Photography Class for Beginners @ Kew

Where: Kew Gardens
When: 10:30am-1:30pm
Who: Beginners looking to enjoy garden photography
Price: £5 + £13.50 entrance (payable via Paypal)
Meeting: Victoria Gate, Kew Gardens
End point: Pavilion Restaurant for Garden POTY

This “focus on” event concentrates on garden photography and in particular, composition and framing, in relation to plant portrait photography.

Kew Gardens is absolutely beautiful and a photographer’s dream if you love taking pictures of flowers, trees, wildlife and stunning vistas. It’s very easy to get to (on the District line) and there will also be the chance to view the best images taken from gardens across the world at this year’s Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition.

The event will take place whatever the weather – please come prepared for rain, cold or blazing heat! It’s suitable for SLRs and compact cameras, costing £5 plus an entrance fee of £13.50.

Focus On: Garden Photography

Concentrating on just a small area of Kew - inside the Palm House and around the Rose Garden - I will show you how to photograph plants in various ways. We’ll discuss:

Finding a viewpoint: Kew’s glasshouse walkways will help with this!
Using macro: how to use depth of field and your macro setting/lens
Plant portraiture: using compositional skills to really capture a portrait
Shooting vistas: looking at techniques for shooting landscapes at Kew

We’ll meet up after an hour to discuss how we are getting on and a chance to ask any questions. We will then continue onto the Temperate House before finishing the session at the Pavilion Restaurant.

The meetup will officially finish at 1:30pm but there is the chance to have lunch together and view the Garden POTY exhibition before exploring the rest of Kew as we wish.

“Thanks for a very nice day. Very friendly group. Lots of tips and advice.” Nathalie, Previous Kew Event (2009)

Be Inspired
Photos from our trip to Kew in 2009
Flickr photos of Kew Gardens
My Flower Photos

Further Info
More info? Go to Kew Gardens website
Queries? Give Natalie a call on 07773 819053
Prefer email? Send it to thephotoschool@gmail.com

Landscape v. Portrait - Which Works Best?

When I’m out taking photos, I often give little thought to the orientation I choose to take the picture. I’d like to think that I instinctively know which orientation (landscape or portrait) works best.

When I took these canal boat photos, I found the first picture boring with no subject. At least with my second attempt, there was some interest because of the reflection of the trees in the water.

Traditional Orientation

If I’m honest though, when it comes to orientation, I think I’m just following the traditional rule of a portrait orientation for tall buildings and portraits, and choosing landscape, well, for landscapes!

Sometimes I photograph a scene both ways because I guess subconsciously I am unhappy with my first choice, but I don’t really give much thought to why. Perhaps, like in the shots below, I know that there will be less clutter and distractions, if I photograph it the other way.

Moving Orientation Off Automatic Pilot

Although this traditional approach, combined with a bit of instinct, works well for a lot of my photos, thinking in that way seems a little boring and too much on automatic pilot for my liking.

Where is the choice? Where is the conscious decision of answering, ‘What will work best for this particular scene in front of me?’ or even, ‘What am I trying to convey in taking this photo?’. I’m sure my photos could be a lot more creative if I were to break the ‘orientation rule’ I’ve described above!

Experimenting With Orientation

Perhaps if I gave some real thought to ‘What is it I’m trying to capture - or play on - in taking this image?’ I could purposely then select the best orientation for the scene in front of me.

For example, in the photos below, I shot Canary Wharf Tower both as a traditional portrait and then again as a landscape shot.

I wanted in the portrait photo to convey a sense of height and grandeur to Canary Wharf Tower. That seemed important to me, as the Tower is currently the tallest building in London and a statement of the new financial hub, so I selected a portrait orientation.

However, since tall buildings are often shot in that way, I photographed the same scene but as a landscape. I think this image has a different feel to it, a bit more calm and a sense of order.

I don’t think one is better; just different, a different perspective.

Over To You - Choosing An Orientation

With the above experiment in mind, I invite you to try and bring more choice into your photography.

Instead of being on automatic pilot when it comes to ’selecting’ an orientation, try to either:

• Pick an orientation that is reflective of the scene in front of you and suitable for it OR
• Pick an orientation that plays on the ‘rules’ to invite the viewer to think & feel something else

I’d be interested to hear what you think about when choosing landscape or portrait.

