Blogs and Posts about Lighting Essentials Workshops
We link them whether they are raves or not. If you have a review of a Lighting Essentials Workshop that I have not linked, please send it to me when you get a chance. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Just wanted to drop you a line and tell you
what a fantastic time I had at your workshop. I have been up the better
part of the night sorting pictures because I am so excited to see the
results of my two days of hard work and learning. The personal one on
one attention that you gave to each of us was terrific. I plan on taking
your workshop again and recommending it to all my photography friends.
It was hard work but so much fun that I felt like I was on vacation. Thanks
again for sharing all your valuable knowledge with us and feel free to
give out my e-mail address or phone number to anyone would needs a reference
for you workshop." --- Let me thank you again for an incredible workshop/weekend. It was EXACTLY what I needed. I didn’t consider myself a newbie when it came to lighting, but even when I thought I knew a subject well (modifiers, inverse square law, eg.) you hit me quickly with stuff I didn’t know or hadn’t thought of. Then you packed the sessions with whole areas of lighting technique I desperately needed education on (in most cases without knowing it). The subjects you taught were rich and dense with your obviously deep and decades-long experience in photography, and were very well taught. You were incredibly generous with your tips, techniques and experience throughout the weekend, and you were very hands-on the whole way through. What I really needed experience with was working with models, and this is where I got the most value from the workshop. I had never worked with a model before – nearly all my photos, however successful, have been with friends, family, and people I already otherwise knew. It was really well structured to give us a lot of time on both days with a variety of models – you really threw us into the swimming pool at the deep end! (But not without the right level of “water wing” sessions from you.) As the weekend progressed, there was a very real and tangible improvement in my comfort level directing and posing the models and getting them to follow my vision of the image I wanted. My images towards the end of Sunday turned out to be some of the best photos I’ve taken, largely because I was much more comfortable and successful in simultaneously negotiating the lighting, model posing and my environment, thanks to the structure of your workshop. When I got home and for days afterwards, my head was swimming with the new stuff I knew and the things I wanted to try. It was also great getting to know you a little bit; it’s always nice to get to know the real, living person behind the Internet personality you’ve known only through blog and flickr postings! Thanks again, and I look forward to the next time we meet. Ian (Hay). -------------------- I had a blast this weekend. Thanks so much for the workshop. -------------------- Wanted to thank you for a great workshop these last two days. I’ve taken quite a few workshops over the last few years, and am becoming a lot more selective to make sure I get some solid results from the time & money spent. And I did in the last two days. I wouldn’t have from just another model shoot. But working from a specific concept to a shot that represents that, is exactly what I need to get better at. I had the basics, but my shots were never as close to the concept as we got. And I had done some product/food stuff, but was missing a lot of the basics still. In the last two days I filled in a lot of gaps. And our various conversations from Friday, over dinner, and in studio helped me a lot sorting out some details in my plan and what I need to do over the next few months. Just as with the workshop I took with Melissa in LA, I know the gaps I just filled will be visible in my work soon with credit to your teachings. -- Jan (Seattle) ----------- On Saturday, June 23, 2007, I attended my first workshop at your
studio. I would like to thank you for your enthusiasm and willingness
to share your knowledge and experience with your students. I found
the class to be very informative and professional. I look forward to
attending another one of your workshops. ----------- Your workshop proved to be an exciting light trip to the highest
degree! Your expertise and insight as a teacher of photography demonstrates
again that everybody can learn! ----------- When it comes to photography, I am a definite newbie and Don's workshop
was my first. Words cannot describe how much I learned and took away
from that single day workshop. What I learned about lighting in one
day probably would have took me a couple of years to learn on my own,
reading books, etc and I probably still wouldn't have the same level
of understanding. Don is many things, but if I only had a couple of
words to describe him, it would be: easygoing, good-natured, respectful,
knowledgeable, a great teacher and most of all, generous (with only
2 registered photographers for our HOT July Phoenix workshop, Don could
have easily cancelled the workshop, but he didn't!!). What I got out
of the workshop was worth much more to me than the cost and as a poor
student, I cannot thank Don enough. The workshop itself was very hands
on, no lectures, plenty of time for questions (and answers). The models
were not only beautiful and professional, but incredibly patient with
us lighting *beginners*. I am forever grateful to Don, Michaila, and
Jazmin! -------------------------- "The lighting workshop was invaluable! As
the expression goes: you don't know what you don't know. I've
always felt good about my composition skills and ability to capture
images but lighting was completely foreign. Since attending the
workshop in January I have seen a hundredfold improvement in my images. I
am amazed by the results from inexpensive lighting equipment: vivitar
flashes and home depot worklights can get some amazing results! I'll
step up to pro lighting soon but what I learned about bouncing light,
v-cards, light placement (especially the value of a hair light,) and
some photoshop techniques has really sent my photography to a
new level. If you have a chance to learn from Don DON'T
MISS IT! " -------------------------- "Thank you so much for the Workshop last Saturday. I have never had so much fun nor have I learned so much in one single day!! You have really opened my eyes now, and my desire, to what I can do with photography going forward. Let me know if you have more workshops coming up in the future." --------------------------
Hi Don, -------------------------- "I had a great time at the workshop. You really
put it together well and with it being so hands on I was really able
to understand the different lighting techniques demonstrated. I enjoyed
the small class size. I am ordering another cactus wireless and a sekonic
lightmeter and some umbrellas. Those should be my biggest purchases
for a while. I was amazed on how much you can do with so little. I
am dreaming of a 70-200 L f/2.8 though...maybe sometime soon! -------------------------- "Be prepared to learn the flow of light...
