HDR Mastery Class Finally on DVD!!

My new HDR Mastery class is now available on DVD! I know, it's just in time for the holiday season :-) You can thank Jeremy at xTrain for all the delays (I'm more pissed off about the situation than you can possibly imagine and it's the only reason I don't have plans for any future classes with xTrain).

The DVD covers the techniques I use to create many of the images I post on this site. If you've ever seen an image that resembles an illustration more than a photograph, then you were looking at an HDR image. It's also possible an image that looks more like a straight photograph as well. This DVD would be useful for images where:

1. Shadow detail is overly important
2. The scene contains a wide brightness range (beyond what can be captured in a single shot)
3. You'd like to exaggerate textures and other fine details
4. A scene looks overly busy and you'd to produce a unique look to the image

There are 4 sections to this DVD course:

• Shooting for HDR
• Merging Exposures
• Processing HDR Files
• Enhancement in Photoshop!

I'm sure the question will come up, so I thought I'd answer it here: I do not offer any special discounts for people who have taken the on-line version of this class. Why? Because I don't have a list of those people and don't care to maintain a system of keeping track of them since it would distract me from spending time developing new techniques and going out shooting. You could check with xTrain... they might have such a program set up, but I haven't heard anything to indicate that they do.

Comments

[Stephen]

The situation with xtrain is too bad but now maybe (possibly) you could consider making a HDR class at KelbyTraining :)

[Ben Willmore]

Stephen,

The HDR class from xTrain is great... it just took forever to get it released on DVD.

I have no plans to duplicate it at Kelby training... I'd rather come up with different content for them.

-Ben

[Mattias]

Are your sure? I was just going to subscribe to xtrain, just to get your content. But now the DVD looks like a smarter choice.

Are you moving on to Kelby Training instead?

[Dave]

Ben,

Please have this DVD available for sale on Amazon. The only way myself and all the people who work with me will buy it if it's sold on amazon. A lot of us want to buy the DVD only that way. Many people will only buy stuff like that if it's on amazon, please do whatever it takes to get it on there.

Dave

[Mike]

I saw this post on your heading back to Florida post and have to agree with the poster, I think what he said is a great ideea for future training from you, I will copy and paste the copy of his post here.

"Now that you are on Kelby Training what I would like to see from you eventually is the following. An online class version of your old Digital Mastery Seminar updated and slightly streamlined to be a little shorter in duration, most of the key points up there and you using CS3 of course with it. This online version of your old seminar updated will be amazing. I will only join Kelby Training's site once you have something like that available. Please post here and give us an idea of when such a thing might be possible."

[Ben Willmore]

Mattias,

I'd say the DVD is a smarter choice since you can view it at any time, even if you're not online. If xTrain hadn't screwed up, then I would have more titles with them... I had recording time reserved, but I cancelled it since they hadn't delivered on what they had promised (they said I'd get DVDs in 3-4 weeks and it ended up being 4-5 months).

I plan to create at least five titles for Kelby Training. I have no plans to do future titles with xTrain at this point. They screwed up on the delivery of my DVD and that's turned me off to them.

Dave,

The DVD will not be on amazon unless xTrain does something to get it there. Why wouldn't you just order it from my digitalmastery.com web site? Why should I spend my energy getting it on amazon when it's available on my site? You have not provided any reason to spend the energy required to have amazon carry the title.

Mike,

The people who produce DVDs/on-line classes have a formula they are trying to fit me into... classes that are two hours in length and can be divided into multiple sessions. My Digital Mastery Seminar doesn't quite fit that formula. I'd consider doing the seminar as a series of DVDs, but it sounds like I'd have to produce it myself since it doesn't fit the mold of the people who have asked me to do DVD/online training. That might happen one day, but for now I'm going to come up with some titles that fit the DVD/online producers formula.

-Ben

[SuzyR]

Oh, goody, it's out on DVD! On what date does the holiday special of $49 end? Thank you.

[magnusrydstrom]

Hi Ben!

Could you please make them produce a region 2-version of this DVD? I think we are quite alot of people residing outside of the US that'd like to purchase it.

[Mike]

Ben,

I hope sometime in the new year you will be able to make the digital Mastery Seminar DVD. I will be the first to buy it. The best bet for a DVD like this to make it playable on a set top DVD player connected to the TV that way it works on the TV and computer and is much easier to relax and watch it similar to how your Mastering Camera RAW and Mastering Color DVD's are TV viewable. Can't wait and good luck.

