About the tutor
I have been a professional photographer since 1988, trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) in Photojournalism I went on to work as a newspaper photojournalist for twelve years. During this time I photographed a number of high profile stories and features. Newspaper work was very varied, from spending a week with the British Army flying around in helicopters and spending days out in tanks to photographing Tony Blair on his bus tour before he won the General Election in 1997. I also photographed many Royal visits from just about every member of the Royal Family, Musicians from Meat Loaf to Belinda Carlisle and celebrities from the stage and screen.
I set up my wedding photography business in 2000 and have since photographed over 500 weddings across the UK and Europe. I have been listed as one of the top ten UK wedding photographers and the Independent on Sunday wrote a double page article on how I had gone from newspaper photography to being one of the first wedding photojournalists. My work has been published in various magazines and newspapers. My wedding clients have included celebrities from the stage and screen.
I use Canon SLR cameras as well as the Fuji X100 and Fuji X-pro1 for my work.
About the course
My photography courses take place on location or at my base in Higham Ferrers. My Introduction to photography course is aimed at people who have only a basic knowledge of photography and would like to learn how to use their camera and what to look for in a good photograph.
Introduction to photography
This is a half day, one to one course in Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire. The course covers the basics of photography and is ideal for anyone who has a camera with controls for shutter speeds and aperture (for example an SLR camera or advanced compact camera). The cost for half a day, one to one is £125 including tea or coffee.
The course covers –
- Understanding shutter speeds and apertures. What exactly these do and what is their relationship to each other.
- ISO. What is ISO, what is the correct ISO to use.
- What lenses to use, how different lenses change the photograph.
- How a digital camera works.
- The importance of light in photographs, also covers colour temperature and why it’s important.
- Depth of field, what is it, how to control it.
- Black and white v Colour
- What makes a good photograph.
- Photography on location in Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire.
At the end of the course I will look through your photographs and offer a critique and advice on how to improve. You will receive printed sheets to take away that cover the basics of photography discussed on the course.
Higham Ferrers is a small historic town and an ideal location for learning photography. There are a number of attractive old buildings to photograph.
After the course you will be familiar with the settings and controls on your camera and will be aware of how to compose a good photograph. The advantage of a one to one lesson is it can be tailored to your current knowledge and ability.
Requirements – A camera preferably with either a zoom lens or 50mm and 35mm prime lenses and warm clothes for outdoors photography.
Level 2 digital photography
Level 2 digital photography is aimed at photographers who are more advanced and understand apertures, shutter speeds and how to use their camera.
Level 2 photography includes –
- Histograms, how to read them, what they do.
- How to use manual colour temperature settings
- spot metering
- off camera flash
- Introduction to Adobe Lightroom for processing images
- How to use colour sliders to make better black and white photographs
- Questions and answers – your photography questions answered
- A critique of your work
This course takes place in Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire. £125 including tea or coffee.
For information on my photography courses or to make a booking please telephone 01933 316717 or email simon@pressphotography.co.uk.