Archive for the ‘workshops’ Category

Henry's Fork Moose

Ok…it’s been a while since I’ve done a Q&A session so I thought I would answer a few questions I’ve received over last few months.

Why should I use a lens hood?
I always use my lens hood because it reduces flare from the sun and lights.  Most importantly, it is just another way to protect your glass. I don’t know how many times I’ve knocked my camera in doorways, poles, trees, etc.

Do I need a UV filter?
I always use a UV filter on my lens (personal preference). Once again it’s just another way to protect your lens. I do want to add a special note for those of you who have gone out and bought an expensive lens. There is no sense whatsoever in spending $1,000+ on a lens just to put a cheap $5.00 UV filter on it. You get what you pay for, and if you’re buying expensive glass and plan on using a UV filter, than I suggest buying a quality filter.

When I’m taking sunset/sunrise photos, do I need to remove my polarizing filter?
Depends. Using a polarized filter and playing with the exposure can result in a dramatic sunset/sunrises. Or, if you prefer you can leave the filter off and apply filters in Photoshop, Lightroom, Aperture…etc.

What’s your favorite all around lens?
I love shooting with my Canon 24-70mm USM L series. This lens goes with me everywhere.  But I did stop sleeping with it a few years back…

Your favorite camera bag?
I’ve owned a few but I have to say Think Tank’s Streetwalker Pro is my favorite hands down.  This bag is sturdy, has a rain cover thrown in, and it simply works.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I’m always looking for good Q&A ideas so if you have any questions feel free to leave them here.

If you found this helpful consider subscribing to my blog HERE or checking out one of my workshops HERE.

Winter Pier (1/250th at f/14, 16mm at ISO 200)

Today’s image is the first in a series dedicated to explaining how I go about selecting and making an image.  I’m a big believer in what my accounting professor (you thought I was going to say art teacher didn’t you..) use to hammer in our heads “garbage in/garbage out”  (e.g. if the shot starts out bad chances are it’s going to be bad).   To me it’s all about composition and feel.   On one cold January morning  in Chicago I decided to head toward Lake Michigan.  I figured since it was so cold very few people would be out  and I was hoping last night’s freshly fallen snow would help mask previous visitors.

Once I reached the pier I composed my shot by hand.  When I was satisfied with the composition I then set up my tripod with a cable release.  This minimizes the small amount of motion required to push the shutter button, and will reduce any chances of camera shake.  If you don’t own a cable release I recommend using your camera’s self timer.   Cable releases are relatively cheap so consider picking one up for the future – it will make your life easier.   Whenever I’m shooting still landscapes I always turn on my “mirror lock-up” to help minimize vibrations from the shutter.  Mirror lock-up can be located in almost all camera’s operating menus – on my Canon 5D Mark II it’s located under custom functions.
Now that I have the foundation set it’s time to start experimenting with exposures.  I always try to start with a low ISO to help reduce noise.  ISO selection, while big, is becoming less of an issue with newer cameras.   What was once a race to more megapixels by camera manufactures has now turned into a race to higher ISO while maintaining the quality of the image.  The benefits are huge….but we’ll leave that for later blog. I played with my ISO and apertures for a few minutes while reviewing my histogram.  I finally settled in at an ISO of 200 and  an aperture of f/14 so that I would have sufficient detail in my image.

The next step was to  take several images using AEB (auto exposure bracketing)…  I like to think of this is as an exposure prophylactic (don’t send hate mail it’s just a word).  But when exposure is tricky, such as it can be with snow, or when you’re simply not sure it’s best to cover all your bases.  I take several AEB shots moving in increments of +/- 1/3.  If you shoot any HDR or plan on using images for HDR then you’re probably already familiar with this technique.  In this case, I also decide to bracket for HDR (just in case) but used a full step of +/- 1.

All said and done I shot approximately 40 images (sort of the light side for gunner like me) but I felt the images looked solid, and I was freezing, so I called it good.

So that’s part one of making of the image.  Tomorrow, I’ll walk you through the processing.  I’ll show you the original image and the steps I took to get today’s final version.

If you found this helpful consider subscribing to my blog HERE.  If you’re interested in learning more about  one of my workshops click HERE.

Palm Leaf (1/50sec at f4.5, 34mm at ISO 250)

I had a wonderful birthday weekend and I want to give a big shout out to everyone that dropped me a note wishing me a Happy Birthday.  I want to especially thank  Staci (my squeeze)  for throwing me a killer birthday party at Yak-Zie’s.  My 40’s are already looking up with such great friends, family and a killer group of readers.  I have a lot planned this year and I can’t wait to share it with all of you–  In March, I’ll be heading to New York-DC, April I’ll be traveling to India to photograph the Kumbha Mela festival,  June-July I’ll be heading out to Montana (look for a Yellowstone photography seminar announcement) and in August I’m scheduled to climb Mt. Rainier with a very close friend.    That’s if my daughter Anna’s prediction doesn’t come true…  “you’ll be using a cane any day now.”    But enough personal stuff, here’s what I have planned for all of you…

This week I plan on doing several blogs that breakdown the steps in how I go about making an image, so look for the first in the series tomorrow.  Also, in an effort to get to know my readers better next week I’ll be doing a column called “in the spotlight” where I’ll be featuring readers and their work.

