So Cal Pixels » Seminars/Workshops

2010-08-08 Model Mallory Photo Shoot at a Los Angeles Photography Class

Ben — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 19:05:21 +0000

Los Angeles Photography Class: Mallory is a young photographer who is also interested to try out being a model. I met Mallory several weeks ago when she assisted me in a Los Angeles Model Portfolio session for Christine. So when I am teaching my Guerrilla Lighting Workshop, I invited Mallory to be my model for the class. Thank you, Mallory. Here are some images I captured during the day, check them out and let me know what you think!

Rembrandt Lighting:

Hair light added:

Side Lighting:

Sunset Portrait with one 22″ Beauty Dish

Email Ben if you are interested to schedule a shoot.

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2010-07-11 Angela & Megan at How to shoot Better Photos seminar

Ben — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:31:07 +0000

As a Los Angeles Photography Seminar presenter, I often I invited models to the class where I can photograph them and display the images on the screen for the students to see.

On July 11, 2010, two aspiring models, Angela and Megan, agree to model for me as part of lighting demonstration at my How to take Better Photos seminar. Here are some images created during the session. Enjoy!

Angela:

Megan:

Email Ben if you are interested to attend one of Ben’s seminar/workshop.

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2010-04-18 Guerrilla Lighting Workshop-Los Angeles Photography Seminar

Ben — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 17:45:30 +0000

As a busy Los Angeles photography seminar instructor, on April 18th I conducted another Guerrilla Lighting Workshop with a handful of aspiring photographers who want to learn about great lighting. We had two wonderful models, Hollie and Miranda join us and provide all of us with beautiful images. Although we did not have a great sunset, we still managed to capture some nice photos from the workshop.

Email Ben if you are interested to attend one of Ben’s seminar/workshop.

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2010-04-11 Los Angeles Boudoir Workshop-Los Angeles Photography Seminar

Ben — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 03:28:55 +0000

On April 11, 2010, I conducted my first Los Angeles Boudoir Workshop at a beautiful Orange County hotel suite. Six photographers showed up for this very exclusive workshop with a fantastic, very experienced professional model, Zinn. Unlike most of the glamour photography seminars, which are focusing on photography sexy models; my workshop starts with a 30-minute seminar that covers poses, lighting, make-up, wardrobe, post-processing and legal issues.

After covering the basics, I showed everyone how I set up my boudoir lighting and everyone begin to photograph Zinn. Here are a few images form the workshop. As always, it is all about lighting, poses and being sexy and classy!

Email Ben if you are interested to attend one of Ben’s seminar/workshop.

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2010-01-24 Guerrilla Lighting Workshop

Ben — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 04:06:51 +0000

On Sunday, January 24^th, 2010, I conducted the 5th Guerrilla Lighting Workshop. The workshop was relatively small with only 7 students, so each person had a great opportunity to participate in the “Hands-On” portion of activities.

In this class, Pam, a young, aspiring model, provided us with wonderful poses for a very long day. Thank you, Pam. Here are a few images created during the workshop. Enjoy!

I want also to thank my sponsors: Westcott, Pictobooks, Vision Arts Book, Mac Group, Portercase, Hoodman, Bay Photo Lab, Lowepro, Honl Photo, Expoimaging, Eye-Fi, Cheetah Stand, Photogenic and Wimberley for their generous support of my seminars. For more information on all the seminars I taught over the years, please click HERE.

Email Ben if you are interested to attend his workshop.

Click HERE to go back to Ben’s blog.

Click HERE to get back to So Cal Pixels’ main website.

Guerrilla Lighting at WPPI is “SOLD OUT” in Las Vegas

Ben — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:36:09 +0000

I am jazzed to find out that my lighting seminar, Guerrilla Lighting for Professional Photographers, to be presented on March 9th, 2010 at WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) in Las Vegas is “Sold Out”. I am particular proud that the seminar is sold out some four months before the convention just like the “Big Boys”. I am certainly not at the same league as some of the icon in the photography industry, but still it is nice to know other professional photographers find my seminar to be worth attending.

I want also to thank my sponsors: Westcott, Pictobooks, Vision Arts Book, Mac Group, Portercase, Hoodman, Bay Photo Lab, Lowepro, Honl Photo, Expoimaging, Eye-Fi, Cheetah Stand and Wimberley for their generous support of my seminars. For more information on all the seminars I taught over the years, please click HERE.

Email Ben if you are interested to attend his workshop.

Click HERE to go back to Ben’s blog.

Click HERE to get back to So Cal Pixels’ main website.

Guerrilla Lighting Class in Posted in WPPI 2010′s Website

Ben — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:14:05 +0000

Most viewers of my blog know what I am a very popular professional photographer that teach various Los Angeles photography seminars as well as seminars at several large, national conventions.

My Guerrilla Lighting seminar is slated at a 2-hour WPPI’s Master Classes on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Here is the link to the “Guerrilla Lighting for Professional Photographers” (scroll towards the bottom of the page and select MastClass Lighting and Posing) seminar at WPPI 2010.

First go to the bottom of the page and select “MasterClass Lighting and Posing”. Then scroll down until you see “Guerrilla Lighting for Professional Photographers”.

