Tag Archives: workshop

A Few Lightroom Edit Examples

We just got back from our Summer Rocky Mountain Photography Workshop!   What a great experience. We had a lot of fun as we went out photographing mountain scenics, waterfalls, wildlife, wildflowers, and sunrises, etc.

I thought I’d post this short video to demonstrate a few post-processing examples using Adobe Lightroom.  If you don’t know what “post processing” means, it just refers to what you do with your photograph AFTER you take the photo. It includes the editing you might do on your computer to improve your photograph.

For this example, I intentionally picked one of the more hazy shots rather than one of my “good shots”, just to demonstrate that you can do a LOT to enhance your photographs in Lightroom. Even if you have a photo that you might have quickly skipped over upon initial review of your shots, you might still find it has potential to be made “better” with just a few simple edits in Lightroom.

Note that all of my photographs were shot in “RAW” mode. Therefore the photographs will initially appear in Lightroom as minimally processed/enhanced images. That is because you are supposed to use Lightroom’s many features to enhance the photo. That is entirely different than when you are shooting in JPG mode. When you shoot in JPG mode, your camera might do all kinds of things to enhance the photo in-camera, especially if you are using options such as the “Landscape” Picture Style (Canon) or Picture Control Setting (Nikon), which dramatically enhances the colors.  With RAW mode, your image file will have substantially more color and brightness information embedded within the file but you are expected to use Lightroom (or other RAW processing program) to make the adjustments and enhancements using software to bring out those colors, enhance shadow details, make white balance adjustments, tone down highlights, etc.

Anyway… on to the video.  I chose an unremarkable shot and demonstrate some Lightroom enhancements to improve the shot.  I hope this helps you!

(Remember you can click on the little link in the lower right corner of the video to bring it up full-screen.)


We’ll be announcing our 2018 Rocky Mountain Photography Workshops very soon!  Our 2017 workshops are totally sold out.  You can click here to learn more about these workshops.

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New Classes for May/June 2017

I am considering what classes to offer next!  I recently have provided several Photography 101 classes and now I want to offer in May and June what YOU want me to offer most, and what will best meet YOUR needs! So if you are ready to take the next step and learn more, please tell me what you are ready to sign up for, and if I get enough responses, I’ll add the class(es)!

Options Include:

  • Adobe Photoshop Workshop
  • Adobe Lightroom Workshop
  • Real Estate Photography Workshop
  • Flash/Speedlight Clinic
    (Both times I added this recently they sold out immediately – and several of you are interested in another class, but we need to pick a date that works!)
  • Photography – Mastering the Fundamentals (sequel to Photography 101)
  • Expanding Your Creativity (a new and fun class!)
  • Photowalks Around Town
  • Private Instruction

If any of these are of interest to you and you want me to add the class in May/June, this is your chance to help influence my decision!

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE
THIS BRIEF SURVEY

Thanks!

Happy Picture Taking
Kevin Gourley

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ALERT: Your Chance to Join Us on the Rocky Mountain Summer Photography Workshop!

TOO LATE!  SOMEONE SIGNED UP TO FILL THIS VACANT SPACE IN THE CLASS.    (But let us know if you’d like to be placed on a waiting list in case there is a cancellation.)

Disregard the message below.

 

Our 2017 Summer and Fall Rocky Mountain Photography Workshops have been sold out, BUT one of our participants just had to withdraw, so ONE space is now available for our workshop on July 8-11, 2017!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
OR TO REGISTER!

It is very rare to be able to get into this workshop at this late date, especially since lodging options are also sold out by now. BUT if you sign up ASAP you can take the available spot and we have a space available for you at the lodge. We just can’t hold this space for very long.

To attend the workshop, you would need to plan on arriving on July 7th and departing on July 12th. The workshop is four full days of photography in one of the nation’s most beautiful national parks. Plus we have two pre-trip meetings to prepare you for the trip, providing information about our adventures and how to plan your travel, and a session on photography tips to get better photographs while we are up there. I also offer an option where you can choose an add-on option with an online teaching session where I show my tips how to best edit your photographs from the trip using Adobe Lightroom.

We’d love to have YOU in our next group photo there in Rocky Mountain National Park!

The following are a few photographs from our travels there.

We stay at a wonderful little lodge right on the banks of Fall River, just 2 miles outside the park.

There are so many majestic views within the park.

We’ll experience a few sunrises.

And a few waterfalls.

And moose.

And wildflowers.

And marmots.

And possibly big horn sheep.

And you’ll be experiencing the trip with others who love to photograph nature.

While the wildlife look down over you and watch.

There are so many beautiful rivers, cascades, and waterfalls in the park!

We’ll do some hiking together.

And we’ll do a cookout on Fall River (weather permitting).

And more sunrises.

And more wildflowers, butterflies, moths, etc.

Imagine your happy face added to this group shot.

There is nothing like watching a sunrise from the side of a mountain as the park awakens to a new day.

Ducks!

Happy Photographers!

Crazy photographers up very early to photograph sunrise!

Elk in the early morning light (one of the reasons we get up early)!

