Achieving a correct exposure and not missing a shot are equally important to me. I need a tool that will help me accomplish perfect exposures quickly. Exposure Pro Plus has become my most important but easy to use tool. Our DSLR camera measures reflective light, which means that we need to know exactly where to point our camera to achieve a correct reflective light reading. Exposure Pro Plus takes out all of the guess work by showing these areas for us!

Exposure Pro Plus gives you five gray cards to choose from, when selecting a gray card Exposure Pro Plus identifies the area in your scene for you. All gray cards will accomplish the exact same results, however, to be successful, try to use the gray card that identifies the largest area.

Here is a challenging situation. A light colored bird up against a very dark background. This is the picture that I took with my iPhone using the Exposure Pro Plus app. I'm going to use this picture because the bird is not overexposed, the light striking the bird is exactly how my eye sees it.

Here are the five gray cards that I used with the Exposure Pro Plus app.

Taste of Ladera Producer Partners with Business Titans to Go Global: By Rachelle Radpour & Sabastian Dahbour

Long-time business associates of Ladera Ranch, Michelle Patterson, CEO of Event Complete, a division of TouchPointe LLC, and Val Westover and Stephanie Adriana, world-renowned photographers, have set alltime Groupon ticket sales records for their hit workshop “Capturing True Emotion” – debuting in 20 cities across America this fall.

Event Complete, a premiere full-service event management and marketing company based in Orange County, California, is designed for the savvy consumer with eclectic interests and an adventurous spirit. Specializing in festivals, charitable events and other large-scale productions, Event Complete creates, plans, and produces signature events, big and small, bringing businesses, non-profits and the community together.

Val Westover and Stephanie Adriana are passionate about fine art photography and sharing years of expertise in the field. Their inspiration, backed by the talents of Event Complete, gave birth to the widely successful “Capturing True Emotion” workshops. Event Complete’s partnership with Val Westover Photography combines
to provide unique opportunities for both beginners and seasoned shutterbugs to picture their world through the aperture of a lens.

“Partnering with Event Complete to produce our events worldwide has enabled us to break records and grow our business bigger than we could have ever imagined!” says Val Westover.

Even though Taste of Ladera, Event Complete’s 7-yearold signature production, was recently named by the Association of Restaurants’ “Best of” list, all of their featured events are memorable. From Muscle Car 1000 (a road rally showcasing exquisite automobiles) to Celebrity Chef Challenges and community wine tastings, Event Complete can design, facilitate and showcase any specialty function.

Now add Groupon as the third tent pole to this union. Groupon, an Internet sensation that brings consumers around the country daily deals at amazingly low prices, made the recent cover of Forbes magazine as the fastestgrowing company in history. Groupon CEO Andrew Mason was duly impressed with the success of Event Complete’s promotion of the photography workshops, which “shuttered” attendance records.

In an exclusive interview with Michelle Patterson, Event
Complete CEO, Mason expressed his excitement surrounding the record. “We are thrilled to share a vision with other like-minded partners benefitting consumers and giving back to our communities. Linking up with Event Complete and “Capturing True Emotion” photography workshops makes sense for all of us. We are excited to partner with you on this as well as other specialty events. Your team does an amazing job.”

Sue Shaver, Director of Operations at Event Complete, echoes the same sentiments. “This partnership is an example of success spawned from citizens and local businesses coming together to achieve amazing results and new sales records. Groupon has no equal in getting the word out about securing a bargain. For example, Tara Jones, who has helped shape our workshops and make them exceptional. Now, we’re a part of the process and
can provide our partners tools for not only getting the word out but managing the high volume, before, after, and during the big event.”

Consumers are always seeking money-saving deals in changing economic times. Groupon addressed those issues and now embraces Event Complete as the logical conduit to promote and deliver the respective deals on a local level. This past week Michelle Patterson was named Ambassador of Events by Groupon, a title she wears proudly. Event Complete is proud to partner with Groupon with the “Capturing True Emotion” workshops and several
other unique events and services. With the knowledge, sophistication and expertise in their respective areas, Event Complete, America’s favorite photographers, Westover and Adriana, and Groupon move forward together to forge an innovative business model for today’s challenging business climate, and for whatever tomorrow brings.

In a constant pursuit for a perfect exposure...

Finally, a pro tool to help achieve a well balanced exposure with your DSLR, Exposure Pro!

