Stephen Frink Underwater Photo Instruction

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Digital Master
Photography Education

Digital Master Class - Key Largo

June 9 - 16, 2012

Price $1295 per person, per person (exclusive of hotel and diving package), limited to 16 participants

Prerequisite - Minimum 2 years experience with digital SLR housing. Must have a laptop computer for class.

UW Photo Instructor - Stephen Frink
Digital Imaging Guru - Eddie Tapp
D-SLR video Instructor - Frazier Nivens

We embrace digital imaging underwater for so many reasons. The ability to capture more images on a single dive and the immediacy of review on the camera’s LCD are some of the obvious benefits of digital imaging. There is no reason not to embrace digital imaging, except for the uncertainty of a rather complex paradigm. An immersive week on location with Stephen Frink can show the workflow efficiencies and creative techniques to make you a much more accomplished digital shooter.

There are now a number of high quality underwater housings for a variety of high-end digital SLR camera, and our digital seminar is structured to optimize the hardware issues with these housings, ports, and strobes; as well as software used for browsing, archiving, and processing digital images. This course is held only in the summer in Key Largo to assure the best possible weather and water clarity conditions. Key Largo also offers the advantage of the infrastructure of Stephen’s studio, staff, and longtime friends at Ocean Divers.

Actually, summer in Key Largo may offer the world’s best underwater classroom, with clear water and massive fish populations within the protected waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the special Sanctuary Preservations Areas (no-take zones) off Key Largo. Our group operates as a private charter aboard Ocean Divers’ 48-foot custom dive boat Santana. Set up perfectly for day diving with underwater photographer’s convenience in mind, the Santana offers a wide and stable platform, dual camera tables, camera rinse tanks, and fresh water showers. The daily choice of dive sites is dictated by the kinds of subjects we are covering, chosen for the best opportunities for wide angle, macro, or fish photographs.

The course template includes daily two tank dives and classroom sessions. There will be guest lectures by Photoshop guru Eddie Tapp as well. Like Stephen, Eddie is a Canon Explorer of Light, additionally a member of the Photoshop Hall of Fame, and an all around nice guy. Recognizing that video techniques are now an ever-larger part of our D-SLR workflow, Frazier Nivens, an Emmy-Award winning pro videographer will teach a short module on UW video techniques.

This course is optimized for those using digital SLR cameras, and laptop computers optimized for image processing. The course is limited to 16 students to assure personal attention and ample review time for the projected digital images. Traditionally the limited participation means these courses sell out quickly, so book early to reserve a spot! The course fee for Stephen Frink’s Digital Master class is $1295. Additional expenses include the diving and lodging packages. We recommend participants stay at Marina Del Mar, as the pricing is reasonable and it is directly adjacent to Ocean Divers.

Here are a few shots from the June 2011 Digital Master Class in Key Largo.

Digital Master Class - Divi Flamingo Beach Resort, Bonaire

July 7 - 14, 2012

Price $1874 per person, double occupancy - including course, lodging, diving, airport transfers and breakfast only

Instructor - Stephen Frink
Special Guest and Photoshop Guru - Eddie Tapp
Video Instructor - Frazier Nivens

We have been running photo courses in Key Largo for over 3 decades now, and for 2012 additionally offer what is undoubtedly the best overall underwater photo destination in the Caribbean, Bonaire! With a long history of marine conservation, marine life is approachable and the backgrounds inspirational. Combining the underwater attractions with the typically brilliant water clarity and prevailing calm sea conditions assures a significant portfolio of images from these photo opportunities.

The Master’s course is an intensely immersive learning experience, and we are very excited about the opportunity to accelerate the educational opportunities in an intimate group environment, in one of the world’s most productive underwater studios.

We will work from dive boats dedicated to our specific imaging needs, with two of the most experienced dive operations anywhere - Divi Flamingo Beach Resort and Captain Don’s Habitat. Of course Bonaire also offers the option of superlative shore diving, for those eager to build their portfolio beyond the dives organized specifically for instruction.

We are honored to have the ongoing participation of Eddie Tapp, http://www.eddietapp.com, famed Photoshop and Lightroom guru, for special classroom sessions. Eddie is a very highly regarded instructor, a Member of Photoshop Hall of Fame, and a Canon Explorer of Ligh

This year we will also be presenting an introduction to underwater video with your Digital SLR cameras. We recognize not everyone will be shooting a video enabled camera, so this won’t necessarily dominate your week, but if you aren’t shooting video now, you most likely will be with your next camera upgrade. So we want to at least introduce the technology and suggest how you may wish to process and manage your files. We are fortunate to have video expert Frazier Nivens, http://www.oceanimaging.com, on hand to handle the video tutorials.

Bonaire is an amazing place to learn underwater photography, because of the diversity of subjects, from fish and macro (for which the island is justifiably famous) to wide-angle reef scenics and wrecks. The fact that the diving is so very easy allows us to concentrate on imaging with ample light and bottom time.

Stephen is very excited to have the opportunity for two consecutive weeks in Bonaire, a rare opportunity to share stellar underwater photo opportunities with like-minded enthusiasts. Packages may be booked for a single week at either resort, or for those wishing to maximize their time in Bonaire, back-to-back courses. This actually makes a lot of sense, not only to better amortize travel expense, but to truly learn the best of underwater Bonaire and be able to return to the most productive sites and capture increasingly improved photographs.