Long’s Peak towers over the park.

More happy photographers

Fog in the mountains. So peaceful!

More big horn sheep!

Sometimes when the weather conditions are just right, the layers of mountains and clouds can be so beautiful!

More wildlife (confession: I love moose!)

More cascades.  This is Copeland Falls.

You need to sign up so you can experience all this!

The wildlife are waiting for you.

The mountains are calling you.

The trails are waiting for you.

I hope you will join us.  It is a wonderful photographic adventure!

If you can’t but happen to know a photographer who might be interested, PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO THEM.  They will thank you!

Several of our participants have come back a 2nd or 3rd time!

Here are what other photographers have said about this experience:

  • “The natural beauty of RMNP was enhanced by Kevin’s knowledge of the park and locations that were custom picked for great photographic shots. Kevin’s calm, patient and knowledgeable teaching style meant that everyone, at whatever level they were at, felt comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, learning from them and then getting immeasurably better pictures as a result. The improvement in my photography from Day 1 to Day 4 was unbelievable. I came thinking the auto settings on my camera really took better pictures than I did, and I left seeing and believing that the pictures I now understood how to take were vastly superior to anything the camera could capture in auto mode. It was a 5 star experience from beginning to end.
  • “This is a workshop you can’t afford to miss! I came to the workshop with a goal of never using Auto settings again… I achieved that and more. Kevin is such a great teacher and is able to work with photographers of all levels. He made everyone comfortable, I am from Virginia and did not know anyone in the group (as were several others) by the end of the work shop I had made a group of new friends! We were able to get so many landscape and wildlife pictures. The whole experience was amazing. I’m ready to sign up for the next workshop! Thank you Kevin” – Barb
  • “The Rocky Mountain Summer Photography Workshop was an amazing experience! The success of the workshop begins with the organization and preparation of the instructor. Kevin and Gail were superbly organized and prepared! It was a treat to be lead to the best spots at the optimum time of the day to photograph the spectacular beauty and wildlife in the park. They demonstrated great flexibility and adaptability in meeting the needs of the group with the ever changing clouds, weather, and wildlife. It was also an incredible learning experience having a photography professional available to coach and instruct on the best methods for creatively composing a scene, capturing stunning images, and the correct use of a wide range of photographic equipment. Not only can I wholeheartedly recommend this workshop, but I’m already scheduled for a Rocky Mountain Fall Photography Workshop with Kevin!”

 

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It’s Time for You to Learn Adobe Photoshop!

VALENTINE SPECIAL!   Sign up by 2/14 and SAVE $30!

Unleash Unlimited Potential in Your Photo Editing in Our Adobe Photoshop for Photographers Workshop!

This is the last call for registrations!  Class begins next week, and we have decided to extend our $30 Early Registration Discount to Valentines Day.

The course is split into a Basic and Advanced sections.  If you take both, you’ll be well introduced to the power of Photoshop in editing photographs, and even explore creating images that go beyond “reality”.  It is so much fun!  Also, by taking both the Basic and Advanced sections, you can take advantage of that special $30 OFF discount (if you register by Valentine’s day)!

  • Photoshop Basics Evening Class
    • Two Sessions
    • Thursdays February 23, March 2
    • 6:30-9:30pm
    • 6 Hours of Hands-on Learning
    • SMALL Class Environment
  • Photoshop Advanced Evening Class
    • Four Sessions
    • Thursdays March 9, 16, 23, 30
    • 6:30-9:30pm
    • 12 Hours of Hands-on Learning!
    • SMALL Class Environment

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP!

Photoshop is great for making any kind of image enhancement!

  • Retouch skin
  • Soften wrinkles
  • Enhance eyes
  • Enrich colors and contrast
  • Minimize “fly away” hairs
  • Remove unwanted background distractions
  • Slim a few pounds (if you already blew your New Year’s Resolution)
  • Add an out of town family member into your family photo
  • Enhance the sky
  • Do “composite” editing where you can place the subject into a totally different background
  • Get creative and do ANYTHING you can envision!

For example, in the photo below, it was created in Photoshop as a “composite” from three different photos taken in completely different places and a daytime scene was transformed into a mystical cold wintery night scene.  Really, once you learn Photoshop, the only limitation left is your imagination!

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Photographers: Join us this Summer in the Colorado Rockies!

As we enter the new year, make your plans NOW to join us on our Summer Rocky Mountain Photography Workshop! This is truly the perfect adventure for any photographer!  We’ll be in one of the most beautiful national parks in the country photographing sunrises, waterfalls, mountain landscapes, wildlife, forests, rivers, wildflowers, and more.

Student Comment:
“This is a workshop you can’t afford to miss! I came to the workshop with a goal of never using Auto settings again… I achieved that and more. Kevin is such a great teacher and is able to work with photographers of all levels. He made everyone comfortable, I am from Virginia and did not know anyone in the group (as were several others) by the end of the work shop I had made a group of new friends! We were able to get so many landscape and wildlife pictures. The whole experience was amazing. I’m ready to sign up for the next workshop! Thank you Kevin” – Barb

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

We stay in a lodge right on Fall River, just a couple of miles outside of the park. Our adventures explore various areas of the park by car, plus we go on hikes on some of the park’s most beautiful trails. Because people are starting to make their vacation plans NOW, it is important that you sign up for the workshop soon so we can ensure there will be room in the lodge where we’re staying.

