Thanks for a Great Central Park Workshop

Low lying clouds may have doused the Super Moon, but not our fun as our group spent over 2 hours photographing many unique sites throughout the park.  With a giant natural softbox provided by the overcast day, the light was perfect for landscape photography and as we usually do at my workshops, we kept shooting straight on 'til dark.  Thanks to all the participants for making it a memorable day. A very special thanks to my wife Sue for her assistance, creative input and trip-planning efforts.  

Photo © Copyright John Fox

 

 Photo © Copyright C. Carrion of Soundview Photography

If you would like to be notified of upcoming workshops, please email me here.

Upcoming NYC Photo Workshop

The Beauty of Central Park 

Saturday May 5th, 2012   6:00pm - 8:15pm

Springtime in New York City is one of the most beautiful seasons to photograph the wonders of Central Park. To take full advantage of the warm evening light, this workshop will run from 6:00 pm to about 8:15pm. There are several scenic bridges, cityscapes, and urban sights to capture, and a DSLR with a tripod is recommended.  

Above photo was created by 2011 student, John Fox just after sunset.

As always, this workshop is limited to a small group so that everyone receives personalized instruction. If you are interested in improving your landscape photography, learning how to master your camera, and shooting in low light, you can register below now.

 

  As a participant you will learn a wide variety techniques including creative use of aperture and shutter speed, white balance, composition, working with filters, and flash.  All experience levels are welcome.

Participants

Individual Registration $199.00 USD Two Participants Registration $389.00 USD

Recommended Gear:

DSLR

Wide angle zoom lens 

Tripod

Memory Cards & Batteries

Other Considerations:

Medium Telephoto

Polarizing Filter

Flash (pop-up will suffice)

Comfortable walking sneakers

Please note:

• If the weather is exceptionally poor, the rain date will be the following evening, Sunday 5/6

• Transportation is not included.  Upon registering, I will send an email with the exact subway stop, and/or parking garage options.

• Each participant must have sufficient mobility. This ensures that the photography opportunities of both yourself and the other participants are not affected.  

Above photo in Black and White was created by 2011 student, John Fox

CANCELLATION POLICY: 

• If you must withdraw from the workshop more than 30 days before the starting date, your payment will be refunded in full.

• If you must withdraw 16 to 30 days before May 5, 2012, 25% of your total payment will be forfeited.

• If you withdraw 15 days or less before May 5, 2012, 100% of your total fee will be forfeited.

©2012 Chris Corradino Photography LLC 

Thanks for a Great DC Workshop!

Long before the sun peaked over the horizon or the bus loads of tourists flooded the area, we began making pictures. The day could not have been better, and we continued to capture splendid images all the way through dusk, stopping only for lunch and a portfolio review.

For me, it's exceptionally rewarding to work with passionate photographers and help create memories and friendships that last a lifetime. I am grateful for each participant's hard work and effort. We covered an immense array of techniques and topics including composition, manual metering, flash, white balance, live view with manual focus, finding clean backgrounds, working with graduated neutral density filters, and creative use of depth of field and shutter speed. Only with a small group is this kind of personalized attention possible.

All kinds of gear are welcome at these workshops, and we used everything from Canon, Nikon, wide angle zooms, medium telephotos, and even a fisheye lens. Tripods were essential as many low light images required long exposures well beyond hand-holding shutter speeds.

A very special thanks to Sue for her assistance planning the workshop, in addition to her outstanding creative input, navigational expertise, and patience. She took most of the images pictured here with a fixed 50mm lens.

If you would like to be notified of upcoming photo workshops, please drop me an email with the Contact page. Thanks!

2012 Cherry Blossom Photo Workshop, Washington DC

It may be cold outside right now, but Cherry Blossom season will be upon us before you know it. On Saturday March 31, 2012 Washington DC will be hopping with activity and I'll be holding a one day photo workshop for photographers of all skill levels. Hotels are filling up quickly so it's recommended that you register now. Do it before January 31st and pay $450, a savings of $50. The workshop is limited to five participants to ensure everyone receives personalized attention. I hope you can join us for a memorable day of photography instruction. 

