I was really looking forward to challenge myself teaching a photography class this past weekend. Let me say the whole experience surpassed my expectations. It was so incredibly fun. I can’t wait to do another class next October! My students where MOMS and DADS with cameras, looking to improve their photography skills technically and artistically. I have to say they showed extreme patience and commitment learning about the many technical aspects one needs to be aware of when shooting… my crowd didn’t discourage and was eager to test on the field what they had learned. So off we went to the park, after all those ‘f-stops’ and ‘shutter speed’ notions, to play with our cameras. I gave a few assignments, so my students could learn the differences and challenges of working with direct sun light, shadow, contrasty light and one of my favorites, backlight! Here’s a great back lit shot taken by my student Kelly while I was posing with her daughter and shouting ‘overexpose’!!!!!
And here’s a gallery of some of my students masterpieces! Kelly also created this whimsical image working in difficult patchy light with the help of a little Lightroom filter, while we were reviewing the images on Sunday.
Looking for an interesting composition, Kelly found this awesome fence that provides an clean, non distracting background and posed her daughter on the side, trying out the ‘rules of thirds’.
Another of my students had great composition eye, and in a pretty challenging situation I must say. This is a backlit, action shot! Great job Eunice!
Definitely a contrasty lighting situation the one above, but luckily Isabella’s face was in the shade completely and the exposure on her face is just perfect! The harsh light in the background is spread out equally on both sides so it balances the scene.
Deanna did a great crop on this photograph, her angle is dynamic and the background simple drawing our attention to the wondering toddler. Xina placed her child in the shade and worked with her portrait lens to achieve a shallow depth of field, the grass is way blurry and it makes her son pop up in our frame, awesome!
Tracey also tested harsh and backlight in this action shot, it is not easy to freeze the moment and keeping an eye on all these difficult lighting aspects. But she did it!!
This portrait of Ben, shows Tracey working with reflected light, the sun light reflected from foliage from a tree, it gives such a nice soft lighting.
Michael did a great job in this action shot and capturing a sweet candid moment between his son and his wife. I thought it was important for my students to exercise with familiar subjects.. they already had too many new notions to keep in mind, so establishing a connection with their subject while concentrating on their technical challenges was going to be too much, so I had their families join us to the park.
Another beautifully back lit portrait…
Michael was also the winner of the Grand Prize ” 1 hour 101 Hands On Camera Mentoring” tutoring session with yours truly. Another Grand Prize was offered by our amazing Sponsor BAYPHOTO, Tracey was the winner of a 20×30 Metallic Frame! Thank you Bayphoto for being so generous!
Stay tuned for the October dates of “Through Your Eyes” Photograph your Kids like a Pro! I can’t wait to do this again!
