Simple Lights from your local Auto Parts Retailer

My recent wedding photography workshops in Rockhampton gave me the opportunity to try out a new little lighting rig I have put together. Basically it consists of 4 SCA 24 LED magnetic lights - the kind that auto mechanics use. The four of them came to just under $40.

They are bright and the white balance is actually cool enough to mix fairly unobtrusively with daylight. Because they have magnets on the back, you can quickly plonk them onto a metal plate and you have a small and very portable lighting rig.

My friend Sharon Mahoney asked her husband to make me a metal plate with a handle on the back, which he very quickly did in his back shed.

And - Voila! Portable light.

Because I have four of these babies on a plate I can turn them off and on according to my lighting needs. The image above was taken in Rockhampton at dusk. The image below in a livingroom that same morning.

I am looking forward to using these babies often!

Rockhampton Wedding Photography Workshops

I have just returned from a warm and sunny few days in Queensland. It was an honour for me to once again be invited to run even more photography workshops in Rockhampton, situated along the central Queensland coast. I have now been there four times, and each time has been wonderful. This time, however, was unique.

I was asked by Rockhampton photographer, Sharon Mahoney, to come and run a complete wedding photography weekend, taking the local wedding photographers through the process of a wedding day and helping them overcome some of the difficulties they encounter that are unique to them as photographers and unique to their part of the world. This included offering a fresh perspective on everything from typical (and not so typical) Rockhampton locations and the harsh afternoon light that all wedding photographers battle with...especially in a place such as Rockhampton.

Sharon was wonderful in making everything happen. She had organised everything I needed - from a large church for ceremony photographs to a 1925 Essex vintage car...and much more! There was nothing I needed to do except turn up and run the thing....which is exactly how I like it! I can run a mean workshop but I am not the best organiser in the world...

So, Saturday morning found us emulating 'home of the bride' photographs', followed by the ceremony photographs in St Joseph's church. I had been asked to assist with these things particularly, and even though Goldstone House was the location for our 'home of the bride' photographs, we actually used it in such a way that proved to all there that no matter what the nature of the location, beautiful bridal portraits can be achieved - if you know how to use and meter for light. Essentially that was my message for the entire weekend.

After our meal together on Saturday night me met on Rockhampton's river bank for a photo session with a beautiful old Essex car. Not liking the light, we simply moved to a better location only a hundred meters or so away. I did this deliberately. I wanted the group to learn to never settle if a change can be made for better light and a better context. Sunday afternoon saw the entire group of us walking along the street that runs along the river, using whatever we could find to create wedding images. What was interesting was that the group soon learned that great wedding photographs are not created in beautiful locations. They can even be created in parking lots if you know how to use and manipulate light.

Monday found me tired but excited. I had an appointment to be on Radio 4RO with host, Michael Harvey. He is a lovely guy. In the studio with us was Rockhampton Mayor, Brad Carter. We all just chatted about photography for a little while. I do love being on radio talking about photography!

I pour my heart and soul into my workshops. They exhaust me and uplift me at the same time. They exhaust my energies and renew them also. I love the entire experience, despite its rather tiring nature. That being the case, its gratifying to get testimonials like this...

"It was totally awesome. The off camera flash shoots we did just rocked. I just ordered my 'cactus' gear. Shelton...you're a blast.....talk about laugh laugh laugh and laugh some more!The lessons were very very rewarding. THANKS SHELTON. YOU ROCK!!!!"

Thanks Tanya.Thanks to all of the fun photographers who came to the workshop and especially to you, Sharon, for making it possible. I am looking forward to coming up again soon!

Yesterday's Creative People Photography workshop found me doing something I have never done before with my digital SLR - shooting monochrome in camera. The logic to me, as it is to many people is that you shoot everything in colour and then alter the RAW file later to produce a monochrome image.

I still believe that is the best way to produce a high quality black and white image. Lets not get me wrong here. However, I have to admit that the Nikon D700's ability to produce a monochrome image directly from the camera was pleasantly surprising. I was able to tell the D700 what colour filtration I desired and therefore set the tonal range somewhat in camera - just like the 'old day's when we used to shoot using black and white film and coloured filters over our lenses.

It was an interesting return to that mindspace yesterday as once again I found myself thinking in black and white as I shot.

