Hi. My name is Ben and I am a software trainer, designer & video editor.
I have been working and creating projects for print, video and the internet for more than 15 years.
Working with small and medium size businesses as well as teaching in-house, classroom based and online one-to-one software training classes I have a wealth of experience and knowledge. I’d love to find out how I can help your business.
As a designer I like to work in partnership with clients in order to bring together my creative & technical experience and the specialist knowledge that each individual business will have with their customers. Working together I can enable you to take control of you business web-site, video and graphic design.
I am currently based in Regina, Saskatchewan.
The services I offer include software training courses, graphic design and video production. I also produce instructional tutorials for the web-site Skillfeed.
If you’d like to chat to me about a project or course just drop me an e-mail. You can contact me at design@benhalsall.com or connect with me on Linkedin . You can also sign up to my mailing list to receive news & free access to some of my online courses – join here.
I can customise courses to suit your needs just drop me an e-mail at design@benhalsall.com . I’m always happy to have a chat to see if I can help.
Is Regina too far away? I teach online courses one-to-one, in small groups or via Skype.
Here is a list of courses that I offer. If there is no course outline listed then get in touch at design@benhalsall.com :
I love teaching software online using Skype & Google Hangouts.
Online teaching gives you the flexibility to organise training sessions at times that suit you.
Whether you need an hour long refresher or a longer more in depth course just get in touch.
I am happy to demonstrate how this can work for a 15 minute trial session. Just send me an e-mail at design@benhalsall.com .
I have been working as an online trainer for Skillfeed since August 2013 & Skillshare in January 2015.
You will find my videos as well as some awesome online courses from other instructors on the Skillfeed site .
Whether is is Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Excel or even Painting and Spanish this is a great site to check out.
I have taught professional software courses in the United Kingdom, Ontario, Québec & Saskatchewan.
I now offer training for Microsoft, Adobe and Apple software including Word, Excel, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign & Final Cut Pro X as well as a number of other software courses.
Courses can be arranged to suit your schedule. They can be delivered as full day training or in blocks of 2 hours.
You can choose where the course runs. If you want to organise in house training or would like me to arrange a venue in Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg or Ottawa then just get in touch. For even more flexibility why not try a live one-to-one online class.
The courses I deliver are taught at a pace that suits the level and expertise of each student. My teaching philosophy means that I like to engage everyone in the topics being covered. This means plenty of time for questions, a hands-on approach where you get time to practice a technique rather than being rushed through it as well as the ability to modify the course on-the-fly to respond to the questions you need answered for your day-to-day work.
To find out more about personalised software training with a friendly and knowledgeable expert with over 15 years experience then get in touch. I’d love to find out more about what you are looking for whether it be introductory, advanced or bespoke courses.
You can send me an e-mail at design@benhalsall.com or use the form below. I look forward to hearing from you.
If you need to change the size of your edit from HD to SD, from 1920×1080 to 720×480 or from SD to HD then this tutorial will teach you how to do this. You will look at the settings and also learn how to rescale all the clips on your timeline in one go using the Paste Attributes function.
Take your Final Cut Pro X edit to the next level with this amazing collection of plugins.
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Be warned there is a giant rectangle out there according to experts via The Syrup Trap .
REGINA (The News Desk) — Residents of Saskatchewan were put on high alert today after Environment Canada placed the entire province under a “giant rectangle” warning.
“It has come to our attention that the entire province of Saskatchewan, if you ignore the natural curvature of the earth, is a perfect rectangle,” announced Dave Phillips, a senior climatologist with Environment Canada. “A really, really big rectangle.
“We thought it would be prudent to let everybody know, just to be on the safe side.”
No major injuries have been reported since the alert was issued; however, provincial authorities remain on guard.
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Below are a few of the kind words that students, colleagues, clients and YouTube viewers have said about me. It is a pleasure to work with such a diverse group of professionals.
After a few years of using photoshop spending countless hours restarting projects, I knew that I needed help improving my skill set. I was able to get the projects done, but in the back of my mind I always knew that there was a better, more thoughtful way of using this program. Ben was able to teach me how to use these tools I would need to be able to use this program to its full potential.
Every Photoshop lesson I had with Ben he brought compassion, humour, patience (a lot), and experience to help me get the most out of each lesson. He has carefully created each class with exercises that demonstrate each tool’s extensive uses in the program.
Being a part of one of Ben’s classes was one of the best decisions I have ever made for expanding my knowledge and making me feel comfortable with Photoshop. I recommended his services to anyone who wants to bring their Photoshop skills to the next level.
Learn to edit your images with my Photoshop One: Core Skills Course
I was extremely pleased to find someone with Ben’s skills to help fix my wedding video! Not only did he do a great job, he was extremely cooperative with regular communication and the task was done in a short time. It was a real pleasure doing business with a personality like Ben’s! The whole thing was easy and I wouldn’t hesitate to call on him for future projects!
