Discount on Perfect Picture School Classes

Who: the PERFECT PICTURE school of photography
What: 25% discount on August on-line classes
When: register between July 15, 2012 - July 21, 2012; Classes start August 3, 2012
Where: http://www.ppsop.com/
How much: $99 - $395 USD

• $99 for a 2 week course (with discount approximately $74)
• $195 for a 4 week course (with discount approximately $164)
• $295 for a 6 week course (with discount approximately $221)
• $395 for an 8 week course (with discount approximately $296)

I haven't taken any of the classes, but this is what I learned from the web site:

• The Basics will give you information about how the classes work
• The classes are on the Internet so anybody, anywhere with Internet access can take them
• You have to complete the assignments to get your money's worth and the classes include professional/instructor critique of your work.
• The school offers a money-back guarantee
• Classes range from beginner to advanced and include topics such as exposure, composition, business, building websites, lighting, and digital darkrooms. More focused subjects include nature/landscape, food, street, wedding, portrait, pet, architecture, birding, children/infant, and flower photography .
• Understanding Exposure is based on Bryan Peterson's well-known, frequently recommended book of the same name.  PPSOP says it's their most popular class.

Reviews: For some reason, it was difficult to find recent reviews of this school, but here are a few.  I did find comments in forums from prior students but they were older (2007 - 2009).  I only found one negative comment and it was about the Understanding Exposure course which received good reviews from others.

1. brightstarphotos - The Perfect Picture School of Photography - worth it?  (Check out the YouTube links for examples of critiques)
2. 2 Guys Photo - Perfect Picture School of Photography by Janet McQueen
3. ronmartblog - Review: PPSOP's The Art of Seeing online course by Chris Hurtt and Bryan Peterson

Update: 7/21/2012: This offer has been extended through 7/22/2012

 (I am not associated with the PERFECT PICTURE school of photography in any way and I receive no remuneration of any kind from the PERFECT PICTURE school of photography for this posting.)

Project 52, Week 29, Shadows

This week's topic is shadows.  Photographers often try to eliminate or control shadowsthrough lighting techniques, but without some shadows subjects can appear dull and flat.  However, this week isn't about "lighting" an object, it's about using the light to create photographs with shadows.

Things to Consider:

• Shadows can add drama and set the mood.
• Shadows can create leading lines, add contrast, be used as framing, or establish depth.
• Shadows can be the focal point of a subject with or without including the object casting the shadow.
• You don't need a strong light source to cast an interesting shadow. (from Harold Davis's article below.) 
• Shadows are longest at sunrise and sunset and very short at noon.

Suggested Readings and Photographic Examples:

1. Natural Light in Photography at Cambridge in Colour
2. Photographing Shadows: The Basics by Anshum Madore at Fotoflock; short, illustrated article
3. Eight Great Ways to Include Shadows in Your Pictures from DIY Photography; suggestions for compositions with shadows
4. Photographing Shadows at Shutterbug; a few good hints
5. Using Shadows to Enhance Your Compositions at photoble; several examples with brief narratives
6. How to Use Shadows to Enhance Your Composition by Harold Davis at Amazon.com; a short article with accompanying examples
7. 17 Fantastic Examples of Using Shadows to Enhance Photographic Composition at Light Stalking; just pictures
8. Photographing Shadows and Seeing and Photographing Shadows: Using a Key Visual Element at Photographic Digital Photography Guide; short, illustrated articles
9. The Ultimate Guide to Shadow Play at Photojojo; article with different ideas than other links
10. Rembrandt Lighting and Chiaroscuro by PhotoshopMama; 4 minute YouTube video on portrait photography. 

Project 52, Week 28, Silhouettes

Remember that old song Two Silhouettes on the Shade?  That's the theme song for our composition project this week.  Silhouettes can be dramatic, adding depth, dimension, mood, and mystery to a picture.

Things to consider:

• The light must be behind the subject.
• Expose for the background, not the subject, but remember to focus on the subject.
• When you want a dramatic silhouette, set the EV to -1 or -2 (Rick Sammon in Exploring the Light)
• Silhouette subjects should be distinctive shapes.  Remember to move you and/or the subject up, down, left, right, and all around to find the best angle.
• Keep the horizon line low (if there is a horizon). 

Suggested Readings and Photographic Examples:

1. How to Photograph Silhouettes by Darren Rouse at Digital Photography School; short articles with pictures. 
2. 5 Tips for Photographing Silhouettes by Steve Berardi at Digital Photography School; short articles with pictures.
3. Truly Breathtaking Examples of Silhouette Photography by WDCore Editorial  at WebDesignCore
4. How to Take Silhouette Photos - a Tutorial at Rebecca Spencer Photography
5. Silhouette by Steve Hermitage Photo; 5 minute YouTube video on composing a tabletop silhouette scene indoors with toy dinosaurs; unfortunately it only includes 1 photo, but this looks like a fun project
6. How to Photograph and Edit Silhouettes-Part 1 and Part 2 by Jodi Friedman at MCP Actions; article with photos; includes Photoshop tips
7. Photographing Silhouettes by Scott Simmons at Learn Outdoor Photography
8. How to Photograph Silhouettes at Enchanging Karala.org, School of Digital Photography
9. Photography - Silhouettes by Kristie Hegarty Wilson at Pinterest
10. Wedding photography: Phenomenal Photography Silhouettes at junebug Weddings and How to Take Silhouettes by Christopher Lin at PhotographyTips