Photography Class with Raiko Hartman

I have been taking a photography class through the South Bay Adult School, one night a week for ten weeks. Our teacher, Raiko Hartman, is an award winning photographer who has been a successful commercial photographer for over 20 years. His work focuses on people and product, so that is what I have been learning in his class. We finished week six, so there are four classes to go.

Each week he gives us detailed instructions and a homework assignment, which has forced enabled me to take some really interesting photos. I usually have my face about a foot from the food I am photographing, so now I have to go out into the real world where what you are shooting is jumping, waving, running, flying and basically not sitting wonderfully immobile on its plate. It has made me appreciate my own chosen subjects that just sit there and go duh as I take my time with macro focusing, never moving a crumb, fork or noodle.

The photo of the bee, above, was the wild animal assignment. Unfortunately, the whole wild animal contingent around my house was hiding out because it had been pouring rain for a week. This little bee in the Bird of Paradise was the only wild thing I could find to photograph.

Here are the photos for the other assignments I have had so far. Each one was an adventure and a challenge.

An example of short depth of field, where the background is out of focus.

Time exposure at night of a big red truck.

Panning, as you keep the camera focused on the subject as he is moving.

Stop Action One

Stop Action Two

Long depth of field, foreground and background in focus, at the Manhattan Beach Pier

People portrait of my neighbor, Gourmet Larry

Pet portrait of Gourmet Larry’s cat, Homie

Architectural Assignment for next week

I’m hoping that this photo class will help me be a better photographer of food for my website. At the very least I am learning more about my camera and all its bells and whistles. And it gets me out of the house and away from my computer. A good thing.