Taking a lunch break and a glass of wine overlooking the Old Town Square.
It’s been a while since I conducted my workshop in Prague, and because of circumstances way beyond my control (that would be misplacing the flash drive with all the student’s work on it) I am now able to finally write this post. It seems that it was in the bottom of my bag…go figure!!!
My class and I spent a fantastic week shooting in Prague, and with a little help from the weather Gods, we had five perfect days of beautiful skies and wonderful sunsets. Like with my online class I teach with the PPSOP, my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshop is centered around my Artist Palette. On this palette are the elements of visual design and composition, and I show fellow photographers how to apply them to their imagery. Negative Space, Balance, Vanishing Points, Perspective, Tension, Texture, Pattern, Form, Shape, Light, and Color are what we work on while touching on the six principles of Gestalt.
When you can go to a location, and are able to implement these elements into your thought process, you can pretty much count on walking away with a photo that you’ll not only be proud of, but you’re sure to impress most anyone, including fellow photographers. These elements have been around for a very long time, going back to the ‘Masters’ who also were using them in their paintings. After all, are we not painters who have chosen a different medium? Have we not exchanged a paintbrush for a camera?
The letter ‘Q’
I know I did, a very long time ago!!!
I took the above photo while scouting locations for the sunset shoot. There’s nothing quite taking a break for lunch and enjoying a glass of Sauvignon Blanc while overlooking the Old Town Square.
Take a look at these photos taken over a five day period by nine serious amateurs photographers who were using their own Artist Palette. I think you’ll be as impressed as I was…and still am.
Btw, I gave each student a letter to find as one of their assignments, see if you can pick them out. I can tell you that my favorite was the letter ‘Q’ (very difficult to find in reality) I gave to Katka the woman that lives in Prague who did an incredible job producing this workshop for me.
Be sure to watch for my “Springtime in Tuscany” workshop I’ll be conducting the week of May 28th, 2013. I have the same producer, so it will be a fantastic time and a vacation you’ll be remembering for a very long time. As usual, the class will be limited so be sure to write me at: joe@joebaraban.com to let me know that you’re interested in the full description.
Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com and stay tuned for my complete workshop schedule including a photo workshop and wine tasting in Napa Valley next September. What a great combination!!!
Come shoot with me sometime.
Don’t forget to send me a photo and question to: AskJoeB@gmail.com
JoeB
Really amazing!
Was the child planned or a mere “happy accident”?
Thilo
Thilo,
A little of both.
I scouted the location a couple of days ahead of time and determined that it would get the last rays of the sun. It was a long stretch of various activities next to the Charles River, so it would support the entire class without people shooting on top of each other.
Katka, the woman that produced the workshop in Prague had some of her friends and relatives come to the location so we would be assured of at least some people that wanted to be photographed. The rest was up to one of the photographers in the class.
The only advice I gave was the same advice I give when trying to shoot people and give a feeling of spontaneity: Have their body facing one direction and then have them turn around as if someone called their name. I wasn’t around when this photo was shot, so someone was listening to me!!!
JoeB
Joe,
Great posting!! Brought back some great memories, and a longing to get back to Prague sometime soon!!
Ciao
Bryan
Bryan,
I hope you can do it again in Tuscany next May!!!
JoeB
Joe,
I really enjoyed reading about our Springtime in Prague! Thank you for all the kind words! And I absolutely agree with Bryan – seeing the pictures gives you a wish to do it again and return to all the places we have been.
And I can assure everyone – I am doing my best to make Springtime in Tuscany a comparable success, but in the meantime I look forward to other great posts on your blog!
See you in May 2013! K.
Hi Katka,
It would not have happened without you!!! See you in Tuscany next May.
JoeB