On The Road
October, 2005
Hi and welcome to this edition of On The Road. Each
year I am asked by Universities and Colleges to lecture and conduct
photography workshops for the photojournalism and photography
students. Gardner-Webb University is a wonderful school located
in Boiling Springs, North Carolina about one hour west of Charlotte.
Program director, Bob Carey, had his students well prepared for
the 3 day workshop. We covered sessions in Arena Sport Strobe
Lighting, News Coverage of local sports events, Post Processing
with Photoshop, Lightpainting, Portfolio Critiques/Career Counseling
and a Lecture/Show of my career work in the school auditorium
that was open to the Gardner-Webb University students, faculty
and local photographers in the community. As is my preference,
when it came to shooting at the events I participated along with
the class and captured some images of my own while advising and
instructing during the event. Let's see what this College Workshop
had to offer..................
NOTE: (IF YOUR SCHOOL IS INTERESTED IN HAVING
ME COME TO LECTURE OR CONDUCT A WORKSHOP LIKE THIS ONE, PLEASE
HAVE A DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTOR OR FACULTY MEMBER CONTACT
ME THROUGH MY WEBSITE.)
WEDNESDAY 7:30pm-9:30pm
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#1 Lightpainting is the most basic of all photographic lighting
and I felt this would be a great way to start the workshop.
I began with a 30 minute Lecture/Show illustrating progression
images of lightpainting so as to both educate and demonstrate
the technique of lightpainting. Our class then went into
the University TV Studio where Bob had arranged to have
a local "talent" model for our class. Laura is
an accomplished tap and jazz dancer and was a wonderful
subject for a lightpainting. We pulled together some props...couch,
TV stage lights, and a blue wall and had Laura bring a very
colorful dance costume complete with tap shoes. I usually
demonstrate the technique by capturing 3 or 4 images of
my own while explaining the technique of lightpainting.
Then I turn it over to the class to do the same. Each student
captured 3 images of their own. At the conclusion of our
class, students were given a lightpainting assignment that
would be due on Saturday. Nikon D2X, ISO100, 30 second exposure
at f5.6, Nikon 12-24mm, WB Cloudy, Bogen Tripod, Long Exposure
Noise Reduction ON, Lexar 4G Flash Card and an Inova XO3
LED Flash Light was used to lightpaint. "Light to create
mood"...and this is a good example of that statement.
The TV lights are not turned on but I gave the illusion
of celebrity style spot lights by lightpainting the front
of the TV light and wall along with shafts of light I painted
on Laura.
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THURSDAY 9:00am-11:30pm
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We spent Thursday morning covering
both elementary and advanced Post Processing in Photoshop.
I had brought several example images for the entire class
to work on. I spent time on different stages of Photoshop
techniques ranging from typical wire service/newspaper image
post processing ...to magazine and book image post processing
...to commercial/advertising post processing. The class learned
that different clients, (wire/newspaper, magazine, commercial)
all have different needs when it comes to post processing.
This class was a real eye opener for many of the students,
and in my opinion is a much needed class for today's photography
student. The afternoon from 12:30pm-5:30pm was spent with
One On One time looking at students' portfolios and discussing
career potential and direction for each of them. I really
enjoyed looking at the students work and listening to their
thoughts and ideas. Thursday evening from 7:30pm-9:00pm was
SHOWTIME in the auditorium at Gardner-Webb University. Some
150 plus students, faculty and local photographers came to
my evening presentation. Lots of images, lots of adventure
stories, lots of information and lots of fun... "Everybody
Limbo when the cell phone rings!". The 60 minute show
with commentary and 30 minute Q&A session that followed
was a great way to motivate students for the next day.
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FRIDAY 9:00am-11:30pm
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#2 Arena Sport Strobe Lighting from "why to use it"......to....."set
it all up".....to....."cover the women's Volleyball
Tournament." The morning class was dedicated to a 30
minute presentation illustrating examples of Sport Strobe
Lighting and explaining why the photographer uses it and how
to install the sport strobes. At the conclusion of class the
students and I, along with department head Bob Carey, departed
for the arena on campus and proceeded to install two sets
of 4 strobes each. Many thanks to Justin Stailey at Bogen
for supplying the workshop with Elinchrom 300RX Strobes, reflectors
and lightstands. The Elinchrom 300RX unit is a terrific sport
strobe with a very short flash duration of 1/2,850th of a
second at full power....perfect for sports. Instructing the
students while installing the strobes went smoothly and we
were ready to give the assignment list. A variety of images
including...Detail, Coach, Emotion, Action at the Net, Color,
Candid Portrait, Volleyballs, etc., would need to be captured
using the strobes. At the conclusion of the last game we all
headed back to the computer lab, downloaded our images and
selected each students best of the assignment list.....ready
for the next mornings critique. Here is my Volleyballs image
from one of the games. Nikon D2X, ISO250, 1/250 at f8, Nikon12-24mm,
WB Flash, Elinchrom 300 RX Strobes triggered with Pocket Wizard
Multi Max Transceivers, Lexar 4G Flash Card.