For details, a list of recommended equipment, and registration info, please check below. 

 SUNRISE CHERRY BLOSSOM SHOOT   6:00 am - 9:00 am   

Historically, the Cherry Blossom trees are at the height of their beauty in late March.  To take full advantage of the golden morning light, we will meet at 6am for a sunrise shoot.  There, we will create memorable photos of several historic monuments framed by magnificent Cherry Blossom trees.  

LUNCH and PORTFOLIO REVIEW   12:00 pm - 2:30 pm

At noon, we will re-gather for lunch (included) and a portfolio review session in a comfortable lounge.  You will receive in-depth feedback and helpful advice on your images, post-processing technique, and more.  

SUNSET and DUSK   5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

As the sun sets, we will photograph the numerous monuments and memorials in the National Mall.  To maximize the magic light, we will continue shooting into dusk, creating breathtaking images along the way.

RECOMMENDED CAMERA GEAR 

DSLR Camera 

Tripod

Wide Angle lens (ex: 18-55mm)

Medium Telephoto (ex: 70-200mm)

External Flash (ex: SB900 or 580EXII)

Plenty of Memory Cards

Extra batteries for camera, and flash

Optional Filters - Graduated Neutral Density, Polarizer

Please note:

• This event is rain or shine, so please plan accordingly.  If the weather is exceptionally poor, I reserve the right to alter the agenda as needed.   

• Hotel and Transportation are not included.  Due to the popularity of the Cherry Blossoms, it's recommended you book well in advance.  Upon registering, I will send an email with a few hotel options. 

• Each participant must have sufficient mobility. This ensures that the photography opportunities of both yourself and the other participants are not affected.  Comfortable walking sneakers are recommended.

Early Bird Registration

Individual $450.00 USD Two Participants $899.00 USD

If you have any questions at all, you can email me or call at (516) 582-4428.

Cancellation Policy

If you must withdraw from the workshop more than 60 days before the starting date (March 31, 2012), your payment will be refunded in full.

If you must withdraw 31 to 60 days before March 31, 2012, 25% of your total payment will be forfeited.

If you withdraw 30 days or less before March 31, 2012, 100% of your total fee will be forfeited.

I reserve the right to cancel a photo workshop for any reason. If an event is cancelled, 100% of your payment will be refunded.

More Autumn Scenes from the Woods of Harriman State Park, NY

I listed the camera settings below each image so you can see the tech details.  As you'll see, a slow shutter speed was key to show the motion of the water, and a small aperture was preferable to achieve great depth of field.  All were taken with a Canon 40D and a 17-40mm wide angle zoom mounted to a tripod.  I used a circular polarizer for the top two images to increase saturation and cut the glare from the water.  

 

Camera settings: f13, 1.3 seconds, ISO 250

Camera settings: f14, 1 second, ISO 250 

Camera settings: f14, 1/4 sec, ISO 250

Here's what one of the workshop participants had to say about the shoot:

"Chris, just wanted to thank you for the Fall Foliage Workshop. I learned so much in such a short time about both the operation of my camera and how to best take photos. I came home with some beautiful photos; some family members have already asked me to print out copies for them to frame. Once I get a chance, I will upload them online and send you the link. Being such a novice I was a little hesitant at first but your style and manner made learning extremely easy (kudos to Sue also for scouting out some wonderful spots) . I look forward to more workshops. Last night I even tried shooting some shots at my son's game using entirely manual mode. Thanks again." - Peter

 If you'd like to be notified of upcoming photo workshops in your area, just send me an email with your city & state.  

