This is the spectacularly beautiful lobby of the conference centre in Philadelphia. It is the old railway station, complete with the railway lines still in place but now encased in a glorious marble floor.

In the doorway opposite is the sign welcoming visitors to the Flower Show, which was in the conference centre. And it was very welcoming too. The staff and visitors seemed to like the rantings of a slightly strange Englishwoman trying to say how she likes to photograph plants and food. I had a decent-sized audience and I could tell none of them were asleep so that was a good sign I think.

I decided to just show the photos and talk about why I decided to shoot what I shot and how I chose to compose them. It seemed to work. Something about the English accent certainly helped. I was told by Jeanne to stand on the stage and just say ‘oh bloody hell’ and I’d have them all eating out of my hand but for me that would have been very unsatisfying. It’d have been a ‘cheat’ and I wanted to be respected for what I said not simply thought of as ‘cute’.

After twenty odd years of presenting for clients without problems, this was really daunting. It was a completely different ball game. Anyway, I rambled on for three quarters of an hour and then did an ‘encore’ of another fifteen minutes. Afterwards, Patti told me she’d got three messages from it…..

1. Use the rule of thirds and as often as not it’ll make for the best photo
2. Control the depth of field…rather than letting it control you
3. Be prepared – in other words, you can’t get ‘the money shot’ if your camera is at home in the drawer.

That was alright then. Her observations made me feel as though I’d achieved something and I know I inspired (at least) some folks in the audience – there was a queue of people waiting to talk to me and many questions from the floor. One chap, previously completely committed to film, was on his way to check out digital for the first time (he didn’t realise that you could get manual digital cameras). I even inspired a couple who were nursing a newly-purchased D70 and wanting to move off auto and into a land where they could control their own shots. That made me feel good.

I told the whole world that I was often to be found in the garden in the early morning, taking photos in my dressing gown……but stopped short of telling them that I was usually naked underneath it. Patti and Sally said I should have ‘revealed all’ but I felt it was a short step too far for the good folks of Philly. DMs only comment was 'I like her like that'.

So, as I sit here, I have now got this thing under my belt and it feels like some achievement! After months of worry, it’s over and I feel good about it. I feel as though I acquitted myself well and that at least some of the good folks Philly ‘got’ what I was trying to say. Phew – it’s done. Sally is pleased with me and even though it sounds smug and self-satisfied I am pleased with me too.

Last year I was ranting about new houses and the year before I was moving home!