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#3 Here is my "Action at the Net" image from our
assignment list. Nikon D2X, ISO250, 1/250 at f8, Nikon 400mm
Lens, WB Flash, 4 Elinchrom 300RX Strobes, Pocket Wizard
Multi Max Transceivers, Lexar 4G Flash Card. I sometimes
like a high vantage point for women's volleyball so I can
see the athletes face above the net. The arena does not
have a catwalk system, therefore, we used the Bogen Lightstands
that Justin sent us. With permission from the school, we
positioned the Bogen Lightstands with the Elinchrom 300RX
sport strobes in the highest corners of the arena in the
seating area away from the audience. We also secured them
and restricted the local area around each of the units for
safety. All units worked well and made the class a great
success. Thanks Justin and Bogen for all your efforts!
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SATURDAY 10:00am-Midnight
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The class started early
with a critique session of the Lightpainting assignment given
on Wednesday night after the lightpainting class. Each student
was required to do a lightpainting. The goal being to see
if each student could produce a technically correct lightpainted
image. They did......and they were good! Next, Bob and I critiqued
the volleyball assignment images we captured with the sport
strobes. I was very impressed with many of the images. Bob
Carey is certainly running a fine program as was evident in
the composition, execution and creativity of his students
work. With all this done it was time for a break............so
off to Bob's house for a pre football game Tail Gate Party!
Burgers and chips for everyone thanks to head chefs Bob and
his wife Sharon. After the meal we all headed off to the BIG
GAME where GWU would take on Union starting at 6:00pm. Bob
and I gave the students an assignment list of situations,
moments and players to capture. I helped advise and encourage
students during the game but still found time to fulfill the
assignment list as well. Here are four of my pictures from
the list of 15 images we all needed to capture.....
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Image #4 We needed a picture of the
COACH showing some emotion.....I managed to capture this
tender moment during the pre game of Head Coach Steve Patton
kissing his daughter Stetson. Nikon D2X, ISO100, 1/1000
at f5, Nikon12-24mm, Two SB800 Speedlights set on i-TTL
Mode (1 on the hotshoe as the Master and 1 hand held off
camera as the Remote with a power output of -0.7), Lexar
4G Flash Card.
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Image #5 CAMARADERIE
of PLAYERS was on the list of images to shoot. Nikon D2X,
ISO100, 1/1000 at f5, Nikon 12-24mm, Two SB800s with the Remote
SB800 set on a power output of -0.7, WB Cloudy, WB Cloudy,
Lexar 4G Flash Card. The access at this game was fantastic
and my SB800 Speedlights with i-TTL capabilities allowed me
to light with a shutter speed of 1/1000 of a second.
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Image #6 A RUNNING BACK image was required.
Nikon D2X, ISO250, 1/1250 at f6.3, Nikon 200-400 G VR Zoom
Lens with 1.4 TC 14E Teleconverter, WB Cloudy, Lexar 4G
Flash Card, Hand Held.
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Image #7 The BEST
BULLDOG FANS was perhaps the most fun to shoot. Here are the
most fanatic Bulldog fans from the "DAWG POUND."
Nikon D2X, ISO200, 1/40 at f2.8, Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye Lens,
WB Cloudy, Two SB800s with the Remote set on a power output
of -0.7, Lexar 4G Flash Card................Thanks to the
Dawg Pound for the official shirt!
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At the end of the game we all returned
to the computer lab to download images. Each student selected
their best images of the required assignment list. I then met
with each student individually and critiqued their selected images.
Some FANTASTIC pictures!!! As each student and I finished discussing
their pictures we said good bye until just Bob and I were left
in the computer room.............Midnight.
Well,............I hope you all enjoyed this
trip to Gardner-Webb University. Terrific young people and a wonderful
program. Thank you Bob Carey for having me come down to do a workshop
I will never forget and for opening your home to me...............I
had a BLAST!
See you all next time On The Road............................Adios,
Dave
May,
2008 (click here)
A Southwest Tour
April,
2008 (click here)
The Endless Winter
March,
2008 (click here)
PMA Show in Las Vegas!