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Vivid Display of Fall Color at Harriman State Park

I had never seen red grass before this glorious morning at Harriman State Park.  This was the first scene we stopped to shoot at my 2011 Fall Foliage Workshop.  The sun was about to rise and a low lying layer of fog rolled into the scene.  Thanks to all who came out for a terrific shoot!  We had ideal conditions and came home with hundreds of colorful photos.  More to come...

 

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2011 Fall Foliage Photo Workshop

Date:

Saturday 10/22/2011
Gather - 7:00am
Shoot -  7:15 am - 10:15 am

Location:

Harriman State Park, NY  - Their official webpage is here.

What We Will Do:

Capture spectacular fall foliage images while honing your photography skills.  We will work on composition, creative use of shutter speeds, ISO, depth of field, focus, histograms, white balance, polarizing filters, and more. Our trail will follow a beautiful stream surrounded by vibrant fall color.  This provides endless photographic possibilities for us to explore. This special workshop is limited to just 5 participants so reserve your space soon!

Required gear:

Camera capable of being used with slower shutter speeds (any DSLR & most Point & Shoots)

Tripod

Memory Card & Battery

Wide angle or normal lens (anything in the 17-55mm range will work well).

While not required, I would also recommend the following gear if possible.

Circular Polarizer

Medium Telephoto Lens

Please note:

If the weather is exceptionally poor, the rain date will be the following day, Sunday 10/23

Transportation is not included.  Upon registering, I will send you precise directions to the meetup point.

Each participant must have sufficient mobility. This ensures that the photography opportunities of both yourself and the other participants are not affected.  

Wear comfortable but sturdy footwear as the terrain is rocky.  Hiking boots are recommended.  All participants will be required to sign a standard liability waiver.

Participants

Individual Early Bird Registration (Before Oct 1) $200.00 Two Participants Early Bird Registration (Before Oct 1) $389.00 Individual - registering after Oct 1 $225.00 Two Participants - registering after Oct 1 $439.00

 If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

CANCELLATION POLICY: 

• If you must withdraw from the workshop more than 60 days before the starting date, your payment will be refunded in full.

• If you must withdraw 31 to 60 days before October 22, 2011, 25% of your total payment will be forfeited.

• If you withdraw 30 days or less before October 22, 2011, 100% of your total fee will be forfeited.

©2011 Chris Corradino Photography LLC 

Thanks for a Great NYC Workshop!

A big thank you to everyone who came out for the 2011 Photo Workshop in NYC!  This was an outstanding group of photographers with various camera models, and photographic specialties. We even had a couple of sports shooters on hand. For me, one of the great things about workshops is witnessing the way the group comes together with a common passion for making images.  90 degrees with a pleasant breeze from the East River made for perfect conditions.  

In the late afternoon sun we started with the Brooklyn Bridge, then photographed the Empire State Building framed in the arches of the Manhattan Bridge.  As dusk settled, the group came together down by the water as the magnificent skyline lit up the night sky.  We kept making exposures until there was no more light to be had.  

Special thanks to Sue for capturing some of these moments with her iPhone.  It was a memorable night, and we were grateful for the opportunity to share it with everyone in this splendid setting.  

The next workshops will be in the NY/PA area in October for fall foliage.  I'll announce the details shortly.  If you'd like to be notified of upcoming workshops, just drop me an email.  Thanks!

Brooklyn Bridge and NYC Skyline Photo Workshop

 Saturday July 30th, 2011   6:45pm - 8:45pm

This exciting workshop will focus on creating dynamic landscape images as the sun goes down and turns to dusk. You will receive personalized instruction while photographing the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, and New York City Skyline.   

We begin with a scenic walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, making pictures of the fascinating structure from various angles. On a clear day, you can catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty in the distance. 

As the sun descends, we will set up along a small beach in the shadow of these stunning bridges. In addition to exploring various creative compositions, we will discuss the technical details like manual exposure, histograms, flash, filters, and more.  Then, as dusk settles and the lights of the skyline twinkle, we will continue to fill our memory cards with breathtaking photos.    

