Photography Workshops

my outdoor studio – Montana

I have come to LOVE my outdoor studio here in Montana. I spent the early years of my photography career in big, dark, well equipped studios with a team of pro’s that make food magic. Any light that I used had to be set up and carefully modified and controlled. Often one set would involve 4 to 6 lights. Yes, shooting food was meticulous and challenging. I liked it but I didn’t love it!

(FAST FORWARD to the present) For the last 15 years of wedding photography it’s been a very different experience. Shooting on the run 95% of the time and learning to quickly and efficiently use some flash on or off camera to handle any and all lighting conditions.

Lately I have had a number of shoots at sunset and I find that I love it! The light is continually changing until it is gone… and it all happens in about 15 to 20 minutes. So you have to get it right or go home without… or possibly to a crap load of post production and photoshop work. Luckily my years of lighting experience pays off every time I walk out the door to shoot!

MY OUTDOOR STUDIO…. One main light source (THE SUN) that is on a big dimmer switch and it is slowing going, going, gone. Other light sources are battery powered flash with some subtle color gels to help match the color of the sun at dusk. These have to be continually adjusted, down, down, down in order to gently finesse the light.

LAST NIGHT… Last night was different. The sun was setting gently in and out of smoke from local forest fires and some low hanging clouds. The smoke offered a big soft box effect that was surreal and soft. There was no need to add any flash. We were in a cloud of sublime light!

YOGATOGRAPHY… I was working with my friend Margaret Burns Vap, head yogini at Big Sky Yoga Retreats. We were working on some creative ideas for the Yogatography (see the video) retreat at the end of the month. If this interests you we have two seats left in this creatively fun and challenging yoga and photography retreat for women.

For this photo shoot, our beautiful models were Morgane Vap, Emma Olsen, Margaret and our equine beauties Love and Skywalker. What a work out! And in the end I was very pleased with what came off the card this morning.

Tomorrow it’s weddings as usual, but last night was an exciting time in MY OUTDOOR STUDIO – Montana!

‘waiting for the eclipse’

Truth is… I got bored on the day of the eclipse. Everyone in town was sitting around with silly glasses on staring at the sky, as though ‘looking through a glass darkly’! hahaha…. So I raced down the river valley giving myself only 10 minutes to set up and solve whatever lighting challenge the circumstance might present. I can only imagine what people around were thinking about the funny photog dude rushing around, back and forth from the camera to the lights and then standing in his chosen spot… doing ‘selfie’ lighting checks. Then things settled down and I found the image I was looking for. It was worth it.

I call it ‘waiting for the eclipse’

Making Sense of light

On Saturday I taught a workshop on the subject of Making Sense of Light and Studio Lighting. I had a great time with a few students, hair and makeup talent Brittnee Madill, and lovely model Sarah Bates. Here are two very contrasting images. One I fashioned after a style that I love very much… traditional black and white. I actually did shoot some b&w film but I have to wait a while to get that back from the lab. The other was a creation put together by Brittnee and Sarah and then we went at in the studio to find the appropriate lighting to dress it out!

Always something new! Now I am thinking about the next workshop. So if you missed this one, keep an eye out for our next one in January.

Montana Photo Workshops

go to Florida

This week I am in Florida bringing my photo workshop to a private group. Heather and I flew last Wednesday and have enjoyed several days of sun, warm and a day of sharing my experience in the study of creativity and photography. With the completion of the work, this morning we shared Easter with our friends Kelsea and Mike Manly, as well as Kelsea’s father on a gorgeous lake. It was a fabulous day!

Life is so different here and I have been fascinated with the diversity of culture here, young and old… and lifestyle. Take a walk through images of the past few days. Tomorrow, it’s off to the St Augustine for beach time on the Atlantic. Enjoy!

Oh and thanks to our lovely model Kristy, who was so gorgeous and “patient” with us during our sessions. She’s the beautiful woman in the floral print dress.

Main street is a bit different in The Villages. Golf carts line the streets rather than pickup trucks!

Kelsea and Mike

Heather and I in our own golf cart!

Heather in wonderland.

The newly engaged couple on the dance floor.

Amazing music duo at the wine bar.

Lovely Kristy.

Easter morning excursion.

Our host and ship’s captain. aka Kelsea’s pappa.

Heather enjoying the heat.

Easter Lily pads!

A journey down a very, very shallow canal to get to another lake. Captain Mark was looking a bit concerned at a few points as you could here the prop hitting big roots in the 1.5 feet of water!

The views were delicious to my color starved eyes.

Kels and Mark cuttin it up.

More Montana Photo Workshop photos

with Larry Stanley

One of the final photo assignments of last weekend’s photography workshop was for the photographers to make photos of each other. I paired them up and let the fun begin!!! Even the models were given cameras. These are fun… check it out.

My sweet lab Yeshe… the photo dog. She loves to pose.

Montana Photo Workshop – 2

with Larry Stanley

The photographic images by the next three students are equally as solid as the past three. Enjoy. My next post will be the photographs of the photographers, by the photographers. Sort of like looking into multiple images in mirrors.

If you want to take your imagery to a new creative level, keep your eye on my Montana photo Workshops blog for future workshop dates.

Here are the photos of Sam Hedlund, Stacie Jackson and Cristy Sampino. Excellent work.