what the camera is seeing... and how to work the elements for the best
image possible. I came to the workshop with a bundle of knowledge,
and Don applied it to various situations effortlessly; he turned my
head knowledge into heart knowledge. His passion for
creativity just overflowed. His refreshing encouragement to use
what you have, rather than you need to buy this is something I really
appreciated. He gladly shares his professional experience and situations
that makes learning fun. No question went unanswered, and the
structure of instruction really was customized for the needs of our
group. It just flowed well. I came home with some remarkable images,
and a new desire to modify and control the light in all of my projects." -------------------------- "Thanks again for a great workshop. I
definitely learned a great deal from you and the CD that you provided
was fantastic. Please let me know when you have additional
workshops scheduled, I would love to attend. Also, if it wouldn’t
be a bother I’d like to come down on a weekend or two and talk
to you a bit more and maybe watch you shoot - I’d like to learn
a little bit more on posing and lighting, plus you can get some free
labor from me. " -------------------------- "Hi Don, I just had to interrupt working at my "real job" to thank you again for a great weekend. The DVD's alone are worth the price of the seminar! I mean, holy sh*t, you just put it all out there: a treasure chest!! You have really re-inspired my passion to get better - I know now how to get to where I want to be, I think. Ashley thanks you, too. We have been getting shots from the other guys and this has really boosted her confidence. I hope the September meet works out. No matter what, I do plan to attend another workshop. Thank you so much for the hard work you put in to make this a great experience and fantastic value. Best wishes, -------------------------- "It was a great workshop. I feel that I gained a lot in working with lights and models. It was a nice intro for me into shooting models and seeing how a pro works with lights. It was very much worth my time and money to attend. Thanks for bringing your workshop to town and for letting my sign up on such late notice. I appreciate that. I've attached a photo of Claudia and it is straight out of the camera. This is one of my best from the first day and I thought before I did anything to it I'd let you have it just as is. Looking at it right now I don't believe I can make it any better. I believe you said to make them 700 pixels wide so that's what I've done. If I have that wrong please correct me. Thanks again and I hope to be hearing more from you. -- Mike" -------------------------- Hi Don Carmen - Atlanta
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What They Are Saying About LE WorkshopsWhat participants have said after taking Lighting Essentials Workshops:"I was very impressed with the workshop specifically with Don's teaching style and his ability to work with the attendees of diverse photographic skills. The materials and exercises provided are priceless! I look forward to attending more of his workshops. - Carla " Martin Ticas here and I’m writing to say that your workshop was fantastic. I have taken a few workshops in the past and the two days with you were by far the best. I like how you explained the behavior of light and how it applies to lighting. You broke it down into simple terms and walked us through the process. Also, you answered mine and everyone else’s questions through out the both days. The second day was great as far as actually going out and applying the lighting we learned the previous day. On the second day, being able to apply the speed light techniques and also use available light to create some beautiful images as part of the workshop was fun and huge confidence builder. Last, being able to spend sometime with you after the workshop and talk photography and other topics was great fun. You are a neat person to be around. Your generosity in sharing your knowledge and insight from 30 years of photography is beyond measure. I left the workshop knowing that I could light the images that I see in my head. Thanks to you. I’m home now and can’t wait to conduct my next shoot using what I learned from your workshop. The two days in your workshop were truly educational, a lot of fun, and a huge confidence builder. Don, you’re the man! Thank you! -------------------- Your workshop was a tremendous experience that taught me more in 3 days than I have learned over the last 5 years. It is obvious that your desire to provide a valuable and worthwhile experience to your workshop participants is at the core of what you do. Not only was the workshop full of practical and real world exercises, but you made it a lot of FUN as well. Again, thank you Don for bringing a product that was a true value. I do have one critique: It seemed that a fair amount of time was spent on reviewing basic exposure theory. I suppose this is not completely unavoidable in today’s world of electronic camera’s. My suggestion for you is to have the participants watch a video or presentation on basic photographic exposure theory and technique before they attend . I don’t think this would eliminate the problem but it MAY help. Here is one I found that I think is very well done. Maybe you have one you know that is better. I hope to meet you again at another workshop Don…or if you decide to come back to New Orleans for a visit, please