Summer's definately here at last!
Last night, early evening, I spent driving around some of the lovely old villages of Sussex, just clear my head and get away from the keyboard! It's truly lovely out there, under the edge of the Devils Dyke, east of Burgess Hill, it is stunning. Poynings, Fulking, (no I am not swearing) Edburton, a lovely string of villages along the huge slopes and hills of the Dyke. I went of in search of poppy fileds, not to much avail. It might still be too early. Some summers it is as though the fields themselves run with blood.
I am running one of the landscape photography courses this saturday with a small group, one place remaining if anyone is interested, and again on the 19th July. See more hrere www.WeddingPhotographyWorld.co.uk and click on courses in the main menu. It is going to be v hot, so lots of water and suncream will be essential.
I thoroughly enjoyed BBC4's run on female photograpehrs at the weekend, Linda McCartney's work in particular, and her comments on Hendrix cover on Electric Lady Land that he had asked her to create for him before the record company in Europe usurped his won wishes with the more widely known image it was released with. I would have liked to have seen more on Jane Bown though.
Having had my apetite wet i've been spending more time out with the camera this week, even in this heat, early morning or early evening is best. The light by 11am is too harsh and stays that way until gone 5pm, by 6pm those lovely long summer shadows are emerging and by 7pm everything is bathed in a lovely deep orange overglow. Wonderful days. The Nikon D40 is holding up well, a little plastiky for my liking at times, but small and lightweight, ideal in so many ways, simple functions, Nikon's build quality and good versatility. Still love the old F90x though.....film remains close to my heart despite the alluring and cost effective digital era, film images once printed are simply better, especially monochrome, using a master printer.
Dont forget to drink lots of water folks!
Showing posts with label photography courses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography courses. Show all posts
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Friday, 19 June 2009
Course dates
Two new photography course dates set; 27 June and 4 July, both likely to be oversubscribed but dont panic Mr Mannering, there'll be another along shortly. Much of July will be dedicated to delivering courses, which even if I say so myself, have become highly polished, so there!
Got a camera? Cant understand the front end from the rear? Do F-stops and shutter speeds remain alien, unconquerable concepts? Then get ahead, get on our course. :)
See details here www.WeddingPhotographyWorld.co.uk and click on courses in the main menu.
Got a camera? Cant understand the front end from the rear? Do F-stops and shutter speeds remain alien, unconquerable concepts? Then get ahead, get on our course. :)
See details here www.WeddingPhotographyWorld.co.uk and click on courses in the main menu.
Thursday, 18 June 2009
One day photography courses in August
This is just advise customers we will not be running courses in August. For more booking details at other times please visit courses in the main menu at www.WeddingPhotographyWorld.co.uk
Sunday, 31 May 2009
New matra....do not forget suncream!
Today was spent with the lovely Lauren and her sister Sarah. Sarah is 7 months pregnant so I was extremely cautious about where we were, what we were doing etc.Some days the course can be exhausting enough, there is something about being out in the wilds all day that really takes it out of you. Most days I am office bound and it is a pleasure to 'get out there' with the camera but I was concerned for Sarah from lunch time onwards.
Lauren managed to capture one of the Downs most elusive and shy butterflies that sometimes stop on the buttercups for anano second. Full frame, crystal pin point clear. Simply amazing, a fantastic shot.
It was around 26 degrees celcius and,once off the Downs, the heat really built on the seafront so we didn't get nearly as far as we woud normally, not that this was a problem. Both Sarah and Laura seemed to take away not only some great images but a newfound confidence in using the cameras settings. I cannot express in words sometimes how trick it is to convey, teaching is a skill I am still honing! Lauren and Sarah both took to it though like ducks to water and I am confident that with time and dedication, both will develop real skills in their photography and become very proficient and adept in producing the images seen in the minds eye. It was a pleasure to spend the day with both; charming, intelligent, and above all a keen eagerness to learn.
By the end of the day I really felt for Sarah, it was a tall order to ask of her this late in her pregnancy to come out on the course, and I was really impressed with her determination.I have suggested that later in the year both Sarah and Lauren come and join me again for an afternoon on the seafront so that we can complete what we would ordinarily;it really was not only the hottest day of the year so far but far too tall an order to expect Sarah to wak all the way to the west Pier wreckage from the King Alfred area!
