"Shoot the Light " Instructional Photographic Workshops

Technical Workshop Series in St Augustine, Florida
May 1st-4th, 2009

The response to the Tech Series Workshops have been overwhelming, and I am proud to offer this series of workshops designed to enhance both your technical ability and visual sense. These workshops are for those photographers who wish to take their imagery to the next level. This series will consist of both comprehensive classroom and in-field instruction. See you there.

The Gator Farm is alive with subjects and is the best place I know of to practice and perfect fill flash and exposure techniques, as well as learning when to and not to take an image. Learn how to effectively compress the lighting ratio to that of your capture medium, and to recognize what makes an effective image. Instruction will include Advanced Manual Flash Techniques, Incident, Spot and Sunny f/16 metering, Post Production and more. If you can do it here, and you will, you can do it anywhere!

Each photography workshop includes extensive photographic instruction, daily image critiques, and more.

Metering- May 1st

Flash- May 2nd

Post-production and PhotoShop- May 3rd

Visual Design and Impact in the Field- May 4th

An Outstanding Image is one with Visual and Emotional Impact. Composition, lighting, exposure, selective focus, etc. all come together by our hands to invoke a response (pleasant or not) whereby the viewer is transcended from his world to the world we have put before them. If we remove the creative aspect of photography, we become documentaries. In photography, there is no separation of aesthetics and technique, the creative process providing the viewer with an interpretive/communicative vision of our choosing.

To consistently transpose the images we see in our mind, to the capture medium, it is necessary to pre-visualize the result. Pre-visualization is possible when one has gained technical proficiency. Knowing the photographic fundamentals and being able to see and understand light, its quality and quantity, physical properties, etc, and how they relate to your subject and capture medium will allow you to take control of your imagery. Being aware of the lighting direction relative to the subject will allow you to choose a camera position that will enhance your unique vision. Flash remains a mystery to most, as does obtaining correct exposure. Composition, and backgrounds sometimes overlooked in the heat of the moment can make or break an image.

To this end, I am proud to offer a series of mini-workshops designed to enhance both your technical ability and visual sense.

Testimonials - what past participants say about STL and Tech Series workshops

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Metering

This workshop will provide you with the tools necessary to control and achieve consistent exposure regardless of the subject and background tonality.

Understanding Exposure Theory; aperture, shutter speed, ISO, exposure values (EV) - how they relate to each other and easy to implement methods for quick alteration in the field

Light; quality and quantity, and how each effect exposure and compensation

Metering Methods; reflected (in-camera) and incident (handheld), Sunny f/16 rule, reference points for substitute metering, and more.

Metering Patterns; matrix/evaluative, center-weighted, and spot - learn how each pattern sees and which pattern to use to achieve the best results

Compensation; when and how much to apply to render the subject as desired

This workshop will consist of both classroom and in-field instruction. Workshop begins promptly at 7 AM with in-field instruction, 11:30 -1:00 break for lunch, 1:00-3:30 classrom, followed by in-field instruction weather permitting or classroom.

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Flash

This workshop will provide you with the tools and understanding necessary to control and achieve consistent flash exposure. Flash is a different animal, especially when combined with ambient light. Many find this area of photography perplexing. When determining whether your strobe will be used for main, balanced or fill, it is always necessary to consider its relationship to the ambient light present. Moreover, the ambient light need always be assesd first; its direction, intensity, color temp, etc. as it relates to the subject. I highly recommend taking the Metering workshop before this one.

Flash Fundamentals; inverse square law (light falloff), and Guide Numbers (GN)

Flash meter; how to use the flash meter to determine exposure

Manual flash; why, how and when to use it for consistent results!!!!

Flash as Main, Balanced, and Fill; how to determine and use each method

Compensation; how to determine the right amount of compensation

The Better Beamer; how and when to use it for maximum results

Multiple flash; how to ratio and set-up multiple lighting

Participants will conduct in-field tests with their own equipment using both high and low tonality subjects in various lighting conditions. Results will be evaluated both in the field and in the classroom.