The contest:  I’m going to extend February’s photo contest until the 18th and announce the winner on the 19th so keep uploading those photos to my Facebook Fan page found HERE.

I found a few cool iPhone apps so if you’re looking for a free HDR program for you iPhone then click HERE.  Or, a free crop program then click HERE.

Lastly, it’s been brought to my attention that some people have tried to comment on my site with some trouble.  I’m trying to work out the problems and hope to have it resolved in the next few days.

Until tomorrow…take care, John

Tunnel (1/60th at f/6.3 at 16mm at ISO 800)

It’s been a busy week and I’m glad to see there’s light at the end of the tunnel.  I have couple of quick reminders going into the weekend.  We have the February photo contest going on, so please make sure to upload your favorite Valentines photo.  Now, if you’re having a hard time with the word “Valentines” then simply upload your favorite photos of something you “love.”   This contest is all about having a good time, so step back and show us whatcha got!   In other reminders we still have room in the June Chicago workshop, so if you’re interested in participating make sure to drop me a line at john@batdorffphotography.com.  More details about the workshop are available HERE.   Starting next week I’m going to start doing a series on “making of the image,” so stay tuned!

As a side note, yours truly is turning the big 4-0 this Sunday.  Yep, that’s right… I share my birthday with Valentine’s day.  No, that doesn’t mean I get a box of chocolates and a cake. It usually means I get a wonderful night out with my girls, and if I’m on good behavior, they treat me to  flourless cupcake at Sweet Mandy B’s in Chicago.   But I guess if I have to be good one day a year, it’s well worth it…;)

Have a great V-day John

Cloud Gate or "The Bean" (1/8th at f/3.5 ISO 2000)

I’m happy to announce my Chicago workshop coming this June 19th-20th .   My game plan is pretty simple- to have fun teaching eight willing participants the in’s and out’s of how I go about taking photos. We will spend some of the time in the field shooting. and some time in the classroom discussing post processing using software programs like Lightroom. This class is perfect for beginner and intermediate photographers looking to take their skills to the next level. We will cover such subjects as aperture priority, f-stops, exposure, speed, equipment selection, ethics, best practices, marketing, networking, etc.

AGENDA

Saturday

9 a.m.-10 a.m. (meet and greet)

10 a.m.-1 p.m. (shooting in the field)

1 p.m.- 4 p.m. (post processing /Lightroom instruction)

9 p.m. (optional night photography shoot)

Sunday

9 a.m.- 12p.m. (recap, critique, Q&A)

12p.m. (workshop concluded)

The cost of the workshop is $475 payable via PayPal or personal check. If you’re interested in the workshop please drop me a note at john@batdorffphotography.com.

Millennium Park, Chicago, Kajsa Stolberg

I spent a few days last week with John, scouting out the sites we’ll be taking people who join us for the Chicago workshop later this year.  I grew up visiting Chicago with my parents and I’ve continued with periodic trips to visit with friends and take part in all of the cultural activities that can be difficult to find in a small town.  My brother and I are so accustomed to the offerings of Chicago that all we had to do was say, “I feel like looking at fish today” and “I miss the Art Institute, let’s check out the armor exhibit this time” to establish a schedule for our short visit.  But back to the workshop: I’m here to report a solid line-up for shooting opportunities for the Chicago workshop. Think Lincoln Park, Millennium Park, the lake shore and all the great flavor that Chicago sprinkles over the top. Continue to check the blog for updates (we should have details out in the next week), or contact John to join the mailing list for when the date and price are set.

Yellowstone Buffalo (1/160 sec at f/9.0, 700mm at ISO 400)

I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years. I just returned from Michigan where I spent the last few days teaching my daughter to ski, splitting wood with a friend and having my butt handed over to me in a mean game of Wii bowling . Yep, it was a perfect New Year’s weekend. Now the holidays are over and I’m getting back on track.

A little Shameless self-promoting:
First off, if you own a Kindle you can now receive my blog via Amazon’s Whispernet. That’s the good news. The bad news is Amazon charges .99 a month for the service. I have no control over the Amazon delivery price, but if you’re as addicted to your Kindle as I am then the convenience might be worth it. Click HERE to subscribe.

