He's the hand that guides so many of us through the quickly condensing photographic-web, the man who consistently brings us new artists to ogle and old favorites to rehash. He's the one we can depend on for genuine thoughts and opinions, the one who brings us outstanding interviews and always keeps us entertained. He's a photographer, a thinker, a writer, a blogger, and an astrophysicist. He's a staple for us all, the photography/life/art/culture blogger of bloggers, and the mind behind Conscientious—Joerg Colberg, our Special Guest Panelist for Hey, Hot Shot! Fall 2006.

In his own words...

I was born on 15 February 1968 in what was then West Germany. I wish I could write that my interest in photography started when I found an old camera as a little boy. But alas, that didn't happen. Instead of using it I took it apart when it didn't work. In this spirit of wanting to know how things work - instead of being creative - I went to school and university. Eventually I ended up with a Ph.D. in theoretical astrophysics, a degree that doesn't have all that many applications in one's daily life (but, hey, it's quite interesting). In a sense I could write that I turned to photography after I had learned how - literally - the Universe worked, except that that's also just partly true (but it sounds good). In any case, I picked up photography at around the age of 30, again by chance. This time I had to buy a camera, because apparently there are only so many free cameras in one's life time. In parallel to learning how to take photos (by making each and every mistake that one could possibly make) I started compiling a weblog about contemporary photography, Conscientious. I guess it would have been harder to pick up theoretical astrophysics at the age of 30, so I'm not complaining.

We are thrilled to have Joerg on board and along for the Hey, Hot Shot! ride. This November he joins our amazing group of panelists in looking at your work. We are four weeks away from deadline, so get it in and let Joerg be the judge!