Studio shoots with a tethered cord or eye-fi card

Does this sound familiar? You shoot a few photos, pull the card and put it in the computer with a card reader to preview the images… It’s painstaking and frankly takes too long… you’re model will be sitting there yawning and texting friends versus being engaged in a shoot…  This, my friends is a time when shooting tethered makes the most sense. In your new home studio!

Shooting tethered is when your camera is connected via USB cable to a computer or a laptop. Almost every DSLR made is capable of doing this with the included USB cable and software, alternatively Lightroom 4 supports tethered mode for most modern cameras. Follow the directions with the software that came with your camera to import or configure Lightroom 4 to do it for you and the images will be flying off your camera to your computer like Clarke Griswald flying down the hill on his industrial greased snow dome.

I chose to shoot to my memory card and then transfer to computer. If you do this method and there is a transmission issue, well, at least I have a back up on my camera.

One other thing to consider is cable length. Most cables that come with cameras are only five of six feet long… not long enough for a studio application. You will need to extend the length of your cable… But to do this you need a USB extension, and one with what’s called a “repeater”. USB cables are really only good for about 15 feet… and 15 feet is still not enough length.

My suggestion is to work with two 15 foot long cables… just be careful not to trip over the cable, yank it out of the computer or camera…  Don’t tape it to the camera or laptop either… I have seen the hard tugging on a tapped tether cord ruin a connection… its just better to work with the cord… always have it hang to one side and deal with it like you are mowing your lawn with an electric lawn mower…  J

Also, when you place your computer or laptop so you can see the images… well, make sure it is secure… maybe use velcro straps to secure it to a table off to the side.

Depending if you are shooting RAW or JPG, and the camera you have, it can take a few seconds to 20 seconds for images to appear. I take half a dozen shots, and then look at what has appeared on my computer, make adjustments and go back to shooting. It’s a much faster and far more productive than pulling a card and putting it into a computer.

Another option to shooting physically tethered with USB cables is utilizing Eye-Fi technology. They are memory cards that can transmit wirelessly to your computer. But to be honest, in real world situations the transfer rates are slower than a tethered cable. That and you cannot  always count on a Wi-Fi network to be available where you are shooting, the kids could be eating up all the bandwidth, someone’s watching a movie, or your ever reliable home internet service is as slow as molasses.

You can get around that but you’ll need to buy a wireless router which is pre-configured as a private network and ready to go. But do you really want to get that technical?

Try both, or talk to friends that shoot in both methods… personally I shoot with tethered cable and just get into the habit of watching the cord.

tomorrow we will address the big topic... LIGHTING for the studio

Good luck in creating your set up!

Kev

Photography Ideas for this weekend... Photographing things around the house



I took two photos with the camera on a tripod... one with the fingers and one without the fingers. I then layered the two images and used a layer mask and the brush tool to create the effect on the fingers.

We have lots of photogenic objects in our house... from the piano, to lamp shades, the family pet... and the kitchen... well, don't get me started there... you can really get creative using shadows and lead lines with utensils you will find in a kitchen.

Go ahead, get creative and push yoruself a bit... you are only limited by your own imagination.

Photography Workshops in the Kawartha Region of Ontario

The 2 Kevin Pepper's, yes there are two of us... K1 and K2, have scheduled four weekend workshops up in the Kawartha Region of Ontario in 2013... These workshops are just as much about having fun together as they are about photography. We promise you will leave a better photographer, a client for life where we are available to answer any of your photography questions long after our time together, and an extended member of our family.



Salerno Lake Loon

The following are our weekend workshops...

Workshop One - February 22 to February 24, 2013 - ONE SPOT LEFT

Workshop Two - April 2013 - THREE SPOTS LEFT
Spring dates to be determined to coincide with Trillium blooming - plan for the third weekend in April

Workshop Three - July 26 to July 28, 2013 - FIVE SPOTS LEFT

Workshop Four - October 2013 - THREE SPOTS LEFT
Fall dates to be determined based on peak fall colors in the area - plan for first or the second weekend in October.

