Spirit-N-Light it up WORKSHOP 2022

March 29-April 3, 2022

With the huge success of our Spirit-N-Light it up workshop in the fall of 2019 , we decided to offer it once again in the spring of  2022! 

We have taken the Spirit-N-Light workshop to the next level by adding a few days of teaching simple flash techniques to greatly improve your image making skills! This is a workshop to challenge yourself, grow your creative vision, and transcend your photography beyond what you have imagined.

Understanding how to see, work with, and manipulate light is one of the most important elements in creating dynamic photographs. Yet, grasping the technical side of natural light and artificial light (flash) is challenging, which is why we drop you into an inspiring environment, with interesting subjects, to learn these valuable skills. Focusing intensely on one important element over several days, hands-on, can have a great impact on immediately elevating your photographic skills. This is the perfect workshop to help you prepare for a trip to an exotic destination or to increase your ability to capture powerful images that stand above the sea of snapshots flooding the internet. We don’t just set up shots so you can take pretty pictures, we actually teach you the viable skills you need to improve your own photography.

Nestled in a valley, surrounded by majestic rolling hills, this workshop takes place on a true working ranch in central California. The wranglers will run the horses through the stunning landscape, creating loads of photographic opportunities for action shots, clouds of dust, roping steers, water spraying, lasso-tossing silhouettes at sunset, and depicting the adversity of ranch life, allowing you to capture the essence of a uniquely American culture. Amongst the action, we will mix in environmental portraiture, straightforward portraits, and close-up work with the horses and wranglers. Although there will be a concentrated focus on dramatic lighting, we will also work on creating interesting compositions, pan blurs, and adding motion and emotion to a still image.

This Spirit-N-Light It Up workshop adds simple flash techniques that will add a “wow” factor to your photographs. During the first few days, you will work with natural light, learning to see and use light and to manipulate your settings to create intriguing and unexpected images. We will then introduce the basics of fill flash, how simple it is to use, but how powerful a tool it is. By the last evening, our goal is to have you comfortable enough to try using off camera flash. For most photographers, adding flash seems overwhelming, too technical, too difficult, or just too much work. This is why we will work side by side, guiding you through the process and working hands-on in a real life photographic environment.

During mid-morning through early afternoon, when the light is harsh, we will teach through instructional slide shows, image reviews, and one-on-one troubleshooting. You can also plop down on the comfy leather couches with a cold drink and learn from each other or relax on the porch while taking it all in.

Our goal is that, regardless of what you know coming into this workshop, you will leave with the confidence in “seeing the light,” have new skills to create more intriguing photographs, and have a stunning portfolio of western images. Come prepared to get out of your comfort zone, work hard, and laugh hard; everyone has a great time during the Spirit-n-light workshops.

To maximize our time in the field, we will stay on the ranch in a log cabin lodge, built by the owner’s hands. The lounge area has shelves filled with books, a stone fireplace, and tables to sit and review images, and this is where we will meet for lectures and to share stories. You can even take a dip in the pool or a long soak in the hot tub adjacent to the main lodge. Owned by the ranch, we will take our meals at the Parkfield café, which is so rich in ranch life atmosphere, it can be a photographic destination.

This workshop is limited to only 9 participants.

“I have attended several of Pipers workshops, and I will be attending several more in the future! She has a way of teaching that truly inspires-She has really helped me move my photography to a new level. I enjoy every aspect of the workshop, from the early morning shoots, to the group image review, and the late night editing. This year Piper added the element of flash to her workshop by including Greg Thomason, who worked with us and explained how to use flash in many different circumstances. Most of us had never used flash before, and his way of teaching truly opened another door for me with my photography. The combination of Piper and Greg together made this workshop spectacular.” Missy Goldwyn

YOUR INSTRUCTORS

Two caring, expert Instructors: Twice the support, instruction, knowledge, assistance, laughter, and genuine concern for your success – exactly what you need when challenging your self to improve your creative skills and vision.

•  Piper Mackay has spent thousands of hours in the field across the African continent, using and developing these lighting techniques. She teaches in a basic, creative way that is easy to follow. She now uses a Nikon system, but has  15 years of experience with Canon.
• Greg Thomason has done assignments for Peter Hurley, one of the top head-shot, portrait photographers in the world. He brings the technical side to teaching flash in a simple fashion. He has traveled with Piper to Kenya and India. He has an ability to click with his subject to bring out a genuine expression. He uses a Nikon system.

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