First Night Class Review

Hi All,

Our first Night Class was a blast!

Started at 8.00pm and we wrapped out nearly over an hour past 12.00 midnight. This night class is a short introduction to studio lighting. It's kinda like your "first date" with studio lighting. The participants got a chance to know how studio lights work, studio etiquette and how to communicate with a talent.

With 4-hours of time, all participants get a hands on with measuring light with a flashmeter, and understand the  concepts of exposure and tonal range based on Ansel Adam's zone system.

In summary, here are what we all learned:

1. Difference and similarities between studio light and speed light.
2. How to measure light? Using a flash meter, histogram method and guide number.
3. Exposure basics, f-stop, compensation and such.
4. Ansel Adams Zone System. How to get white, gray and black background with the same camera exposure settings.
5. Studio ethics and safety.
6. Model-Photographer ethics.

To those who missed this Night Class, register for the next Night Class on Friday, 23-APR-2010, 8.00pm-12.00am. Yes, it's a Friday night, so you can catch some sleep the next day. :)

Here are some images I took during the Night Classs. For more behind the scenes images, please check out Mus'ab's facebook gallery here.

Here's our first test shot. One light, 45 degrees from camera right.

Here's our second test shot. One light, 45 degrees from camera right.

Same exposure, but we increased the light for the background to 3-stops. We got a white background, with the same camera exposure.

Another white background example.

Here's a group shot of us, round about 1am. Wrapping the up class.

Night Class: Basic Studio Lighting for RM50/person. Would you be interested?

UPDATE! CLASS IS FULL. Thank you!
Hello all, please note that this Night Class is now FULL! Those who's registration number(turn) are #11 and above will be on my waiting list. Don't worry, you'll be privileged to be notified 1st before I announce future classes/workshops. Thank you for your support.

Hello friends, and friends of yours,

I'm just throwing a crazy idea. I'm in the mood of sharing (because I have some breathing space, finally, but only for a short while before work gets crazy again).

Here's the idea.

Idea #1: Night Class. 31-MAR-2010, 8.00pm-12.00am
Ideal for working professionals, hobbyist, or part-time photographers with a day job. This class is an ideal opportunity to learn hands on basic studio lighting. It's 4-solid hours from 8.00pm till midnight 12.00am. You can come straight from work, and get back home in bed, ready for your next day. It's just a fraction of your time, and a lot to gain.

Idea #2: Basic Hands-on Studio Lighting.
Since it's night time, it only makes sense to learn something in a controlled environment. Rather spending time chit chatting over some mamak stall, let's all spend some solid 4-hours to gain something for our knowledge.

When I say "Hands-on", this means that you get to shoot, measure light, set the light and learn some basic studio etiquette. This basic experience would be valuable for you in terms of opening up some doors to assist other established photographers and learn from them. Established photographers are looking for assistants that are reliable, dependable, knows what to do, and how to work around a studio environment.

Idea #3: Basic Expectations.
Here are some things can expect to learn in 4-hours.

1. What the heck is a light meter/flash meter?
2. You crazy? Light  meters are expensive. How can I measure light without a light meter?
3. Where do I position my lights?
4. I'm a newbie. For God's sake, I don't have four lights... How do I light with just one light?
5. How do I get that glossy white floor finish?

Summary.
In short, when you walk out of our studio door, I want to make sure you walk away empowered with these skills, which are your basic survival skills in mastering studio lighting.

1. You'll know how to measure light, and set exposure without a flash meter.
2. You'll know basic studio etiquette, so that when you rent a studio, the studio owner's gonna keep you in his/her good books (which may get you some discounts, just maybe).
3. You'll know how to light with one or more lights.
4. You'll know how to manipulate simple light to create various background tones.

RM50? You crazy? What's the catch?
RM50 to learn survival skills in studio lighting?
Yes. I'm crazy.
No, there's no catch.

Wait, there's one or two catch.

1. To ensure that information can get through your heads, and stay there for a long period of time (and also because of studio space), I can only take 10 persons maximum for this night class. 
2. You'll NOT become Joe McNally overnight in 4-hours, but I can assure you that you'll feel less intimidated with studio lights. Consider it as your first date with studio lighting, yes?

