BREAKING NEWS: My photo to appear in upcoming magazine editions!

An email I received today just blew me away: One of my photos has a chance to appear in upcoming editions of Digital Photo, Digital Photo Pro and Outdoor Photographer magazines!

Back in August 2007, I won the Digital Photo Academy Assignment for "The Allure of Water" with this image of a little girl running through a fountain at Northfield Stapleton:



My photo along with images from other monthly DPA assignment winners were featured in a traveling exhibition in 10 museums and art galleries where DPA classes are held around the country.

And I thought that was cool!

This new development is simply amazing!

The DPA recently secured plans with Werner Publishing to feature my image in upcoming editions of Digital Photo, Digital Photo Pro, and Outdoor Photographer magazines. Six previous assignment winners' photos will appear in the magazines beginning in June congratulating each DPA assignment winner, says DPA's Mike Zeiler. Not only will the displays advertise the great work DPA is doing but expose its students' works to a world-wide audience!

What's so amazing to me is that that photo was one of THE FIRST images I ever shot with my then Canon Rebel XTi in my first digital photography class taught by Efrain Cruz when he worked at the Denver Darkroom. Since then, Efrain started his own company called Illuminate Workshops. I can't even remember what the class assignment had been...shoot outdoors, or urban photography or some such other thing. But I do remember this little girl following me around the shopping center while I was fumbling with and trying to learn how to work my new camera. I told her that if she didn't stop following me, I was gonna shoot her! She and her friends didn't stop, so I shot them while they were getting soaked in the fountains. The image was definitely a foundation for the kind of captured moments I now look for as my professional photography career has progressed. You can even see my feeble attempts at trying to burn out distracting elements (I was taking my first Photoshop class at the time too!)

The exposure opportunities that DPA continues to make available for their students is just unbelievable. If you haven't become a part of this program yet, then do so now. It continues to grow by leaps and bounds, has secured some amazing sponsors, including Panasonic Lumix, has the best teachers available and is always finding ways to get more exposure for their students. For example, students can have their work be showcased on webinars and online classes hosted by instructors for an international wide audience. Our photos appear in online galleries. And the networking possibilities are endless. DPA is available in more than 20 US cities, so there is bound to be one close to you!

This will be the second time some of my photography has been featured in a magazine. This image appeared as a full page feature photo in the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's magazine, BUGLE!

Get the Goods: Attending a free lighting webinar

I'm excited about "attending" a free tricky lighting webinar with guest speaker John Bentham. It's one of a continued series hosted by the Digital Photo Academy and Panasonic LivingInHD.com. There's still space, so if you want to check it out too then go to this link to register right now. It starts at 8 p.m. EST

LivinginHD.com brings you advice and tips from Digital Photo Academy professional photographers across the country that will help you take better pictures. Learn about color, lighting, motion, landscapes, portraits, pets, digital manipulation, camera settings and more!

I've taken several classes with the DPA; in fact, it's how I met Russ Burden. He was my DPA Denver-based instructor!

© Allen Birnbach

Here's the literature from the webinar:

Have you ever encountered the frutrations of observing a picture perfect setting without the knowledge or tools to recreate it in your photograph? You are not alone and learning to deal with that is a right of passage for every photographer worth his or her salt. The challenging situations and examples of capturing accurate lighting conditions are unending and Webinar Narrator, John Benthem, will draw from the vast experience offered by the 60 Digital Photo Academy Instructors. He will show the captivating images, from around the world and offer insights on how the photographer achieved the effect and provide technique on how you might use the strategies in your own photos as well.

© Vasna Wilson

Hope to "see" you there tonight! If you were unable to view any of the past webinars, check the DPA site out under "Instructor Tips" on the home page to view the archived webinars which are labeled as such in the drop down menu.

Get the Goods: Free webinar -- Halloween Photo Tips

I'm so bummed that I'm going to have to miss this free webinar. But I wanted my readers to get the information in case your schedules permit you time to watch and learn!

© Frank Siteman

Join Digital Photo Academy Advanced Instructor John Bentham, for a FREE HALLOWEEN AND PUMPKIN PICKING webinar. John will be speaking about his images, and a selection of photos submitted by the 60 DPA instructors from around the country. The themes will vary from indoor party shots, (kids as well as adults), to landscapes of Halloween activities and pumpkin picking as well as close-ups of costumes in various lighting conditions. Get behind the scenes anecdotes as well as tips to inspire you with your own photography. Register in advance to view the program at no cost and view it on your own monitor at the convenience of your home or office. You may also submit questions live and John will answer as many as possible during the webinar.

