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

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.

Basically. There was a bunch of good information there, but in my opinion you already needed to have a solid basis of knowledge/skill to be able to glean what was important. The marketing is as "in your face" as a lot of others, but if you seriously look at the DVD's and what he talks about you will see that he is pushing products like Wescott very, very, very hard. He wants you to realize you need the spiderlites, the slim jims, and a whole bunch of other stuff.

slappy sam wrote in post #5218456
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.

Anyone...?
Also, is anyone going to syracuse/westchester/b​oston evening? I figure I might as well, the CDs go for $20 in the sell forum so those must not be half bad anyway...

slappy sam wrote in post #5228768
Anyone...?
Also, is anyone going to syracuse/westchester/b​oston evening? I figure I might as well, the CDs go for $20 in the sell forum so those must not be half bad anyway...

I'm registered for the April 15th seminar at the Rye Town Hilton in Westchester.

Dave F.

I found the seminar to be an informative, enjoyable evening. I picked up lots of info, got to handle some top of the line gear, and watched some really good photographers show/tell what they were doing and why on actual client shoots.

And yes there were lots of products for sale but I didn't get the impression they were being touted as the only solution nor the best solution. Ed Pierce seems to be a genuine, real person who makes a living doing what he loves to do.

Worth $19? Yes, worth more than twice that IMO.

There were about 20 POTN members (that we know of) among the crowd of around 350 people at the Oak Brook (Chicago) seminar on March 30.

His target audience is the advanced amateur or part-time pro interested in photographing people (wedding, seniors, studio, PJ, etc.). If you just bought your first "real" camera and still coming to grips with shutter speed, f/ stops and white balance and what they all mean, then much of it will probably overwhelm you but you will also get a feel for the thought process required to think about light and make truly great pictures. Conversely, if you're a seasoned full-time pro, then much of it will bore you but you'll still take away enough ideas and inspiration to make it worth your while.

He promoted the Westcott Spiderlites quite a bit, and extolled the virtues of continous light. This method certainly fits well with his digital calibration targets which he also promoted. The seasoned vets certainly understand the pros and cons, but I feel he glossed over the limitations of continuous light (vs. strobes) that the novice shooters may not fully comprehend.

Aside from the live seminar and various stuff for sale, if all you do with your $19 ticket is walk in, get your free 4-hour DVD set, then sign up for the $35 PhotoVision subscription and walk out, it will be the best $54 you ever spent.

Curtis N wrote in post #5230621
There were about 20 POTN members (that we know of) among the crowd of around 350 people at the Oak Brook (Chicago) seminar on March 30.

His target audience is the advanced amateur or part-time pro interested in photographing people (wedding, seniors, studio, PJ, etc.). If you just bought your first "real" camera and still coming to grips with shutter speed, f/ stops and white balance and what they all mean, then much of it will probably overwhelm you but you will also get a feel for the thought process required to think about light and make truly great pictures. Conversely, if you're a seasoned full-time pro, then much of it will bore you but you'll still take away enough ideas and inspiration to make it worth your while.

Aside from the live seminar and various stuff for sale, if all you do with your $19 ticket is walk in, get your free 4-hour DVD set, then sign up for the $35 PhotoVision subscription and walk out, it will be the best $54 you ever spent.

Yeah, I've got a lot of experience doing stuff with natural light and a bit with flash (on and off camera). Now I just have to decide which one to go to - westchester, syracuse, or boston. They are all about 2 1/2 - 3 hrs from me (in albany) but boston is closer to my real home so I think I'll be heading there.

I went to the one in Minneapolis and really enjoyed it. It was a full evening with some 550 other photogs talking about the stuff we love. Only now I need some new lights! I have some strobes, but continous is what I am really interested in and that's what he talked about. It fits my natural light preferences better in that he showed how to use continous lighting much in the same way. Especially now that newer and cooler lights are available. For $19 it is almost like free - especially since you get teh CD. I have paid much more for these traveling seminars.

slappy sam wrote in post #5218456
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.

He didn't spend much time on any one topic really. He did run through his workflow once or twice though (from camera setting to post processing) to show a few things to make your workflow quicker/easier.

tetrode wrote in post #5230231
I'm registered for the April 15th seminar at the Rye Town Hilton in Westchester.

Dave F.

I just signed up. You will see me there - I'll be the kid with the red sox hat getting jumped.