I just thought that it's time to give back. There's a lot that I've learned along my short photography experience, those of which I also learned from other great photographers. It's only fair that I passed along some of that knowledge to be spread around.

When photographers are empowered with knowledge, only then quality will arise. When quality arise, there's more great Malaysian-born photographers. When that happens, our photography standards will eventually rise and hopefully we won't have to charge peanuts just to make a living, because some clever photographer is desperate for money they lowered down their fees to succumb to client's ridiculous demands.

Location of the Night Class.

FOTOMOMO STUDIO

No. 9D, Jln Petaling Utama 12

Bt 7 1/2 Off Jln Klang Lama

46000 Petaling Utama

Selangor, Malaysia

Map to our studio here:

http://fotomomo.com/contact/

View FOTOMOMO STUDIO in a larger map

"If you think I'm crazy for giving away RM50 fee per person, consider this, perhaps you're crazy not to attend."

Now, did I get your attention? Register now. Sorry, registration is closed because class is full.

Register via this form below. You'll be contacted on payment methods and seat confirmation. Hurry, while stocks last and first-come, first-serve!

Upcoming Workshops and Events

When is my next workshop?
Hello All. In my effort to streamline my work schedule to balance work and life, i've managed to put my foot down in a long-term commitment to sharing photography knowledge with you. I'll be posting tentative and confirmed dates for my upcoming workshops in this calendar. Please do check them out periodically. If you want to be notified, please register below to be notified. Thank you for your support!

Simple Lightroom Workflow Seminar, 13 and 14-MAR-2010

Hello All!

I'm holding up my 2nd Simple Lightroom Workflow Seminar organised by Republik Studios.
Registrations are up on Republik Studios Facebook here at http://bit.ly/simplelightroomseminar

I'll be presenting this seminar on the 13th and 14th of March 2010, so come on whichever date is convenient for you. We appreciate if if you could please RSVP soon, so that we know how many Lightroom notes/booklets do we need to prepare.

If you love shooting but hate staring at the computer screen for post-processing, you should attend to find out how can you regain your freedom from tedious post-processing with the help of Adobe Lightroom.

See you there!


Venue
The Republik
20-2, Wangsa Delima 11
Wangsa Link, Wangsa Maju
53300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tel: 03-4142 9653 or 016-346 8910 (Khairil)
Email: khairil@republikstudios.com

Map to Republik Studios Here:

View The Republik Studios in a larger map

Thaipusam 2010

If I can remember, I've skipped about three Thaipusam's shoot from my last session. I've been putting off to attend this event for years and this year I made myself go. It was a beautiful day, the week's weather was good with blue sky and I didn't want to miss that for the world. Besides, it's probably a good time and place to hook up with fellow photographers. There was no specific shot that I wanted to take. I just wanted to go as an observer and look out for any interesting photos. Thanks to my good friend and photography associate, Chan (Chan Leong Hin), I got some advice on some of the good spots, energy conversvation tips and a good ol' chat to catch up on news. It took me a while to upload these images yesterday, perhaps because a thousand other photographers in Malaysia are trying to do the same thing and jammed up the internet line. Anyway, enough yapping, here are some of the photos I took. Enjoy!



Hindu devotees getting their hair shaved before beginning their walk up the stairs of Batu Caves. When I reached Batu Caves, this was one of the firsts shots I took.

A young Hindu devotee getting her hair shaved during Thaipusam.

I just found out about this new structure. It's the ramp that crosses the new operational railway track that terminates at Batu Caves. This is the original showering and Kavadi preparation area. Today, there's another location for this part of the Thaipusam preparation, which is on the other end, near the rail terminal.

Here's where the Hindu devotees shower after getting their hair shaved.

A Hindu devotee showering right after having his hair shaved, in preparation for the walk up the stairs of Batu Caves during Thaipusam.

A family of Hindu devotees preparing milk containers to be carried up the stairs of Batu Caves during Thaipusam.

Right after saying their prayers near the river at Batu Caves, a Hindu family prepares to carry the milk in stainless steel containers for the walk up the stairs of Batu Caves during Thaipusam

A Hindu couple saying their prayers on the riverside of Batu Caves during Thaipusam

Devotee in the state of trance during Thaipusam.

