Workshop Archived – Gabriel Biderman Photography

Take your Lightpainting to the next level at the Woodlawn Cemetery Workshop

Posted on November 7, 2014February 10, 2015 by Gabriel Biderman

Matt Hill and I got to visit Woodlawn the other night and prep for our workshop next week. There are so many cool sculptures and structures to lightpaint there – that we didn’t want to leave! One of the first rules of light painting is not to “paint” from the same angle as your camera – that creates the most uninteresting light that lacks shadows and depth.

The Reisinger memorial provides a very nice challenge of how to paint. I took a flash with a 3/4 cut CTO gel and stood behind or to a 90 degree angle to each column. This pop of warm light created the dramatic shadow from the center far column and wonderful side or rim light to the others. I was surprised to also see so many stars could be seen – note the vivid start trails that popped here in the city.

There are still a few spots left for next week’s workshop and the moon will not be up while we are shooting so we will have the darkest skies, brightest stars, and a ton of fun things to paint!

Carpe Noctem!

Woodlawn Cemetery Night Photography Workshop

Posted on October 17, 2014February 10, 2015 by Gabriel Biderman — 2 Comments

Woodlawn Cemetery is a 400-acre outdoor museum with an unrivaled collection of monuments, over 1300 significant mausoleums, which were designed by legendary architects, landscape designers, and sculptors. You will be transported in time as you walk the grounds and take in Art Nouveau, Egyptian, Greek, and Romanesque Revival architecture styles.

Since it’s inception in 1863, Woodlawn has become one of New York City’s irreplaceable treasures and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2011.

And now you have an opportunity to capture this magnificent place at night. Matt Hill and I are offering a two-night workshop on November 14^th-15^th. There will be no moon while we are shooting, so this is a great workshop to hone your light painting skills. We will have access to go inside several grand mausoleums, illuminate beautiful stain glass, and get lots of hands on training from Matt and I.

You can choose to shoot just one night – or if you take both you will be able to get feedback on your work at the critique on Saturday. We also feel that by shooting on consecutive nights you will become more proficient with your night photography skills as well as explore more of this amazing location.

Tuition, per night: $150

REGISTER HERE
Date: Friday November 14th from 4pm-11pm and Saturday November 15^th from 2pm – 11pm
Instructors: Gabriel Biderman and Matt Hill
Where: Woodlawn Cemetery, Jerome Avenue Entrance, Bronx, NY
Required Gear: (Film or Digital): camera, tripod, and cable release. A full gear guide will be sent to you upon registration.

The above photos were taken by Matt and Gabe from previous workshops at the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

The below images are examples from the Woodlawn Cemetery and taken by workshop coordinator Peter Nagy.

Seize the Night Workshop at Woodstock’s Center for Photography

Posted on July 21, 2014February 10, 2015 by Gabriel Biderman — 1 Comment

I’m very excited to be returning to the Center for Photography to teach a 2 1/2 day workshop on Night Photography. The school is located in Woodstock, NY and we will spend our nights exploring the celestial skies and historic locations around the beautiful Catskill region. The daylight hours will be filled with a variety of lectures, priming you to get the best out of your nocturnal visions. After shooting, we will share our images and give valuable feedback of your work. This, and plenty of hands-on learning in the field, will help you take your images to the next level.

Whether you are new to the night or want to improve your technique, you are bound to gain more inspiration during this weekend workshop.

The dates are Friday September 19th – Sunday September 21st. Class size is limited to 15 people and the Tuition is $340 or $310 if you are a member of CPW.

To find out more or register go to: Seize the Night at Center for Photography

New Moon Bannerman Night Photography Workshop

Posted on July 8, 2014February 10, 2015 by Gabriel Biderman — 1 Comment

Bannerman SE entrance ~ Nikon D800 & 16-35 lens ~ 8 minutes at f/5.6 ~ ISO 100

You heard it folks – for the first time Matt Hill and I will be offering a New Moon Night Photography Workshop on Bannerman Island!

This will mean lots of opportunities to do light painting and play with the more stars than ever before – rumor has it we might even be able to see the Milky Way!

Bannerman Castle is a turn of the century “castle” that rests upon the small, lonely island of Pollepel about an hour north of NYC in the middle of the Hudson River. Perhaps you’ve seen it on a train ride north or on a boat tour from Beacon; it has mystified generations of people and now you will have the opportunity to photograph it at night. This will be a rare overnight excursion, so bring a tent if you think you will sleep, though last time we shot until 9am! Thom Johnson, co-founder of the trust and author of the book Bannerman Castle (NY) (Images of America), will be on the island for a historical tour before we set up our tripods and focus on creating some truly outstanding images.

