Dates: June 9-20, 2012 only
Workshop Fee: $ 160 for four hours. Time: 8 am- noon, 1-5pm
Meeting Place: Union Square Park, meet at Powell & Geary
What to bring: Any brand DLSR or Point-n-Shoot, Note pad and pen

Learn how to use the features of your brand new digital camera ( Point n shoot or DSLR ). Whether you are aspiring shutterbug or beginner, this fun photo tour will give you the oppurtunity to apply your technical and creative skills with your new camera.You will learn
the basics of digital photography – lighting, composition, and exposure.Learn how to avoid blurry pictures and minimize overexposed and underexposed photos.Learn why flash improves your photo quality. By the end of the day, you will be able to create postcard quality photos of San Francisco famous landmarks. Topics we will cover : travel photography, photojournalism, portraits on location, architecture, landscapes and cityscapes,nature, etc.You will also learn about color theory and perspective as applied to composition. Also the importance of mastering photoshop and handling RAW files and RGB JPEGs format.

Register for this class.

Dates available:June 9-17, 2012
From 5 pm to 10 pm…These times are also flexible if you are a total night owl.

Costs . ..$ 200 per person (1) night …2 Nights workshops are $ 400 per person. Best to take the 2 night workshops.You can take the night photo class on separate days ( weekday or weekend )

Greetings San Francisco friends.

I am coming to the Bay Area again to teach a series of twilight/night photography workshops. Come join me in my all nighter intensive digital media workshop where you will learn all the fundamentals of photography both technical and creative.We will be shooting the Golden Gate Bridge,Union Square, Coit Tower,Ferry Building,Market street…

On this fun and educational night photography workshop , you will learn all the basic of lighting,exposure, and composition.  I will also teach you about color theory art principles that will improved your picture taking skills. I give a hands-on teaching approach to all my students and make it possible to teach technical subjects in a non-complicated way to beginners… At the end of the photo workshop, you will learn new ideas, techniques, & photographic tips that will enhance your vision as a photographic art.  A tripod will be required. Lots of photo techniques for capturing night scenes will be discuss. Learn to shoot at ISO film speeds as low as 100. Learn the different AWB Auto white balance techniques. I also teach a crash course in photoshop basics for beginners.And for the more daring photographer youwill learn HDR photography. Check this link …http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging

Photo by Elle - Nikon 5700 Point n Shoot

Learn digital photography and photoshop basics in one day Includes free webpage with your photos,online critique, and follow-up photo assignment Gift certificates for my digital photography workshops are available for one and two day sessions. They are valid for 60 day. Makes a nice birthday present, wedding anniversary or gift for a really good friend or hardworking employee any of these aspiring shutterbugs and want to learned how to operate your digital cameras, then come

Are you new to digital photography ? Do you want to learn how to simplify using your camera? Did someone gave you a new point-n-shoot digital camera and now you want to learned how to use it ? Did you recently purchased a high-end Nikon D700 Digital Camera or Canon 7D? Planning an expensive cruise to the Caribbean or to Europe and want to preserve those moments. If you are If you are any of these aspiring shutterbugs and want to learned how to operate your digital cameras, then come attend this full day photoworkshop that includes a 2 hour crash course in photoshop basics .

Topics Cover : Basic photography skills- lighting, exposure, composition, How to use those fancy doodads on your camera, How to prevent blurry shots. How to compose those colorful travel postcards ? Why flash improves your photo quality? How to photograph your friends and family in front of famous attractions ? Our photo tours are a lot of fun and informative. Your photo instructor is a full-time working photographer who has been teaching the Photo Safari workshops for the last few years in San Diego, San Francisco, & New York . Elle G. also works as a fashion & movie photographer in both LA and New York. When he is not working with clients, Elle is teaching private photo workshops with his students in Southern California.

1) Shooting high ISO ( 1600 film speed & higher ) handheld camera operation. Turn on your IS ( Image Stabilization for Canon ) & VR ( Vibration Reduction for Nikon ). Turn on NR ( Noise Reduction ). You can always cut noise using the Photoshop filters or Noise Ninja. Higher film speeds means more noise and lower image quality. With a Nikon D40 or Canon 40D your night images would be okay unless you can use
a fast high quality 2.8 lens.

Photo by Elle G.- Canon 30d , 28-135mm, ISO 100, F16

2) Shooting low ISO ( 100 film speed period ) on a sturdy tripod. Be sure to turn off the vibration feature of your camera body ( Pentax, Sony ) or the the VR or IS button on your lens. And use a remote to activate the shutter mechanism or use the delayed timer. Even better use the mirror lockup feature in your camera. The last thing you need is vibration on your longggggggggggggg expsosure.

3) Subject matter and composition style would make a difference in how you can get a great night photo. Shoot both horizontal, vertical, and even diagonal compositions. Shoot wide angle, normal, and telephoto perspective. Shoot from a low angle, eye level, and high camera angle. It would even be better if you can shoot from the top of a building with a view of the streets at night.

Photo by Elle - Nikon D70s & 70-200mm Nikkor

3) Color balance techniques – You can pick between AWB, tungsten, fluorescent , or the K ( Kelvin method ) and it depends on the light source. Most light sources for interiors are either incandescent ( tungsten ) or flourescent. For your picture style, use neutral or standard or for cool black & whites use monochrome. Don’t use the AWB settings of shady,cloudy, landscape, and portraits. These are totally useless settings and I don’t know why Nikon, Canon, etc. even include them in your camera settings. It just makes it more confusing for the first time digital camera owner.

4) How to shoot sharp & well- focused pictures at night ? Learn how to hold your camera properly. Elbow close to the body, hold the lens with your left hand and the body with the right hand ( for rightr-handed people ). Don’t hold the camera like a teacup. Hold it tight and steady. Practice yoga breathing technique. Compose your shot, hold the camera steady, hold your breathe while you press the shutter slowly ( squeeze it like a gun trigger ) and then exhale. So compose, aim, hold breath, squeeze shutter, exhale and continue.

High Image Quality Settings – RAW plus FINE ( JPEG ) Raw has the highest quality & contains all color information.
ISO Film Speed – 100 ASA ( shooting low ISO guarantees highest quality & no noise or grain )
AWB Settings – Use both A & Incandescent Settings
Picture Control – Use both Standard & Neutral Settings
Focal Lengths – Shoot wide angle ( 24mm ), Normal ( 50mm ), and Telephoto ( 70-85mm )
Exposure setting – M setting, Manual Exposure
Exposure Compensation Dial – this must be set to ZERO, it has the plus & minus sign
LCD Brightness Settings – Set this between 0 to plus 1 during outdoor night exposure. But it
depends on how much light is out there. Brightly lighted buildings downtown require 0. Watch the
LCD brightness as this is critical for calculating exposures. You can be off by as much as 1-2 stops.

PS. Don’t trust the LCD for exposure.  Compare your images to the LCD and your laptops screen and compare the images. A lot of time images on the LCD don’t accurate show what is on your laptop. There can be color and exposure differences by as much as 2 stops. Use the LCD for reference and trust your eye.