Santa Cruz Photography Workshop
Santa Cruz's world-class coastline contains incredible features perfect for landscape photography. Remarkable sea stacks, layered shelves, and textured rocky forms create a photographer’s paradise set against the pounding waves and crashing surf that highlights the region's dramatic beauty. Join us as we explore and photograph the most interesting and stunning features that create the unique Santa Cruz coast.
Thanks to you both! [Your] explanations were very supportive: Why don't you try a portrait shot? Try to get closer - yes, even closer. Things like that were really helpful. Let me know when you offer [more workshops]. I will sign up. I am just waiting for it.
~ Sandra P.
Dates
| June 23, 2012, 3:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
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| August 4, 2012, 2:40 pm - 8:40 pm |
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| September 22, 2012, 1:30 pm - 7:30 pm |
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Workshop Features
Improve Your Composition
Learn the most important facets of composition and how to create depth in your images, how to draw viewers into your photos, and how to control their attention.
Camera Settings
Learn camera settings and how they can be applied creatively to your images. The ocean provides a wonderful setting to try creative shutter speeds for visual motion.
Filters and Lighting
Use filters to control light. Balance the exposure within your photos in order to capture gorgeous skies.
Additional Info
The Workshop
This workshop will help beginning and intermediate photographers create wonderful images of the gorgeous Santa Cruz coast. The workshop focuses on producing striking and powerful compositions, as well as telling a story with your photos. There is a strong emphasis on understanding your camera’s settings in order to use them creatively. This workshop is limited to 8 students.Itinerary
The day begins about 6 hours before sunset at a common meeting point. We then carpool to our first beach. We will spend about 3 hours at the first beach, pointing out the highlights and working one on one with the students. Mid-afternoon we head back to the cars for snacks and to drive to a second beautiful beach. We’ll stay at the second beach until 30 minutes after sunset, working with shutter speeds, compositions, and capturing the sunset colors. The beaches we visit on this workshop are not always the same; rather we pick beaches that work best for the conditions and group. The beaches we may visit include Four Mile Beach, Davenport Main Beach, Panther Beach, Natural Bridges State Beach, and Hole in the Wall Beach.
Topics Covered
• Transforming your artistic vision into memorable photographs• Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO – their relationship to one another and how to change them for exposure control
• Metering and getting a correct exposure
• Histograms, how to read them, and how to fine-tune exposure
• Creative depth-of-field effects using aperture control
• Capturing motion within your photos using different shutter speeds
• Timing waves to capture crashing spray, water streaks, and sandy reflections
• White balance and creative coloration
• Creating perspective, depth, and a sense of “being there” in your photos
• Creating powerful compositions with impact
• Composing to control your viewer’s attention in your photos
• Compositional balance, tension, and visual flow
• How to use filters to capture dramatic light or create long-exposure effects
Workshop Requirements
• Digital SLR camera• Lenses. Wide and ultra-wide angle lenses are highly recommended
• A sturdy tripod
• Footwear with good traction (waterproof or rubber boots recommended) and warm socks
• Creativity and a positive attitude
• Ability to walk 1-5 miles over uneven terrain
• Warm clothes in layers and a rain jacket
Highly recommended items
• Filters (ND, Grad ND, Polarizers)• Remote shutter release
• Camera rain sleeve
• Flashlight
• A change of clothes, especially shoes and socks
What’s Included
• Quality, professional, 1-on-1 photography instruction on par with your level as a photographer• Water and snacks throughout the workshop
• A fun, positive, interactive learning environment
Fitness level
This workshop is appropriate for photographers of most fitness levels. We will walk approximately 2 miles over the course of the workshop. This includes walking on sandy, uneven, and slippery terrain. Depending on the fitness level of the group, we will choose locations that are accessible to everyone. All participants are expected to be able to carry their own camera and personal gear during the workshop.
Your Instructors
Josh Cripps and Jim Patterson are professional photographers from Santa Cruz, California. They have been teaching together since 2010 (and separately since 2008) and have developed a tag-team approach to helping students understand photography concepts. Through a combination of theory, philosophy, examples, and on-the-spot feedback, they help students reach those "a-ha!" moments that take their photography to the next level.
Jim Patterson
Josh Cripps