We just finished our first two field based workshops! We wanted to share the results with you in our trip report. Click on the link below to see highlights of our workshops in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. This was the perfect blend of wildlife and landscape photography during fall aspen season.
We have one more trip to Rocky Mountain National Park coming up in mid-October. Wildfire smoke may become a factor for night skies, but we have a group that is ready to go and there are a few spaces available:
If you are staying at home, we have several online classes starting at the end of October will space still available. Click on the links below for dates and details:
Tom and I celebrate the great images being created by our community of photographers each month by selecting a Photo of the Month. For August we selected Lynn Satterfield’s image from our online Texture Overlay class. We hope you enjoy Lynn’s images as much as we do.
Congratulations to August’s photographer – Lynn Satterfield
Lynn at the Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia, Argentina
The Story …
The wagon was at the estancia where we stayed in Patagonia. It was at sunset and the light came in really nice on the wagon. I took the photo handheld. It was a pretty good photo before I did anything with texture layers.
I asked myself can I make it look rustic, like it was old and wearing down. This concept just seemed to go with the wagon.
The August 2020 Photo of the Month
To create the texture image for the overlay, I just went into the kitchen and pulled all the pans out to see what I had. I used the Nikon Z6 to photograph it because it’s so light. I turned the pan right side up first. Then I turned it over and the back side was even better.
I cropped the texture layer a bit because the edge didn’t add anything to it. I put a bit of gold color in it to warm the image up. I added texture and clarity as well. That was about it, really.
Lynn’s texture layer created by photographing the back of a baking pan with her Nikon Z6
The Data: .
ISO 400 35mm 1/125 f 16
The Gear: Nikon D500 for background, Nikon Z6 for texture
About Texture Overlays:
Doing texture layers helped me understand layers and blending modes in PhotoShop. With the layer masks, it just seemed to click that you could use them to bring out parts of the texture and hide the texture in other parts.
Texture layers give you a feeling of creating and being an artist. Taking a photo anyone can do. This technique makes the image your own vision.
A goose texture overlay image from Lynn SatterfieldThe golden pond texture Lynn chose for her goose image
Tip from the Photographer …
Don’t be intimidated by layers. Experiment. Put different textures on and see what they look like. the wagon texture was about 46% opacity. I used the lighten blend mode after going through all of them.
Lynn experimenting with a second texture on the Patagonian wagon
On Lynn’s Horizon
Bears and Glaciers Workshop and Australia/Tasmania Workshop in 2021
She also wants to work more with speedlights and editing in PhotoShop.
Lynn in action in the bird blinds at Laguna Seca Ranch in South Texas
The Patagonian wagon image was taken on a workshop with American Nature Photography WorkshopsClick here to learn more
There is another Texture Overlay class starting at the end of October. To see a schedule of online classes with Tom Bol Photo WorkshopsClick Here
Tom and I want to celebrate the great images being created by photographers each month. For June we selected an image from our new online workshop Creative Camera Craft We hope you enjoy Stuart’s images as much as we do.
Congratulations to June’s photographer – Stuart Litoff
Stuart in urban Tokyo
The Story:
The assignment was to capture motion.
I live in Washington DC and it’s summertime. The thought of going out in the hot and humid weather wasn’t very appealing so I started thinking about what I could do in my apartment.
I was looking for something manageable from the technical aspects of shooting. I asked myself, “What do I do a lot of? Sitting at my desk and typing on a keyboard. That’s how the idea came to me.
What would I need for the shoot? A tripod. I needed the keyboard to be rock solid and my hand’s needed to be free. I focused on the keyboard and framed it the way I liked it. And then, I used a remote with a ten second delay to take the picture.
I experimented both with being in front and behind the tripod. I found being behind the tripod and reaching around it worked better. The angle of where the camera was worked better.
Next, I experimented with the shutter speeds – I was trying to see how much blur looked good. The shutter speed I chose was faster than I thought it would be. It was just .8 seconds.
I realized it was important to keep my hands apart and not use the middle keys. I learned this by reviewing the first set of images in the l.c.d.
Once I had it I did minimal post processing – even though I do love to move those sliders!
I knew it was a successful image for the assignment. I wouldn’t have thought to take it on my own. That’s one of the fun things about taking a class. I transferred the idea into something that looked clever. It wasn’t a blazing sunset, but I do like it.
Stuart Litoff’s Photo of the Month
The Data: .8 sec, f4, ISO 200
The Gear: Fuji X-T2 with a 16-55mm lens
About Learning Photography Online:
Taking classes online is very stimulating. They have me looking around the apartment and out the window for things to photograph.
Tip from the Photographer:
The pandemic is dominating everyone’s lives, including photographers. Up until the pandemic, I took 90% of my pictures on workshops. I live in Washington DC. It’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but I just don’t go out and photograph it much.
The class I took was perfect for me. My advice is to look around where you live. Follow the light for interesting photographs. If the photographs don’t come on their own, take an online class.
More of Stuart’s images from Creative Camera Craft
On Stuart’s Horizon
I keep thinking there will be a photo travel trip in the near future…..but I don’t see it. I will apply what I learned in class around here and see what new courses come up.
Stuart in the Redwoods
For more information on Online Classes with TBPW Click Here
