Customer Review of our Beginner Photography Workshops

Last year when we started the beginner photography workshops, a lovely friendly woman called Emm came on the composition workshop. She later posted a blog about the workshop to all her friends and family around the world. Now, I find the time to share with the readers here that post.

Not only does Emm give a nice summary of the area where we hold our workshops, but you can also see the photos that she took and the commentary on what she learnt by attending the workshop. She’s a great writer including wit, history and links to places of interest.

Read more over at http://missus-emm.blogspot.com/2009/08/london-city-monument-bridge.html

How To Create A Good Landscape Photo

Earlier this month I was on a photography retreat up in Balquhidder, Scotland. Out of all the photos I took (nearly 1,500 of them!), this photo at Loch Voil on the penultimate day seems to be all my friends’ favourite.

As a beginner photographer I am also very pleased with this photo. It is a culmination of getting up at 5am everyday and practicing everything I had been taught on the week away!

Please leave me a comment on flickr if you like this photo.

What Can You Learn From This Photo?

I’d like share some photography tips with you in how I created this photo:

• To be a good landscape photographer you need to get up early! I was in position by 5:30am for this photo, which involved climbing over barbed fences in the dark!
• You need to be in possession of some gradient filters, I’ve since learnt! These help with achieving slow shutter speeds to achieve ‘glass like’ water which nicely reflects the sky.
• You need to search for a foreground interest and marry this with a stunning background.
• Focus a third of the way into the image. I found focusing difficult whilst using the filters as there was a lot of switching between auto and manual focusing, so that the camera didn’t focus on the filter itself!
• Wait for the right lighting. And I mean WAIT! You’ll need patience and good observational skills. There were only a few seconds when the sun had lit up the trees before it had moved and lit up something else.

The Enjoyment Of Landscape Photography

To get up early and see the sunrise everyday was one of the highlights of my week away. It was also very beautiful to be in silence a lot of the time and immerse oneself fully in the surroundings. I also liked combining the large vista shots with the close-up plant photography I did. I’ll post more on this another time.

If you would like to know more about going on a photography retreat you can contact the Dhanakosa Centre.

Mass Photo Gathering

Do you remember the mass photo gathering at Trafalgar Square, London in January? Unfortunately I couldn’t go as I was running photography workshops that day, but a few of The Photo School group did get over to Central London to join in and take some photos.

The Mass Photo Gathering was set up as a way to bring awareness to the way street photographers are being viewed by the police. It follows a series of incidents where

• photographers have been stopped as suspected terrorists
• parents are having to write to the council to get permission to photograph their own children

Supporting Photographers’ Rights

I really enjoyed reading the article in the Sunday Times Magazine this weekend about the Gathering and what the future laws with regards to photography might look like.

If you haven’t yet read it, do it ASAP! Some of it is laughable, especially the Haddock fundamentalism part, but generally, the whole ‘health and safety’ culture which seems to exist to protect organisations yet evades common sense.

Be Confident With Your Camera

The article and advice from my photography friends tell us that:

• Nobody can force us to delete our pics (I’d leave that to your morals)
• It’s best to stay on public ground (and don’t use a tripod if on private ground)

There are no photography laws as such banning photographers from taking photos in public places but be aware that if you fail to cooperate with the police or the person asking you not to take their photo, laws designed to protect us from terrorism, harrassment and trespassing can come into play.

I don’t think photography should be something we have to worry about. For most of us it’s a hobby and should remain a pleasurable, fearless one at that.

What do you think about photography being under threat? Please leave a comment.

Buy someone a photography experience this year.

At £30, these photography workshop gift vouchers are an ideal present for someone keen on learning how to become snap happy!

You can treat your loved one to a composition workshop, camera settings, people photography or switch to manual. Each costs £30 or buy two workshops for £50.

If you’re getting a camera for Christmas, the workshops are ideal for giving you the basics and confidence to really know how to go out and create that shot.

If you have time to read your camera manual over the holidays, then the composition workshop would be ideal. In this we will teach you ‘how to look and how to see’ to help you snap something unique; this you won’t find in the manual!

If like most of us, you won’t be getting round to reading your manual, then join others for some fun and learn all about your settings in a lively and practical group workshop.

Contact Natalie to buy your photography voucher today!

Personalised Photo Cards - I Love ‘Em!

Last month my two nieces were being christened so I decided to invest in some nice greeting cards. Having seen the ads on the TV I decided to give Moonpig a go.

It wasn’t until I logged on that I realised you can upload photos to personalise your cards. I ended up choosing two cute ‘Me To You’ cards and uploaded a photo of each niece and their parents.

After finding a definition of each of my niece’s names through Google I was set. The cards arrived the day after and I couldn’t help but think what a neat service.

My sister later told me that my photo card was the only christening card that she has kept out!

Prepare Your Images First

If you are going to upload photos to make personalised photo cards, I’d recommend you:

• Upload the highest resolution possible (although I did experience an error uploading a 3mb photo and had to try again)
• Remember to remove any red eye from the photo first (it really spoils any photo, nevermind a posh card)
• Crop the photo so that the face is close up (you don’t want to print unnecessary detail)
• Make sure your photo is bright enough (again you don’t want a poor photo spoiling a nice card and more often than not they print darker than what they appear on screen)

Is anyone using Moonpig for their Xmas cards?

Please leave a comment.

Stay up to date with photography courses

Subscribe to our blog

Make High Quality Christmas Presents With Your Own Photos

If you’re similar to me and like to give personalised presents for Christmas, then a photo book or calendar of memories is the ideal solution.

I’ve been producing Christmas photo calendars for the last 6 years. There are easy and fun to make; all you need is 12 photos, easy software and a quality photo calendar printer. And the presents are loved to bits by all family members!

With two weddings in the last few years and two young babies now in the family, I’ve been looking for that extra special print quality and feel.

Bob Books has come to my rescue with their Swiss made products.

I like Bob Books because what they say on their website is true:

• Their products are to a VERY high standard, ideal for presents
• The finish of the products is the best I’ve seen
• The books that go completely flat have a definite WOW factor

Bob Books Are Currently Offering a 10% Discount*.

Create your own photo book or calendar using your digital photos by downloading the free software:

1. Go to www.bobbooks.co.uk
2. Select ‘Your gift certificate’ on the software
3. Enter the code PHOTOLATE

*Please note offer is for photo books and calendars only and is not valid in conjunction with any other offer, gift vouchers and flickbooks

Bob Books have some very clever, free, personal publishing software that lets you design and create your own bespoke premium photo book with your digital photos, designs/illustrations and text.

Bob Books is also the one of the only photo book companies that allows you to create your very own high quality cover design and do fantastic finish double page spreads with your best photos.

If you give them a go, we’d love to hear what you think.

Please leave a comment.

Stay up to date with photography courses

Subscribe to our blog

Where Do You Find A Photographer For Business PR?

For those of you in business, or who use high profile images in your work, it might be worth knowing about the Press Association (020 7963 7156) .

If your business has a strong national, or international story, they could provide you with photographer for free.

Seems they offer the following services:

• Search one of the most extensive editorial picture resources
• A dedicated team providing research and licensing expertise
• Specialist photographers for commissioned events
• A network of international image partners

Have you had contact with the Press Association Photographers before?

Please leave a comment.

Stay up to date with photography courses

Subscribe to our blog

The Photo School Blog Is For Beginner Photographers

As the author, I’m into digital and utilising web 2.0 websites to improve photography and the way people share their photos.

I have a Canon EOS 350D and love getting around London taking photos, as you can see in the photo below of myself.

Stay up to date with photography courses

Subscribe to our blog