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Photos to Inspire: Eddie Tapp
By Double Exposure Contributor | Photos to Inspire |
Aug 15, 2006
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All images © Eddie Tapp
By now, photographers looking to dig into the nuances of digital
imaging have probably heard of Eddie Tapp. The fact that he's been a
professional photographer of merit for many years is part of it, but
that's not all that drives the growing demand for his lectures and
workshops.
As amazing as digital photography is proving to be—from the new
professional-level cameras to the possibilities afforded by the RAW
photo format—this new medium is still intimidating. Only 40% of
professional photographers in the U.S. have made the switch from film,
and those ready to take that step want to learn from someone—preferably one of their own— who knows digital inside and out.
Eddie fits that bill. Not only is he a great photographer, he's also a
great teacher, recently nominated to the Photoshop Hall of Fame. “Eddie
is one of those instructors who has a connection with students that
just really sticks,” comments Scott Kelby, President of the National
Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP). It takes a lot of
patience and requires a better-than-usual understanding of how to shoot
and process with digital equipment.
To See a Gallery of Eddie Tapp's Images, Click Here
Years of Optimism
Over 20 years has elapsed since Eddie Tapp began tackling digital
imaging. True, the quality of the early equipment was lacking, but his
excitement over its potential kept him interested and kept him
experimenting with digital imaging workflow, color management, and
pre-press, among other issues.
It paid off. Through regular contributions to The
Professional Photographer, Photo Electronic Imaging, Infoto Magazine
and other publications, Eddie piqued the interest of professional photographers and
corporate decision-makers who shared his optimism about digital imaging. Today,
he's recognized as one of the top experts on digital photography and
Photoshop in the world.
Lately, he's been very active in educating and consulting studios,
agencies, and corporations all over the world, and his list of
professional clients is quite impressive, with Epson, Eastman Kodak,
Polaroid, and Apple Computer among them. Add to that the U.S.
Departments of Defense and Energy, other government agencies, and a
long list of photographic studios. Eddie's most rewarding partnership
is with Canon USA, as part of its “Print Masters” program, and as one
of Canon's “Explorers of Light”—the 60 most influential photographers
in the world: http://www.photoworkshop.com/canon/explorers/eddie_tapp/tapp.html
Sharing His Passion
No matter who he works for, though, Eddie's chief aim is to help fellow
photographers, professionals and amateurs alike, move gracefully into
the digital age, and he's put together several workshops and seminars
for those who want to create beautiful photos entirely with digital
equipment.
“Once or twice a year I teach a week-long Photoshop workshop in
Hawaii,” in his role as the Director of the Institute of Visual Arts in
Maui, he explains. “The objective is to create images that will be put
through the entire digital workflow process from capture, process and
output.”
Included here are some of Eddie's prints from his most recent workshop,
which show his passion for glamour shots, a predilection that's made
him a highly sought-after speaker at WPPI (Wedding & Portrait
Photographers International) events. “We start out with two days of
shooting in exotic locations, sometimes creating scenics and panorama
compositions and other times with models. Then we move into workflow,
creative and production techniques in Photoshop and finally to
finishing, printing, and color management.”
First Time in Print
Eddie also offers one- to three-day workshops, on-site staff training,
one-on-one training, and an “ETime Remote” on-line training program (www.eddietapp.com),
along with seminars in cities throughout the world. This fall, he'll
team up with photography legend Monte Zucker for a 17-city U.S. tour.
But despite his busy schedule, he can't reach everybody. So, he
recently embarked on a project that colleagues have urged him to do for
a long time: writing how-to books.
Rather than create another 800-page doorstop that glosses over
information in an effort to cover everything, Eddie is writing a series
of books that allow readers to drill down into specific topics. Eddie
Tapp on Digital Photography (from O'Reilly Media) features six books
that cover Photoshop workflow setups, color management, controlling
digital color and tone, advanced production techniques, professional
production techniques, and creative enhancement techniques.
The first book Photoshop Workflow Setups, is already available, and
the book on “Color Management” will appear this fall. What do readers
think of his approach? NAPP's Scott Kelby sums it up well: “Eddie's
easy-going style and years of real-world experience make him one of the
top trainers today.”
Let us know if you found this article useful, and tell us what kinds of articles you'd like to see in upcoming issues. Send your comments and ideas to the editor.
© Copyright 2010 by PHOTOWORKSHOP.COM
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Last Updated: Jul 10th, 2010 - 16:19:44
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