Free Photoshop Workshop offered by Mark Fitzgerald

Hey folks,
Here's an email we received From Mark Fitzgerald. He suggested a topic to discuss which is "What, Why, and How of Shooting and Processing Raw" in a seperate email. Here is the message he sent Curtis and which Curtis relayed to me. We will have to have a place to hold it, but we can discuss that when we see what kind of interest it generates. I would suggest having it on a Saturday afternoon if that is OK with Mark and the rest of those interested in attending.


"I am a Photoshop, Lightroom, and workflow consultant based in Portland, OR. I put on workshops and seminars for a number of Pacific Northwest photography groups, including Professional Photographers of Oregon, Professional Photographers of Washington, Portland Metropolitan Photographers Association, Seattle Professional Photographers Association, and ASMP Oregon. I also do lots of private training for professional and serious amateur photographers throughout the area, including a number of nature photographers.

I've been aware of PNWNP for a couple of years, but I've never reached out to you. I'd like to rectify that now. I am very interested in doing some kind of event for PNWNP. If it's a meeting not too far from my area, I'd be happy to come and speak for an hour or two for free. When I do this kind of presentation, the goal is to transfer lots of information rather than talk much about myself or try to sell something. I would also be interested in putting on some kind of more detailed daylong workshop. It could be seminar style or hands-on. I can cover a wide range of post-production information, though Lightroom is a hot topic these days.

You can learn more about me and read testimonials from numerous photographers I've worked with at www.ddrroom.com.

Please let me know if you think PNWNP would be interested in a presentation or workshop.

Thanks and have an excellent day."
Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mark Fitzgerald
Adobe Certified Expert, Photoshop CS3
Adobe Certified Instructor, Photoshop CS3
Author of:
Photoshop CS3 Restoration and Retouching Bible
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Photoshop Workflow Bible
Adobe Photoshop CS4 After the Shoot

The Digital Darkroom
Helping Photographers Reveal Their True Art
www.ddroom.com

HMMMM,
Folks this is a generous offer from Mark. I'm really surprised that there is 44 looks and no interest. You can't beat free for what he is offering us. I will wait a few more days and see how it unfolds. I can take suggestions on what your interested in learning and when to do it. We can do a time that would work for everyone.

I know Mark and he knows his stuff, and is a real nice guy. I will be attending a short workshop of his at the PPO convention later this month so I am not sure I can make another one. That said, while we all focus on photography (and do Photoshop, Bridge and Lightroom) Mark works just on the facet of learning these products including writing good books on them. This is a great offer and any of you even if you feel you know these products I am sure will learn something from a couple hours with him.

It is something that I would definitely be interested in as a self taught photographer as well as software user. I'm always looking to expand on what I know, especially if it can save me time and enhance on what I can already do.

Though I'm not currently a Photoshop user, I've been running Lightroom through some serious paces lately and I'd be very interested in a couple hour tutorial on a Sat.

As far as a place to hold it, let me check if it is possible to grab a conference room at my office in Hillsboro. I am sure my company has all kinds of crazy rules about that kind of thing, but I'll check anyway.

-Brett

Well folks, we have a start. Brett, that would be awesome if you could check on a conference room.

Sounds great to me! I'm all for it and would love to attend. For me Photoshop is like peeling an onion and there's always another layer under there.

Mark will be doing a daylong workshop on Lightroom 2 for ASMP on February 28th in Portland. The information at http://www.asmporegon.com/upcoming-events/ will tell you more about Mark and the event. You don't have to be an ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers) member to attend.

I'm not sure I'll be able to attend the ASMP workshop, and I use Photoshop a lot more than Lightroom, so I think it would be great if something could be worked out for a PNWNP presentation by Mark.

Count me in. Let me know when & where...although I use CS2 and not Lightroom...it would be interesting to hear what he has to say.

Kevin

I'm in.

That would be very interesting. I would love to attend, but a lot depends on time and location.
Please keep the forum informed if anything happens.

Count me in - depending on time/location.

As an Elements/Lightroom user I would certianly be interested.

I'd like to hear more about the content in his presentation, but it sounds like something worthwhile.
Just so people know, his website is ddroom.com, not ddrroom.com
Thanks for sharing this Erik.

Depending on date and time, count me in.

Count me in as well

I would be interested as well....always looking for new potential in my workflow.

I can also check with my wife and see if she might know if a place to hold it if that hasnt been decided yet.

Whomever is coordinating this, shoot me an e-mail at johnstonphotography@verizon.net and I will let you know what I might be able to come up with.

Roman

HI Everyone -

Erik asked me to expand on the the possible topics I'll cover at a free seminar for PNWNP. Here are three options for presentations I am willing to do. Each is two hours long. Tentatively, we're looking at a Saturday afternoon in mid-March.

1.) Everything You Need to Know About Shooting Raw
This discussion covers what the raw file format is and how it compares to other file formats. Proper exposure for raw files, which is very important. The correct editing workflow in Photoshop (Adobe Camera Raw) or Lightroom for getting the most from your raw files. Other topics covered are: 16-bit files, Setting Up ACR preferences, Working with Multiple Files, and Split Rendering.

2.) 10 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Photoshop!
When I first began using Photoshop there were lots of things I was doing wrong, sometimes to the detriment of my important images. It took a while to learn everything I needed to know. If someone had just told me some of the important things about Photoshop and workflow, it would have changed everything. With that in mind, I put this class together to help others avoid many of the common pitfalls. Some of the topics covered are: Organization, Color Management, Histograms, Resolution Demystified, Layer Masking, Best Sharpening Practices, and Adjustment Layers. I've done this class many times and it's always well received.

3.) Lightroom 2 ~ From Input to Output
Lightroom is changing the way photographers work. This discussion is designed to introduce Lightroom and demonstrate the complete workflow. Emphasis is placed on understanding the workspace, organizing files, using keywords, the proper editing workflow, and exporting files for other uses. If you've been using Lightroom, this will be your chance to see the total workflow in action. If you haven't worked with Lightroom yet, this is your chance see what all of the excitement is about and decide if Lightroom should be in your digital toolbox.

So there you go. I hope one of these topics is of interest to the PNWNP membership. Let me know what you think.

BTW - A thank you to Jay Defigh for clarifying the typo on my web url. It's www.ddroom.com.

Mark

I myself think that processing a raw file is the most important part of the workflow. This might be the best subject because I'm sure most of us shoot in raw. Any thoughts? If I don't hear much to the contrary then we will go with that subject.

My first choice would be Lightroom - but RAW is a good choice, too... I'm good with what the masses decide...

i'd be keen to do either option 1 or 2, thanks
andy

I'm in on whatever the group decides. I have a steep learning curve ahead of me and appreciate anyone who can make it flatter.

Would it be possible at all to do some sort of live video feed that would only be accessible to those of here in the PNWNP? I'm just thinking it might be a little far for those of us up north here.

Any one of those topics would be helpful. Is this open only to paying members?

No,
Anyone who participates or is registered on the forum is invited. There won't be anyone at the door asking for I.D. . As for the video feed, If there is someone that can organize it and provide the equipment, we could look into the possibility, if there is interest.

Hey folks,
I'm just waiting for Mark to let me know which day to do the seminar. I will let you know as soon as I hear. Any more thoughts on which topic? I'm leaning towards the "raw processing" option. I am still open to suggestions.

I'll vote for the raw option too.

In order of preference 2, 1

We've set the date for the workshop, Saturday March 14th. As soon as I know the time and place, I'll let you know. We'll probably have it in the early afternoon. The subject will be "Everything you need to know about shooting raw". Mark the day on your calendar!