This workshop will consist of both classroom and in-field instruction. Workshop begins promptly at 7 AM with in-field instruction, 11:30 -1:00 break for lunch, 1:00-3:30 classrom, followed by in-field instruction weather permitting or classroom

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Post-production and PhotoShop

This workshop will provide you with the tools necessary to correct, control, and alter color balance, contrast, exposure, sharpening, and more within an image for both web posting and printing. I receive daily e-mails asking me why my images appear more lifelike and dimensional than those others post on the web. I will walk you slowly and completely through my workflow process, showing you all the tips and techniques that I use from the point of capture to web posting and printing.

PhotoShop CS3;

You will learn tons of shortcuts, and advanced applications specifically tailored to help you make the most of your images for both web and print. Guaranteed to further your image making ability and creatively expand your photographic horizons. Every participant has said this class elevated there imagery more than they ever imagined.

How to;
Selection and masking techniques are the key to unlocking photoshops true potential. Make your images appear more three dimensional on the web and in print via edge masking w/ layer mode changes for superior sharpening... without halos and increased noise, use surface masking for superior noise reduction. Learn to create, alter and enhance selections and masks for the desired effect.

Additionally, learn how to make templates for a mini print portfolio (my best marketing tool), posters made easy, text effects, clone with layer modes, composite, and much more.

The Toolbox; learn how specfic tools combined with mode changes can make difficult tasks much easier.

This workshop will consist of classroom instruction only. Workshop classroom begins promptly at 9 am, 12:00-1:00 break for lunch, 1:00-5:00 pm classroom. Participants are urged to take their laptops with them, applying hands-on the methods and techniques discussed. Images will be supplied for consistency and ease of following. We will be shooting at AF 7-9:00 am, and after class.

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Visual Design in the Field

This one is important!

This workshop is designed to enhance your visionary skills, as well as your technical execution. Special emphasis is placed on creating images with Visual Impact. Increase your proficiency while using creative techniques, compositional elements and light to design in-camera images that are a cut above.

Creative control;
shutter speed- (image motion-panning technique, camera shake)
aperture- (DOF -1/3 in front, 2/3 behind)
selective focus- (sharpness holds attention)
lens (spatial relationships, perspective, distortion, background separation, zooms, primes,
Variable f/stops)
lighting (frontal, side, back)
compromise (picking the best combination of aperture and shutter speed)
camera position (height relative to subject, background separation)
your position- (relative to the light source)
subject position (orientation relative to the light)

Composition and Visual Impact:
define subject
less is more
leading lines
dynamic tension
rule of thirds
s curves
frame within a frame
spatial balance
color theory (contrast, complimentary, warm/cool psychology)
sillouhettes (graphic element)
lighting (direction)
the decisive moment (when to pull the trigger)
horizontal/vertical
set the mood
background (in or out of focus)

We meet on location 7 am, break for lunch 12-1 pm, critique and classroom instruction 1:00-4:30, thereafter returning to the field.

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Lodging recommendation;
Sleep Inn
St. Augustine, FL 32080
904-825-4535

In field instruction and classroom to be held at;
-St. Augustine AF, FL

Terms and Fee: workshop $375 each. Do all 4 and save $100 . Payment accepted via Pay Pal (shootthelight@mchsi.com), check made payable to Shoot the Light, Inc, or credit card via phone.. Space is reserved on receipt of 50% deposit only. Note- payment in full due by 2/6/08

We will be at the St Aug AF each morning at 7 am and each evening.

1-Workshop Location and Date
2-Your name, address, day/evening phone numbers

For additional information, contact Charles at -

"Shoot the Light" Photographic Instructional Workshops
P.O. Box 987
Horse Shoe, NC 28742
tel;828-891-4082
fax;828-891-4982
e-mail: info@shootthelight.com
url: www.shootthelight.com
Contact Chas Here