I just returned from the Imaging Workshops of Colorado, held in Breckenridge, CO. For the past 4 years, I have attended the Imaging Workshops of Colorado as part of my continuing education. Along the way, I have had the privilege of studying under some of the world's finest photographers, including Kevin Kuboda, David Ziser, and (this year) Ken Sklute. Although Ken Sklute is an excellent wedding photographer, I was delighted to learn so many wonderful things about this talented master. Ken is a "Canon Explorer of Light"; one of only a handful of photographers chosen by Canon to represent their digital cameras and related products. When he's not shooting a wedding or traveling the world speaking and teaching, you can find Ken walking the streets of Paris or hiking the mountains of China; documenting his experiences through the lens of his camera.
During this 4 day intensive workshop, we studied the source, quality and direction of the light we photograph with. We studied environmental backgrounds, elemental relationships, and compositions that are pleasing to the eye. We spent a lot of time behind our cameras, shooting the most challenging scenarios Ken could throw at us. We had a blast and in the end, our clients benefit the most!
The image below was created in a church we were able to use for a full day of lessons. Our challenge was to find and create a compelling photograph after overcoming the challenges of our environment while showcasing our subjects against the beauty of our surroundings. Although the church was indeed beautiful, it was difficult to photograph due to a strong yellow color cast coming through a large stained glass window. I was able to compensate using the custom white balance in my camera, which presented a pleasing skin tone. I then exposed for the available light to show off the rustic beauty of the church. To add drama to the shot, I fired a flash (held by my trusty assistant - Ken Sklute himself) to rim light our models from behind.
Our models (Kim & Chris) were cute because prior to our workshop, they had never met! Needless to say, we had them in some interesting and sometimes awkward "snuggle" poses, but they were good sports and and were very cooperative for our cameras!
During this 4 day intensive workshop, we studied the source, quality and direction of the light we photograph with. We studied environmental backgrounds, elemental relationships, and compositions that are pleasing to the eye. We spent a lot of time behind our cameras, shooting the most challenging scenarios Ken could throw at us. We had a blast and in the end, our clients benefit the most!
The image below was created in a church we were able to use for a full day of lessons. Our challenge was to find and create a compelling photograph after overcoming the challenges of our environment while showcasing our subjects against the beauty of our surroundings. Although the church was indeed beautiful, it was difficult to photograph due to a strong yellow color cast coming through a large stained glass window. I was able to compensate using the custom white balance in my camera, which presented a pleasing skin tone. I then exposed for the available light to show off the rustic beauty of the church. To add drama to the shot, I fired a flash (held by my trusty assistant - Ken Sklute himself) to rim light our models from behind.
Our models (Kim & Chris) were cute because prior to our workshop, they had never met! Needless to say, we had them in some interesting and sometimes awkward "snuggle" poses, but they were good sports and and were very cooperative for our cameras!