Learn to edit with my Final Cut Pro Essentials Course.
Ben is very knowledgeable and and excellent teacher. He’s still very helpful when I have a question or two.
I would hire Ben again.
Get in touch about InDesign, Photoshop or Illustrator Courses
I had the pleasure of meeting Ben after signing up to take an Adobe After Effects course he was teaching.
As a neophyte in the animation and graphics field, I worried I would be overwhelmed and out of my depth trying to pick up and learn this complicated piece of software. Fortunately, Ben understood my predicament and was readily able to reduce the key concepts and make them accessible and understandable to me. He managed to educate without being patronizing and to drive home core concepts without oversimplification. The result of his teaching is that I now feel at ease and at home using the software and feel confident that I can successfully take an After Effects project from planning to rendering without fear or frustration.
Throughout my training with Ben he demonstrated a consistent level of knowledge, competence and friendliness that made the experience rewarding and enjoyable. I would highly recommend Ben as a teacher of the Adobe Creative Suite, especially to anyone who is trying to build a strong foundation while trying to find a means of overcoming their fear of learning in this complex field.
Ben and I developed and worked on the Broadcast Media Technologies BSc award together and he took over the course leadership. Ben always put students at the heart of his teaching, bringing innovative approaches to design, delivery and assessment. He has a broad range of digital expertise and is able to communicate complex subjects to a range of learning levels. Above all Ben is easy to work with, his calm and pleasant manner ensures that he is able to get the best from colleagues and students.
Ben taught me for 2 years at University which prepared me for the creative industry. He got me thinking and made me push myself and my ideas to their maximum potential. He always encouraged individual thinking and planning which helped bring out skills and attributes which has helped me now in the industry.
I’ve been a big fan of Ben since his work on Our City Our Music, so it’s been a real pleasure to work with him directly in recent weeks.
Seeing Ben coordinate and mentor a team of student filmmakers up close (at a recent event I produced) was an eye opener.
A great mentor and teacher blended with a creative technologist’s brain are rare qualities, and I’m hoping this is the beginning of a few more collaborations 🙂
Ben’s work ethics are high. Students are top of his priorities, he is very caring and supportive to all.
Ben is a good member of the team too; he shares his skills with other members of the team, offering free tutorials to those who ask him for help.
Ben is an asset to any institution he works for, he is hard working and conscientious, I strongly recommend him to any educational institution.
Ben is a talented artist, lecturer and an Apple Certified Final Cut Pro Trainer. I had the privilege of working with Ben at Leeds Metropolitan University where I found him to be dependable and an excellent team player. Ben has a broad knowledge of digital creative practices and his expertise in video production is exemplary.
I worked with Ben for a few years at Leeds Met, not only was he brilliant at setting up networks, scripts, software and systems, he was also excellent at supporting students, explaining to them in clear, friendly, non-patronising terms how to resolve their various software struggles and technical hitches. Because of his art and design background he was also great at understanding how students’ work in the computer lab related to their creative projects and future professional practice.
I have known Ben since 2002, when he joined the staff team in the School of Contemporary Art & Graphic Design at Leeds Met. I have worked closely with Ben throughout his time at Leeds Met, and between 2007 and 2009, I acted as his line manager in his post as Principal Learning Officer.
Ben’s main responsibilities were for supporting and developing the digital media unit for the School of Contemporary Art & Graphic Design, delivering high-level software training in the areas of interaction, design and moving image production as well as providing individualised point-of-need support.
As well as Ben’s Apple certified trainer status, I have witnessed him presenting lectures, engaging in tutorial situations and running practical workshops as part of his Learning Officer role, and through his external art and research practices. Ben performs exceptionally well in all of these areas.
Ben had the highest level of skill and knowledge or any member of staff in the then Faculty of Arts & Society with regard to digital media production, digital video editing, 3D computer modelling and rendering, digital audio production and multimedia authoring. His geo-located and interactive work were particularly innovative and effective.
In his role as team leader in the digital media unit, Ben clearly, concisely and effectively communicated often complex issues regarding the provision to both myself and colleagues. In the planning and preparation for our move to new accommodation, Ben worked diligently and efficiently to communicate the complexity of the relocation of the provision to a new building.
Ben always proved to be reliable and trustworthy, working on his own initiative, whilst keeping me informed of important issues and seeking advice when appropriate. His high levels of motivation made him an easy person to manage.
Ben has a rare combination of great design skills coupled with good coding. He also had a mature approach to work and was able to talk to clients and take briefs. This coupled with a friendly personality and bright mind made him a valuable and enjoyable employee.
The titles below link to the videos so you can check them out for yourself. Enjoy!
Final Cut Pro X: Audio Tips for Managing Levels & Edits
“Great video! Really clear and easy to grasp.”
Final Cut Pro X: Backup a Project on an External Drive
“Excellent very informative..cleared up a lot of questions.. especially the show package content tip very nice.”
“Very helpful… thank you so much!!”
