Went to "Captivated by the light" last night..

Went to the Ontario one last night..ok, so my review is, if you have all the setup, and the money for good lights, and a bunch of different lights, then it's probably a good seminar to go to.If you don't , like me, or are an ammeateur, like me, and really are trying to even understand the lingo in all of this. This probably isnt the seminar to go to. Wasn't a terrible seminar, I just felt like it was out of my league. I wish'd it was more hands on too. There was just a lot of video of him, or other photographers "working". I don't feel that taught me a whole lot, but oh well. I'm sure lots of people walked away from that seminar feeling differently, but for me, I have a lot to work on still, and need the hands on, basic English approach! LOL....for all of you that still haven't gone, have fun! You do get a DVD, and there are lots of booths with some cool new stuff. Oh yeah, bring lots of money, you'll want everything theyre selling there. LOL

so it was not worth the $19USD? Not even for the DvD ? Or was this a language barrier issue?

Just would like to know, as I dont have every light in the house but I have learned quite a bit since I have went to the 2-3 other seminars in the past. (It is also where some people network with other photographers as well).

I guess for $19, I don't expect any hands on. Those usually are called workshops or classes. Seminars, IMO, are concept with some demonstration. $19 seems reasonable to me, with that understanding.

Well I'm going for the main reason to see before and after affects based on setup. I don't have a setup yet but I'm slowly building one. Seeing something like this in person is obviously better than getting the stuff and looking at diagrams and figuring out whether you set everything up correctly.

It's like that old adage. Anyone can read and try to get things done but seeing it for yourself gives you the assurance that you are definitely doing it right.

I went to this seminar over the weekend when it was down here in San Diego and thought it was well worth the $19. I can see how it could be a bit too much for beginners as Trisha mentioned, but it can still give you some stuff to think about. For me, I got a better understanding of how to manipulate constant light sources, be it in a studio or outdoors, and a better understanding of the histogram and getting the right exposure. It did however leave me wanting more. Now I'm looking for some good books that pick up where the seminar left off.

Worth the $19, yes. But for me I didn't feel like I walked away, going, Oh...now I know what I'm doing....I guess, Im just looking for that ah ha moment, but I know too, that I need experience. so yes, I say go if you have openings near you still.

Trisha418 wrote in post #4957395
Worth the $19, yes. But for me I didn't feel like I walked away, going, Oh...now I know what I'm doing....I guess, Im just looking for that ah ha moment, but I know too, that I need experience. so yes, I say go if you have openings near you still.

I haven't attend, yet, as I'm going in May but the question I would ask you is did the seminar teach what it says it will: http://www.edpiercesem​inars.com/learn.php

I have a long history in photography and, although I'm not a lighting expert by any stretch of the imagination, I quite familiar with the equipment and terminology so I'm sure I'll enjoy it. (I am a subscriber to his PhotoVision video magazine so I'm familiar with what they do.)

One of the problems with any seminar is making sure that the material isn't over your head. I've seen this many times. I went to a Dean Collins seminar in the 80s and there was a gentleman who asked a question about depth of field. Dean answered his question but it was obvious the gentleman was still confused. Dean explained that he couldn't go into more detail because the seminar was more advanced than that. (Quite frankly, there were about 500 advanced amateur and professional photographers in the audience.)

I guess my point is that I didn't get the impression that the "Captivated by the Light" seminar was going to be a basic program. I assumed it was for advanced amateurs and pros. That could be because I subscribe to his magazine and already know that the magazine isn't for beginners because they don't go into basic information in the magazine. They mostly show you how pros do their shots without a lot of detail.

I'm sure it wasn't a total loss for you. I bet the DVD they gave you will be quite useful once you've had an opportunity to learn the basics. (By the way, a great beginning book on studio lighting is "Studio Lighting Made Simple" by Scott Smith: http://www.edpiercesem​inars.com/learn.php )

Michael

For the $19 they charge and the DVD it is a good Deal. I subscribed to the Photovisions DVD magazine while I was there for only $35 on top of that. I purchased a calibration target for $50. So, all in all I am in for just over $100 and I feel that its worth it.
The first 35 minutes he discussed different lighting types and the face types they flatter, but he does not go through the light setups necessarily. He has a stage setup with several lights and a model (well, a statue of a head,) but it really didn't get much use. I do not think you will walk away from this seminar thinking you are now a studio lighting master. But, it is great experience to see how other photographers shoot.
If you do not know how to butterfly light a subject this seminar will not teach you.
I doubt any 2 hour seminar will be able to teach all of the items on the list you linked to.
I do however think it is worth it for beginners and advanced amateurs.

magicmikey wrote in post #4963897
I assumed it was for advanced amateurs and pros.

Yes, it is geared more towards advanced ameteurs. A lot of it is just behind the scenes video of a studio or location shoot, and a brief run through of what they're doing for their lighting setup, how, and why.

magicmikey wrote in post #4963897
I haven't attend, yet, as I'm going in May but the question I would ask you is did the seminar teach what it says it will

Overall, yes. But I think that each item is touched on so briefly that you don't realize that all those items are being covered.

Trisha418 wrote in post #4957395
Worth the $19, yes. But for me I didn't feel like I walked away, going, Oh...now I know what I'm doing....I guess, Im just looking for that ah ha moment, but I know too, that I need experience. so yes, I say go if you have openings near you still.

2 1/2 years of film school....then 2 1/2 years of assisting for a top studio....I still felt like I had no idea what I was doing. It took me about 3-4 after starting my own business to finally start feeling confident about photography. Just letting you know....the "aha" moment is gonna definately take more than a 19 dollar class

I read the book Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting a few weeks prior to going to the seminar and seeing/hearing everything that I read was refreshing. To me it was basically a review of what I just read. So it was definitely worth $19 and I got to meet some new people.

Hey, I'm thinking about going to the captivated by the light either in syracuse or westchester, ny. Now, I am not a professional photographer and have not done very much lighting (I do a lot of landscapes) but am looking to learn some more about it. I am not a novice to lighting, but I am not that experienced. I think this seems like a good way to get some more info about it for a pretty sweet price, and I will get to pick up the DVDs as well. I was just wondering how many people normally attend a seminar like this? And am I correct in assuming that it is all pretty much listening to a lecture and no hands on (totally fine with me, I'm pretty good at learning this way).

Oh yeah, how much does he talk about workflow and stuff other than lighting? On the brochure it says he does but I can't tell if he spends 5 min or an hour on it.

So basically, you pay $19 so they can throw a lot of product in your face, tell you why you need it, and get you to fork over even more cash?

I'm not surprised.

cdifoto wrote in post #5218500
So basically, you pay $19 so they can throw a lot of product in your face, tell you why you need it, and get you to fork over even more cash?

I'm not surprised.

I'll find out tomorrow for sure, but for $19 thats about what I'd expect.

I'm going for the "free" DVD set mainly...

I also read Scott Smith's (aka Lightingman) Studio Lighting Made Simple book several years ago and use it as my lighting bible to this day. Best thing I ever read. Very easy to understand and you don't have to already be an expert. Shortly thereafter I attended his seminar. More expensive than the one talked about in this thread but oh my gosh was it worth it! I couldn't recommend a book or a seminar more. Money extremely well spent. His critiques here in the portrait area are amazing.
Cheers
Roy