The Kawarthas are an area positioned one and a half hours north east of Toronto, both water and land are equally impressive. The shimmering lakes and rivers that offer breathtaking sun rises and sunsets are ribboned together by the Trent-Severn Waterway, which stretches from Lake Ontario to nearby Georgian Bay. This water route is well travelled in summer by yachts, powerboats and houseboats, with many stopping overnight at the numerous locks. The Kawarthas also boasts fish-rich waters and an abundance of water fowl. Our destination, Lake Salerno continues to be home to migratory Loons that keep coming back year after year. These beautiful birds offer the avid photographer plenty of opportunity to photograph them in their natural habitat.



A view from the dock in winter

But the land also offers you countless photo opportunities. Here is a mix of fertile carpets of farmland and fragrant pine forests that are home for wildlife such as coyotes, bears, wild turkey, beaver and a variety of owls.

Then, when the sun goes down, we spend some time doing long exposure photography and pull out the speed lights in the downstairs studio so you can try your skills shooting people and product.

A Photographers Lounge Weekend Photography Workshop at Salerno Lake in the Kawartha’s is designed to incorporate both classroom learning as well as a hands-on approach to applying the classroom teachings in the field with your camera. These fun and engaging weekends are designed to immerse the participants into the art of photography at a remote location.

The Forest's Carpet in the spring time

What We Deliver
Our goal when we run a Weekend Photography Workshop is to improve your photographic aptitude through a focused learning environment. A Weekend Photography Workshop is a targeted learning experience: classroom time, combined with special assignments and hands on camera work is how we facilitate your learning. We also build in time to critique photographer’s images that were taken both before and during the Workshop.

A typical fall scene on the lake

 

Our small groups guarantee a great instructor-to-student ratio and plenty of time to answer all of your questions. Weekend Photography Workshops are like a unique course designed just for you! Workshops typically begin on a Friday evening and run to Sunday afternoon.

What can you expect to photograph while at Salerno Lake with us?
The lake has an abundance of Common Loons and other water fowl on the surrounding lakes at any given time. There is also wild turkey, deer, fox and bear that call the area home. Hummingbirds seem to make the circuit daily and constantly visit the feeds set up around the cottages. The abundance of lakes and shorelines also offer a multitude of seascape and landscape photo opportunities.

What Is Included
Because these workshops are done at our four season home in the Kawartha's we include everything... a private bedroom for 2 nights accomodation, all your meals, drinks and photography instruction... you just have to get yourself to the workshop.

To book your spot please visit the Photographer's Lounge website.

K1 and K2 look forward to spending the wekend with you!

What DSLR should I buy?

The BIG question I always hear is, "So who makes a better camera? Canon or Nikon?"

When you think about it, it could be like asking someone, “So who makes the better hamburger? McDonalds or Burger King… or maybe Wendy’s does?”

Or no, here’s one, “Who is the better photographer? Rick Sammon or Moose Peterson?” All the Canon shooters reading this will more than likely say, Rick. Then most of the Nikon shooters will probably say Moose…

But then there is me, an Olympus shooter with no allegiance to either manufacturer… and all I will say on that question is, “Well, I can honestly say I DO crop my photos, I DO believe in moving my camera like a spaceship, and I WILL NEVER give advice to an amateur photographer to sell their gear because their photo is that bad… Some of you may be be left scratching their head wondering what the heck all that just meant, but for those that do, I guess you know where I sit on that question… J

But I digress, sorry, back to the topic at hand… “Canon versus Nikon… or hey, what about Sony, Pentax, Olympus, etc????

If you are a gear head and partial to one camera over the next, this article is probably not going to be for you… I respect your in depth knowledge greatly... but a Canon techie patriot will have mostly bad things to say about Nikon and vice versa and I am not going to take this article in that direction... This isn’t a comparison of sensor capabilities, high megapixel counts that will cause the average person to go out and buy a new computer to be able to edit their photos, nor is it a comparison of noise capabilities of the freakishly used, extremely high ISO that the average shooter will never shoot at… this is for the amateur photographer that really struggles with the purchase decision of their first or second entry level or mid level DSLR.

Over the past few years I have had the opportunity to shoot with a variety of cameras. In the Canon line-up I have shot with the Rebel XSi, the 7D, the 5D MKI and 5D MKII and 5D MKIII. In the Nikon Line-up I have shot with the D600 the D300 and the D7000. In the Olympus line-up I have shot with the E420, E520, E30 and E3. And in the Pentax line-up I have shot with the K30, the K5 and the K7. So I have run the gamut a fair bit and tried most cameras in real world settings.

