B+W Wednesday: Bethlehem

I really don't think in all my years of college, I have ever had so much information and knowledge packed into my brain in so short a period of time as I did this past weekend. Lisa, of The Long Road to China, has been teaching online Photoshop courses this past spring. Many of us asked her to consider teaching a photography workshop. Initially, she directed us to other photographers but, after a couple of months she reconsidered and organized an incredible weekend.

I can't say enough about it. The fifteen of us gathered from all over the US (and Canada too!) to immerse ourselves in our passion for photography. We arrived on Friday and spent the evening together eating, drinking and getting to know each other. Saturday we were up bright and early and had an intensive morning session on all-things-camera: manual settings, aperture, ISO, shutter speed, focus points, light metering, composition, and RAW vs. JPEG.

Two hours later, we were shooting our first models: two amazing children and a lovely preteen. We broke for lunch and then headed back out for the bride and groom session, and ended the afternoon with a family with two sweet boys.

With my head spinning (and sweat flowing) I headed back to the hotel to upload the > 700 pictures I had taken, take a shower and grab a quick nap. At 6:oo, we all headed out to another restaurant with wonderful food.

Sunday morning, Lisa led us all in an intensive 4-hour Lightroom/Photoshop session. I tried to absorb as much as I could and was quite surprised that I retained so much. Lisa is a wonderful teacher. She is organized and kept us on-task and on schedule.

It was the best little vacation I could ever have asked for.

While I will [no doubt] be spending a week or two getting through all the photographs, here are three for today's B+W Wednesday. The first is of the little brother from the last group of models. Could this little guys be any cuter??? The last two are of the bride and groom. I have to confess... I was quite shocked that ANY of them came out. Their photo session was when I had my first little breakdown. I am a language person; numbers are most definitely NOT my forte. Trying to figure out ISO and shutter speed at the same time as aperture just about did me in. When I looked on my little screen, all of the pictures looked beyond fixing. I am so glad I was able to get a few. (They were the cutest couple!)

More pictures will be coming.

Stay tuned.

[As always, click on photos to enlarge.}