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January 2018 Newsletter

Happy New Year


It's hard to believe that another year has been recorded in the history books (or maybe just my photo library).  The new year is always a time for New Year Resolutions and I have made mine:
  1. Loose weight - this should not be to hard if I spend more time walking and taking photos.
  2. Eat Healthier - while traveling and taking photos I will choose to eat healthier fast food.
  3. Travel to New Places - I have been fortunate the last few years in being able to travel around the country and plan to continue to do so this coming year and share with you in my Photographic Destinations.
  4. Get Organized - I will pledge to go through my camera equipment and reorganize my bags and cases, and clean out unused gear.
  5. Spend less time on the Cell Phone - I will strive to spend more time taking photos in locations with no cell phone service.
  6. Volunteer - I will provide more free programs to area Photography Clubs.
  7. Learn a New Skill - I will attend every Greg Disch Photography Workshop in 2018.

I have not published a newsletter for the last couple of months, but I have been busy planning some great workshops for 2018 and they are listed in this newsletter.  Some are back by popular demand and some are entirely new.  Some are mostly classroom based, which is a necessary part of learning photography, while others are totally in the field hands on photography.  Some are as much an adventure as they are a photography workshop, providing an incredible experience even if you never take a picture. 

All of my workshops are limited to a small group to allow for a greater personal experience, some are limited to only 3 people and most are limited to 6 people. Most of my workshops will only require only 2 participants for the workshop to take place.  Many workshop instructors will offer workshops with 12-25 people, for me this is way to many people to have a quality experience.  For me a small group provides a much higher level of learning, more personalized instruction, and you leave the workshop with new friends instead of new acquaintances.

 

In This Issue

News


I will be doing a presentation "Understanding Basic Exposure" for the Photographic Alliance of Fort Smith on Thursday January 11 at 7:00 at the Fort Smith Public Library.  The class will be free and open to the public.

There are only three things that control exposure, the ISO speed , the Aperture (the size of the lens opening), and the shutter speed (how long the lens is open). These three things make up what we call the exposure triangle.

This class will show you how, using “Liquid Light” , these three things interact to give control of the exposure and therefore the final image’s impact. Greg will show why you would choose one setting over another, once you understand exposure you can use it to create many photographic effects, including motion blur, freezing the subject, blurred backgrounds, and depth of field.
 

Grove Camera Club


I will present the program for the Grove Camera Club in Grove Oklahoma on February 6, 2018 at the INTEGRIS Grove Hospital, 1001 E 18th Street, at 7:00 pm.

Recent Photos

Madame Sherri Castle


The Madame Sherri Forest is named after a former owner, Madame Antoinette Sherri, a Paris-born theatrical costume designer who worked in New York City during the early 1900s. She and her husband built a French-inspired chateau summer house in Chesterfield that featured extensive stonework including a roman arch stairway, ornate interior, and designed landscape gardens. There they lavishly entertained their New York City friends at parties during the Roaring 1920s. Madame Sherri became famous – or infamous – for her wild parties. However, in time Madame Sherri’s fortunes declined, and her castle fell to ruin and vandalism. After a long separation, she returned to the house in 1959 to find the interior badly vandalized. She left, heartbroken, never to return again. The house burned down completely in 1963. Today, ancient sugar maples surround a stone foundation and stairway, a large empty fireplace tapers to a freestanding chimney. This is all that remains of the former summer home of Madame Sherri who died in Brattleboro Vermont on October 21, 1965.

New England Covered Bridges

On my trip this fall to New England I was fortunate enough to be able to photograph close to 70 historic covered bridges.  Many of the bridges have similar construction, however each is unique and has it's personality.

Nina and Pinta Columbus Ships

The Columbus Foundation with its two Columbus replica ships - Niña, the most historically accurate replica of a Columbus Ship ever built, and the newer Pinta - was in Fort Smith, Arkansas, from November 10th, 2017-November 19th, 2017.

Infrared Photography
In infrared photography, the film or image sensor used is sensitive to infrared light. The part of the spectrum used is referred to as near-infrared to distinguish it from far-infrared, which is the domain of thermal imaging. Wavelengths used for photography range from about 700 nm to about 900 nm.

Infrared creates false-color or black-and-white images with a dreamlike or sometimes lurid appearance known as the "Wood Effect," an effect mainly caused by foliage (such as tree leaves and grass) strongly reflecting in the same way visible light is reflected from snow.  The other attributes of infrared photographs include very dark skies and penetration of atmospheric haze, caused by reduced Rayleigh scattering and Mie scattering, respectively, compared to visible light. The dark skies, in turn, result in less infrared light in shadows and dark reflections of those skies from water, and clouds will stand out strongly. 
The Ghost Town of Cuervo New Mexico sits right along side of of Interstate 40 about 17 miles east of Santa Rosa.

Free Wallpaper
I will be offering one of my images as a free desktop wallpaper for your computer each month. I hope you enjoy the images as much as I enjoyed the opportunity to travel our great country and take them.
 

