In This Issue
• Featured 3 or More Day Workshops
• Featured Participant/Volunteer Images
Quick Reference Links
Featured Participant/Volunteer Images
Bosque and White Sands Workshop
Click here to view a video on YouTube created byTerry A. Jackson, a participant of the 2009 workshop.
Visit Participant Gallery...
Featured PartnerTempe
Camera Repair
Since 1972 Arizona's Source for Everything Photographic
Tempe Camera is the state’s only one-stop imaging store. Our Sales Department offers both new and used equipment including cameras, lenses, lighting, printers, LCD and HD TV’s, darkroom gear. Our Rental Center continues to expand, including lenses, digital and film cameras and accessories, computer projectors for Power Point presentations and lighting & grip equipment for professionals shooting in studios or on location. The Repair Department can service what we sell, usually in-house; our technicians have a combined 80 years of experience and are comfortable with the latest advances. The TCR Photo Imaging Center provides quality photo finishing from your traditional film or state-of-the-art digital cameras.
For more information, visit tempecamera.biz.
Would your organization consider being a partner? Please call us toll free at 1.888.790.7042.
What Our Participants Say About...
Making Money With Your Camera
with J. Peter Mortimer, December 2009
“The class was very informative & fun.”
— Judy DuBois
“If couldn’t take enough notes. It was so helpful & constructive. Our instructor Pete was so personable.”
— Tammy Conwaye
“I thought the workshop was wonderful & time well spent. Not only was the instructor knowledgeable, but class discussion with others of varied levels of expertise made this time well spent.”
— Chryssoula DePuydt
“I loved the workshop. Peter was very knowledgeable. Was great to see everyone’s photos. It’s definitely worth taking. I can’t wait to use the ideas Peter gave us.”
— Gayla Matthews
Watson lake
with Colleen Miniuk-Sperry, January 2010
“If you want to do better landscapes, then do this workshop.”
— Jim Paire
“Great subject matter, excellent leadership.”
— Raymond Lee
“The workshop run by AZ Highways was well planned, well organized and sparked the juices of creativity.”
— Lane Bigler
“Colleen is very energetic & well versed photographer you can’t help but have fun while learning.”
— Bruce Haseley
“Great learning opportunity with a bonus of meeting great people from all over.”
— Bev Secord
“Best instructional team, maximizes your photographic skills & your passion for photography.”
— Mary Hautman
Visit our Calendar page for a complete list of 2010 workshops.
Request a Brochure
For a free printed color brochure or to have one sent to a friend, visit our Web site to fill out a mailing form. Our brochure is published annually. Please visit our Web site for the most current information available about each workshop.
Download a PDF brochure...
(File size: 4.2 MB. Copyrighted material for reference only. All rights reserved. Cover photo © Suzanne Mathia.)
© 2010 Friends of Arizona Highways Magazine Foundation. All rights reserved.
All images copyrighted by photographer.
Copy or transfer of any image
without permission is strictly prohibited.
Featured Workshops: 3 or More Days
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Portraits of Tombstone
with J. Peter Mortimer
and Steve Burger
March
15-18, 2010; Cost: $1,295
Find out more about this workshop and view itinerary...
Each day during this unique workshop will be spent with portrait photographer J. Peter Mortimer and Photoshop instructor Steve Burger perfecting environmental portraits with available light in Tombstone, Arizona, the “town too tough to die.” Spontaneous and prearranged portrait opportunities will be followed by hands-on Photoshop sessions, where your images will be technically enhanced to express your creative vision.
We’ll also spend time on the interactive challenges of photographing people and how to take advantage of “found” situations. Wild West backdrops including the original Bird Cage Theatre and the O.K. Corral will lend authenticity to your classic portraits of local “period personalities” and townspeople. Radiant window light in the historic saloons offers a mood that you will learn to capture.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to make classic Old West images! Limited spaces still available.
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Slot Canyons
with Jerry Sieve
April 24-28, 2010; Cost $1,950
Find out more about this workshop and view itinerary...
