This unique course combines two of Ben Willmore’s specialties: High Dynamic Range and Light Painting. Once you feel comfortable with those two specialties, then you’ll be able to expand your shooting range beyond the standard golden hour and capture idealized images regardless of what time of day you encounter an interesting subject.
Ben been painting with light since the 1980‘s and has taught the technique in locations as distant as Africa and Iceland as well as right here at Light Workshops. The process starts with a pitch black scene and then during a long exposure, the photographer walks through the scene selectively lighting it using a flashlight. The photographer does not appear in the final image because he is careful to never point the flashlight in his general direction and never to block the camera’s view of the scene.
Using this technique you can create the most unique and interesting images from otherwise dull and boring subject matter. Combine an amazing subject with a little light painting and you’ll take your photography to a higher level. Light painting is an inexpensive endeavor. If you already own a DSLR camera and a tripod, you’ll only need to purchase a light source and possibly a cable release. In this class you’ll learn:
During class we will have ample time to practice light painting both in the field and indoors with a model.
Learn to capture the full brightness range of a scene and present it to your viewer as either a photorealistic image or as an image that more closely resembles a hyper-detailed drawing. Once you master HDR, you’ll be able to shoot under the midday sun while retaining full detail in both the shadows and highlights. That means no more blown out skies or black shadows, unless that’s what you desire… you’ll have full control.
With over two dozen choices of HDR processing software, you’ll learn which software is worth using and which should be ignored. You’ll also see how a hard to find option in Photoshop CS6 (not earlier versions) will allow you to produce amazing results without the need to purchase any additional software.
This course will teach you how to deal with common HDR problems such as subject motion, scenes with extreme dynamic range, images that feature people and a lot more. Techniques will include:
You’ll learn all this from one of the original pioneers of HDR photography: The guy who wrote the forward to the book “The World in HDR” and who the author of “The HDR Handbook” dubbed “The Godfather of HDR.”