Monthly Archives: January 2017

Updates: Dark of the Moon Night Photography in the Eastern Sierra

January 31, 2017 by Harold Davis | 0 Comments

Saline Valley Star Circles © Harold Davis

This workshop is now scheduled for Friday October 20, 2017 to Monday October 23, 2017. We will meet in Lone Pine, California. Click here for information and registration. Please note the following updates:

Tuition is $675 until March 10; it is $725 thereafter.
Attendance is extremely limited, to 12 participants, so each photographer will get individual attention from Harold and his team. This workshop is filling up, with only four places left!
We are pleased to have reserved rooms in Lone Pine at the hotel where the workshop classes will be held. These rooms are available at a discounted rate. While you are free to stay where you’d like, we recommend you take advantage of this offer. Details will be sent upon registration.
The Orionid meteor shower is strongest towards the end of October. This is the meteor shower formed by the debris from Haley’s comet. In 2016, the strongest portion of the Orionid shower occurred during bright phases of the moon. In 2017 at this workshop, we may have the chance to photograph the Orionids in their full glory—which means 10 to 20 meteors per hour on a dark-of-the-moon night!

Click here for information and registration.

Ancient Music of the Stars © Harold Davis

Dark of the Moon Night Photography in the Eastern Sierra

Three nights; arriving Friday, October 20, 2017 and departing Monday, October 23, 2017

***Some participants may choose to arrive late and/or depart early, if necessary for work-related reasons.

Where: Locations in and around Lone Pine, CA (details provided to registrants closer to the date of the workshop)

Group size: Limited to 12 participants.

Tuition: $675 until March 10, 2017; $725 thereafter.

Registration: Click here to register via Meetup.com or contact us for direct registration. It’s free to join the Photography with Harold Davis Meetup, and members can register with a YES RSVP.

Alabama Hills Star Trails © Harold Davis

Join award-winning photographer Harold Davis, author of the bestselling Creative Night: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), for a once in a lifetime adventure practicing night photography in the rugged and beautiful Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.

The workshop is timed to coincide with the low-light phases of the moon to maximize the possibilities of combining star circle photography with imagery of the incredible landscape. Harold and his associates will help with the technical aspects of field night photography, and post-production of night imagery.

The workshop will be based in Lone Pine, California (please contact us for a recommended list of hotels in Lone Pine). Our primary field location will be the fantastic Alabama Hills, located only a few miles from Lone Pine. Note that lodging, meals, and transportation are not included in the workshop tuition.

During the day, we will take advantage of the unique workshop location for photography. Several photographic field sessions will explore the waterfalls below Mount Whitney and the rugged country to the east of Lone Pine. Side trips to Manazar and the Bristlecone Pines in the White Mountains are also a possibility, depending on group inclinations and weather conditions.

Sunrise photography on Saturday and Sunday is also a possibility, depending on conditions and group desires.

Stars My Destination © Harold Davis

Classroom demonstrations will cover use of an intervalometer (interval timer), minimizing noise in long exposures, safety at night, post-processing night photos, and much more.

Ladyboot Arch © Harold Davis

Registration: Click here to register via Meetup.com or contact us for direct registration. It’s free to join the Photography with Harold Davis Meetup, and members can register with a YES RSVP.

Owens River Valley © Harold Davis

We will take advantage of the wonderful photographic possibilities presented by the Alabama Hills themselves in their location below the high crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the heart of the marvelous Owens Valley!

Alabama Hills © Harold Davis

Sunrise, Alabama Hills © Harold Davis

Posted in Workshops

iPhone images from the iPhonegraphy Workshop

January 30, 2017 by Harold Davis | 3 Comments

The enthusiastic group of iPhoneographers at the workshop this weekend helped make it a great deal of fun. Here are a few of the images I created during workshop field sessions, and processed using my iPhone during the workshop as part of in-class app demonstrations.

Tracks © Harold Davis

The image (above) of the railroad tracks that cut between Berkeley and the I80 corridor (and the San Francisco Bay) was processed in the MobileMonet app.

