Whether it’s the rich hues of a blazing sunset or the dynamic movements of wildlife, photography classes combine your artistic vision and technical skills with the camera. Joe teaches everyone how to combine these elements so you too can create stunning photos in all conditions. As an experienced bird photography guide and underwater photography instructor, Joe enjoys working with people from all walks of life.
Milky Way & Starscapes in Clipper Gap, CA
This photography class near Clipper Gap will take place in the hills just above Sacramento and away from city lights, great for viewing the Milky Way Galaxy. We’ll begin with a lecture about an hour before sunset to discuss compositions, methods and camera settings. Then you’ll get help setting up your camera and jump right in with creating a Star Trail at blue hour. Once it’s dark you’ll get more help capturing the Milky Way combined with a foreground of interest. In this class you’ll learn how to:
- Create a Star Trail
- Single-Shot and Multi-Shot noise reduction methods
- Focus Bracketing
- Adjust the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO
- Choosing a composition
- Focus in complete darkness
- Star Tracker demonstration
Location
Clipper Gap, California
Required Equipment
- Tripod: You must have a tripod for this workshop
- Camera: Any that can be used with Manual settings
- Lens: 20mm or wider and ƒ2.8 or faster is preferred but not required
Dates and Time
Saturday, August 3, 2024
7:00-10:00 pm or later
Tuition
$95
Register through the Viewpoint Gallery or Contact Joe for private
Macro and Focus Bracketing
If you’ve ever marveled at the beauty of a raindrop on a flower petal or the crisp color and patterns on an insect, then you’ve seen the magic of this skill. Widely used for flowers, frogs, insects and professional work, it will likely spark new ideas and provide great creativity. You’ll learn how to approach subjects from the size of a tree frog down to the tiniest insect, and capture attributes in sharpness, color, and detail. This photography class near Sacramento is taught inside the Viewpoint Gallery studio for a convenient way to practice. In this workshop you’ll learn how to:
- Determine Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO
- Single-Shot Settings
- Focus Bracketing and Stacking
- Lens choices
- Use a flash diffuser
Required Equipment
- Camera or phone with a macro lens
- Tripod (for use in classroom)
- Optional: Speedlight and diffuser
- Suggested: Mirrorlesss or DSLR camera with macro lens of any focal length
Date and Time
Saturday, October 12, 2024
9:00am-12:00pm
Tuition
$95
Location
Viewpoint Gallery
2015 J Street, Suite 101
Sacramento, CA 95811
United States
Register through the Viewpoint Gallery or Contact Joe for private
Night Photography and Light Painting
Some of the most exciting images are taken at night. Joe Fischer will show you how to combine night photography with light painting so you can capture the stars with unique items of interest.
This photography class near Sacramento will be a place that is perfect for practicing in night shooting conditions. You’ll learn how to setup a composition just before sunset. Then we’ll create images using a Pixel Stick and light painting and finish the night with images of stars or the Milky Way Galaxy. The techniques you’ll learn include how to:
- Compose beautiful Foreground / Milky Way Nightscapes
- Focus the lens in complete darkness
- Adjust the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO for night shooting
- Create fun and colorful Pixel Stick images
- Light Painting techniques and practice, and flashlights
- Plan night shots with software to set up great compositions
- Milky Way composite and low noise techniques
- Evening Lecture along with One On One instruction
Required Equipment
- Tripod: You must have a tripod for this workshop
- Camera: Any that can be used with Manual settings
- Lens: 20mm or wider and f2.8 or faster is preferred but not required
Location
Shingle Springs, California
Dates and Time
TBD
Tuition
$95
Registration
Register through the Viewpoint Gallery or Contact Joe for private
Shooting on “M” to Maximize Creativity
All of the greatest photographers use their camera on the Manual setting. The reason is simple – Shooting on Manual allows you to capture images the same way you see them. This photography class near Sacramento was designed to help anyone learn how to use camera settings in various lighting conditions.
Joe Fischer will show you how to instantly assess a shooting condition and adjust settings in a matter of seconds on. Anything longer and you could miss the shot. From there you can add effects and experiment, and in no time you’ll be shooting like a pro.
In this workshop you’ll learn how to:
- Quickly evaluate your shooting condition
- Assess ambient light
- Determine your desired Aperture
- Set the proper Shutter Speed and ISO
- Use the focus system for artistic expression
- Differentiate between RAW and compressed images
- Avoid using Auto or Priority modes
This photography class provides the core concepts required for intermediate and advanced photography and capturing difficult shots. These are concepts many photographers never adequately learned or practiced under guided instruction, but are required to take your shooting to next level. The concepts apply to all photos, including landscapes, weddings, wildlife, sports and action, low-light and even exciting night sky images with light painting.
Required Equipment
DSLR or camera that can be used in full manual settings
Date and Time
TBD
Tuition
$95
Location
Viewpoint Gallery
2015 J Street, Suite 101
Sacramento, CA 95811
United States
Register through the Viewpoint Gallery or Contact Joe for private
Underwater Photography Essentials
This photography class will take place on land at any of the world’s most iconic dive sites. This provides the ability to provide a lecture along with questions and answers before and after diving. On the dive Joe will assist with compositions or any other instruction that is required. The goal of this class is have you shooting great photos as quickly as possible while retaining the information for a life of creating, exploring, and adventure. In this class you’ll learn how to:
- Create stunning compositions
- Adjust the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO
- White Balance adjustments
- Use of natural light
- Light or strobe placement
- Macro compositions
- Wide-angle compositions
- Video techniques
- Underwater housing maintenance
Location
In the US and abroad.
Frequent locations include: Fiji, Cozumel, Bali, Philippines
Required Equipment
- Camera or GoPro: Any that can be used underwater
- Lights or Strobes: preferred but not required
Dates and Time
Contact to schedule
Tuition
$195 per person: 2 dives plus 3 hours lecture
Also see Underwater Photo by Joe Fischer
