Digital Photography Lighting for Dummies by Dirk Fletcher

Learn how to improve your lighting technique with our very own Harrington College of Design Digital Photography Chair and instructor Dirk Fletcher’s new book: Digital Photography Lighting for Dummies!   Scheduled to be released in November of 2010, check out the product description below, compliments of the book’s listing on Amazon. 

 Digital Photography Lighting For Dummies features the tools, concepts, and steps you need to give your subjects a high-quality look and feel. Everyone from advanced beginners to aspiring professional photographers will improve their understanding of lighting basics as well as the parts and functions of their camera.

• Explains the different kinds of lighting that different situations require and guides you through changing the settings on your camera
• Shows you how to set up equipment to capture the photograph you want with the proper amount of light and shadow
• Offers information on the latest lighting equipment and accessories
• Includes techniques and skills used by film photographers like David Bailey, Ansel Adams, and Annie Leibovitz

Reach for Digital Photography Lighting For Dummies and take your knowledge of lighting and photography to the next level!

Very cool Dirk, can’t wait to read it 🙂

 Photo courtesy Amazon.com

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Harrington at NeoCon: The Booth

The Harrington College of Design booth at NeoCon 2010 had a stunning design that attracted many visitors, including Merchandise Mart President, Chris Kennedy.  The booth was designed entirely by Harrington students (see below for names!) in the ELE319 Exhibit Design class led by Communication Design Chair and instructor Brad Kisner, and Interior Design Chair and instructor John Martin-Rutherford this past Spring.

Check out a short film of the booth created by Harrington’s Digital Photography Chair and instructor Dirk Fletcher, who shot the video with Canon’s 14mm, 24mm–70mm and 100-400mm L lenses along with the Zeiss 25mm.

Harrington Student Designers of the Harrington College of Design NeoCon 2010 Booth included:
Jessica Kraynak, Laura Schlueter, Currie Heinze, Allan Nacapuy, Katelyn Smith, Christie Smith, Rich Milligan, Lauren Howell, Kathryn Hutchens, Katie Pope, Dianna Speisman, Amy Cracchiolo and Angela Bowen. 

Harrington Booth General Contractor: Jim Kursar/ndio inc.
Harrington Booth Flooring donated by Vortex Commercial Flooring

Booth photos and video courtesy Dirk Fletcher

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Breaking into Photography

Breaking into a new industry is a daunting task for anyone… however, in Photography, passion, drive and few tips can help get you there. Dirk Fletcher, Digital Photography Department Chair at the Harrington College of Design, shares some insight and advise…

Building your Portfolio
“In order to be a successful professional photographer, you need to get your hands on the most diverse body of up-to-date professional photo equipment. The wider variety of equipment a student can experience while in school, the better they will be prepared for the diverse, and changing commercial photography marketplace. This will be an asset whether you enter the market as a photographer’s assistant or begin shooting right out of school,” Dirk explains.

Building your Expertise
In addition to a strong and unique portfolio that demonstrates your experience handling various types of equipment, it is also important that you build up some expertise in a few other areas. “In the past, the photographer would shoot the film and the lab would handle it from there. Now the photographer is responsible for the entire process,” Fletcher says.

Building your Future Business
In addition to developing your portfolio and building your expertise, it’s also important to develop the business skills necessary to run a successful (and profitable!) career. “Take as many business classes as your school offers. If the school you are looking at does not offer business classes, keep looking,” says Fletcher. “If you look at successful photographers today, you will find the individuals that are active in networking both in and outside of the industry.”

As Fletcher explains, “First and foremost, your product is your images. Many talented photographers struggle with this because they are passionate about the work and that is where they place all their focus.” Talent and passion are important, but a solid understanding of business and how to market and promote your work is essential for becoming known in the industry and launching your career in Photography.

 

 

About Dirk Fletcher:
With more than sixteen years experience in corporate industrial photography, Dirk Fletcher is the Department Chair of the Digital Photography department at Harrington College of Design. Fletcher graduated from Brooks Institute of Photography in California, in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts in Commercial/Illustration Photography. Fletcher’s work has been published in national newspapers and magazines, annual reports, and advertisements. To balance his high-tech days, he enjoys shooting with “old school” tools and techniques. His favorite camera is a custom-made, super-wide-angle pinhole camera that allows for a sweeping panoramic feel. Fletcher’s personal work—which is influenced by industrial greats Winston Link and Andreas Feininger—records skyscrapers, bridges, airplanes, railroads and bridges, as well as his wife and two young sons.

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Digital Photography Instructor Dirk Fletcher’s “Images of Apathy” Series

Shown in Gallery 1101 at Southern Illinois University from April 5^th – May 7^th 2010,  Dirk Fletcher’s series “Images of Apathy” is a series that displays a rare insight into Chicago metro riders on their way to and from their busy schedules in the city. Using a 1000mm Maksutav Tele-Objectiv, Dirk took his photography through two inches of tinted glass to catch the fleeting glimpses of Chicago’s busy commuters. 

 

“The more time I spend with these images, the more pervasive the thread linking the work appears. An awkward or uncomfortable blend of apathy and posturing permeates the work. Initially, I was amused by the striking similarities between the diverse populations that kept appearing outside my window. Soon after the project began I became saddened while studying the images as a body of work by the complete lack of expression that is so prevalent. Oddly enough, I’ve made a conscious effort to smile while commuting, hoping it will pay itself forward,” Dirk said.

To see the complete body of work, visit www.dirkfletcher.com.

Photo courtesy Dirk Fletcher

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Harrington Alum, Joel Pearish to Embark on a Trip (and Project) of a Lifetime (Part II)

This feature is continued from yesterday.

The Challenge:
1 photographer with 1 assistant to shoot 140 Korean War Memorials in 47 states within budget from the beginning of April 2010 to mid-June 2010. Dependent on how the timing works, Joel may then be offered an additional contract to photograph the Canadian locations as well.

As Dirk Fletcher, one of Joel’s Photography instructors from the Harrington College of Design said, “The cool thing about this project is the mission: global awareness, which is one of the CEC’s main objectives. The client is literally on the other side of the world, and this alum from Indiana will be here taking photos that could be cherished by Korean families as a memorial and honor to their heritage. A project like this is going to help inform a nation.”

Dirk Fletcher will be the US Producer for the project, responsible for coordinating the photography of all of the US locations and for the review of all of the photos before their ultimate submission to Sungrak.

I’ll keep you updated as Joel moves throughout the country on this exciting project – if you haven’t already done so, be sure to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss out!

About Dirk Fletcher:
With more than sixteen years experience in corporate industrial photography, Dirk Fletcher is the Department Chair of the Digital Photography department at Harrington College of Design. Fletcher graduated from Brooks Institute of Photography in California, in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts in Commercial/Illustration Photography and is currently pursuing a Masters in Digital Filmmaking at Governors State University. After moving to Chicago ten years ago he established a freelance business and served as staff photographer at the Museum of Science and Industry, until he was asked to launch Harrington’s new commercial digital photography program in 2004.

Fletcher’s work has been published in national newspapers and magazines, annual reports, and advertisements. To balance his high-tech days, he enjoys shooting with “old school” tools and techniques. His favorite camera is a custom-made, super-wide-angle pinhole camera that allows for a sweeping panoramic feel. Fletcher’s personal work—which is influenced by industrial greats Winston Link and Andreas Feininger—records skyscrapers, bridges, airplanes, railroads and bridges, as well as his wife and two young sons.

Photo courtesy Dirk Fletcher

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