let me know. -- Vince Hayward -------------------- A few months have passed since I attended your seminar on lighting in the Auburn Hills area. I must tell that it has opened a whole new world for me. I have been slowly applying the material I learned (which was just about everything since I knew very little) and am absolutely enjoying it. I plan to send you a picture I took of Christiana modeling one of our garments. It turned out very well considering I used those two little soft boxes. The other product shots have turned out nicely as well. I honestly say "thank you" for putting up with my ignorance regarding the equipment. I am commanding many aspects of photography and the camera because of your ability to teach so well. I hope to attend another seminar but will be with the rest of the class so I will not hold you up:) I learned to delete files! I figured out how to use the Nikon speedlite and program the flash in remote! I know how to change all the settings on the D-70 with out thinking about it! I have been studying the inverse square law principle of flash . I was probably one of your slowest and most challenged students but you were able to give enough of a foundation and advanced technics to allow me to begin to enjoy the love of art through a lens. I just can not believe everything I learned. It was worth it when you consider the knowledge you gain in such a short period. Thanks for being so very patient with me. I am sure I made it difficult for some of the other students. Everyone in the class was very considerate. I hope they took as much from the seminar as I did. I look forward to another one of your seminars (if you are willing to have me back) now that I have a fairly good understanding of how to use the equipment. I would actually be a part of the class as opposed to trying to figure out how to take the lens cap off!!. Thank you again for you wonderful disposition. I trust this will be a great year for you as you continue to share your knowledge and love for the art of photography. Sincerely Your Former Student, --------------------
I guess it's my turn to chime in here with a few words to say how much fun i had working with and along side everyone, i thought the workshop was awesome and i think Don is awesome, I don't know about everyone else but Ii left that workshop feeling a lot more confident in my ability to light and I hope that translates into amazing photographs. I've made some new friends and Ii hope we can all stay in touch and collaborate on projects in the future. I would like to thank Adam for hosting the event, wicked studio dude, I only wish we had another weekend of that stuff there is still so much to learn. Cheers -------------------- -------------------------- Thanks again for the workshop--I really appreciate the way you share your knowledge and experience, and you do it a fun and laid back way that makes it a real pleasure. -- Brett (Seattle) -------------------------- The words "thank you" are no where great enough to express
how truly thankful I am for you. Your workshop has changed my whole outlook
on photography. I thank you for allowing me to come with so little experience.
I was very nervous but you made me feel like I fit right in and I appreciate
that so much. I have learned a ton and cannot wait to get out there and
start applying my new found knowledge :). I am planning to sign up for
the Santa Cruz workshop with Angel (if it is not already full!!) and
we have three other friends who may be signing up too!! I hope to see
you again soon!! -------------------------- "Prior to taking the Lighting Essentials Workshop, off-camera lighting was always a guessing game for me. As a result, I was never quite comfortable using it because I was afraid of the results I'd get! No longer. I find myself being able to get ridiculously close to the shot I want on the first try. The Lighting Essentials Workshop really wrapped it all up and gave me a forum to try new things until it 'clicked'. I'm not intimidated by complex lighting setups anymore. My confidence and images have improved dramatically and I've been getting a ton of requests for photo shoots from individuals, models, and companies. Given all the money I've spent on photography over the years, I'm still astounded that $450 has made such a dramatic difference in my work. I'll be forever grateful to Don for sharing his expertise." --Shawn Duffy, Baltimore -------------------------- From Rebecca (Omaha Workshop) -------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- Hey Don, Thanks a lot. I really thank you for the DVD and for giving your work shop. If all keeps up the way it is going now. I will surely be in Mexico. (WHAT recession?! LOL) Since the workshop i have been using some of your
tech. i learned and man, i am quickly becoming a super star. No
advertising. All word of mouth and I am still getting book since I
started this is always my super slow time of year. But not this year.
thanks a lot for the knowledge and inspiration. -------------------------- I just wanted to write a note to thank you for a great workshop. To say my lighting skills improved is an understatement. Instead of moving to the next level I think I moved up 2 or 3 levels. I still have a lot to learn but at least the "lights" came on for me. In addition to being a gifted photographer and lighting guru, you
are also a great teacher....the trifecta for great workshop leader.
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