Student Comment: “The natural beauty of RMNP was enhanced by Kevin’s knowledge of the park and locations that were custom picked for great photographic shots. Kevin’s calm, patient and knowledgeable teaching style meant that everyone, at whatever level they were at, felt comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, learning from them and then getting immeasurably better pictures as a result. The improvement in my photography from Day 1 to Day 4 was unbelievable. I came thinking the auto settings on my camera really took better pictures than I did, and I left seeing and believing that the pictures I now understood how to take were vastly superiorto anything the camera could capture in auto mode. It was a 5 star experience from beginning to end.

You have the option of doing a 4-day or a 9-day version of the workshop. Either option is great, offering many hours of very “hands-on” learning as we photograph in the park. The 9-day option more than doubles your opportunities for getting great wildlife shots and mountain scenics. We also have two pre-trip meetings in Austin, TX to prepare you for the trip, know what to anticipate, and learn tips for getting better photographs while we are there.  If you can’t attend the pre-trip meetings, no worries.  We also post video recordings of the meetings online so you don’t miss out on anything!

Our students consistently have loved the workshop, and many have signed up to return again and again! We hope you will be part of our 2017 Summer Rocky Mountain Photography Workshop.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

QUESTIONS? If you have any questions about the workshop, thinking about going but are “sitting on the fence”, don’t hesitate to contact us because NOW is the time to sign up, while limited space is still available.  We’re more than happy to answer any and all questions about the experience.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

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Another Painting with Light Workshop Completed!

We just finished another Painting with Light Workshop last evening.  We had a lot of fun, as usual!  Lots of creativity.  Lots of crazy activities with time and motion and light.  I have included in this post a few images from this most recent workshop.

Painting with LightA student from last night’s class said:

“The Painting with Light class was so much fun! Kevin had lots of ideas to start with but he entertained students ideas also which made for some great photos.”

You’re in luck!  If you wanted to take this class but didn’t sign up before it filled up, you have second chance!  We have another Painting with Light Workshop scheduled for January 15th! 

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Here are a few images from our participants in the most recent workshop!

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Photography: Painting with Light Workshop is So Much Fun!

ALERT: January 15 Painting with Light Workshop is ALMOST FULL! REGISTER SOON AND SAVE $20!  Plus participants and our former Painting with Light Students get to participate in a FREE fun activity with a PixelStick on January 18th!

Of all the photography workshops we host, one of the most fun ones is our Painting with Light Workshop! I keep the class size small, limited to only five students. After a couple of hours of teaching the concepts and techniques, the LIGHTS GO OUT and we do some Painting with Lightreally fun photography with a professional model.

Every participant gets involved in the creativity, as we produce all kinds of fun and sometimes wild images using time and light and motion.

Student regularly say this is the most fun photography workshop they have ever participated in.

Painting with LightHere’s what students are saying online:

  • “This was an absolute blast. Kevin’s sense of humor kept us laughing and his creativity kept us in awe. It was wonderful to get in there with the other class members and play with light! He keeps the class size small so we have a lot of hands-on learning and fun.”
  • “Your Painting with Light class really opened my eyes to a whole new way to take pictures. SO FUN!”
  • “Kevin’s “Painting with light” class was a blast. I have taken various classes from Kevin so far and this one was my favorite. It’s one of those classes that promotes creativity, provides hands on experience for each student, and the class is so fun that it ends before you want it to. Not only was it fun to watch the model being painted, but equally as much fun to see what each student ended up with. Kevin is passionate about taking photos as well as teaching photography to others. He’s kind, compassionate, respectable, and displays an abundance of patience with his students. I highly recommend this class to anyone wanting to take fun and creative photos in a friendly, safe environment.”
  • Click Here for More Student Comments

Painting with Light

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Light & Photography Workshop

We just wrapped up another Light & Photography Workshop!  This course is a comprehensive look at light in its various forms, both natural and artificial, and we look at the many ways we photographers can control and manipulate light to create great photographs!

Over several sessions, we explore the ways light works its magic to make images beautiful, and then dig into the details about how to operate electronic flashes (speedlights) and studio strobes (monolights).

studio lighting workshopThe course ends with a session done in my studio where the participants have a chance to photograph a couple of models, putting into practice what we covered in class.

Student Comment: “Kevin’s Light and Photography class is fantastic. The small class size ensures everyone get personalized instructions. His tips for using every type of lighting from flashlights and household lighting to pro photography lighting make this class a must for every level of photographer. His demos were the highlight of the class. Every photographer can learn from this class. The add-on model shoot session is also a must.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE and let us know if you’d like us to add another session soon!  Your input is important!

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Here are some photos taken by participant, Sandy O’Connor:

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