FROGS AND REPTILE PHOTO WORKSHOP 2008

SUMMARY

Come join me for an extremely exciting workshop. We will photograph spectacularly colored poison dart frogs and primitive-looking exotic reptiles in a two day shoot in St. Louis.  There will be two or three shooting stations (depending on the number of participants) with natural looking plants, flowers, leaves and bark, and the images will look as if they were taken in nature.  You will have total control in that the lighting will be perfect, the backgrounds flawless, the colors outrageous, and you will be able to maintain complete depth of field to show all of the stunning details.  I will begin the weekend with a presentation on macro photography, lighting, and exposure to discuss the technical challenges with this kind of shooting, and then I will help you get some of the best pictures ever.  Check out the photos in the gallery -- you will get pictures just like this!

Dates:  Saturday and Sunday, August 23, 24

Maximum number of participants: 8

Tour cost: USD $895.00 (payment in full is required upon sign-up)

Included: Lecture on macro photography and lighting for macro, access to ring light and studio strobe equipment, two days of photography of some of the most intriguing macro subjects you'll ever find, two critique sessions.


Not included: Transportation to St. Louis, hotel, meals, transfer to and from airport.


TOPICS

Among the many topics Jim will cover are:
1. How to expose when only inches from your subject
2. How to protect the highlights from blowing out in your pictures
3. The RAW workflow
4. Equipment options for macro photography
5. Professional way to replace a background with Photoshop

6. Understanding lighting ratios with a ring flash

7. How to replace unwanted reflections in eyes and reflective skin

8.  How to get maximum depth of field for the very small frogs


SKILL LEVEL

The workshop is open to people of all skill levels and experience. The majority of people shoot with digital SLRs, but this is not a pre-requisite for attending this workshop.

 

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT

 
--  Macro lens  or some way of focusing very close, such as extension tubes or a Canon 500D diopter (this will fit any camera system and any normal or medium telehoto lens -- you purchase it according to the 'filter size').

-- If you have a ring flash or a flash that can be positioned right above your lens (for example with a bracket from reallyrightstuff.com) you should bring it.  These items aren't necessary, though, because you can use the lights I already have as long as your camera can accept a PC cable.  If your camera may have special issues, contact me and ask how you can use the lighting.

 If you don't have equipment that you feel will get you the kind of pictures you want, you can use my camera and flash equipment.  You can simply put your flash card into my camera, and you'll have hi res images with ideal lighting.

-- A tripod is optional.  You may want to shoot the St. Louis Arch at night -- it's very dramatic and very beautiful.

LOCATION
The hotel where the seminar will be held is the Holiday Inn--Southwest (Viking), 10709 Watson Rd., St. Louis, MO  63127 (314 821-6600).  Here is a link to the hotel.  There is a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel.

Photographic Workshop Cancellation Policy

In order to make the necessary arrangements for each Workshop, we must rely on each participant's commitment to participating when they sign up. We have chosen to keep the classes small, and registration will be on a first come first serve basis. Please notify us at least 30 days prior to the Workshop starting date in the event you are unable to attend a Workshop in order to allow another person to apply. In order to reserve your space at the Workshop, a full payment is required. If participants want to cancel, there will be a $100 charge, from the date of booking, up to 45 days prior to the Workshop. After 45 days, the balance of the Workshop is non-refundable.

 

Reserve your place now!

You can reserve your space by mailing a check to:  Jim Zuckerman, P.O. Box 7, Arrington, TN  37014.  Please include your email address along with your check, and you will receive a written confirmation of payment.  You will also receive a schedule of the seminar.  Please also include the equipment you plan on bringing, such as the camera system you use and any flash equipment you may want to bring.