Lighting Demo/Class reports

[CaptainTom]

Since I am the first to return from Scott's class, I'll start a thread.

I got there 15 minutes late. I didn't bring a chair. No problem. I was welcomed and borrowed a chair from ????? somebody.

Scott was already going over his printed outline. I immediately got the sense that this class was not going to be boring, or a waste of my time. Scott is very organized and has a great presence.

It has been years since I did any portrait/glamour work. Back in the film days... I still have my Norman lights, that have huge cables snaking out of the power supply. It was great to get to see some "modern" equipment in use. Scott didn't miss a thing in explaining the equipment and how he uses it.

Everybody got to help set up the lighting. Everybody got more time than they needed to shoot. The only glitch was that Scott's model never showed up. It would have been great to have her there, but we made do.

The best part of the event was that Scott is about as unpretentious and unassuming a photographer as I have ever met. He knows what he is doing. Most importantly, he knows how to explain what he is doing in a way that makes sense. I learned a lot, but mostly had a GREAT time and met some other folks with the same interests as me.

I can't wait for the PHOTOSHOP BASICS class...hint, hint, nudge nudge........

[Jake]

What a great class! Scott was a Awesome teacher.
It was the best $30 I have spent in a long time.
Now I need to get my wife to let me spend some money. I might go in to modeling to help pay for some lights

[blonboy]

Wish I had time to post more but Im on my way back out. Incredible class... SUPER incredible teacher. I'll post more thougths and more photos from the class when i get home. No time now.

Thanks again Scott!
~blon

[Detonate]

Great Class! Great Teacher! Great Models!

I don't have time for my full review right now, but I have plenty to say about it!

[rozzie]

Had an absolutely great time and I'm inspired to go to future classes by Scott! The class was very well laid out, and Scott made sure to stop and explain anything that wasn't understood to us. I now have a better understanding of the uses of a light meter as well as how to use AB's, octaboxes, and when to use a hairlight. Even though the model didn't show up, enough of us volunteered to be models for it to be a productive class. Thanks a million, Scott! Oh yeah, and we had a friendly bunch of people out there! Glad to finally meet some people from here :)

[AjP]

That was lots of fun and great class, as well as meet few from forum and just chat and shoot. Scoot is great speaker and exptremely prepared (You are geek) :) Thanks for bringin' all your light equimpnet and reserving studio, oh well, bummer model didn't show up,but still I think we're all had great time!!!!!

You are the Men!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks alot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blonboy, these are great pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Was really nice to meet everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jchooper12]

Scott, you did a great job. I now have a great start on lighting and the basic concepts and the way you taught the class was superb. You should hold some more advanced classes now so we can come back and learn more techinques. If you hold it, they will come. Sign me up for sure!!! Thanks again.

Here is a High Key shot from today.


And one Low Key

[AjP]

here few candit shots of us having great time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Detonate]

Ok, so here is my "review" of the class.

First of all, let me get this out of the way. The class was excellent, and I learned a TON of stuff!

For those of you who could not attend. Here is the outline we followed: http://www.polodigital.net/Lighting/...emoOutline.pdf

I'm going to use that as a reference for my "critique".

Scott did an excellent job explaining and answering everyone's questions in section two. This was really the meat of the class in my mind, and this was the information most valuable in my mind.

Section 3 was mostly common sense as far as looking in magazines and basically checking out other photo's for ideas, etc.. But Scott showed some specific books that are now on my must have list. In addition, the "my equipment" list was a nice touch.

Section 4, 5, and 6, which were the shooting sessions is where in my VERY humble opinion, we could do some improvements.

Basically after the lighting was setup and Scott did an excellent job showing everyone how to setup the lights. What to look for as far as shadows, he repeatedly covered how the larger the light sources in relation to the subject, the softer the light. How to fill, rim/hair, the whole nine yards. Even flash metering was gone over in GREAT detail.

However, when it was turned over us to start shooting the structure of the class was interrupted. This did not effect the quality of the class, what changed is that one person would be modeling, one shooting, a couple watching, and then some more crowded by the computer. Different topics discussed amongst many people spread out.

I guess my opinion is that shooting was not required on my part. I shot one or two of the setups, but since this class was on lighting, and not posing or taking the pictures, the actual process of me going up and clicking off a few pictures was an unnecessary portion of the class.

What I would have rather seen is similar to what they did in a very basic Nikon class I attended one time.

Basically Scott controls everything. He sets up the lights and explains why they are setup the way they were. Take some pictures. We all see the results. And then different lights modifiers are applied, more shots are taken by Scott and results compared by us. Questions answers, rinse and repeat. The way they did this in the Nikon class, is the D70 has a composite output that they just plugged into a TV. So every shot taken was instantly displayed on the television set.

The only reason I'd prefer that method, is that I think we could have gone through more of the light modifiers, and seen a few more examples, and maybe even had a little more time for a short workflow review.

Hopefully this isn't coming off as a complaint. I know I had a few Margaritas at dinner tonight. I only mention this because it felt like the pace of the class slowed a bit once Scott was not directly controlling everyone’s attention.

I would also mention that I would have gladly paid double to have 1/2 the people in attendance. I know Scott wasn't making any money off of this and it's not reasonable to have him teach twice as many classes. But 10 people, especially with all 10 people shooting every set left for some downtime. Which admittedly was nice for socializing.

Section 7 was covered adequatley. I especially enjoyed learning about Scott progression in working with models, and a bit of the business behind model/photographer/make up artist relationship.

All in all, I was extremely pleased with the class!!!

Excellent job Scott. I can't thank you enough for taking your own personal time and sharing it with us!

[ShutteredEye]

I can't wait. When is round two??!?!

[AjP]

Here few more Glamour TPF Models :)

[dab94]

Any chance you guys could ID the models for us?

[AjP]

sorry, Model Release issues LOL, I guess if they would like to ID themself, then it's fine with me.

I can ID myself, in Detonate post #1

[Joe_Lorenzini]

It really is an insane amount of information for a 4 hour session and Scott is well undercharging for his knowledge so if you're smart, you'll sign up quick if he offers this again.

The only downer (and Scott was more disappointed than anyone) is the model flaking out on us. It didn't slow down the class one bit (in fact it ran an hour longer than planned) but it would have been cool.

Here's a shot of the class in session. While a group of us were shooting there was a group behind us reviewing photos so it really did work out well:


And here's a fisheye version of the Jakestir. Sorry Jake, it came out too good not to post.


Best part about the class is instead of pocketing any extra money (minus studio cost, Starbucks coffee, bagels, handouts, etc...) Scott is donating it ALL to Abel to help pay forum costs.

The guy is all class and a great instructor.

_/oe

[rozzie]

That's awesome! Likin' the fisheyes :) Great work everyone!