• When: Saturday, July 30, 2011

• Gather at 6:30pm

• Workshop from 6:45pm - 8:45pm

• Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn NY

• Easy access to Subway

• There are also several parking garages nearby for those who choose to drive.

• Cost: $225 per person

• Space is limited to six participants, so register early.

• Early bird special - Register before May 31st and save $25.  

• Essential Gear to bring: 

• DSLR with Memory Card and Battery  

• Wide angle lens

• Tripod

Participants

Individual Early Bird Registration (Before May 31) $200.00 Two Participants Early Bird Registration (Before May 31) $389.00 Individual - registering after May 31 $225.00 Two Participants - registering after May 31 $439.00

 If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Please note:

• If the weather is exceptionally poor, the rain date will be the following evening, Sunday 7/31

• Transportation is not included.  Upon registering, I will send an email with the exact subway stop, and/or parking garage options.

• Each participant must have sufficient mobility. This ensures that the photography opportunities of both yourself and the other participants are not affected.  Comfortable walking sneakers are recommended.

CANCELLATION POLICY: 

• If you must withdraw from the workshop more than 60 days before the starting date, your payment will be refunded in full.

• If you must withdraw 31 to 60 days before July 30, 2011, 25% of your total payment will be forfeited.

• If you withdraw 30 days or less before July 30, 2011, 100% of your total fee will be forfeited.

©2011 Chris Corradino Photography LLC 

Cherry Blossom Celebration, Farewell to Winter

 Above: The illumimated Jefferson Memorial framed by Cherry Blossoms in the colorful light of dawn.

I'd like to thank the wonderful people who attended my 2011 Cherry Blossom Photo Workshop. There are few urban landscapes as impressive as Washington DC, and the crowds showed up in appropriate fashion. Donning tripod legs, white lenses and external flashes, the Tidal Basin was transformed into a hotbed of photographic activity. In order to catch the magic light, our group of four met in the dark for a very early 6am start.

Coming from a bitter New York winter which featured no less than eight snow storms, I was delighted to breathe in the delicate scent of flowering trees. Thankfully the rain stayed away yielding spectacular conditions at both sunrise and sunset. My research on the peak blooming period proved to be accurate with nearly every tree cascading in abundant flowers.

Above: Delicate pink blossoms appear to surround the Washington Monument just before sunrise at the Tidal Basin.

When teaching a workshop, I generally don't shoot much. My main priority is to provide each participant with detailed individual instruction. The ultimate goal is for everyone to go home with breathtaking photos and a deeper understanding of the finer aspects of photography.  Over the course of the day, we covered fill flash, manual exposure, graduated neutral density filters, polarizers, histograms, and composition.  Besides shooting, we also had the opportunity to enjoy a delicious lunch while relaxing in each others company and forming new friendships. This was followed by an informative portfolio review.

Above: An ideal place to sit, and soak in the beauty around the Basin.

Later, the Lincoln Memorial lit up the dusky night sky and we ignored frozen fingers to concentrate on long exposures and interesting compositions. Balancing ourselves on precarious cement blocks, more pictures were made of the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building glowing in the distance.  We worked every angle, attempting each possibility until there was no more light to be had.

 
The following morning I made a solo trek to the Tidal Basin to create some of my own images.  As I peered through the viewfinder, I thought about the origin of the trees given by Japan in 1912 as a gift of friendship. Today, as the people in their region suffer devastating losses from the earthquake, I can only hope that peace and comfort will blanket those affected. In talking with the cab drivers, bartenders, and various DC locals, the consensus was of a record breaking turnout this year. Perhaps our appreciation of these magnificent trees is a way to show our solidarity with our friends overseas. My thoughts are with them, and I plan to return next year to honor the 100th anniversary of their most generous gift.  If you would like to join me for the 2012 workshop, please drop me an email.

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