I went to the semimar last night in the Detroit Area (Sterling Inn, Sterling Heights Michigan) and found it worth the $19. Sure he was pitching his products but for the cost it was worthwhile to pick up new tips and ideas.
I was shocked to see the huge number of people that attended last night. He put out 500 chairs and they had to go hunting for more chairs---- a sold out crowd. I live an hour away from the location so I had to leave early, 10pm. According to his announcement before the break the best was yet to come----I could not stay but would like to hear what I missed.
Yes I did get the 2 dvd set that came with the seminar---have not watched it yet but I definitely think it was worth the cost and time to attend.
Anyone else?

stathunter wrote in post #5257957
I live an hour away from the location so I had to leave early, 10pm. According to his announcement before the break the best was yet to come----I could not stay but would like to hear what I missed.

Assuming he runs the same show everywhere the last two videos he ran were Parker Pfister and Sandy Puc.

Parker's segment was about "keeping your interest" alive. Shooting what you want to shoot (every day), not just what you're paid to shoot. He made a comment to the effect that he would be burnt out if he did nothing but shoot weddings (his thing I assume), so he and Ed went out and shot trees in the fog with a T/S lens and then various street people/scenes with what looked like an 85/1.2.

I did get a chuckle out of Parker's comment that they (he and Ed) did all this in "one day, on the way in to work... and it only took a couple hours". I can't imagine being able to spend a couple hours each day shooting "just because", but its something to aspire to I guess...

Sandy's segment was about her organization, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, which also had a full page in the handout that came with the DVD. Noble idea, but its not something I could ever do...

My wife and I went last week. I actually took away from the seminar quite a bit. Not to mention spent money on their DVDs and calibration targets for sale. I look at that as an investment. My wife likes photography, but doesn't do much of it with me. This kind of "renewed" her want to shoot with me. Let me see if I can explain, in my own words, the seminar. My wife and I have been in medicine for 16 years. I've been to countless seminars, labs, hands-on trainings and all kinds of crap. They have never gone back to the very basics and explained everything from A to Z. They expect that if you're there, you're already going to know at least A to G. They pick up with H. The same with the Ed Pierce seminars. They expect you to come with a basic understanding of the subject matter. I admit that I had an extremely basic understanding of it. Agreed that they didn't show you every setup of the lighting and walk you through step by step. Why would they? They want you to buy their other DVDs. I admit, I picked up the Portrait, Location and Studio lighting DVDs. It was worth it for me, personally. I have actually gotten a lot out of them. Many of you on POTN could keep up with any professional Ed showcased; If not surpass them. Ed is a photographer and business man...and we're playing right into it. Yes, it was well worth the $19 admission and DVD and worth the other $300 I spent there. Btw, the digital calibration target works like a champ. Good news is, I can pick up Lightroom at a student discount.

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I went to this sometime last month. I have to say it is worth the 19 dollars. However, he is a business man and although he doesn't try to impose his workflow on you, to each his own. I have gone through so many different seminars and each of them has "a way" of doing things, favorite softwares they use, etc. etc. etc.

Regarding his calibration target, I have a whibal card which does essentially the same thing and I don't think I needed "additional" stuff. Other than that the seminar was definitely worth going to.

nutsnbolts wrote in post #5617000
Regarding his calibration target, I have a whibal card which does essentially the same thing and I don't think I needed "additional" stuff. Other than that the seminar was definitely worth going to.

Say what you will about the value of the Ed Pierce seminar (I attended in NY on April 15), but I think it would be a disservice to dismiss the Photovision Calibration Target as just another, expensive white balance device. To give credit where credit is due, this is really a very cleverly conceived tool that goes way beyond providing a means of setting white balance. The magic is in the "almost" white and "almost" black bars that allow setting of exposure very, very accurately. Because the white bar is not 100% white and the black bar not 100% black they should appear near the outer edges of your histogram rather than completely outside it as would be the case if they were 100% white/black. In other words, the target shows the whitest white and the blackest black you want to be able to capture with some detail.

Apart from the basic white balance function, having the ability to confidently set exposure knowing highlights will not be blown has made the target a worthwhile investment for me.

The target comes with a very helpful 1 hour DVD on its use.

Dave F.

tetrode wrote in post #5617394
Say what you will about the value of the Ed Pierce seminar (I attended in NY on April 15), but I think it would be a disservice to dismiss the Photovision Calibration Target as just another, expensive white balance device. To give credit where credit is due, this is really a very cleverly conceived tool that goes way beyond providing a means of setting white balance. The magic is in the "almost" white and "almost" black bars that allow setting of exposure very, very accurately. Because the white bar is not 100% white and the black bar not 100% black they should appear near the outer edges of your histogram rather than completely outside it as would be the case if they were 100% white/black. In other words, the target shows the whitest white and the blackest black you want to be able to capture with some detail.

Apart from the basic white balance function, having the ability to confidently set exposure knowing highlights will not be blown has made the target a worthwhile investment for me.

The target comes with a very helpful 1 hour DVD on its use.

Dave F.

Like I said, to each his own.