TESTIMONIALS | Digital Photo Academy

BOSTON ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH FRANK SITEMAN:

It was an honor and a pleasure to spend the day with Frank Siteman for the Digital Photography Seminar in Boston, a rare opportunity and a real treat to learn from a master photographer and an accomplished businessman. I learned a lot from the picture taking tour of Winchester - a very photogenic town, and then most of the day benefiting from Frank's expert critique and mastery of Adobe Photoshop. It has renewed my resolve to take better pictures and learn the Photoshop as thoroughly as possible. Thank you very much, and thanks for the souvenir - the reflector, I am sure each ding represents a masterpiece.

"SEATTLE BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH KEN DEJARLAIS:

I recently attended the Digital Photo Academy workshop for Beginners in Kirkland, Washington. Although each participant came with a different brand and model digital camera, the instructor, Ken DeJarlais, a world class photographer, was familiar with each one. He meticulously explained techniques for capturing the best possible photos utilizing well known professional methods while sprinkling in a few amazing stories from his own photo journalist's exploits to get the best shot. The introduction to Adobe Photoshop Elements was extremely useful to me as I had just installed the program, and I needed help familiarizing myself with it. At the end of the workshop, he spent time with each participant making sure the settings were optimal, while explaining certain features and options on his/her camera. I left class with a far better understanding of taking digital photographs, the manipulation of my point and shoot camera and a working knowledge of Photoshop. I would highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to take better digital pictures and then know how to resize, crop, convert to Black & White, print, store and email them. Ken does a stellar job!"

"SEATTLE ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH JON CANFIELD:

The class went so well that I'd like to take another one in a month or so. Jon is a terrific teacher, he's extremely knowledgable in photography, PhotoShop & the profession in general. He was very generous in sharing his knowledge & answered all questions completely."

"SEATTLE ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH JON CANFIELD:

I have taught for many years at university and medical school and am known by students and colleagues alike as a very critical guy. I know good teaching from not so good. I have no criticism whatsoever of this really fine workshop. In my opinion, Jon's teaching was excellent. As good as it gets.

Jon answered all our questions, offered helpful guidance, provided gentle but realistic criticism of our work, and, more, was a pleasant companion for the day. He was obviously expert at taking and processing photographs, while simultaneously modest and unassuming. I recommend this workshop without reservation. I look forward to the opportunity to take it again."

I kept the "tools" sheet in my head when I went out to shot my brother's Alcatraz Tri yesterday. I've shot this event at least 3 times, tearing around on a bicycle to cover as much of the course as possible. I would say that I'm still digesting some of the things we covered in class, and I don't know if it's coincidence or just experience, but yesterday, I think I captured some of my best images at the event. I have posted a few of my favorites on this site. Thanks again for class on Saturday - that was fun!

"SAN FRANCISCO ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH JESSICA LIFLAND:

Jess: Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. I learned a lot and enjoyed it very much."

"NEW YORK ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH JOHN BENTHAM:

When I heard about this particular seminar, I was hesitant in taking it because of similar seminars being very boring and not so informative. This couldn’t be further from the truth in this case. My experience with John Bentham was fabulous. He was as hands on as an instructor could be. From the moment I walked into his studio, he was attentive, informative, caring and interested in everything we had to ask and say about photography. He gave us step by step demonstration by drawing out different techniques to use. Going out in the field with him and watching how he interacts with people he wants to photograph, was an amazing experience. He showed us the do’s and don’ts of camera angles and focusing. I could not have expected to have such a great experience with John and do hope to have another seminar just like this one in the future."

"DENVER INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH RUSS BURDEN:

My intermediate class with Russ was excellent. It was a wonderful feeling to know that I truly had mastered some understanding in this amazing field because I was able to answer many of Russ's questions while in class. I liked the fact that he challenged each student in class, asking us individual questions to make sure we really got the gist of what he was teaching and wasn't just following along and shaking our heads as if we understood when we really didn't. I also particularly enjoyed his Photoshop demonstration. I had an immense fear of working with this application. It seemed so large and overwhelming, but Russ's lecture allowed me to take those essential baby steps so I could get comfortable with Photoshop. I also appreciate Mr. Burden's weekly photo tips and his willingness to give of his own time to respond to my emails and questions about photos I've taken since his course.

I enjoyed Russ's class so much that I even ended up dreaming about the topics covered that same night. I think I was still trying to digest everything that was spoken of even while I was sleeping! As soon as I think I'm ready, I will sign up for Russ's advanced photography class and make plans to attend one or more of his Nature Photo Tours. Wish me luck, I'm going to be entering my first photo contest...this one dealing with some of the shots I showed in class of climbers at Eldorado Canyon State Park!"

"SEATTLE INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH KEN DEJARLAIS:

Overall, I was impressed with both the quality and the quantity of information, tips, and hands-on practice provided in my workshop. Ken really knows his stuff. He’s also a great person-centered instructor, which made the workshop much more fun and interesting.

I also liked the fact that Ken – and I gather all of DPA’s instructors – not only loves photography but loves teaching and passing on what he knows.

Ken’s perspective provided me with a nice review of camera and photography basics that is probably even more useful in the digital realm. I went out on a Sunday afternoon shooting session armed with these basics and the new tips and techniques Ken so generously shared and was amazed at how much better my photos turned out – even with just a minor adjustment or two.

Finally, these workshops are priced well for the information and tips that are packed in. I would definitely take another DPA workshop/seminar and am now looking at the advanced workshop later this month or in August."

"NEW YORK ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH JOHN BENTHAM:

The photography class was extremely helpful to me. I am not a big photographer but whenever I take pictures I want to know how I can get them from good to great, and this class answered all of my questions.

