Paterson Photography is known for amazing photo courses either as a one on one class or in groups for beginners up to the professional level photographers. For more information click here.
I get asked a lot about the need for image stabilized lenses. Many people also want to know if a point and shoot camera should have image stabilization. People want to know if it is needed to get good pictures or just a gimmick and if it is worth the money?
If you would have asked me years ago I would have said outright don’t waste your money. But as I get older and I push my photography limits I have to say that I do like it.
Do you want to learn how to improve your macro images? Would you like to spend a few hours learning more about your camera and how to do macro photography? This workshop is for you!!
This course will get you on the right paths shooting macro images. From pictures inside during the cold winter months to shooting the flowers and bugs of summer macro will open an entire new world for your photography.
The workshop starts with some teaching on cameras, equipment and technique. Then you will spend time shooting several macro subjects. After shooting I will then critique the work on the big screen advising how to improve your shooting and how to correct the images for the Internet and print..
Do all this in the warmth and privacy of the studio!
For those that like to do astro photography and are trying not to have star trails there is a rule that you should know for this and your northern light photography.
By using this rule you will eliminate having stars move in your images making them look out of focus.
The rule is as follows, you take the millimeters of the lens that you are shooting and divide it into either 500 or 600. The resulting number will give you the maximum number of seconds that you can expose the shot for before you will see star trails.
So why either 500 or 600? Well for years I have used 600 and I was happy. Lately I have been doing some more tests and have found under extreme magnification that I am getting some movement. There could be a few reasons for this but I am leaning to the 500 at this point to see if this will be even sharper or if there is a real difference. The following calculations are done using 600 but if you want to use 500 just use that number instead of the 600. I will keep testing and let you know if there is a difference.
Now this is assuming that you are using a steady tripod and that you have your ISO set correctly. But the good thing is that it will give you a starting point to know where the line is between getting tack sharp stars and star movement.
One note: you need to work with the 35mm equivalent lens size.
So how does it work?
25 seconds using a 24mm lens on a full frame camera
Full Frame Sensors
On full frame cameras (cameras with full frame sensors) you would do the following:
Lens – 50mm
600/50 = 12 So you could shoot at a shutter speed up to 12 seconds before you will see star movement.
Or for a 24mm lens
600/24 = 25 So you can expose for 25 seconds
885.7 seconds using a 24 mm lens
APS Sized Sensors
On a camera that has an APS size sensor with a 1.6 conversion ratio you would do the following
Lens – 50mm
50 x 1.6 = 80
600/80 = 7.5 So you could shoot up to 8.6 seconds before you would see star trails
Or for a 24 mm
24 x 1.6 = 38.4
600/38.4 = 15 So you could expose for 15 seconds before you would see star trails
Do you want to learn how to improve your macro photography? Would you like to spend a few hours learning more about your camera to help you take macro images?
Do all this and more in the warmth of the studio!
January 12 2019 from 10am till 2pm I will be offering a Macro Workshop.
The workshop will start with some teaching on macro photography, then we will spend most of the time shooting several macro subjects that will be set-up around the studio. After the shooting we will take some time to critique each students work.
So as 2018 comes to an end I am planning what goals I want for the next year. I have the same general items for each year that I am in business …
Improve my photography
Keep my website & blog up to date
Improve print quality and types of prints offered
Add more courses and workshops
But those are general and if I did not have them then there would be a big problem as everyone or every business should have something to work towards.
So what do I have to work toward? I have heard many experts say we should have three types of plans / goals in our lives. The first are the BIG ones, or the dreams. The second is the more achievable ones (medium goals) but still will require some work and the third is the easy ones. SO for the next year so far I have the following…..
Upgrade my 70D’s to the promised Canon 7D mark III
Add a vacuum press to the printing department
Head back to the coast for a whale watching trip
Head to Jasper to photograph Caribou
Add more premade frames to my selection
Update some of my display prints in the studio
Build a copy center for artwork and get polarizing filters for lights
Market more of my nature / wildlife work
Little Goals
Clean-up the backroom and the attic
Clean up my camera gear, and organize
Get out shooting more
Organize the shooting room more
Update my outside sign
Switch out my main hard drive in the office
Build more specialty frames
I know that these will change but I like having things to work towards. On last years list was a major rebuild of my website and I FINALLY got to it with two weeks remaining in the year, but it feels great to have that mostly done.
If you want to learn how to take storm pictures for next summer, the winter is a perfect time to get some training before the storms hit.
Summer storm season
There is nothing like heading out when a powerful lightning storm is brewing to get some amazing images. But what do you need to know before you head out? This course goes through your camera settings and features to get great images. It also covers accessories that will make your photography more enjoyable. Then we will do some work with shooting fast action lights like lightning all in the warmth and dryness of the studio.
Caution around storms!
This course is not designed to train you on how to be safe in a storm. Very few courses can do that. Safety comes from a lot of studying. I strongly recommend reading up all you can about staying safe in a lightning storm. Few types of photography can be a deadly as lightning so be prepared and be careful!!!!
