A lot of photographers think they can go to a $59.95 one niter and learn something that they can take home and use.  But they find later that all they did was try and buy their way to success.  That has never worked.

Now I am not adverse to these lectures, and sales pitches, but they sure are causing problems with those organizations who are trying to promote and maintain days or week long classes to help photographers get better by spending time along side of a highly successful photographer.

In the past few weeks I have been in contact with several of the schools in the Midwest and they all have said the same thing.

“Our number of enrollment is down this year.”

“Where are the students who want to learn?”

“We can’t pay the bills if we don’t get the students.”

“Some of the great classes we scheduled have no students.”

Let’s just look at the three that I am close to.

GLIP, Great Lakes Inst of Photography in Michigan, Illinois Workshop, and Winona  School of Professional Photography in Indiana.

All three are scratching to get students to attend,  and I think the reason, outside of the down economy, is the fact that every week there is another gypsy passing though town that promises the quick fix at a low price,

then spends hours soft selling his products.  That is not to say these programs are bad, they are not.  They will provide a teaspoon full of elixir to a raging fever, but what is needed in the technology of today is a major injection in the butt!  You can’t get that in three hours.  All you get is a sore butt.

There is no quick fix, or magic bullet, only sustained long term learning from someone who operates a successful photography business and who is willing ot share their experiance and knowledge.

And that creates a catch 22 effect by the fact that because they are successful it costs them a lot to leave their studio.  To take time away from their studios is expensive to them, so they have to be compensated at least at a break even level.  That compensation comes from the enrollment of the students.  That is a no brainer.   the schools must have students to pay the instructors.

For the life of me I cannot understand why someone would pay for a “one night stand”, when they could spend days with a well know professional photographer, and get totally inside his or her head as to what made them successful.  It is more than Lighting, Posing, and Photoshop.  It is experience on all fronts of the business.

I would suggest that those that read this that have only been in photography less than five years, start looking right now for a school and a class that will make them a better photographer, and business person.

It is damn hard to be in the photography business right now, and if you don’t have the high level skills, you will not survive.

The general consumer can create all the average images than they can shoot.  Along with that is the interesting  fact that they will be more understanding of the differences between a snapshot, and a professional photograph.

Don’t be fooled! They will know the difference faster now than before digital because, they are doing it themselves, and the results will be obvious to those of culture and taste, of what is great, compared to what is average or below.  You as a professional MUST produce what the general consumer can’t.  I see so much photography today that anyone can do with a $200. point and shoot.  The profession must be about more that tricks and over-saturation.

If you do not understand the “rule of thirds”  or the “rule of fifths” in composition.

If you do not know the difference between down light and its effects, or cross light and its effects on the face and body, then you should either stop and just have fun but not try to make a business.  You will not get far.

But,  if you want to have a future, and make a living doing what you love, then education is the key, and the best place to get it, and make it stick is at one of the regional professional schools.

They are not as costly as you might first think when you look at the value you gain.  Insight, and abilities you would never have understood. Concepts that you can’t just read in a book and understand.   Friendships and relationships that could have never happened.  There is so much more for you to gain than the dollars that it will cost you.  That is a promise and a dare.

Check out GLIP  at  http://www.glip.org/ ,           Winona at http://www.winonaschool.org/      ,     and Illinois Workshop at                http://www.angelfire.com/il/ilworkshops/

Find a master photographer’s course to spend some multiple days and nights with, and I will bet you will return home revitalized, and a better photographer, and the cost will be made up in the next few months because of what you learned, and what you learned from classmates.

I dare you to give it a try.

“Advancing Knowledge is King”  it always has been, and it always will be.

Have a great Memorial Day Holiday, and remember to pray for the troops.

BDR

which one do you see first?

Most people see the solid yellow, some people say they see the yellow with the red spot.

The point here is that your eye goes to what is different, or the highest contrast point in the image.

Here are two examples to Illustrate the point.

We used to think that your eye went to white first.

Which block do you see first?

That thinking can be changed by the following test.

Which block do you see first now?

You will realize that your eye does not go to the lightest point,

but to the the point of the highest contrast.

The visual effects of this when composing and viewing a photograph can be enhancing, or

distracting to the visual message of any image.

Try the following illustration as a basic example.

Size also plays an important part

you first see the dark bird because of size.

However, you eye will still be drawn to the White bird due to contrast with the background,which is green,

but  the background is medium gray in tonality comparison.