John first went through each of our cameras and lenses and detailed all their features. He then discusses the advanced techniques that I came to the class for, such as the impact of depth of field and the combination of different light sources. After displaying some of his own pictures to reinforce the theory, we went out along southern Manhattan to take photographs. John took us to various settings where we could practice taking photos in different light conditions and also showed us the importance of good composition. We returned to the studio and John critiqued each of our photographs giving me some great feedback. In summary, this was an excellent class and being the first I'm sure John will continually develop it further.

I enjoyed it so much that I will be taking many photographs over the next few months and hopefully if classes are still available next year I will return to see if I have improved."

"DALLAS INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH ANGILEE WILKERSON:

Really enjoyed yesterday's workshop...I learned quite a bit and the discussions with other enthusiasts, hearing their experiences and struggles/successes, was perhaps the best part. Perhaps we should have taken a group photo of the first workshop!

I'm uploading a few shots, including the old photo (2000) that won the prize at the Fair. (Sharks) Thanks for continuing the dialogue!

"BOSTON INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH KATHY TARANTOLA:

I wanted to let you know i enjoyed the class yesterday. I learned a lot and know I have a lot more to learn. This was a great first step into the learning process. I am thinking of taking the advanced class offered in August that Frank is teaching, and will be looking for more classes to take and if you teach other places please let me know as I would like participate."

"LOS ANGELES BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH CHUCK PLACE:

I enjoyed it, Chuck is a good instructor. It was all useful information to me. I was using the auto setting out of habit and ease not realizing what I was giving up in terms of image quality. Chuck explained the importance of white balance, aperture settings, and ISO speeds in a way that was easy to understand. Learning how to frame shots, how to lead the viewers eye to the subject, and what distracts from the subject are all valuable pieces of information I intend to use in the future.

I have never used Photoshop even though I have it. Seeing what can be done in the program makes me want to explore options to improving the pictures I take . He covered the importance of organizing and backing up files. I already do backup files but my organizational skills can be improved. Chuck provided solid tips to keep files easy to access and searchable by key words which was an added bonus.

Thanks again for setting this class up,"

"LOS ANGELES BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH CHUCK PLACE:

Thank you very much for a very informative workshop and for critiquing my photos.
"

"HOUSTON ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH MICHAEL HART:

Again, thanks for the instruction yesterday. I learned a few things. Your knowledge would be so beneficial to many of us that need the training. You can see by my pixs, I need a lot of color management help.

Thanks again, hope you consider teaching more in-depth Photoshop workshops. Advertising would be the hard part, but I've got several friends in Houston that wouldn't mine taking a class with someone knowledgeable."

"SEATTLE ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH JON CANFIELD:

I thought Jon's class was fantastic. His knowledge is unbelievable, a true pro. I was surprised (maybe I shouldn't be) that the Digital Photo Academy could come up with such a qualified instructor. There was no stumping this guy."

"PHOENIX BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH DAVID SANDERS:

I just attended a beginners class on July 28 in Phoenix taught by Dave Sanders. I enjoyed the class a great deal. Actually, I enjoyed the class so much that on the way home, I purchased the Panasonic TZ3 and the Photoshop Elements that were discussed in the class. I would appreciate any printed information that I could get. Thank you!

"LOS ANGELES INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH CHUCK PLACE:

Last Saturday, August 4th, I attended my second class put on by Digital Photo Academy. This was the intermediate class and Chuck Place was the instructor. All I can say is, I wish I could have teachers like him when I was in school.

His presentation was concise, informative and easy to follow. It was an absolute pleasure. Chuck is very approachable and took the time to answer all of our questions. I will definitely be back for more classes in the future."

"DENVER ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH RUSS BURDEN:

Thanks for a fun and educational day. I am so impressed with the knowledge of the group. It is an honor to be able to learn from Russ. I'm anxious to get out into the field...maybe the sunflowers at dawn...

"LOS ANGELES INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH CHUCK PLACE:

Wanted to let you know how helpful the class was. Got a external hard drive for backup & will start filing with number system. Thanks,"

"SAN FRANCISCO BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH JESSICA LIFLAND:

I want to thank you so much for all your help during that session. Ever since the class met, I have learned a lot about photography. I didn't know much before the class but since then, it has opened the door to the basics and I've been reading so much into it at the library. I just got my first SLR this week. I enrolled in a beginning to photography class at Laney college in the fall (i need it to be the prereq for almost all the other fun photography classes offered). Thanks again."

"PHOENIX BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH DAVID SANDERS:

Dear David, I enjoyed your class very much and found it very helpful. "

"HOUSTON BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH MICHAEL HART:

I had a great time today in your class for which I thank you very much. I take photos of scenery and friends and relatives for fun. As I mentioned to you today, I want to learn a few things about photography in order to be able to take good pictures. Specifically, I want to learn the flaws in some of the photos I have taken and how to remove them. I also want to learn the basic techniques of photography in some detail. At this time I am not planning to learn editing of photographs.

Please let me know your availability for a private lesson.
"

"PHILADELPHIA INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH RICK WRIGHT:

Thanks again for the terrific class. I am thrilled with how much I learned and and was playing all day yesterday with my camera, trying new things and not using auto!! Yippee!! It was great meeting you.. thanks so so much!!

ORLANDO BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH MILTON HEIBERG:

Dear Milton,

Thank you for the photo class! I learned quite a few things from you Monday evening. Am looking forward to reading your book. Again, thank you.