I found features in every one of these cameras that I really liked… and some that I didn't like. One camera had too many features buried in menus, one was too heavy, but most did exactly what i needed... and in fact, photos taken by each brand of camera have found their way into reputable magazines, or showcased on some camera manufacturer sites, or hanging in businesses or purchased from stock photo sites... a good photograph isn’t made by the expensive camera, a good photograph comes from the 6 inches behind the camera, “You”.

The reality check is that for beginners, and for those entering into the phase of intermediate level photographer; you are still learning all the functions of the camera and you are still learning composition and mastering the basics… picking the right camera is about picking the right camera for where your skill levels will be in two years. Once you master that camera... upgrade and go through the same learning cycle again.

But it is true that some manufacturers have better features than others, the sensor size will matter for the elimination of digital noise in low light and it will have an effect on the length of the zoom in your lenses. A crop factor sensor amplifies the length of your lens, where as a full frame camera does not... a 300mm lens on a 4/3rds camera is in effect a 600mm and a 300mm lens on a full frame camera is 300mm. There are pluses and minuses to both, but until you can understand that, well, I would stay away from buying that full frame camera for now... The megapixels will also matter if you are printing larger photos and you want to keep the resolution. It will also help if you are cropping and want to still have crisp photos. The bracketing possibilities will help you ensure you are properly exposing every shot you take. Even the cameras ability to fire multiple channels of flashes simultaneously at different powers will matter if you get into taking photos of weddings, studio work, product, etc.

Even the longevity of the company should matter to you. I shoot Olympus, and I have since I was 13… right now the future of Olympus is in question and I am faced with making the uncomfortable decision of making a complete shift and purchase a complete line-up of a second set of camera gear. This decision is going to run me close to $15,000 and I am flip flopping like a fish on the dock on which way to go… just ask my friend Gary Simmons... LOL

So after you are bombarded with advice, look at what the PRO’s use, you have read review after review, and so on… at the end of the day your decision is a personal one. It comes down to a few basic factors…

~ How much can you afford right now?
~ How good is the warranty and extended warranty offered by the retailer?
~ What is the trade in policy by the retailer you are buying the camera at?

~ How easy is it going to be for you to upgrade your camera in the future without purchasing new lenses?

~ How expensive are the lenses of the camera manufacturer you are considering?  
~ What feels comfortable in your hands?

If you are a family photographer and have no aspirations of selling photos or running workshops, well any entry level camera will do the trick and any reputable retailer will steer you in the right direction.

But if you have aspirations of getting creative and want to learn the art of taking photos like the masters before us... well, as I write this in December of 2012, my personal advice for the amateur photographer is to look at two cameras… both feature rich that you can grow into. They have a good balance of megapixel size, sensor quality, quality of the body, longevity and can produce award winning images…

The Canon 7D… it’s a little long in the tooth as it has been around awhile… but as Canon recently launched the full frame, entry level, 6D and about to launch the 7D MKII, the price will drop to clear them out… you will be able to pick up a crop sensor camera that a lot of PRO’s use as their second camera… and a lot of experienced shooters use as their primary camera. The 7D MKII might also be well priced as Canon will probably keep it under their 6D full frame camera... I would go MKII if you could afford it.

The Nikon D7000… it has not been on the market all that long, but with the recent launch of the D600, an entry level full frame camera, Nikon has been lowering the price of that camera to start to move them again. I have seen it advertised for under $900 with free camera bags and memory cards just to sell them. Just a year ago this camera was well over $1300.

With either of those cameras you will walk away happy with your purchase and own a camera that will produce excellent images now and for many years to come. Both cameras are extremely feature rich and offer you the opportunity to grow into them before you even have to consider to upgrade. You can also purchase most lenses in each manufacturers line-up to be used on those bodies.

If you looking for a camera, I wish you luck in your decision…

Canadian Photographer's Legal Rights... Are you following the laws and are you protected?

At the Photographer's Lounge we constantly strive to find unique learning opportunities for local photographers. Photographers rights to their images is a topic that any photographer that posts photos on Facebook, Flickr or other online site should know... Do you know what first publishing rights are? did you know that you may be giving them up without knowing it in Canada?

Attending Jordan's seminar is an enlightening and shocking revelation of your rights, the laws that govern photographers and even protect the subjects you photograph.

