Get Creative with your Daily Life

“Celebrate your Life in Beautiful Images” forces you to think beyond just taking a snapshot of your day.

Before this class I would bring my camera on day trips or vacations, but not on a weekend off with my wife or a morning walk with my dog Max. I now see the incredible benefits of doing that.

I lost Max unexpectedly a couple days after I took this picture of him in Week 1. It is a brooding, dark picture. Kind of surreal and foreboding, but of course I didn’t recognize that at the time. I just thought it was underexposed. Who knew that would be the last, so I have an emotional connection to this photo.

Max… Beyond ready to go. My life is a mix of high stress work and trying to balance that with relaxation when I get I home. I really enjoy spending time with my dog, Max. Here, we’re on our way for a rainy walk.

Coffee Run. Had a busy work week, so little time to myself and family. But, one of the things that I enjoy and helps start the day is morning coffee.

Before this class I’d take one or two photos of my subject. By the end of the class I took 50-60 shots of the same subject! It was hard at first, until I looked at the subject as an infinite number of angles, like a sphere surrounding it with another infinite number of views just by changing DOF. I learned that what you initially thought is the best angle, exposure, or distance from the subject often does not result in the best photo. By pushing on and exploring your subject further you will often get a great photo — and out of what is perhaps not the most interesting situation. John_03

We have a large garden in front of our house and I can see it out of my office window. It had been raining most of the day, but the sun peeked out close to dusk and lit up the garden. I had fun shooting, and it just kind of seemed to flow. Before I knew it I had taken dozens of pictures. The hardest part was trying to pick three images.

It had been about five years since I took my last photo, traded my DSLR and lenses for my new mirrorless camera, and took this course. My goal was really just to jump start me into taking photos again…

I enjoyed Brit’s teaching style. She has a wonderful way of teaching concepts and conveying them through her videos and lessons, and her video image reviews were to the point and instructional. She made me feel that my photos were good, yet recommended alternatives to make them even better — but not in a condescending way. I often had an “AHA” moment and wished I saw what she saw but know next time I’ll have that in the back of my mind.

I really do endorse the idea of taking pictures of your favorite everyday life moments. For some it might be work experience, for me it’s my off time enjoying family, new places and those quiet moments surrounding food and wine. This class opened that up for me!

— John Verrilli, student in Brit’s class February 2016

http://bpsop.com/celebrate-your-life-in-beautiful-images/

– BPSOP Instructor: Brit Hammer

Brit Teaches: Celebrate Your Life in Beautiful Images

“I just wanted to thank you for another wonderful class. I have to confess that each week when I read the new assignment, my first reaction was mild panic and a deep certainty that I would not be able to produce anything worthwhile that fit within the parameters you had set. But before I knew it, the ideas started to flow, and I quickly became obsessed (no, that isn’t too strong a word!) with exploring the possibilities. I can honestly say that the photos I produced in response to your assignments are among my favorites. Thanks for bringing out a creative side I didn’t know I had!”

Barbara Geiger
Understanding Color

“Thank you so very much for this course! It’s allowed me to take the blinders off and present my images for what I want them to be without being a slave to the “reality” of the camera. I would also add that in conjunction with your printing course, this has been the most useful course I’ve ever taken. Your notes are more than comprehensive and your comments and critiques are direct, clear, and always directed to the improvement of the art.”

Bill
After the click

” I want to thank you for this class and for your patience and availability to answer all of my questions. I have learned very much through this class. I have used LR in the past, but mostly for editing images. I now have a better grasp in the organization of my images, an even better understanding of editing images, and an understanding of the value of presets. I still have a lot to learn, but this has put me on the road to be able to improve my photography. Again, thank you! ”

Dale Yates
Lightroom Quickstart

Classes Starting Soon!