"Pro for a day" - Melb Studio Workshop
Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 9:46 pmAlrighty then, we have had great success with our Melbourne workshops in the past, its time to plan other! Based on feedback received from all those who attended the previous workshops, I’d like to organize an even bigger and better one this time, I’m thinking along the lines of “pro for a day”…
Picture this, you book your place, as places will fill fast… you arrive the weekend morning of the studio based workshop/shoot… past the reception desk there is three studios, all for your use, all day. 3 to 4 stations are set up, with a variety of still life, portrait, and maybe fashion… each with a variety of studio flash, natural light, and hot lamps… maybe the forth using hot shoe flash. Perhaps even a touch of special effects…
You bring yourself, your camera on your shoulder, and your vision… you walk around a little and check out all the sets set up for you to play with and learn amongst the excitement of similar like minded people, all there to add to their skills in capturing THE shot… you take a seat in a presentation area, all the seats fill quickly since all arrived right on time, in fact early… as the house music subsides, you are welcomed warmly by your host, and the day kicks off with a meet and greet… starting out with some of the basics of light, how it works, how to use it, how to abuse it… the instructor steps through some more advanced concepts, but all within a short time, as while your sitting there, all you want to do is get shooting…
The schedule is explained, and the logistics around it… split into 4 groups, and move towards your allocated station…. There you will meet your stations team lead, who will begin to demonstrate the topic, and the contents of what you are about to learn… you work together to get the set arranged, backgrounds, foregrounds, stands, lights, subjects, scrims, reflectors, modifiers, simple things, other techie thingos, lights, meter, action!
You shoot away, then change places with other members of your group, and watch them and learn together, while you chimp away, hunched over the little screen that we all do so well…
In between, your shots are downloaded to a PC, for later to have some critique time together…
You move onto station two… this time, different lighting sources, different angles, different subject, this time it’s a portrait of a distinguished member of society… you get that shot, with the assistance and teamwork of your fellow togs…
You break for an in-house lunch, so as to maximize the time shooting…
Station three, and its time for fashion, and full length portraits, wind in the hair, twirling dresses, sharp dressed models posing with you. You will get the opportunity to work with experienced models, and beginners. Practice the art of pose, and direction…
…then possibly to the last station, a product shot set, light tent… and you are creating a catalog image for a number of products…
Subject to weather, we may be able to step out to the lane at the rear of the studio, and get some grungy portraits shot with available light…
The four sessions are completed, and then we share our shots for a group peer review, and critique given to the brave…
Then to close the day, the last topic, is taking group shots, so we in fact are challenged with the task to take a portrait of the groups we are in… getting the lighting, exposure, angle, all good so you are a pro at your next family gathering…
After that, all hands on deck to pack up the kit, and discuss what we enjoyed most from the day…
We can see how well this extended format works, and possibly arrange a follow up session 3 weeks after (please indicate your interest in this too, so I can arrange…) where you can bring in prints from the workshop, or your work since so you can share your learnings…
This will require a large studio, with a few sets for each workstation, so there will be some cost, depending on numbers, probably somewhere between $80 to $100 (now that’s a bargain at twice the price!!!).
So, where to from here…
If we can get enough together, I’ll lock it in, and we book the facility, gear, and people required to make this happen, so now over to you, for a show of hands… (happy as always to receive input in agenda, and all other aspects…)
How about Saturday January 19th, 10am to 5pm?
Go on then, post your interest… this will be aimed at a level where all will be able to get results they are pleased with!
PS: Gary, can we link this from the calendar section? Please?
Picture this, you book your place, as places will fill fast… you arrive the weekend morning of the studio based workshop/shoot… past the reception desk there is three studios, all for your use, all day. 3 to 4 stations are set up, with a variety of still life, portrait, and maybe fashion… each with a variety of studio flash, natural light, and hot lamps… maybe the forth using hot shoe flash. Perhaps even a touch of special effects…
You bring yourself, your camera on your shoulder, and your vision… you walk around a little and check out all the sets set up for you to play with and learn amongst the excitement of similar like minded people, all there to add to their skills in capturing THE shot… you take a seat in a presentation area, all the seats fill quickly since all arrived right on time, in fact early… as the house music subsides, you are welcomed warmly by your host, and the day kicks off with a meet and greet… starting out with some of the basics of light, how it works, how to use it, how to abuse it… the instructor steps through some more advanced concepts, but all within a short time, as while your sitting there, all you want to do is get shooting…
The schedule is explained, and the logistics around it… split into 4 groups, and move towards your allocated station…. There you will meet your stations team lead, who will begin to demonstrate the topic, and the contents of what you are about to learn… you work together to get the set arranged, backgrounds, foregrounds, stands, lights, subjects, scrims, reflectors, modifiers, simple things, other techie thingos, lights, meter, action!
You shoot away, then change places with other members of your group, and watch them and learn together, while you chimp away, hunched over the little screen that we all do so well…
In between, your shots are downloaded to a PC, for later to have some critique time together…
You move onto station two… this time, different lighting sources, different angles, different subject, this time it’s a portrait of a distinguished member of society… you get that shot, with the assistance and teamwork of your fellow togs…
You break for an in-house lunch, so as to maximize the time shooting…
Station three, and its time for fashion, and full length portraits, wind in the hair, twirling dresses, sharp dressed models posing with you. You will get the opportunity to work with experienced models, and beginners. Practice the art of pose, and direction…
…then possibly to the last station, a product shot set, light tent… and you are creating a catalog image for a number of products…
Subject to weather, we may be able to step out to the lane at the rear of the studio, and get some grungy portraits shot with available light…
The four sessions are completed, and then we share our shots for a group peer review, and critique given to the brave…
Then to close the day, the last topic, is taking group shots, so we in fact are challenged with the task to take a portrait of the groups we are in… getting the lighting, exposure, angle, all good so you are a pro at your next family gathering…
After that, all hands on deck to pack up the kit, and discuss what we enjoyed most from the day…
We can see how well this extended format works, and possibly arrange a follow up session 3 weeks after (please indicate your interest in this too, so I can arrange…) where you can bring in prints from the workshop, or your work since so you can share your learnings…
This will require a large studio, with a few sets for each workstation, so there will be some cost, depending on numbers, probably somewhere between $80 to $100 (now that’s a bargain at twice the price!!!).
So, where to from here…
If we can get enough together, I’ll lock it in, and we book the facility, gear, and people required to make this happen, so now over to you, for a show of hands… (happy as always to receive input in agenda, and all other aspects…)
How about Saturday January 19th, 10am to 5pm?
Go on then, post your interest… this will be aimed at a level where all will be able to get results they are pleased with!
PS: Gary, can we link this from the calendar section? Please?