January 2018

3 large crosses just off I 40 in Tucumcari New Mexico on Route 66 at sunrise. The crosses are constructed of large steel I beams and are a recent addition to the landscape. 
Go to Download

Lightroom Tip of the Month
The December 2017 update to Lightroom is a new Auto Settings  in the basic section of the Develop Panel.  In the past I have not used the "Auto" and discouraged the use of it because of the inconsistent and overall dull results it produced.  I have been experiment with the new "Auto" and have been quite happy with it as a starting point.

Start your edits with Auto, which uses Adobe Sensei to intelligently apply adjustments based on a photo’s light and color characteristics. Adobe's Auto feature now uses advanced machine learning to automatically apply the best edits for these slider controls in your photos: Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Shadows, Whites, Blacks, Saturation, and Vibrance. In addition, the Auto feature now also includes the ability to optimize the adjustments of the photo even after cropping has been applied.

The underlying neural nets have been trained with thousands of professionally shot and manually edited photos to evaluate and correct an image, just like a skilled human photographer.

In the Develop module, the Auto option is located next to Tone in the Basic panel. 
 

Before and After

Before

This is an image taken in Canyon X, above the Upper Antelope Canyon near Page Arizona.


I used the new "Auto" to get the basic exposure levels, which saved me time over doing it myself.


I then Manually increased the Vibrance, decreased the blacks and decreased the exposure (it was dark in the canyon).  I reduced the highlights to bring out more detail in the bright areas and increased the shadows to bring up the dark areas.  To complete the image I add quite a bit of clarity and a post crop vignette.

After

National Register
of Historic Places



 

I will feature photos from one of the locations on the
National Register of Historic Places in this spot each month.

 
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources.
 

Worrall Covered Bridge


At one time seventeen covered highway and railroad bridges stood in the town of Rockingham Vermont. The Worrall Covered Bridge is one of three original to the town that survive. All three
are the work of Sanford Granger, the most prominent bridge builder in northern Windham County, and date from the period 1867-71.

The Worrall Covered Bridge consists of a single span supported by two flanking timber town lattice trusses. Two laminated stringers have been recently added to the underside of the floor parallel to the trusses for reinforcement. Each laminated stringer consists of short timbers tie-bolted together. Cable sway braces have been strung diagonally under the floor to provide additional lateral support. A 19-foot span of steel beams carries the road across a floodway to the north end of the covered bridge, which rests on the original abutment of stonework now faced with concrete.


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Photographic Destinations

Great Places for Great Photos

Let me help you to find a great location  for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser known destinations, as well as the famous “Icon Locations” for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information,  consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to insure a quality guide to great locations for photography.

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve





Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve was established on November 12, 1996 to preserve, protect, and interpret for the public an example of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem and the historic and cultural values represented by the Spring Hill Ranch. Once the bed of a vast inland sea located in the heart of the Flint Hills of Kansas, the preserve represents a portion of the less than 4% of remaining tallgrass prairie.
 

Click here for complete article.

I have been using Think Tank Photo camera bags for many years and have recommended them to my friends, many of whom are now using them also.  I feel that they are some of the best built and best thought out bags on the market with an ever expanding line to choose from.


 

A Special Offer for You...

Receive a free gift when you purchase at least $50 of gear and free ground shipping as a reader of my newsletter.  This will also help to support my efforts, as I will get a percentage from your purchase.  Just be sure to click on the banner above or here to do your shopping.
 

Featured Gallery

Search from thousands of images online. I am excited to be able to offer my images available for browsing or purchase as stock photography, commercial usage or prints.

  • Browse Images
  • Create and Save Personal Lightboxes
  • Purchase Licensing Rights
  • Download High Resolution Files
  • Download Personal Use Files
  • Order Prints
The featured galley this month is:
 

Ice

 

 
Click Here to View the Complete Gallery

Workshops and Classes

Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group.

All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention you need.

Learn Lightroom Workshop



 

Learn Lightroom CC Classic Weekend Workshop February 24-25, 2018

 

This is a two day  workshop with hands on classroom instruction.  You will actually go through the entire process and develop a digital workflow on your computer with your images.  We will learn to organize our entire photo library using the powerful database tools of Lightroom from import all the way through to delivering finished photos.  We will learn to use the develop module to process our images to achieve the best image possible.

 

Click here for more information

Waterfalls and Wildflowers


 

Spring Photography Workshop
April 27-29, 2018

 
This will be a two day field workshop near Jasper Arkansas  located in the area of the Buffalo National River in North Central Arkansas. Just about all of our time will be spent photographing the endless possibilities of this unique area, with personal instruction from Greg Disch.During this workshop we will learn the techniques necessary for obtaining beautiful silky smooth waterfall photos.  We will also learn how to capture great close-up and macro shots using spring wildflowers as our primary subjects.  This is a teaching workshop with personalized instruction in any area that you need assistance.  This is a great way to learn if you are new photography or just want to add to the knowledge you already have.

