HDR Workshop with Hal Schmitt

Photo taken during Hal Schmitt's HDR Workshop.

This last Thursday and Friday, (1/27 and 1/28, 2011), I had the opportunity to take Hal Schmitt's workshop, "Photographing and Processing HDR Intensive", through Light Photographic Workshops in Los Osos, CA.

I first met Hal during the Kelby Photo Walk in August of 2010. Light Workshops had sponsored the walk in San Luis Obispo, near the Old Mission, and had noted in their information that this would be a good place for shooting HDR (High Dynamic Range) Photography. I wasn't familiar with Hal, or the Photography school that he and his wife, Victoria own. I knew of the school when it belonged to George Lepp, but had never attended any of the workshops or classes.

While attending the Kelby Photowalk, I had quizzed Hal on some of the techniques he used for shooting HDR. Hal was forthright with his techniques for determining the proper capture of images for HDR. I knew by his approach and the way he could explain the process of shooting HDR, that if I ever was to take a workshop, he would be the instructor I would choose.

I had signed up for the California Photo Festival, sponsored by Light Workshops and had a great week of learning and photographing the Central Coast. However, I did not get the opportunity to take one of Hal's workshops. I did however take workshops and classes by a few of the well known instructors that were at the workshop. Hanson Fong, Rick Sammon, Jane Conner-Ziser and Jim DiVitale, were just a few of the instructors that I was able to learn from during the California Photo Fest. I learned much and have been able to take my photo processing skills to new personal levels.

So, last week, the opportunity came up to take Hal's HDR Intensive, and I decided to do so. I can tell you, this was one of the most informative photographic workshops I have ever taken, and I have taken many in past years by some of the worlds best photographers. What you may not know about me is that I am an information addict. I am that guy that reads instruction manuals for fun! In my construction business, people will call me to install products that no one else wants to install, because of the technical issues involved. I LOVE those challenges. So over the years I have not only taken many classes and workshops, but have taught a few also. So when I signed up for Hal's workshop, I thought I would pick up a few good tidbits to add to what I had already learned about HDR, through books by Trey Ratcliff, Rick Sammon, David Nightingale and others.

I have to say I was completely impressed by the information, and the structure, by which Hal instructed for the 2 days. After the 2 days I had learned more about HDR and the processing of HDR images, using Photomatix Pro, Photoshop and other programs, than from all the other information I had gathered prior to the workshop. Hal took us through the complete procedure for capturing the images to using the right programs for processing the images for the desired effect. He showed us numerous "tricks and shortcuts" to help us with our HDR processing. Hal is one of the BEST instructors I have ever had. He knows his information, and better yet knows how to deliver it in a precise and direct manner, building a solid structure of information for the listener with a great foundation.

Victoria, Hal and Becky from the Light Photographic Workshops, are great to work with, and full of valuable information when it comes to anything photographic. I look forward to my next 'outing' with them.