workshop details
Guest Comments from Workshops
Also, click here to see 'Images from Workshops' taken by attendees
Critique Day December 2012
What did you find most interesting? All three components – critique of “our” photos, your workflow and critique of your photos.
This was a good venture. As the group size was small, we had the opportunity of looking at all 20 images that we had submitted which, in view of the range of subject matter, was useful
Corfe Castle and Kimmeridge November 2012
Instruction Very good -informative and you took great vains to ensure we all came away with some satisfying shots and lots to think about !
Locations stunning and provided lots of photographic opportunities
I had a great day. Initially I felt a bit disadvantaged as the other participiants had been on several of your previous courses and were obviously very familiar with your concepts and methods .However you were able to provide plenty of one to one instruction and I came away with a lot of valuable advice which I can put into practice in my own time .I found your routine and method of setting up shots very useful and I cant walk the dog in the countryside around my house without planning compositions! I look forward to coming again.
Portland Bill November 2012
Instruction understandable, comprehensive, valuable.
Good as ever.
Definitely enjoyed the day. Good format
Good value for money, was a birthday gift from my wife, however I would be happy paying for myself or a gift for others
Overall the day was great, can't stop telling people. Would recommend to others and hope to be able to develop my skills from what was taught and hope to attend more in the future.
New Forest Autumn Colours Workshop October 2011
What did you find most interesting? Learning about arranging the composition of the images and learning how to 'see' what was around us and what would make an interesting image that we would not have noticed before.
(Instruction) very thorough & delivered in a way that was easy to understand even when it was quite technical!
Instruction excellent - as ever.
I really liked that we were a small group, it helped with remembering names and bonding as a group and allowed for everyone to get the most out of the day. The early start though cold and dark and way too early turned out to be very interesting and the lessons on light and how quickly dawn arrived was a great experience that with hindsight I wouldn't have missed but I was dreading a bit the evening before!
I was hoping to learn a lot about the composition of images and the important elements needed to achieve this & I feel that this day really achieved my aims. I know I still have a lot to learn but by the end of the day especially in my later images I can see the changes caused by what I was learning to include/leave out of the pictures and the difference is amazing. I've found since I got home when I go through the pictures from the day that I'm working from the back rather than from the front as all the best images are to be found from later on as I started to use the lessons learned through out the day!
Excellent training locations
I knew about exposing to the right, but had not considered using filters to avoid a ‘dip’ in the centre of the histogram.
A good day out, I was reminded of a number of things I ‘knew’ but did not always remember, as well as learning a few new things (use of ND Grad filters with exposing to the right, in particular). Ian was keen to stress the importance of always questioning what you were trying to achieve (and how you were trying to do so) and to always check things like DOF and balance of things in the image.
Instruction very good, clear and concise
Great locations, esp dawn and the woodland
Great course, highly recommend this to all that are competent. Getting there earlier for a more in depth briefing esp as its such a vital part of the day. I found the whole exposure/histogram really helpful from the discussion in the car. Liked the small group and the way you asked us what we'd like to photograph. With all this in mind I would like you to put me down to come along to the two day Cornwall event (jan 22ish), that's if you'll have me along?
I really enjoyed the workshop and felt that I got quite a lot out of it.
I learnt a lot. I learnt about the rapidity of light change at critical times. I learnt that planning ( done by you in this workshop) means that one is then much likely to get good images. I learnt about my camera and started to get to grips with some of the complex menus that one can utilise. I was glad about the work that I had done in advance but there were other areas that I had not taken on board ( especially Manual focus and shifting the area that one is focusing on) that would have helped.
I was very happy with the instruction I received – You were patient. Clearly we had differing levels of experience which must have presented some difficulties but one wasn’t aware of it.
Advanced Workshop - October 2011
What did you find most interesting?
Thinking more; Hasselblad work with the Polaroid feedback
Understanding the principles behind using the Hasselblad
Getting in depth tuition.
Instruction? Again, as always, first class.
Excellent - as usual!
Definitely value for money
I know that I always gain more knowledge after coming on your workshops. I appreciate your teaching style. It was interesting using the Hasselblad - a new experience. Very good for teaching about composing of the shot. Made me think.
As usual an enjoyable and informative afternoon/evening.
