A mastery of light is key to getting the best photographs.  Whether they be indoor, outdoor or in the studio.  Our Lighting Techniques courses will expand throughout 2007 to encompass all sorts of scenarios but for starters we are offering the one course "Studio Lighting Made Easy".  We are already taking bookings for this very comprehensive study of studio lighting, details of which follow:

Course Cost:  £295
Duration: 2days
Location: Bow Village Hall, Nr Crediton, Devon.
Group Size: Maximum of 12

"Made Easy"... we mean easy too.  There is a lot of mystery surrounding the humble studio flash and all of its accessories.  Photo studios abound with heaps of odd looking equipment.  Where do you start?

The aim of this course is to welcome you as a novice and say goodbye to you as a competent studio photographer.  You may have already bought some studio kit and played around with it, you may have been working as a portrait photographer but need some help... or you may have never touched the subject and want to know where to begin.

DAY1
The first day of your course will begin at square one.  Even if you come to us with some experience, square one is a good place to start.  Here is what we will cover in the morning:

SQUARE ONE
This session will recap on some basic photography and introduce some ideas that may be new to the complete beginner.  We feel that the more advanced photographer will still benefit from this short refresher though as often the basics get skipped.
*  Using the camera in manual mode
*  Understanding flash synchronisation speed
*  Jpg vs Raw images
*  Colour Temperature and White Balance
*  Using a Lightmeter

AMBIENT LIGHT PORTRAIT
We'll take a photograph in normal daylight, perhaps by a window, and talk about light direction and quality.  We'll Look at what makes a good portrait and then carry those ideas forward to studio lighting.
*  Take an ambient light photograph, in manual mode using a lightmeter.
*  Introduce a reflector and a diffuser, discuss the results.
*  Take a photo using on-camera flash, discuss the results.

ANATOMY OF A STUDIO FLASH
Now that we have investigated what makes a good portrait and understood a little basic theory it is time to play.
*  Look at some different types of studio flash.
*  Pick up some 'light modifiers' (Reflectors, Umbrellas, Softboxes, Grids, Snoots,
    Honeycombs etc) and look at what they do.  Take some pictures and compare the
    results.
*  Assemble a simple single flash setup with a background.

This will bring us nicely upto lunch.  Lunch will be at the White Hart Hotel, 5 minutes walk from the village hall.  As it is Saturday you will be able to pick from a nice range of pub-food and bar-meals.  Lunch is on us but you need to buy your own drinks.

SIMPLE SETUP
We'll return from the pub refreshed and ready to start using the simple lighting setup that we built before lunch.  Each delegate will be involved in using the light meter and making adjustments to the flash as well as swapping over the various attachments
*  Try out different lighting positions and introduce a reflector and light modifiers,
    discuss the differences and compare them to the ambient light photos we took in
    the morning.
*  Talk about "hard" light and "soft" light.
*  From what we discover, set up a "perfect portrait" set and take some more photos
    to see the results.
*  Talk about various ways to use a single flash for different effects
*  Introduce a second flash light, discuss light ratio and see what happens by taking
    photos.  Talk about "catch lights" in the model's eyes.
*  Set up a hair light to make a portrait jump off the page.

CONFIDENCE BUILDER
Having learned so much about light in such a short time you'll now be able to play with the equipment in smaller groups.  You will have the opportunity to assemble a studio for yourself, set it up and take some photographs.  Your Tutor will be on hand for questions and help.

WRAP UP
Now that you are confident with your new learning we'll have a question and answer session, recap on the days events and talk about whats coming in day2



DAY 2
Today is run at a slightly slower pace, it is Sunday afterall.  There is still plenty to learn though and the day begins with some more theory:

THEORY FOR BREAKFAST
We'll talk about something that sounds complicated but is simple if it is explained well:
*  The Inverse Square Law

BACKGROUNDS
Once that is out of the way we will look at what it means and then discover how to:
*  Keep a black background black - or get a black background from another colour
*  Keep a white background white
*  Highlight or Graduate a background to create some 'interest'.
Each setup will be carried out by the delegates under the watchfull eye of the tutor and plenty of photographs will be taken to see the results.

Its lunchtime again.  Back to the White Hart for a roast dinner!

PHOTO SHOOT
All this theory and practice can now be put to good use as you are introduced to your models.  Whilst they get ready we'll talk about the lighting setups and build them together.  Everyone will be involved and we may build two setups depending on the numbers of delegates.  Then we'll learn:
*  How to treat a model
*  Posing a model
*  Composition
After which its your time to have some fun, direct the models and take some photographs.

PHOTOSHOP DEMO
Once we have got the images in our cameras we need to get them out and do things with them to get the best results.  Yesterday we looked at jpg vs raw and colour balance.  Today we will look at how yesterday's decisions can affect todays results and you will be introduced to Photoshop.  This part of the course is for demonstration only and is intended only to show you what needs to be done or can be done to your images.

WRAP UP
We'll have a question and answer session, recap on the 2 days events and talk about whats next... if you want to come back for more that is!

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Later this year Bow Studios will be offering some more new and exciting lighting courses.  Right now, we are writing the material.  Here is what's in the pipeline so far:

*  Low Key Studio Lighting
    If you are a competent studio photographer but struggle to get your head around
    those really edgy shoots... you know the ones... the photo of the man in the shadows
    who is only half visible as he fades into darkness, the body shot with incredible
    contrasty shadows and highlights that define every muscle, the weathered old man's
    face where every whisker tells a story!  Then this course is for you.
    On this course we will show you how to really work those studio lights to your
    advantage and explore the realms of the dark side.
   
*  The Location Fashion Shoot - oooOOHH!
    You are after that breath-taking photo of a girl stood in the street by some city
    railings... looking as if she is about to pop off the page, the man on the beach with
    his girlfriend lit so well that you'd buy anything that he was advertising or the
    moody shot of the gothic fairy sat on a tombstone at dusk.  If you want to learn
    how to use the latest battery powered 'location' studio flash such as the Bowens
    Explorer or Elinchrom Ranger then this course is right up your alley... and we could
    even organise a shoot up there somewhere in the shadows!  Smoke machine anyone?

*  Your Regular Flashgun - take it off the camera and play with it.
    Its amazing the difference a flash can make to a photograph if it is used correctly.
    So why do camera manufacturers put them right on top of the lens in the worst place
    imaginable?  This course will teach you how to use a normal flashgun, off the camera,
    to create fantastic images that have that wow-factor.  Once you've learned the
    secrets to this technique and got some practice in, you'll find yourself carrying a
    strobe or two in your pocket everywhere you go!