I have seen Jordan speak and I learned some very valuable information about my rights in the seminar I attended. I walked away with the confidence I needed to protect myself. Because of this I decided to bring Jordan to Kitchener to speak to local photographers in January of 2013.

Meet Jordan Nahmias...

As a photographer, Jordan has a unique perspective on life and what’s happening in it. With that perspective, he captures the unique details and essential aspects available to the eye.

Jordan says, “There is something about capturing those moments in peoples’ days and lives that is just invigorating. I really think that is what keeps me coming back to my camera and the images I produce with its help. That is what makes me want to photograph all the time. Those moments keep coming, and I want to keep documenting them.”

But this talented photographer is also a lawyer. Jordan’s practice focuses on corporate, media and entertainment matters, with clients ranging from small businesses to producers, writers, musicians, video game developers and publishers.

 

Prior to establishing his own practice, Jordan spent his summer and articling years with Goodmans LLP. His experience there provided him with insight and working knowledge in all areas of corporate and commercial law, and a view into the mechanics of business-related legal matters, both large and small. His involvement in the world of media and entertainment provides him with experience and expertise to advise on those areas.

Jordan has also gone on to serve on various boards, notably as co-director of Open Roof Films Entertainment, a not-for-profit organization specializing in showcasing Canadian and International independent music and film. His contributions also include involvement with various charity and community organizations involved in the arts, media and other areas.

The One Day Workshop in Kitchener, Ontario

If you are a photographer that sells images, or even posts images on the web, this is a seminar you do not want to miss. Jordan is coming to the Photographers Lounge to speak to us one two subjects.



In the first half of the day Jordan will address the legalities surrounding photographer’s rights, copyright laws in Canada, the internet and how it has changed a photographers ownership rights to their images.



He will also address contracts, and what the Canadian laws are around taking the image of a person, place or thing.



In the second half of Jordan’s seminar he will be addressing how to structure your business. The advantages and disadvantages of the many ways you can register your business in Canada.



For anyone that takes a photo and sells a photo, you need to come and be informed about your legal rights, and the rights of your subjects.



The maximum number of attendees for this seminar is 40

 

Please visit the Photographer's Lounge website for more details and how to register.

 

Thank You,

 

Kevin

The new Canon 7D MKII

If you are a Canon shooter you probably already know, but if you aren’t up on the latest news, the new EOS 7D Mark II is rumored to be announced some time in January of 2013. The camera would take the place of the existing 7D and 60D.

After scouring the internet the specs leaks are minimal. However, it is rumored to have a megapixel size in the range of a 20+ megapixel sensor and the ability to shoot upwards of 10fps.

But is this a good move by Canon? With Nikon launching a full frame camera and Canon launching a full frame camera around the $2100 price point… Is there a place for a crop sensor camera now?

I think there is. Lots of amateur and pro photographers are going to appreciate the advanced features and a price tag that’s lower than Canon full-frame cameras. It will also sell have the APS-C sensor, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Sports photographers and bird photographers are very appreciative of the 1.6 crop factor since the zoom range of their lenses is improved with the crop factor.

Some say they think we’ll see the APS-C market slow down a bit, now that the D600 and EOS 6D are changing the pricing structure for consumer camera bodies. But I don’t think so… I think if the new Canon 7D MKII is priced right it is a camera you will want to consider in 2013…

Composition Workshops for Photographers

Do you want to learn how to take better photos? Check out our composition workshops that we run in South Western Ontario.

Small to medium sized groups, lots of laughs and you will walk away a better photographer.

See these workshops at the Photographer's Lounge website

Photography Composition Tips

Over the past week I have been posting a composition tip each day... in reality though... there are no rules... art is subjective. But it is always good to know the basics.

Below you will find a summary of each of my tips.

Leading Lines

When we look at a photo our eye is naturally drawn along lines. By thinking about how you place lines in your composition, you can affect the way we view the image, pulling us into the picture, towards the subject, or on a journey "through" the scene. There are many different types of line - straight, diagonal, curvy, zigzag, radial etc - and each can be used to enhance our photo's composition.

Naturally Framing a Subject

Framing a subject... naturally framing a focal point is a great way to anchor a photo. It gives an image a natural border and keeps the eyes on the subject.

