7 Secrets Complete

Nikon D7000, 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII lens @ 112mm, f2.8, 1/8000s, ISO 500.

Wow. I am so grateful to everyone who came to my workshop with Steve on Saturday. We had more than 40 attendees who learned concrete techniques to make their photography better, both while using the camera and while using finishing tools in Photoshop and Lightroom. I really had a fun time.

Nikon D7000, 50mm f/1.4 lens, f/2.2, 1/1600s, ISO 500

I really want to thank my good friend, Jane. She has been my supporter for a long time--one of my early subjects, and one of the first musicians I've been privileged to work with. She is always looking for the bright side and finding ways to be cheerful; she brings smiles to everyone she meets--seriously, you just can't help it.. She is now picking up the camera herself and so our time on Saturday was just right: she got to learn with Steve and me, and I got to photograph her to demonstrate techniques to the rest of the group. The weather cooperated--a balmy 30 degrees--not bad for January--but we did eventually take it in doors to finish up. Steve and I split the group into two for our shooting demos and switched after a time. Although it was cold, Jane didn't complain and obliged us in the shady shed as happily as the dining room window. The Old Rock Church in Providence really has some great places for making beautiful pictures.

Nikon D7000, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II lens @ 70mm, f/2.8, 1/3200s, ISO 500.

Jane's moved away, bobbed her hair, drifted around, lived some life, and is now back in Cache Valley for more, and the Valley will be better for it. Thanks a million, Jane.

Nikon D7000, 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII lens @ 112mm, f2.8, 1/8000s, ISO 500.

No that the 7 Secrets seminar is over, I'm looking forward to my next event. I'm thinking a workshop on flash work--really making great light...

Poi

I met T. one evening last summer when I was walking around the USU campus with one of my classes. He and some friends were walking their fixies and he had some funky Ray Ban's on, so I asked him to let us make some pictures with them. They were more than happy to oblige, and we spent half an hour making pictures together. What a blast.

Fast forward to the New Year. T. messages me about some LED lights he got for Christmas and says he wants to make some pictures. In my mind, he got Christmas lights, and I'm thinking we'll tie him and 'fro up and do something fun all wrapped up in lights.

The truth was even better. He practices Poi, which is a dance form from New Zealand--you know, flaming sticks spinning around? 21st Century fire codes translate this to LED  lights that can be programmed to virtually any color tethered to ropes. T. came over to the Mansion during open lab night for the club and we had a blast making pictures, and everyone got some good ones. Here's my sampling, and look out for more to come, cause T. is coming back, soon, to play again. 

I love my job.

Nikon D7000, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 62mm, f/8, 1/6s, ISO 400.

I hope to see you at our imaging conference this Saturday! Follow this link for all the details.

Creoles, et al.

This is the Chef at one of the restaurants we had breakfast at in New Orleans. My favorite image of the trip.

So much has been happening, and so many things are in my mind to share with you. Do you ever get paralyzed with so many things? Ever feel that you just don't have time right now to do a complete job, so you just put it off a little...and a little more...and it just snowballs into a ton of things that you don't have time for and you end up not doing anything?

Me, too.

So, I went to the Caribbean.

Took a vacation. We've actually planning it for months and months. My wife has been excited for ages, but I couldn't get excited until we were driving to the airport for all the things going on and all I had to finish before we left.

These are pictures I made of some of the people I saw and was involved with during our Cruise. This is a quick share, with more depth coming soon. I'm still working on preparations for the Seven Secrets imaging conference this weekend. Hope to see you there!

Gary Bird and J. were compatriots on this excursion

Trumpet.

Photog from North Dakota.

Trombone and photog. THese guys were heading to Washington to perform.

Cool artist--cafebabyneworleans.com

Another favorite.

When I shot this I thought it was cool that there was a guy in the window...turns out to be a bust of JFK!

These guys are listening to the Saints game--iPhone + Sousaphone = P.A. System.

This is Chris, a fellow SMUG leader. He showed us around in NO.

Gary and Chris working it from the Ferry.

Gary works the Shrimp burger--half a pund of ground shrimp patty-fied. A little salty. Gary couldn't finish--it was that much shrimp!

In Costa Maya.

J. in New Orleans

Gary in New Orleans.

J. in Costa Maya.

Guy painting our ship. It's gonna take him a while.

Gal sweeping the street in Roatan, Honduras.

My new pal, Darfuss--that's his green house right behind him...see it?

This vaquero was riding his bike up the street, and I was photographing something else. As soon as he saw me he made this salute and held until he had passed Gary and me. We obliged him with a picture.

7 Secrets

Friends,

Steve Mackley and I are so excited to announce the photo event of the year in Cache Valley. For the first time ever, you won't have to  travel for hours to attend a photographic workshop!

Steve and I will teach you the Seven Secrets to making great images. We'll show you the guaranteed techniques for working with people to make them feel comfortable in front of your lens and give natural  looking expressions. We're also going to show you how we work from start to finish, including post processing, to create phenomenal images. We use the camera and computer as one system and we'll teach you how to set your mind so that your images will become a fluid expression of your art. 

These are the skills it has taken Steve and me thousands of hours to understand and perfect, and we'll share them with you to get you moving along in your photography, too. Plus, we'll have some great door prizes, too.

Follow this link to take advantage of Early Registration values.

See you on the 28th!

H. is an old friend. She and her family were some of my first clients a few years ago, and I've always enjoyed working with her. She was good enough to spend the afternoon with Summer and Kayley, a couple of talented hair and makeup artists, and I. I sure enjoyed the soft look of this image, and the hair and makeup really finished it off nicely. 

Nikon D7000, 10-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 125mm, f/6.3, 1/200s, ISO 200.

Of course, Laura was in the house as well, and it's always a pleasure to see what she would turn out with H. in her chair...

Nikon D7000, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 120mm, f/7.1, 1/200s, ISO 200.