Announcing NYC Studio/Model Workshop: 8.3.13

I just added this cool workshop to my 2013 workshop lineup.

Workshop: Master Your Flash & Perfect Your Constant Lighting

Instructors: My friend Keith Ibsen and I will be your instructors.

Where and when: August 3rd, 2013, Montana Studio, NYC. 10AM to 5 PM with lunch break.

I will be teaching speedlite lighting using Westcott Apollo softbxes, Westcott Rapid Boxes and accessories. I am a Canon shooter and you can use my Canon speedlites and transmitters for your shots – but it's best if your bring your own. Keith is a Nikon guy. He can help you with the speedlite gear you bring.

Keith will be teaching constant lighting using Westcott Spiderlites and several Westcott accessories.

The group is limited to 18, so each photographer will get an opportunity to get great shots of our models. We need a minimum of 10 photographers to make the event happen.

Before the group gets going, Keith and I will give a short presentation on lighting.

The cost for the event is $200.00.

For more info, shoot me an email.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. If you want to learn more about light in general, check out my on-line class: Light, the main element in every photograph.

This post sponsored by x-rite. X-Rite is the global leader in color science and technology. The Company develops, manufactures, markets and supports innovative color solutions through measurement systems, software, color standards and services.

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Rick's Quick Tips for Making Wonderful Waterfall Photographs

Iceland. Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 17-40mm lens. Shutter speed: 2.5 seconds.

Shooting at a slow shutter speed is the key to capturing the beauty of a waterfall. The shutter speed at which you shoot can range from 1/5th of a second to 15 seconds, and even longer.

The shutter speed you choose depends on the two things: 1) the desired effect: the longer the shutter speed, the smoother and softer the water appears in your photograph; and 2) the movement of the water: when the water is moving fast, you’ll need a longer shutter speed than when the water is moving slowly.

My advice is to photograph a waterfall using several different slow shutter speeds, and then choose the image/effect you like best once you are back home and sitting at your computer monitor.

Croton on Hudson, NY. Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 25-105mm IS lens. Shutter speed: 5 seconds.

Using slow shutter speeds requires using a tripod. To prevent camera shake during long exposures, use a cable release, a remote release app, or your camera’s self-timer.

On sunny days, even if you set your ISO to 100 and your aperture to f/22, you may not be able to shoot at a slow enough shutter speed to blur the water. In that situation, use a Variable Neutral Density (ND) filter.

An ND filter reduces the amount of light entering your lens so you can shoot at slow shutter speeds. A variable ND filter lets you control (dial in) the desired amount of light reduction. I use a Tiffen 2-8 stop Variable ND filter. To reduction reflections on water, use a Tiffen polarizing filter.

If you don’t own a ND filter, shoot before sunrise and after sunset on sunny days – when the light level is low.

Keep your camera’s highlight alert on. Check to make sure highlights are not overexposed and washed out.

When shooting near waterfalls, keep a lens cleaning cloth handy. The smallest water droplet on your lens can look like a big blog in your pictures. Clean your lens often!

Sometimes you need to be in the water when photographing waterfalls. Knee-high rubber are one choice for keeping your toes dry. Neos, collapsible waterproof boots are another.

I teach waterfall photography on my workshops. I hope to see you on one soon!

If you like quick tips like these, you can subscribe to my blog.

Explore the light,
Rick

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This post sponsored by x-rite. X-Rite is the global leader in color science and technology. The Company develops, manufactures, markets and supports innovative color solutions through measurement systems, software, color standards and services.

Check out these cool x-rite products:
ColorMunki
Passport Color Checker

My Latest Quick Lighting Tip

Here's my latest quick lighting tip, thanks to my friends at Westcott.

Also, check out the cool challenge and nice prize.

Click the picture above to view the video.

Here's a link to Westcott Kit I use in the video.

To learn more about lighting, check out my Kelby Training class: Light, the main element in every photograph on My Apps page.