This image uses the clock face at the Musee D'Orsay as the frame for the Sacre Coeur in the background. Both have interest, but the eye is naturally drawn to the Sacre Coeur.

The next time you are out taking photos, try to use elements to frame your image.

Symmetry and Patterns

We are surrounded by symmetry and patterns, both natural and man-made., They can make for very eye-catching compositions, particularly in situations where they are not expected. Another great way to use them is to break the symmetry or pattern in some way, introducing tension and a focal point to the scene

Depth in a Photo

Because photography is a two-dimensional medium, we have to choose our composition carefully to conveys the sense of depth that was present in the actual scene. You can create depth in a photo by including objects in the foreground, middle ground and background. Another useful composition technique is overlapping, where you deliberately partially obscure one object with another. The human eye naturally recognises these layers and mentally separates them out, creating an image with more depth.

Landscape Photography

Do not forget the foreground in a landscape photo... the best way to capture the whole photo is to focus 1/3 of the way up from the bottom of the photo and use an f-stop of f/16 to bring as much into focus as possible.

Experiment When Taking Photos

With the dawn of the digital age in photography we no longer have to worry about film processing costs or running out of shots. As a result, experimenting with our photos' composition has become a real possibility; we can fire off tons of shots and delete the unwanted ones later at absolutely no extra cost. Take advantage of this fact and experiment with your composition - you never know whether an idea will work until you try it.

Photographing People

When you are photographing a person you should always focus on the eyes... the eyes create a connection with the subject and the person looking at your photo.

Rule of Thirds

Imagine that your image is divided into 9 equal segments by 2 vertical and 2 horizontal lines. The Rule of Thirds says that you should position the most important elements in your scene along these lines, or at the points where they intersect.

Doing so will add balance and interest to your photo. Some cameras even offer an option to superimpose a rule of thirds grid over the LCD screen, making it even easier to use.

Point of View

Before photographing your subject, take time to think about where you will shoot it from. Our viewpoint has a massive impact on the composition of our photo, and as a result it can greatly affect the message that the shot conveys. Rather than just shooting from eye level, consider photographing from high above, down at ground level, from the side, from the back, from a long way away, from very close up, and so on.

To learn more about composition please check out the Photographer's Lounge composition workshops. We run a composition class each month focusing on a diferent topic.

Photography Ideas for this weekend... photographing flowers



I shot this with a single flash positioned at 9 o'clock and falling just in front of the flower to create a graduated soft lighting effect... then in post production I got a little creative...

 So its that in between season here in Canada... summer ended, the fall colours are gone and there is no laying snow on the ground.

While there are awesome photographic opportunities outside... wildlife, landscapes, atmospheric fog, etc... most people tend to hibernate at this time of year and lose their creative flair and only take the camera out for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas...

Here is an idea... go to the local flower shop or grocery store and grab a bouquet of flowers... give them to your spouse or significant other and tell them you love them... that just might get the creative juices flowing later when you go to bed... but that's for a whole other type of blog... LOL

After the flowers are in the vase, grab a few and take some photos of the flowers... with a solid background so that the flowers pop.

You can take some macro shots, try selective focus, play around with your editing software... the opportunities are endless...

Oh... and to add a little bit of pop to the photos... grab a spray bottle and give the flower a few squeezes of the water bottle... as you see below, the added water drops are a nice effect.

Studio Photography Tip - Beginner Advice on a Softbox and Speedlites

ABOUT THIS PHOTO: This photo was taken with a speedlite in a softbox that was positioned 4 feet from the model. The softbox had a diffuser panel on it and it was positioned at 2 o'clock so that the flash fell on the hands and face.

To further create some seperation from the backgound i positioned a second softbox 10 feet away behind and to the left. I positioned this softbox to flash between the model and the wall at 1/4 power. This illuminated the wall just slightly so that you could see some seperation and definition in the wall. (note you could also use a small desk lamp sitting behind the model on the floor)



Here are a few basic tips to consider if you want to photogprah a model with a flash and a softbox....

1) Take the flash off the camera and try using a softbox with a recessed panel. The recessed panel will direct the light and give you more creative control.
2) Position the speedlite so that the flash is facing toward the back of the softbox, then set the zoom on the speedlite to the widest possible setting.
3) Position it so that the light falls slightly in front of the subject. This is called "feathering the light."
4) Remember... the closer the light source, the softer the light will be on the subject.

