The Three Bearded Mentors are all current or former International PPA Photographers of the Year, and each has his own unique approach to lighting.

Dan Frievalt is known for an avant garde, fashion-forward style that will rock your socks off. Dan will be teaching his blend of natural light and studio strobe on location, as well as his {un)posing approach to working with clients.

Michael Mowbray is your resident Flash Dancer and is known for his mastery of using speedlites anywhere, anytime, for anything…even in the studio! Michael will be demonstrating how he uses speedlites to create his award-winning wedding images and studio portraiture.

And for something completely different, Pierre Stephenson will be sharing his mastery of the no-lite, low-light approach to photographing on location. You’ll learn how to push your camera to the max in order to capture images you never thought possible.

Workshop options: 1-Day or 2-Day passes

On Saturday, Dan, Michael and Pierre will be providing the groundwork for how to master each of their three approaches. This interactive, seminar environment will provide you with the info you need — in detail — to move forward and begin blending these techniques into your work. On Sunday, the three mentors take you beyond the classroom and into the field where you get to practice these techniques with models and the equipment that the three use to craft their stunning imagery.

For the maximum learning experience, we highly suggest that you select the 2-Day Combo workshop. It’s well worth the investment to receive one-on-one mentoring and field experience before trying their techniques on your own. However, you can select to attend just Day 1 or just Day 2. Again, your best value is the 2-Day combo pass.

To register online, click here. For more information on either day or to learn more about your nLightn Tour mentors, click the respective links in the menu above. We look forward to seeing you at the workshop!

I was fortunate to spend Pi Day with the wonderful folks at PPA Northern Illinois, hosted by my good buddy Cindy Romano at her spacious studio in Woodstock. Cindy, being the good host that she is, asked if I needed anything special for my program. Me, being the smartass that I am, turned diva rockstar and requested:

• A bowl of M&Ms with the brown ones removed (they look naked and that creeps me out).
• Bottles of evian chilled to precisely 68 degrees
• and, a unicycle.

What did I find when I got there?  My bowl of M&Ms — sans the brown ones, evian, but no unicycle.  Two out of three ain’t bad.

My program was a 2fer…”Going Walkabout” in the morning followed up by a little “Flash Dancing” demo in the afternoon.  I’ve retooled “Going Walkabout” to cover all types of photography and photographers, so everyone can gain something from it.  Thankfully, it was a gorgeous, sunny day (80 degrees in March?), so I took everyone outside in the afternoon to demonstrate how to battle and work with the sun in the early afternoon  – notoriously the worst part of the day — and create dramatic portraiture.  Here are a couple of images from the demo:

The models (in order) were Chelsea-Lynn and Kayla Ryann.

Early registration is just $139 for this full-day workshop, but register now because the discount ends Saturday!

Model Keara Thompson photographed by Michael Mowbray using speedlites and RadioPoppers.

Yep, it’s Flash Dancing time again.  I will be hosting a full-day speedlite workshop at my studio in DeForest on Saturday, October 29.  If you struggle with your speedlites, or just want to know how to incorporate them into your photographic workflow, I will provide a comprehensive breakdown of how to make your speedlites sing.  One part instruction plus two-parts hands-on shooting and guidance, this is the one workshop that will help get you on a course that takes you from flash novice to flash master.

For more info or to register (space is limited because I want to make sure everyone gets one-on-one instruction) go to:  https://www.fisheyeconnect.com/workshop/457/flash-dancing–a-flash-fu-workshop.aspx

I spent the morning teachifying about the power and versatility of speedlites at my studio in DeForest.  Model Jes Lynse joined us for some fun eTTL demos in the studio using my RadioPopper PX system, Canon 580EXII speedlites and Creative Light softboxes.

The afternoon consisted of mixing up some eTTL off-camera flash mixed with bright ambient light outside, plus some demos on using manual flash off-camera as well with the RadioPopper Jrx system coupled with the RP cubes.  As you can tell, I’m a big fan of RadioPoppers.  Why? Cuz they work very well and help me to create unique, dramatic lighting no matter where I am, anytime of the day.  Just check out these images of model Keara Thompson and you’ll see what I mean.

Model Keara Thompson photographed by Michael Mowbray using speedlites and RadioPoppers.

Did you miss out on all the fun and learning? Take a leisurely spring drive up to Wausau, Wisconsin for my Flash Dancing Workshop taking place on Sunday, May 15. For more information and to register, go to: workshop info.

Stay tuned for future workshops as plans are in the works for a TWO-DAY comprehensive speedlite workshop.

Happy Flashing!

• Thanks for presenting!! I came away with a head full of ideas. I thought you did a really awesome job!
• Your presentation was full of ideas and I really need to heed your words and get outta my comfort zone!
• Thanks so much Michael… had a blast, lots of laughs… great work!
• Awesome job today my friend and Master Photographer!

Thank you to everyone who attended!  And a big “thank you” to my awesome lab, ACI – American Color Imaging, for sponsoring my program.

Here are just some of the topics I’ll cover:

• On-camera flash techniques to get portrait-like lighting on the fly.
• How I use flash to shoot outside in the worst lighting possible — and get beautiful results.
• How to use speedlites to replace expensive studio strobes — and be amazed by the images!
• How to use speedlites off-camera in eTTL mode to create fantastic portraits.
• and much, much more!

This is a workshop — not a seminar — so bring your gear and get a chance to try out these techniques with live models (which are always better than dead ones, duh)!

To find out more info or to book now with early bird pricing, visit the registration site.