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QUESTION:
I'm beginning to shoot again after a decade or so
of other things. The main challenge is to reorient myself to the
technology and explore digital since I no longer have a darkroom.
Can you suggest the best resources. I noticed today the Freestyle
online flyer about workshops you are leading this week on the subject.
If I can, I will attend, but what else should I be
doing or looking at? I'm especially interested in workshops and
other face-to-face opportunities to dialogue with others and learn
from their experiences. I'm in LA.
Rae A.
ANSWER:
Dear Rae A.
Fortunately, you've found Freestyle (who, in spite of the fact that
I'm a member of their advisory board and thus clearly prejudiced)
remains one of the best resources for digital photography.
Seems the steepest learning curve that one will experience when
moving into digital photography, will be in learning to use and
control the Adobe Photoshop program, which is the standard image
editing software for computers (either Mac, or PC). I specifically
recommend the book: "Real World Photoshop", by Blatner & Fraser
(Peachpit Press) as being the best resource for learning the Photoshop
program. It offers a no nonsense approach to understanding both
the Photoshop program, and digital imaging in general. It remains
the one book I still often refer to when it comes to my own work.
In terms of workshop programs on digital photography, my only recent
direct experience is with the University of California at Santa
Cruz, Extension program, where I have taught photography workshops
off-and-on over the past 25 years. UCSC offers an excellent variety
of digitally based photography workshops. (contact Lori Aitken at:
laitken@ucsc-extension.edu
for further information.) I have recently been teaching a workshop
for UCSC which serves as a sort of basic introduction to digital
photography (although it is designed primarily for black & white
photographers) and the next time I will be teaching that particular
workshop will be in March, of 2004. There are likely many other
classes and/or workshop programs available closer to the Los Angeles
area. I would check with UCLA Extension, or perhaps some of your
local community colleges.
And, if you can make it to one of my presentations at Freestlye
(either 11/5, from 6:30-8:30pm, or 11/6, from 6:30-8:30pm) a good
portion of my presentation will be specifically related to dispensing
the necessary information for transitioning from analog to digital
photography. One of those two presentations might perhaps be precisely
that which you are looking for.
I hope that the above information will be of help to you. Should
you have other questions, don't hesitate to contact me through Freestyle.
Sincerely,
Huntington Witherill
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