Digital Master Class - Captain Don’s Habitat, Bonaire

July 14 - 21, 2012

Price $1874 per person, double occupancy - including course, lodging, diving, airport transfers and breakfast only

Instructor - Stephen Frink
Special Guest and Photoshop Guru - Eddie Tapp
Video Instructor - Frazier Nivens

We have been running photo courses in Key Largo for over 3 decades now, and for 2012 additionally offer what is undoubtedly the best overall underwater photo destination in the Caribbean, Bonaire! With a long history of marine conservation, marine life is approachable and the backgrounds inspirational. Combining the underwater attractions with the typically brilliant water clarity and prevailing calm sea conditions assures a significant portfolio of images from these photo opportunities.

The Master’s course is an intensely immersive learning experience, and we are very excited about the opportunity to accelerate the educational opportunities in an intimate group environment, in one of the world’s most productive underwater studios.

We will work from dive boats dedicated to our specific imaging needs, with two of the most experienced dive operations anywhere - Divi Flamingo Beach Resort and Captain Don’s Habitat. Of course Bonaire also offers the option of superlative shore diving, for those eager to build their portfolio beyond the dives organized specifically for instruction.

We are honored to have the ongoing participation of Eddie Tapp, http://www.eddietapp.com, famed Photoshop and Lightroom guru, for special classroom sessions. Eddie is a very highly regarded instructor, a Member of Photoshop Hall of Fame, and a Canon Explorer of Ligh

This year we will also be presenting an introduction to underwater video with your Digital SLR cameras. We recognize not everyone will be shooting a video enabled camera, so this won’t necessarily dominate your week, but if you aren’t shooting video now, you most likely will be with your next camera upgrade. So we want to at least introduce the technology and suggest how you may wish to process and manage your files. We are fortunate to have video expert Frazier Nivens, http://www.oceanimaging.com, on hand to handle the video tutorials.

Bonaire is an amazing place to learn underwater photography, because of the diversity of subjects, from fish and macro (for which the island is justifiably famous) to wide-angle reef scenics and wrecks. The fact that the diving is so very easy allows us to concentrate on imaging with ample light and bottom time.

Stephen is very excited to have the opportunity for two consecutive weeks in Bonaire, a rare opportunity to share stellar underwater photo opportunities with like-minded enthusiasts. Packages may be booked for a single week at either resort, or for those wishing to maximize their time in Bonaire, back-to-back courses. This actually makes a lot of sense, not only to better amortize travel expense, but to truly learn the best of underwater Bonaire and be able to return to the most productive sites and capture increasingly improved photographs.

Digital Master Class - Key Largo

June 8 - 15, 2013

Price $1,295 per person, per person (exclusive of hotel and diving package), limited to 16 participants

Prerequisite - Minimum 1 years experience with digital SLR and housing. Must have a laptop computer for class.

UW Photo Instructor - Stephen Frink
Digital Imaging Guru - Eddie Tapp
D-SLR video Instructor - Frazier Nivens

We embrace digital imaging underwater for so many reasons. The ability to capture more images on a single dive and the immediacy of review on the camera’s LCD are some of the obvious benefits of digital imaging. There is no reason not to embrace digital imaging, except for the uncertainty of a rather complex paradigm. An immersive week on location with Stephen Frink can show the workflow efficiencies and creative techniques to make you a much more accomplished digital shooter.

There are now a number of high quality underwater housings for a variety of high-end digital SLR camera, and our digital seminar is structured to optimize the hardware issues with these housings, ports, and strobes; as well as software used for browsing, archiving, and processing digital images. This course is held only in the summer in Key Largo to assure the best possible weather and water clarity conditions. Key Largo also offers the advantage of the infrastructure of Stephen’s studio, staff, and longtime friends at Ocean Divers.

Actually, summer in Key Largo may offer the world’s best underwater classroom, with clear water and massive fish populations within the protected waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the special Sanctuary Preservations Areas (no-take zones) off Key Largo. Our group operates as a private charter aboard Ocean Divers’ 48-foot custom dive boat Santana. Set up perfectly for day diving with underwater photographer’s convenience in mind, the Santana offers a wide and stable platform, dual camera tables, camera rinse tanks, and fresh water showers. The daily choice of dive sites is dictated by the kinds of subjects we are covering, chosen for the best opportunities for wide angle, macro, or fish photographs.

The course template includes daily two tank dives and classroom sessions. There will be guest lectures by Photoshop guru Eddie Tapp as well. Like Stephen, Eddie is a Canon Explorer of Light, additionally a member of the Photoshop Hall of Fame, and an all around nice guy. Recognizing that video techniques are now an ever-larger part of our D-SLR workflow, Frazier Nivens, an Emmy-Award winning pro videographer will teach a short module on UW video techniques.

This course is optimized for those using digital SLR cameras, and laptop computers optimized for image processing. The course is limited to 16 students to assure personal attention and ample review time for the projected digital images. Traditionally the limited participation means these courses sell out quickly, so book early to reserve a spot! The course fee for Stephen Frink’s Digital Master class is $1295. Additional expenses include the diving and lodging packages. We recommend participants stay at Marina Del Mar, as the pricing is reasonable and it is directly adjacent to Ocean Divers.

Here are a few shots from the June 2011 Digital Master Class in Key Largo.