Vancouver Photo Workshops proudly presents a three day workshop, "Mastering HDR Challenges: Using HDR capture techniques and tonemapping for artistic photos" with acclaimed photographers Uwe and Bettina Steinmueller.

Over the course of the three days, we will thoroughly explore the camera settings and major software tools needed for high quality HDR.

This workshop is a hands-on combination of shooting in the field with the instructors, followed by extensive workflow demonstrations back in the classroom.

We will cover the theory behind HDR capture, practical shooting strategies, composition and exposure, as well as post-processing. The principle software tools we will use include, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, and Photomatix.

We will also use Uwe Steinmueller's custom scripts for working with HDR images. We'll learn advanced workflow techniques to enhance HDR photos by independently adjusting the color and luminosity of the images using both layers and masks in Adobe Photoshop. Learn an alternative to a straight Photomatix HDR conversion, in order to create better highlights and fewer clipped details.

We'll work on images shot during the workshop as well as images from your own catalog.

What you will learn:

• Maximizing Dynamic Range
• RAW Conversion for HDR
• Camera Movement
• Alignment strategies
• Correcting lens artifacts
• Tonemapping

We think that tonemapping is the holy grail of HDR for photography
(at least with the goal to print your images). Different tonemappers
deliver very different results and also please different artistic styles.

• Artistic vs. photographic look
• Photomatix Compressor
• Photomatix DE
• Photoshop Exposure/Gamma
• Photoshop Local Adaptation
• DOP advanced tonemapping
• Masking
• Double tonemapping
• Grunging
• 16 bit tonemapping

Bettina and Uwe Steinmueller were born in Germany, but have lived and worked in the US for over a decade. They work as a photographic team, with Bettina focusing on artistic expression, and Uwe handling both the art and the digital workflow. Their main subjects are nature and urban landscapes, and their hidden details. Bettina + Uwe's work is known worldwide. Together they run Digital Outback Photo (www.outbackphoto.com) which is one of the premier digital fine art websites in the world (6 million visitors per year).

Uwe is recognized as one of the leading photography workflow experts. He is not only a master of the digital workflow tools, but has also influenced many well known products. Uwe has published numerous books in German (twice winning the German “Photobuch Preis”/Photobook Prize) and English. For Uwe the photographic result is paramount and the technical aspects are only the means to get there. This means Uwe does not teach what tools can do, but instead how they help you express your own vision.

Visit Uwe + Bettina's website for more information and incredible HDR Images:

www.portfolios.outbackphoto.com

Level:

Intermediate to Advanced. Prior HDR experience highly recommended. Basic image processing and Photoshop knowledge.

Enrollment:

Maximum 14 participants.

Equipment Needed:

Bring your digital SLR camera with bracketing function (must have manual controls) and at least 1 lens.
Laptop or computer with Photoshop CS3/CS4 installed.

Optional: additional lenses, camera flash, tripod.

We Provide:

Course content as outlined above. Use of our digital facilities to view, edit and print your images. Refreshments each day.

Hotels:

Please visit the 'Our City' page for a list of recommended hotels in Vancouver.

If you must withdraw for any reason please be aware of our refund policy as follows:

For our Local Lectures, Seminars, and Workshops valued at or under $100, VPW is unable to provide a cash refund. Transfers are limited to one transfer to either the same event at a later date, or a different event of equal value. VPW requires 48 hours written notice in order to make such a transfer (email notice is acceptable). The event you are transferring to must occur within 6 months of the original event you registered for. A $15 fee will be applied to all transfers.

For our Local Workshops, 1 to 5 days in length and our Local 4 to 10 Week Courses, VPW requires 30 days written notice (before the event start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. (Email notice is acceptable.)

For our Master Photographer Series workshops, 1 to 5 days in length, VPW requires 60 days written notice (before the workshop start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. VPW may retain 15% of fees paid or $150 minimum in processing your refund. If the tuition is less than $500 the minimum fee drops to $75.

For our Photo Tours (both in Canada and abroad), 1 to 10 days in length, VPW requires 60 days written notice (before the event start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. VPW may retain 15% of fees paid or $150 minimum in processing your refund. If the tuition is less than $500 the minimum fee drops to $75.

Transfers (for all events over $100): If you wish to transfer to a different workshop date, VPW requires a minimum of 30 days written (email) notice. All transfers are based on availaibility, and subject to approval by VPW staff. For courses/workshops with tuition above $101, the transfer fee is $35.

Transfer Fees as based on event pricing:
Tuition of $100 and below, the transfer fee is $15
Tuition of $101 and above, the transfer fee is $35

VPW can give no refunds:

If you registered for any event valued at or under $100
If you do not show up for your registered course.
If you register for a course beyond or below your skill or ability level.

Refunds for all events valued at $101 and above (excluding Master Series Workshops):
If a student wishes to cancel their registration for any of VPW's events, and has provided written notice within the appropriate timeframe, a refund less a $50 administration fee will be provided.

Course Cancellation:

Occasionally, we may have to cancel a course due to low enrollment. In this case, we will issue a full refund of all monies paid to VPW up to that time.

Read complete refund and liability policy