Tis' the Season

Well the Ides of March have yet once again passed in a safe manner and March Break has come and gone leaving a trail of weather records in its midst, so April must be right around the corner. The "season" has begun once again at Lucid Musings. A full slate of weddings are guaranteed, "Into the Heart of the Photo" beginners boot-camp a mere 3 weeks away, the phone and studio are beginning to buzz with Family Portrait requests and upcoming summer "get-togethers". But April also symbolizes the beginning of the "Kick Open the Doors" Graduation Bonanza. A pre-cursor to the sophomore year of LM's addition of cutting edge student photography to the portfolio. 2 lucky "Golden Tickets" (ode to Willy Wonka)will be awarded to 2 2010 graduating students for a full location session. No strings attached, just come on over to Facebook (come on, you are probably going there anyhow:-) and fan yourself Lucid Musings and simply indicate your school under the "Kick Open the Doors Golden Ticket" heading on the wall to mark that you indeed want to be a part of this opportunity to have some fun and scream "I've Graduated" with style:-) Nothing is much simpler, or more fun and not to have anyone left out, existing fans can simply email me Sean@lucidmusings.com and I will enter your name. Contest runs March 26-April 26....Make it LM in 2010...

A Legend and a Mentor Dies...Goodbye Mr. Rock n' Roll

What do images of Johnny Cash giving the finger at San Quentin prison, Janis Joplin lounging with a bottle of SoCo backstage at Winterland, Jimi Hendrix spraying lighter fluid on his guitar at Monterey and the classic Allman Brothers a la kit and guitar cases on the front of Fillmore East all have in common? They where all taken by Mr. Jim Marshall, music photographer extraordinaire of the classic period of rock n' roll. The lense cap was put on for the last time early this morning with Mr. Marshall passing away in his sleep. A true inspiration for my love of music photography, this small honour is the least I can do. Here's to hoping he is having one hell of a party with Janis, Brian, Keith, Duane, Jim and Jimmy....:-)

Time to Blog Again...Spring Course Details

It is with great excitement that I will be offering again my popular course for the digital photo beginner. In the spirit of getting those images you see in your mind, but have trouble realizing with your camera. A 4 session course, not only a follow-up to my level 1 'Into the Digital Age' which I offered in 2007, but a great starting point for any SLR camera (manual function/interchangeable lens) camera owner wanting to become more familiar with their camera and improve their photos. This course will get you using your camera on-location, help you visualize things in a new matter, give you projects that will get you out shooting independently and inspire open interaction. I created this brief, fun, unimposing and hopefully inspiring course in the belief that the digital camera is best learned if you get out and use it. The instant results a LCD screen gives and the freedom of a digital card to capture and capture again until we get it right has changed our opportunities to learn photography. With this in mind and my belief that learning is not only gained by ingesting information but by actually using this knowledge in an open forum that becomes knowledge itself. Get up, get out and ignite some photo fun this Spring with 'Into The Heart of The Photo'-you won't regret it:-)

What: Into The Heart of the Photo
4 session interactive course to better photos

Week 1 (April 13)

In Classroom instruction/discussion of:

-Manual Functions
-Depth of Field
-Metering
-Composition


Week 2 (April 20-6:00pm-field trip)

Location Shoot #1

-Composition 'On Location'
...take what you learned in Week 1 and put it into action

****Homework Assignment to be completed over next week and returned to me for critique the following week and reviewed in-classroom
May 4th:-)

Week 3 (April 27 6:00pm-field trip)

Location Shoot #2

-Candid Portrait Shoot and Low Light Fun

...will help you learn...

-metering
-Shutter speed and Aperture

...in a practical setting...

Week 4 (May 4)

Back to the Classroom

-Photo Showing
-Review
-Open Discussion

Where: Stone Willow Inn (St. Marys) http://www.stonewillow.com/
When: classroom sessions 7-9pm, this time around, the location sessions will be earlier evening 'field trip' style shoots and, if everyone is agreeable, the immediately following Tuesday nights will be used if the weather is a complete wash-out. Mother Nature can be temperamental, so keep our fingers crossed:-)

...you already know the dates

How: To enroll, or for more details, email me Sean@lucidmusings.com , call me at 519-284-0858, or come in and see me at the studio 147 Queen St. E., St. Marys. Course fee is $165.00.