Live from more trenches! May 25th | filed in: News

Day 2 of our Refuse to Say Cheese workshop was, as Sharpay would say, FABULOUS!

We started with a morning caravan from the RB Inn down to La Jolla,
where I talked to the ladies about different techniques I use
that are specific to shooting on the beach on a sunny day.

Many of us, ok, most of us were very worried about the weather
because this weekend has been just plain WEIRD.
Did I tell you Mat's soccer tournament was canceled?!

Upon arrival at the beach, on Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend,
the clouds parted, the beach was perfect AND EMPTY!!
I guess the freaky weather scared everyone away.
I could barely believe it, but I was THRILLED.

After I spoke to everyone, we broke up into groups and started shooting.

When Dana's daughter started flying, I had to catch it:

For the workshop ladies reading (and anyone else who's interested),
here are the settings I used:
ISO 100 full sun
Evaluative metering for the bluest sky
AI Focus mode for moving subjects
F/2.8 for the fastest shutter speed I could get
70-200mm lens at 70mm
I was down VERY LOW to the ground to get more blue sky and less sand/ocean.

We also worked on fun portraits in full sun:


Portraits in open shade were next, and I wanted to try a dramatic composition
for this 7-yr old who was very good at keeping a straight face:

She was also very smiley, but I asked her to be serious for a while, and she was a pro!
I used Totally Rad Oh Snap and a Kubota BW action to create the black & white.
All of those action packs are on the SOFTWARE page of MyFUNCamera.com.

Back at our classroom, we had more classtime, then we got to the really fun part
where everyone submitted their favorites shots from the 2 days.
WOW! WOW! WOW!
MeRa, Brian, and I are SO IMPRESSED with the images that these wonderful women created!
I hope I can get copies from Brian soon so I can share some with you!

Mat, Rory, and Jason are here in the hotel room with me for a slumber party
(make-up for the disappointment of the tournament cancellation).
I think I see some swimming and some room service dessert in our near future!

Tomorrow morning we'll check out, then MeRa & I head to Dana's house
for our All-about-Business "Add-on" day. I'm looking forward to that!

~Carey