Thursday, 29 September 2011
Why You Should Take Photography Tuition!
Millions of us have quality camera - many with expensive DSLRs. But how many of us know how to use them?!
As a professional photographer with York's Bestside Photography, I've provided many people with snippits of information. I often give out tips to guests at weddings (only the ones who don't get in my way!), as well as doing 1 to 1 tuition.
I have a passion for photography, and like most passions, I'm keen to share it. That’s why I enjoy judging photo competitions, as I get to offer people advice as will as choose my favourite photos.
I regularly attend workshops - there's always something else to learn.
It recently dawned on me that there is a lack of options for people who just want to learn to take better photos. Sure, you can go to a camera club. But there's good reason why most people don't. Think beards and real ale, and you're close.
Or you could go to nightschool. You attend every week for months, to get tips from a tutor of questionable quality and background.
Better options are few and far between. This is why at Bestside Photography, we've launched a series of 1 and 2 day photo workshops.
As millions of visitors know, York is a fabulous venue for photography. We also have venues on the doorstep, such as Dalby Forrest, Harewood House, and the East Coast.
Our workshops cover a range of venues, but all follow the same theme. We start with a couple of hours learning a bit of theory. This is essential to get the best from your camera, but we keep it to a minimum, and give it a practical context.
Then we hit the road for a tour of York, taking in the popular venues, as well as some most tourists won't see.
For our popular 2 day workshops, we then do some night-shooting. the following day includes more useful theory, lots of practice, and a review of your photos.
It's hugely satisfying to see people progress so quickly; from shooting everything on Auto, to using manual and programme modes to tell the camera what they want to achieve.
Our clients leave with a collection of photos they're dying to show off, and a huge boost in both confidence and in enthusiasm.
Details can be found at http://www.bestside.co.uk/pages/tuition-days.php
As a professional photographer with York's Bestside Photography, I've provided many people with snippits of information. I often give out tips to guests at weddings (only the ones who don't get in my way!), as well as doing 1 to 1 tuition.
I have a passion for photography, and like most passions, I'm keen to share it. That’s why I enjoy judging photo competitions, as I get to offer people advice as will as choose my favourite photos.
I regularly attend workshops - there's always something else to learn.
It recently dawned on me that there is a lack of options for people who just want to learn to take better photos. Sure, you can go to a camera club. But there's good reason why most people don't. Think beards and real ale, and you're close.
Or you could go to nightschool. You attend every week for months, to get tips from a tutor of questionable quality and background.
Better options are few and far between. This is why at Bestside Photography, we've launched a series of 1 and 2 day photo workshops.
As millions of visitors know, York is a fabulous venue for photography. We also have venues on the doorstep, such as Dalby Forrest, Harewood House, and the East Coast.
Our workshops cover a range of venues, but all follow the same theme. We start with a couple of hours learning a bit of theory. This is essential to get the best from your camera, but we keep it to a minimum, and give it a practical context.
Then we hit the road for a tour of York, taking in the popular venues, as well as some most tourists won't see.
For our popular 2 day workshops, we then do some night-shooting. the following day includes more useful theory, lots of practice, and a review of your photos.
It's hugely satisfying to see people progress so quickly; from shooting everything on Auto, to using manual and programme modes to tell the camera what they want to achieve.
Our clients leave with a collection of photos they're dying to show off, and a huge boost in both confidence and in enthusiasm.
Details can be found at http://www.bestside.co.uk/pages/tuition-days.php
Friday, 23 September 2011
The New Nikon 1
Ok, I admit it. I'm a Canon man. Why? Randomly. My first SLR was a Canon 350D. No other reason. If were starting out now, maybe I'd go down the Nikon route.
Or not. To be honest I've pretty much ignored what Nikon have been doing - it doesn't really matter if you've already bought into Canon.
However, as a professional photographer with York's Bestside Photography, as well as owner of www.PhotoSupplyShop.com, I need to keep up to speed.
So, nikon launches the new 1 series, which on the face of it is a new market.
On the face of it, I'm impressed. Last year I bought a Canon G10. I was hoping for something high quality and light weight, to take out on family trips instead of carrying a bag full of DSLR kit. However, I tend to takle stock photos when I'm out and about. Sometimes with considerable financial success.
this is where the Canon G10 let me down. The photos look ok, until you zoom in to 100%, when there's a marked difference between that and a SLR.
the other issus is it's still a typically slow digital camera. Great for taking photos just after something amazing happened.
The Spec looks impressive, full HD, interchangeable lenses (and Nikon are well-versed in making good lenses), up to 60fps for the top model.