Looking at it in Black and White you will see that the background is medium gray.

Contrast still draws the eye to that location

Contrast still draws the eye to that location

And the lighter bird draws the eye.

Be aware of the contrast points in you image when composing, or lighting your image.

viewing images upside down helps see tonal balance

Try viewing your image upside down to force your Right Brain to see

the spacial balance and contrast.

viewing images upside down helps you see tonal balance

Until next time,

BD Roberts, M.Photog, CPP

Winona School of Photography

June 13-16 2010

You won’t feel doggy when your done.

You have Masters of Photography as instructors.

“Ask then everything you ever wanted to know and spend hours and hours learning the best ways of doing things.”

Three days of learning by doing and hands on instructions from some of photography’s finest.

Best prices of any affiliated schools in the Midwest.

Held in Brown County State Park. One of the, if not the most beautiful places in Indiana.

Ck out the web page at PPofI.org Professional Photographers of Indiana www.ppofI.org

I know there are a ton of one night stands programs where you go, listen and then get the sales pitch for the “magic bullet“.

You don’t get this drill at Winona. It is all about education and upgrading the profession.

For example Tim and BevWaldon from Lexington, KY. Only two of the best portrait photographers and top buisness managers in this business.
They are making money, come and find out how they do it in these “bad times”.

There have been some down turns, but those who know how are still being successfull. Come and learn how they do it!

School is being held in beautiful Brown County State Park, East of Bloomington, and West of Columbus.
For specific directions, contact Judy Roberts @ shortlens2000@Yahoo.com, or me at bdroberts@bdroberts.com

Make connections and friends that will only get you farther in the photography buisness.

Photographers will be there from many places, and it is great to get to know more people in this age of Social Marketing.

Don’t let another day go by without registering to attened.

There will be a trade show to see from suppliers and vendors from around the country

to show new products in the industry and learn what is Hot, and what is NOT!

Winona School of Photography was started right here in Indiana at the turn of the century.
Turned over to PPA, and after some time the name was returned to us in Indiana.
Be a part of photographic history and join the Winona Classes.

Follow this link for more information.

http://ppofi.org/2009/event-calendar/calendar?task=view_detail&agid=12&year=2010&month=06&day=13

Using the small hand held scanner, each subjects info is on a shot card bar code. As each individual is photographed, his or her card is scanned followed by a scan of packages ordered.

When shoot is complete, camera images are down loaded into H&H Events Software.
Then the data capured with the hand held scanner is also downloaded into the software.

The images appear with the subjects imformation under each image.

Do an edit of multiple images. Crop for best effect as per product.
Finnish the order and send to the lab.

Order back in 7-10 days ready to deliver.

H&H has it hands down.

TTFN

Bruce

Last night’s campground was interesting.  Very inexpensive, and had a small lake.  Of course the rods had to come out since they had not been out the entire time.  Fished a cpl of times in the evng with only one small blue gill to show.  Now if a white popper does not produce in spring, then folks there is nothing there. But it was good to throw a plug, even if there was nothing to catch.  Left early from Montgomery Alabama, and got to Nashville about 4, and GPS was wrong.  Took us down town first, then to residentual where things are tight for a rig like ours.  Gave up and turned it back to Judy and I took over Nav.  We made it finally, and the wine tased even better afte the afternoon we had.

But for now, all is great.  warm, sunny, in a campground, wine and my wife.  Bedford tomorrow, Elkhart on Monday. 

Happy easter.

TTFN

B

go to ITunes store, then select Aps and search color labs.

With this ap, you can check your orders from anyplace on the planet. See when they will be shipped, and if they have been, the trackinging order and see where they are.

The H&H web site has been revised, updated and impoved.

Pricing listed under each product by selecting

Price.

• New products are:
  Wallet tins w photo
  Money clip w photo
  Business crd holder w image
  Ladies compact. W image

See the new web site for more. www.hhcolorlab.com
Use the site map for fast navigation

H&H is truly the finest in all aspects of lab services.

Become a customer if your not.

/there is a new volume type software that is free for, (sports, small schools, small dance projects) software called EzSports.

There are videos on the web site. Navigate to H&H University. Teaching Videos are listed for the various software.

BD Roberts. M. Phptog.,
H&H Studio consultant

Great football game.  Vikings kicked butt.  That is all you have to say.

Cool front at last passed, wind dropped and skys cleared.  Plan to see some photographers in Winter Haven tomorrow, and make some appointments on Lakeland.