Tonight as usual after delivering a course I am exhausted and having eaten have barely left the sofa since 5pm this evening! Factor in the sunburn and dehydration and it is safe to say I will be keeping out of the sun tomorrow. This is the first time I have run courses back to back, one day after another, and it is both mentally and physically demanding in a way I hadn't expected. Positively challenging. Sarah also asked if there was a follow on course and I conceded that I need to give some thought to this area as I think there is scope for perhaps producing a follow up course for those that want it; I imagine some that attend the course would find it very useful to come back and cover new questions and challenges; my initial thoughts are a follow up day or two each year for all that have attended a course, perhaps a half day classroom session with a return to the 'field' as it were in the afternoons. I need to get some feedback from people on this to see if it is viable, and I need to face down worries I would have myself about tackling questions in the Digital field that I am still learning about myself; that's not just a confidence matter I need to address, it is fundamental to what I am doing. I am a photographer however, and I know my photography regardless of the digital revolution, the actual implementation of producing a high quality photograph is my domain.
Part of me needs to acept that some students will have a greater digital knowledge than I do; having developed my own skills in the non-digital era, and being more open to the digital revolution now than I have ever been, the fundamental elements of photography remain the same. I still talk about allowing enough light through the cameras setting, using apertures and shutter speed settings to allow light onto the FILM. There is of course nothing wrong with that; the fundamentals have not changed. And the fact a higher F stop equates to a smaller aperture does not sit naturally the the brains wires remains a challenge after all these years. It is really difficult to convey to students; some just get it and others like me find it confusing. I guess some simply have brains wired to comprehend the conundrum and others like me will struggle, it is one of photography's many quirks. Master it though, and there is a dramatic improvement in the images taken. Stepping up anddown the f stops used to be simple; you would just turn the ring on the lens to the desireed f stop f-11 down to f-8 although you are actually stepping up the scale, opening the aperture wider and allowing more light into the desired image by using a smaller number on the f-scale. These days it seems the cameras are so technical that to make the most perfunctory change in camera function, especially when the camera itself is one I am not familiar with, there is almost a need to reach for the cameras manual. I wonder if manufacturers such as Nikon and Canon realise that a simple base function in photography has become unnecessarily complicated.
A camera body can only hold so many function buttons and faced with such n array of mind boggling functions when only the simplest of changes in f-stops is required, is an irony most certainly not lost on me! The digital revolution, as it likes to term itself, still has a very long way to go before it can deliver simple, high calibre functionality in good build quality using a reliable camera body for the function it is designed for. Going backwards, as far as I understand, it is not a revolution. Not to put too thick a crust on this revolution argument, there is significant risk to manufacturers that the advantages in digital, and there are clearly very significant advantages in being able to see an image moments after you have clikced the shutter release, are being overwhelmed with the lack of simple functionality that is actually required. I cannot help feeling that manufacturers are losing sight of what is actually required for the sake of chasing a market expectation for all dancing and singing cameras. It doesn't sit comfortably with manufacturers, but the fact remains what is important is th person behind the camera, not the camera itself. So long as a camera functions and has a reasonable lens quality, whizz bang features and digital science are largely redundant, so try not to be seduced by the sexiest advertising and marketing ever. It is not easy, but you the student, your imagination, your choice to convey and express your vision in photography does not need a whiz bang camera. Without you the camera is useless. We are at risk of venturing into tail wagging dog territory, partly because manufacturrs have convinced Joe public that all that is required to be the next big thing in photography is one of their latest cameras. It isn't true,dont believe the hype.The person behind the camera and the thought processes, imagination, means to express and creative ability cannot be manufactured.
The kind of advertsing and marketing I do recommend you be seduced by is the sun cream industry. I always advise students to charge batteries and pack a pac-a-mac in case of inclement weather either on the south Downs or the sussex seafront; today I wish I had taken some suncream.
Yours, burning into the night!
