Jim Newberry Into to Lighting Workshop
Saturday, June 2nd, 2012  12PM – 2PM
Newberry Studio 2100 S. Marshall Blvd #704 Chicago, IL 60623 (map below)
$20 cheap! Sign up here.

In this hands on workshop I’ll give in-depth explanations and demonstrations of:

• When not to light: how to recognize great available light and avoid ruining it
• Speedlights: how to get great results with portable flash units used off-camera
• Studio strobes: basics of pro strobes and light modifiers including Octabank, soft box, umbrella, beauty dish, and grid spot
• DIY lighting: using hardware store and other inexpensive light sources to create unique, effective lighting

Class will split into pairs and photograph each other in the studio, using my equipment.

Prerequisite: you must bring a camera (preferably digital), either an SLR or a point and shoot that allows you to set f-stop and shutter speed manually (or if not full manual control, at least exposure compensation).

Jim Newberry Portrait Workshop
Saturday, June 2nd, 2012  3PM – 6PM
Newberry Studio 2100 S. Marshall Blvd #704 Chicago, IL 60623 (map below)
$20 cheap! Sign up here.

The class will begin with a friendly critique: participants are asked to bring a few portraits they’ve shot, and we’ll talk about those as well as a few portraits of mine. Next I’ll demonstrate various tools and techniques, including:

• lighting: studio lighting, available light, and hardware store lighting (flashlights, led lights, fluorescents, etc)
• using your camera’s manual settings to control exposure and depth of field
• how to interact with your subject to produce expressive, natural, captivating portraits

Next the class will split into pairs and photograph each other in and near my studio, using my lighting gear. I’ll spend time with each student (answering questions, offering guidance) as they photograph.

Prerequisite: you must bring a camera (preferably digital), either an SLR or a point and shoot that allows you to set f-stop and shutter speed manually (or if not full manual control, at least exposure compensation).

My studio is about 3 blocks from the CTA Pink Line California station.

Photo: Ania Sodziak

The music video I made for the spectacular marching band Mucca Pazza debuts today on the All Songs Considered blog.

Thanks to Cynthia Main for the sumptuous set design, and Nancy Bardawil for the gorgeous backdrop painting.

Flash units, remote triggers, and light modifiers (softboxes, umbrellas, etc as well as stands and other grip gear) will be supplied. Workshop attendees will need to bring a camera (preferably digital; point-and-shoot or SLR) with hot shoe and ability to manually set f-stop and shutter speed. The class is limited to 6 people.

Workshop will explore:

• how to mix flash with ambient light
• modifiers and their effects (snoot, grid, umbrella, softbox, surface bounce)
• how to exploit and manage available light (streetlights, neon, headlights, etc)

The fee for this class is $25, cheap! Sign up now to guarantee placement. Feel free to email with any questions. Below are examples of night photos I’ve shot using small flash units; these are the kinds  of shots I’ll be teaching.

My Gold Mask

Ameya Pawar

Dancing Man

Tomorrow’s Reader has a cover story on house music, which led me to dig up this portrait of the legendary producer Frankie Knuckles. I shot this at Knuckles’ Chicago home in 2003, for a Remix magazine cover story.

Jim Newberry Available Light Portrait Workshop
Sunday, April 29th, 2012 2:30 – 5:30PM
Kimball Arts Center 1757 N Kimball Ave Chicago, IL 60647 (map below)
Sign up here. $20 (introductory discount course fee)

This workshop will explore the process of making compelling, creative portraits, with an emphasis on existing light portraiture (the portraits above were all shot with existing light only). Techniques discussed include:

• how to find great light in everyday places (it’s often not where you would expect it)
• how to take control of your camera’s exposure to bring out the best qualities of ambient light
• how to enhance and control the light, using both household objects (paper, walls, tables, curtains) as well as photography tools (diffusers, reflectors, umbrellas, cuculoris’s, etc).
• how to get past the “picture face” and awkwardness to capture natural, expressive portraits

The class will begin with a friendly critique: participants are asked to bring a few portraits they’ve shot, and we’ll talk about those as well as a few portraits of mine. Next I’ll demonstrate various tools and techniques for controlling light and exposure, as well as tips on how to interact with your subject.

For the second half, the class will split into pairs and take turns photographing each other in different areas of the space. Reflectors, diffusers, stands, etc will be available.

This workshop is open to everyone, regardless of previous photography experience.You’ll need to bring a camera (SLR or point-and-shoot), preferably digital. It doesn’t have to be a high end camera, but this class will be a lot more worthwhile if you bring one that will allow you to control exposure; either manually, or with aperture priority mode and exposure compensation. Email me if you have questions.

Space is limited, so get with it. You can see more of my photography here. More workshops coming soon!

I shot this portrait of Ania Sodziak a couple weeks ago, under the tracks on Route 66 down the street from Douglas Park–a stone’s throw from my studio.