Excellent. Instruction, inspiration & guidance always available when required
A good afternoon and evening workshop with 3 other keen photographers and an excellent instructor. I liked the chance to use the Hasselblad, a very different piece of equipment to my usual camera, the flipped view of the image takes a bit of getting used to but this makes the composition more distinct.
I wasn’t to keen on the ‘group’ selection of a starting image although we did have the opportunity to change this when making our own image.
I have learnt that I need to slow down a bit more and pay critical attention to the edges/corners of the image.
I find there is always something new to learn in photography, and the promise of the afternoon providing further learning was proven. I wasn't sure exactly what I would learn - otherwise I might have learned it already! - but my objective was to learn something more about making better shots, and that was fulfilled, even if I still have a way to go.
Overall a genial, relaxed and instructive day with enough but not too many participants to provide varying perspectives. Good organisation of the weather too....
Kimmeridge is a familiar location and it was good to be able to go there and look at it with a different mental framework. Working with the Blad was fascinating and deepened my understanding of some of the most basic principles of photography that still underpin everything we do, even with the most advanced digital equipment. The group side meant that you had plenty of time for each of us, even if one of us was miles along the beach from everyone else! I didn't come back with a heap of good photos; I came back with just a few, but, more importantly, I came back with a heap of knowledge that will allow me to get a greater proportion of "keepers".
A day at Cowes Week August 2011
Did you enjoy the format?
Yes I'll do next year if available
Yes, very much.
Yes, very much.
What did you think of the instruction?
Great as always
If you are running these workshop next year - please register my interest
Boat excellent. Excellent day out and thank you once again Ian for your help, guidance and questioning until we got it right
Provence July 2011
I came to the day having accompanied Ian on previous workshops so I knew the basics. I needed help with focussing especially for landscape work and we started on that issue right from the first location. I found the experience in the Market and around Ramatuelle very rewarding and our time at St Tropez was a major treat with the fabulous light.
As always, Very patient and helpful.
I keep coming back
I was delighted that we had good weather and good light all day. Ian's tuition is always helpful and challenging and I enjoy his company. I needed help with specific things and that is what I received. The format was perfect, just what I had hoped for, and the day passed by very quickly.
Instruction superb as usual.
All Luberon area superb - just loved villages and on 3rd day spent a while at lacoste
Came away with some good images but overall realisation of importance of knowing like secondnature "the link between the three points of triangle" i.e.Values of ISO, Shutter speed and Aperture and remembering to check all three for each shot.
Extremely valuable seeing what you Ian can do to shots with Lightroom and need more tuition in this. Particularly pleasant having Julia accompany us.
Overall it was a very useful workshop and has got us thinking more now about our photos rather than just pointing and snapping at will - Val was struggling a bit with trying to use manual focus incl DOF preview button - useful tips about use of liveview to assist with focusing and more use of the histogram.
Round the Island June 2011
I just wanted to say what a terrific day you arranged. The weather did incredibly well to provide the best action shots I have ever brought home. I was so excited with the results
An excellent day all round. Book me in for Cowes Week!
It was expensive but worth every penny.
A fantastic opportunity to be up close to the action of a great event. Good instruction, relaxed format and overall a great chance to take some photos. Would definitely recommend to others.
The whole idea together with local knowledge and experience made it a day to remember
Spring in the New Forest May 2011
Another great day out in the Dorset countryside. You found some great locations and I find the format of the workshops to be very good. Highly recommended.
Most interesting? - Being given personal help and not being allowed to sit at the back. The continual interactive method forces you to think and you gain far more than most courses.
Very good interactive workshop. I usually come away with one good tip from any day's course but this one I came away with 4 at least.
1 always plan your shots ahead
2 pay particular attention to the histogram and know how to react to the information it gives you
3 how to darken and lighten the shot quickly (on my Canon)
4 using the triad of av, tv and ISO to full advantage
I will recommend this course highly to my camera club. Thank you again for a very good day.
It was up to its usual high standard
Most interesting? - the challanges, you keep making me think!!
Did you enjoy the format? Yes as it not only covers the photography but what you need prior to and during
It was an enjoyable day out which went too quickly, covering a ragions of needs which helped cement them in my head and hopefully I'll remember when I move to NZ - if not then I might be emailing from there!!
Think outside the norm is challenging and enjoyable - overall a great day out with only one issue - not enough corners available in the flapjack box!
