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RC Concepcion 

Independant Photographer

About

RC is an award winning photographer and author of the best selling books Get Your Photography On the Web and The HDR Book. An Adobe Certified Instructor in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Lightroom, RC has over 20 years in the I.T. and e-commerce industries and spends his days developing content for all applications in the Adobe Creative Suite.

My Courses

SMALL FLASH: ACCESSORIES BASICS

—  RC Concepcion 

Intermediate 

Joe McNally's compact flash photography course is a detailed, comprehensive course dedicated to the exciting field of small flash photography. McNally has designed this curriculum with the needs photographers, knowing that a critical aspect of successful learning is flexibility and convenience. With these highly focused lessons, each dealing with a specific aspect of small flash photography. These lessons are carefully curated to make sure that you can easily pause, resume, or break your learning at any point. This design means you don't have to set aside large chunks of your busy day to learn. You can absorb the material at your own pace, according to your own schedule, ensuring that the learning process is a joy rather than a chore. The course starts with a foundational introduction to the world of hot shoe flashes. This piece of equipment is a vital tool in a photographer's arsenal, and we provide you with an in-depth understanding of its functions and usage. We discuss why direct, or 'straight' flash, is often best avoided, highlighting the common problems it can cause, such as harsh shadows and washed-out subjects. The goal is to provide you with a nuanced understanding of light and its effects to help you capture the perfect shot. You'll then dive into the preflash stage, where you learn to interpret the information displayed on your flash's LCD. We give you detailed guidelines to help you make the most of your small flash unit and how to make it deliver light like a larger model. This skill is essential for those times when you need more light but are limited by the size of your equipment. As you progress, McNally guides you through the logic of light, which is fundamental to all aspects of photography. He illustrates the techniques of bouncing your flash off a white wall to create a softer, more pleasing lighting effect. This simple trick can significantly improve the quality of your images, giving them a professional look that stands out. In addition to walls, the course also explains how to use the ceiling as a bounce surface. This technique distributes light onto your subject in a manner that mimics natural, ambient light. This lesson underscores the importance of observing and using your surroundings to your advantage. A key aspect of advanced flash photography is the use of multiple flash units. A substantial part of the course was dedicated to explaining how your on-camera flash can control other off-camera flashes. This approach can create a multiflash setup, leading to more professional-looking results. And then guide you on how to navigate the on-camera master flash settings to effectively control these remote flashes. As you move forward, you touch upon more advanced techniques and how you can experiment with using just one off-camera flash, programming the master flash to direct only this unit. This technique can lead to unique lighting scenarios and effects that can give your images a distinctive style. As photoraphers, we believe that making mistakes is an essential part of the learning process. We encourage you to embrace your errors as opportunities for growth. the course also devotes a lesson to explain how to make critical adjustments to your flash settings to salvage a poorly lit image. These skills are invaluable in the field, where conditions can change quickly, and you may need to adapt on the fly. You'll then discover some techniques to diffuse harsh flash light. As he demonstrates the use of a tri-grip reflector, a versatile tool that every photographer should master, and also show you how to craft a more elegant lighting setup using an overhead flash in combination with a handheld tri-grip. The use of accessories to manipulate light is a central theme of our course. the course introduces the use of a c-stand with a skylight panel to mimic the effect of a softbox, increasing the volume of light in your scene.

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MEMORY & STORAGE: ACCESSORIES BASICS

—  RC Concepcion 

Intermediate 

MEMORY & STORAGE: ACCESSORIES BASICS introduces students to the world of memory cards. Memory cards might seem insignificant, but they are the digital keepers of our moments, and understanding their types and features is crucial. The instructor, RC, initiates this learning curve by demystifying the variety of memory cards used in photography. He discusses the different kinds, their capacity, speed, and overall functionality. The wisdom of an experienced professional like RC helps students make informed decisions when choosing the right memory card for their cameras, a key step to becoming adept in digital photography. Once the students have a firm understanding of memory cards, the course moves to the next phase: transferring photos from the card to the computer. This is where you'll delve deeper into the digital workflow. where RC demonstrates the use of a card reader, a device often overlooked for its simplicity, but crucial in safely and swiftly transporting photos to the computer. It's like the bridge connecting your camera and your computer, helping you move your captured moments safely and efficiently. With the photos now on the computer, the course tackles the topic of storage. First, you'll explore the world of portable hard drives. These small yet powerful devices offer flexibility and mobility, allowing photographers to carry large amounts of data wherever they go. Then he discusses the various makes and models, their advantages and disadvantages, and how to choose the best fit for your photography needs. We believe that knowing how to manage your data on-the-go is an invaluable skill for every modern photographer. Next, you explore more durable, high-capacity external drives, designed for long-term data storage. These devices are built to last and protect your data, making them an excellent choice for photographers looking to archive their work for extended periods. This detailed discussion on these drives' functionality, longevity, and reliability will help you decide when and why to use them. Finally, you navigate the complex world of Network-Attached Storage (NAS), an advanced storage system used by professionals. A NAS system is like a private cloud in your home or office, giving you access to your files from any device connected to the network. Although it might seem daunting, RC simplifys it for you, guiding you through the basics of setting up a NAS system, its advantages, and its role in a photographer's digital arsenal. In a world where photography and technology are increasingly intertwined, mastering digital storage is as important as mastering the camera. At PhotoMaster, our mission is to ensure that your learning journey is as comprehensive, enjoyable, and rewarding as possible.

