Steve Cole Photography

Magazine subscriptions typically come with “targeted” unsolicited mailings and a subscription to Outdoor Photographer is no exception. A couple months back I received a mailer for a one day nature photography workshop put on by John and Barbara Gerlach. It promised to cover a wide range of topics with respect to nature photography. I wasn’t sure how much I would get out of it since it appeared to be geared towards beginning photographers but, at a cost of $90, I thought it would be worth the financial risk.

John and Barbara bring about 25 years of professional experience to the table which includes publishing credits in National Geographic, Outdoor Photographer, Birder’s World, and two books published by Focal Press (links at the end). In addition to publishing, they have released a couple of DVDs and also host field based photo workshops across the globe. Their photography seems to effortly flow back and forth between wildlife and nature / landscape.

It could very well be the “Midwest values” but both are about as friendly and personable as one can be. John provided the majority of the speaking and did so in a loud, clear voice with many amusing stories thrown in to reinforce points he was trying to make. A copy of their seminar description can be found on their website but the main topics covered were camera & lenses, photo sharpness using “back button” focusing, proper exposure, flash-fill photography, macro work, and composition tips.

All along, John’s talk was supplemented with many fine images from their body of work. In order to help you focus more on what they are talking about, John & Barbara provide each attendee a 40 page handout which contains the important points that are brought up during the seminar. In addition to that, attendees are encouraged to bring audio recorders to record the seminar for replay and review. I found this last point particularly nice.

So- the question is: was it worth it?

The answer is yes! I was most interested in the discussion of exposure and white balance and I immediately began using John’s suggestions and tips the very next day. One very simple change was switching from just the brightness histogram to using the RGB histogram. As John explains it, you can have an image that isn’t blown out overall but could have important portions blown out in one of the color channels. The adage of “expose to the right” still applies but is done just up to the point that *any* of the RGB channels butts up against the right side of the histogram. Not only to you ensure your photo isn’t overexposed, you also ensure that important aspects such as the fall colors aren’t overexposed as well.

Another key point that is often overlooked is that using “auto” modes on cameras such as aperture priority or shutter priority make the viewfinder vulnerable to light bleed. The moment you pull away from the camera to actually take your photo, additional light (which wasn’t accounted for during metering) can infiltrate through the viewfinder. The solution? Cover the viewfinder just prior to taking your picture *or* use the Manual mode. I also enjoyed his description of tilt-shift lenses and how they work using a series of photos.

Any negatives about the workshop?

Yes- but not so much about John and Barbara and their teachings. I somewhat expected a setting where attendees could sit at a table to take notes but the venue wasn’t set up for this. If you’re going to take notes, be prepared with a clipboard and perhaps a small book light because sometimes the room was fairly dark. John and Barbara both utilized a PA and wireless microphones which definitely helped the quality of my audio recording. Unfortunately, the wireless provided (I assume) by the venue had an electrical short of some sort so it was fairly temperamental during the initial session. After that, John switched microphones with Barbara and it was much better.

Anyways, I enjoyed the time I spent at the seminar and have already incorporated a few simple things into my photography. I definitely would recommend the seminar!. They also had some books available for purchase at the seminar. Those who attend the seminar will recognize many of the photos in the books from their presentation:

Digital Landscape Photography
Digital Nature Photography: The Art and the Science