Don’t miss another blog:
As a friendly reminder you can subscribe to my blog via email or an RSS feed. Just click HERE TO SUBSCRIBE

Connect with me:
I really enjoy connecting with all of my readers and fellow photographers. I realize not everyone uses the same social networks so I try to keep as many accounts open as possible to allow me to connect with each of you. So here’s to hooking up:

Facebook Fan Page: Click HERE

Twitter: Click HERE

LinkedIn: Click HERE

Flickr: Click HERE

Mentorships:
I’m currently in the process of wrapping up a few mentorships and accepting new students so if you’re interested in a three month mentorship program then click HERE to learn more

Wow, I feel better. I just crossed four things of my to do list. Thanks for bearing with me through the process. Tomorrow, I promise not to be so selfish and give you a few solid tips..;)

Crown Fountain (1/80 at f/3.5 16mm, ISO 1000)

I’m running around a lot today finishing some last minute shopping and working in meeting with a few students along the way. Here are a few things you should check out:

Matt Brandon and Gavin Gough are in putting together a workshop in India to cover the Kumbha Mela Festival. If you’re not familiar with the Festival then check out this link HERE. Matt and Gavin are amazing photographers and I had planned on signing up myself, but the dates just don’t work for me. If you want an amazing photographic experience with two of the finest travel photographers, then I suggest checking out their upcoming workshop HERE.

This might be old news for a few of you but I’m deep into John Harrington’s book, “Best Business Practices for Photographers,” and I have to say it’s rock solid. It answers a lot of those nagging questions about what to charge, licensing, asset management, and so on. Don’t make any assumptions about this being a “how to take photos” book. This book is all business and very focused on the photographers that are looking to enhance their business model. Check it out HERE.

A few weeks back I invited fellow photographers to participate in a chance to get featured on my blog. Well, last week we finally sent out a questionnaire to our first batch of lucky photographers. I’m really pleased with the selection of our first group. I’m sure their stories will be every bit as interesting as their work. What photographers did I pick? It’s a secret until we get all the forms back. Also, I want to thank everyone that dropped me an email about the upcoming Chicago workshop this spring. Once I get all the details nailed down I’ll make sure to notify you all.

That’s it….I’m off to do the typical last minute holiday shopping sprint…..so take care, John

Contact Sheet

I set a personal goal for myself to enter ten photo contests a year.  Now,  I don’t know how many of you have entered a photography contest, but let me tell you it can be a hassle.  I’ve held a few photo contests myself  (as many of  you  know)  but  hands down I think it’s easier judging then submitting.   I spent a good part of last night reviewing my images with family,  all the while cursing myself for not creating  “contest”  collections.    I can’t totally beat myself up because it’s only been recently that I’ve decided to start entering contests with some regularity.  So, here’s my advice:  learn from my mistake.  Don’t just create collections of your best work, but break your best work down into categories such as black and white, landscape, people, objects, themes.   That way when it comes time to enter a contest that has specific guidelines such as “submit your best landscape”  you know with a few clicks of the mouse exactly where to locate your images.    Another key piece of advice is to make sure you read over the contest rules very carefully.  Many contests have very specific technical guidelines – not to mention  the dreaded deadlines.    In terms of the selection process I try to distance myself from my images.   I know it can be hard but try to look at your work through the eyes of a stranger.  Try to ask yourself, what would they see, how would it make them feel, what makes this image work,  what is the photographer trying to convey?   Once you have a batch of possibilities , next comes the narrowing down process.   This is where things can take some time.   I find myself comparing images and simply asking,  “Is this image stronger then the proceeding image and why?”   This process can go on for quite some time. Often times, I’ll make contact prints of my images and compare them side by side.  I always recommend  viewing your work with someone that you respect and you know will give you honest feedback.  This is  basically the same process I use when I’m selecting images for my portfolio, but when it comes to contests  you’re stuck boiling down 30 images into 2-3 solid picks.   The process is work but it doesn’t have to be dreaded and if done right it can be fun.   I’ve avoided contests in the past simply because of the time commitment it takes to enter, but now I feel like that’s more of an excuse than a reason.  Like they say, “nothing ventured, nothing gained.”   The one thing I do know for sure is that regardless if I win or lose I’ve strengthened my portfolio via the exercise.

I hope everyone had a great weekend.  Kajsa’s post on Sunday rocked. If you missed it click HERE.  I think I’m putting her in charge of all the poll questions from here on out.    This past weekend I spent some time scouting out places for my next Chicago workshop (details still in the works).    One of things I really enjoy about Chicago is the nightlife.  I’ve always said during the day to put me in the country, but at night I enjoy the buzz of the city. This city never seems to sleep and lucky for me it makes for some wonderful photo opportunities.   I spent Saturday evening strolling around the loop checking out the local happenings.  I even made it over to Cloud Gate or affectionately know by locals as The Bean, which I’m embarrassed to say I’ve only photographed a few times.  For those of you that don’t know, the Bean is a reflective sculpture  located in downtown’s Millennium Park. I had a great time. The downtown was flush with people in the holiday spirit and there was  plenty to shoot.   I even broke down and started a Flickr account so that I can start networking with all you Flickr lovers.  If you’re interested in following my stream or becoming a friend of mine on Flickr then just click HERE.   Also, if you’re interested in my  upcoming Chicago workshop this spring, just drop me a note on the blog or email and I’ll put you on the mailing list.  There’s nothing better than the windy city in the spring.