"HOUSTON BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH MICHAEL HART:

Enjoyed the training session today.....especially the last part. I am so impressed with your reputation and expertise. Talk about way above our heads! BTW, how did you get to be on Great Day Houston? If you ever go back on the show, let me know----I'll be there.

I am thrilled with the Panasonic camera we got. I hope I can do it justice and take advantage of all the bells and whistles on it. I really learned some surprising things about it today. Would you ever do a seminar just on that type of camera?"

"BOSTON ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH FRANK SITEMAN:

That was a great shot-- but alas, the light did fade too quickly.....

"PHILADELPHIA ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH HINDA SCHUMAN:

Let me know when you would want to go out for a shoot or simply work in Photoshop. I am always up for shooting photos in the city. Early AM, sunset, anytime. Thanks again,

"PHILADELPHIA ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH HINDA SCHUMAN:

Hinda, I wanted to thank you again for an excellent time yesterday in the DPA class. I had an awesome day and would recommend it to anyone. I learned quite a bit and look forward to more classes in the future. It is always great to talk photography with those who simply enjoy the art. While I felt my photos from yesterday were not polished, I did expand my photography horizons into a new realm. I will send a couple samples later tonight. Thank you. :)"

"ATLANTA BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH JOEL SILVERMAN:

I attended your beginner digital photography class instructed by Joel Silverman. I was very impressed with Joel and the content of the class. Joel was extremely accommodating, answering my numerous questions. I not only learned the technicalities of my camera, but also composition."

"SAN FRANCISCO BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH JESSICA LIFLAND:

Thanks for the (camera) control sheet. I really did learn a lot and now I'm re-reading my manual and it makes more sense!
"

"BOSTON BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH FRANK SITEMAN:

i had a great time saturday in class. i learned some things that i did not know about, so please keep up good work and i hope to see you in the december class. thank you for good day saturday. ps, what do you think of nik software sharpener pro 2.0?
"

"CHICAGO BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH DAN MOUGHAMIAN:

Dan is a consummate professional, the Rosens were extremely gracious and our group was very small!

I thought it went very well. Both Mary and I arrived after 6pm due to bad weather. Dan was willing to answer any question, and he seemed to be worried that he was going through the material too quickly, but he wasn't. The presentation seemed very well suited to people who really aren't familiar with the settings on their cameras. It was very step by step and thorough. The Rosens couldn't have been nicer. Other than my battery dying (doh!) in the middle of the class, it was an informative and enjoyable experience. I look forward to taking the intermediate class."

"SAN FRANCISCO INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH JESSICA LIFLAND:

Thanks, I really enjoyed the class and learned a lot about SLRs. I'm definitely going to buy one!"

"MINNEAPOLIS ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH TONY SCHRECK & MICHAEL DVORAK:

I am in the early part of my photography career. I hoped to meet with an experienced photographer and review my questions in this course. My hope was exceeded in every way. I was able to spend quality time with two very fine and talented experts. The day was exciting and informative-- I gained insights of immediate and long term value. Tony and Mike are truly role models.

My pre-course goals were all achieved-- and a fundamental misunderstanding about how to use my camera light meter was uncovered and corrected. I also accept the encouragement I received to be more flexible in my work and allow motion to play a role in my images. Most important I finished the day feeling empowered as a photographer.
"

"PHOENIX ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH DAVID SANDERS:

Thanks so much for yesterday, it was an education and really helped me understand how to use the camera to get some of the results we admire in the magazines, you were a great help. Gives me another good reason (excuse) for a trip to Tempe Camera as well!!

Look forward to a follow-up session, in the meantime -keep the hand under the lens!!
"

"WASHINGTON DC BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH SURESH SHIVDASANI:

More than anything, I would give the instructor the “Excellent”. I totally enjoyed Suresh’s instruction and learned so much from him. He gave us the technical information and many real-life kinds of examples and instruction. I couldn’t believe the 4 hours went by so quickly. I would definitely recommend him with the highest marks and look forward to taking the next class with him."

"SAN FRANCISCO INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH JESSICA LIFLAND:

It was a good class and I learned more and retained more. When I went down stairs I was taking pictures of Lori framed in your doorway with that light and a fill flash. Look at me talking in jargon.

Both Lori and I went home and had dreams about F-Stops. We'll talk after the class on Sunday to see how my pictures look as I'm really here for the content and the art and to make that second nature to me and we are going in the right direction. Thanks!"

"DALLAS ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH BEAU COMEAUX:

I wanted to thank you for sharing your knowledge with us in class Saturday. It was my first class of any kind on photography or Photoshop. I really enjoyed it. I can't wait to try out the b&w conversion method you showed me. Thanks again,

P.S. Here's the link to the 160 megapixel camera I was telling you about. http://www.roundshot.ch/xml_1/internet/de/application/d438/d925/f934.cfm"

"SEATTLE INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH KEN DEJARLAIS:

I very much enjoyed your class. You covered a lot of very good material, some of it was a good review for me and the rest was completely new and very useful. Your delivery of the course is also outstanding. Thank you!

Though I took quite a few notes every now and then I might need to ask some questions in trying to enter this world of digital photography. I will take you up on the offer for some critique of pictures, it is very kind of you to offer that. I will do a bit more shooting so I can select something for you to look at and provide advice. Thank you for the links you sent. I just got back this afternoon and I will attend a social tonight. I am hoping to visit on Friday the sites you recommended. Thanks again Ken!
"

"BOSTON ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH FRANK SITEMAN:

I enjoyed the day and as a result will start shooting in raw, using aperture priority and getting more knowledgeable with Photoshop. My son can get an education discount so I’m looking into getting Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop CS3.

