What You’ll Learn

Photography & Adobe Photoshop CS5: From Focus to Finished is guaranteed to take your photography and Photoshop CS5 skills to a whole new level! This tour puts it all together, from beginning to end and step-by-step with five cutting-edge sessions packed with the most requested, and sought-after tips and techniques used by today’s top photography pros to capture, correct and enhance their photos.

In just one day you’ll learn advanced shooting techniques and methods, the simple to advanced camera setups the pros use to capture perfect images every time, how to repair any photo and add breath-taking effects using Photoshop CS5, and so much more. This seminar is perfect for amateur and pro photographers, graphic designers, and anyone who wants to seriously boost their photography and Photoshop CS5 skills.

What Ben’s Teaching

Loading the player …

Class Schedule

Registration begins at 9:00 A.M. – Event begins at 10:00 A.M.

The Pros Tips and Tricks for Capturing Great Images

10:00 – 11:00 am
Have you ever wondered how the pros seem to always be able to capture the “perfect shot”? Well, now you’ll know. We start the day learning composition essentials that separate the amateurs from the seasoned pros.

You’ll learn how to inventory and organize visual elements using your camera’s entire frame that’s guaranteed to help you capture photos that engage and inspire your viewers. You’ll discover how to use the edges of the frame to setup your shot and how critical this can be to the composition of your photos. Learn when to use various exposures and depth of field techniques to create more effective compositions, and much more. After this class you’ll be able to turn boring subject matter into dynamic and compelling images.

Essential Shooting Techniques

11:15 – 12:15 pm
The gear you carry and how you use it is just as important as your composition and Photoshop skills. Simple but highly effective changes to how you use your gear, and outfit your camera bag can have a huge impact on the success of your photography. Find out why most of your gear can be a liability (if not used the right way). You’ll know exactly what you should and shouldn’t carry with you. And, we’re just getting warmed-up!

Learn what to use and when to use it. Never again will the inappropriate use of a lens hood, polarizing filter, or wide angle lens ruin a potentially great shot. You’ll know which lens to use for effective depth of field that adds attention and drama to any photo. How to manipulate your camera’s settings to radically alter the shot, and boost your creativity with the use of inexpensive and unexpected accessories to get shots that you thought were impossible. You’ll learn the importance of capturing with Photoshop CS5 in mind. And, how to deal with difficult situations and plan for repairs, restoration and other fixes in Photoshop CS5.

Photography & Photoshop CS5 – Creativity Unleashed

1:15 – 2:15 pm
This is where we pick up the pace with a rapid-fire session that shows you how to reproduce today’s hottest Photoshop CS5 effects for photography (the top effects demanded by clients). We cover everything from simple setting changes to seemingly elaborate setups used for high-end advertising. Learn the simple, but not-so-obvious combination of camera technique and Photoshop effect to produce stunning photos. There’s something for everyone in this session, regardless if you shoot weddings, portraits, landscapes, sports, or fine art.

Ben teaches you how to knock backgrounds out of focus, shift the brightness and color of backgrounds while in the field. The pros secrets to creating spectacular motion blur, how to produce shiny skin, mega-shadow detail and artistic illustrative looks, and how to create “miniature” effects using limited depth of field techniques.

Photo Fix – Repair and Retouch

2:30 – 3:45 pm
In this session Ben shows you how less than ideal captures can be quickly and easily corrected in Photoshop CS5 using techniques that seem impossible until you know the tips and tricks. These skills will help you rescue photos that you would think we’re impossible to repair. You’ll also learn how to seriously boost the quality of your photos by using Photoshop CS5 to repair and retouch ordinary pics into photos that will take your clients breath away.

You’ll learn how to remove lens flare, correct perspective distortions and other common problems. Eliminate photo “clutter” with the same retouching techniques used by today’s top retouching pros, repair uneven sky, horizons and other tonal problems, and how to improve your compositions.

How to WOW! – Advanced Photo Effects

4:00 – 5:00 pm
Finally, Ben will show you how to take your photography to new heights by transforming your raw captures into stunning, dramatic and exciting images. See how adding “digital polish” to your shots makes all the difference in the world. This is the session where you learn to turn snapshots into artistic, professional photographs.

Ben’s advanced photo effects include how to use tone and color to direct attention within your photographs, how to combine several poor images a single spectacular photo. You’ll create extraordinary sunsets from ordinary sunsets. Add mood and expression to your photos. Create jaw-dropping special effects that add drama, and so much more.