F/Stop - January, 2009

Today was Wednesday of week two. The day started out with learning how to use Photoshop more effectively. In the past, every time I had opened Photoshop to play around with it, I soon found myself overwhelmed with all the different things you could do. I would quickly close it, and move on with my life. Today however, as they were teaching us, I found that I actually liked using it!

In the afternoon we had the opportunity to improve on our portrait skills. Along side with practicing our broad and short lighting, we learned a new technique—Rembrandt lighting. It was amazing to me how just moving the light, can make some dramatic differences!

Today I saw how God is honored when He perfects us. We as photographers use Photoshop to perfect our images, so your eye is not focused on the imperfections of an image, but the beauty of it, and ultimately the talent of the one who took it.

God uses Photoshop in our lives to perfect us, by bringing people and situations to us, making us more "perfect" in His eye. When he is finished, He creates an amazing image of Himself, that when people look at us, they see Christ, and how awesome He is. When we are done, hopefully others will be amazed and inspired, as they see Christ shining through each photo that we take.

—PWP2 Student Faith DiPasquale

The city of St. Pete was so excited that we were staying for another week that they held a parade just for us! Not really, but they did celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday with a parade. We joined them and they gave us an amazing opportunity to practice photojournalism as we wove through the crowds. Later in the afternoon we learned how to use our flashes to take still life photos. First, we practiced inside using crayons and army men. Then we went outside and used coffee beans and sunglasses as our models. In the evening we went to Panera Bread and edited our photo assignments to make them look even more amazing.

Can't wait to see what is in store for the rest of the week!

—PWP2 Student Emily Cook

Tonight we made history. Katie, Brent, and I just finished the first Prizewinning Photography workshop of the year, and the first ever PWP workshop with IPS on its own.  It was a fabulous week with 14 students enduring unseasonably cold Florida weather to create some of the most fantastic images I’ve ever seen at a PWP workshop.

Here at the workshop most things have been “business as usual.” Few things have changed from the tried and true methods of 2008. But behind the scenes big wheels are turning. Will is the gerbil running the mill to keep those wheels turning. I have been amazed at the number of details and legal issues that come from running a new business, but am extremely grateful for the hard work Will’s been putting into making IPS successful.

Mandy’s been busy this week too. Just the fact that you’re reading this means that the IPS Web and Design Guru has been up to something! She’s working to pump out some new e-postcards and designs to make our new e-marketing strategies a reality.

Check out the photos below  to see what we’ve been up to here in Florida!

Rowan

CEO, IPS

50mm | ISO 100 | F/1.4 | 1/2000s

This is my favorite photo from the week. I went out shooting with only my 50mm lens, so when I saw this pelican it took me quite a while to sneak closer and closer to it. I love my 50mmm because of it's extreme F/1.4 aperture, so that's what I usually shoot. When the pelican finally took off I just laid on the shutter release and let the camera fire away. Looking at the image afterward I was blown away--I got the pelican in flight, crystal clear at F/1.4.

15mm | ISO 100 | F/2.8 | 1/20s

IPS Instructor Brent Hickey working with Maria during the class.

15mm | ISO 100 | F/2.8 | 1/60s

IPS students out for a sunrise shoot over Tampa Bay. It is kinda nice when the sun doesn't rise until 7:20am!

50mm | ISO 100 | F/1.4 | 1/4000s

I love to shoot religious themes, and this will be part of a growing collection of religious images I plan to sell.

200mm | ISO 100 | F/2.8 | 1/1600s

Vanessa reviews her images during our Black and White shoot.

15mm | ISO 100 | F/5.6 | 1/160

IPS Instructor Katie Miller gives a portraiture demonstration in a nearby alley.

50mm | ISO 100 | F/4.0 | 1/320s

IPS Instructor Katie Miller interacts with students during her portraiture demonstration.

15mm | ISO 400 | F/8.0 | 1/30s

Our Prizewinning Photography class in Saint Petersburg, FL. This week we had 14 fabulous students!

78mm | ISO 100 | F/5.6 | 1/100s

IPS students Shanna and Laura compare images during a sunset shoot in Saint Petersburg, FL.

200mm | ISO 100 | F/32 | 1/8s

Impressions on a sunset.

Picture of the Day

By Vanessa Bakken

Tired Contest Winner

By Laura Warren

Path Contest Winner

By Maria Peterson