So Psyched About Shooting With These Pros - and You!

One-light lighting. Photograph by Rick Sammon.

One of the cool things about being a professional photographer is that you get to meet and shoot with other pros - and learn from them.

In the February and March I will be doing lighting workshops with two top pros – my friends Dave Cross and Parish Kohanim.

Dave Cross has cool sets in his studio.

Here's the info on my February Dave Cross studio workshop, which will be held in Oldsmar, FL. NAPP members save $100!

What's more, two participates will walk away with a Westcostt Apollo Softbox Kit. We'll do a random drawing for the kit at the end of the workshop.

Here's the info on my March Parish Kohanim workshop, which will be held in Atlanta, GA.

Parish's studio/gallery will be transformed into a full working studio.

Dave, Parish and I will help you master your flash and understand continuous lighting - and more. We'll have critique sessions and group slide shows.

Want to learn how to enhance your pictures in Lightroom? We'll be there to help.

To enhance your portraits, check out my post on Plug-ins for Portraits.

Another cool Dave Cross set  where we'll shoot.

These workshops will be fun for me for another reason: I don't have a studio. I shoot in my office, pictured below.

So even if you don't have a studio, we'll show you how you can get studio-type shots in your home with affordable gear. I took the shot below in my office.

Photograph on right by Rick Sammon. Painting on left by Johannes Vermeer.

Below is one of my favorite Parish Kohanim photographs. We may not get get fine art images like this one on the workshops, but we'll give you the tech info and inspiration to get you started.

Photograph © Parish Kahanim

Explore the light - with Dave, Parish and yours truly. Space is limited on each workshop - for an intimate experience. So it's first come, first serve.

PLJ,
Rick

P.S. If you can't make the workshops, check out the Lighting Section of my Gear page to see which gear I use. In addition, I cover lighting techniques in two of my apps: Light It! and 24/7 Photo Buffet.

So you got or gave a camera as a holiday gift. Now what?

Photograph © Rick Sammon

This post originally appeared on my blog back around Christmas time. It was a popular post so I thought I'd share it again!

If you got or gave a camera as a holiday gift, here are some ideas to help you or photo buddy get the most of that box of metal, plastic and glass.

Save on plug-ins - create HDR images (like the one above) and enhance all your pictures with plug-ins.

Tough Love Portfolio Reviews - I give honest photo and business advice. 

HDR Photograph © Rick Sammon

Learn about HDR, composition, lighting, travel/widlife photography and more on my 2012 digital photography workshops. Great fun, too!

Photograph © Rick Sammon.

Master composition with my latest Kelby Training class: Composition - the strongest way of seeing. More than 1,300 folks have seen the class in the past two week. Join the crowd.

iPad and iPhone apps - give an iTunes Gift Card for my app, which cover travel, people, lighting, HDR and more. 

Travel and Nature Photography A-Z e-book - make better pictures on the road.

Canon Digital SLR lessons - get the most out of your camera.

Enter the world of HD SLR video - Juan Pons and I show you how to get started with shooting HD videos with your 5D Mark II and Canon 7D.

Get great portraits with my light controller kit and tote.

Above: That's me with my Lowepro DryZone backpack. You can save 20 percent on any Lowpro bag by clicking here and using this code: LP20.

Happy Holidays!

Explore the light,

Rick 

Two Essential Filters for Outdoor Photographers

Photograph © Rick Sammon

Two filters are essential for outdoor photography.

A polarizing filter reduces reflections on water, glass and ice. It can even make your pictures look sharper because it reduces reflections on atmospheric haze.

Polarizing filter tip: Don't over-polarize a scene. If you "dial in" too much of the polarizing effect, you may get a large dark spot in the center of your frame.

Photograph © Rick Sammon

A variable neutral density (ND) filter reduces the amount of light entering your lens, allowing you to shoot at slower shutter speeds to blur water on bright, sunny days.

ND filter tip: Experiment with different shutter speeds to get just the right degree of water movement.  

These filters are a must for those participating in my Oregon Coast workshop with Alex Morley.

Explore the light,
Rick

People Pictures Are The Focus of My Panama Workshop

© Rick Sammon

If you like travel photography – especially people photography – you'll enjoy my upcoming Panama workshop, March 3 to 6, 2012.

Joining me as co-leader will be my friend and professional photographer Tito Herrera.

I'll be giving a one-day seminar in Panama City on March 3rd. Then next day we fly to Kuna Yala for the two-day workshop.

© Marco Sammon

I'll show the small group (max 16) how to make nice portraits as well as environmental portraits.

© Rick Sammon

Tito and I had a fun group in 2011, and we expect this year's group to have just as much fun!

If you'd like to participate in this workshop, shoot me an email.

Explore the light,
Rick


P.S. If you can't make the workshop, check out my lighting gear on my Gear page. Also check out my post on Plug-ins for Portraits.

Elephants in the Mist

Photograph © Judith Monteferrante

My friend Judith Monteferrante just sent this to me. Enjoy.

I explored South Africa for 12 days while at Kirkman’s Camp in the Sabi Sands area near Kruger National Park.  I went out shooting before dawn every day while the mist lingered from the night’s cooler air and again late into dusk. One morning, a group of elephants appeared out of this mist walking down a wide path, appearing like an apparition at dawn. The light was challenging but magical. 

I call this image, "Elephants in the Mist."

• • • 

Judith's contact info:

Judith@judithmphotography.com

Website: judithmphotography.com

Portrait work only at: swansongart.com

flickr.com/photos/judithmonteferrante

facebook.com/JudithMPhotography

twitter: @drjmonte

judithmphotography.blogspot.com