Michael McGuerty

PHOTOGRAPHY  WORKSHOP

 

CLASS: THE  HEART  AND  SOUL  OF  PHOTOGRAPHY

                                                     

 Instructor:  Michael McGuerty

 

Material Covered in Workshop:

 

Exposure, Composition, Depth of Field, Point of View, Planning, Timing

 

Noticing Surroundings                                              The Direction of Light

Thinking Visually                                                      The Color of Light

Seeing Humor                                                           The Quality of Light

Capturing A Mood                                                    Enhancing A Mood

Studying Light                                                          Being Involved!

 

Light is the most important thing in photography and second is composition.

Patience is a virtue, in nature photography as well as life.

One must develop an intuitive sense of composition.

 

You should spend whatever time it takes to get fully engrossed in the subject to the point where you’ve looked at every possible way of taking a particular image.

 

When it comes to having an eye for composition, some things can be learned and some things just come naturally.

 

Focus on the elements of color, pattern, composition and light to design powerful personal images.

 

The best landscape images actually change the way we perceive the world around us and our place in it. It is this that changes landscape photography from a pastime to a lifelong passion, as we make the transition from looking to seeing.

 

During those special moments, you feel like you’re in touch with the creator.

 

A photograph can be technically perfect, yet still lack the components necessary to bring it to life.

Questions to ask yourself: what makes a photograph memorable and how can I express what I see more creatively.    ---Aesthetic concerns of vision and design ---

 

Daily assignments emphasize tuning in to the land and its primeval energy as well as listening and watching for a spiritual connection to unfold.

 

At the the heart of any good photograph lies a passion for the subject. -- try to develop the natural eye first and then bring a camera up to it.

 

Participants spend as much time changing their perspectives, sharpening their senses, and immersing themselves in nature as they do on developing new photographic skills. -- rewards are the skills of patience and solitude.

Outdoor Photography Tips  of  the Trade

 

 1.  Use 100 ASA film for outdoor photography in good light for sharper picture.

 2.  Use 400 ASA film for low light or indoor photography.

 3.  Use a camera hood to block out ambient light for a sharper picture.

 4.  Tie your shoes before you run through the desert for that perfect sunset picture.

 5.  Watch the sky (cloud movement) to determine when the sun’s rays will appear.

 6.  Try not to rush your shot (unless you’re being chased by a bull).

 7.  Carry spare camera battery.

 8.  Review all angles, all possibilities before taking that special picture.

 9.  To increase depth of field: Use higher f-stop setting  (f11, f16, etc.)

10.  Did I mention not to rush your shot?  Patience, patience, patience.

 

 

Locations:

 

Ghost Ranch & Abiquiu Cliffs                      Rancho de las Golondrias

HiHo Acres  (My spacious backyard)           Fort Union Natl Monument

Santa Fe Ski Basin  (Late Sept.)                   East of Las Vegas plains during thunderstorm

Tent Rocks                                                   Pecos National Hist. Park