The image (below) of the snake at Berkeley’s Vivarium was processed in Waterlogue. I then blended the original (the upper part) with the Waterlogue version (the lower part) using a layer mask and the gradient tool in Leonardo. The image was finished using Snapseed, by adding a black border with rounded corners.

Snake © Harold Davis

I don’t really remember how I did the raccoon image below. The original photo was of a painting on the side of a truck. I am pretty sure Plastic Bullet, Lo-Mob, and Prisma were involved. As one of the workshop participants pointed out, someone really should write an app that helps people keep track of their iPhone post-production workflow, the apps used and the settings within each app. Writing these recipes down the old-fashioned way with pen and paper seems so, well, old-fashioned!

Raccoon Face © Harold Davis

Posted in iPhone, Workshops

Dark of the Moon Night Photography Workshop in the Eastern Sierras (Oct 2017)

January 27, 2017 by Harold Davis | 0 Comments

Alabama Hills Star Trails © Harold Davis

Dark of the Moon Night Photography in the Eastern Sierra

Three nights; arriving Friday, October 20, 2017 and departing Monday, October 23, 2017

***Some participants may choose to arrive late and/or depart early, if necessary for work-related reasons.

Where: Locations in and around Lone Pine, CA (details provided to registrants closer to the date of the workshop)

Group size: Limited to 12 participants.

Tuition: $675 until March 10, 2017; $725 thereafter.

Registration: Click here to register via Meetup.com or contact us for direct registration. It’s free to join the Photography with Harold Davis Meetup, and members can register with a YES RSVP.

Stars My Destination © Harold Davis

Classroom demonstrations will cover use of an intervalometer (interval timer), minimizing noise in long exposures, safety at night, post-processing night photos, and much more.

Curriculum

Friday, October 20, 2017:

4PM Meet in Lone Pine
4-5PM Orientation, night safety, night photography overview
6PM Carpool to locations in Alabama Hills, Sunset & night photography

Saturday, October 21, 2017

possible early morning shoot

9-10AM Breakfast

10-12:00 Classroom: Night Photo presentation, previous night’s shoot, interval shooting
12:00-12:45PM Lunch
1PM-3:00PM Field session (Whitney Portal, or to be determined)
3:00-5:00PM Free time
5PM Early dinner
6:00 PM Night photography.
Sunday, October 22, 2017

possible early morning shoot

9-10AM Breakfast
10-12:00 Image review, night planning tools
12:00-12:45PM Lunch
1:00-5:00 Field session, location tbd
5:30-6:30PM Dinner
7PM – 11PM Night photography, stars and light painting

Monday, October 23, 2017

possible early morning shoot

8:00-9:00AM Breakfast
9:00-10:30AM Image review and Workshop wrap-up

Ladyboot Arch © Harold Davis

Registration: Click here to register via Meetup.com or contact us for direct registration. It’s free to join the Photography with Harold Davis Meetup, and members can register with a YES RSVP.

Sunrise, Alabama Hills © Harold Davis

Posted in Digital Night, Photography, Workshops

Photographing Curtains with my iPhone

January 26, 2017 by Harold Davis | 0 Comments

It’s a funny thing: sometimes one doesn’t see what one has been photographing until after the fact, when there’s an obvious collection of similar images. Perhaps this collection of similars can be grouped as a portfolio. In any case, it seems I enjoy photographing curtains—particularly lace curtains—with my iPhone camera. A way to occupy my time in hotel rooms? Possibly. Or possibly I come by this preoccupation genetically, as my mom is a fiber artist. Here are six of my iPhone images of curtains:

Monhegan Island, Maine, 2015 © Harold Davis

Heidelberg, Germany, 2015 © Harold Davis

Heidelberg, Germany, 2014 © Harold Davis

Paris, 2013 © Harold Davis

Minnesota, 2016 © Harold Davis

Milan, 2016 © Harold Davis

Posted in iPhone, Photography

Study in Contrasts

January 24, 2017 by Harold Davis | 0 Comments

It’s little more than a hour drive from the sleek architectural statements of Milan’s skyscrapers to the picturesque shores of Lake Como.

