wrong, they've done a lot to bring lighting techniques to the masses and lowered the barrier to entry for flash photography for a lot of people, I just don't understand why people seem to react to this tour like it's the Rolling Stones.

It was fun. It was a great social experience. I didn't learn much that I didnt already know. What I did learn was how they worked in real life. It was a good experience. I got to speak to both of them during break. They had a bunch of giveaways. If you go, ASK QUESTIONS. They were giving out 16GB Lexar CF cards left and right. Each gave away a copy of their DVD too.

Worth $100? Meh.. Not really

Do I regret going? Nope

If had the choice to redo would I go?
I'd make sure I had a line of good questions and get some freebies

BrandonSi wrote in post #12079401
I think the majority of info surrounding these events are from the strobist-crazed masses, or the people who have a strange obsession with Hobby or McNally. I don't see what more you can get from a tour like this than what they've already shared online or in existing videos, or from others doing the same thing on Youtube, etc.. for free.

Don't get me wrong, they've done a lot to bring lighting techniques to the masses and lowered the barrier to entry for flash photography for a lot of people, I just don't understand why people seem to react to this tour like it's the Rolling Stones.

right, I think it's more for people who follow their blogs or books. The Flashbus is not coming to my city so it's kind of irrelevant for me. But then the Rolling Stones don't show up in my city either!

watt100 wrote in post #12082032
right, I think it's more for people who follow their blogs or books. The Flashbus is not coming to my city so it's kind of irrelevant for me. But then the Rolling Stones don't show up in my city either!

Ah, OK, I think I can see that then.. So it's more of a chance for the dedicated followers / fans to meet these people, than it is about actual lightning tips and instructions.. That would make much more sense to me.

I am scheduled to go too but I guess its more about the experience and reinforcement of some techniques, I guess? I am looking forward to meeting both of them. Just curious how many people you think attended the event?

BrandonSi wrote in post #12079401
I would love to hear an unbiased review myself. I think the majority of info surrounding these events are from the strobist-crazed masses, or the people who have a strange obsession with Hobby or McNally. I don't see what more you can get from a tour like this than what they've already shared online or in existing videos, or from others doing the same thing on Youtube, etc.. for free.

Don't get me wrong, they've done a lot to bring lighting techniques to the masses and lowered the barrier to entry for flash photography for a lot of people, I just don't understand why people seem to react to this tour like it's the Rolling Stones.

Agree. If I was just starting or if the seminar was like $40 then yes, $100 no way and I am one who wouldn't mind paying more for nice small class. Paid $400 or so for a one day class I took.

Just add $100 per person for couple of hundred folks. Pretty easy money IMHO.

Now if our Robert and Dave drove a bus around with all their gear, I would like to see them. They may need to add some nicer looking models to their entourage

Well, from the outside, looking in... here's my perspective on it.

I learn by doing, and by seeing people doing what they do. I am an extremely hands-on person - I don't get a whole lot of actually useful instruction from texts. I'm partly analytical, so the texts help me a bit when I have a specific question that needs answering. However, the majority of my education has come from DOING - not reading/watching.

I was unable to secure a ticket to the Boston or New York tours (sold out before I could get them). I know I'd be able to walk out of there with information and confidence to apply that knowledge quickly and surely. I rarely undertake a task without having a reasonable shot at success - it's a character flaw of mine. As a result, I've yet to move to OCF and multi-flash setups...

Is the class worth $100? To me, yes. And it pisses me off that I missed "the bus" on this one. So I signed up for a small, more expensive workshop for the same weekend so I could at least feel some education flowing through my brain.

CiM_Photography wrote in post #12082722
I learn by doing, and by seeing people doing what they do. I am an extremely hands-on person - I don't get a whole lot of actually useful instruction from texts. I'm partly analytical, so the texts help me a bit when I have a specific question that needs answering. However, the majority of my education has come from DOING - not reading/watching.

Exactly where I am. Sometimes, I find I have to re-read a Hobby post a few times in order to really get a sense of what is going on. I need to dive in and do, not read.

That said, I'm probably not going to bother with it if it stops in Denver. Think I'd rather apply that 100 bucks to a piece of gear. Or a bill.

Thanks for the input. I had considered maybe not attending (they have a good refund policy) but its already paid and I have to admit, I'd really like to meet McNally. Like most fledgling photogs, I read and watch every bit of instructional material I can get my hands on but I really feel like watching someone implement this stuff right in front of me will be really instrumental in my education, and thoroughly inspirational at the least.

kompressor wrote in post #12084102
thoroughly inspirational at the least.

This times 100, plus 1.

I've read all of Hobby's "Strobist 101" info as well as being a casual blog reader of McNally. While it was very informative reading all the Strobist 101 info ~ it wasn't until watching the OneLight (Zack Arais) DVD and getting the v-book from boys at LightenUpandShoot.com that I really started to see how it all came together.

I am signed up for the Minneapolis stop ~ as $100 for any kind of photog seminar (instructional or just entertainment) I think is rather reasonable. I'll be back with a review after the Mpls stop!

I attended the Flash Bus tour this weekend in Boston. I'll start by saying that I don't normally like paying to attend these conferences. I find them to be repetitive and mostly geared toward selling you something. I've done other workshops costing up to six hundred bucks and tell myself to never throw money away like that again.

In my opinion the Flash Bus tour was worth the money. It is a packed room, we had a about 300 people in Boston but they try to answer as many questions as they can while trying to finish up on time. Hobby gets up and the morning and goes over his manual methods with a slideshow. McNally does his thing in the afternoon and his whole presentation is live shooting presenting you his shots on screen as he takes them.

I won't say I didn't learn anything new, it can all be found online all over the place, but there are some tricks and tips in there I wouldn't have thought of. One thing I enjoyed was watching McNally's thought process as he tried to get a good shot.

What I enjoyed most was each of their personalities. Each of them had their own style, but both were incredible funny, personable and great to watch on stage. They have a great stage presence, and when they were not on stage talking they were more than happy to talk to people, shake hands, and were down to earth about the whole thing.

If you're looking for a day that solves all your lighting questions, reveals all there is to know about small flash photography then you'll be disappointed. There is of course some marketing thrown in there but it isn't over the top. If you want to get into the minds of two very good photographers, hear their personal experiences, and laugh a bit while doing so... then the Flash Bus tour is right up your alley.

I went to Boston and left feeling that I learned somthing from Hobby but felt that McNally came across as being rushed although he was fun to listen to. You would end up investing a lot me in gear to do things McNally's way. I also bought their DVD's (when I registered) and will reccomend Hobby's. Sorry but I feel that I probably will not watch McNally's again (McNally 2 DVD set, Hobby 6 DVD set with an extra one for downloading onto a portable device. The DVD's can be watched on a TV through a conventional DVD player.

I also attended Boston. I'm new to this stuff compared to most here. I'd already soaked in the lighting 101 on hobby's site and follow it regularly. I also read McNally (basically since the tour announcement).

I'd say, having done the background work I'd done, and having the little experience I have, I didn't learn anything earth shattering. But what I did see was the techniques applied in context- and that was very helpful. Hobby's methodology was really great to see in person (he's an outstanding speaker too).

The whole thing was done in a very entertaining way. And despite the 300 or so people attending, it was very open to questions. I was really amazed at the way they handled that.

Just don't be the guy asking "what settings should I use to this" or "what were your settings for X". If you are doing that after the first hour, then you've missed the whole point of what is being presented. Leave the light meter at home.

Seeing McNally work the TTL made we re-consider going TTL. Having the control from the camera is pretty nice.

I'd definitely recommend going. If I was going to buy DVDs, I'd buy Hobby's.