Recent & upcoming workshops…“101″ workshop @ Southbank Parklands
Date: Sunday 19th April 2009
I recently had the pleasure of running a “101″ photography workshop at Brisbane’s Southbank parklands. We met up at the Queensland State Library to begin the day with a little theory before exploring the beautiful parklands. I am a big fan of the State Library… not only is the internet free (always a plus), they have some great areas to sit and chat as a group. It was a bit warm this particular day so we gathered on the shaded balconies overlooking the Brisbane river. I was fortunate that all students were packing Digital SLR (DSLR) cameras (once you understand the basics, you realise how easy these cameras are to manipulate when compared to their compact cousins).
Some advice …. if you’re in the market for a new camera and wishing to develop your photography skills, you would be well advised to strongly consider going DLSR rather than compact. If you still insist on opting for a compact, be sure it has “manual” as an option (some don’t). DSLR’s prices have dropped dramatically in recent years (you can now get decent kits < $1000) and they give you so much more “creative leverage” than compacts ever will.
After running through a few theories and concepts, we headed into the Southbank parklands for some photographic exploration. I was so impressed with the quality of shots captured! One of the key reasons Southbank was chosen as a location was the variety of subject matter available for photos. I mean, where else can you photograph a Nepalese Peace Pagoda (apart from Nepal that is)???
 As the sun bid us farewell, we concluded our day with some silhouette shots of the city (taken from the Goodwill bridge) before making our way to the spectacular “Eye of Brisbane” where we performed some experiments with long exposures, harvesting some stunning results!
All in all a fantastic day out!
The next workshop will be held on:
Sunday the 21st of June.
Bookings can be made by e-mailing
Grahame.Clark@gcphotos.com.au
Cost is $165 per student
Please note that class numbers are limited
so bookings are essential!
Did You know…?
Private group bookings can be arranged, designed to allow you the exclusive opportunity to focus on anything that takes your photographic interest! For more details on these personally tailored workshops, please contact Minimum numbers apply for all classes
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FYI
Diffusion & Reflection
There is definitely an art to flash photography. When I was first starting out, I would avoid using flash at all costs. I hated the results I was getting back – images would appeared flat, lifeless, and washed out. Rather than use a flash, I preferred to shoot with higher film (ISO) speeds (this is still one of my favourite ways to shoot). However, the downside of using high ISO speeds is that the images can get rather grainy (referred to as “noise”). There are also other instances where a flash can really come in handy – removing unwanted shadow on people’s faces is one such example. When you diffuse light, it becomes softer and more natural. There are two effective methods of diffusing light. One is to have it pass through a light-permeable membraine (e.g. tissue paper). The other method is to reflect or “bounce” the light onto your subject off a surface such as a wall or ceiling. The goal is to spread the light over a greater area and thus, when it returns to the subject, it is softer and more evenly distributed. Soft light will give us better skintones and reduce harsh shadows, making for a better portrait.
NB: I often refer to bounced light as being “diffused” simply because it is less intense when compared to direct flash. There are a multitude of diffusers on the market. Some are designed to fit the in-built flash on your camera (even the compacts). If you’re feeling inventive you can even make your own – it can be as simple as a few sheets of tissue paper held in front of the flash. I carry three diffusers in my main kit – the most interesting of which is an inflatable diffuser. Although it looks rather strange, it does an extremely effective job of diffusing light and gives fantastic results.
 The following is an example of “bouncing” light onto a subject (the subject in this case is my brother-in law’s dog “Kayah”). With the first image, the flash is pointing directly at Kayah. It is quite obvious that the lighting is too harsh and uneven. With the second shot, I angled the flash straight up (an advantage of external flash units) and “bounced” the light off the ceiling of our outdoor patio. The ceiling acted as a giant diffuser, spreading the light over a far greater area. The returning light was far softer and more evenly distributed, providing a much more natural look.
 A word of caution: be mindful of the surface you use to bounce the flash - if the surface is coloured, the light that bounces will take on this colour, causing a colour cast to be applied to your subject. Sometimes colour casting can be used to your advantage. For instance, professional photographers will often use a gold reflector/umbrella which will bring warmer tones to a shot. This can is especially effective with portrature, providing the subject with a lovely “tanned” glow. Professional studios use a combination of umbrellas, “softboxes”, and reflectors (also known as “fleckkies”) to diffuse and reflect light onto a subject in a controlled fashion.
Recent Wedding Shoot
“Robyn and Adrian“
I recently had the pleasure of shooting Robyn and Adrian’s wedding. They are a wonderful couple and I had a great time capturing their big day!
Here are a few random images….
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Quick Tip
Try capturing “candid” shots of people- candid shots are more natural and never appear forced. I find as soon as people see the camera, they tend to tense up and either produce their standard “say cheese” smile or a disaproving “don’t take my picture” frown. That’s it for this issue – all the best to you and your families!
Cheers!
Grahame
A zoom lens is a candid photographer’s best friend! ~~~~~~~ |