Here are the pictures I brought down to the workshop. Thanks for an enjoyable day!

"SAN FRANCISCO BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH JESSICA LIFLAND:

Thank you for all the information. Both Ashley, my granddaughter, and I picked up a lot of new ideas and you certainly improved my knowledge of our new cameras. We will now be looking for a class requiring a weekend trip. (This is all part of Ashley's 16th birthday present.) Would you have any suggestions for a one-day class offered in the western US? Maybe more on some of the composition and lighting techniques you shared with us. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Also, I did sign up for your offer and hope to attend sometime and continue learning as I do love photography. Thank you again for sharing your talents so graciously.....
"

"LONG ISLAND INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH ANDRE COSTANTINI:

I thought the classes Saturday were fantastic! Andre did a wonderful job. I (and I believe a few others in the class) would be interested in additional classes &/or fieldwork. Let me know if there's additional interest. And, as always, my office is available for the advanced class or if you'd like to run the first two classes again in the future."

"SAN FRANCISCO INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH JESSICA LIFLAND:

I really enjoyed your class last night. Although I am very new at digital SLR a lot of the information I have read or heard over the few months started becoming a little clearer and making a little more sense to me last night. Thank you for taking the time you did explaining it so it made sense to me.
"

"SAN FRANCISCO INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH JESSICA LIFLAND:

I really enjoyed your class and can't wait to play around with the camera with my new knowledge. I already confirmed my registration for the Photonite group... Thanks for sending it to me. Take care and see you soon at the next event."

"DALLAS INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH ANGILEE WILKERSON:

Good Afternoon! Your class Saturday was terrific and super fun. Shirley and I both thought the afternoon was well worth the trip. If there is a way to leave 'feedback' for you please let me know. Again, please accept our thanks for the afternoon. You are one sharp lady."

"PHOENIX INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH DAVID SANDERS:

I have been so busy that i have not had a chance to thank you for the class (intermediate) that you taught. I am hoping to sign up for the advanced class at some point, and perhaps I will see you again there.

You may regret telling us to send you some pictures, but i thought i would take another shot. Any comments would be most welcome. Again, thanks for looking at the other photos I had sent you.

"LOS ANGELES INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH CHUCK PLACE:

It was a great class thank you for all your knowledge. At this point it's all helpful. I’ve only been doing this for a year. The more I learn, I realize how much I don’t know."

"SEATTLE BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH KEN DEJARLAIS:

I wanted to thank you for taking the time to send words of encouragement my way!! I really did enjoy the class and wanted to take the intermediate but will do that probably in December - I will check and see when they are fitting in my schedule. I will also upload some other shots to the student gallery - thank you for the link.

I have looked at the SCCC site and downloaded the information -- whether that fits into my "life plan" or some part of it is to be determined but it is nice to know we are so close to such a resource!

I am looking forwarding to spending time with you again - it was a very good experience.
"

"PHOENIX INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH DAVID SANDERS:

I want to thank you for all your help and encouragement during the class the other day. I am a better photographer because of that.

The biggest change is that I am not intimated by the manual function on my camera anymore. I can hardly wait to try new things that I learned, especially when I go to NYC during X-mas. Thanks again. I really appreciate your help."

"DETROIT ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH DON WERTHMANN:

I’m one of those folks that are happiest when challenged and engaged, and your instruction was wonderfully engaging! You’re right, you covered a lot of challenging material, and I am putting it to use. I really appreciate your bringing your studio gear out to teach with.

I’m very flattered by your request for your portrait. I’d shot it “loose” so it needed a crop, and while cropping I felt like it was a sort of final exam on our discussion from the morning.

If you use it, would you mind crediting it to “richardwhisner.com”? See, you’ve got me thinking of the whole branding/marketing aspect.

I will keep in touch! Thank you very much again,

"BOSTON ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH STEVE DUNWELL:

I found the course to be incredibly informative, practical, and helpful. I was particularly appreciative of the tutorial you gave concerning indoor shots. Thanks again,"

"BOSTON ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH STEVE DUNWELL:

Thank you Steve, the workshop was all I had hoped for and more. Your "hands-on style" is what makes the course. I really came out a better photographer than I went in! The Wellesley College green houses were spectacular. I am definitely going to return there some day."

"CLEVELAND BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH ALEX LIPPISCH:

Just a note to let you know how much we enjoyed your workshop. We really appreciated the individual attention. You are an excellent instructor and passionate about your work. Who else would have given us an extra hour of instruction. I was so excited I took these on the way home.

"NEW YORK ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH JOHN BENTHAM:

I just wanted to thank you for being such a gracious host yesterday. You did great. I’m glad I attended, and did learn some valuable information. It felt good getting out in the field. Keep me posted on any other workshops you may be doing, and best of luck with your new addition and on the book project.
"

"BOSTON ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH FRANK SITEMAN:

Thank you, I really enjoyed the workshop. I learned a lot and it was a good group of people.

The hawk was ok, I just wish the background wasn't so cluttered -- maybe I can clean it up. Can't say much for the rest of my pictures though, but I just might return to the green house with my tripod.
"

"NEW YORK ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH JOHN BENTHAM:

I will ensure that I recommend this course to everyone I know that has an interest in photography; Rebecca and I really appreciate your patience with us on the day and are committed to use what you taught us. Thanks again,"

"CLEVELAND INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH ALEX LIPPISCH:

I think your class was great and just to prove it I had some more fun with our Christmas Cactus and got a much improved result. Looking forward to more workshops.

"BEGINNER PHILADELPHIA WORKSHOP WITH JAY CUMMINGS:

I wanted to let you know that I had a really good time taking your class. You provided a lot of information and presented it very clearly. I also like very much your handouts. They were useful especially afterwards to go back and refresh my memory.