A Hindu devotee carrying milk in a stainless steel container on his head, walking towards the stairs of Batu Caves during Thaipusam.

Piercings on the back of a Hindu devotee, while performing the walk towards the stairs of Batu Caves during Thaipusam.

A Hindu devotee calmly getting ready to carry the Kavadi, while several men prepares the piercings on his back during Thaipusam at Batu Caves.

Men piercing the back of a Hindu devotee, who's about to carry the Kavadi during the walk up the stairs of Batu Caves during Thaipusam.

Piercings on the back of a Hindu devotee, before performing the walk towards the stairs of Batu Caves during Thaipusam.

Devotees taking a break.

Rythmic music accompanying the Thaipusam celebration. It's a very festive mood. I love the music.

I saw a man being lifted up amongst the crowd. Little that I know of what he, or shall I say they were up to.

A devotee walking on sharp blades during Thaipusam celebration at Batu Caves, Malaysia.

Last image for the day. Here's my good buddy, Chan Leong Hin. Fabulous travel stock photo photographer.

Happy New Year 2010 + My Food Photography Project

Hi all,

Coming into the New Year 2010, I made a new resolution to become a better proactive photographer. In order to achieve that goal, I've started a side project called "My Food Photography Project". The goal is that every week, I will photograph one dish or food for a year, starting January 2010 until the end of December this year. There's an average of 52 weeks in a year. Therefore, hopefully this time around next year, I'll have at least 52 decent food photos that I can be proud of. This new journey will be an exciting one, as along the way, I'm sure in one way or another, it's gonna change my life. I hope that my journey will also inspire you towards a better progression in your life.

Check out My Food Photography Project blog here at
http://myfoodfotoproject.blogspot.com.

Thanks for reading!

Simple Lightroom Workflow for Photographers Seminar

The Seminar
This seminar is a "simple" seminar, tailor-made to busy photographers who have a day-job (or full-time photographers too). Most of the part-time photographers in Malaysia that I meet has this common problem, which is: "It takes too long to process the images".

This seminar will show you the "light" out of your current "darkness". You will soon know how to be able to free yourself from long nights of post-production and editing, and actually enjoy shooting more photographs without worrying about the editing process.

Learning Outcome
What are you gonna learn in this seminar?
Here are some key expectations.

• How to get back your life, by getting organised by having a systematic post-processing workflow.
• How to speed up your image sorting and selecting process.
• How to process multiple photos at once.
• How to rescue burnt highlights and shadows.
• How to get some early sleep.

Previous Postings
Here are previous posts on this seminar
1st Simple Lightroom Seminar
1st Simple Lightroom Seminar FAQ
2nd Simple Lightroom Seminar at Republik Studios



FAQ
Here are some FAQs for my upcoming Simple Lightroom Seminar

1. Q: Is a computer/laptop provided for participants in this seminar?
A: This is a seminar, not a workshop. Therefore, no computer/laptop is provided in this seminar. However, you're free to bring your own laptop if you wish. If you wish to bring a laptop, please install a trial version of Adobe Lightroom 2 available here.

Note: Although this is a seminar, I've designed a simple Lightroom Workflow System for busy photographers that works. I should be simple enough to understand that you can try it at home. To those who wants to polish their Lightroom skills after this seminar, they can attend my Lightroom workshop in the future.

2. Q: What's the maximum number of participants for a seminar? Can I concentrate?
A: The maximum number of maximum seats available would depend on the venue's capacity. By default, our studio at FOTOMOMO STUDIO will accomodate 20 participants maximum at one time.

Regarding concentration, this workflow system is designed with simplicity in mind. A lot of people worry about the complexity of editing tools. Tools are simple, as long as you understand the concept and principal of any design tools/software. They're all almost the same. You're here to learn how to harness the tool in a systematic way to your advantage.

3. Q: Where is the seminar going to be?
A: Map to the venue is here.

4. Q: How to register?
A: After making payment for the retainer, kindly email me at azhar@fotomomo.com your full name, telephone number and bank payment transaction reference with the subject "Simple Lightroom Seminar". It's easier for me to filter your emails with this subject.