If you'd like to submit some of your own images for consideration, please send them to INFO@DIGITALPHOTOACADEMY.COM. Include your name and email address. It is doubtful that we can include all entries, but we will try! File restrictions: 200 dpi, 1MB & 10 inches on the longest side.

Webinar Info: Tuesday, October 13th, from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM, EST.
Sign up in advance to log on. You do not need a webcam to attend this event.

SIGN UP HERE

SPONSORED BY The Digital Photo Academy and Panasonic LivinginHD

Get the Goods: Free webinar -- taking great black and white photos

I highly recommend carving out some time to participate in this free webinar series. A few weeks ago, I got some great tips on shooting back to school photos and autumn colors. The quick one-hour format was excellent and seeing photos examples from so many of the DPA instructors, including my own instructor Russ Burden, was inspiring.

Join Digital Photo Academy Advanced Instructor John Bentham, for a FREE webinar on how to create great Black & White images. John will be speaking about his images, and a selection of photos submitted by the 60 DPA instructors from around the country. Get behind the scenes anecdotes as well as tips to inspire you with your own photography. Register in advance to view the program at no cost. You may also submit questions live, John will answer as many as possible during the webinar.

Webinar Info: Today, September 29th, 8:00 to 9:00 PM, EST.
Sign up in advance to log on and view the broadcasting on your computer moniter. You do not need a webcam to attend this event.

SIGN UP HERE: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/715065859

SPONSORED BY: The Digital Photo Academy and Panasonic LivinginHD

Get the Goods: Russ Burden announces special May/June photography classes

Image by Russ Burden

By now all of my readers should recognize the award winning work and photography instruction shared by one of my favorite teachers Russ Burden. Russ's "Instructor's Tips" shared here on Monday's continually challenges to take our photography to the next level. Here's a chance to experience his unique perspectives first hand by attending several special classes he will be teaching in May and June for the Panasonic Digital Photo Academy.

Each class will be limited to only 10 students giving Russ the chance to give individual attention to each of the participants. As a former class attendee of several of his courses myself, I can personally vouch for his unique ability to make sure you get something out of his courses -- probably a skill set he gained from his 30-year tenure as a former public school teacher. He has worked as a professional photographer for nearly 10 years and his excitement and love of the craft is infectious, plus he's one of the best Photoshop guru's I've had the pleasure of meeting. Get the goods by taking one of his classes:

Saturday May 2nd: Beginner: The Ins and Outs of a Digital Point and Shoot. Learn how to better use your digital point and shoot camera: 9:00AM - Noon (I recommend you take the Composition and Technique class immediately following for a half day of photographic learning and bliss)

Saturday May 2nd: Composition and Technique - NEWLY INTRODUCED CLASS FOR 2009 Learn how to make better pictures regardless of your level of ability! 12:30PM - 2:30PM

Monday May 4th: Intermediate Class: The Ins and Outs of a Digital SLR. Learn how to better use your digital SLR: 6:00-10:00PM Think about taking the Composition and Technique class on the 2nd to be able to better apply what you glean from this class.

Saturday June 20th: Advanced Class, first of its kind: This Advanced class will differ from all the others he's taught as it focuses on a four hour shoot at the Denver Zoo followed by the rest of the day optimizing our photos in Photoshop back at my studio. The emphasis of photographing the indoor exhibits will be on the use of flash. Many people have asked Russ to do a workshop on the subject so here's your chance to get in on the fun.

Registration is not yet open for this class but it's definitely on the "official" schedule, and Russ will conduct the session. If you know for sure you want to participate, send me an email, and he will create a list on a first come first serve basis. Russ will let you know toward the end of April when it's officially posted on the DPA site at which time you can formally register for the class. Visit the site and then click where it says, "Click For Exciting Details About The Special Class Shoot."

After reading each class description on the website, if you're still not sure what level class is appropriate for you, feel free to give Russ a call so he can best guide you into the one from which you'd most benefit. Please make sure you sign up with Russ.

Here is his contact information:

Russ Burden
303.791-9997
russburdenphotography.com
rburden@ecentral.com