Looks nifty too. Plenty of mega pixels (but then who really needs more than 8-10MP?)
I'm looking forward to testing the new Nikon though. Not for it's looks, HD video etc, but to see if, finally, someone's managed to design a non-SLR with a usefully quick response.
Watch this space...
Paul Whittle LSWPP
Bestside Photography York
www.bestside.co.uk
www.PhotoSupplyShop.com
Quality Professional Photographic services.
Or not. To be honest I've pretty much ignored what Nikon have been doing - it doesn't really matter if you've already bought into Canon.
However, as a professional photographer with York's Bestside Photography, as well as owner of www.PhotoSupplyShop.com, I need to keep up to speed.
So, nikon launches the new 1 series, which on the face of it is a new market.
On the face of it, I'm impressed. Last year I bought a Canon G10. I was hoping for something high quality and light weight, to take out on family trips instead of carrying a bag full of DSLR kit. However, I tend to takle stock photos when I'm out and about. Sometimes with considerable financial success.
this is where the Canon G10 let me down. The photos look ok, until you zoom in to 100%, when there's a marked difference between that and a SLR.
the other issus is it's still a typically slow digital camera. Great for taking photos just after something amazing happened.
The Spec looks impressive, full HD, interchangeable lenses (and Nikon are well-versed in making good lenses), up to 60fps for the top model.
Looks nifty too. Plenty of mega pixels (but then who really needs more than 8-10MP?)
I'm looking forward to testing the new Nikon though. Not for it's looks, HD video etc, but to see if, finally, someone's managed to design a non-SLR with a usefully quick response.
Watch this space...
Paul Whittle LSWPP
Bestside Photography York
www.bestside.co.uk
www.PhotoSupplyShop.com
Quality Professional Photographic services.
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Monday, 19 September 2011
Saturday, 17 September 2011
Friday, 16 September 2011
Photographic Training Workshops - you won't believe what you can do!
Photographic Training Workshops - you won't believe what you can do!
Gift vouchers available.
photo of york minster
It's hardly news that York is full of delights - that why it's the most visits place outside the capital. This makes it perfect for some indulgent time with your camera.
photo of cliffords tower
So bought yourself a digital SLR, or if you're reallt lucky, someone else bought you one. You clearly want more than just snapshots. so how to go about it?
You could:
* Join a camera club / photographic society and spend your evening listening to some of Earth's dullest people
* you could go to nightschool a night a week. For ages. and ages.
* You could visit york and spend 1-2 days with a professional photographer, showing you the sights, and helping you to create images you'll be dying to show off.
Theory is kept to a minimum - though some basics are useful to get your camera off Auto. We spend most of the time in an around York, getting hands-on.
photo of york
We'll go off the beaten track - away from the hoards, but at your own pressure. Our training days are informal and relaxed.
For weekend workshops, we have a choice of locations further afield, such as Dalby Forest, which offers a chance to shoot not only nature, but adrenaline sports as well.
Gift vouchers available.
photo of york minster
It's hardly news that York is full of delights - that why it's the most visits place outside the capital. This makes it perfect for some indulgent time with your camera.
photo of cliffords tower
So bought yourself a digital SLR, or if you're reallt lucky, someone else bought you one. You clearly want more than just snapshots. so how to go about it?
You could:
* Join a camera club / photographic society and spend your evening listening to some of Earth's dullest people
* you could go to nightschool a night a week. For ages. and ages.
* You could visit york and spend 1-2 days with a professional photographer, showing you the sights, and helping you to create images you'll be dying to show off.
Theory is kept to a minimum - though some basics are useful to get your camera off Auto. We spend most of the time in an around York, getting hands-on.
photo of york
We'll go off the beaten track - away from the hoards, but at your own pressure. Our training days are informal and relaxed.
For weekend workshops, we have a choice of locations further afield, such as Dalby Forest, which offers a chance to shoot not only nature, but adrenaline sports as well.
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Monday, 12 September 2011
Sunday, 11 September 2011
My thoughts on the Canon 5D
My thoughts on the Canon 5D
So we're led to believe - and have for a while - that Canon will shortly be releasing the third generation of it's professional 5D DSLR.
Rumours have been around since mid 2010.
As always, there's speculation about its specification, and what it will have to improve on the 5D mkII.
So here are my thoughts, as a time served professional wedding photographer. I've been using the 5D camera for several years, since the price dropped to a reasonable level. Primarily I chose it over the much cheaper 30D, as I didn't want to be shooting a wedding with the same camera as some of the guests.