[Daniel]

Ben,

I'm the one who originally posted on your other page about the idea of having your full seminar on DVD. Based on what your response was to the other 2 people, here is another idea, let me know if this is feasable. I know onlnie training like Xtrain or Kelby Training the classes have to be short. I do know that on Lynda.com they can even be 30 hour classes and are sold onlnie as obline training plus on DVD-ROM's. Deke McLellend ha a bunch on there and so do other authors. The way they have Photoshop CS3 Essential training from 1 author, Photoshop One-on-one with Deke and several other with other authors, it's a place where many authors go to have classes, the more view you get the more money they constantly pay you. It can't hurt to have your training there for the entire long seminar of Digital Mastery and to have the rest of your Training on Kelby Training. Also by being on Lynda.com your name will get out there and exposed to millions who never heard of you plus your loyal fans will get to see this. It's a win win for you. When you finally do have the time and are ready to create this I hope you put it on there. Please let me know what you think of what I just said.

Daniel

[Ben Willmore]

Mike,

I don't want to produce any DVDs that play on television sets since the quality is much lower and it's impossible to read the numbers in the Info palette or see subtle changes like sharpening. I know what you mean about the convenience of it though.

Daniel,

Both Lynda.com and TotalTraining.com offer extended classes. Something like that might happen in the future, but for now I'm going to create some titles for Kelby Training.

-Ben

[Ben Willmore]

The DVD is a computer DVD, not one that will play in a DVD player/TV. That means that you can use it in any country... there is no need for more than one version.

-Ben

[Todd Williams]

Ben,

Great, I saw this tonite and just went and bought it from you. Always hesitated to do the training, I don't know, wasn't sure that I'd have to keep up the tuition to access your classes. So the DVD is perfect thanks.

Todd

[Daniel]

Ben,

Please consider the totaltraning or lynda.com route for the futute, even in a year or so later for the Photoshop Mastery Seminar and keep the rest to Kelby Training. I know your competitors have intense stuff on there, your stuff is always better. Anyone will learn way more from even 6 hours of you then 60 hours of Deke or the other.

Daniel

[Howard]

Ben,
I agree completely with your decision concerning XTrain. Today, people let themselves be at the mercy of retailers and others "in control." We fail to realize that we have the power in our hands. By withholding something - like your DVD support of XTrain, or our purchasing dollars - that can send a strong message to those "in control" that they need to be a little more aware of the consumer. But, there are so many people around today, and money seems so abundant, it probably wouldn't do any good.
But with your good name and skills, I imagine XTrain, and others, will listen to what you do and say.
I look forward to receiving the DVD.
Howard

[Jon]

Ben,

Excellent series! After completing my first month, I called to cancel my subscription, and when they asked why, I told them that your class was the only reason I had signed-up in the first place. They tried to entice me to stay by telling me that they "thought" there was more training in the works from you. Guess that's not gonna happen. But thanks for the HDR class!

Didn't get a chance to post the HDR images that I was working on based on your instruction, so here are the links to some of them:
http://www.pbase.com/haverstick/indiana
http://www.pbase.com/haverstick/street

Best,

Jon

[Stephen]

The fact that I have to call to cancel a subscription to xTrain is the single reason why I'll not sign up. I'm not a fan of companies that say you can cancel at any time but will not allow you to cancel the same way you signed up.

[Ben Willmore]

Nice work Jon,

I might one day do more sessions for xTrain, but I doubt it will be anytime soon. They simply dropped the ball and messed up my holiday selling season. Glad to hear you enjoyed the class.

-Ben

[Mattias]

Ben,

Will this DVD be sold somewhere else than on your site? I wanted it shipped to Sweden but I found 75 dollar a bit to steep for the shipping of one DVD. Normal postage usually don't cost more than 7 dollar.

Sorry.

[Ben Willmore]

Mattias,

That's expensive!

I won't be doing anything on my end to get it listed with other resellers (it's just not worth my time for the small number of international orders I'd get). xTrain.com might have a different arrangement for international shipping (I don't know).

It might be better for you to take the on-line version of the class since it sounds like it would cost you a lot less (www.xtrain.com/ben).

-Ben

[Jeremy Vest]

Hey,

This is Jeremy Vest with xTrain.com

I totally understand why everyone is so upset with our delay in getting the HDR DVD produced.

We completly understand the negative response and promise 100% customer satification.

We have learned from this and take customer service very serious. As a new company we will correct our mistakes.

Also you do not have to call to cancel on xTrain.com you can send a support request.

[Ben Willmore]

I'd have to say that Jeremy has done a great job handling any problems that have been encountered with the on-line class and DVD once it's gotten into customer's hands. He usually responds very quickly and goes beyond what is expected to make a customer happy.

-Ben