Cloud, CityLife, Milano © Harold Davis

Villa Cipressi, Varenna © Harold Davis

Posted in Italy

This coming weekend on the camera you always have with you

January 23, 2017 by Harold Davis | 1 Comment

Please consider joining us for an extraordinary weekend of creative photographic play!

Registration: Click here for registration.

Fetish © Harold Davis

We are going to have some serious fun!

Registration: Click here for registration.

Rainy Night © Harold Davis

Posted in Workshops

Darkness and Light

January 22, 2017 by Harold Davis | 0 Comments

Tulip Mandala on Black © Harold Davis

Tulip Mandala on White © Harold Davis

Posted in Flowers, Photography

Fancy Tulip

January 20, 2017 by Harold Davis | 0 Comments

Flowers in all their finery are often symbolic of the best our world has to offer. That is to say, flowers can serve to represent the entire natural world that surrounds us and that we are part of. In a more metaphorical way, flowers can represent the blessings of peace, of harmony in fellowship, and even romantic love.

Fancy Tulip © Harold Davis

It’s easy then to forget that flowers can be also symbolic of war, and the forces of evil and chaos that so often threatens what we build. Looking closely at this fancy tulip, I can see both viewpoints, and a world tottering at the tipping point. Flower, please forgive me if I’ve read too much meaning (and too much chaos) into a fragile and ephemeral blossom!

Posted in Flowers

Special Pricing for Two Harold Davis Limited Edition Portfolios

January 19, 2017 by Harold Davis | 0 Comments

We are offering one copy each of two of my limited edition portfolios at a very special discount. Only one Kumano Kodo and one Monochromatic Visions are available for $795 each.

This unique special offer is partly intended to benefit my upcoming photography-related travel. So not only do you get magnificent and acclaimed art, you also help a living artist live his dreams and follow his passion. And, thanks in advance!

First come, first served—and there is only one of each portfolio at this price. We will reserve each portfolio at this extraordinary price for whomever contacts us first. (Please add $50 per portfolio for shipping and handling within the continental United States; California residents add 9.25% sales tax.)

Panorama of the Kumano Sanzen Roppyaku Po © Harold Davis

A Modern Pilgrimage: Along the Kumano Kodo portfolio consists of thirteen images on a single 16.5 foot long sheet of Kozo washi, hand printed, scored, and folded into unique artist’s book. The outer-wrapper containing the Kumano Kodo portfolio is created from special, mold-made paper that is hand scored and folded. Printed on the portfolio wrapper is a panoramic photograph titled Kumano Sanzen Roppyaku Po.

Kumano kodo portfolio © Harold Davis

Included with the Kumano Kodo portfolio is a descriptive numbered, initialed and illustrated pamphlet. This hand-bound archival pamphlet with a hand applied inkan was written by Harold Davis. It explores his photographic journey on the spiritual pilgrimage trail and its relationship to modern Japan. The pamphlet also includes detailed descriptions of each photograph.

Click here for more information about the unique Kumano Kodo limited edition portfolio.

kodo_collage

Monochromatic Visions is a highly collectible, limited edition portfolio of twelve prints by master photographer Harold Davis. The carefully curated prints in this collection have been printed by hand in the Harold Davis studio on Moab Slickrock Pearl. Each print is hand signed in acid-free ink and hand-inscribed with the image’s title.

Lonely Islet © Harold Davis

The Monochromatic Visions prints are presented in a handsome portfolio box with informational inserts including a vellum overlay and image descriptions. The portfolio box presentation includes a book plate, with editioning information and the hand signature of the artist.

Click here for more information about the very special Monochromatic Visions limited edition portfolio.

Nautilus in Black and White © Harold Davis

Posted in Photography

Coming Up Soon: From iPhone to Art Workshop (Jan 28-29, 2017)

January 18, 2017 by Harold Davis | 0 Comments

Our weekend workshop From iPhone to Art: The Art of iPhoneography is coming up soon. You’ll find more information about this very special workshop below, as well some of my iPhone art, photographed and processed on the iPhone. Please consider joining us for an extraordinary weekend of creative photographic play!