Hope to some of you there. Email me at ben at socalpixels do com if you have any questions. Ben

I want also to thank my sponsors: Westcott, Pictobooks, Vision Arts Book, Mac Group, Portercase, Hoodman, Bay Photo Lab, Lowepro, Honl Photo, Expoimaging, Eye-Fi, Cheetah Stand and Wimberley for their generous support of my seminars. For more information on all the seminars I taught over the years, please click HERE.

Email Ben if you are interested to attend his workshop.

Click HERE to go back to Ben’s blog.

Click HERE to get back to So Cal Pixels’ main website.

Ben will be teaching a Sports Photography Seminar at PMA 2010

Ben — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:48:11 +0000

For the 4^th year, I will be doing a presentation at the PMA 2010 (Photo Market Association) on the subject of “How to Shoot Big Two Sports?” (scroll down until you see SP22 How to Shoot Action for the “Big Two” Youth Sports at 2-5PM time slot). In 2010, for the first time since my involvement with PMA, the convention will be held at Anaheim, CA instead the usual Las Vegas. It is always fun teaching seminars at PMA where many dedicated photographers come to learn and network. Hope to see some of local So Cal photographer there.

I want also to thank my sponsors: Westcott, Pictobooks, Vision Arts Book, Mac Group, Portercase, Hoodman, Bay Photo Lab, Lowepro, Honl Photo, Expoimaging, Eye-Fi, Cheetah Stand and Wimberley for their generous support of my seminars. For more information on all the seminars I taught over the years, please click HERE.

Email Ben if you are interested to attend his workshop.

Click HERE to go back to Ben’s blog.

Click HERE to get back to So Cal Pixels’ main website.

2009-08-23 New Pocket Wizard Mini TT1 and Flex TT5 Shoot

Ben — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:26:36 +0000

Mac Group, the distributor for the Pocket Wizard (wireless radio transmitter and receivers that triggers photographers’ light remotely) was kind enough to send me a few sets of their new Mini TT1 and Flex TT5 for testing.

Prior to the shoot date, I updated the software on all units to the most current version and did a mini-test run in my home to make sure everything is working properly.

On Sunday, August 23^rd, I met up with Millia, a local aspiring model, her husband Josh, Vivian and Patrick (my trusted assistants) at my favorite San Gabriel Mountain location for our test shoot.

I was very impressed by the Mini TT1 and Flex TT5 combination and was able to shoot some images at twice the maximum sync speed of the camera by using the high-speed sync mode. For example, I was using a Canon 1D MKII and a 70-200 f/2.8 IS lens with the maximum sync speed of 1/250 second, by using Mini TT1 and Flex TT5 and set the 580EX in the High Speed Sync mode, the first two photos you see here was shot at 1/640 second. Which means I was able to obtain details of bright background with much less light. In fact, these images were all shot with one Canon 580EX II speedlight through an umbrella.

Again, I want to thank Millia, Josh, Vivian and Patrick for their help in testing the Mini TT1 and Flex TT5.

Patrick took all the images with me in it. Thank you, Patrick. Without getting too much in to the technical aspect of the shoot, please enjoy the photos.

Canon 580EX mounted on the Flex TT5′s hotshoe

Using the sun as my hair light, Millia was lit by one 580EX with Flex TT5 and a shoot-through umbrella at 1/640 second

The Below photos was synced at 1/500 second

Below I was using the diffused sun light as my main light and the 580 EX as a fill light

Yes, I was surprised the filled light at that distant had an effect on lighten the shadow side of Mailia’s face

Few silhouette right before it gets dark

All the sunset shots, Millia was basically lit same as the day light photos above, the only difference is that I added a hair light behind her to light up the hair and the veil

I want also to thank my sponsors: Westcott, Pictobooks, Vision Arts Book, Mac Group, Portercase, Hoodman, Bay Photo Lab, Lowepro, Honl Photo, Expoimaging, Eye-Fi, Cheetah Stand and Wimberley for their generous support of my seminars. For more information on all the seminars I taught over the years, please click HERE.

Email Ben if you are interested to schedule a shoot.

Click HERE if you are interested to attend Ben’s Guerilla Lighting Workshop.

Click HERE to go back to Ben’s blog.

Click HERE to get back to So Cal Pixels’ main website.

Welcome, ExpoImaging as my newest Sponsor

Ben — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:05:10 +0000

I was contacted by ExpoImaging few days ago that they were interested sponsoring me. I have met the representative of ExpoImaging earlier this year at WPPI in Las Vegas and was impressed by their new product, Ray Flash. Ray Flash is a ring flash adaptor for speedlights. From the demo I saw, this little piece of equipment was producing some amazing images that were comparable to the much more expense studio ring lights. I am excited to receive a Ray Flash and begin to shoot with it soon.

Thank you Expoimaging!

I want also to thank my sponsors: Westcott, Pictobooks, Vision Arts Book, Mac Group, Portercase, Hoodman, Bay Photo Lab, Lowepro, Honl Photo, Expoimaging, Eye-Fi, Cheetah Stand and Wimberley for their generous support of my seminars. For more information on all the seminars I taught over the years, please click HERE.