The going-ons at Visions Photographic Workshops.

3rd February 2012

Photo

Another successful trip to the Bronx Zoo, as you can see. Michael S. Miller brought a group to the zoo in January, which seems to be a great time to go. With active animals and passionate photographers, outstanding shots were captured. This breathtaking photo of a tiger was take by Christine Lanigan. Here’s what she had to say about the workshop:

 ”The zoo in January? Well it just happened to be a beautiful cool (not freezing) sunny day, and the zoo was nice and quite. We got to walk right up to the exhibits and get right to the glass with ease. Michael had us working on focus and lighting. I got to understand my camera a little more that day, and enjoyed every minute. For me that day was all about the majestic tigers, because the last time I was there all my tiger shots came out blurry. Not this time! Michael helped me understand the technic I needed for the fast moving cats. I am looking forward to my next photo workshop with Michael and the Visions Photographic workshops group. See you at Winter light on the beach.
Yours truly,
Christine Lanigan”


It goes without saying that much knowledge is gained from the workshops as well as great photographs. Keep your eye out for more workshops to the zoo, beach, and Eastern State Penitentiary! 

Another successful trip to the Bronx Zoo, as you can see. Michael S. Miller brought a group to the zoo in January, which seems to be a great time to go. With active animals and passionate photographers, outstanding shots were captured. This breathtaking photo of a tiger was take by Christine Lanigan. Here’s what she had to say about the workshop:

 ”The zoo in January? Well it just happened to be a beautiful cool (not freezing) sunny day, and the zoo was nice and quite. We got to walk right up to the exhibits and get right to the glass with ease. Michael had us working on focus and lighting. I got to understand my camera a little more that day, and enjoyed every minute. For me that day was all about the majestic tigers, because the last time I was there all my tiger shots came out blurry. Not this time! Michael helped me understand the technic I needed for the fast moving cats. I am looking forward to my next photo workshop with Michael and the Visions Photographic workshops group. See you at Winter light on the beach.

Yours truly,
Christine Lanigan”
It goes without saying that much knowledge is gained from the workshops as well as great photographs. Keep your eye out for more workshops to the zoo, beach, and Eastern State Penitentiary! 

Tagged: photographic workshopBronx Zoo Michael S. Millertiger

25th October 2011

Photoset with 2 notes

Long time, no update… 

So let’s get started! 

Visions Photographic Workshops is pleased to feature Franco Patricio images captured on the Beachscapes and Nightscapes workshops he recently attended. 

(nightscapes NYC) 

A beautiful use of color and light - notice how the cool blues/purples compliment the warm oranges of the sunset. 

(beachscapes - beach) 

Notice how the footprints, the waves, and the clouds converge upon the horizon line/vanishing point.  It gives the piece movement. 

(beachscapes - jetty) 

Again, a great use of light to create drama.  Attention to pattern in clouds and rocks.  Notice how it almost mirrors itself along the horizon line, but the inclusion of the light tower breaks it up in an interesting way. 

Thank you Franco for attending the workshops and sharing your incredible work!  Can’t wait to see what you got in prison!! 

Check out two great weekend workshops coming up soon.

Basics of Photography at the Atlantic View Inn, Avon-By-The-Sea, NJ;  November 11 – 13.

Develop Your Creative Eye at the Hotel Tides, Asbury Park, NJ;  November 18 – 20. 

As always photography director/instructor Michael S. Miller will be leading these great interactive workshops.

Tagged: Michael S. MillerVisions Photographic Workshopsbeachscapescameranightscapesphotographic workshopphotographyworkshopsFranco Patricio

18th September 2011

Photo with 2 notes

Hey, guys. Long time, no update. College is a hassle, man. But I love it.So, today’s post is about the paradox of using technology to create the illusion of antique photography. I think this is really cool. The photographer’s name is Kevin Rau and here he describes the process of creating the above picture.
“Jacquelyn (my wife and of whom picture is taken) and I made thispicture during a photography session in the spring.  The lens used wasa LensBaby Scout with a single glass optic.  The aperture was nothingtoo extreme, but I don’t have the exact f/stop in my notes.  The RAWimage was initially processed in Lightroom in order to achieve afairly balanced black and white look.  The processing was continued inNik Silver Efex Pro 2 using a custom preset in order to capture thefeel of an older photograph.  The image was then opened in PhotoshopCS5 to add some texture to the image.  My tendency is to make theimage I work on look older and less refined than what most most moderncameras produce.  The next step was to add another Nik layer whichfurther altered the image I currently had.  I then addedbrightness/contrast and hue/saturation adjustment layers in Photoshopand added yet another Nik layer which consolidated everything that Ihad done on the image up to this point.  It allowed me make some finaladjustments to the image as a whole in Nik.  I was fairly pleased withthe result and only added a Photoshop cooling filter adjustment layerto tone down the image.”
It seems that in this day and age, to be able use programs like Lightroom and Photoshop is extremely important. Not only are awesome effects achieved but blemishes removed, unwanted items cropped out, and so much more. It feels like it all started with red-eye remover. At least that is what I remember as being the first step. :]

Hey, guys. Long time, no update. College is a hassle, man. But I love it.
So, today’s post is about the paradox of using technology to create the illusion of antique photography. I think this is really cool. The photographer’s name is Kevin Rau and here he describes the process of creating the above picture.

