CAPTURE Workshop Details

Welcome! This page outlines the overall details you need to know for every CAPTURE Workshop*. It provides only static content, so stay informed of major changes and CAPTURE announcements by subscribing to Latest from Lenspiration updates.

Purpose of CAPTURE

What goals do you have in life? Has God gifted you with special talents? What dreams would you love to live one day?

Think about that for a sec . . .

Do any of your goals, talents or dreams have anything to do with photography? Will you be able to make more of life by learning how to make the most of your camera? Will you be a more effective person by being a photographer of confidence, understanding and skill? Whether it's for the dream of making money with your camera or simply the desire to capture the special moments of every-day life, photography is worth doing well.

And CAPTURE is all about doing photography well . . . taking photography beyond snapshots.

Learning in the classroom of creation, we will focus on building skills in these three essential areas:

1. Effectively and effortlessly working with your camera's manual controls
2. Setting-up and following an efficient and organized post-processing workflow
3. Improving composition by developing an eye for "seeing" and practicing specific composition techniques

Tuition

• Specific prices for general registration, early discounts, and group discounts are provided on each individual CAPTURE page.
• A group discount is available for photographers who register in groups of 2 or more; each member of the group will receive $50 off the general registration price.
• Lenspiration Members are eligible to save an additional $50 beyond the group discount. Discount is automatically applied when a members is logged in to their membership account.
• CAPTURE alumni can save an additional $50 beyond the group and membership discounts by entering the special promotional code they receive from Lenspiration after attending their first workshop.
• Registration is non-refundable unless the workshop is canceled or in case of an emergency.
• If a minimum number of attendees is not reached approximately one month before the workshop was to begin, than the workshop may be canceled or postponed and tuition refunded. All registrants will be kept informed of such major changes.

Tuition Includes

• Correspondence with James before the workshop to gauge your experience level and bring you up to speed for greatest efficiency during the workshop.
• Multiple full days of personalized, interactive photographic training, critique and instruction in both classroom and at nearby scenic destinations.
• All destination admission fees.
• Sometimes, transportation is provided, depending on if other attendees are willing to carpool.
• Sometimes, meals are provided. Whether they are or not is listed on each individual CAPTURE page.
• Sometimes, housing is provided. Whether it is or not is listed on each individual CAPTURE page.
• An additional $50 off all future CAPTURE workshops as a CAPTURE alumnus.

Tuition does NOT include

• Transportation to/from the workshop location before/after the workshop.
• If housing is not included, the expected additional housing fee will be listed on each individual CAPTURE page.
• Meals if taken at a restaurant.
• Snacks in the field.

Attendance

• Maximum class size is generally capped at 8 to allow as much personal interaction with each individual photographer as possible. Exceptions may apply.
• Minimum class size is generally 4. In general, if this number is not reached one month in advance, the workshop may be postponed or canceled. Exceptions may apply.

Requirements

• Age limit is 15 years or older. Please contact James to request exceptions. Attendees under the age of 18 must attend with a guardian or otherwise submit a Minor Release Form signed by a guardian.
• The active schedule of CAPTURE requires that attendees have the physical ability to be on their feet for several hours a day and able to walk moderate trails for up to 1 mile one way. CAPTURE is geared toward outdoor-loving people and exploration of the natural surroundings offered at each shooting destination is highly encouraged.
• CAPTURE is geared toward photographers with a "beyond the basics" to intermediate experience level. It is recommended that beginning-beginners, photographers with point and shoot cameras, or photographers who have only used a DSLR for a very short time go through Lenspiraiton's Foundations of Photography Course before attending a CAPTURE. Attendees should have a fairly rounded knowledge of how to use the camera that they will be bringing to the workshop, as well as have a basic understanding of the general concepts of photography, like shutter speed, aperture, ISO and focus. Previous education (such as IPS) is fine.
• All attendees are required to bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera. (See What to Bring, Equipment below for more details.)
• Also, attendees are required to bring a tripod. (See What to Bring, Equipment below for more details.)
• A laptop computer is also required. If you are attending as part of a group, each attendee must have their own laptop. Laptops will stay in the classroom during the entirety of the workshop.
• Make sure that your laptop has some picture editing software installed. (See What to Bring, Equipment below for more details.)
• Signed Liability Release Form (download here) for attendees age 18 or older.
• Signed Minor Liability Release Form (download here) for attendees under the age of 18.

Schedule

Details on exact times at shooting locations are largely based on weather, the times of sunrise and sunset, and the number of days the workshop will be. The best effort will be made to make the most of the photographically productive hours of light, which means shooting during the times we are most used to eating meals in the morning and evening. For this reason, we generally follow a two meal, brunch/dinner schedule.

Thursday

We'll start off the workshop with a meet-and-greet over brunch at 9:00 in the morning. We'll have our first session on Biblical perspective in photography and go over the plans and goals for the weekend. Through classroom training, on-location demonstrations, and one-on-one interaction during outdoor photoshoots, we'll work through each step that needs to be taken for shooting comfortably in Manual mode. After dinner, we'll close the day with a photoshoot at our first shooting destination for the golden hour and sunset.