I spent a couple of weeks in Switzerland for Christmas and took A LOT of pictures, playing with the settings of my new digital camera. I will strongly recommend your class to my friends because I think it's a quick and affordable way to get a good control of a digital camera. I wish you a happy New Year and a lot of fun with your upcoming students.
"

"INTERMEDIATE PHOENIX WORKSHOP WITH DAVID SANDERS:

Just wanted to say thanks. I learned quite a bit at your class, and will definitely be taking the advanced session. You are an excellent teacher.
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"ADVANCED PHILADELPHIA WORKSHOP WITH HINDA SCHUMAN:

That was a great class! I learned a lot. One important thing I learned was to get out and shoot and to open my eyes to more of the possibilities that are there. I kind of like a picture I took of a knit glove (somewhat cyan colored) that was lying on the sidewalk!

I will also be working more in manual mode. I always preferred it in my old camera, but it is so awkward in the electronic camera that I have not gotten comfortable with it (yet). I will send some questions soon. Just trying to get a few of them onto paper instead of one at a time.
"

"ADVANCED SAN FRANCISCO WORKSHOP WITH JESSICA LIFLAND:

Thank you Jessica, I enjoyed the class. It was very informative, and the sharing of information and critiques were quite useful. "

"ADVANCED SAN FRANCISCO WORKSHOP WITH JESSICA LIFLAND:

I had a great time and learned a great deal. It was fun and informative and I really enjoyed "picking" your brain. You're a wealth of knowledge.
"

"ADVANCED SAN FRANCISCO WORKSHOP WITH JESSICA LIFLAND:

I had great time in your class, AAA plus. I learned a great deal about photographing people, which I need to do more of. I look forward to the photonite email.
"

"PHILADELPHIA ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH HINDA SCHUMAN:

Thanks, Hinda. I enjoyed the class, meeting you, and the opportunity to visit Philadelphia for the first time. I really enjoyed shooting at the complex--lots of interesting people to capture! It was definitely worth the trip.

Your idea of writing is interesting and I'll give it a try. I especially liked your idea of writing down what captured my attention and then looking at my photos to see if I captured it.
"

"BOSTON INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH STEVE DUNWELL:

Thanks so much for your help regarding my enrollment in Boston Intermediate Class with Steve Dunwell. The Class was terrific! Steve was organized, energetic, and gracious. In addition to his obvious talents as a photographer, he's a terrific teacher. And, the Griffin Museum was a wonderful site in which to attend class. Thanks again for everything. A truly rewarding class! "

"PHILADELPHIA BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH JAY CUMMINGS:

Thanks for a very productive class. The whole digital world is new to me and the class was helpful in acquainting me with the basics. Your teaching style is very thoughtful and patient. I thoroughly enjoyed the day. It went by so quick. I have also signed up for the intermediate. Thanks again for a great class."

"NEW YORK ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH JOHN BENTHAM:

It was a most enjoyable day. Your attitude and style made it both informative and enjoyable. Have I said that I enjoyed it?

I can't stop talking about how good it was. I had dinner Sunday night with a friend who is a little like Nick on steroids. He retired young and when he goes into a hobby, he jumps in and masters it quickly. Photography is his current passion. Canon 1Ds Mk III, 5D, L series lenses, etc. He is an excellent photographer and I highly recommended your course to him.

The fact that the weather was iffy means that I will take the course again in a few months. That is a good thing! The session on lighting was exactly what I wanted and needed. Getting out when the weather is better with your guidance will add another dimension. I also suspect that you never teach the course the same way each time.

I went out Sunday morning with my wife for a walk in the woods and tried to apply what I learned. The camera was always ready! I haven't reviewed the pictures in detail but I was much more aware of my composition when taking them. Thanks again."

"WASHINGTON DC INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH BOB BLANKEN:

Really enjoyed meeting you and getting the tips from you - will be coming back. Again many thanks, as I learned a lot - now to put it into practice."

"ADVANCED NEW YORK WORKSHOP WITH JOHN BENTHAM:

It was truly the best workshop I've ever had, thank you, you are awesome! At home, looking at what I came back with it was obvious that I have zero of that elusive "photographer's vision" you were talking about... and a good reaction with a camera (with all the proper settings) would help too. So... see you in a couple of months =)
"

"ADVANCED PHILADELPHIA WORKSHOP WITH HINDA SCHUMAN:

Stan and I are both very happy with your response, and welcome the opportunity to spend some more time with Hinda. We really appreciate your rare and important focus on customer satisfaction."

"DETROIT INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH BRIAN WIDDIS:

The instructor did a great job of covering the course material and covering student question areas. By far it was the most productive 4 hours I've spent in photography education and I've taken several courses over the years. Brian covered my questions in depth and offered suggestions for improvement. I also learned a lot from the other student questions. I'm looking forward to taking the advanced class. I would recommend that you offer 4 or 6 hour advanced courses directed at specific topics occasionally (macro photography, portraiture, landscape, wildlife, night photography, etc) in addition to the 'basic' advanced course. My thanks to Panasonic for sponsoring the course.
"

"INTERMEDIATE SEATTLE WORKSHOP WITH KEN DEJARLAIS:

Thanks for giving a great and inspiring class! I truly learned a lot today... I can't wait to get out and take more pictures. I've been taking most of my shots between f/1.8 and f/5.6... I'm eager to snap a few at f/8 to see if that's the sweet spot for my cam / glass."

