Caricatures and Unique Gifts by J.Bird

Here are the new classes being offerend in 2012 starting the week of January 23rd, 24th, and 25th, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

Classes are offered in Ashland KY at the Ashland Community and Technical College and start at 6:30pm. Please call Karen Coburn or Diana Opell through Lifelong Learning at: 1-800-928-4256

Photoshop

Don't let Photoshop intimidate you! Learn just what you need to know through hands-on training taught by J.Bird Cremeans who has been using Photoshop since 1999. This class is ideal for anyone interested in photography, graphic design, photo restoration, digital scrapbooking, and more. Visit J.Bird's website to see artwork created and manipulated with Photoshop: www.jbirdistheword.com

Intro to Photography

Baffled by your camera? Struggling with the manual settings? Wondering how it all works? Local wedding and portrait photographer J.Bird Cremeans invites you to sign up for this Intro to Photography class where you'll get one-on-one instruction, detailed notes, and fun homework assignments designed to help you learn how to use your camera. View student photography work on facebook by visiting J.Bird Cremeans Photography or the website: www.jbirdseyephotography.com.

Intro to Photography Part 2

You've learned how to operate your camera in manual mode but now what do you do with it? Kick start your photography skills up a notch with this follow up to the popular Intro to Photography class taught by wedding and portrait photographer J.Bird Cremeans. The class will include fun homework assignments to help you develop a more creative eye. You'll also learn how to pose individuals and groups of people in your own home studio that J.Bird will show you how to make! View student photography work on facebook by visiting J.Bird Cremeans Photography or the website: www.jbirdseyephotography.com

I have some classes to announce.

Intro to Photography:

Wednesdays

6:30-8:00

Starting February 23rd and runs through March 30th.

For those of you who attend church please consider wether you would be able to attend these classes or not before signing up.

THIS CLASS FILLS UP FAST!

Intro to Photoshop:

Tuesdays

6:30-8:00

February 8- March 15th

All classes are taught in Ashland KY at the Community and Technical College

To enroll call: (606)-326-2000 ask for the Continuing Education Department

Capture the Moment - Holiday Photography

For the first time ever J.Bird Cremeans is offering a special workshop designed to prepare you for all those tricky holiday situations you've never been able to photograph before such as: Christmas trees, holiday displays, parades, family portraits, and more! Each student will receive a workbook containing all notes and projects learned in the class.

Any camera is welcome. Students should already have a basic understanding of the working functions of their camera. Extra batteries, memory cards/film, tri-pod, walking shoes, and warm clothes are recommended for this workshop. The 6-hour workshop will take place indoors and outdoors. Students will need to have transportation for any off-site locations.

Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Class sizes are limited, so register today!

Call Lifelong Learning at 606-326-2072 to register.

There are 5 opportunities for this class - either weekday or weekend. Please carefully review the dates before selecting your workshop. The same information is shared in all 5 workshops.

One-Day Workshop:

Saturday, November 13 - 3:00PM - 9:00PM

Saturday, December 4th - 3:00PM - 9:00PM

Two-Day Workshop:

Wednesday & Thursday, December 1-2 - 6:00PM-9:00PM

Wednesday & Thursday, December 8-9 - 6:00PM-9:00PM

Wednesday & Thursday, December 15-16 - 6:00PM-9:00PM

Class Fee: $55.00

If you would like to see student's photography work from previous classes and read their testimonials follow this link here:

http://www.jbirdseyephotography.com/apps/blog/categories/show/810170-student-photography-work

Here are some pictures from some recent photo sessions:

I had a wonderful trip to Greenlawn Cemetery in Columbus Ohio over the last weekend. Click on the picture below to see the gallery. Prints are for sale.

Brittani is one of my reps this year for Spring Valley High School. She wanted to do something with the train tracks and I knew exactly where to go!

I love shooting on location.

Check out the pics below to see the gallery.

Shot my first big group picture this evening. Check it out:

http://jbirdistheword.smugmug.com/gallery/8474292_A7MNc#557193604_B5jnZ

check out the link here to see pictures of classic cars i photographed this past friday. they are free for the next couple of days! you can or course order prints from the site if you want.

http://www.layersmagazine.com/why-does-hdr-bring-out-the-bestworst-in-you-as-a-photographer.html

The above link talks about HDR photography and it's intended purposes. I have been medling in the artform since last year and found it to useful when deciding how far to push the tonal range of an image. I have however seen the tonal range of an image pushed wildly. I'm not into that kind of style and like for it to be more subtle or pushed just a tiny bit. Also, I don't plan on turning ALL of my photos into HDR works. I pick and choose based on what I think will benefit from the process. If the image already has good tonal range then I might apply the process and see what comes of it.

"Pretty soon, HDR becomes your “Hail Mary” pass when you take a horrible photo, rather than just deleting it, and working the image again.. Don’t be that person. Look at the technology as a way to realize your Vision rather than the workflow that’s going to replace it. A cool HDR of a junky picture is still a junky picture."

 A lot of photographers use this same ideal with Photoshop. I believe you should learn to get it right the first time. If Ansel Adams's work can't be replicated today without the aid of Photoshop then we suck as photographers.

Here are 2 of my HDR photographs:

These are both HDR images but I applied different techniques to both of them. The graveyard was created with multiple exposures taken with a tripod. Selective dodgeing and burning was then applied. The truck hood was one single exposure but I applied the dodge and burn tools achieve better tonal range. I don't believe either is taken too far. I agree the graveyard has an "effect" look but I did that on purpose.

Here is link where you can purchase prints:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7018491§ion_id=5975535