Registration: Click here for registration.

From iPhone to ART: The Art of iPhoneography

A Two-Day Weekend Workshop with Harold Davis, Saturday January 28 – Sunday January 29, 2017

Tuition: $695.

Eye of Sauron in His Cups © Harold Davis

Registration: Click here for registration. Once on the Meetup website, RSVP YES, and pay the tuition via Paypal (using a credit card). Alternatively, send us an email that you’d like to register, and either mail us a check for the tuition amount, or we can email you a Paypal invoice for the tuition that can be paid via credit card, or we can charge your card directly. Note that Meetup attendance count may not reflect actual workshop enrollment.

The iPhone is the most used camera in the world. As they say, the best camera to use is the one you have with you, and this is often your iPhone camera. Harold says, “While I haven’t given up my ‘big-boy cameras’ by any stretch, my iPhone camera and its apps have opened a whole new world of experimentation and creativity. Bravo being a photographic kid again!”

Note: The images in this workshop listing were all photographed and processed on Harold’s iPhone! Learn how to unleash the creative potential of your iPhone camera and apps.

But the fundamental rules of photography still apply, and you can become a powerful photographer with your iPhone by learning the fundamentals of exposure and composition.

Of course, your iPhone is more than just a camera. The computing power within a contemporary iPhone is greater than the computing power that sent NASA to the moon—and many photography apps take advantage of this “darkroom” in your pocket.

In From iPhone to Art, we will learn how to leverage our talents to make the best iPhone imagery we can. Demos, lectures, and hands-on exercises will explore the principles of photography as they relate to the iPhone camera.

Tender Dance (via iPhone) © Harold Davis

Since the iPhone is the camera we always have with us, and since so much of our photography is done with the iPhone, why not be the best iPhoneographers we can be?

Master photographer and Photoshop guru par-excellence will show you some of the apps he uses to finish his iPhone images. Advanced topics will include texturizing and layering iPhone images.

The workshop will include several guided field sessions, in class processing help, and image critiques. Those who have attended Harold’s previous iPhone workshop are encouraged to attend; newcomers are also welcome. Class materials provided includes a list of suggested apps.

Registration: Click here for registration

What Participants Have Said about Harold’s Previous iPhone Workshop

“Great information! I learned lots of new tricks and different ways of seeing things. Thank you so much.”—FW
“I enjoyed the class and am having fun practicing with the new apps. Thanks!”—LT
“Hey guys, thanks for a great workshop!”—MP
“I’ve had fun with my iPhone before, but I thought it was kind of a toy. I never knew one could make serious prints from iPhone images, and I had a great deal of fun with the creative apps. Great group of people, too!”—SA
“One day was great, but I’m on information overload. Can you please do a two-day workshop? I’ll sign up right away. This was so cool.”—FA

About Harold Davis

Harold Davis is an internationally-known digital artist and award-winning professional photographer. He is the author of many bestselling photography books including The Way of the Digital Photographer (Peachpit Press, awarded as a Top 10 Best 2013 Photography Book of the Year by Photo.net). Harold Davis’s most recent book is Achieving Your Potential As a Photographer: A Photographer’s Creative Companion and Workbook (Focal Press). His Photographing Flowers (Focal Press) is a noted photography “classic,” and is rated the Best Guide to Flower Photography byDigital Photographer Magazine.

In addition to his activity as a bestselling book author, Harold Davis is an Adobe Influencer, a Moab Master printmaker and a Zeiss Lens Ambassador. Harold Davis’s work is in collections around the world. It is licensed by art publishers, in annual reports, and has appeared in numerous magazines and many publications.

Harold’s black and white prints have been described as “hauntingly beautiful” by Fine Art Printer Magazine, and his floral prints have been called “ethereal,” with “a purity and translucence that borders on spiritual” by Popular Photography.