Friday

Rising well before dawn, we'll travel to our second shooting destination for a peaceful sunrise and golden light before most of the world is awake, shooting assignments and reviewing lessons from yesterday. Back at the workshop location, and after a hearty brunch, we'll launch into learning what it takes to organize your pictures and keep them organized. This is also the time for learning the Lenspiration post-processing workflow for effectively editing pictures in Lightroom. We'll break up classroom training with on-location demonstrations and image critique. Dinner will be early enough to provide plenty of time to head out into the field for another sunset, and possibly even some creative night photography.

Saturday

Saturday will begin very much like the previous day. The morning photoshoot and the classroom training during the day will be focused on exploring composition and practicing techniques that will help you start seeing the world around you differently, a vital step in knowing how to make "wow" pictures regardless of where you are. We'll most likely hit the road early in the afternoon in order to make the most of our last excursion to a finale destination, pulling everything together that was learned during the workshop, finding solutions to last-minute questions, and enjoying a final sunset together. We'll conclude the day back at the workshop location to celebrate a weekend well spent!

Sunday

Anyone is welcome to stay Saturday night if it fits better into your travel schedule. A ride to a local church on Sunday morning is also usually available.

Topics Covered

Past attendees tell me that the best way they can summarize the workshop was that it helped them "pull everything together". Information from what they had read in the past, observed from personal experiments, heard from other sources . . . it all came together to help them make accurate decisions behind each release of the shutter.

CAPTURE is a hands-on, on-location photography bootcamp. Why not let creation be our classroom? Instead of only classroom instruction, or only shooting assignments for assignments sake, or only critiquing pictures on the computer, I want to show you how I do photography in real life by going to real locations at real times of day that I would go to if I was really there. I want you to experience exactly what you will experience outside of a workshop, at home or on vacation. If you take the time to learn one step at a time with an instructor at yours side . . . you'll know what to expect and how to capitalize on it when you're by yourself. This is a workshop, and that means it's going to be hands-on.

CAPTURE is an intensive. Learning at your own pace is a good thing, but sometimes you have to force yourself beyond what you think is possible to grow in ways you never thought possible. Repetition over a short period of time, hands-on application multiple days in a row, and immediate answers to hard-to-communicate questions is what makes a workshop different, and thus important to your nourishing diet of photography knowledge. If you want something and don't have time for it, than make time for it! Two or three days is a good start.

Every workshop is different, but these are the topics I generally cover:

• How to shoot in Manual mode
• Understanding the Exposure Trio
• Reading histograms for achieving the best exposure
• How to read natural light and use it to your advantage
• How to do location scouting
• How to organize your pictures and keep them organized
• The Lenspiration post-processing workflow
• How to prepare your pictures for output
• Advanced composition techniques
• How to create depth in your images
• How to "see" creatively and put composition techniques to practice

More than just learning skills in photography, and even going beyond just presenting material from a Creationist perspective, CAPTURE seeks to give you a deeper understanding of how Biblical principles, rather than our modern culture, can influence our photography and guide us in the way we take pictures. If the purpose of a Christian is to glorify and honor God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, how do we do that specifically as a photographer? "Christ gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity . . ." How do we respond to feelings of irritation when things just don't turn out the way I was expecting? How do I answer others who do not hold to the same standards in conduct, modesty or business ethic that I have? And how do I know what standards I should have? How do I influence the culture around me for Christ with my photography? Have I ever thought about using my camera as a tool for evangelism?

There will never be enough time to cover all there is to learn, but we will take every opportunity to fill each day with as much helpful information as possible. If nothing else, this workshop will give you the principles you need to begin teaching yourself how to gain experience in your quest for deepening your love for Christ and taking better pictures.

Transportation

Please visit each individual CAPTURE page for specific details on transportation information.

Overall, transportation to/from the workshop location is not provided. Sometimes, airport runs are available for a suggested donation to the party responsible for picking you up or dropping you off.

Transportation during the CAPTURE may or may not be provided, depending on if there is room in vehicles to carpool. Plan to provide your own transportation. Please contact James for special situations regarding transportation.

Lodging

Please visit each individual CAPTURE page for specific details on lodging information.

Lodging may or may not be included with tuition.

If lodging is included in tuition, there will be options available at the workshop location, be it a host family's home, a hotel, a lodge or other rented facility.

At some locations, limited lodging is available for free at a first-come, first-served basis for Wednesday through Saturday nights. Sleeping arrangements for guys and girls will be strictly separated. When lodging is provided by a host family, a suggested donation is provided on each individual CAPTURE page.

When lodging is neither included with tuition nor provided by a host family, either a rental home is secured in which case the cost is divided among the workshop members. An estimated price will be provided on each individual CAPTURE page, and payment will be collected upon your arrival at the workshop. If a rental home is not secured, than local accommodations will be recommended. Please contact James for special situations regarding lodging.

Meals

Often, a host family will be responsible for providing the meals, which often means wholesome, home-cooked (if not home-grown) meals for the majority of the workshop. If our schedule requires us to be away from the workshop location for a meal, we'll stop in at a restaurant close to the shooting destination. Each attendee is responsible for their own meal in this scenario.