“Jacquelyn (my wife and of whom picture is taken) and I made this
picture during a photography session in the spring.  The lens used was
a LensBaby Scout with a single glass optic.  The aperture was nothing
too extreme, but I don’t have the exact f/stop in my notes.  The RAW
image was initially processed in Lightroom in order to achieve a
fairly balanced black and white look.  The processing was continued in
Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 using a custom preset in order to capture the
feel of an older photograph.  The image was then opened in Photoshop
CS5 to add some texture to the image.  My tendency is to make the
image I work on look older and less refined than what most most modern
cameras produce.  The next step was to add another Nik layer which
further altered the image I currently had.  I then added
brightness/contrast and hue/saturation adjustment layers in Photoshop
and added yet another Nik layer which consolidated everything that I
had done on the image up to this point.  It allowed me make some final
adjustments to the image as a whole in Nik.  I was fairly pleased with
the result and only added a Photoshop cooling filter adjustment layer
to tone down the image.”
It seems that in this day and age, to be able use programs like Lightroom and Photoshop is extremely important. Not only are awesome effects achieved but blemishes removed, unwanted items cropped out, and so much more. It feels like it all started with red-eye remover. At least that is what I remember as being the first step. :]

Tagged: photographyphotographic workshopLightRoomNik Silver Efex Pro 2Photoshopeditingantiqueold

4th September 2011

Photo with 2 notes

 
Visions Photographic Workshops’ director of photography Michael S. Miller and his assistant and executive director Beverly Miller are travelling the globe.  Currently, they are in Switzerland on assignment.

The 2011 Zofingen ITU Powerman Long  Distance Duathlon World Championship is where the lenses are focused.  Check back soon to see images of athletes in action, including Ryan T. Rau who is racing for NexCare Health Systems/Hamburg Fitness Center.

Visions Photographic Workshops’ director of photography Michael S. Miller and his assistant and executive director Beverly Miller are travelling the globe.  Currently, they are in Switzerland on assignment.

The 2011 Zofingen ITU Powerman Long  Distance Duathlon World Championship is where the lenses are focused.  Check back soon to see images of athletes in action, including Ryan T. Rau who is racing for NexCare Health Systems/Hamburg Fitness Center.

Tagged: photographyphotographic workshopVisions Photographic WorkshopsSwitzerlandduathlonRyan T. RauMichael S. Miller

31st August 2011

Photoset with 4 notes

Hey guys. So instead of showing you awesome pictures from a workshop, I will be presenting kick ass shots Visions Photographic Workshops director of photography Michael S. Miller captured of Hurricane Irene’s impact on the Jersey Shore.


I have to admit that the hurricane was pretty scary. I live right next to the Shark River which feeds right into the Atlantic Ocean a mere ten minutes away. And my house is surrounded by trees. Guess who didn’t sleep.

We lost power in the middle of the night; my little brother was attempting to watch LOST and the internet cut out. The wind seemed louder than the rain most times and, despite the fact that my family had camped into the middle of the house where there were as few windows as possible we could hear the storm roaring late into the night and early into the morning.

Luckily the only damage were broken branches and a new carpet of leaves outside of my front door. A power line broke a few blocks away and people nearby still don’t have electricity. The river did flood, fortunately I live up a slope from it.

These photos were taken of the Shark River Inlet from the Avon-By-The-Sea boardwalk and bridge into Belmar between 8:00am & 8:30am on Sunday morning, August 28th.  The storm surge was at approximately 7:00am and high tide at the Inlet about the same.

Focal length: 70mm

 Shutter speed: 1/250 

F-Stop: f/5.6

ISO: 200

Focal length: 70mm 

Shutter speed: 1/350

F-Stop: f/5.6 

ISO: 200

Focal length: 70mm 

Shutter speed: 1/350 

F-Stop: f/5.6

ISO: 200

Focal length: 55 mm

Shutter speed: 1/320 sec

F-Stop:  f/5.6

ISO: 200

Tagged: Visions Photographic Workshopsphotographyphotographic workshopHurricane IrenehurricaneNew JerseyJersey ShoreAvonAvon-By-The-SeaShark River HillsfloodingstormrainoceanboardwalkBelmar

10th August 2011

Photo with 1 note

One of the many awesome workshops VPW offers is called  Under the Boardwalk in Asbury Park, NJ. This is yet another workshop I  have been meaning to go on but I haven’t been able to.
There  are so many things in Asbury Park to photograph, from the iconic  Tillie face and Madam Marie’s fortune telling booth to the rather large  Convention Hall, which was designed by the same architectural firm that  drew up Grand Central Station. The above photo was taken in Convention Hall  by George A. Reiner, one of Visions Photographic Workshop regulars. This  picture is really cool for many reasons, to me. The blurred figure adds  motion and the feeling of time passing and being rushed. I love the  color of the doors and window frames as well, and the shadows that  accentuate it. But above all, the lines in this get me. The descending  windows and how things narrow and disappear… angle shots like these  are some of my favorites. 
I will hopefully be going on the next Under the  Boardwalk, Wednesday August 17th. These look like so much fun and the  photographs everyone comes back with are outstanding.

One of the many awesome workshops VPW offers is called Under the Boardwalk in Asbury Park, NJ. This is yet another workshop I have been meaning to go on but I haven’t been able to.


There are so many things in Asbury Park to photograph, from the iconic Tillie face and Madam Marie’s fortune telling booth to the rather large Convention Hall, which was designed by the same architectural firm that drew up Grand Central Station.

The above photo was taken in Convention Hall by George A. Reiner, one of Visions Photographic Workshop regulars. This picture is really cool for many reasons, to me. The blurred figure adds motion and the feeling of time passing and being rushed. I love the color of the doors and window frames as well, and the shadows that accentuate it. But above all, the lines in this get me. The descending windows and how things narrow and disappear… angle shots like these are some of my favorites.

I will hopefully be going on the next Under the Boardwalk, Wednesday August 17th. These look like so much fun and the photographs everyone comes back with are outstanding.

Tagged: photographyAsbury ParkNew Jerseyphotographic workshopConvention HallTilliebeach