A. KNOW YOUR
EQUIPMENT
I will
probably NOT be familiar with YOUR camera, card reader and computer. It is up
to you to learn how to operate your own equipment!
Get out
your camera and camera manual. Refer to them as needed. You should know how
to do the following before coming to class (assuming your camera has these
settings):
1) Set
the camera to record in “camera RAW”. If you do not have RAW available, set
it to record the largest possible file in the Adobe RGB color space.
2) Adjust
the metering mode to:
a. Spot
metering and know how to select a central spot
b.
Multi-spot metering (in aperture priority mode)
c.
Evaluative or matrix metering
3) Adjust
the exposure mode to:
a. Manual
b. Aperture
priority
c.
Shutter priority
4) Change
your shutter speed and aperture setting in the manual mode.
5) Change
the aperture in the aperture priority mode.
6) Change
the shutter speed in shutter speed priority mode.
7) Format
the memory card.
8) Review
images on the LCD screen.
9) Check
the histogram.
10)
Change lenses.
11)
Change batteries.
12) Clean
your sensor.
13)
Attach and use a remote shutter release (electronic cable release).
14)
Mount the camera correctly on your tripod and practice getting the tripod
into different configurations.
15) Be
able to get the RAW images (or high resolution TIFFS or JPEGS) from your
camera onto your computer.
NOTE FROM
CRAIG: I use a Mac. I do not know how to use a PC. If you use a PC, you must
know how to download and access your photographs.
16) Be
able to open a RAW (or other format) image in your image processing software.
Pre-Workshop
Assignment (continue)
B. BOOK
REPORT
Bring a
book (or magazine feature) by your favorite photographer. Write a one-page
paper explaining what it is about the photographer’s work you enjoy. Try to
address both their technical and aesthetic approaches. Here are some things
to look for: distance to subject; lens selection; use of light; use of depth
of field; use of motion; anything that gives the photographer a “signature
look”; balance of compositions; subject selection; complexity of compositions
(how many elements).
C. IMAGES
FOR OPENING CRITIQUE
Bring 10
prints, between 8"x10" and 16"x20" in size for an opening
critique. They do not need to be mounted or matted. Select recent images, if
possible, done with a digital camera. Choose photographs that give us a sense
of what you like to do, what you are most proud of, and what you might be
struggling to achieve and want help with.
D.
REQUIRED READING: REAL WORLD DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
This is a
good book to read all the way through, no matter what level you are at. If
you are short on time, look through the table of content and study areas you
are not familiar with — especially things you will use in the field. We will
be utilizing some of the advanced techniques during the workshop.
E. STRONGLY
RECOMMENDED VIEWING: HOW TO WOW - THE BEST OF PHOTOSHOP CS3 WITH JACK DAVIS
(Software Cinema).
Jack is a
great teacher. Watch and work with this tutorial ahead of time so we will be
able to spend more time during the workshop on creative work, rather than
technical learning.
F.
OPTIONAL, BUT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
If you
are not already familiar with Photoshop’s selection tools and layer
adjustments, spend some time with the tutorial in Photoshop. Practice making
selections with the polygon lasso and magic wand, and then making curves
adjustment from the layers pallet. You should also be familiar with editing
selections in the Quick Mask mode.
Craig
Blacklock
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