Thanks for those photos!
Indeed the convention group photo looks rather empty. Might be the bigger outdoor space, camera much further away, but it just isn't that impressive anymore than in previous years, unfortunately :(
Don't people want to be on the photo anymore, to make an effort to be there? Even I managed to wake up in time for this early morning slot :)
I would agree to the "no hands". Showing hands is to show off a chearful crowd in front of a DJ booth, where everything melts together. On the group photo we actually do want to be able to find ourselves ("Where's Waldo?"), and spot others we recognize.
Communication, tricky. Hang a big text display / sign cards from your window? :)
More realistically, place someone with a megaphone and a radio down with us. So that it's clear who is the official speaker we should give attention to.
*purrrr*
