Photography Lessons

Did you get a camera for Christmas? Interested in taking some lessons on how to work that thing? I won't make you a professional but I can show you how to have more fun and less frustration when creating images. This course is designed for the beginner or amateur photographer in mind. If I can generate enough interest I'll start classes in January.

We'll go over:

1. How your camera works - where are your controls, what do they do
   
2. f/stops and shutter speeds - what they do, how to use them creatively
   
3. flash -how and when to use it
   
4. how to "see the light"
   
5. how to use window light
   
6. looking at the work of great photographers, a visit to the Chrysler Museum
   
7. accessories, what else do you need?
8. an introduction to using studio lighting
9. an introduction to Photoshop and other software programs

The classes will be on Saturdays, there will be 4 classes lasting for about 4 hours each, classes will be limited to approximately 10 people. Cost for the classes is $150.00 per person. Again, I'll only start the classes if I can generate enough interest.


Go to the web site: www.wadestudio.com and use the contact form to register.

Other Stuff For Christmas

Still stumped about what to get that "oh, I love photography" person? Well try some books. In an age where most of us are seeing images on a monitor having a book in your lap and slowly "reading", examining an image can be an excellent learning experience. I'd suggest artists like Ansel Adams, John Sexton, Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Anne Geddes, and Edward Weston for starters. Their books are typically portfolio collections with very high printing standards. These books would ground your photographer in the history and art of the fine print. If you'd like to see a master of creative imagining who was around long before Photoshop and whose work has had a great influence on creative manipulative images check out Jerry Ulsman.

For someone who actually likes to read there are very good biographies available on Stieglitz, Adams and Weston. Back in the 90s Ted Turner made an excellent documentary on the late George Hurrell. At one time I think I gave a copy of this to all my associate photographers as a gift. Sadly, is only available on VHS but if you'd like to get a copy - it's well worth it - go to: http://www.hurrellphotography.com/ .

Aperture also has a collection titled The History of Photography which would allow you to build a collection o the works of the great masters of photography a book at a time. For those with more contemporary and commercial tastes (if you want to shoot brides weddings, babies and families that would be you) check out the annual PP of A Loan Collections published by Marathon Press: http://www.marathonpress.com/education/publications/image-collections/ppa-loan-collection/Loan08

Many links to these artists and organizations can be found on the left side of my Blog under the heading Photography Sites of Interest.

Books can be found on line or at a local Barnes and Nobles or book store.

Hope this helps you last minute Santas!

All I Want For Christmas

Every year around Christmas I'll get an e mail or two asking, "I'd like to buy someone a camera as a present. What kind should I get?"

Well here's a few things I'd suggest you consider. First what kind of photography will the photographer be involved with? Most people will be taking pictures of their families. For the most part these photographs will be taken outside during a family event or inside the house. The person taking the photos will be much like my wife, "I don't want to have to learn photography just to take a picture." For something like this a Nikon Coolpix or Kodak Easyshare is fine. I gave both my young daughters Coolpix cameras and they have a lot of fun with them.

For my wife I replaced her Nikon N65 with a D50. She likes to photograph butterflies and caterpillars so having a camera with exchangeable lenses was important for her. And despite all my efforts to "help" her she still shoots entirely in a total Program mode. Since most of her images are created in "open shade" situations that works well for her. Average light, average photographs. For someone like this Nikon's D40 or Canon's Rebel series would work well.

For the person who wants to go "professional" I would really advise them to get an entry level camera from Nikon or Canon and learn how to use that in manual mode. Learn how cameras work, learn the craft and art first and then look for what kind of tool you want to invest in.

You see I'm not impressed by expensive cameras. Back when I had a 2500 square foot studio and we were shooting film I'd have "wannabe" photographers come in with Hasselblad cameras and photographs that were so poorly composed, exposed and printed that I felt embarrassed for them. What's a Hasselblad? That's the camera that the astronauts took to the moon. The body alone ran 2-3 thousand dollars; a complete rig probably about $4000 with a single lens.

What you must realize is that ultimately it isn't the camera that takes the photograph. It's the photographer. A camera, a lens, a light meter, flash...these are just tools. Let me give you two examples to consider.

When I was teaching photography classes at my studio students would come in and see the sets, backdrops, lighting gear and the RB67 and 4x5 cameras and say,"Man, if only I had a camera like THAT I could take great pictures!" So one summer to show them how wrong that was I took out a ten dollar plastic Holga camera (like the one at the top of the article) that had the back held together with electrical tape. I would use my radio triggers to run my lights and at the end of a session with the RB67 switch over to the Holga and shoot. The images were gorgeous, in fact I was selling 16x20 prints from what I was shooting with that camera. It wasn't the camera that made those images sell. It was my talent.

Second example. We were covering a wedding two years ago and Melissa was assisting me. She was a struggling college student and she had a Canon digital Rebel. One of the guests made a comment to her about what a cheap camera it was and that she shot with a "professional" camera that was much more expensive. It was all Melissa could do to restrain me from walking up to that woman and saying, "See that very talented girl with the cheap camera? Photographs she shot in Pakistan a few years ago are being exhibited in a prestigious gallery in London this fall. Where, may I ask, are your images being exhibited?"

I cannot emphasize this enough. Cameras don't create images. Photographers do. So choose a camera that is compatible with the experience, goals and desire to learn of the photographer. Not everyone wants to be a professional photographer but everyone likes to "take pictures" and have fun.

Merry Christmas!

This Is a Great Job

Frankly photography is a job just like the one you probably have. I put in long hours and think the boss should pay me more! But, honestly, I get to work with some of the nicest people. In fact I can really only think of two or three "horrible clients" that I wished had selected one of my competitors...I mean colleagues. The overwhelming majority of people who have come to me over the years have been kind, appreciative of my art and very generous in supporting me in my work. I don't do a lot of modeling work anymore as most aspiring models aren't willing to invest in their profession and will settle for someone with a camera who likes to take pictures of pretty girls. And there are certainly a bunch of guys out there that fit that profile.

Recently, however, I was blessed to work with a professional model. She was so easy to work with and projected so well for the camera that I almost felt guilty collecting my fee. Almost.

Fall In Love

A friend of mine is a drummer and we've been in two bands together over the last few years. He also has two lovely daughters Kaitlin and Kelsey. I shot Kaitlin's wedding down in Texas a couple of years ago and now her sister, Kelsey has gotten engaged. In fact her beau popped the question on Thanksgiving day so naturally I had to take advantage of him being in town to do a quick portrait session with them. Beautiful girl, handsome guy, gorgeous fall light - how could I possible create a bad photo?