Portrait Workshop, Grand Theatre, Tracy, California

Portrait Workshop
Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, Tracy, California
10am - 2pm, Saturday, July 27.

Link = http://stareg.ci.tracy.ca.us/stareg/Activities/ActivitiesCourseDetails.asp?aid=1603&cid=39887

I'm one of those photographers who doesn't specialize in one genre. Too many times has something gained or learned in one style carried over into at least one other. There's too much "interconnection" and "cross pollination" of lighting, of composing and placement, and a host of other ideas and concepts.

On July 27th, I'm again offering a workshop on dealing with portrait lighting. It's low key and informal, while presenting a good deal of worthwhile information, plus ample hands-on time working with the Grand's "real world" settings.

We look not at studio lighting or more "formal" lighting styles that in exploring and studying the "found" available lighting, and finding effective ways to work with it or gently manipulate it. If everyone had access to a studio light set up in their garage, living room, or spare bedroom, the focus could be on this, since everyone could go home and practice whatever was learned. Alas...few do, and the gained skills would wither away. But, every photographer does come with a camera and a working set of eyes, so things learned within the world of "natural" light can easily be carried forth into many other environments, settings, and situations.

The four-hour workshop includes a general run through of different lighting aspects - like its color, light and shadow contrast, intensity, quality - as well as how it affects a subject or setting - various terms like "front-" or "side-" lighting, or "soft" lighting, etc. Again, carryover from one style works - side lighting is the same concept, whether the subject is a landscape, a flower, or a human. All dSLR cameras can control and adjust aspects of the lighting for better... or, worse. We'll deal with some of how the controls - mode, f/stop, shutter speed, ISO - can be brought to use.

   We'll explore how to directly adjust exposure issues in the camera's Manual mode, but also how to work, maybe more effectively, in "Av" Aperture-Priority, which will allow the camera to respond as we move within a space or change rooms, without having to manually readjust the Manual settings all over again...just because we decided to move locations.

I've been teaching in Tracy's Grand Theatre for four years, and been contributing imagery for the venue's class catalog for most of this time, too. Whether by day or night, in a classroom or the open air loggia, during summer or winter, I've gained some experience in working with the building's varied spaces.

If you would have the interest in being introduced to some working concepts of portrait photography, I'd appreciate having you along for the session.

It will be fun and an informative photo opportunity.

 The class enrollment description and registration is in the link at the top of the page.

The individuals along as "subjects" will be genuine characters to engage in conversation and interact with with the cameras, and will bring backgrounds in music, dance, and/or theater.

Their unique personalities will make life behind the camera easier and a bit more fun, too.



I hope to see you here...

Richard D. Beebe
...photographer -
......N. California
...photography instructor -
......Grand Theatre Center for the Arts,
......Tracy, Calif.