Concerning Day 2.

       We learned in a classroom setting on Day I how to successfully design an image and what the many varied elements are that will make or break it.  And although we can now 'professionally critique' a 'piece of art', we have yet to hone these new skills under Seewald's critical tutelage in the field and make them ourselves.

       You will make more dynamic, award winning images if you pick up on all that Michael will share this day.  We will work a lot more with the technical aspects along with furthering of our compositional skills. 

     We will learn most of the following, depending on how the class is being directed by those in it: how lenses work; how light meters 'really work', (and why they should be called 'gray meters' instead of light meters); how depth of field works, and how to use it in varying ways; what filters do for both color and black and white films, and which ones, if any, are essential.  We will take all the new tools of composition learned from Day I and put them to actual use. 

     Michael will put you through a series of actual assignments and help you accomplish them.  Yes, many times he will also take on the same assignments and make it look easy, just to show you it's not as hard as it seems to fulfill them at that point.  But, by the end of the day, you will be thinking like the pro himself... at least more than you did by two, three or, may God bless you, four or even five fold over earlier!

Photo copyright and courtesy of Jeff Johnston '04

Michael explains depth of field properties in detail to
 advanced student Albert Linquiti of Santa Barbara, California.

     Of course, much is to be gained from some of the other students you will be working with.  Some are very advanced in their abilities (even pros of 20 years have taken the class) and usually share info as readily as Michael does.  Hear about 'this or that trick' that they are doing/using.  You will also learn about your gear, and that of others, while actually using all of this equipment, instead of just looking at it in your camera case or closet at home.

     Plus, it's as much fun as the Day I class!

Photo copyright and courtesy Jeff Johnston
 
Michael setting up a shot to teach with in one of the
many productive spots in Balboa Park.

We will meet
at 9 a.m. sharp at the
'Spanish Village' in Balboa Park! 
Directions at bottom of page and link on left.

Class runs until 4:00 p.m.
 

We will take a lunch at a little deli/sandwich shop in the park next to the photography museum at noon.  If you have a camera with lots of lenses and attachments, a 'photo back pack' would be a good idea to get. Carrying around your equipment all day will definitely take a toll on your energy level. (See 'getting really pooped out' in the dictionary.)
 

Definite field items to bring:

1. A tripod with a 'ball head'.   Notes on the right kind to get are further down- make sure you get the right one for your needs.  If needed, low priced rentals are available from Michael.

2. Tripod bag, but not necessarily for this particular class if it's the weekend one only, we will shoot the whole time and not put it away sometimes like we do for the one week classes.

3. Camera and preferred film (does not matter which kind) or your digital memory card.

4. Camera instruction manual.  NEVER leave home without it.

5.  Spare batteries.  If you don't have them, get them- and make sure they are charged up.  Who wants to be making a possible award winning image and then miss out because of this lack of preparedness?  It's a good idea to have the charger handy for an emergency charge up.  It's pretty easy to find a shop worker that will let you 'borrow' an electrical outlet and most re-charge fully in less than an hour.

6. Small note pad and pen or pencil for making field notes.

7. Hat and suntan screen. Especially if you are fair skinned. 99% of the time it's very sunny here. For your northerners flying in: even if it's overcast, fair skinned people tend to get sun burnt due to our southern location in So. California, closer to the equator.

8. Polarizer filter.  It screws on the front of your lens- (for most lenses, but not all).  If you have an 'auto focus' camera, you will need the 'circular polarizer', if you don't, a regular 'linear' one is the type you will need, and those are less expensive.  They run about $50 -$60, depending on brand name/style needed.  The best money you will ever spend, besides taking a Seewald class or getting the right tripod and ball head ;/) . 

Most of the 'low end' digital cameras will not have screw-on filter capability, but you can hold your polarized sunglasses over the lens for the same effect in many cases, or buy the filter and just hold it over it too, as the ear piece from sunglasses are hard to work around.

About 20% of our students show up thinking their 'UV' filter is a polarizer, IT IS NOT! If not sure, go check your filter now, it should say PL on it, or PL CIR for 'circular polarizer' (meaning not that it's round, but that you can let your auto-focus mechanism work THRU it. 

Note: if you just recently bought the UV maybe you could get your money back and apply it to a polarizer at that store.  It's all you will need, even as a lens protector, which is why the stores sell them in the first place.  Michael has one for each lens and just leaves them on, it is virtually needed to enhance every scene out there.

Click photo to enlarge.
Without and with the polarizer.

   
Without and with the polarizer.
Notice there is not only less reflections in the window, but the reds are more dramatic due to the reflection of the blue sky in the paint itself being eliminated!!!

   
Without and with the polarizer.
Notice there is so much reflection from the world in the door window you can barley see the lady through it? Notice the reflections disappear with it.