Good luck!
Rick

Photo Product Pick of the Week: CamRanger

I'm starting a new feature here on my blog: Photo roduct pick of the week.

My photo product for this week: CamRanger.

CamRanger allows wireless control of you DSLR directly from your iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and now Mac computers. How cool is that!

CamRanger lets you:

Capture images in all drive modes. Then view full resolution images in JPG or Canon RAW and optionally save to an iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch. CamRanger is a great wireless tethering solution.

Wirelessly stream live view to your iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch. Complete focusing control with touch focus, incremental adjustments, and focus stacking.

Remotely change and view camera settings: Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO, White Balance, Drive/Shooting Mode (Single, Continuous, etc.), AF, Metering Mode, Image Format, Auto Exposure Mode, and Exposure Compensation and Bracketing.

Setup intervalometer (time lapse) or HDR on your CamRanger. No need for your iOS device to remain connected after the initial setup.

Perfect for macro photography where your camera is in awkward locations or very precise focus control is needed. Use automatic focus stacking for enhanced depth of field.

And more.

Read more about CamRanger on the Adorama web site.

Explore the light,
Rick

My Two Favorite Books

In recent years I've been known more for my apps (11) than my books.

Recently, I found myself looking at some of my 36 books. Ya know what, I think books are still kinda cool.

Two of my favorite books are Exploring the Light and Face to Face. Check 'em out if you'd like to learn about light and photographing people.

If you need a handy photo guide when you are out and about, check out my Field Guide for Digital Photography.

I'd be interested to know: Do you like books over apps/e-books or vice versa? Or, do you prefer on-line training?

Speaking of on-line training, I have several classes there, too.

Explore the light,
Rick

Happy Mother's Day - and some business tips from My Mother

Here are a few things my mother told me (when I was a kid) that can be applied to your business, as well as your activities in the photo community. They can also help you in life.

But first: Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

1) Someone is always watching.
This is great advice to keep in mind in designing and posting stuff on your web site/blog. You never know who is watching. Someone may be watching who needs exactly what you have to offer. He or she may be a millionaire and may have a few bucks to spend on you!

2) Always sandwich a criticism with compliments. 
If you feel as though you need to criticize another photographer's work, don't just jump in with criticism. Rather, try to encourage the person to do better - before and after you get to your point.

3) Never give up.
Every time I got a rejection letter or email, I thought about this quote. Sooooo glad I followed my mother's advice. 

I know it sounds easy, especially when you are down. However, don't let others get you down. Also remember that timing is everything. A "no" today could be a "yes" tomorrow.

4) To thine own self be true.
Ya know, I really did not like it when my mother used this quote. However, it's really good advice for photographers. Be true to yourself. Follow your heart. Photograph what you love. 

5) Sticks and stones can break your bones, but names can never hurt you.
Today, it's easy to hide behind fake names on the internet and post bad book, app and photo reviews.

Don't listen to what others say while hiding. In fact, don't listen to negative comments from folks who just set out to be mean. Their comments often say more about themselves than you!

6) Don't curse.
I vividly remember my mother washing out my mouth with a new, big and white bar of IVORY soap after I used a curse word. Well, I am not saying that today I am a saint, but I never use an inappropriate word on the web. I have dropped people from Google+, facebook and twitter for doing just that. I don't want to be associated with 'em. So, keep it clean and you will not offend anyone.

7) Be a good listener.
When I went on my first date, my mother told me to be a good listener. This was good advice, as I got a second date. :-)  

Today, we must be good listeners on social media and in the comments section on our blogs. You can't just talk - you must listen. Get to know your audience.

Speaking of listening, if you have a mother's quote/advice you want to share, please post it here.

Thanks Mother (I always called her Mother). That's her with my son Marco.

Rick
www.ricksammon.com

Today's Awesome Guest Blogger: Rob Dweck

I met Rob at the California Photo Fest. He's an amazing photographer and a sensitive and warm person.