Lauren managed to capture one of the Downs most elusive and shy butterflies that sometimes stop on the buttercups for anano second. Full frame, crystal pin point clear. Simply amazing, a fantastic shot.
It was around 26 degrees celcius and,once off the Downs, the heat really built on the seafront so we didn't get nearly as far as we woud normally, not that this was a problem. Both Sarah and Laura seemed to take away not only some great images but a newfound confidence in using the cameras settings. I cannot express in words sometimes how trick it is to convey, teaching is a skill I am still honing! Lauren and Sarah both took to it though like ducks to water and I am confident that with time and dedication, both will develop real skills in their photography and become very proficient and adept in producing the images seen in the minds eye. It was a pleasure to spend the day with both; charming, intelligent, and above all a keen eagerness to learn.
By the end of the day I really felt for Sarah, it was a tall order to ask of her this late in her pregnancy to come out on the course, and I was really impressed with her determination.I have suggested that later in the year both Sarah and Lauren come and join me again for an afternoon on the seafront so that we can complete what we would ordinarily;it really was not only the hottest day of the year so far but far too tall an order to expect Sarah to wak all the way to the west Pier wreckage from the King Alfred area!
Tonight as usual after delivering a course I am exhausted and having eaten have barely left the sofa since 5pm this evening! Factor in the sunburn and dehydration and it is safe to say I will be keeping out of the sun tomorrow. This is the first time I have run courses back to back, one day after another, and it is both mentally and physically demanding in a way I hadn't expected. Positively challenging. Sarah also asked if there was a follow on course and I conceded that I need to give some thought to this area as I think there is scope for perhaps producing a follow up course for those that want it; I imagine some that attend the course would find it very useful to come back and cover new questions and challenges; my initial thoughts are a follow up day or two each year for all that have attended a course, perhaps a half day classroom session with a return to the 'field' as it were in the afternoons. I need to get some feedback from people on this to see if it is viable, and I need to face down worries I would have myself about tackling questions in the Digital field that I am still learning about myself; that's not just a confidence matter I need to address, it is fundamental to what I am doing. I am a photographer however, and I know my photography regardless of the digital revolution, the actual implementation of producing a high quality photograph is my domain.
Part of me needs to acept that some students will have a greater digital knowledge than I do; having developed my own skills in the non-digital era, and being more open to the digital revolution now than I have ever been, the fundamental elements of photography remain the same. I still talk about allowing enough light through the cameras setting, using apertures and shutter speed settings to allow light onto the FILM. There is of course nothing wrong with that; the fundamentals have not changed. And the fact a higher F stop equates to a smaller aperture does not sit naturally the the brains wires remains a challenge after all these years. It is really difficult to convey to students; some just get it and others like me find it confusing. I guess some simply have brains wired to comprehend the conundrum and others like me will struggle, it is one of photography's many quirks. Master it though, and there is a dramatic improvement in the images taken. Stepping up anddown the f stops used to be simple; you would just turn the ring on the lens to the desireed f stop f-11 down to f-8 although you are actually stepping up the scale, opening the aperture wider and allowing more light into the desired image by using a smaller number on the f-scale. These days it seems the cameras are so technical that to make the most perfunctory change in camera function, especially when the camera itself is one I am not familiar with, there is almost a need to reach for the cameras manual. I wonder if manufacturers such as Nikon and Canon realise that a simple base function in photography has become unnecessarily complicated.
A camera body can only hold so many function buttons and faced with such n array of mind boggling functions when only the simplest of changes in f-stops is required, is an irony most certainly not lost on me! The digital revolution, as it likes to term itself, still has a very long way to go before it can deliver simple, high calibre functionality in good build quality using a reliable camera body for the function it is designed for. Going backwards, as far as I understand, it is not a revolution. Not to put too thick a crust on this revolution argument, there is significant risk to manufacturers that the advantages in digital, and there are clearly very significant advantages in being able to see an image moments after you have clikced the shutter release, are being overwhelmed with the lack of simple functionality that is actually required. I cannot help feeling that manufacturers are losing sight of what is actually required for the sake of chasing a market expectation for all dancing and singing cameras. It doesn't sit comfortably with manufacturers, but the fact remains what is important is th person behind the camera, not the camera itself. So long as a camera functions and has a reasonable lens quality, whizz bang features and digital science are largely redundant, so try not to be seduced by the sexiest advertising and marketing ever. It is not easy, but you the student, your imagination, your choice to convey and express your vision in photography does not need a whiz bang camera. Without you the camera is useless. We are at risk of venturing into tail wagging dog territory, partly because manufacturrs have convinced Joe public that all that is required to be the next big thing in photography is one of their latest cameras. It isn't true,dont believe the hype.The person behind the camera and the thought processes, imagination, means to express and creative ability cannot be manufactured.