Arizona’s Slot Canyons are on every photographers “must see” list. Carved by wind and water through layers of sandstone, the remnants of ancient ocean floors form what are known as slot canyons, where unexpected beams of light and fanciful whorls of color give us the opportunity to make striking and memorable photographs. Be there at the time of day when the walls glow in vibrant purples, reds, oranges and yellows.
The Slot stretches through a series of small chambers, large amphitheaters and precipitous drops. Every turn offers new and exciting arches and keyhole formations scenes to photograph. We'll also visit the area around Lake Powell, which also affords remarkable opportunities. The breathtaking view from Horseshoe Bend Overlook is a photographic treat, including the Vermilion Cliffs, Paria Bluffs and the "hoodoos."
Register now to experience these inspirational photographic locations!
Use our online registration site!
For your convenience, we now offer a secure way to register for and purchase workhop spaces online.
- Clicking the registration button for any 3 Or More Day Workshop will direct you to a page where you must first select a deposit amount before continuing the registration and checkout process.
- For Shorter Workshops not requiring a deposit, clicking the registration button will add the desired quantity directly to your cart to begin the registration process.
Please contact us with your feedback about the registration site or if you experience any technical problems.
Upcoming 2-3 Day Workshops
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Colors of Tucson's Barrio
with Edward McCain
April 9-10, 2010; Cost: $425
Find out more about this workshop and view itinerary...
The bright colors and captivating textures of the buildings in Tucson’s historic & photogenic barrio neighborhoods make for wonderful images and springtime offers excellent shooting conditions. Longtime Tucson resident Edward McCain will take you to some of the best barrio locations in Arizona.
Plus, Tucson's barrio features some of the best Mexican restaurants anywhere and we'll be sure to make an unforgettable lunch stop!
Register today for your opportinity to capture images of this festive environment!
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Rails and Tales of the Verde Valley
with Colleen Miniuk-Sperry
April 24-25, 2010; Cost: $390
Find out more about this workshop and view itinerary...
Join travel photographer Colleen Miniuk-Sperry on a fun and adventurous weekend workshop aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad! You'll sample the most intriguing tale-inspiring sites in the Verde Valley and learn special travel photography tips and techniques along the way!
Travel through Verde Canyon aboard the historic Verde Canyon Railroad and experience “Arizona’s Longest-Running Nature Show,” accessible only by train. Ample photographic opportunities await in the open-air car. Panoramic views are inspiring, bald eagles may circle overhead, and Spring wildflowers bloom in the high desert with Mother Nature’s help.
In addition to the exciting 4-hour train ride, you’ll be treated to an evening of cowboy dining and fun at the Blazin’ M Ranch as Colleen shares techniques for capturing effective images in the low-light situations likely to be encountered. You'’ll then explore the historic mining town of Jerome, where the streets are lined with historic buildings waiting to reveal their stories & legends about more prosperous times.
Register today for your chance to savor this taste of the Old West!
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Hummingbirds of Southeast Arizona
with Bruce Taubert
May 8-10, 2010; Cost: $695
Find out more about this workshop and view itinerary...
Hummingbirds are among the most diverse and interesting species of birds AND one of the most sought after bird subjects to photograph in the Western Hemisphere. Join instructor Bruce Taubert in Southeast Arizona to photograph the jewel of the bird world!
Our workshop location is Ash Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains near scenic Sierra Vista, Arizona. Beginning in April and extending into late May, several species of hummingbirds migrate from their winter locations in Mexico and Central America through Ash Canyon to their summer homes in Arizona and other states.
Learn how to take high-speed flash photos of several hummingbird species through daily exposure to hours of photography time. You'll also have opportunities to photograph other unique and beautiful bird species of Arizona.
Reserve your space today for this workshop location nestled between mountains and riparian areas in the transitional zone between mesquite and oak habitats.
Weekend Workshops Combine Field Photography & Classroom Instruction
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Photography Made Simple II: Field Session
with J. Peter Mortimer
February 12-13, 2010; Cost: $135
Find out more about this workshop and view itinerary...
