Photography class in SF

This past weekend I went to a photography class in San Francisco - Isla Studios. We spent the first five minutes introducing ourselves with a brief description of what brought us to the class-- for me of course, my children have always been my inspiration to become a better photographer, but when my sister said that I was her inspiration I was surprised and touched. It's a refreshing reminder that my work inspires others to create. I'm happy that out of all people I could inspire, it would be my sister because she inspires me in more ways than she'll ever know!

The one point the teacher really drove home during the class this weekend was you don't need a huge, overly-expensive camera to take great pictures-- mind you, he does this for a living. But the point is that with a basic understanding of shutter speed, aperture and composition, you can create amazing art with even a disposable camera. I agree-- so the Cannon 5D is on hold for now ; )

The only way to achieve great pictures is through trial and error-- until your camera feels like it's an extended appendage of your body. Natural light is my best friend, and if I get it right the first time, there is little to no editing needed. Soften the skin a little and Voila! Playing with angles and lighting can lead to new perspectives. There are no two exact faces in the world, and sometimes a slight tilt to the left with the chin a little downward works better for someone than maybe to the right and chin up.

Shooting in manual can be a challenge because from two feet away the light can be completely different, which means playing with the settings of your camera until you get the right feel. A well-known photographer once told me that Photoshop and other editing programs should be considered cheating! Back in the day that stuff didn't exist so you had get it right the first time. That statement is now forever ingrained in my head when I take pictures.

I've been taking pictures like crazy for the past three+ years. I drive my family crazy with my camera! Everywhere I go it's strapped to me. The pictures below were during a quick stroll on Sunday to get coffee at the Ferry Building in San Francisco (Blue Bottle, no less). The wall we came across on our walk screamed STOP! My sister rolled her eyes and then got comfortable as I began to start snapping away. Architecture with lots of texture and interest can really add elements of interest than just a straight on shot of a pretty face. Her hair looked stunning against the coppery orange colored wall. Thank you Vanessa for an amazing weekend and letting me photograph you!