Sort of uneventful, but baby I am warm.

It is so great to not be achy.   I never really understood my dad, and my grandfather when they talked of pains and aches in the body.  Now I do.  It just feels so great not to hurt.  But, hey, not throwing in the towel.

The big news is that H&H has a new software for coffee table books.  I am downloading it now and will have a go at it later on this eav.and

Just played with it for 15 min..this is so simple…it is amazing….templates, backgrounds, change and save on the fly.

It is for coffee table books.  Go to the web site and download….WAHOOO!!

Those that need answers still contact me via phone or Facebook.  I am always available.

Meanwhile, I am going back in the sun until it is gone.

BDR

1. Contrast range of the image.  Measure the brightest want detail, and then the blackest to show detail.  The range between should be between 5 and 250 in the red channel.
2. Determine proper diffused highlight density of Caucasian skin.  The illustration below shows where and what it should read.
3. Here is an example of using the Color measurement tool.

Here it shows red=230,,but on the original file it was 211.  I raised the value in Curves RGB to 230.  I don’t matter what it looks like on screen.  The density is correct.  Of course you need to consider white balance.

Overall lighting on this Santa image is a flat lighting ratio.  Not even 2:1.  The lighting  is flat, due to on site printing with a dye sub printer, and it ADDS CONTRAST, but the proper density is what I am starting with.  Then match to output, lab, or self print.

I am going to show two more ways to use the color balance tool.   Should have a gray card, or an H&H zebra card, but I will illustrate with out.  The first thing you have to understand and remember is no matter how bright or dark, a neutral color (white, light gray, gray, dark gray or black),  if it is neutral it is made up of equal amounts of Red, Green, and Blue. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

IF I get all three layers reading the same number, I can declare with a certain positive that the image is in color BALANCE.  Had the shirt read 255,255,255, then the whites are blown and cannot be changed, but by keeping the shirt below 255, the over all image can be adjusted.  Of course this does not pertain to spectral highlights.  bright spots in chrome.  reflections on window and so on.

The black did not work..there was other color in the tie.  So switched to Lew’s white coat as in the first example.

Read the numbers for #2 in the info box.  The image is in balance.

Hard to see on the laptop monitor if there is any difference..between the two, but by the numbers, I know it is in balance.

If I had a gray card in the image, then all I have to do is make the numbers 128, 128, 128…

In raw, we do that with first eye dropper, and go.  That is a class for another day.

Ta Ta for now.  Have a great day.  If you have not tried H&H color lab  www.hhcolorlab.com , start the new year right.  Come take a look.

1. Contrast range of the image.  Measure the brightest want detail, and then the blackest to show detail.  The range between should be between 5 and 250 in the red channel.
2. Determine proper diffused highlight density of Caucasian skin.  The illustration below shows where and what it should read.
3. Here is an example of using the Color measurement tool.

Here it shows red=230,,but on the original file it was 211.  I raised the value in Curves RGB to 230.  I don’t matter what it looks like on screen.  The density is correct.  Of course you need to consider white balance.

Overall lighting on this Santa image is a flat lighting ratio.  Not even 2:1.  The lighting  is flat, due to on site printing with a dye sub printer, and it ADDS CONTRAST, but the proper density is what I am starting with.  Then match to output, lab, or self print.

I am going to show two more ways to use the color balance tool.   Should have a gray card, or an H&H zebra card, but I will illustrate with out.  The first thing you have to understand and remember is no matter how bright or dark, a neutral color (white, light gray, gray, dark gray or black),  if it is neutral it is made up of equal amounts of Red, Green, and Blue. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

IF I get all three layers reading the same number, I can declare with a certain positive that the image is in color BALANCE.  Had the shirt read 255,255,255, then the whites are blown and cannot be changed, but by keeping the shirt below 255, the over all image can be adjusted.  Of course this does not pertain to spectral highlights.  bright spots in chrome.  reflections on window and so on.

The black did not work..there was other color in the tie.  So switched to Lew’s white coat as in the first example.

Read the numbers for #2 in the info box.  The image is in balance.

Hard to see on the laptop monitor if there is any difference..between the two, but by the numbers, I know it is in balance.

If I had a gray card in the image, then all I have to do is make the numbers 128, 128, 128…

In raw, we do that with first eye dropper, and go.  That is a class for another day.

Ta Ta for now.  Have a great day.  If you have not tried H&H color lab  www.hhcolorlab.com , start the new year right.  Come take a look.