This workshop combines the best of both worlds: a condensed, but informative class in the fundamentals of photography and the opportunity to go into the field to use your newly-acquired skills. Join long-time Arizona Highways contributor and former picture editor, J. Peter Mortimer, for an instructional session that includes exposure, histograms, lens openings, depth of field, shutter speeds and more.
Peter will help you put all of this new information to the test the next morning at the Wildlife World Zoo. You will then have an afternoon critique session designed to give you even more tools to work with the next time you go out to “make” photographs.
After this one session, you'll see improvement in your pictures, and your camera manual will actually make sense! Register now!
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Photography Made Simple (Classroom-only session)
with J. Peter Mortimer
March 27, 2010; Cost: $85
Find out more about this workshop...
Held in a small seminar type setting, long-time Arizona Highways contributor and former picture editor J. Peter Mortimer will take those difficult photographic concepts and make them understandable. You'll learn how to make your camera do what you want it to do — all those programs and functions will no longer be so confusing.
Additionally, you will learn about "the best" exposure and "the correct" exposure for a variety of films. Lens openings and shutter speeds will be discussed as creative controls. Be sure to bring your camera, your camera manual, a notepad and a couple of your favorite photographs if you would like them to be critiqued.
Register now and learn how to make your camera do what you want it to do!
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"Shoot-n-Photoshop" Weekend
with J. Peter Mortimer and Steve Burger
April 17-18; Cost: $295
Find out more about this workshop and view itinerary...
Photoshop guru Steve Burger and former Arizona Highways picture editor J. Peter Mortimer have teamed up to offer this two day digital boot camp where you’ll learn shooting techniques and five Photoshop power moves that will make a night and day difference in your photography: Cropping, Levels, Saturation, Image Size, and Sharpening. Workflow and File Prep will also be covered.
In a small give-and-take seminar setting Peter will show you how to sell your pictures "in your own backyard." Workshop topics will cover necessary equipment, general photo legalities, what to charge, stock photography and more!
Register today. Not only will you hone your photographic skills, you'’ll have lots of fun and Photoshop will no longer be a mystery!
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Photography Tip
Excerpted from
Arizona Highways Photography Guide: How & Where to Make Great Photographs
Photographing Architecture
Vertical and Horizontal Lines in Square
by Richard Maack
Technically correct architectural photography generally requires a level horizon and vertical lines that don’t converge. Vertical lines converge when your camera is pointed up or down, giving the impression that subjects are falling over backward or leaning to one side or another. Rendering vertical subjects with correct perspective is generally preferred, because that’s the way human eyes see the world—balanced, square and with a level horizon.
I learned to be a photographer by reading Ansel Adams’ Basic Photo series, and I still subscribe to Adams’ opinion on the matter. He felt that obviously vertical subjects in a photograph should remain vertical unless you’re adding a great deal of convergence for dramatic effect. He insisted that a small amount of convergence in a photograph only betrayed sloppy technique.
The key to making buildings stand up straight is leveling the camera back and keeping it parallel to the vertical lines in the building. When I’m photographing with a tripod and vertical lines or the horizon figure into the composition, I actually use a level to square the camera’s back. This ensures that vertical lines and subjects will remain vertical in your photograph and that the horizon (or implied horizon) will be absolutely horizontal. Levels can be purchased that fit into the flash shoe of your camera, or you can simply use a line level, which is inexpensive and readily available at your local hardware store. Since I tend to lose them, I keep a few extra and stash one in each of my camera bags.
Often you’ll find that once you level the camera’s back, you’re slicing off the top of the building in your frame. There are four possible remedies. You can move the camera farther away from the subject, try a wider-angle lens, or move the camera higher (for example, shoot from a second-story balcony across the street from your subject). The expensive solution is a tilt/shift lens, which will lend an SLR some of the capability of a view camera in architectural and landscape photography.
For more photography tips and ideas, order your copy of Arizona Highways Photography Guide: How & Where to make Great Photographs at arizonahighways.com.