Richard Kizirian, a Rhode Island based photographer, was kind enough to go to the trouble of helping me arrange a mini-seminar in a studio up in Rhode Island, for Sunday Feb 19th. The topic was again the use of on and off camera flash techniques. Thirteen photographers booked a spot, and in the alloted time of four hours, I tried to cram in as much as I could. It was still based on my online tutorial webpages, but I extended it with a hands-on session where we tried out some of the techniques.

It really felt good to me at the points where I could see the the reaction in someone - when an idea which had been unclear up until then, suddenly became clear. I loved seeing that. And I know from the reaction there that I received from the others and in subsequent emails, that it had been worth the while for everyone.

Here is part of the one email I received, which felt really good to see as feedback afterwards:

“I want to thank you for your well thought out seminar last week - very much! Your laid back approach to your style of lighting very much de-mystifies the concept of using flash effectively. You stated this not with words but by example. I think the benefit of leading by example is that you offer people an opportunity to make meaning of what they are leaning in a way that works for them, not what works for you. I feel you did this exceptionally well.”

So thank you to everyone who was there, and a special thanks to Richard Kirizian for going to all the effort of arranging the venue, and coming up with the suggestion of doing this in the first place.

photo courtesy of Eric Turner.
(Myself, Michelle Turner, Hersul, and part of Richard K.)