• What goes through your mind when deciding whether to shoot a photo landscape or portrait?
• Are you aware of the choice you are making or do you think it’s more about gut feeling?
• Do you prefer to stick to the traditional rules or break them up a bit?

I’d love to hear what you think; please feel free to leave a comment.

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

Get To Know Your Camera!

The Photo School’s camera settings workshop will help you get to know your camera like the back of your hand. We will teach you the skills needed to become confident with your camera by showing you:

• How focusing properly stops you from spoiling your image
• How to get the most out of your camera’s automatic modes
• How to shoot technically brilliant photos on Program
• How to use ISO and white balance

Do you know which basic camera setting allows you to create the photo on the right?

Or Are You Bored With Shooting On Auto?

Perhaps you are ready to learn more about Tv, Av and M? If so, our switch to manual workshop is the next step on, once you are familiar with your camera settings. We will show you the creative mode zone and get your creative juices flowing by teaching you:

• What is depth of field and how to use it
• How and when to use aperture priority
• How and when to use shutter priority
• How to freeze action or to make it flow
• How to create the perfect exposure

Do you know how to use exposure times to freeze or flow running water & action?

“Great tutors who offer friendly, helpful sessions for minimal outlay. Honestly, you’d never get this kind of expert advice at such low costs elsewhere. And they really do care that you’re enjoying the subject while learning. Totally recommended.” Laura

What better to do on a summer Sunday than to have a day at Kew Gardens learning how to improve your garden photography.

This practical photography event coincides with The International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition.

There will be the chance to view the best images taken from gardens across the world whilst exploring Kew and improving your garden and plant portraiture photography.

The event runs from 10:30am til 4pm and costs £35. This includes:

• Kew entrance costing £13
• Tuition by acclaimed landscape and portrait photographer, Jon Mortimer
• Hands-on photography at Kew’s Houses, Conservatories and Walkways
• Chance to view and be inspired by the Garden POTY exhibition
• Beginner garden photography handouts

Please pay via Paypal to natalie@photolate.com to confirm your place. Min 8 people. Max 15 people. This practical is aimed at enthusiastic beginner photographers. Lunch not included.

Theme
Jon Mortimer, an acclaimed landscape and portrait photographer will lead the group. The topics to be discussed and taught during the day will include:

• How to select the angles in a garden
• Framing and composition in relation to garden and plant portrait photography
• Using a variety of lenses for different elements of garden photography
• Learning how time of day and weather affect garden photography
• Using natural light and small camera top flash
• Switching to indoor plant photography
• Choosing the best equipment for a desired theme

Itinerary
The event will comprise of the following parts:

1) Warm-up: be inspired by others’ garden photographs at the POTY exhibition

2) Introduction: Jon will discuss the main elements of garden photography

3) Hands on tuition: we will be travelling around the gardens stopping at Kew’s key attractions. For each attraction, the tutor will talk through the main areas of this field of photography and then we will spend some time practicing what we have learnt, with Jon always close by to help and advise

4) Late lunch: stopping at one of the cafes we will take the chance to discuss and share our own experiences, each sharing our best photo so far

5) More key attractions and teaching: attractions may include Xstrata Treetop Walkway, Palm House, Princess of Wales Conservatory, Waterlily House

6) Evaluation: we will discuss our experiences and evaluate our images

Exhibition
The International Garden POTY exhibition is in its 2nd year and receives over 19,000 images from amateur and professional photographers alike.

This year the exhibition includes a special category ‘World Botanic Gardens’ to celebrate Kew’s 250th birthday. Other categories include garden views, plant portraits, wildlife in the garden, trees, people in the garden & the edible garden. It is likely to be a great inspirational start to the day!

Things To Bring
Please bring your camera and a tripod if possible. It’s always advisable to carry spare batteries and memory cards just in case. If you wish, please bring printed samples of your own garden photographs.

We will be stopping at one of the cafés for a late lunch.
Feel free to bring a packed lunch if you prefer.

Location
We will meet promptly at 10:30am at Kew Gardens, Victoria Gate.

This is the largest entrance and nearest to Kew Gardens station (District line and London Overground services), about 3 minutes walk from the station.

This gate is on Kew Road, situated in the middle of the Gardens, and the 65 bus stops outside. The Victoria Gate visitor centre provides retail, coffee shop, toilets, information and Friends desk.

Find Out More
http://www.kew.org/vi…
http://www.tfl.gov.uk…
Call Natalie on 07773 819053