Click here for more information.

Spring Boot Camp


 

May 6 – 12, 2018

Limited to 2-3 participants

Lodging and most meals are included in the workshop fee.
 

This will be a week-long intense photography learning opportunity, including classroom work, photo shoots, and post processing with Adobe Lightroom.  This will be a very small group and a great way for obtaining one on one photography education, while having a good time and making new friends.

With only 2 or 3 people during this workshop we will have a great deal of flexibility as to what is covered, and be able to help each participant with the are that they wish to have in depth instruction.

 

Click here for more information

Digital Printing


 

July 21 - 22, 2018
Printing 101 Plus Much More 
Limited to 3 Participants

 
Join me for a two day hands on print making workshop In which we will go through the complete process of making your own digital prints.  Our primary software will be Adobe Lightroom CC Classic.  We will cover topics such as color correction, color calibration,  ICC color profiles, white balance, color space, RGB,  CMYK, and many other aspects of color management necessary to achieve output that matches what you see on your screen.
 

Click here for more information.

Flint Hills




 

Flint Hills Photography Workshop

June 15-17, 2018

 
This will be a 3 day 2 night photography workshop and adventure in the Flint Hills of Kansas filled with great photo opportunities, and a chance to experience ranch life and a true cattle drive. Two nights lodging at the Flying W Ranch and most meals are included in this workshop.

Registration opening soon

Infrared Photography

Infrared IR Photography Workshop

June 1-3, 2018

 

This will be a hands on classroom and in the field photography workshop which will be based out Fort Smith Arkansas and is open to any level of photographer.  You do not need to have a Digital Infrared Camera for the workshop (I have 2 digital IR cameras which will be available for participants to use during the workshop), but you will want one by the time it is over.

In this workshop you will learn what you need to know about digital IR photography, including information about getting a camera converted, which filter to use, what lens work best (some lenses will not work) for your camera, and how to get a proper exposure.During this unique workshop we will go through the complete process of creating fantastic digital infrared photos.  Infrared photography offers a tremendous opportunity to be creative and produce surreal images.  Infrared is a totally unique format of photography and requires some different approaches to shooting and post processing your images.
 

Click here for more information.

Monument Valley




 

Monument Valley and Slot Canyon Photography Workshop

 

August 5 – 11 , 2018

 
This workshop will give you the opportunity to photograph some of the most beautiful landscapes on the planet at the peak time of year, and in a way very few people ever get to experience and with expert instruction for any level of photographer.  We will be photographing Monument Valley from atop Hunt’s Mesa which rises 1000 feet above the valley floor offering a birds eye view of magnificent sandstone formations sculpted by wind and rain over thousands of years.  Not only will we photograph from here, but we will actually spend the night camping out on the Mesa.  We will photograph and sleep under stars and the Milky Way, as  seen only from the remote dark locations of the American Southwest.

Click here for more information.

Apostle Islands Sea Caves




 

Apostle Islands Sea Cave Photography Workshop

Sept 3-8, 2017

This is a workshop designed to provide you with an incredible photo experience combined with hands on digital processing of your images using Adobe Lightroom. The workshop will include a day trip on a chartered boat to photograph the Apostle Islands sea caves from up close and personal. Centuries of wave action, freezing, and thawing have sculpted shorelines throughout the Apostles. Some of the Great Lakes’ most spectacular scenery occurs where nature has carved delicate arches, vaulted chambers, and hidden passageways into sandstone of the Devil’s Island Formation.
 

Click here for more information.

Colorado

Details coming soon

Fall Boot Camp



 
 

Photography Boot Camp
 November 4-10, 2018
Limited to 3 Participants


This will be a week-long intense photography learning opportunity, including classroom work, photo shoots, and post processing with Adobe Lightroom.  This will be a very small group and a great way for obtaining one on one photography education, while having a good time and making new friends.

I will host this at my cabin at Lake Ouachita, where participants will stay for the workshop, lodging and most meals are included in the workshop fee. This will be a great learning experience where we can talk photography while cooking steaks on the grill or kicking back on the porch.
 

Click here for more information.

Private Instruction

If you are looking for a great opportunity to get personal individual instruction I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot or coming to your home or business. This is a great way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance.

 I will be offering more private and semi-private travel workshops due to high degree of personal attention that participants receive and I find this to be the most effective and enjoyable way to learn photography.  This gives a chance to work on the entire process from capture to image workflow and post processing all at a pace and level for the attendee, photographing what and where they want. These workshops can be organized for 1 to 4 people on short notice, contact me about doing your dream trip.

 

Benefits of Private Instruction

  • Personalized Instruction
  • Flexible Scheduling
  • Concentrate on what you want to learn
  • A pace that works for you

Visit my website  blog.gregdisch.com


Contact Me:
Greg Disch
gdisch@gregdisch.com
479-414-6889
1918 N. 7th Street
Fort Smith Arkansas 72904

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