June Photographic Workshop with Jeff Ripple

June 27, 2009

Location: Sleeping Bear Dunes region

Time: Saturday June 27.                     

Maximum number of participants: 6                           

Price: $200 (includes two field sessions, lunch, one-hour printing demonstration, and one-on-one PhotoShop print session (45 minutes each participant).

Skill Level: Beginners and Intermediate. Participants must know how to operate their cameras because this workshop focuses on technique, not specific equipment.

Registration: Email jeffripple@earthlink.net, call 239-398-3375, or Ripple Effect Studio at 231-326-2047. A 50% deposit is required at registration, and a list of equipment to bring will be sent at that time. A list of nearby motels and B&Bs is available if needed. Deposit is non-refundable within 48 hours of class.

About the Workshop

Join award-winning large-format landscape photographer Jeff Ripple for a photographic adventure in the Sleeping Bear Dunes region of Leelanau County, Michigan, along the shores of Lake Michigan. Jeff will emphasize the fundamentals of composing and studying natural light, in addition to covering equipment basics and the importance of learning a place in order to artfully portray it.

This one-day workshop packs in two field sessions (dawn and afternoon/evening), a short introduction to Jeff's printing process, and an individual 45 minute PhotoShop printing session with each student. Each student will walk away with a color or black & white 8x10 print of the image they have worked on with Jeff. Topics covered include the importance of getting a high-quality raw digital image or scan, screen calibration, color balancing and correction, dodging and burning, sharpening, and inkjet versus photographic paper output. Everyone then reconvenes in the early evening for a 2 hour walk/photo shoot to sunset.

All film and digital formats are welcome from point and shoot to large format. A full equipment and clothing list is supplied when you register.

Tentative Schedule for Workshop:   

Saturday

• 6:30 a.m. Meet at Ripple Effect Gallery in Empire on Front Street, across from Town Hall. Based on weather, I'll decide the location and we'll caravan or carpool to shooting location. We'll stay in the field until 8 or 8:30, and then head for breakfast at Foothills Café outside Glen Arbor.
• 10:00 a.m. Classroom session at my studio where I'll give a demonstration on the art of digital color printing.
• 12:00 Lunch (provided)
• 1-4 pm. Individual 45-minute printing sessions with students. We'll print an image you took this morning or one shot previously that you want to work on using techniques I demonstrated in the morning.
• 7-9 pm. Return to the field for another photo shoot. Meet at Ripple Effect Gallery.

Suggested Supplies

·         Previous digital images, slides, or prints you have done

·         Laptop or compact flash card reader

• Sufficient compact flash cards if shooting digital and if youre shooting film, color slide film (I suggest Fujichrome Velvia 100F and twice as much as you think you need) or bw film (if you are shooting bw (I shoot Kodak TMax 100).
• wide angle lenses (12-28) for dramatic landscapes, longer lenses for birds, macro for closeups of whatever tickles your fancy.
• Tripod and cable release
• Polarizing filter and 81A or B for color film work and digital; orange, red-orange, or 29 red filter for bw.
• Long pants and long-sleeved shirt, (waterproof) dry bag for cameras in case of rain, sturdy shoes you can get wet, dry clothes and shoes, wide-brimmed hat, windbreaker and maybe fleece if it's cool, sun screen, bug spray, an umbrella, plastic bag to cover camera. IMPORTANT! Also bring a notebook for recording notes in the field and during the classroom session.
• snacks and energy drinks

Jeff's contact numbers:

Cell phone: 239-398-3375

Studio: 239-326-2047

Email: jeffripple@earthlink.net