March 22, 2010

Photo Workshop - Results

If you ever get a chance to take a basic photo workshop with Kyle Cassidy, assisted by Kate McKinnon - grab the opportunity. The information was priceless, the creative energy was high and the setting in San Diego was beautiful. The only thing I would have liked was some sort of handout that summarized some of the more technical points. I was torn between writing things down and listening/absorbing information. Now I wish I had written more things down on paper.



I was working with my Nikon P5000 point-n-shoot camera. It has an optical view finder and you can add a macro lens to it. After learning how to use some of the manual features I don't think I need a macro lens for the work I want to do.






I also had this nifty new clamp-on monopod which does a lot better than a standard tripod. I can take photos straight down of samples without having the tripod legs in the way. It's made by Sharpics in San Diego.





45 years ago I used an old Argus camera and had to work with f-stops, aperture and light settings. Wonder where I lost that information over the years. This is a set of photos I took on the "M" (manual setting) on my camera in natural light. Just a few setting changes showed me the differences it made in my photos. I can see setting up to shoot samples, getting it just right and then doing all the photos the same.





Kate showed off an inexpensive soft box that could work when the sun wasn't out. However, diffused natural window light made these photos come out almost perfect without any help from Photoshop. The only difference in these two was holding up a white piece of paper to the left of the necklace to
bounce some light back and soften the shadows.

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With what I learned, here are a couple of photos that I am quite happy with. I need to try a graduated gray background rather than the stark white one that I was using in the workshop.








What do you think? Are these photos good enough for a juried show or for publication?

3 comments:

  1. Mary Anne8:01 PM

    I always love your photos; they're what drew me to buy your first book. But the new stuff is fabulous; money well spent I say!

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  2. The photos are amazing - this workshop seems like a great one to take - photos of your work are so important. You did good!!!

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  3. Good job on the photos - it's nice to learn that information.

    I will agree - I thought your photos were good - now they will be wonderful!

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