Hey, if you want to attending the California Photo Fest, you can save $60 off the Gold Week Pass ($499) by using this code: Podcast2013.

Take it away Rob.

If you’re at all like me, you want to create photographs that are memorable, evocative and move the viewer in some way. Below are five things you can do when shooting that will get you closer to this goal.

Find contrasting elements
I’m not talking about the contrast slider in your favorite editing program. I’m referring to literal and figurative contrasts in everyday subjects. This image is full of contrasts between the 3 main elements of rock, water and sky: Warm vs. cool tones, still rock vs. moving water, bright vs. dark, dry vs. wet, hard vs. soft, rough vs. smooth.

Look at some of your favorite photographs and notice how the contrast creates more visual interest. Look for contrast in shapes, expressions, textures, lighting, sizes and colors. A single object by itself may not seem interesting, but when photographed with contrasting objects it can make a fascinating image.

Remove distractions
Ever look at a picture that has so much going on that you don’t know where to look? It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to include everything in the frame, especially when shooting wide. Go ahead and take the wide shot, then get closer to your subject, and then closer again. As you get closer, there will be fewer elements in the frame to compete for the viewers attention.

Before you click the shutter, check the edges of the frame for anything that might be a distraction. Stray objects at the edge of the photograph can easily take the viewers eye out of the frame. Remember, what you leave out of the frame is as important as what you include in the frame. In the photograph above, even color was a distraction, so I removed it by converting the image to black & white.

Take control of your camera
If you spend time finding a great subject, carefully composing your shot and removing all of the distractions, then why not take the time to adjust your camera settings to get the result you want? Any time you shoot with the camera on “auto,” you’re letting the camera make decisions that are best made by you. If I had shot this with any of the automatic modes, I would not have gotten the light trails from the cars in front of the buildings.

By shooting in Manual mode, you choose the settings that determine how the camera records what’s in the viewfinder so you can get the result you want. Of course this requires a basic understanding of exposure, which will become an even better understanding as you continue to experiment and shoot in manual. This applies to any other camera settings that can be specified by the user such as white balance.

Of course there are exceptions to this….

Do what you have to do to get the shot
I’m not suggesting that you risk your life, trespass, or engage in other irresponsible or dangerous acts. I’m talking about being flexible and adapting to the situation and conditions.

The image of the two lions above would not have been possible had I not been willing to adapt my shooting style to the circumstances.  I almost always shoot in manual mode, but when photographing wildlife, the slightest delay or hesitation can mean that you miss the shot. Fumbling with dials in manual wasn’t an option if I wanted to be ready when the male lion approached the female. This meant shooting in aperture priority mode so I could set the aperture in advance and let the camera decide the shutter speed. Sometimes you need to let go of your inner control freak and let the camera do some of the work.

It also means that sometimes you have to get a little (or a lot) wet, go out in the freezing cold, the searing heat or contend with bloodthirsty mosquitoes. These temporary discomforts, while unpleasant at the time, are a small inconvenience when you bring home a great shot.

Forget the rules and follow your intuition
One of the first things you might notice in the photograph above is that I made the subject very small in the frame and didn’t conform to the usual rules of composition. This was a no brainer. The drama is in the sky, not in the tree. If I had zoomed in on the tree or placed it according to the rule of thirds, it would be a completely different and less compelling photograph.

Rules can offer much needed guidance sometimes, but can also constrict your creativity. Go ahead and break a few of them, or all of them, and see how it impacts your photography.

Most importantly, figure out what works best for you and wherever, whatever and however you shoot, have fun!

Many thanks to Rick for having me on the blog once again! You can see more of my work and contact me at:

Website
eBook
Google+

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This post sponsored by x-rite. X-Rite is the global leader in color science and technology. The Company develops, manufactures, markets and supports innovative color solutions through measurement systems, software, color standards and services.

Check out these cool x-rite products:
ColorMunki
Passport Color Checker