Cameras today achieve pretty amazing exposures in automatic mode. However, when you use automatic mode, your camera is in charge of all of your settings and your exposure. Experienced photographers paint with light, they capture light with aperture and shutter speed, they are in charge of their own exposure.

Since a DSLR camera measures reflective light, metering for a correct exposure can sometimes be a challenge, even for experienced photographers. For a well balanced exposure, experienced photographers need an 18% gray card. Carrying around a gray card is not always realistic, so experienced photographers try to find that 18% gray in their scene to achieve a correct exposure.

Since we see in color, it can sometimes be a challenge finding that 18% gray in our scene. Exposure Pro takes all of the guess work away!

How does Exposure Pro work? 

Here is how easy Exposure Pro is to use!

1. Use Exposure Pro to take a photo with your phone or IPad.

2. Find the correct gray in your scene.

- Simply move the gray card with your finger throughout your

scene to find and identify a correct match.

3. Now use your DSLR camera!

- Point your DSLR camera to the area that you have identified.

- Adjust your DSLR camera’s settings for a perfect exposure!

It’s too easy, Exposure Pro has helped take all of the guess work out of selecting what part of my scene that I need to meter and measure the light on for the exposure that I want to achieve.

Exposure Pro has taken my photography to the next level! -Val Westover

We have such amazing supporters and Capturing True Emotion Photography Workshop "graduates!" I came across a phenomenal blog post on, "A Tall Drink of Life," from Tiffany Zook in Arizona...so awesome :) Seeing our supporters spread the word about our classes and the joy of photography is what keeps us going!  See what she had to say about her experience at the workshop and expedition with us in Arizona.

Wow! We had no idea how terrific the Austin Zoo would be! I have never been so close to so many amazing animals... at the Austin Zoo there are no motes separating you from the animals, just a short barrier, 3ft distance and chain link fence! The animals are right there in front of you! INCREDIBLE! The Austin Zoo is also an Animal Rescue and Sanctuary so many of the Zoo inhabitants have been saved from bad situations or relinquished to the zoo for better care; lucky for us! When we arrived at the zoo it was raining and we had a few moments when we thought we may not be able to shoot, but Mother Nature had better plans for us and the skies cleared up and we had gorgeous weather! Val and I mainly used 2 zoom lenses, the Canon 70-200mm 2.8 lens and the Canon 400mm 2.8 lens (What a Monster! we definitely used our monopods for that one), What cool and special effects we were able to create, incredible depths of field and we were able to make chain link fences disappear! So much fun! Our participants had a super time accomplishing images that they have never done before, ALL in Manual Mode! What a great feeling to see them all getting the exposures they want.  We spent the day composing and metering, capturing the most incredible images of absolutely wonderful animals; what a day!  Come and shoot with us! Smiles to you all-Stephanie Adriana

Keep checking the website for Extended Expeditions coming to your town!

*for more info on the Austin Zoo, check out   www.austinzoo.org

What happens at a CTE Workshop and Expedition?
Yes, we do have a lot of fun! We also seem to pack an extraordinary amount of information and learning into both the Basic Elements Workshop and Expedition, go figure?!  Since we have a passion for photography it tends to shine through during the Workshop, revealing technical information and unraveling the mysteries of your gorgeous equipment is just the tip of the iceberg. Our "step by step" " No holds Barred" approach to delivering valuable material is essential to the success of our participants and  the workshop! The Expedition is the "Icing on the Cake" where we get to see the little lightbulbs of understanding go off over everyones heads! Val and I (Val really tends to go a little more overboard than me!) go to great lengths to insure our participants come away with the knowledge of their equipment and not only how to shoot in any mode of their camera but to be able to shoot in manual mode and in any lighting situation! Amazing! All different makes, brands and camera bodies, Bring it on! Val and I will make sure all of your questions are answered. Laying on our tummies, running, jumping and divulging treasured secrets and recipes for success, sky's the limit to make sure you have fun and come away with the most incredible knowledge and experience!
Well I guess you'll just have to come and see for yourself! See you in class!
FYI!! to be really successful at the Expedition make sure you buy Val's Book… it comes with the most amazing laminated "Cheat Sheet" (Fits right in your camera bag). The Cheat Sheet explains every mode of your camera and has Easy step by step intructions on how to shoot in every mode of your camera, Including Manual Mode! Click here to buy!