What People Are Saying About Harold's Light Painting Foundation Course

Rebecca Wilson

I should tell you that your course is the best I’ve taken.

I’ve been a subscriber to quite a few other well-known training sites… but have found that most of the instructors aren’t skilled teachers.

They’ll walk you through their workflow with examples and powerpoints and stunning images — but they’re not really teaching.

I would have loved to have taken your course in person, but I know I’ll benefit from reviewing lessons over time. So thanks!

Eddie Lord

I have read the reviews of Harold’s Foundation Course on this website, and I agree with all the comments that have been posted so far. I would like to specifically address the Zoom meetings of which there have been two to date, with more already planned.

These have been carefully structured, without being rigid, which makes the best use of the time available and the needs of my fellow students. The format has been a variety of Q & A's, followed by an enthusiastic demonstration by Harold, finishing with perhaps the most important aspect, which is the critique of images sent in by some of the participants.

Here, Harold will do a comprehensive critique with a brief demonstration of how techniques can be improved. The critique is masterful: giving praise where due and gently encouraging, along with explanations where areas need to be improved.
However, the Zoom meeting is not all about Harold. It also encompasses users’ solutions to problems faced, with some innovative ideas for solving those problems.

These Zoom meetings are a fantastic learning experience and hopefully will continue for some time.

Seamus Coyle

I suspect like many photographers, I have a touch of GAS ~ Gear Acquisition Syndrome!
Recently I had a serious internal debate as to whether I should update my flash system or pursue an online course in an area of photography I find fascinating ~ Light Painting.
Harold Ross is an expert in Fine Art Light Painting and for some time I would have loved to have attended one of his workshops. However between the price of travel, accommodation and the course itself it was only going to be the result of a lottery win. Along comes ~ Harold Ross - The Foundation Course ~ and the possibility of learning from the Master was now open. So I bit the bullet and invested in the course. It is an excellent investment.
The quality of the videos is superb, the content is highly detailed and well structured and an additional bonus is that I can revisit any aspect over and over again. In my case that is quite often.😁
It doesn’t end there. Harold also offers a regular Zoom session to anyone who is part of what I would describe as the Light Painting Foundation Community. I attended my first session recently for two hours of what was top-quality support. We were privileged to have a teaching session, feedback on images provided by participants and a comprehensive question-and-answer session. Once again it was well structured and presented. I learned a lot from this session, both from Harold and from some of the other participants. These sessions put the course on a completely different level.
I am so glad I didn’t have any GAS - on this occasion.😁

Tom Mangelsdorf

In today’s Internet world it’s rare to find an opportunity to learn directly from a true master. YouTubers, TikTokers, and so-called influencers abound. Harold Ross is that rare exception to all this silly clutter. If you’re considering investing in his Foundation Course video series entitled “Light Painting The Still Life”, Do it. It’s an exceptional investment. However, I’d like to point to the hidden gem that is an even more valuable part of his recorded video series – his “Regular Private Group Zoom Meetings.” These comprehensive Zoom meetings let you interact with Harold, get direct answers to your questions, learn quick tips, and watch as he demonstrates his techniques in real-time. This is the best value-add you’ll ever discover – directly from the man who perfected still life light painting.

Allan Mendez

When I reflect on my prior experience from three years ago, wherein I expended more than two times this figure for a one-on-one workshop with Harold, this recent investment truly stands out as a prudent decision to learn his technique. I remain profoundly impressed by his expertise. I remember from art history that Leonardo Da Vinci would repeatedly sketch hands, faces, human anatomy, and various objects a hundred times before tackling his masterpieces. Harold made me follow a similar methodical practice during my one-on-one workshop. He told me that achieving mastery in a technique necessitates a well-structured workflow, and Harold equipped me with precisely that, guiding me on the path to mastering the Sculpting w/ Light technique, and to put a price tag on that would be impossible.

Daniel Remer

This is an excellent course. The videos are clear and easy to follow. Beautifully put together and I am finding that they contain more information and instruction than the original course that I took directly with Harold. It took Harold over 30 years to fully develop this technique, and years to make all the videos and put this course together. I think it is very well-priced when you consider the hundreds of hours of work that has gone into it. If you then consider the utility that the course affords people who want to learn these skills, the price is worth every penny. Until I discovered light painting I never fully found expression in photography.

Bill Currier

WOW! It was absolutely the best photography training video series I have ever seen. Harold is a very unique individual. He has the artistic excellence, but his teaching ability is off the charts. That makes for a very rare combination, indeed! The amount of training/information, the professionalism displayed and the manner in which he presents the information and examples is simply wonderful. I loved it and I will be spending many hours devouring his lessons and techniques for a long time. The dashboard is so useful and well designed. I have taken a lot of workshops and have tutored under many photographers. The training was good for sure, but the materials for follow-up are not on the same planet as Harold's.

Curt Steyers

I think the course an excellent piece of work and will be extremely valuable to anyone who wants to try to master the basic concepts, techniques and workflow you employ in order to create their own light painted images. It is comprehensive and yet quite detailed. I found the Composition, Focus Point, Body Position, Lighting Techniques, Post Processing, and Print Master File sections especially well done. I think this video series is very valuable. It contains and explains all that you need to know to get started and offers the advantage that the owner can watch it over and over again, pause and stop to think about it, rewatch to be sure you get it right etc.

Jennifer Gershon

Wow! This is so comprehensive. I don't think you've missed a thing. If I were to give anyone starting this process any advice, having done the course, I would just say to give it time to breathe. I think it's important to be patient as you're working through all of the steps. I see this as a course where someone would repeatedly go through specific modules. It's definitely not a watch it once and you know what you're doing sort of thing, and that's good! Those who make the investment will put in the time and appreciate the wealth of information.

Bob Hawkins

The live footage and illustrations are very useful. There are dozens and dozens of them! It is quite apparent that, by prior experience, you have anticipated and addressed numerous “sticking points” that would otherwise perplex and frustrate the first-time student. “Correct Body Position” is only one of many examples that I can think of. The carefully done illustrations, showing the positioning of elements in the shooting phase are marvelous! The same is true of the illustrations showing various shapes and how to mask them. The fact that you demonstrated masks in real-time is extraordinarily ingenious! The overlaid text used to introduce and reinforce concepts is a terrific addition. Repetition is quite useful at driving home the important points.

Wayne Jeschke

The course is very well done! Naturally, this was no surprise, but I thought it worth saying. Even though there is nothing like being at your studio and having you personally guide one through the making of their own photographic light painting, this is a great alternative for those who can’t do that. There are also considerable savings to be had in not having to travel. I am very grateful to have it as a resource going forward that I can refer to. There is an advantage to going at your own pace and also being able to view things over again.

Steve Jimenez

As a whole, the series is very well organized and left me with no questions about the lighting process. After watching the last video, even though I am currently too busy at work to do much light painting, it made me want to drop what I was doing and start light painting immediately, which was amazing! Overall, I give the course a double thumbs up!!! I revisited the modules often over the past few days, and going back to the well-organized structure and flow of the lessons made me feel the value of owning a course that I can use for years to come. Videos are detailed, organized, and thorough. The course was put together so well, all I have are words of praise. Amazing job, Harold!!!