   
Without and with the polarizer.

Above, with and without a polarizer.. WOW.  

Notice how much more vivid the clouds look;  hey, look how much you are learning from the class before it even starts!  Michael should have a price increase already, don't you think? 

Basically, a polarizer:

* Reduces glare and unwanted reflections
* Saturates colors
* Deepens blue skies
* Improves contrast
* Penetrates haze

By the way, they must be turned to work properly for each different scene!  The amount of reflections will or will not be eliminated with this adjusting procedure.

9. Rain gear/ layered clothing. (Umbrella and rain poncho) change of clothes or layering of clothes (you can leave it all in your car if it not threatening or at home if it's not in the forecast at all- if you trust them that is).  Michael always has a small, fold up umbrella he sticks in his vest pocket (most pro-jackets have a place for them) and a rain poncho folded up and stuffed in the back pocket of the jacket.  If he knows it will rain, he puts a 'golf umbrella' in with his tripod in his tripod bag to make sure shooting in the rain is actually fun.  You see, rain is your friend if you stay dry (as you can make spectacular photos in it when everyone else is cowering under door entryways or inside).

10. A photo backpack-(but not  a must).  For those of your real serious shooters with many lenses (and if you are you probably already have one), if not, we suggest you do.

You will need to bring a GOOD,
'USER FRIENDLY' tripod
One WITH a 'ball head' (that's the user friendly part).
 

Is this a 'ball head'?

IF you are not sure, and as you will need one for Day II of class, click here and read about them, and why you will need one on your tripod. If you are sure you know what a ball head is already and have one for class, skip this link.

If you know what they are, but don't have a tripod with one yet, you can rent one from us for only $20.  Rental fees can be applied to a purchase if you'd like.  The Bogen Manfrotto tripods we carry are so lightweight, sturdy and user friendly that 90% of the students usually do.  The link above has photos and prices for them.

A photo vest might be nice also but don't get one just for class, get one if you will be wanting to go on trips and make photos and plan on getting serious about your art. ('ART' you say? Well yeah, after class you WILL BE AN ARTIST, and get a piece of paper stating so to prove it, so there!!!).

A tripod bag makes carrying your tripod easy, or an attached strap works ok, as it then frees up both hands since you just sling the bag over your shoulder (although we will be shooting the whole time on day two, so on this day it's not too important- but get one for your future photo outings). Some photo back packs have a strap to hold the tripod with. 

           

Note: We carry a variety of  Manfrotto bags too if you need one.

This kind of shoulder carrying bag is convenient for walking around when you are traveling as you will always want to be ready to capture that 'best of show' photo that we occasionally run across.  Usually the ones for one shoulder work best, those are what we carry.

Class is held rain or shine.

Note: this very seldom happens down at our San Diego class (it's basically a desert).  If there is rain predicted, bring rain gear... but we can work in the hallways of the museums, etc. to make our photos. It's not as bad as it might sound.

If rain is a possibility bring rain gear too, a large umbrella and warmer clothes. And of course we can work in the hallways of the museums instead of the open air any time we wish. Usually is does not rain much even when they say rain, but who knows?

As Michael says, “a lot of my best work is done on rainy days, as it creates a better mood of light, etc.. I bring a golf umbrella and work under it, as long as I stay dry it’s not bad at all working when it’s pouring out.”

 Either way, the afternoons get a bit cool except for mid-summer, but especially in spring and fall.  In winter, downright cold is not unusual.

LASTLY, but maybe more importantly than anything else: please bring your ‘positive mental attitude’, especially if you  don’t usually have one- it will help you go a lot lot further. Mucho info will be given and it overwhelms some, especially when trying to put it all in practice on Day II.  Just know that this is normal and you won't be the first, nor the last, ok?  Please read the following testimonial.   

*****    *****    *****    *****    *****    *****

"Michael, thanks for the great time....  Even though I experienced some frustration (about mid-way thru day II) I kept reminding myself what an opportunity this was that I decided to take advantage of and to make the best out of it. Then my rate of absorption took off... I am truly inspired. "

Thanks,
West Flato, San Diego, California,
Weekend class of 1.21.'06

     *****    *****    *****    *****    *****    *****

At 4 p.m. we will have our closing ceremony and you will be awarded your beautiful, and well deserved, 'Certificate of Completion'.  They will be signed by Michael and worthy of framing and displaying... ALRIGHT, pat ourselves on the back!

Any other questions? Let us know. About those spare batteries... usually someone has one die just after getting to class and turning on the camera.  We do so much shooting and (if digital) looking at the images on the back of our cameras that we are almost guaranteed our first, and sometimes second, battery sets die.

Ok, let's go find out what a WOW image is and learn how to 'make them', not take them!!!

Click her to print out
the field item checklist from above: