Lighting Fundamentals
Robert E. Meyer, Instructor

A two-day weekend workshop in Wilton, CT

Saturday April 18 and Sunday April 19, 2009
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day

Perfectly designed for students looking to learn the art of studio / location lighting in one intensive weekend, we will explore various lighting techniques to help photographers realize this vision. All participants will have a chance to handle the equipment and shoot. Models will be provided for Sunday. Students should bring their own camera. (Digital preferred). The goal is to provide each student with the tools and experience necessary to quickly grasp the art of studio / location lighting in one simple weekend.

Lighting is everything. The sun. Light. Color. The quality of light. Color temperature of different light sources. Learn how to soften harsh light out of doors. Filling the shadows in full sunlight. Backlighting wonderful sometimes awful others. Lighting objects. How to achieve the daylight look inside using flash or tungsten lights. Tungsten lighting. Bounce, bounce, and more bounce. Balancing flash and daylight. Several methods for portrait lighting. The vanity index Lighting men and women plus, plus, plus.

You will learn different types of shutters and their characteristics. Shutter stops. F/ stop explained. The aperture / shutter speed relationship. Working with depth of field. How to select the correct aperture shutter speed for the shot. Why use Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority or Program Mode? Different types of light meters. Reflective and incident metering. Spot metering. In-camera light meters. What do light meters measure? Different methods of metering. ISO and exposure compensation control. The 18% grey card and its uses. Metering colors. Is bracketing for wimps? How to put it all together. Previsaulisation. On Saturday, hands-on demonstrations will include the technical use of strobes and light modifiers such as soft boxes, umbrellas, beauty dishes, ring flash, grids and gels.

No lighting experience is needed for this class.

Please bring:
- Camera with all necessary equipment (batteries, CF cards, etc.)
- All of your lenses.
- Laptops are suggested so you may download your images for critiques.

Workshop Fee: $395.00
- Model's fee of $50 is payable by cash or check at the start of the workshop.
- The class size is limited to 9 people.
- Use of studio and lighting is included.
- Lunch is included on both days of the workshop.

Payment Methods: PayPal (use this link to pay with PayPal), Check, or Money Order.

Workshop Studio Location:
New location! 5 River Road in Wilton, Connecticut
(Click here to see a MapQuest map of the Wilton studio location)

Workshop Registration Form:
Use this link to open a PDF registration form.

Details given upon registration.


About the Instructor


Robert Meyer creates dynamic photographic images. Utilizing all photographic formats and techniques, this award winning photographer has been able to master three distinct genres of photography: people, product, and now fine art with his Native Dance project. Meyer not only understands the creative but also the business of making pictures. His work has been published in Vogue, Bazaar, and GQ Magazines. Awards include American Institute of Graphic Arts, Artist Guild of Chicago, Art Directors LA, and Best of Show Photoworks '99. His clients have included Toyota, Mazda, Leo Burnett, Alberto Culver, Lands End, Coke, and 7 Up. Meyer feels “The mixture of the assignment discipline and that of the real world documentarian gives me the edge. Instead of just taking a picture, I help create a specific emotion within the image. In order for a photograph to work it must possess that intrinsic quality that pulls the viewer into the image, making them an unsuspecting participant.” Meyer has been responsible for innovative catalog and commercial work in Chicago, Los Angeles and now New York. Constantly concerned with the changing needs of the advertising print market, Meyer continues to explore new creative and technical avenues in photography. Highly regarded for his ability to give static imagery a degree of depth and believability, Meyer's work remains strategically balanced between the commercial and artistic worlds. After 20 years of operating a successful studio in the mid-west, Meyer took sometime away from commercial shooting to acquaint himself with the latest in technology. Putting his energies into teaching, mentoring and his fine art project with Native Americans, he has reemerged in the forefront of his profession. Meyer has recently relocated to the coasts with studios in New York and Los Angeles. He continues to pursue the commercial assignments and the growing opportunities offered him within the photo community.

His website is www.robertmeyerphoto.com

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