Naturally I had the camera set to produce a black and white jpeg image and a full colour RAW image simultaneously in case I wanted the colour image too. Such is the advantage of digital. But it was an interesting exercise and an interesting way to return to a former way of thinking.

The workshop itself went very well, and I take this opportunity to thank our model, Eshini Perera for her sweet personality which endeared her to all of us and made the afternoon prac session such a delight!

Keep an eye out for more workshops! There are plenty being planned. For my photography tutorials, click here...

Another Fabulous Wedding Workshop!

Today saw Glynn Lavender and me at Abbotsford Convent...again, running a Creative Wedding Photography workshop. Once again, Natasha Humble fronted as our bride with Glynn taking the honours for himself to pose as our groom. The problem was trying to stop these two characters from laughing and fooling around! We had such a great time!

I am however reminded of one sad truth whenever I run photography workshops, especially the wedding one. That truth is that there are photographers who are photographing weddings who have the incorrect perception that having a creative eye and a digital SLR will get you by, no matter how little you may know about the science and technicalities of photography. So many who come to these workshops have little knowledge of these aspects of photography and rely far too much on their cameras to get things right.

This is a misunderstanding and an overstating of any camera's ability, and this is especially true of wedding photography. At my workshop today, I was able to at least show some of those who attended what they really needed to learn...and that is a good thing.

So let me clarify. This is not a criticism of those who attend with little knowledge of their cameras. It would be a criticism if they were to continue along those lines after realising the need to learn. I hope that doesn't happen, of course...

Another successful One-on-One Workshop

I love running photography workshops. As I have said often in this blog before, while I certainly welcome the financial rewards, I consider the real reward to be seeing the 'lights go on' in the hearts and eyes of those who attend. Normally my workshops are small groups, ranging anywhere from around 4 people through to about a dozen.

However, having recently embarked upon a course of One-on-One workshops, I have been able to see more closely the emotional and creative effect of my opportunity to teach others. This was particularly true of a recent workshop in which I was able to assist Tara, a photographer in Geelong who had established a home studio after purchasing a lighting kit. She had little idea how to use these lights and lighting accessories.

After spending four hours with her, I was able to show her how to establish lighting setups for Rembrandt, Narrow, Broad and Hollywood lighting. I watched as she set each of these up for herself, setting lighting ratios and utilising each of her three flash heads for different purposes within each setup. She was so thrilled. And, to be honest, so was I. It is an esteemed honour to be able to enable someone further in the pursuit of their passions. It is even more wonderful when you know that your customer can now combine their passion with the beginnings of a small business.

This is what Tara had to say in her very kind follow up email:

"Hi Shelton

I just wanted to write and thankyou for yesterday. What you taught me yesterday will be invaluable, and I am no longer aprehensive about walking into 'that' room! I know now I can use the studio to create some pleasing results (which is great for Winter). I think the main thing I need to work on is communication with my subject...I am generally not as bad as I was yesterday. You are like a photographic genius in my eyes, and I was NERVOUS!

...I came away feeling very happy as well as relieved! Your teaching style is amazing, you truly are gifted in that area. Thankyou again"

No. Thank you Tara. It was my pleasure!

Yesterday's Wedding Photography Workshop

Well, yesterday's Creative Wedding Photography workshop was a hit. It was booked out and included two photographers from Brisbane - Naomi and Nicole - who flew down just for the day to be at my workshop. Well! I am indeed honoured! Thanks to my models, to Tamara for being a great assistant, and to all who attended and laughed and clicked the day away!For more information about my photography workshops, just email me!

One on One Workshops

As a result of being on air last week on 3AW with Denis Walter, I was contacted by a lovely lady named Anne who was looking for someone who could spend a day with her to explain how she could use her DSLR. She had been shooting for some time but with less than satisfactory results. Using a DSLR on Program or Auto modes does not always yield the desired image and the lack of control does not satisfy the creative soul.

So, I spent the day with her yesterday. The morning was spent teaching her about the operation and the creative options of shutter speeds and apertures. Then, a lesson on exposure and the need to be able to manually control your camera. 

The afternoon was spent taking photographs in various lighting situations.

By the end of the day Anne was able to set the camera to manual and work out why the photographs I had asked her to take around her home were not working out in Auto modes. She was able to take control of the camera, work out what the problem was and reshoot in manual to achieve the desired result.

We were both so happy!

Thanks for a great day Anne! I want to do more of these!