The kind of advertsing and marketing I do recommend you be seduced by is the sun cream industry. I always advise students to charge batteries and pack a pac-a-mac in case of inclement weather either on the south Downs or the sussex seafront; today I wish I had taken some suncream.
Yours, burning into the night!
Monday, 25 May 2009
Sunny days, photography tuition and avoiding sunburn!
Saturday I ran another of our photography courses on the south Downs and on Brighotn seafront. I had advised students, as I do on the day or days before, to remember to charge camera batteries, bring a spare if possible, and to pack a pac-a-mac type outer wear in case of inclement weather. The south Downs Way can be wild at times. I should, of course, have reminded myself and students to bring sun cream at this time of year. Ouch! As ever, I never feel myself burning up until late in the day, and too late to do much about it, I really must get into the habit of applying sun protection before going out. The sun is extremely powerful at this time of year, particularly in unsheltered areas like the south downs and Brighton seafront.
After starting at Ditchling Beacon we movedon to Devils Dyke. Both points provide very dramatic scenery and endless possibilities with the camera. I never tire of these places. Lunch was at the pub at Devils' Dyke, and whilst adequate, thisis such a splendid natural place that the food served really ought to be, and could quite easily be, substantially better than what is on offer. Lunch was ultimately dissapointing, I am thinking there are better places to eat in town; it's not cheap either, just consistently poor and I work too hard for my money to spend it on 'not very good.' One day someone with the means will take this place by the horns and do a roaring trade based on good quality. It was also disapointing to see the National Trust introducing Car Park charging when it has been free for as long back as I can remember. Ok, it's only two pounds, but this is one of the last places that could be enjoyed for free, and in a recession as serious as this one, the NT could not have chosen a worse time to introduce charging.
The course was a great success, thoroughly enjoyed, good company, intelligent questions and real ability as well. It is a pleasure to see others getting as much out of photography as possible, and enjoying getting to grips with camera settings, exposures, composure etc etc. I'd run these courses 6 days a week if I could. Ah well, we cant have everything in life, and I have another course running next weekend, with more vouchers sold this week in the run up to Father's Day, and a number of new wedding photographers in Australia joining us as well. And the sun has been shining too!
After starting at Ditchling Beacon we movedon to Devils Dyke. Both points provide very dramatic scenery and endless possibilities with the camera. I never tire of these places. Lunch was at the pub at Devils' Dyke, and whilst adequate, thisis such a splendid natural place that the food served really ought to be, and could quite easily be, substantially better than what is on offer. Lunch was ultimately dissapointing, I am thinking there are better places to eat in town; it's not cheap either, just consistently poor and I work too hard for my money to spend it on 'not very good.' One day someone with the means will take this place by the horns and do a roaring trade based on good quality. It was also disapointing to see the National Trust introducing Car Park charging when it has been free for as long back as I can remember. Ok, it's only two pounds, but this is one of the last places that could be enjoyed for free, and in a recession as serious as this one, the NT could not have chosen a worse time to introduce charging.
The course was a great success, thoroughly enjoyed, good company, intelligent questions and real ability as well. It is a pleasure to see others getting as much out of photography as possible, and enjoying getting to grips with camera settings, exposures, composure etc etc. I'd run these courses 6 days a week if I could. Ah well, we cant have everything in life, and I have another course running next weekend, with more vouchers sold this week in the run up to Father's Day, and a number of new wedding photographers in Australia joining us as well. And the sun has been shining too!
