Well, I’m just wrapping up a weekend workshop at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs for National Geographic Traveler and it was a wonderful experience for me and my co-teacher, Dan Westergren. I think the 40 students enjoyed it too!
We certainly worked them hard enough. Saturday afternoon, after a full day in the classroom, we visited the Garden of the Gods. Dan led the landscape shooting group and I had three dancers from the Seven Falls Indian Dancers group as models for a lighting demonstration.
Young Micah was a favorite with our group. After the sunset and as the dusk light was moving in, we put him up on a stone bench, threw an SB 800 on a stand and diffused it through an umbrella, placed at about a 45 degree angle on the left, and did a little slow synch flash.
We got the students up for a predawn shoot at the hotel this morning. When you get skies like this, you don’t mind getting up at Oh Dark Thirty! But then we had another full day in the classroom doing more critiques and programs. The energy level and enthusiasm of the students carried us all right through to the end of the day.
Brad Mikel
2 Nov 2009Bob,
I would have loved to have met you, but thanks for the head’s up on the class. I’ll try to catch you sometime when you do a pro program. Maybe we can tag up sometime when you’re out to visit family.
Regards,
Brad
Bob
2 Nov 2009Brad: Sounds like a plan!Bob
Catalin
2 Nov 2009Love the first photograph. Great result with such a simple setup. I just bought your “Travel photography” book two days ago and have been reading at it ever since. Great tips and my only comment would be that I would have loved if each photograph would have had a caption next to it, noting the place where it was taken.
Bob
2 Nov 2009Hi Catalin: I agree. I didn’t feel comfortable with a design that eliminated captions. Bob
Mike Morse
2 Nov 2009Bob: Another great photo. What was your shutter speed and aperture and ISO? Also, what type of lens did you use. I never imagined that much light could get through an umbrella. Mike
Bob
2 Nov 2009Mike: D90, ISO 400, 1/8th second @ f/5.6, 16-85mm VR. Bob
Tim
3 Nov 2009Bob,
Question about Micha shoot. Were you using gel on through umbrella shoot?
Love the shot
Tim
Bob
3 Nov 2009Tim: No gel, but I set my White Balance to “Flash.” Bob
Jeremy Wade Shockley
3 Nov 2009Bob,
Quick question, if there is no movement from your subject why the rear sync?
Does it produce more subtle lighting?
Nice shot by the way!
Cheers, Jeremy
Bob
3 Nov 2009Hi Jeremy: Take a quick look at the post again…I said “slow synch” not “rear synch”! They sound similar…and there’s no difference in the quality of the light between the two techniques, just the timing of when the light goes off! cheers, Bob
Jeremy Wade Shockley
3 Nov 2009Yes, I see! Thanks…I read the jump on Dps and got turned around….sorry ’bout that.
Sounds like it was a good workshop!
Cheers! -Jeremy
Bob
3 Nov 2009Hi Jeremy: No worries….I mix them up occasionally myself, so I’m glad to have had an opportunity to double check my own advice! Bob
R. Pichardo_SJ,PR
3 Nov 2009Great Image!!
Regards,
Bob
3 Nov 2009When you’ve got a good model, it’s easy! Bob
Shannon
4 Nov 2009Bob,
It was a great workshop and you are an awesome (and patient) teacher. Anyone who hasn’t been I would encourage you to go. Bob and Dan are a great complement to each other and are wonderful teachers as well as professionals. I haven’t missed a sunrise since I got home.
Thanks so much!
Shannon
Bob
4 Nov 2009Thanks Shannon. It was great working with you. cheers, Bob