February,
2008 (click here)
At the Ballet
January,
2008 (click here)
One Week of Work
December,
2007 (click here)
A Look Back at 2007
November,
2007 (click here)
Traveling
with the New Nikon D3
October,
2007 (click here)
High Country Journey
September,
2007 (click here)
Walking
On The Road
August,
2007 (click here)
Speedway
Thunder from PA
July, 2007
(click here)
"Arlington National
Cemetery"
June, 2007
(click here)
"Kentucky Derby Day"
May, 2007
(click here)
"Mexico Trek"
April,
2007 (click here)
"Egypt Trek"
March,
2007 (click here)
Transit Mix
"Images From the Air"
February,
2007 (click here)
Ice Climbing in Ouray
January,
2007 (click here)
2007 Year in Review
December,
2006 (click here)
People of Willoq, Peru
November,
2006 (click here)
Lexington, Kentucky TREK
October,
2006 (click here)
Training for the Mr USA Title
September,
2006 (click here)
"The International Golf Tournament"
August,
2006 (click here)
"Tour of Champions Documentary"
July,
2006 (click here)
"Northern California, the FBI and Clint
Eastwood ..."
June,
2006 (click here)
"The 2006 Kentucky Derby"
May,
2006 (click here)
"Off the Road Picture Sales"
April,
2006 (click here)
Ladies Olympic Figure Skating
March,
2006 (click here)
Torino Italy and the 2006 Winter Olympic Games
February,
2006 (click here)
"Hey Dave, are you going to the Winter Olympics in Torino
and What Equipment Do You Take?"
January,
2006 (click here)
The Holiday Tea with Tchaikovsky
presented by Colorado's Classical Youth Ballet
December,
2005 (click here)
Landscapes at Pebble Beach:
a look back at 2005
November,
2005 (click here)
Lightpainting Landscapes
NFL Football
October,
2005 (click here)
3 Day Photography Workshop
Gardner-Webb University, Boiling Springs, North Carolina
September,
2005 (click here)
Michelle Kwan
August,
2005 (click here)
International Gymnastics Camp
July,
2005 (click here)
the Men's US Open Golf Championships
June,
2005 (click here)
The Kentucky Derby
May,
2005 (click here)
Nevada Photojournalism Day
April,
2005 (click here)
John Bolin's "The Thorn"
March,
2005 (click here)
Indoor Track and Field
UC Irvine's Paul Spittle and
the Sports Shooter Academy
with Nikon's new DX2
February,
2005 (click here)
Broncos Football:
Denver vs Indianapolis
the US Figure Skating Nationals
Portland, Oregon
College Basketball:
Colorado State vs Air Force
January,
2005 (click here)
Broncos Football:
Broncos VS. Dolphins
Assignment work:
Wrestling
December,
2004 (click here)
A look back at 2004
November,
2004 (click here)
Rich Clarkson's Photography at the Summit Workshop &
Moose Peterson's Digital Landscape Workshop Series
October,
2004 (click here)
Whitewater Kayaking
Gymnastics and more
September,
2004 (click here)
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games
Athens, Greece
August,
2004 (click here)
A look back at some wonderful Olympic moments
July,
2004 (click here)
USAFA Graduation flyover
US Olympic Training Center - Swimming and Gymnastics
June,
2004 (click here)
Last Month the Masters, this month The Kentucky Derby......I
love my job
May,
2004 (click here)
Masters at Augusta National
April,
2004 (click here)
The American Cup Gymnastics
NIKON COLLEGE WORKSHOP
March,
2004 (click here)
Indoor Track and Field
Women's Freestyle Wresting
Rhythmic Gymnastics Nationals
The Glass Flower Ceiling at the Belagio Hotel in Las Vegas
February,
2004 (click here)
College Basketball
Women's Waterpolo
Olympic swimmers on their way to Athens
January,
2004 (click here)
NFL Football
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals
A look back at The Greenbay Professionals
December,
2003
Monday Night Football the Sports Shooter Workshop and Luau in
LA
November,
2003
Photography at the Summit workshop
October,
2003
Portraits to workshops to stock image sales
September,
2003
Lightpainting in Banf
The World Gymnastics Championships
August,
2003
International Gymnastics Camp
July,
2003
Thunderbirds
Gymnastics
The Sports Photography Workshop with Rich Clarkson
Velodrome Cycling, More
June, 2003
The 129th running of the Kentucky Derby
White water kayakers
The Champions on Ice tour
May,
2003 (click here)
PBR Rodeo
Chris Shivers and Little Yellow Jacket ride for $1 Million
April,
2003 (click here)
Nikon's featured speaker at PMA in Las Vegas
American Cup Gymnastics
USAFA Women's Basketball
USAFA Swimming
USAFA Boxing
NCAA Fencing Championships
March,
2003 (click here)
USOC's Titan Games
February,
2003 (click here)
Air Force Basketball
Pro Football Pre-Superball Stock Sales
Swimmers train at the Swim Flume at the USOC
Much more!
January,
2003 (click here)
Diving at the Air Force Academy
Denver Broncos VS. The Arizona Cardinals
Olympic Hopefuls Lenny Krayzelberg and Tom Molchow practice
at the USOC