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EXPOSING HDR

—  RC Concepcion 

Intermediate 

Engaging in a photography course can be a transformative experience. The allure of capturing the world through a lens takes a distinctive form in this HDR Photography course, led by acclaimed instructor RC. The course's structure facilitates an in-depth exploration of HDR photography through seventeen meticulously designed lessons, each contributing to the comprehensive understanding of this photographic style. Our journey begins in an abandoned church situated in the hauntingly beautiful city of Gary, Indiana. RC reveals the reason behind choosing this spot – the amalgamation of varied textures, an aura of mystery, and a perfect blend of light and shadow. This marks the first lesson: the importance of location selection in HDR photography. Following the introduction, the course proceeds into the technical territory, exploring the intricacies of HDR camera setup. RC helps students understand the elements that contribute to an exceptional HDR image and provides a step-by-step guide on how to adjust the camera settings for the perfect shots, demonstrating the role of equipment in HDR photography. In the third module, the course delves deeper into creative techniques with HDR panoramas. RC guides students on how to shoot a bracketed panorama, which can later be merged into a visually striking HDR panorama, illustrating the possibilities of expanding HDR photography into panoramic images. The course then leads us to a narrow hallway within the church, showcasing the possibilities of shooting in confined spaces. Despite the contrasting light conditions, RC demonstrates techniques to capture detailed and interesting visuals, emphasizing the importance of working with the environment, regardless of its limitations. Next, the course focuses on the impact of colors and details in HDR photography. Using a spot rich in various textures, colors, and surfaces, RC illustrates how such elements can enhance the detail and color richness of an HDR image. The sixth lesson takes us into the realm of post-processing. Here, RC demonstrates the HDR processing workflow, using tools like Lightroom, Photomatix, and Photoshop, offering a comprehensive view of the post-production process. In lesson seven, the course deepens its focus on HDR panoramas. RC displays a step-by-step method to tone map images and stitch them together, forming an impressive HDR panorama, highlighting the importance of post-processing techniques in achieving the desired outcome. Following that, RC explores an alternative workflow with Bridge, showcasing the software's utility in processing HDR images, and emphasizing the adaptability required in photography post-processing. In the ninth session, the focus shifts to sharpening techniques in exposing HDR photography. RC shares various methods to accentuate certain areas in an image, making them the focal point, thus underlining the power of editing in directing the viewer's attention. The next segment deals with the unpredictable aspects of shooting on location. An unexpected intruder during the shoot serves as a practical lesson in adaptability and quick decision-making in real-world photography scenarios. In the eleventh lesson, RC ventures into incorporating models into exposing HDR photography. By capturing an HDR portrait, he displays how to balance the dynamic range to enhance the subject, thus teaching the critical skill of managing subject and background in HDR photography. The twelfth lesson is about processing an HDR image with a model under time constraints. RC displays efficient techniques for rapid yet effective processing, demonstrating the ability to work under pressure and within deadlines in professional photography. Lesson thirteen is a serendipitous encounter with a model who happens to be perfectly positioned for an HDR shot. This unplanned event underscores the importance of being ready to seize photographic opportunities as they arise. The fourteenth session presents a dramatic turn of events. Unhappy with the results, cameraman Adam calls off the shoot, highlighting the importance of teamwork and communication in a professional setup. The subsequent lesson brings a light-hearted interlude. Steve, attempting to find Adam, gets lost, while RC continues the shoot undeterred, underlining the significance of perseverance and maintaining focus amidst obstacles.

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