Monday, 4 May 2009
Brighton Festival
Has started with a splash as always. This week has been taken up with a series of private viewings of various artists work and various related photography jobs. I had the pleasure of working with the lovely Kathy Laird on friday evening producing shots of her amazing garden pottery, see more here at http://www.kathylaird.co.uk/
I am running a couple of landscape photography courses on the south Downs and Brighton seafront this week, as the weather improves so interest in the courses rises. If you are visiting the Festival why not extend your visit by a day and come and join us on a 1 day photography course in Sussex,more details here www.weddingphotographyworld.co.uk/#/courses/4524725348
The other main event of this week has been that Samo Rovan, a renowned photographer based in Slovenia has joined us at http://www.weddingphotographyworld.co.uk/ Samo has won this years prestigiuos Journalistic Photography award from the WPJA which is incredibly competitive and of an absurdly demanding standard. Only 5% of applicants are ever accepted let alone win anything so we are delighted that Samo has joined us. See more of Samo Rovans work here http://www.samorovan.com/ Welcome Samo, I hope we have a positive working relationship and success in the months ahead. We are also delighted to welcome Ilene Perlman, a wedding photographer from the US. Based out of Boston, Ilene is a highly accomplished travel photographer and produces stunning yet sensitive images of her subjects around the globe. Ilene is very well placed to serve the Destination Wedding Photography industry with such extensive travel experience and Ilenes photography speaks for itself. It is very beautiful, see more here http://www.ileneperlman.com/
http://www.fivewaysphotography.co.uk/ in Brighton, Sussex continues to grow also, with a diverse range of commercial work and the occassional wedding. A close and positive working relationship is being developed with elwood wines http://www.elwoodwines.co.uk/ here in Brighton, covering wine tastings and Dinners. The wines, as you would expect, are fantastic, and very well priced. After an elwood wines photography jobI had the pleasure of visitng Concorde2 and meeting friends, where Hugh Cornwall of The Stranglers was playing live. Cornwall was not keen on the idea of photographs, which ws fair enough, and having enjoyed some fantastic live songs such as Always the sun and No more heroes, I headed for home to rest my tired bones, with those wonderful songs swimming in my head and fine wines in my nose. It's a very good life some days!
I am running a couple of landscape photography courses on the south Downs and Brighton seafront this week, as the weather improves so interest in the courses rises. If you are visiting the Festival why not extend your visit by a day and come and join us on a 1 day photography course in Sussex,more details here www.weddingphotographyworld.co.uk/#/courses/4524725348
The other main event of this week has been that Samo Rovan, a renowned photographer based in Slovenia has joined us at http://www.weddingphotographyworld.co.uk/ Samo has won this years prestigiuos Journalistic Photography award from the WPJA which is incredibly competitive and of an absurdly demanding standard. Only 5% of applicants are ever accepted let alone win anything so we are delighted that Samo has joined us. See more of Samo Rovans work here http://www.samorovan.com/ Welcome Samo, I hope we have a positive working relationship and success in the months ahead. We are also delighted to welcome Ilene Perlman, a wedding photographer from the US. Based out of Boston, Ilene is a highly accomplished travel photographer and produces stunning yet sensitive images of her subjects around the globe. Ilene is very well placed to serve the Destination Wedding Photography industry with such extensive travel experience and Ilenes photography speaks for itself. It is very beautiful, see more here http://www.ileneperlman.com/
http://www.fivewaysphotography.co.uk/ in Brighton, Sussex continues to grow also, with a diverse range of commercial work and the occassional wedding. A close and positive working relationship is being developed with elwood wines http://www.elwoodwines.co.uk/ here in Brighton, covering wine tastings and Dinners. The wines, as you would expect, are fantastic, and very well priced. After an elwood wines photography jobI had the pleasure of visitng Concorde2 and meeting friends, where Hugh Cornwall of The Stranglers was playing live. Cornwall was not keen on the idea of photographs, which ws fair enough, and having enjoyed some fantastic live songs such as Always the sun and No more heroes, I headed for home to rest my tired bones, with those wonderful songs swimming in my head and fine wines in my nose. It's a very good life some days!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
