This seminar is guided by our underlying belief that success in any photographic discipline is largely characterized by the ability to see and understand the quality, quantity, and other physical properties of light and how they relate to your subject and capture medium. We will give you the knowledge and tools you need to take control of your imagery and produce wildlife photographs that are a cut above. Emphasis will be placed on the five key ingredients that are paramount to consistently producing successful imagery in the digital world : knowing the fundamentals, familiarity with your equipment, being pro-active, knowing your subject, and knowing your way around the digital darkroom.

Chas and Mike will share the thought processes behind the making of an image and the techniques used to produce consistently successful images in the field. This includes a Pro-Active methodology that is guaranteed to forever change the way you approachphotography. The faster you are able to assess the conditions as presented and employ the tools and techniques necessary to render the image as desired, the more likely you are to accomplish your goal.

Metering and exposure will be covered in depth. You will learn how and when to use the various metering patterns and exposure modes to generate optimum results. The advantages and detriments of Manual vs. Automatic exposure modes will be covered at length. The objective is to instill a firm understanding of the fundamentals of metering and exposure so that you can quickly make informed decisions in the field and come away with the envisioned image regardless of the lighting circumstance. The ultimate goal is to put creative control back into the hands of the photographer.

Today’s DSLRs are sophisticated and complex with many advanced features and custom functions at your disposal. We will discuss camera settings that are useful for wildlife photography as well as other tips and techniques for handling your gear in the field including advice for shooting in inclement weather.

Creating wildlife images with visual impact requires more than just technical proficiency with your camera. We will also discuss some of the visual skills needed such as simplifying the scene, subject placement, eliminating distractions, shooting angle, orientation of the light source, choosing foregrounds and backgrounds, and the use of compositional elements like leading lines, diagonals, negative space, balance, and symmetry. In addition, we will look at how an understanding of animal behavior can better allow us to approach wildlife and to capture the decisive moment. In the digital world, proper use of post-processing tools are a final and critical ingredient to creating a visually stunning image. We will discuss some of the key concepts such as basic color management and also demonstrate some of the more useful tools and techniques using Photoshop, Nik Filters, and MacPhun Software. The ability to visualize a finalized post-processed image prior to depressing the shutter is a huge advantage. The post-production techniques illustrated will change the way you expose and think about capturing images in-camera.

Questions will be welcomed and encouraged throughout the weekend and we will do our best to tailor the content and presentation to the needs and interests of the attendees. You will walk away from this program with a renewed sense of confidence and a new mindset that will enable you to consistently produce creative, well exposed, and provocative story telling images.

Chance to win lots of great door prizes from F-Stop, LensCoat, datacolor, MacPhun Software, Hunt’s Photo, and more!

Location : Bentley University La Cava Center, Room 325, 175 Forest Street, Waltham, MA 02452

Dates : March 29 & 30, 2014, 9:00 am – 5 pm each day (Lunch on your own : 11:30 to 1 pm)

Fee : $129 in advance, $149 at the door

Registration : Contact us at 828-891-4082 or info@shootthelight

“Please bring your camera and a small lens to the seminar.”

Recommended Lodging :http://www.bentley.edu/about/area-lodging