This was only my third ISDH, one at its original venue in Lake Forest, the last one in Wales and now this most recent event in the surreal surrounding of the Waterlands Resort .
I emerged from my lakeside cabin each morning into a wall of heat, sunglasses and camera lens immediately misting up, to board a golf cart driven by one of an apparently 24 hour crew to my breakfast rendezvous with other delegates. Thence to a morning session of papers followed by a sumptuous Chinese lunch - the food was really excellent, by the way. The afternoon session usually broke up around 5pm allowing time for a quick shower before dinner and evening events such as the Art Forum.
The international turn-out did not disappoint and, along with the expected large Asian contingent, holographers had made the trip from all parts of Europe and North America. Here we are just peeling off from the group photo.
I found the presentations kept my attention pretty much all day long and for one who nods off at the mention of an equation they were mercifully thin on the ground. One highlight was Dieter Jung's talk on his work which , despite being about three times the expected length, was totally absorbing and memorable. Another was Jacques Desbiens' lucid and entertaining exposition of his approach to digital holography , which definitely won him many converts and the well-deserved Nick Phillips Memorial Award, newly instigated by Martin Richardson. Amy Rush performing 'Holographic Love' in a sequinned mini-dress defies description, so I may have to post a video of that. David Warren's immensely long laser transmission work being paraded through the conference hall also warrants a video clip. Martina Mrongovius reading Ana Maria Nicholson's reminiscences of a life in pulsed holography actually moved me to tears which, since it did not involve any tales of heroism or cruelty to cats, is quite extraordinary to admit, but true. I could go on but would rather urge you to watch some of the video recordings online and judge for yourself.
That's me with the Taiwanese group, and Dieter Jung hiding in the background.
And enjoyed spending time with old friends
Pearl John , David Pizzanelli and Kaveh Bazargan amongst them.
I also made a new acquisition for my collection - a beautiful small work called "Poem" by Mary Harman, who I met for the first time at the conference. Despite all the impressive digital works on display, this was the image that spoke to me and evoked the kind of personal response I want from art.
Conference over, I had one night in Hong Kong and the Britpack joined Ya-Ling Huang and a group of her students for dinner on a floating restaurant. Everyone posed for photos - not just me, honest!
And later, in the Night Market near our hotel, I found high power laser pointers at very low prices.
Going back the next day for more, the heavens opened and monsoon rain soaked me. All of a sudden I heard my name called out and turned round to find Melissa Crenshaw and Sally Weber, on the hunt for souvenirs!
Despite a typhoon warning, leaving China was less eventful than arriving and I am back in London, thoroughly charged up by the experience and warmed by a week spent in the company of my extended holographic family. I look forward to the next time, in Toronto or at MIT or wherever the baton is passed.
