Testimonials

April 5,2005 from Marianne Eddins, Alabama
Subject: your safari was a big hit, Elle

Dear Elle,

Thank you so much for a wonderful experience in San Diego.  When I signed up for your safari, I was a little concerned that you would view me as a hick who had just fallen off the turnip truck.  (If this is a new phrase to you, let me know, and I will explain).  You made me feel welcome, and taught me so much about using my new camera.I would never have been able to make good pictures without your training.  And the lessons continue. I am practicing, and experimenting every day. San Diego is a wonderful town for making photographs.  We loved the town.  We were made to feel welcome wherever we went. I would move there in a minute  if I had to relocate.

I have used your composition tool many times, and even to analyze scenes in movies.  I see the “rule of thirds” over and over again!  I am having a wonderful time using this tool and trying out my new photography skills with local subjects.  I am working with manual settings for ISO, F-stop and shutter speeds, too.  Also exposure, white balance, etc.

I am studying your photo assignment.I understand what you want to capture, but our vines are bare and dormant now.  I will work with photos of bare vines, but the more traditional vineyard scenes will be available in the summer and the fall when there are leaves and ripe fruit on the vines.  I will keep working on this project, and send you photos to critique.

Thank you, again for a very special visit to San Diego.  Please come and visit us if you are ever in our neighborhood.  The Welcome Mat is out!

Regards,
Marianne Eddins

Visit Jim and Marianne Eddie winery in Perdido, Alabama

http://www.perdidovineyards.com/

Hi Elle!

I just want to THANK you for such a great day! I just reviewed all of  our shots and after explaining what the experiments were to my husband I realized how much we covered today. I really learned a lot about white balance which was such an interesting study with our night  photographs. That was a function of my camera that I never even knew had such creative possibilities and can’t wait to use it again. The observatory black and whites surprised me as it appeared on the LCD that there was more separation of the domes and sky but perhaps this was b/c the brightness setting gave us that impression?

Overall it was great and I would be interested in doing another outing again in the future so please keep me posted as to when you will be in LA.

Thanks again,
Kelli from Los Angeles

Hi Elle!

This is a bit late, but I just wanted to say thank you so much for passing along your expertise to my parents on the photo safari!  They had a wonderful time (they could not stop raving about how good you are!) and learned so much from you.Thanks again, and have a great week!

Eleasa

Birds in flight photo at Sunset Cliffs by Eleasa’s dad Andy Teng

Hey Elle, thanks so much I had a great time today and I learned soooo much. You are a wonderful, patient instructor. I started out today feeling like a mute learning a new language, now at least I feel as is a few letters make a bit of sense, like A and S and ISO!  …Best, Susan

Hi Elle,
I hope you’ve recovered from you busy weekend. I enjoyed the class, it was what I needed to send me in the right direction. I will go through my pics and send you the cool ones. I will let you know, I will post them on my flickr acct. I definitely have to continue practicing.
Celia – New York

Hi Elle,

Sorry I did not write earlier but I have been a little busy at work. I enjoyed the workshop very much and learned a lot as well.  Later that night I went to an indoor dance recital  and used your teachings to bump up my ISO to 3200 and the pictures came out with great lighting.  And the museum trip  inspired me to make another trip there very soon to see the rest of the artwork displayed.  Hopefully maybe even catch the Alexander McQueen exhibit.
Andrea

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Testimonials

I have completed the San Diego Photo Safari that I signed up for in Aug and had a very rewarding time. Elle did a great job of showing me the sights & provided me much information on taking better photos. It was a very good time and I do plan on booking another photo safari with him in the future. Thanks for making the arrangements.
Owen Owens

Hi Elle! I just want to THANK you for such a great day! I just reviewed all of our shots and after explaining what the experiments were to my husband I realized how much we covered today. I really learned a lot about white balance which was such an interesting study with our night photographs.That was a function of my camera that I never even knew had such creative possibilities and can't wait to use it again. The observatory black and whites surprised me as it appeared on the LCD that there was more separation of the domes and sky but perhaps this was b/c the brightness setting gave us that impression? Kelli from Los Angeles

Hey Elle, thanks so much I had a great time today and I learned soooo much. You are a wonderful, patient instructor. I started out today feeling like a mute learning a new language, now at least I feel as is a few letters make a bit of sense, like A and S and ISO! ...Best, Susan

This is a must read article for all new students

Guys, please read up on the Triangle of Exposure prior to showing up at the class. This is the relationship between film speed, shutter speed, and aperture. Master this technical principle & you can operate any brand of cameras. Click the Triangle here

Photography Tips

Photography Tip No. 1
Early morning and late afternoon light is the best for any travel picture or people.The Golden hour is usually one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset insunny condition. Overcast lighting in the golden hours creates a dreamy mood or emotion.

Photograph Tip 2
When to shoot Shutter Priority - When you are capturing motion like runners, bicycles, you need to set a shutter speed minimum of 1/250 sec and faster. 1/60 and 1/125 shooting 100-400 film speed in bright daylight is safe speed to prevent camera shake. Camera shake gets worse if you shoot longer focal lengths ( 100 mm and longer ) At 200mm, you need a minimum of 1/250 sec and a film speed of 400-800 in bright daylight. Sports and action photographer shoot at high ISOs and high shutter speeds to STOP ACTION.

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