Final Cut Pro X: Creating Transitions and Fades to Black
“To the point, which is great.”
“That was great Ben thank you. I’m new to X, been using FCP7 and Premiere and despite the learning curve, im really liking it…”
http://ottawaartgallery.ca/content/open-call-proposals
OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS:
Nuit Blanche Ottawa + Gatineau at the Ottawa Art Gallery, September 19th. 2015!
THEME 2015: HYPE
The word “hype” brings the anticipation of excitement to the forefront of the brain while it also clearly identifies an experience, with individuals arriving at their own peak of expectations.
PROJECT:
The Ottawa Art Gallery is a host venue for Nuit Blanche 2015, and we want to give life to the space around the gallery for one night. Projects should be designed to engage large scale audiences of all ages and all levels of art knowledge, and should reflect this year’s theme “Hype” in some way. Proposals can either aim to activate the OAG’s supplementary spaces, such as the hallways, front steps or exterior grounds at Arts Court, or be site-specific to a nearby location in downtown Ottawa. Successful projects will be presented from dusk until dawn on the night of Saturday, September 19, 2015.
Submissions will be reviewed by a panel consisting of OAG curators and staff, as well as external members of the artistic community. Projects will be judged on their artistic merit, feasibility, and the degree to which they elicit audience participation. either related to the building history, its geographical context in the city or its own architecture. The concept will have to include the participation of the public and can be designed with mediums or media to the artist’s discretion. Finally, artist fees and production subsidies are included in the project.
Successful applicants will receive production support of up to $1,000 in addition to an artist’s fee!
ADMISSION CRITERIA:
To be an artist or collective of artists at any stage in your career based in the Ottawa/Gatineau region.
To be available during the period covered by the project (September 18 to September 20, 2015) .
HOW TO APPLY:
You have until July 6, 2015 to send your application by completing the form available on the website of the gallery:
http://ottawaartgallery.ca/content/open-call-proposals
and submitting it to the e-mail address listed below.
For questions, contact Stephanie Nadeau at 613-233-8699 x 227 snadeau@ottawaartgallery.ca
The selection of the project will be disclosed July 17, 2015.
—-//—-
APPEL DE DOSSIER :
Nuit Blanche Ottawa + Gatineau à la Galerie d’art d’Ottawa, le 19 Septembre 2015.
THÈME 2015 : FRÉNÉSIE
L’événement artistique annuel qui débute au crépuscule et se termine à l’aube. Le temps d’une nuit, réunissant l’art multidisciplinaire les commerces et les galeries de la région de capitale nationale du Canada et met en valeur le succès de l’industrie artistique et de la culture locale sous toutes ses formes.
PROJET :
La galerie d’art d’Ottawa sera un lieu d’acceuil pour Nuit Blanche 2015 et désire donner vie à l’espace autour des salles d’exposition pour l’espace d’une nuit. Les projets soumis doivent être conçus afin de rejoindre un large public composé de personnes de tous âges et de tous niveaux de culture. Ils doivent refléter d’une manière ou d’une autre le thème de l’événement pour cette année, «Frénésie» et avoir un caractère évènementiel. Les idées proposées peuvent être pensées pour les couloirs de la GAO, les espaces extérieurs de la cour des arts ou être conçus pour un autre lieu spécifique à proximité du centre-ville d’Ottawa. Les projets retenus seront présentés du crépuscule à l’aube dans la nuit du samedi 19 septembre 2015.
Les candidatures seront soumises à un jury composé de commissaires et du personnel de la GAO, ainsi que de membres de la communauté artistique. Les projets seront évalués selon leur mérite artistique et leur degré de faisabilité, ainsi que leur capacité à susciter la participation du public.
En plus d’un cachet d’artiste, les candidats retenus recevront une aide à la production d’un montant maximal de 1000 $.
ADMISSIBILITÉ :
Être un artiste ou un collectif d’artiste de la région d’Ottawa/Gatineau.
Être disponible lors de l’évènement et pour le montage et le démontage (du 18 au 20 septembre 2015).
DATE LIMITE :
Vous avez jusqu’à 17h le 6 juillet 2015 pour compléter le formulaire disponible içi :
http://ottawaartgallery.ca/fr/content/appel-%C3%A0-tous
et l’envoyer électroniquement à l’adresse courriel ci-dessous.
Pour toutes questions communiquer avec Stephanie Nadeau au 613-233-8699 x 227 snadeau@galeriedartdottawa.ca
La sélection du projet sera divulguée le 17 juillet 2015.
from BBC2 television’s “The Old Grey Whistle Test”
Learn how to loop a video in Final Cut Pro X. This is perfect for creating loops for web-page backgrounds, DVDs or other projects. This simple and effective technique forms a foundation for creating more complex looping videos. You will also learn how to use keyframes, make advanced selections and how to cut and paste sections of your video.
If you would like to find out more about the online or classroom based courses I offer please get in touch with me at design@benhalsall.com .