"NEW YORK ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH JOHN BENTHAM:

I had an excellent day, To listen to someone of your background in photography was inspiring to me. The lesson in Lighting was great.

I thought I was the only one who consistently looked at everything as some type of layout for a photo. Thank you for letting me know I am not crazy. If you need some help Please let me know.
"

"SAN FRANCISCO BEGINNER WORKSHOP WITH ALISSA EVERETT:

I thought the course was awesome. I've been to beginner digital photography workshops before and they never seem to get past how to turn the camera on and change the memory cards. This course ended up covering the major topics I was most curious about, and now I want to take the next course!"

"NEW YORK ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH JOHN BENTHAM:

John,

I wanted to thank you for your time and consideration yesterday. It was a pleasure meeting you. I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and walked away with more than I came in with...Thanks, great job!

Actually that was the first photo workshop I ever attended so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. The easy, relaxed format was very conducive to my personality and was a refreshing and effective learning and visual experience. On a more personal note, your work is spectacular. Thanks for sharing the images. Please keep me in mind for any events that you think might be of interest."

"INTERMEDIATE SEATTLE WORKSHOP WITH KEN DEJARLAIS:

Ken, Thanks so much for your thoughts and tweaks on the pics I sent!! I registered for Wolfgang's class in June, I'm really looking forward to it! I've rented a couple different lenses from Glazers and done some experimenting, gotten some pretty nice images and I'll try and post them to the student gallery in the next few days. Shooting/editing in RAW format now and exporting to tif/jpg as needed, really makes a difference in the editing you can do. Any thoughts on continuing education beyond the DPA? Night classes, online, etc.? Thanks again for your thoughts and advice.

P.S. I took this yesterday and thought it was pretty cool. I tried some new things in Photoshop, namely vignetting so the corners had a "fade" to them.

"ADVANCED SEATTLE WORKSHOP WITH WOLFGANG KAEHLER:

It was great at the advanced class. We were only with 3 students so it was almost as a private lesson. Wolfgang is great and I really enjoyed shooting photos outside and then check on the results.

"ADVANCED PHOENIX WORKSHOP WITH DAVID SANDERS:

Thanks again for the wonderful workshop. I look forward to putting this all to practice! It was great having such a small class and your willingness to work with us individually. My husband wasn't too excited about the shopping list I showed up with...filters, flashes, lenses...ha ha

Thanks again for a great day - I really learned a lot and enjoyed learning from everyone in the class."

"BEGINNER CLEVELAND WORKSHOP WITH ALEX LIPPISCH:

Thank you again for Saturday... it was a great class! I bought a book to help me grasp the concepts even more. I should've asked your recommendation for a book but so far this one seems pretty good. At this point I think I would like to take the intermediate class... as I went to take a few pictures yesterday, I'm still struggling with the basics. Let's stay in touch... I'll keep my eye on the course schedule. Thanks again,"

"BEGINNER PHILADELPHIA WORKSHOP WITH JAY CUMMINGS:

Thanks Jay, I have been getting out there and taking more pictures! I am becoming more confident thanks to the way you explained the camera features, you are an excellent instructor! I have referenced your handouts which have been very helpful as well!"

"INTERMEDIATE PHOENIX WORKSHOP WITH DAVID SANDERS:

Thank you so much - I am talking to my girlfriend about taking the advanced class - so you may see me again. I told everyone about how much I learned and recommended the class to them."

"ADVANCED DENVER WORKSHOP WITH RUSS BURDEN:

I have taken two classes that were “live” instructor lead workshops and several on-line courses. Without a doubt, your workshop stands head and shoulders above the rest. Your style of teaching, demonstrating techniques, classroom lecture and open communication regarding photography, will allow me to enhance my skills. I enjoyed this class, my fellow classmates and our outstanding instructor. This was a FANTASTIC experience.

Thanks for a great day!"

"ADVANCED SAN FRANCISCO WORKSHOP WITH JESSICA LIFLAND:

Thank you Jessica for an awesome class! I really enjoyed it and thought you did a great job. You were very personable, knowledgeable and articulate and it was all-around a great day for me. I took some time today to play with the camera features you showed me and I feel I have taken a big step to being much more comfortable with my camera, my creative approach to taking photos, and how to archive and edit them in post. Thanks again for a job well done!"

"ADVANCED SAN FRANCISCO WORKSHOP WITH JESSICA LIFLAND:

I really enjoyed your class on sat. I also appreciate your walking with me for some time, giving suggestions, and letting me take pictures of you. That was very cool. If you do not mind, I will show you my work as I practice and hopefully learn more.

peace,"

"ADVANCED PHOENIX WORKSHOP WITH DAVID SANDERS:

I enjoyed spending Sunday with you and the group. Thanks for sharing your knowledge about technical details and "seeing" a scene for photo opportunities. It is always fun to pick up new techniques, I really liked the shooting from shade with fill flash technique to darken the background. Thanks again, I enjoyed the day!"

"ADVANCED SAN FRANCISCO WORKSHOP WITH ALISSA EVERETT:

Last month I participated in a one day photography workshop put on by Digital Photo Academy. There ended up being four of us who took the class. Our instructor, Alissa Everett, took us down to the San Francisco Ferry Building farmer's market. We spent about 3 1/2 hours just shooting away. Afterwards, we went back to our gathering place, downloaded our photos, selected the 10 best, then Alissa critiqued them and gave us pointers on improving our composition, etc. I highly recommend taking the class. They have beginner, intermediate, and advanced versions (I took the advanced). Here is a portrait I took during the shoot:

"BEGINNER TAMPA WORKSHOP WITH SAM JOHNSTON:

I have completed my beginners class on Sat May 3 and we concentrated on the operation and the various set up parameters on the camera. This was a great help to me to wade through the myriad of choices available and I think you are doing a fine job of sorting out the complexities of setting up a digital camera. It turns out that there were several settings on my camera that were not the most favorable for me to be using. Now the printed manual seems clearer and easier to refer to. Certainly, my unit (Panasonic FZ30) has a wealth of options for customizing the unit to accommodate most any situation. It's fun to have a camera that I won't outgrow any time soon. Thanks again for this class. Panasonic is to be admired for their efforts in helping digital owners get the most out of their cameras. Keep up the good work."