2013 Photography Workshop Schedule at the Photographer's Lounge

Our 2013 workshop schedule is set. We have created an abundance of learning opportunities for photographers of all levels.

From basic composition classes to advanced photography workshops in International destinations, we believe that every photographer, no matter what genre they specialize in will find a workshop that will help you on your own personal journey.

We have also secured some exceptional workshop leaders to help lead these workshops here in Ontario, in Canada and around the world. Our workshop leaders include internationally renowned photographers such as Rick Sammon, Denise Oppolito, Jim Zuckerman and Tim Vollmer. To see a list of our workshop leaders, and to see their own images, please visit our Gallery Page on the Photographer’s Lounge website.

Below you will find a breakdown of what we have to offer. Please feel free to look through our learning opportunities and contact Kevin at Kevin@photographers-lounge.com with any questions.

Private One-on-one Workshops- For our private workshops; with flexible scheduling and lessons tailored exactly for you, you will advance quickly in your chosen subject. We will also do our best to work around your timeline.

We can cover all aspects of photography from capture through to print and all photographic levels from beginner to advanced. Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops

Composition Workshops – Have you ever wondered why professional photographers can take a photo of the same scene as you but their photos seem to be better than yours. Our 13 composition workshops in 2013 are designed to help you take better photos through the use of time tested composition rules. Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops

Kawartha Region Workshops – Come and join us on our weekend retreats to Lake Salerno in the Kawartha's. In 2013 we are only offering four workshops, a winter, spring, summer and fall workshop. At our home in Northern Ontario we will spend a weekend together capturing the beautiful nature that surrounds us. From basic composition, to more advanced photography techniques and lots of laughs along the way, you are assured to come home with fantastic images and armed with new skills. Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops

Niagara Falls Workshops – Join us as we visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This workshop will help you with photography composition techniques and teach you some editing skills that you can use in the digital darkroom. Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops

Junk Yard Dog Workshops – Come and join us on our "Junk Yard Dog" workshops near Milton, Ontario. These 3 hour workshops will be some of the coolest shoots you will be on in 2013. We will enter the private property of an operational junk yard that is one of the largest in Ontario. The workshops are designed to work on your lighting skills and your composition skills.

The photography opportunities range from capturing decaying cars in nature to photographing professional models amidst the vehicles. Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops

Boudoir Workshops – Boudoir photography is a very challenging genre, far more than simple snaps of a partly clothed subject or a photo of a loved one. To create the results in images people are proud to show, those images with an obvious look of combined art and sensuality, rather than ‘tacky’ or ‘raunchy’ snaps; one must plan and prepare and go into a shoot knowing what it is you want to create. Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops

 

Social Media for Photographers – Are you a photographer wearing multiple hats within your company? Do you struggle with finding the right balance of taking photos instead of growing your business? Are you on a budget and would love to hear inexpensive ways to market your photography business right here in the local market? Do you often find yourself sitting at your computer in the morning, ready to post an update to your Facebook page, Twitter or other social media website – and then you drew a complete blank and don’t know what to write?

Our time together will teach you techniques you can use to find more clients using social media. Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops

The Law of Photography in Canada – This is a seminar you do not want to miss.  Jordan is coming to the Photographers Lounge to speak to us one two subjects.

In the first half of the day Jordan will address the legalities surrounding photographer’s rights, copyright laws in Canada, the internet and how it has changed a photographers ownership rights to images. He will also address contracts, and what the Canadian laws are around taking the image of a person, place or thing. In the second half of Jordan’s seminar he will be addressing how to structure your business. The advantages and disadvantages of the many ways you can register your business in Canada.

For anyone that takes a photo and sells a photo, you need to come and be informed about your legal rights, and the rights of your subjects.

Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops

HDR Workshop with Rick Sammon – This is a one day only HDR workshop with one of the world’s top photographers. Rick Sammon will lead a small group of photographers on an HDR workshop. The day will be spent teaching photographers, not only about HDR, but also about lighting and composition. A one day workshop with Rick Sammon is a great way to learn to take better photos.  Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops.

