Illuminate's February night out

For February's, Illuminate Workshops night shoot, we had quite the turn out. Seventeen photographers of all caliber, creativity, experience, and gear, all got together to run through the night with tripods and cameras in hands.



We started off shooting the Denver skyline off a parking garage off Spear & 14th. After it got dark, our band of merry photogs lugged their sticks & glass around to shoot the Cherry Creek bike path.



Once done trolling under the 14th street bridge we moved east towards Pints Pub for some red phone booth shots, a group shot and a pint.



Along the way we stopped at interesting places to photograph things that cought our eye. Here, I asked Wendy to model for us, which she greatfully did. When we get the model release I'll show her face. (since she's a minor).



Then whisking right along onto the Denver Art Museum for some flash fun using the the talents of the other photographers to do jumping jacks or attempting that YMCA thingy. (Mary, ? , Kris, Efrain, ? , Armondo, ? , Sage)



Then some portraits in front of these giant rocks. (Kris, Mary, Efrain, Me)





Heres the set up: one Vivitar 285hv, Efrains PocketWizards (sonce mine broke), Sages white jacket as a reflector to bounce some light back into the subject. (Thanks everyone for your help!)



Finally, we arrived at the capital building about 10pm before everyone called it a night.



For those of you out there wanting to get some more saddle time with your camera, lenses or want to meet some unique like minded individuals. Maybe your worried about going out at night. You know what they say "about safety in numbers".

Contact Efrain at Illuminate to get more info on the next night outing. We usually go out once a month.

The effects of gravity

In the late 16th / early17th century Galileo Galileo dropped the theory of gravitation on the world. It's usually a good thing to have around. It keeps us from flying off the surface of Earth. Gives us a light in the night sky. You know good stuff.

However, it does have it's down sides too. For example the other night when I was out shooting with Illuminate Workshops night shoot, I easily left my camera unattended to adjust a flash in a light stand. (This is where gravity ties this story all together. Galileo dropped balls off the leaning tower of Piza to demonstrate it's effect). I got to watch in slow motion my camera and tripod succumb to it's power.




Thankfully it dumped in the grass not on the cement. As I picked it up I realized the impact severed the foot off my PocketWizard Transceiver. Out comes the words ":-&@;-/".



Then next day I contacted PocketWizard to find out the cost of the repair. They wanted over $60 plus shipping it to them to fix it. OMG!




I thought that was a little over priced, so I got out the super glue. Within ten minutes it was all back together.


We'll see how long this lasts. Stay tune for a future post about photography insurance.

Sloan Valve @ Benders

I finally made it to a Sloan Valve show. For years I've been promising these guys I'd go see them rock it out. So last Saturday night I went down to Bender's Tavern to watch them play.



I work with three of the four members that make up the band. Which makes it so I know when there's a gig going on. There just seems to always be something going on when they're playing.



They were super stoked that not only did I show up with my wife but that I brought the camera gear too. These fellas are super cool guys who will lwt you you buy them drinks and play some good ol' rock & roll. They were even cool enough to share the stage with two of my Vivitar 285hv flashes.



Check out their myspace to find out when the next show is.

Andrew Clark on wedding photography

Well it's already February of 2009 & I've already got one workshop under my belt. I took the Wedding Photography with Andrew Clark workshop through Illuminate Workshops.



Andrew is one of the leading wedding photojournalist shooting in Colorado. He's shot several high society clients in the Denver area and around the world. He's even shot a wedding for TV! Channel 9news documented the wedding experience and Andrew was picked as the photographer. WOW!



What can I say... Let's see... You know how you have that one book in your life that is "the one book" you wish would of read earlier in your life? That's how I felt about this workshop. I kept thinking that it's a lot of money, do I really want to do wedding photography? whaah whaah whaah. I am so glad I took this workshop. There is so much very good information.



Several times from the student body of six people, I heard "what Andrew just taught us was so worth the tuition alone". Then we would move onto the next part of the lesson plan and someone else would say it AGAIN.



Andrew Clark's wedding photography workshop will take you over many aspects of the photography business; from photojournalism & basic posing, to digital workflow, to seeing the light & lighting, finally to branding & marketing your business.



Now whether I "do just weddings" or not... taking this workshop has given me the tools to be a better photographer and move my business in a positive direction. So if your sitting on the fence thinking about this workshop, hopefully I've helped lean you in a way by giving you a glimpse into what it's like.

These are the photos from the class of just walking around using available light and getting good shots.

Colorado Strobist presents David Tejada

Last night I went to my first Colorado Strobist meeting. There was about thirty of us packed into the studio to listen to what David Tejada has been doing with lighting.

David is a annual report corporate shooter that specializes corporate reports, editorials and the such. His work usually take him out in the field, but he can make the guys in ties look good too.

David talked for over a two hours on his lighting techniques while showing off his slide show of unbelievable work. He's been in places most of wish we could and a whole lot of places I don't think I'd want to be. i.e. Half a mile underground in a nuclear salt mine, or a lithium treatment plant.

David answer everyone questions on lighting and then gave some helpful tips on surviving the economy. All that without plugging his own Small Strobes-Big Results workshop (except maybe twice).

For my first round up with the Colorado Strobist I had a great time talking to old friends and catching up with some new ones. I'm looking forward to the next Colorado Strobist meeting. This time in Cheyenne Wyoming?