Foto Fest Program Outline
Listed below are some of the programs and activities scheduled for the 3rd Annual Western North Carolina Foto Fest.
Click here to download a printable one-page schedule for the entire event.
Refining Your Vision, the Photographer's Journey
Les Saucier
Ansel Adams once stated that, “We don't make a photograph just with a camera, we bring to the act of photography all the books we have read, the movies we have seen, the music we have heard, the people we have loved.” This means we, as photographers, have a unique vision of the world because we have all experienced it very differently. What is your unique vision and how can you communicate it to others? How does your viewer see your photographs different from you as the photographer? Are there visual impact components of an image which will grab and hold the attention of your viewer every time? Learn the answers to these questions and more in this presentation by Les Saucier.
Secrets of an Appalachian Landscape Photographer
Lori Kincaid
The Southern Appalachians are ancient mountains characterized by deep forests, fast flowing streams, and unparalleled biodiversity, which can result in pure chaos viewed through the lens. From the epic to the intimate, Lori will share her simple secrets for harnessing the chaos while letting the wild beauty of the mountains shine through. Lori believes photography is both art and craft and that making the art requires mastering the craft. She’ll discuss the craft of photography from capture through post-processing and describe how she uses light and composition to create dynamic, artistic images with emotional appeal.
Capturing Captivating Wildlife Images
Bill Lea
Bill will share how he goes about capturing captivating wildlife images, including his personal philosophy behind wildlife photography, use of light, composition considerations and much more. Bill has photographed just about every possible wildlife subject. In this program you will learn the secrets of what it takes to make your own wildlife images stand out from others.
The MacGyver of Photography
Kevin Adams
Have you ever wished for a piece of photo gear that doesn’t exist or used an item and thought, “If only it could do this"? Is the price keeping you from buying something that would be useful in your photography? In this program, Kevin Adams will share some of his homemade gadgets and take you on a tour of the “Tacoma Inn,” a specially modified truck that is his home away from home. You’ll learn how to assemble easily obtained items into valuable additions to your camera pack and vehicle. Even if you’re not a do-it-yourselfer, you’ll learn valuable tips that will help you regardless of the type of photography you enjoy. As a bonus, Kevin will be available during the event to discuss any ideas that you may have and offer advice on how to implement them.
Photo Critique
Bill Lea & Kevin Adams
Participants in the first two Foto Fests have said that one of the things they enjoyed most was the group image critique session. People like the way Bill and Kevin are able to suggest ways of improving an image while at the same time highlighting its positive aspects. This approach encourages people to focus on the elements that strengthen their photography while learning techniques to minimize some of the negative aspects. Bill and Kevin will choose the images to critique from the photographs submitted for the contest. (Participants have the option of not being included.)
Pushed to the Corner
Stephanie Thomas
Every year, we showcase a regional photographer who is making a positive contribution to the world, whether through environmental or social causes. Trying to make a difference with her photography, Stephanie Thomas took her camera and entered the world of women begging on the street in her hometown of Greensboro, NC. Stephanie will share her sense of calling, purpose and her motivation to keep going during the months of capturing the ongoing stories and the lives of the women she met. Why are they there? What are they like? Why doesn't somebody help them? Is anyone trying? How have their lives been affected by Stephanie's camera and her stories about them? How has Stephanie's life, and the lives of her friends, supporters and family been changed by her experience. Join Stephanie in the story of her professional, spiritual and physical journey into the lives of the poor.
Macro Made Easy
Les Saucier
What are the best lenses, best tripods and best accessories to use with macro photography? How do you solve the major problems of cluttered backgrounds, not enough depth of field and subject movement in macro photography? Les will answer these questions and present other unique macro techniques. He will also demonstrate a tool which easily solves macro photography problems of bad backgrounds, shallow depth of field and wind.
From "Wow That Was Easy" to "You're Kidding Me, Right?"
Kevin Adams
Despite what we all wish were true, if you want your images to look their best, you have to perform a certain amount of post processing in an image-editing program such as Photoshop. Some images require very little work while others may take many hours. While most photographers understand the basics of image processing, many people, especially beginners, are unsure of how to properly assess an image and determine what adjustments are needed. And very few photographers feel comfortable with using layers to combine multiple frames. In this program, Kevin Adams will share his approach to processing everything from simple single photos that require only minor adjustments to complex night-photography images that require assembling multiple exposures. Regardless of your skill level, you’re sure to learn something useful to apply in your photography.
Digital Optimization Made Easy
Les Saucier
Have you ever asked yourself when you were optimizing or post processing an image, “How do I know when I am finished or is there an order or sequence in which tools to use?” There are three simple steps to optimize a digital image and they are the same steps that black and white photographers have been using for years. Les will demonstrate these steps plus other techniques which can be easily used by Lightroom, Adobe Camera Raw or most Raw file optimizing software to give you your best post processed image.