Canadian Caravan – Join Rick Sammon on his first Canadian Caravan in Northern Ontario. Rick runs Caravan type workshops all over the US and this will be his first in Canada. This is a one week workshop that will cover many, MANY different photography and editing techniques. To learn more about the Canadian Caravan please visit the Photographer’s Lounge website.

Tanzania Photo Safari – Our first visit back to Africa in 2013 is going to be a fantastic journey. Together with Rick Sammon we will visit some of the most iconic areas in Tanzania. Together we will capture the Nogorongoro Crater and the famous, Serengeti National Park. To learn more about the workshop in Africa please visit the Photographer’s Lounge website.

Provence Photo Workshop – Together with Denise Ippolito and Rick Sammon you will visit the Provence area of France in June of 2013. Together we will spend time visiting the quaint villages in the hills of Provence and spend time photographing the Carmague horses along the seaside.  To learn more about the workshop in France please visit the Photographer’s Lounge website.

Mongolia Photo Workshop – Join the Photographer’s Lounge as we visit the Naadam festival in the summer of 2013. This ancient Olympic style festival offers the photographer the opportunity to capture cultural Mongolia, monasteries and the famous Naadam Festival.

This is one of two trips to Mongolia in the next two years. In 2014 we will be returning to photograph the Golden Eagle festival with Jim Zuckerman. To learn more about the workshops in Mongolia please visit the Photographer’s Lounge website.

Iceland Photo Workshop – Three Professional Photographers’ will be leading this tour. Rick Sammon, Tim Vollmer and Kevin Pepper will take you on a workshop that will take you to some of the most amazing photographic destinations you will find anywhere in the world. To learn more about the workshop in Iceland please visit the Photographer’s Lounge website.

Venezuela Photo Workshop – This trip as so much interest that we added a second trip in 2013 already. Join us as we visit the north west area of Venezuela. We will spend time in the floating city of Ologa photographing a natural wonder of the world, the Catatumbo Lightening before we head up into the Andes Mountains to capture some inspiring landscapes and unique animals. To learn more about the workshops in Venezuela please visit the Photographer’s Lounge website.

New Instructor at the Photographers Lounge - Jay Terry

Photo courtesy of Jay Terry

Jay is a life-long artist – from illustration to graphic design to photography. Today, he’s a portrait and glamour photographer, specialising in dramatic and artistic portraiture. A dedicated speedlight shooter, Jay believes in the “small lights, big results” philosophy.

He has most recently been awarded as Ontario’s 2012 Portrait Photographer of the Year, in addition to the Tibor Horvath Award of Excellence and dozens of awards for portraiture, figure study and fine art. An accredited member and co-Webinar Director of the Professional Photographers of Canada, Jay’s always looking to give back through educating and guidance for new photographers, just as he has been by some of the leading industry shooters.

Photo courtesy of Jay Terry

Currently living in London, ON, with his wife, Amanda, he exercises his creative muscles with landscape and HDR photography. Through blogging about his adventures and imagery, Jay’s work has been recognised by both Explore the Bruce and Waterfalls of Ontario.

You can see more of Jay’s work at Jay Terry Photography.

You can catch Jay teaching at the Photographer's Lounge at our lighting and  Boudoir workshops.

New Instructor at the Photographers Lounge

Photo by Gary Simmons

I am extremely happy to announce that my good friend Gary Simmons is comng on board as a teacher and workshop leader at the Photographer's Lounge.

Gary is Canadian based amateur photographer.  He began taking photography seriously in 2008, and has amassed a large body of impressive work since that time.

Gary is primary a nature photographer, but he always looks for unique photos in everything that is around. People, travel, macros, HDR (especially HDR)... The challenge of learning something new from every photographic experience is what drives him.

He has won the local KPL/The Record photo contest, and is well respected in his local camera club.  He loves to share his wealth of knowledge with anyone he can get to listen, making him a real asset at the Photographer's Lounge.

You can catch Gary at some of our composition workshops . Gary will also be lending his expertise in using speedlites in our lighting workshops. These workshops are perfect for the amateur photographer that wants to learn basics use of lighting off camera and on camera. These workshops will be announced in November of 2012.

You can catch Gary's images on our gallery page where all our instructors have placed their photos. To see that gallery please visit the Photographer's Lounge PRO Gallery

See more of Gary's work at:
http://flickr.com/gsimmonsonca
http://facebook.com/garysimmonsphotography