July 13-17, 2016
The Spirit-N-Light workshops are designed to teach photographers how to create stunning images, using dramatic natural lighting, an element that can be the difference between a mere snap shot and a great shot. Focusing intensely on one element, along with exciting subjects in an inspiring environment, can have a great impact on learning your craft and elevating your photography.
Nestled in a valley, surrounded by majestic rolling hills, this workshop takes place on a true working ranch. The wranglers will run the horses through the stunning landscape, creating loads of photographic opportunities for action shots, clouds of dust, water spraying, and silhouettes at sunset. Although there will be a concentrated focus on dramatic lighting, we will also work on creating interesting compositions and pan blurs, as well as learn how to creatively use shutter speeds to exaggerate movement. Practicing and learning these techniques in advance will give you a huge advantage in capturing award winning images in exotic locations.
In mid-morning or early afternoon, when the light is harsh, we will work on portraits. I will show you the natural lighting tricks I developed that allow me to create incredible images, even in the toughest lighting situations. This will allow you to maximize every minute in the field and take advantage of more photographic opportunities when traveling through a remote location. The below images were taken out in the open landscape during bright light.
There will be an image review, which will commence in the afternoon of the first full day, to understand what is working and what you may need to adjust to improve your images over the next several shoots. During the warmth of midday, in the cool lodge, while you are plopped down on the comfy, leather couches with a cold drink, I will give multiple slide show presentations, discussing the techniques we will be practicing, including some post-production recommendations. Throughout the workshop, there will be continuous discussions on how and why light makes a difference.
The most exciting part of this workshop is that, one afternoon, we will go beyond the photograph and hop on the horses, riding with the cowboys and cowgirls through the surreal landscape, ending at the lake for sundowners. Of course, we will have cameras in hand, but too many times, we travel great distances to amazing locations and do not take the time to experience them. We forget to put down our cameras, laugh, live, breathe, and experience the incredible place we are capturing through our lenses. This is offered during the summer workshop only.
** If you prefer not saddling up and going for a ride, this is the perfect opportunity for you to take landscape and still life shots around the ranch. We will arrange for you to meet up with the group in time for sundowners and sunset, silhouette shots.
To maximize our time in the field, we will be staying on the ranch in a log cabin lodge, built by the owner’s bare hands. After an exciting shoot, you can relax on the porch or plop onto the leather couches in the main lounge area. The lounge area has shelves filled with books, a stone fireplace, tables to sit and review images, and this is where we will meet for lectures and to share stories.
Is this workshop for you?
This workshop is for all levels of photographers, who want to take their photography to the next level by learning about the incredible power of natural light. However, participants must know how to use their cameras in aperture, shutter priority, or manual modes. Participants should know how to alter basic camera settings such as: aperture, shutter, ISO, and exposure value. You should also know how to download your images, process the basic images files, and share them to a jump drive. Below is a description of the three different Spirit-N-Light workshops offered throughout the year. If you have any concerns, please contact me at info@PiperMackayPhotography.com
Cost
The cost of this all-inclusive workshop is $2,395.00, based on double occupancy.
Most rooms have a loft, so there is one bed in the loft and another on the main level.
Single Accommodations are limited. If available, there is a single supplement fee payable of $595.00.
If you request shared accommodation on your registration form, we will do our best to match you with a roommate. However, if we are unable to match a solo guest with another guest of the same gender, then the single supplement will subsequently be charged.
This workshop is “all inclusive.” From the time you arrive on Wednesday afternoon until we part on Sunday, you will not have to pay for anything, except alcoholic beverages. All accommodation, meals, wrangler fees, model releases, ranch fees, transportation while on the ranch, instruction, and critique, are included. We will meet at the ranch by 2:30pm on Wednesday, July 13 and depart on Sunday, July 17 by noon.
