Kurt Budliger

Cropping Without Cropping
Available on-demand now

Vermont-based photographer Kurt Budliger kicks off the series with a topic we’ve never covered on the NPC stage.

Learn how to:

• Use transform tools to fine-tune compositions
• Rethink framing without traditional cropping
• Discover strong images hidden inside files you may have discarded

This session offers a truly revolutionary way to revisit your archive and see new possibilities in your existing work.

Full Description:

To me there are, and always have been, three elements to truly amazing photographs; Great Light, Dynamic Composition and Emotional Connection or Story. As photographers we can only really control two of these ever important elements; Light and Composition. Much like a lyricist writing and recording a song, after the image is made, we really have zero control over how it resonates with the viewer (or listener) and the meaning they derive from our efforts. And that’s okay, that’s the magical part.

A studio photographer uses strobes, soft-boxes and modifiers with 100 percent control to craft and sculpt the light used to make an image. However, as outdoor photographers we don’t have that luxury. We certainly can do a lot to put ourselves in the right place at the right time to capture interesting and ethereal light and atmosphere that showcases our subjects in the best possible way, whatever we’ve determined that to be. However, once we’re standing in front of our subjects it’s up to us to place the four corners of that rectangle around the world in the best possible way to communicate our intended story and/or evoke an emotional response from the viewer using the visual language of photographic composition and design. I’ve always loved to experience dynamic light and ephemeral events in nature. But if I had to choose a well crafted and dynamic composition or amazing light and atmosphere on the landscape, I’d choose composition every time!

As a self described photographic compositional-ist (yes I made that up) I always strive to get things “right” in camera at the time of capture. Perhaps this comes from having started out shooting film in the early 90s, when that was the only option. However, I’ll also be the first to admit that often times we can improve on our field craft by making modifications to the image framing during post processing, most often done using the crop tool. But there’s a better way…

During this presentation we’ll delve into the powerful, yet underutilized tools found in the Transform tab of Lightroom to refine and perfect our compositions without using the crop tool, which is inherently destructive and limiting. We’ll not only learn what each of these tools does but explore some case studies to demonstrate the how and why these tools can be used to improve the original composition, while also maintaining as much of the original resolution and image quality as possible. The latter being the main benefit to using these techniques.

Bio:

Kurt is a professional outdoor photographer based in northern Vermont. He has been photographing the natural landscape for over 30 years and has been a professional photographer for the past 20. His photographs and articles have appeared in numerous books, calendars, advertising campaigns, magazines and are routinely used by non-profit conservation organizations working to protect wild lands. His clients have included Outdoor Photographer, Popular Photography, Backpacker Magazine, Downeast Magazine, National Geographic Adventure, Outside Magazine, Vermont Life Magazine, Eastern Fly Fishing, The Drake, Patagonia, 1% for the Planet, Trout Unlimited, Trust for Public Land, The Nature Conservancy, and many more. Kurt strives to capture unique and fleeting moments in nature when light, atmosphere and composition combine to create something special and not often seen.

Kurt has also been a professional educator for over 30 years. Prior to becoming a professional outdoor photographer and workshop leader, Kurt was an outdoor and environmental educator, interpretive naturalist, guide and then a middle school science teacher in Vermont. He holds a BS in Natural Resources from Colorado State University and an MS in Teaching from Plattsburgh State University. He continues to teach digital photography with Vermont State Colleges and leads many landscape photography workshops throughout the US and abroad. Kurt is the founder and lead instructor at Green Mountain Photographic Workshops. When he’s not traveling and making new images he lives, laughs and plays with his wife and two daughters in his adopted home state of Vermont.

Joshua Cripps

How to Create Painterly Landscapes
Available on-demand now

A longtime favorite and friend of NPC, Joshua Cripps returns with a brand-new presentation.

You’ll learn how to:

• Create images that glow with sculpted light
• Build depth and atmosphere
• Produce elegant, painterly landscapes
• Use only tools you already have in Lightroom

Bonus:
Purchase Joshua’s standalone Painterly Processing tutorial for the NPC discounted price of $59, backed by a 100% money-back guarantee.

Bio:

Joshua Cripps is a renowned landscape photographer who has garnered worldwide acclaim for his breathtaking images of our planet’s wild places. His photos have been published by the National Geographic, NASA, CNN, The Sun, and Nikon Global, among many more.

Josh grew up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and has been exploring the “Range of Light” for most of his life. Since 2015, Josh has made his home in the Eastern Sierra, one of the most spectacular and photogenic mountain landscapes in the world.

Josh is one of today’s most sought-after photography educators. He leads photo tours and speaks at conferences around the world.

Wayne Suggs

Simple Masking in Photoshop for Realistic Images
LIVE: January 21 • 4:00 pm PT / 7:00 pm ET

Many of you met Wayne Suggs through his unforgettable presentation on desert photography. His work stands out not just for subject matter, but for its subtle, masterful post-processing.

In this session, Wayne will show how:

• Simple masking techniques can create natural, believable results
• Small, intentional adjustments make a big impact
• Photoshop can be used efficiently without overcomplicating your workflow

Bio: 

Wayne Suggs, a New Mexico native, has been photographing the Southwest for almost 50 years. His love for the landscape was ingrained in him through family explorations and camping trips with his parents and siblings. For Wayne, pressing the shutter is secondary to experiencing the wild places, solitude, and being completely immersed in nature. Photography has provided him the opportunity to explore even more, to give back, and to be a voice for the environment. Wayne has expanded his work from not only the Desert Southwest, but travels the world and is a full time nature photographer for Muench Workshops. His work can be seen in galleries throughout the State of New Mexico and on his website.

Albert Dros

Streamlining Lightroom to Work for You
LIVE: January 31 • 9:00 am PT / 12:00 pm ET

One of our most requested returning speakers, Albert Dros closes out the series.

This session focuses on:

• Reading an image before you start processing
• Achieving dramatic results with simple Lightroom tools
• Building an efficient, intuitive workflow that supports your vision

Additional Perk:
Albert’s acclaimed Lightroom for Landscapes course is available to NPC participants for the special price of $57.

Bio:

Albert Dros is a 39-year-old professional landscape photographer from the Netherlands. He aims to capture places and specific moments in the best way possible by using his vision and unique style, which consists of strong, vibrant, sometimes fairytale-like images that still aim to be close to reality. Dros is known for his work from around the world in places like Greenland, Antarctica, Kyrgyzstan and his homeland The Netherlands. He recently released his new coffee table book 'the Beauty of The Netherlands' that boasts 10 years of his Dutch portfolio. Dros’ images are recognised worldwide and published by brands like National Geographic, BBC, CNN, Lonely Planet & many more. Albert Dros is an official Imaging ambassador for Sony Europe, working together closely with them for many years to show the top capabilities of Sony cameras and lenses.