Hal "Bull" Schmitt is one of my favorite digital photography instructors - which is one of the reasons why I am looking forward to our Alaska Digital Photography Workshop in 2014.

Schmitt reminds us of important things to consider when it comes to our photography:

S - Situational awareness – be aware of everything that is going on around you.
C - Create a checklist. (Check out Hal's checklist for you.)
H - The Histogram is your camera's built-in light meter. Use it. Always.
M - Master the Manual mode. It is the best way to learn about exposure.
I - Import into Lightroom carefully. Always know where you photos "live."
T - A good tripod is one of your best photo investments.
T - Learn technology, but don't let it get in your way of having fun. If you are not having fun, you are doing something wrong.

The idea of compiling photo concepts from the letters in Hal's last name was generate by Peary Spagth, one of my Iceland photo workshop participants. Peary put together the following piece on my Iceland workshop. As Perry says . . .

Rick reminds us of......

Being Aware of the Quality of the Light - The "AQ" of Light.

When we are about to photograph a scene or a subject, we remember to slip our favorite CD into our mind's CD player.

Our favorite CD, of course, is "CD-RICK".

"CD" reminds us of the two most important elements of light:
CONTRAST and DIRECTION

And "RICK" reminds us of the other important elements of light:
Reflection
Intensity
Color
Kinetics (Movement)

Speaking of light, you can learn more about light, and composition, on my two Kelby Training classes: Light - the main element in every photograph, and Composition - the strongest way of seeing.

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If you can not join us in Alaska, all my workshops are listed on my 2014 Workshops page.

This post is made possible by my sponsors. Please visit their web sites.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. When I asked Hal to send me his best photograph of an eagle, he sent me two: the one that opens this post and the one below. Both great shots!