Reflect Upon Your Week

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This weekend, take some time and reflect upon your week. Ask yourself: Did I grow as a photographer? 

If the answer is yes, good for you. And, share how you grew in the Comments here on my blog.

If the answer is no . . . well, there is always next week. And, maybe share why you feel as though you are not growing.

Have a great weekend.

Explore the light,
Rick



Cast Your Vote For My creativeLive Class

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Those of you who have attended my workshops know that I focus on the students – so much so that sometimes I don't notice what else is going on around me.

Above: On a workshop in Montana, I was helping a student find a custom function setting on his camera and I did not notice that a bear cub was about to crawl up my leg, until it was too late. Yet, I was able to squeeze off a shot . . . before the bear took a quick bite. Ouch!

Now my voice is much higher in pitch.

That incident, however, has not stopped me from teaching and from sharing my enthusiasm for helping photographers make better pictures - so I am very much looking forward to one of my next major teaching gigs . . . where, as usual, I will be focusing on the student's needs.

On Oct 21, 22 and 23, I'll be teaching a class called "My Specialty is Not Specializing" on creativeLIVE.


Below are the topics I can cover. I plan to cover as many as possible. (I'm from New York and I talk fast.)

You Choose the Topics You'd Like To See Me Teach

- Tips for Photographing Bear Cubs!
- My Photo Philosophies (Thinking is just as important as shooting.)
- Studio Lighting on a Budget
- Setting Up a Home Studio
- Basic Studio Lighting
- Speedlight Shooting
- HDR Photography
- People Photography
- Self-Promotion/Social Media - The Business Side of Photography
- Close-up Photography
- Some Photoshop Stuff
- Pro Interviews
- What Does Your Photography Mean To You?
- Life Lessons We Can Learn From Mother Nature

Remember, it's up to you to choose the topics you'd like to see. Cast your vote in the Comments section here on my blog.

As an FYI, when I posted a poll about the classes a few months ago, the top requested classes were:

- Studio Lighting on a Budget
- Setting Up a Home Studio
- Self-Promotion - The Business Side of Photogrpahy
- Speedlite Shooting

To sign up for the class and for more info, click here.

I hope you can make the class. It's will be a unique learning experience.

Hey, if you are not following me on twitter, click here to keep up with all the stuff I'm doing.

Explore the light,
Rick
 

What Does YOUR Photography Mean to You?

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One of the topics folks would like me to cover in my October creativeLive class is: What does your photography mean to you? For more on the class click here.

In thinking about the class, this previous post came to mind.

• • • • •

Last year I had the pleasure of giving a short lecture at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in NYC. One of my Photoshop heroes, Katrin Eismann, Chair of the Masters in Digital Photography Program, had invited me to share some of my photographs and travel adventures from my books, as well as my philosophy on the all-important business side of photography. To start off my session, as I often do, I asked the students to answer this question: What does your photography mean to you?

Over the past 10 years of teaching workshops and giving seminars, this question has been answered many, many different ways – and actually and honestly has brought some people to tears, as photography means so much to some shooters.
I always hear new “meanings.” I have found that when photographers verbalize their thoughts on the personal meaning of photography, some for the very first time, it gives the individual a unique look inside their photographic soul.

Ask yourself this question. You may be surprised at your answer.

Katrin, a wonderful photographer, as well as The Photoshop Diva, was kind enough to write down key words of the students’ responses.
  • Saved my life
  • Exploring
  • Everything
  • Expression
  • Communicate
  • Frame my world
  • Manage my experiences
  • Telling a story
  • Get out of the house
  • Make my mom proud
  • Speak to different people
  • Influence others
  • Build-up language
  • Understand and feel more connected
  • Convey ideas
  • Look and look again
  • Lifestyle
  • Making Money
  • Play and fun
  • Reveal secrets
Nine of these answers were new to me. Again, I have been doing this for 10 years.
Ask yourself this question – from time to time. You answers may vary, as they have for me.
Another interesting exercise, by the way, is to put captions on your photographs. Doing so helps one see the “meaning” in an image.

Check out SVA. You’ll find many way-cool Undergraduate and Continuing Education programs. One of my favorite pages on the site is the Student Art page.

Explore the Light,
Rick

Nik's snapseed Sets the Standard

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This might be one of the shortest posts I have ever written. Why? Well, here is why.

A) I want to get back to my iPad and play with Nik's new snapseed iPad app, which offers virtually limitless creative adjustments on your photographs. It's quite addictive!

B) I think you'll want to download the app and start the creative photo enhancement fun ASAP.


Here are just two images that I created with snapseed, along with two screen grabs that show you some of the creative options the app offers.

For my images, I combined some Vintage, Grunge and Frame effects - all at the tap or swipe on the screen . . . in a few seconds. I think it sets the standard for iPad app enhancements.


I could give you a quick how-to, but the on-screen quick how-to does it all. It could not be easier to understand.

 

To order snapseed, click here.

Okay, go have fun! 

If you want to save a few bucks on Nik plug-ins, go to the Nik site and use this code upon checkout: RSAMMON.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. If you like photography iPad apps, I think you'll enjoy mine.

Times Square Shoot: Join the Photo Fun!


If you live in NYC, or will be visiting NYC, or have friends who lives in NYC . . . you and they don't want to miss the historic event that I am planning for 6.18.11. Okay, so it will not be that historic, but it will be BIG. Plus, it will be free. Mark your calendar. Bring your camera.

Don't B L7. Be there! And look for me in the white Smugmug, t-shirt.

Here is the info: 

All you need to do is show up, shoot, pose and upload. We’ll meet in Duffy Square in Times Square for a group photo at 5 PM!

I’ll give some photo tips on site. I’ll also be posting some cityscape photo tips on my blog the week before. 

I’ll have guest instructors. You’ll shoot in and around Times Square – until whenever. That night or the next day, you’ll upload your photos to a special Smugmug site – for the entire world to see.

To capture the idea of the "bigness" of the event, I used my Canon 15mm fish-eye lens on my Canon 5D Mark II.

Here's a tip that applies to the opening photo for this post: Always look up.

I hope you can join the photo fun.

Below are two pictures that my friend Laurie Shupp took of me the last time I was in Times Square.


For more information and to get on my email list, click here.

Explore the light,

Rick

P.S. If you like this post, click the twitter icon below to share.