Specialized Seminars

In addition to the introductory seminar and the advanced seminars that build upon it, we also offer special seminars on selected topics at irregular intervals. These events address specific questions, applications, or experimental methods and provide an in-depth look at specific aspects of optical metrology and imaging. The spectrum ranges from practical experiments and application-oriented measurement methods to thematic excursions, such as into analog photography.

• Special Seminar »Photography in Practice«
• Analog Photography Course »One Day, Ten Photos«

Special Seminar »Photography in Practice«

New to the program is a one-day seminar dedicated specifically to image capture techniques. This seminar is aimed not only at our customers from research and industry, but also at ambitious professional and prosumer photographers.

Planned topics

From photon to image

• Structure and function of a sensor
• Noise sources and their characteristics
• Bayerpattern and X-Trans

Exposure

• Sensitivity, ISO values and pixel sizes
• Over- and underexposure
• The exposure triangle: motion blur, depth of field, noise
  ➙ Practice tips

Resolution

• MTF, including test shots with Siemens star
• Good and bad blur, moiré effects
• Diffraction blur and aperture
• Depth of field, entrance and exit pupil
  ➙ Practice tips

Illumination and reflectivity

• Law of distance
• Gloss and mattness
• Directional reflection and the law of reflection
• Diffuse reflection and Lambert's law of radiation
• Color, albedo, remission and contrast
• Rayleigh scattering (haze, sky blue)
• Mie scattering (whitemist filter)
• Tyndall effect (fog)
• Geometric scattering (blackmist filter)
• Diffraction (hair in backlight)
• Polarization and Brewster angle
• Polarization of the sky

Filter

• Neutral density filter (to control motion blur)
• Polarization filter (reduction of reflections, deep blue sky)
• White and blackmist filter (soft focus)
• Color filters (black and white photography)
  ➙ Practice tips

Geometric parameters

• Focal level
• Scheimpflug principle with tilt lenses, including practical test
• Depth of field, including practical test
• Brewster angle, including practical test
  ➙ Practice tips

Image enhancement

• Using AI: the difference between a »beautiful« and a »correct« image

Analog Photography Course »One Day, Ten Photos«

Mindful analog photography with a medium-format camera.

This is not a workshop for corporate clients, but is aimed more at ambitious hobbyists or young photographers who lack formal training in traditional photographic techniques.

What’s it all about?

In the age of digital photography, a photo costs nothing—except for a little space on a memory card, and even there, thousands of photos can fit. Anything you don’t like is simply deleted. As a result, many people have forgotten how to take the time to plan a shot with foresight. If you’re feeling cynical, you could call this »bulimic photography«.

What do we do?

We shoot analog on medium-format film, which holds only 10 images. Since every image costs money, it makes sense to consciously pay attention to focus, light and shadow, and composition before pressing the shutter.

These skills also help when shooting with digital cameras.

What do we use?

Camera

• Mamiya RB 67
• 3.5" »analog live view« display with magnifier
• Manual focus
• Manual exposure settings
• Switch between horizontal and vertical orientation
• 6 × 7 cm negative size, 10 frames per roll

Lens

• MAMIYA SEKOR 127 mm F/3.8 (KB 61.5 mm)
  oder
• MAMIYA SEKOR 90 mm F/3.8 (KB 43.5 mm)

Film

• 120 color negative roll film with 400 ISO (Kodak Portra 400)
  or
• 120 black-and-white negative roll film with 400 ISO (Ilford XP2-Super 400)

Filter

• Polarizing filter
• Color filters: red, yellow, green, and blue

Exposure metering

• TTArtisan Light Meter II
  or
• »Sunny sixteen« rule

Flash unit

• Metz 45-CL4 stick flash

Tripod with ball head and cable release

The exposed film is then developed and scanned in a professional lab; in addition to the negatives, the images are made available digitally at a resolution of 28 megapixels.

Why medium format?

We are accustomed to the quality of modern digital cameras, which with analog 35 mm film could only be achieved using very low-sensitivity film. The 6 × 7 cm medium format offers 4.5 times the surface area and thus delivers excellent image quality even with higher-sensitivity film.

Why Manual Focus?

Doing without autofocus requires deliberate control over focus and depth of field. Focusing also demands concentration and a delicate touch.

Because the focal length is significantly longer than that of full-frame or APS-C cameras, a shallower depth of field can be achieved and the focus can be accentuated, which is part of what gives medium-format photography its distinctive look.

Why fixed focal lengths instead of zoom lenses?

Fixed focal lengths require you to adjust your shooting distance and position to suit the subject, which means you have to pay close attention to the geometry and composition of the image.

In addition, fixed focal lengths generally offer higher image quality and larger apertures, allowing them to produce more bokeh.

Why manual exposure?

Without automatic exposure, your eye for contrast in the image becomes more acute, and you can avoid or intentionally create saturation in the image through overexposure or underexposure.

Why do we use a Mamiya RB67?

Wir haben uns für diese Kamera entschieden, da sie einige interessante Eigenschaften hat:

• 6 × 7 cm negatives for optimal image quality.
• Switching from portrait to landscape format is easily done by rotating the film cassette.
• The film cassette can be swapped at any time, allowing you to change the film (e. g., different ISO value or from negative to slide, etc.).
• Very precise focusing via bellows.
• A 7 × 7 cm focusing screen provides a bright viewfinder image and an optimal overview of the image composition. The borders for portrait and landscape formats are displayed on the focusing screen.
• A light shaft prevents reflections from sunlight, ensuring that the viewfinder image is always clearly visible.
• A fold-out magnifier aids in focusing or checking details.
• The top-down view creates the lower shooting position typical of medium format—at chest or waist height—and thus provides a perspective that is often advantageous.

Schedule

Brief Introduction

1. Analog Photography
   • What are the differences between digital and analog?
   • What technical aspects should you pay attention to?
     (Exposure, focus, depth of field, etc.)
2. Tips for Composition
   • Golden Ratio, use of lines
   • Cropping, bokeh
   • Contrast
3. Introduction to the camera being used

Outdoor photo hunt in pairs

Each person receives a film cartridge with the desired film; each pair receives a camera with a lens, filter, light meter, flash, tripod, etc. We encourage discussion within the group about subject selection and composition, as well as the technical aspects of photography.

As a useful supplement, we recommend attending our seminar »Photography in Practice«, beforehand, which provides a very concise yet comprehensive overview of the relevant parameters, filter techniques, and shooting methods.

Our seminars offer you in-depth specialist knowledge, practical examples and interactive discussions—everything to prepare you optimally for the use of state-of-the-art optoelectronic components. We look forward to welcoming you to our events!

The exact dates and venues will be announced here shortly. Please contact us if you are interested or follow us on LinkedIn, to stay up to date.