Gabriel and Matt will go over the basics of night photography and how to successfully meter, capture star trails, star points, paint with light, and hone your “night vision”. The majestic Castle and Residence will be the main focus but there are many little details on the island that will be yours to capture, including the Twin Towers, rising from the water, that guard the south harbor. This will be a very hands-on, one-night workshop that is sure to add some amazing images to your portfolio. We work with the Bannerman Trust to get this unique access to the island. There are basic facilities on Bannerman, but think of it as a camping adventure – and bring with a tent and sleeping bag….though don’t expect to sleep much! The armoury, or castle as most people call it, has recently added several stabilization poles to it continue to stand tall against the elements. I don’t see these being removed any time soon and your photographs can either embrace them or there are shots like the one above which is an angle that doesn’t have the supports in it. Below is what the castle looks like now and was taken by good friend Rob Yasinsac whose book Hudson Valley Ruins: Forgotten Landmarks of an American Landscape is a wonderful history and guide to some of New Yorks finest and forgotten ruins.

20110913_Bannerman_Fuji_027 — Fuji X100 ~ 10m at f/11 ~ ISO 200

Logistics:

Saturday August 23rd from 5pm until 9am Sunday August 24th.

Fee: $350 for one night. Payable by check/money order to the Bannerman Castle Trust. All money goes to support the Trust and help stabilize the castle and island. Please contact me for this information.

Boat transportation to the island and from Cornwall on the Hudson are included in the price. We recommend that you bring your own food, snacks, and water. Tents and sleeping bags are recommended, if you want to sleep. No animals live on the island but there can be poison ivy. Please wear the appropriate shoes and clothing (shorts are not recommended). Portable toilets are located on one side of the island.

This is an extraordinary night adventure and is limited to 6 people.

Technical Requirements:
Film and/or Digital SLR Camera, Tripod, & Cable Release

Who should attend: You must be familiar with your camera, especially in Manual Mode. A full list of suggested gear will be sent to you upon payment.

Cancellation Policy: $50 cancellation fee if you need to cancel once you have paid. If we need to cancel due to weather, we will do our best to reschedule for later this year, and full refund would be available.

To check out more of my 2014 night photography workshops, including an epic 10 day adventure to Namibia – one of the clearest places in the world for stargazing, go to the recently updated workshop page.

6/14 Bannerman Island Workshop with Matt Hill

Posted on May 5, 2014February 10, 2015 by Gabriel Biderman — 1 Comment

Bannerman Castle 03 ~ Mamiya 7 with 43mm lens ~ 1 1/2 hours at f/11 ~ Fuji Acros 100 film

Join photographers Gabriel Biderman and Matt Hill as we lead you on a night photography tour of one of the oldest and most inspiring locations in all of NY – Bannerman Castle. This turn of the century castle rests upon the small, lonely island of Pollepel about an hour north of NYC in the middle of the Hudson River. Perhaps you’ve seen it on a train ride north or on a boat tour from Beacon; it has mystified generations of people and now you will have the opportunity to photograph it at night.

This will be a rare overnight excursion, so bring a tent if you think you will sleep, last time we shot until 9am! Thom Johnson, co-founder of the trust and author of the book Bannerman Castle (NY) (Images of America), will be on the island for a historical tour before we set up our tripods and focus on creating some truly outstanding images under the full moon.

Logistics:

We are making this unique opportunity available only one time in 2014:

Saturday June 14th from 6pm until 9am Sunday June 15th.

Fee: $350 for one night. Payable by check/money order to the Bannerman Castle Trust. Please contact me for this information.

Boat transportation to the island and from Cornwall on the Hudson are included in the price. We recommend that you bring your own food, snacks, and water. Tents and sleeping bags are recommended, if you want to sleep. No animals live on the island but there is poison ivy. Please wear the appropriate shoes and clothing (shorts are not recommended). Portable toilets are located on one side of the island.

This is an extraordinary night adventure and is limited to 6 people.

Technical Requirements:
Film and/or Digital SLR Camera, Tripod, & Cable Release

Who should attend: You must be familiar with your camera, especially in Manual Mode. A full list of suggested gear will be sent to you upon payment.

Carpe Noctem!

Photo by Matt Hill