Because the most colorful hours of light occur during the times of day we are usually eating, we must follow a two-meal schedule during the workshop. Typically brunch is at 10:00am and dinner is at 4:00pm. But this depends on season and latitude, and may vary from workshop to workshop.

If a host family is not involved, all meals will be taken at local restaurants, and each attendee is responsible for all their meals.

Attendees must indicate all food allergies or special needs before the workshop begins on the Liability Release Form mentioned above. Please contact James for special situations regarding meals.

What to Bring

First and foremost, it is requested that all attendees commit to bringing with them the spirit of Romans 14:12-19: “follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another”, never putting “a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way”. The ultimate purpose behind CAPTURE is to learn more about loving God and deepening our understanding of how we can use our skills to advance His kingdom better. Nothing is worth bringing at all if we do not first love God by loving our neighbor as ourselves!

Clothing

As a photographer, you are probably already familiar with the atypical positions we take to get just the right perspective for our shots. As you may very well find yourself squatting in the dirt, climbing objects or wading through water, please do not bring anything that would hinder you from reaching your full potential in the outdoors or that you would mind getting dirty. However, we ask that you balance this with the fact that we should also dress appropriately out of respect for others and for the way God made us.

• Guys: Polos or colored T-shirts and durable pants such as jeans or cargo pants. Long pants recommended due to shooting environment. Please avoid clothing with words or graphics associated with ungodliness.
• Ladies: For general activities, loose-fitting tops with high necklines and skirts that fall below the knee when standing and sitting. Though most activities can be done in a reasonable skirt, it is a good idea to bring leggings or shorts to wear under your skirt. Culottes of the same length or modest, loose-fitting pants are acceptable as well. Please avoid clothing with words or graphics associated with ungodliness. We want everyone to be able to relax, learn and enjoy their time without the pressure of unnecessary distractions.
• Temperature varies from workshop to workshop, from extreme heat to extreme cold. In general, dress in layers and keep in mind that we’ll be out before sunrise each morning which is the coldest part of the day.
• Comfortable, waterproof footwear with good traction for use in the outdoors
  Hiking or running shoes are recommended
• Extra pairs of socks
  It’s not uncommon to get your feet soaked throughout the course of a day; grass is wet with dew early in the morning
• Rain jacket and gear for keeping you and your equipment dry in the field
  We will be shooting rain or shine

Equipment

• A DSLR or mirrorless camera. Film SLRs, DSLR hybrids and high-end point-and-shoot cameras with manual settings are not generally accepted. Please contact James to request exceptions.
• Lens(es) needed for daily shooting. It is recommended that you bring a focal length range somewhere between 18mm and 200mm. This is not required. We will be utilizing the wider angle lenses the most.
• Accessories to keep you shooting for multiple days. There's no set list, but some suggestions would include: battery(s), battery charger, memory card(s), lens cleaning cloths, filter(s), lens hood(s), remote shutter release, spirit level, and rain protection. You do not have to bring a flash speedlite.
• A tripod. Bring whatever you've got! We will be shooting in many situations that require long exposures so something is better than nothing.
• A laptop, with charging cord.
• Picture editing software installed on the laptop. Lightroom is highly recommended, and is the platform from which all editing and organization training will be presented. If you do not currently own Lightroom, it is recommended that you download the free trial of Lightroom a few days before CAPTURE begins. Other editing software programs such as iPhoto, Picasa and Photoshop are acceptable if the attendee already has a basic understanding of how to navigate them.

Other Recommended Items

• Camera bag large enough to carry your camera, lenses, accessories, water, and anything else you want to keep with you while you're in the field
• Small notebook (or mobile device) for recording things you learn in the field
• Wrist watch for making punctual deadlines
• Water bottle(s) for use in the field
• Snacks for on the road or in the field, if desired
• Flashlight; to get great light, one has to set up before sunrise and break down after sunset
• Sun protection: a hat and sunscreen are recommended, especially during summer months
• Bible for both personal and group times of study and reading
• A joyful spirit and willingness to both learn and share!

All attendees must be at a reasonable fitness level. Most destinations will be within 1 mile of points accessible to vehicles, but the nature of the workshop is best suited for those who are physically active and unhindered in achieving the desired perspectives in a completely natural environment.

About the Instructor

James Staddon is a landscape photographer and graphic designer based out of Salem, West Virginia. James has been running Lenspiration, his photography and design business, since 2009 and enjoys traveling with his camera across the United States and abroad. At a young age, he was inspired by the beauty of his Uncle’s photography and it was the realization that he, too, could create beautiful imagery that has carried him to his career as a professional photographer and educator. Though he does love to plant and nurture the idea that anyone can create beautiful imagery if they commit to it wholeheartedly, his ultimate passion in life is to see young people make wise and God-honoring decisions in life, vocation, and relationships. View his online portfolio at www.lenspiration.com/portfolio. He is available for questions at any time via the Contact Page.

Q&A

If you have not been able to find the information you need on this page or on each individual CAPTURE page, please feel free to ask questions via the Contact Page.

 

*With the exception of CAPTUREs outside of the 48 contiguous States.