My first Lightroom video tutorial!

In my last Event Workflow Class, I showed the students how to create photo collages in Lightroom. As it was my very last class, I ran through this rather quickly, as I had a lot of ground I wanted to cover. So I made a video tutorial. I really had no idea I could even do this, so consider this first one a "proof of concept" for me. Yes, it's kinda weak, rough around the edges, and there are some slip-ups. But hey, it's my first, and I got it done, and they will get better. Besides, would you really have it any other way?

In this first tutorial, I show you how to make a several image overlay in Lightroom like I did here. It's almost like working with layers in Lightroom. This seemed to be a big hit in my class, but perhaps I went through it to quickly, so here it is, available to you to watch, pause, and play along. Tell me what you thought below. Video after the jump

Get to know more about Zack Arias

You saw the video last night and were intrigued, right?

Well here is more info on Zack Arias.

His site & portfolio are here: Zack Arias

His excellent blog

The OneLight workshops

And from a guest post he did on Scott Kelby's blog, the video that I probably watch 4-5 times a year. It's amazing, and often times is just what you need, when you really need it

The 5DMKIII

It's funny because it's true...

Happy Halloween!

And the beginning of my favorite (and most busy) time of the year. Here are some images I shot of the kids at the Cal Poly Pumpkin Patch:



Don't forget to take lot's of pictures of your holiday gatherings, traditions, and parties. Great memories are made at this time of year. Be sure to include items that clue you in to the particular event, pumpkins, wreaths, presents, turkey, etc. And also remember to enjoy the event, the friends, the family, and not be solely focused on capturing images.

Dia De Los Muertos

We have 2 Dia De Los Muertos events that we will be attending in the next week, and everyone is welcome to both of them.

The first event is BIG! Come meet up with the Faded & Blurred crew at The Dia De Los Muertos event at Hollywood Forever Cemetery . We will be meeting out in front at 2pm. Last year was my first year attending, and I was blown away. The event is family friendly, and is $10 for a ticket.

Some images from this event last year:

Lot's o links!

Got some time on your hands, and don't know what to do? Click the links!

Why do you take photographs? From Permission to Suck

Syl Arena on the Canon Speedlight system

Subscribe to the X-Equals Digest for some free B&W presets

Vote for my image at Capshured

DPS tells you what they don't mention about being a wedding photographer 

Craft & Vision has a new ebook out, "Close to Home" Buy it soon for a chance to win a Livebooks website!

10 excuses for failing at photography

Ju;ieanne Kost's blog on Adobe.com

That's probably enough to keep you busy for a while...

Layers in Lightroom?!?

For my very last "Event Workflow Class", I wanted to show my students something cool that they may not know they can do. I will teach them how to fake "layers" in Lightroom. If your interested, stop by to learn how I did these Wednesday night. Great for making print packages, album pages, or poster collages. All 3 of these were done completely in Lightroom, no Photoshop required.

Give me something to believe in...

"Something to Believe In"

The link above takes you to the YouTube video for Poison's song "Something to Believe In". It's not available to embed. It's a great song with a poignant message, but it never mentions anything to actually believe in, it's more about the search. I posted a blog post very similar to this earlier this year, but I have had a strange week, with some emotional ups and downs this week, and this song has been in heavy rotation on my iPod recently. I will be going to see Bret Michaels (also a sufferer of diabetes) this weekend at an American Diabetes Charity show, and I have a feeling, when he performs this song, it will be pretty powerful for me.



Since my initial post, to say I've had some life changing events wouldn't do them justice. And with the upcoming end of my teaching at Tri, I've had a lot on my mind recently. So here is a slightly updated list with some new things I believe in.

Thank you Tri Students!

It is with a heavy heart, that I will be saying goodbye very soon. As many of you already know, I am leaving Tri. I need to spend more time with the family, with my daughter, and to get more focused on my own photography. But I will miss you guys. A lot. I have had an amazing 2 years with you. I have learned more from you then I could ever hope to teach, and for that I will be forever grateful. You are all amazing people, and I am proud to call many of you friends, peers. You have kept me on my toes, forced me to up my game, and I feel I am a better photographer, a better person for the experience.

I have really enjoyed watching you grow as photographers. Watching the wheels turning, seeing things click, witnessing the creativity. It is my hope that I may have played some small role in that growth, and that you continue to pursue this passion that we all share.

Roots before branches

Had another fun class last night in my Lighting on Location class. We had 2 models, and a couple. Everyone was able to get lot's of shooting time. I got 2 shots I was happy with. Our set up was small flashes shot into collapsed umbrellas to narrow the beam, reduce the spill, and increase the dramatic fall off of the light.

Help me help my daughter

The Peanut Gallery

On July 30, my family received devastating news. Life as we knew would change. My daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. No more spur of the moment trips for frozen yoghurt, or just "grabbing something to eat" when we get there. My daughter is insulin dependent. Every meal, snack, drink, etc, needs to be accounted for, and we need to know the carb count of every item she ingests.

Rita

IMG_1030.jpg
Originally uploaded by fwisneski
In Thursday Nights Lighting on Location class, we went to a new spot. Down the street from the school, we have an abandoned used car lot. I lit our model Rita with the Canon 580EXII in a Westcott Apollo 28" softbox. And then, just for fun, we fired a Nikon SB900 into the broken Parts sign above her.

Lightroom Reading & Links

In my Event Workflow class, we are currently going through the Lightroom workflow. We have many students that are really seeing Lightroom for the first time. I mentioned last night in class several books that can be helpful in learning Lightroom. Here they are:

My son

As most of you know, my favorite subjects to shoot are my kids. My son, at 2 1/2 years old, has proved to be a very elusive subject. While at my daughters riding lesson this weekend, he actually ASKED me to take his picture. And he proved to be quite the little model.

Miss Palm Springs

In my Thursday night class, we had the pleasure of working with Keeley Boess, Miss Palm Springs 2010. She will be going after the Miss California crown in November. A big thank you to Jennifer for bringing her in. It's always tough to organize and light a shoot with only 21/2 hours, and 60 people. The set-up needs to be generic enough to allow the model some space to move, but also specific enough to facilitate all the different levels of photo gear. Some people don't have ISO 100, some zooms are 5.6 at the long end, some cameras are horrible at high ISO, etc.

We went with a little different set-up this week, using the Westcott 28" softbox, and a second flash with a snoot as a hair light. Both were powered by Canon 580EXII's.

Our first set-up was in the world famous Covina Alleyway, and our 2nd set-up (it started to rain) was on the ramp in the parking structure.

This first shot was done with only available light. The hi-light on her face was provided by the flashlight we were using for focusing.