"ADVANCED CLEVELAND WORKSHOP WITH ALEX LIPPISCH:

Thanks for the sensational day. I am committed to going raw! Hope there will be more chances to get to learn from you, since you do so well to adapt to the level of need before you."

"INTERMEDIATE SEATTLE WORKSHOP WITH KEN DEJARLAIS:

Thank you for the information. The class was fantastic. I am definitely interested in taking more classes and improving my photography."

"NEW YORK INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH ANDRE COSTANTINI:

Andre, Thanks for the great class! I picked up a number of things that had been bugging me. Your photos and discussion on them was easily worth the price of admission. Thanks again!"

"NEW YORK INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH ANDRE COSTANTINI:

I wanted to say THANK YOU for a GREAT class. I've been to Nikon's Nikon School Intro to Digital photography and a few other classes. Your class last night was WAY BETTER, and MUCH more interesting. THANKS AGAIN!

Do you have an recommendations for:
1. photo magazines to read on a regular basis
2. Camera bag for a laptop, my DSLR and zoom lens
3. Photoshop book/class

THANKS again!"

"LOS ANGELES ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH CHUCK PLACE:

I feel that with what you showed us, and our understanding of photography, that your class was beneficial in many areas that we thought we already knew. Everyone at any level of photography can benefit from taking a class from your group. Again it was our pleasure being in your class and we look forward to expanding our horizons. I will stay in touch to let you know how Sal and I are doing in our business.

I will highly recommend your company to anyone who asks about how to become a better photographer in whatever venue they seek. Thank You"

"DENVER ADVANCED WORKSHOP WITH RUSS BURDEN:

That looks very good Russ. I have a few pictures where I would like to create a canvas to create room for a few of mine....I will have to try that technique. Appreciate the before and after and the steps you took. Once I have my two done and over to you, I might take yours and practice to see how I make out."

"ATLANTA INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH JOEL SILVERMAN:

Just wanted you to know that I really enjoyed the 2 classes yesterday! I learned a great deal about my camera and I’m not “afraid” of it anymore. I’m sure I’ll see you in the advanced class once I familiarize myself more with what you taught us yesterday. Thanks so much"

"WILLIAMSBURG, VA CAMERA CLUB WEEKEND WORKSHOP WITH DANA BOWDEN:

Richard and Amy,

I want to thank you on behalf of the Fords Colony Photography Club for the weekend Workshop held here in Williamsburg, VA this Saturday and Sunday. Dana Bowden did an outstanding job and gave 110% effort to train all of our attendees.

I did not conduct a survey, but most people on their way out indicated that they were well satisfied with the information they received.

Again, thank you very much for having the foresight to see the advantages of this type of a venue for your workshop series."

"WILLIAMSBURG, VA CAMERA CLUB WEEKEND WORKSHOP WITH DANA BOWDEN:

Just a note to tell you how much I enjoyed the beginning and intermediate classes you taught on Saturday for the Ford's Colony Photography Club. I had signed up for the beginning class because I had a point and shoot camera. My husband was going to take the intermediate class with a Nikon D40 SLR camera (new to me, but I have used Nikon film cameras previously). Because of the "what to bring" list on the confirmation receipt, he noticed that he was supposed to bring a laptop. He is a bit computer challenged, even though he is becoming more comfortable with our imac. The only laptop we have is a PC, and he won't touch it with a ten foot pole!!!! So I took the intermediate class instead of him. I learned a lot about the camera and digital photography from your talks.

I am sorry that I didn't sign up for the advanced, hands on class on Sunday, because I think that I would have benefited from that a lot. Hmmmmm. Next time?

In the meantime I am going to explore Photoshop Elements 6 to try to ease my way into the whole process of manipulating photos. Maybe that will get me, then my husband, more involved with this fascinating endeavor.

Anyway, I wasn't sure what to expect and found the whole experience informative and pleasant. I hope that the Photography Club will schedule additional workshops in the future, and that our paths will cross again.

Many thanks."

"PHILADELPHIA INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOP WITH RICK WRIGHT:

I really enjoyed the class, it was the first time I've ever had any formal instruction in photography. I was a little apprehensive about the class because of this but you made it very comfortable. Thanks for the great experience."

"Hi Alex, I enjoyed your Intermediate photo workshop very much. I received a great deal to think about as well as inspiration to develop more skills with Photoshop (I recently got access to the CS2 version). I am interested in your Advanced class--perhaps in the Fall.

The attached pics show off the present level of my selection skills using the "magic extractor" tools of Elements 5. The Quick Fix feature makes this pretty simple. I also used "layers" to create the background.

"I attended a photography workshop with Milton Heiberg up in Orlando, he was a very nice and technical. The workshop primarily focused on understanding how settings on your camera works, composition and Photoshop post-processing. We had a hour long photo-shoot and a critique at the end.

It was a lot of fun and very educational. I would highly recommend this particular course to anyone to just bought a DSLR, or if you've owned a SLR, and need a refresher. I am anticipating to attend the advanced class later on in the year.

