My previous post on Bad Photo Workshop Behavior drew so many comments that I thought I'd follow up with a post, Good Photo Workshop Behavior - using photographs from my recent China photo workshop with co-leader (and good friend) Ken Koskela.
If you like what you read and see, Ken and I hope you can join us in 2018 for our second China workshop. Also, in looking at the end-result photographs, I think you will agree that they don't look as though they were taken a workshop with a dozen people. That's one of my workshop goals. Ken also shares that photo philosophy.
Here's a behind-the-scenes shot I took during our first cormorant fishermen photo session. As you can see, everyone has a good spot for a great shot. We all worked together, placing our bags out of the way so we could easily change position for a different point of view.
I took the photograph on the right during our scouting trip before the workshop started. After sharing the image with the workshop participants, most folks wanted to get a similar shot. During the workshop, Ken and I recreated the scene (left) so everyone was able to get a similar shot.
That's me offering suggestions on composition and exposure. After everyone got a shot, I moved in and got my shot.
Above is one of my favorite landscape images from the workshop.
My technique for getting my mountaintop shot: I found a good shooting position for everyone and then used Live View to compose my image – while standing behind the other photo workshop participants.
Here is another example of good workshop behavior. That's my friend and pro photographer Randy Hanna holding a Pro Photo light for one of the workshop participants. That's Ken in the background blocking some of the light from reaching the subject. That's teamwork. That's good workshop behavior.
We all helped each other make pictures, like this low-light picture of one of the cormorant fishermen in his home. By the way, no other workshop that I know of gives you this kind of access to the fishermen.
Helping each other make pictures included holding a LED Pro Master light to add some light to the subject's face for a more compelling photograph.
Here's the group photo of our China photo workshop participants and most wonderful on-site guides. Great group. Great fun. Great images - and great job of working together. I miss you all.
Explore the light,
Rick
P.S. If you plan on attending a workshop, any workshop, I think my KelbyOne course on Composition will help you make good pictures.