NEW ALL DAY CLASS

This is the first in our Digital Photography Core Competency series, called "Photographic Styles". This session will highlight a variety of different styles of photography and we're happy to introduce macro photography as the first class.

Introduction:

Have you looked at those up-close and personal photographs of butterflies or flowers and wondered how that was done? It's done through the process of macro photography. One of the joys of macro photography is that it allows the viewer of your pictures to see a view of the world that they normally don't. Have you ever found yourself having an artistic block? No matter what you do, you can't seem to figure out what to shoot? One of the best and immediate cures is to shoot close up.

This class will introduce you to the concepts of macro shooting including such things as "working space", magnification, lighting and shadows, subject selection, and more.

You will be making your own light box and the materials are included.

What you will learn:

• Why macro is "close focusing" and not "close up"
• The importance of "working distance"
• How to select a macro lens
• 1:2, 1:1, 2:1 macro ratios
• The use of other close-focusing items such as filters and extension tubes
• How to use a macro rail
• Tethering for better accuracy
• How to build your own light tent
• Lighting techniques for minimal shadows
• Selecting a focal area on your subject
• Composition issues as they relate to macro photography
• Avoiding specular highlights and the use of diffused light
• Setting custom white balance
• The importance of calibrating your monitor
• How to use a gray card or a Munsel color chart for accurate color

In order to participate you must bring:

• A tripod. At the distance (or lack of) that we'll be shooting at, pulling your camera back half an inch will throw your subject completely out of balance.
• A camera with a macro lens. Preferably a DSLR with a macro lens however a point and shoot that has that little flower symbol is fine.
• Your camera manual. You may need to know how to adjust the diopter control on your viewfinder, switch to manual focusing (you'll probably want to set your camera to manual focus), ability to change the white balance, etc.
• A gray card. When shooting up close, color casts and incorrect white balancing will be very obvious. A gray card is an absolutely essential piece of equipment at this level of shooting. However, these do not need to be expensive, just accurate. Ritz Camera sells a lens cleaning cloth that is 18% gray, Helix sells a nice cardboard card by Kodak for around $5.00, etc. Just don't print out your own from the web unless you are 100% certain that the gray level is accurate.

The cost of this all-day class is $70 (early registration) and covers the materials and studio space. If you sign up in the last two weeks, the fee is $85 plus $3.12 Eventbrite Fee.

See you (up close)