I hadn't expected it to be so much better.
Firstly, the large viewfinder makes such a difference, and makes any APC-C camera seem inferior. Then there's the satisfying clunk of a full-frame shutter.
And of course, the image quality. I'm no expert - I'm bothered about taking great photos, not the technicalities. The 5D, however, just takes stunning images. For whatever reason. Ok, it's not the best at focusing, especially in low light.
So, it was with mixed feelings I tried a 5D mkII. How could it be any better? Of course there's the extra 9 MPs, but I've never struggled with 'just' 12MP'. Wedding clients generally don't order huge prints.
There's the high sensitivity, but again, none of my clients ever refused a photo due to noise. Then there's DIGIC 4. I've no idea what that is, so it's not an issue.
But.... My first wedding with it was on the 2nd of Jan this year, at a wedding in Scarborough. In the snow. In the late afternoon. In other words, lighting was about as bad as it gets.
I usually use bounce-flash on the 580's pop-up indoors, just for a boost, but hate using full flash. As it was, I spent most of the day on or above ISO 2500, and thanking heaven (well, Canon) for focusing on this aspect.
The results had a little noise, as you'd expect, but nothing Lightroom 3 couldn't easily take care of, without turning everyone into waxworks.
I had my trusty 5D on my other shoulder, but even at f2.8 and high ISO, I ended up sticking to the mkII.
So this makes me wonder what's in store with the mkII. More MPs? Just means more storage space in my opinion. A pull-out screen? Maybe, but of little interest. Higher sensitivity? Useful, in some circumstances. Better weather sealing, ok, you've got me there.
But of course it will come at a cost. Several factors have taken prices in the wrong direction this year.
So I for one won't be queuing up for one.
But then, I was wrong with the mkII, maybe I'll be wrong again?
So we're led to believe - and have for a while - that Canon will shortly be releasing the third generation of it's professional 5D DSLR.
Rumours have been around since mid 2010.
As always, there's speculation about its specification, and what it will have to improve on the 5D mkII.
So here are my thoughts, as a time served professional wedding photographer. I've been using the 5D camera for several years, since the price dropped to a reasonable level. Primarily I chose it over the much cheaper 30D, as I didn't want to be shooting a wedding with the same camera as some of the guests.
I hadn't expected it to be so much better.
Firstly, the large viewfinder makes such a difference, and makes any APC-C camera seem inferior. Then there's the satisfying clunk of a full-frame shutter.
And of course, the image quality. I'm no expert - I'm bothered about taking great photos, not the technicalities. The 5D, however, just takes stunning images. For whatever reason. Ok, it's not the best at focusing, especially in low light.
So, it was with mixed feelings I tried a 5D mkII. How could it be any better? Of course there's the extra 9 MPs, but I've never struggled with 'just' 12MP'. Wedding clients generally don't order huge prints.
There's the high sensitivity, but again, none of my clients ever refused a photo due to noise. Then there's DIGIC 4. I've no idea what that is, so it's not an issue.
But.... My first wedding with it was on the 2nd of Jan this year, at a wedding in Scarborough. In the snow. In the late afternoon. In other words, lighting was about as bad as it gets.
I usually use bounce-flash on the 580's pop-up indoors, just for a boost, but hate using full flash. As it was, I spent most of the day on or above ISO 2500, and thanking heaven (well, Canon) for focusing on this aspect.
The results had a little noise, as you'd expect, but nothing Lightroom 3 couldn't easily take care of, without turning everyone into waxworks.
I had my trusty 5D on my other shoulder, but even at f2.8 and high ISO, I ended up sticking to the mkII.
So this makes me wonder what's in store with the mkII. More MPs? Just means more storage space in my opinion. A pull-out screen? Maybe, but of little interest. Higher sensitivity? Useful, in some circumstances. Better weather sealing, ok, you've got me there.
But of course it will come at a cost. Several factors have taken prices in the wrong direction this year.
So I for one won't be queuing up for one.
But then, I was wrong with the mkII, maybe I'll be wrong again?
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Sunday, 4 September 2011
village show
well, the village show's photo competition was interesting. Some entrants were cleary rather competitive, and didn't always agree with my view. thankfully the judge's decision is final!
I was really impresses by some of the children's entries though. Two of the top ones where from two brothers. I decided as an incentive for future entries, I'd offer them both some free tuition. Should be interested!
I was really impresses by some of the children's entries though. Two of the top ones where from two brothers. I decided as an incentive for future entries, I'd offer them both some free tuition. Should be interested!
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