About the Course

"Macro & Flower Photography and the Digital Darkroom" will provide you with an opportunity to take your macro, close-up, and flower photography to a new level. Field photography workshops for two days of the five-day course will help you learn new techniques and improve those you are already using. You will learn to optimize each image interactively in our digital darkroom lab. This course is geared toward photographers interested in macro and flower photography who have some experience with digital imaging, but don't feel they are making the most of the tools available.

The first day of the course will be an orientation, including a breakfast gathering with an overview of the week ahead. The class will then proceed to the digital darkroom lab, with an introduction to the equipment to be used. The best image-editing techniques using Adobe Photoshop software will be demonstrated so it can be used for editing photos throughout the week.

Field photography on California's Central Coast, will include various subjects that are suited to macro and flower photography. For the April course dates, if wildflowers are available the field photography will be adjusted to allow a full day of wildflower photography, but the total photography will still be one and one-half days. Participants will use their own camera gear, supplemented by Canon EOS 20D digital SLR cameras and lenses available at the Lepp Institute of Digital Imaging. The Lepp Institute of Digital Imaging has an extensive complement of macro accessories available for use on the Canon digital and other EOS cameras. The digital darkroom lab will be available after hours to 9pm on several nights for participants to do additional work if desired.

The remainder of the time will focus on learning to edit images and produce prints in the digital darkroom. Special emphasis will be placed on imaging techniques accomplished during the two field days such as the use of multiple images to extend depth of field and the creation of macro panoramas. Instruction will be provided for optimizing the digital images and printing them on the photo inkjet printers. Participants will finish the course with prints of their own images, suitable for framing.

Tuesday we’ll be photographing a bevy of critters at the Institute where macro techniques, lighting, and a special emphasis on extreme depth of field using Helicon Focus will be the order of the day.
We’ll have a number of setups for the reptiles, insects, and other fun creatures from biologist/photographer Dennis Sheridan’s menagerie. Dennis and his assistant Sherry will be on hand to help.



Who Should Attend?

This course is designed for photographers who have started working with digital tools but aren't getting the best results. The full workflow from capture to print will be covered. Course participants should have a basic understanding of tonal and color adjustments, and ideally be making prints of their own images already. Field photography will provide the opportunity to improve photographic skills in addition to learning to use digital tools.

Schedule-At-A-Glance