A Winter Image and Inspirational Thoughts by Photographer and Digital Photo Academy Instructor Frank Siteman

I’m very happy to announce that periodically, The Imaging Buffet will be highlighting images, tips and insights from instructors at Digital Photo Academy. Digital Photo Academy offers live weekend photography classes in approximately 20 cities across the United States each month. This month, we’re highlighting an image from Boston-based Photographer Frank Siteman, one of the 100+ Digital Photo Academy instructors. With winter coming soon (hopefully not too soon!), Frank’s image and tip to capture a snowy evening can serve as inspiration:

photo © Frank Siteman, All Rights Reserved (click for a larger version)

“This image was made while I was working on a motion picture in Woodstock, VT in the late spring.  One of my assignments was to shoot footage for the opening sequence and to scout locations.  Driving around snow-covered muddy roads was a challenge, but finding beauty in the early morning was anything but.

I found this house, enveloped by a wet sticky snow, before 5AM, and being the only vehicle out at that time… and a stranger to boot, drew attention.  It was just what was needed to create a human touch to offset the cold and somewhat forbidding environment. Daylight color balance assured the light from the inside of the home would be very warm and since the sun was hours away from rising, the daylight, like the day itself, remained a very cool blue.  This intense contrast of those complimentary colors, as well as the web of snow covered tree limbs worked well to create an atmosphere of intrigue.  This image, with the person peering from behind a curtain, presents an unknown story, and in doing so, maintains interest for the viewer.  Who’s looking at whom?

Using a 20mm wide angle lens, I  hand-held my camera for a 1/30^th sec exposure at f/4, at ISO 100.”

You can learn more about Frank, and check out some of his other images on the Digital Photo Academy site by visiting this page: https://digitalphotoacademy.com/portfolio/frank-siteman/

Please note: The Imaging Buffet receives no compensation for bringing these images and tips to you, and we have full editorial control over the content. As a part of our relationship with Digital Photo Academy, you will find information about The Imaging Buffet and upcoming workshops and events on their website.

Two Upcoming Workshops in NJ on Image Management/Backup and Lightroom Printing – 12/13 and 12/15, 2013

There is a fantastic free event happening at Unique Photo in Fairfield, NJ from Fri. 12/13-12/15, 2013 called the NJ Camera Show. It’s a great opportunity to try out different lenses and other gear, and see a lot of speakers covering many topics, including how to use your DSLR more effectively (registration is generally $10 for most of the classes, and you then get that $10 back to use in the store, which is packed full of photo and video gear). Quick tip: bring a few extra SD or CF cards so that you can put them in different cameras and then take the cards home to see the cameras’ and lenses’ image quality.

ANDREW DARLOW’S UPCOMING WORKSHOP AT THE NJ CAMERA SHOW 

Date: Fri. Dec. 13, 2013
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm (during the NJ Camera Show) 
(Please register for the show before registering for this or any other workshop.)

In this one hour lecture, Andrew will cover these and other topics:

– How to avoid pop-up messages and applications that want to “help” you bring your images into your computer when you connect a media card or camera.
– How to set up a “bullet-proof” system for downloading and cataloging your files using the Apple OS and either Apple Aperture or Adobe Lightroom.
– Suggestions for a few affordable “set it and forget it” unlimited backup systems.
– An easy (and free) service that allows you to create auto backups of your Lightroom catalog(s) to “the Cloud.”
– Tips for easily transferring and selectively deleting still photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch while still being able to keep some of them to show friends and family.

PLEASE NOTE: This workshop was designed for and will be tailored to users of Mac OSX 10.7 (Lion), 10.8 (Mountain Lion), or 10.9 (Mavericks).

To register for the camera show, visit https://www.uniquephoto.com/njcamerashow. Then, to register for Andrew’s workshop, visit this page: https://www.uniquephoto.com/event/856

Andrew Darlow demonstrating how a print looks under gallery light while teaching a printing workshop at an Arts Cener in NJ.

ANDREW DARLOW’S UPCOMING LIGHTROOM PRINTING WORKSHOP IN NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ

Date: Sun, Dec. 15, 2013
Time: 11:00am – 3:00pm

Whether you make prints on your own printer or use a lab, one thing always stays constant-to get great results, you’ve got to color manage your system and prepare your files properly. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom offers many powerful tools for organizing, editing printing and exporting images.

A partial list of what will be covered:

• How to make sure that your monitor and lighting are set up properly;
• How to determine and set the resolution of your images;
• How to quickly and inexpensively test the color & quality of any printer or photo lab; and
• Specific Lightroom Print Module Workflow tips.

A printed handout and links to more than 100 custom Print Module templates will also be provided to all attendees. Each participant will receive 40-50 sheets of letter-size fine-art papers valued at over $40. Readers of ImagingBuffet.com will also receive a follow-up 30 minute phone consultation with Andrew Darlow.

Workshop Fee: $89 per person

To see a full workshop description or to register, please visit https://lightroom15.eventbrite.com

Two Upcoming Lightroom 5 and Printing Workshops in Long Island, New York, and special offers that end on Mon. 9/9

Hello and happy almost end of Summer! The very cold weather is not something I’m looking forward to, but that’s for another blog post and season! It’s been a while since I’ve announced my workshops here on ImagingBuffet.com (I often announce them on my Facebook Page at facebook.com/andrewdarlow and on Twitter at twitter.com/andrewdarlow if you’d like to connect).

Even though I mentioned it on Facebook and Twitter, I wanted to make sure that I tell everyone here about the “early bird” offers that will expire at midnight tonight for two of my upcoming workshops in Long Island, New York on Sat/Sun November 9 and 10, 2013. I’ve been doing similar workshops on Lightroom and Printing for many years, and I look forward to sharing many of the new tools and features that can be found in Adobe’s Lightroom 5, as well as many of my “tried and true” printing and “screen to print” color matching secrets. If you are unsure at this time whether you are free on either of those dates, there’s no risk because  a 100% refund is given for cancellations made by 10/10/2013 (50% by 11/3 or 11/4 depending on which workshop you reserve).

In this photo, I’m demonstrating a few things things during a full-day workshop in New Jersey: the look and feel of a specific inkjet-printable canvas material mounted on an easy-to-assemble stretcher bar kit; and the importance of lighting in a gallery, home, etc.

In this image, I’m demonstrating the differences between two different inkjet papers during a full-day workshop in New Jersey. I’m also demonstrating the value of using a standard calibration image for print testing.

WORKSHOP TITLES AND LINKS

Monday, 9/9 is the last day to save over 20% on my 2.5 hr. workshop: “Lightroom Printing Techniques for In-Home/In-Studio & Pro Lab Printers” being held from 2-4:30pm on 11/9/2013. See the link below for a full description or to register: https://www.longislandphotogallery.com/proddetail.php?prod=2013-DARLOW1

and Monday, 9/9 is also the last day to save $20 on my upcoming full-day workshop: “Using Lightroom for Inkjet Printing and Color Management,” at the same location in Long Island on Sunday 11/10/2013.

See the link below for a full description or to register:

https://www.longislandphotogallery.com/proddetail.php?prod=2013-DARLOW2

If you have any questions about whether these workshops might be right for you, or if you would like to inquire about me speaking for your photo-related organization, please contact me here:
https://imagingbuffet.com/contact-us/