"Wow- I learned a lot! And, know how much more I need to learn. Thank you for an excellent workshop. The combination of field and class time worked very well. You are a gifted teacher- very effective making us think about answers, rather than telling us. I now look at photos as you suggested- and try to determine how was that shot?

Regards-"

"I first want to thank you, Russ, for an outstanding workshop, I learned something of importance in every area of the session. Thanks again for the extra time up front at 7:00am and again at 5:30. Your effortless teaching style makes learning and asking questions very comfortable. I just loaded Adobe CS3 and am going to be working on the 2 photos you requested."

"Thank you very much for a great class. It was extremely valuable for me...resonating throughout yesterday and this morning.

I have a question. In thinking about depth of field and the photos I have been taking (prior to the class) I realized that I was keeping more in many of the pictures because of composition and structure. I enjoy the push and pull of forces both negative and positive in the photo beyond subject matter, this coming from my painting/design background BUT, I try to not subjugate the subject to the structure because I don't want the coldness that comes from too much attention to structure. This is different than finding a point of attention focus as would be the case using depth of field. So, with individual portraits, verses group, I get in really tight so there is nothing but identity and the environment is non existent. Any thoughts to introduce a beam sunlight?"

"I really enjoyed last night. I learned some new things and it was also a good review. Hopefully I will join you again for another class. Thanks again"

"Dear Milton, I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the classes. I learned a lot and I hope to put it into practice as I take my photos. Your vast knowledge and experience comes through in your instructions. I also appreciated your kindnesses, courtesies, and professionalism. Yours is a course I can, without reservations, recommend to my friends. I will continue to use, explore, and learn from your website. You are truly a gifted photographer and instructor."

"I signed up for Blanken Photography’s introductory class just before I left on a trip to Switzerland and Istanbul. I had received a new camera for Christmas, but I had never owned anything but a simple “point and shoot” so I had no idea how to operate my new gift. I was determined to get some great pictures on my vacation so I desperately needed a quick tutorial before I left.

Each of us in the class had varying skill levels and each of us had a different type of camera, but Bob was able to instruct us so that we all went away with the information we needed. He even suggested additional accessories for my camera that I might want to consider in order to get the best quality pictures in each country (specific filters for the snow in Switzerland, additional batteries, extra memory, etc.)

I had a great time experimenting with my new camera on my trip and felt much more comfortable using it in various settings. When I returned and sent pictures out to family & friends, one of my friends asked ‘Did you get a new camera? These pictures are MUCH better than what you usually send!’"

"I found my way over to DUMBO, Brooklyn last evening to take the Beginner course with Andre. It is, of course an eye-opener. Even the simplest point and shoot are incredibly complex, and it is so much better to sit down with someone who really knows photography as opposed to fighting ones way through the manual which simply notes each symbol, and a brief explanation as to what these mean but not in the real world. Thanks again for bringing this to my attention."

"Chuck, I wanted to introduce myself and tell you that I am looking forward to the Beginning Photo Class on 6/21/08. I bought a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 camera about 4 months ago and have really started to get more interested in photography. I am at a stage where I want to learn more of the "basics" to see how I can improve on my photos.

Here are some questions that I would like the course to address:

1. Basic operation of all the features that this camera contains
2. When to use the auto mode versus a more manual setting
3. When to use the various specific "scene" modes versus a more manual setting
3. When to use aperture or shutter priority settings
4. Best use of flash
5. Overcoming the delay between photos when using a flash or sports mode - Not sure if this is possible
6. Best use of macro mode for closeup shots
7. Best use of zoom mode for distance shots

I generally like to take portrait, travel, animal, or nature type photos..... See you on June 21st!!

Thanks,"

"Alex, this class was fantastic. It rivaled any of the workshops I recently took at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre. For example, many of the teachers there placed an emphasis on impressing the students. You on the other hand, put the emphasis on explaining and teaching. I really learned a lot from you."

"It was a great training session! I've been looking over my notes, reading over the camera manual, and trying some of the things you demonstrated. Still a long way to go, but at least I have a better idea of how things fit together. Excellent presentation on your part. And the idea of getting a photography tip every week sounds like excellent reenforcement! Thanks.

You can count on me signing up for the Composition and Technique class! My goal is to be a little smarter about photography by the time the class is offered. And I have to confess I already went on Amazon and bought a copy of your book. It looks like another excellent tool -- and I plan to read it from cover to cover."

"Thank you so much; that's a big help! I'm doing so much more with my camera since I took your workshop."

"I enjoyed Saturday’s workshop very much. I learned a great deal about my camera and the art and craft of taking great photos. I feel more comfortable with my camera and look forward to putting what I learned to use. Thank you for sharing your time, expertise, and artistry with us."

"Russ, I really enjoyed the class. I don't know when I've been able to go that long and still be so interested I wanted more. I'm downloading my images now to Elements 6 and trying to find out if I can use Bridge with it. Look forward to some more of your "sage advice". I'll be looking at your web site for some more classes to take. Thanks again"

"The scales have fallen from my eyes: I now (finally) understand why I should almost always be shooting in RAW. It changes everything for me. As someone who was not totally in love with my digital camera before the workshop, I am now excited and enthusiastic about shooting again. Also, the tutorial Frank gave us with masks in Photoshop alone would have been worth the price of admission. Frank’s upbeat style, clear explanations and willingness to go over some things multiple times meant that the new material was retained and understood and was immediately usable. Attached find two photos. One is my original which I shot Friday the day before the workshop. You can see my low tech reflector: a linen napkin. The other portrait is the one I was able to create from it on Sunday, based on what I learned on Saturday."

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