Recently Harold Davis’s work has been exhibited in venues including Photokina in Cologne, Germany, PhotoPlus Expo in New York, the Gallery Photo in Oakland, California, the Arts & Friends Gallery in Heidelberg, Germany, and the Awagami Gallery in Japan.

Harold Davis has led destination photography workshops to many locations including Paris, France; Spain and Morocco; and the ancient Bristlecone Pines of the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains in California.

Harold’s popular online course on Craftsy.com, Photographing Flowers, has thousands of students. His ongoing photography workshops in partnership with institutions such as Point Reyes Field Seminars, the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel, California, Maine Media Workshops, and the Heidelberg Summer School of Photography are continually in demand and popular.

According to Rangefinder Magazine, Harold Davis is “a man of astonishing eclectic skills and accomplishments.” You can learn more about Harold and his work at his website, www.digitalfieldguide.com and on his blog, http://www.digitalfieldguide.com/blog/.

Registration: Click here for registration

Posted in iPhone, Photography, Workshops

Tuscan Road

January 18, 2017 by Harold Davis | 0 Comments

Wandering the fields and byways of southern Tuscany, I came across this tree-lined road, and settled in for a photography session, enjoying the action of the high-flying clouds. I processed the image to look intentionally anachronistic, essentially like a kind of illustration rather than a photo.

Posted in Italy, Landscape, Monochrome

Playing with Flowers

January 15, 2017 by Harold Davis | 0 Comments

Roses and Daffodils on Black © Harold Davis

Roses and Daffodils on White © Harold Davis

Related image: Daffodil on a Bed of Roses.

Posted in Flowers, Photography

Free Event: Celebrate Black & White Photography, a new book, and Groundhog Day

January 14, 2017 by Harold Davis | 0 Comments

What: Come celebrate Groundhog Day, Black & White Photography, and the publication of Harold Davis’s new book The Photographer’s Black & White Handbook (not necessarily in that order!). This is a free event but pre-registration is requested.

Where: Nextspace Berkeley, 2081 Center Street, Berkeley CA 94704

When: Thursday, February 2, 2017 from 5PM – 7PM Pacific Time

Harold Davis will present Black & White Photography in the Digital Era: From Visualization to Final Print. Following the presentation there will be a Q&A and a group discussion.

Presentation description: For much of the history of photography, practitioners were limited to black and white. But digital cameras allow you to choose on a frame-by-frame basis whether you are creating a color or black and white image; in fact, this choice is often best made in post-production. In this presentation, acclaimed photographer Harold Davis addresses how to pre-visualize black and white in a color world, how to find subjects that work well monochromatically, how to tell a story or “write” a poem with black and white, and the best-practices workflow for black and white conversion. Along the way, Harold will present his black and white work, show creative approaches such as digital solarizations and LAB inversions, and discuss black and white printmaking.

About Harold: Harold Davis is a digital artist and professional photographer whose work is widely collected. Harold is a bestselling author, a popular workshop leader, a Zeiss Lens Ambassador, and a Moab Master.You can learn more about Harold and his work on his website, www.digitalfieldguide.com, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/davis.harold. Harold’s most recent book is The Photographer’s Black & White Handbook, published by Monacelli Press. His books are on Amazon at amazon.com/author/harold.

Nautilus in Black and White

Posted in Workshops

Yellow Daffodil

January 12, 2017 by Harold Davis | 1 Comment

It’s a little early for Valentine’s Day, but I though this yellow daffy on a bed of mauve roses says it in a kind of understated way!

Daffodil on a Bed of Roses © Harold Davis

Posted in Flowers

City on the Hill

January 11, 2017 by Harold Davis | 1 Comment

I find when I am traveling that misadventures often bring unexpected photographic dividends. A case in point: getting stuck in a muddy field in my rental car in Tuscany got me into position as the sun was setting to make this image of a classic ancient hill town, Pienza. Somehow, a bright city on the hill persists as the metaphor for the shining society we could have, if we were a little nicer and tried for it a bit harder.