The lovely and ever reliable Eve Hendrickse
Ok! Ok! I know. Its been at least ten days since I came here to care for this blog and its contents. And I am sorry. I really am. But its been a very busy ten days..and I gotta tell ya - hotel internet isn't what it should be. But here I am. There are still stories to be told about our US workshop too, and don't think I won't be getting back there very soon. For now, just a few words about our recent Brisbane photography workshops.
You are always a little unsure when you set about organising an event interstate. You commit yourself hoping that the response is enough to justify the expenses and the planning. I have to say that our recent Brisbane workshops were a complete success. We had a wonderful response from photographers, some of whom traveled great distances to be there. Some came from the Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Byron Bay, and Cairns. The lovely Robyn (aka Brian - its a long story) came from some small town in the back of somewhere I can hardly remember. Glynn and I feel very honoured when we know that we are not the only ones who do the traveling. After all, we have to be there!
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| Model: Cassandra |
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| Model: Daniel Cohen |
First of all, Creative Photo Workshops would not have been able to run these events as successfully as we did without the wonderful assistance of PhotoContinental, who hosted the event in their building. We are very grateful to this very switched on photo retailer and its manager - our good friend Mark Schleicher.
We arrived a day early to do a personal workshop with Debbie, a photographer who has attended our workshops before but wanted some two-on-one time to sort out specific issues she is having in her studio. She provided two wonderful models -Daniel and Cassandra - and we had a great day. I think we sorted her problems out. I hope so anyway!
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| Model: Eve Hendrickse |
The next day was a long one. We ran our wedding photography workshop and our Film Noir event in the one day. That's a big day. The problem that immediately faced us was the typical CPW weather. That is also a long story. It was raining, and so another location was needed. We were directed to the Breakfast Creek Hotel, whose welcome and kindness was overwhelming. It was a great location that enabled us to shelter from any rain when it fell and still use outdoor light. The lovely Eve Hendrickse was our bride. She is such a pleasure to work with and with a little work could be a very successful model. Rob Bampton was our groom. For our Film Noir event that night, the lovely Melanie Surplice offered us the foyer area of her residence in the beautifully renovated old woolsheds where she lives. We were accompanied by Emma Boucher, Felicity Allman and Rob Bampton as models for that event and they played their parts well. Much of that is the simple yet arduous task of standing still while a group of photographers works itself around the many angles and options for each setup.
The next day was our workshop was our Creative Flash Photography workshop. I won't even mention the model with whom we worked as she was not particularly talented and her promises to be at our next few days of workshops turned out to be disingenuous to say the least. Lesson to models: Don't make life difficult for the photographers you are working with. They are often your lifeline to future work. I will not only never work with this model again but I will dissuade other photographers from doing so. Her utter silence since she left our workshop is deafening in its disrespect and indifference. The workshop itself went well, however, and once again proved that anywhere is a great location with the right light. Our 'paradise' for this shoot was the loading zone of a local supermarket. From there we went to a very ordinary park to continue our off camera flash lessons.
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| Model: Anesu |
Our Studio Essentials Workshop was our next event. It is always a challenge because patience is required from all who attend to avoid the tendency to take photographs between changes in lighting and the establishment of different lighting setups. But it never fails to astound our customers just how straightforward the principles of core studio work is. Beginning with just one light and building from there, we reduce the alleged complexities of studio work to that which is essential for the creation of beautiful portraits, evocative maternity photographs or basic product or still life work. Our customers appreciate the disassembling of images as the very thought of studio photography frightens so many who really want to give it a try but are apprehensive to begin.
We were accompanied once again by Eve and were joined by models Gavin Hain (left) and Anesu (above). Being stunningly African, Anesu provided us with a different look and complexion that offered a different perspective on lighting. Eve was her very pretty self and Gavin gave the girls a bit of fun with his somewhat well put together physique, but I take this moment to remind all that we run family friendly events...ok? But seriously, I do enjoy running this workshop very much as it enables me to control light rather than be at the mercy of that which is given.
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| Model: Nicole Payne |
Our Natural Light Portrait Workshop came next, and this workshop never fails to amaze our customers as we often choose the most unlikely areas and locations to prove that light is everything and location matters little. Our location was the parking lot of PhotoContinental. It proved to be perfect for proving our point. We used every trashy and ordinary corner of that place. Because the aforementioned model did not turn up, Rob Bampton found one for us at last minute. Nicole Payne (above left) was lovely to work with and we are very grateful for her assistance at the last minute. Thanks Nicole! Thanks Rob!
Our last day was our Advanced Flash Photography workshop in which we bring out the Honl gels and grids, the Fotobestway softboxes and other modifiers to show what can be done with a little ingenuity and some imagination. Everything from quick, convenient studio setups are established right through to outdoor multiple flash setups that either alter or enhance reality. Rob (right) once again played it up for the ladies when we created a 'shaft of light with a simple stobe and a Honl grid. Apart from that, this is also a difficult workshop requiring patience from all, but the learning curve is a pretty cool one indeed. Rob's chest became enough distraction between setups for a little while at least...
For myself, I want to thank the wonderful photographers and friends who came, many to each event, for making our time in Brisbane so enjoyable and our photography workshops such a complete success. Thank you so very much.
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