What’s Included
- Accommodations
- All the 3 meals of the day with mineral water
- Afternoon horse ride
- Ranch Fee
- Cowboys and Cowgirls
- model releases
- transportation while at the ranch
- instruction during all photo shoots
What’s NOT included
- Transportation to and from the Ranch
- Alcoholic beverages
Ranch Location
The ranch is an easy 3-4 hour drive, depending on traffic, from Los Angeles or San Francisco. The closest small airport is San Louis Obispo County Regional Airport – http://www.sloairport.com. Transportation is available on the ranch during the workshop, but it is your responsibility to get yourself to the ranch.
Interested in joining us?
The group size for this workshop is limited to only 8 participants. The Spirit-N-Light workshops are very popular and they usually fill quickly. If you want to take advantage of this opportunity then now is the time to register. To secure your spot, please complete the On-line registration form and make the $795.00 non-refundable deposit. Both a completed reservation form and deposit must be completed to confirm a spot.
Balance of the workshop is due on May 4, 2016
THIS WORKSHOP IS SOLD OUT -be sure to add your name to the priority notification list for the spring workshop
ABOUT THE SPIRIT-N-LIGHT WORKSHOPS –
The spirit-N-Light workshops were designed to help photographers learn how to use natural light to create powerful images. We will also cover putting motion and emotion into still image. These three elements, light, motion, and emotion, is what creates an extraordinary photograph. Although the workshop takes place on a working ranch with real cowboys/girls, this is not a western shoot, where we set up pretty horse images for you to photograph. This is a workshop designed to help you master your craft, learn the power of natural dramatic lighting, and take your photography to the next level.
The spring workshop–
is created for experienced beginners – intermediate level photographers. This is a 4-day weekend workshop. This is for the passionate photographer, who has been shooting for a while, but has never pushed himself or herself to take their photography to the next level. Participants should be comfortable with their equipment, knowing how it works and how to change the basic camera settings: aperture, shutter, and ISO. The photo shoots will be top level, professional shoots, but the conversations and teaching will be at an intermediate/beginning level, discussing settings, what lenses to use, depth of field, exposure value, motion, and light. The majority of shoots will be set up at a range of 24-300mm, so you do not need big, expensive glass. This workshop is perfect for the enthusiastic photographer, who wants to push their creativity to the next level.
The Summer Dust-N-Light workshop–
held during the summer, is open for all levels of photographers, but will be taught at an intermediate level. This is a 5 day/4 night workshop and includes the experience of riding with the wranglers for one afternoon (only offered on this workshop). This is for the serious photographer, who wants to learn and practice the skills of using dramatic lighting to create top-notch images. Participants should have a good understanding of all the technical fundamentals of digital cameras, including shutter speed, aperture, depth of field, exposure, and digital workflow. Participants must know how to work their cameras in aperture, shutter priority, or manual modes and should know how to change these basic camera settings: aperture, shutter, ISO, and exposure value. You will have the opportunity to use your long lenses. You should also know how to download your images, process the basic images files, and share them to a jump drive.
The fall Spirit-N-Light Intensive workshop–
is created for experienced, advanced, semi-pro, and pro-shooters, who have a firm grasp of all the technical fundamentals of digital cameras, shutter speed, aperture, depth of field, exposure, and digital workflow. There will be NO formal teaching on these basic skills. There will be no teaching of basic settings; we will be speaking in terms of under exposing, increased shutter speeds, shallow depth of field, shooting in cloudy, etc. We will be focusing on visual style and advanced digital techniques. Participants must know how to use a professional editing program (lightroom or Photoshop) and have a firm understanding of the basic post processing tools: levels, curves, exposure, sharpening, etc. This is a 6 day/5 night workshop, during the shorter days of the year, which means we will push at a professional level pace, going all day. We will give heavy instruction for the first part of the workshop and then allow you to take the reins, making your own creative choices-lens choice, where to stand, and what settings to use, etc. We will be in the field, beside you, for support and assistance.
If you have any questions on which is the best workshop for you, contact me at info@PiperMackayPhotogrpahy.com I am happy to help you choose the best workshop for your personal goals.
Images from past participants