A Day in Dorset April 2011
A super day as always.
Great fun and excellent instruction.
I enjoyed the first stop at the church ruins - the discussion about different lighting conditions, times of the year, compositions etc . It's a good subject to have that sort of discussion.
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole day. I struggled in some area - but that's good - if I didn't it wouldn't be worth being there. Mostly down to my lack of skill with composition and "seeing" the shot. I don't think I took anything that I'm particularly proud of (particularly of the Bluebells!) but that doesn't matter at all - I learned lots and will use that to improve in the future.
A most enjoyable day!
Bluebell woods; also the last bit in the beech avenue around Badbury Rings. I have tried photographing these before but have never really been satisfied with the pictures . . much better this time!
Didn’t find any of it boring . . all activities were interesting to a greater or lesser extent.
Overall, a very good day. Helped to reinforce some of the key principles about composition and other technical issues you raised in the Autumn colours workshop I attended last October. Whether I am able to consistently apply these in future practice remains to be seen!
Most interesting?
Low Light Workshop April 2011
What did you find most interesting?: Your theme of looking for the balance between the sky and the land and how to work with it. Also I learned some new tips
I needed some help with low-light photography because my own efforts previously had been poor. I learned a lot, as always, and I enjoyed the format
I really enjoyed taking the photos from the walls, moving on to the pier gave the opportunity to try techniques learned.
Having the discussion beforehand is really useful without the desire to fiddle with the camera.
Very much enjoyed the workshop, learned a lot about the use of the histogram and altering the exposure. Plus the pictures came out pretty good.
I enjoyed the workshop very much indeed.
Personally the format was just right for the topic, also the location, it gave the opportunity and scope to put into practice what we had learnt in the first part of the evening.
For some time I have been wanting to spend time doing low light photography, reading articles helps but not as much as practical sessions. The evening was well presented with just about the right amount of talk followed by a very good practical session. The fact that there was a small number in the group meant that there was time for individual tuition which I found very helpful.Having the opportunity to put into practice the talk session straight ater was helpful.
The whole evening was well run with lots of information followed by a excllent practical session.
Thank you Ian
'Join Me' Kimmeridge - March 2011
One of the best! (..and I've been on a few.)
As you know I have a short attention span, but you hardly saw me all afternoon, because I was enjoying it all so much!
The waterfall - could have spent all day there!
Trying out taking close in shots of interesting patterns in the rock formations - something I'm not very good at.
I enjoyed most your discussions about the fading evening light and the improvement in the balance as it got darker.
I always seem to pick up little things during your discussions, and you also reinforce stuff that I already know - it's good to be reminded about things. The main thing I will bring away from yesterday is the balance between light and dark after the sun goes down - obvious really - but I just never realised the importance of it - even though I have taken, pre dawn, long exposure shots like that before. I also learned to remember to carry a torch with me!
Fantastic location and surprisingly challenging.
Join Me, it’s a really good way of knowing the location, lighting tides etc is going to give great opportunities. The only way to get more out of it would be to have pre-conceived ideas on what I want to learn and pre-visualisation of the images I want to generate – that’s more down to me than Ian though!
Thanks Ian – a great join me.
A most enjoyable afternoon - many thanks
Scotland- February 2011
What did you find most interesting?- learning about aperture / shutter speed settings for various differnt situations
Getting to grips with the basics of digital and seeing what you can obtain following development.
Was it instructive enough? - yes thank you - the evenings for me were very valuable learning about Lightroom and seeing our images and learning about how they could be improved ready for the next day.
Just the right amount of technical and practical
I loved the workshop and am very grateful to you for running it. I learnt so much in those few days - so much so, that I should not have been let out on my own with a camera before. just can't wait till the next one.
I had a great time, and learnt lots, it was really useful to me to understand both sides of the process and to realise what can be achieved in the processing side, so the evenings were very useful.
Very many thanks.
Cornwall Weekend- January 2011
A good mix of photography, LR/Photoshop and general discussion.
There was nothing boring about the workshop.
About the right time, maybe another day would allow one more small area to be shot.
Good format, informal but very informative
I feel that the level of instruction was at the right level, I could do my own thing but there was always your advice at hand when I needed it.
Excellent value.
I had a really good weekend, good company, good locations and excellent instruction and advice always on hand.
Your knowledge of the area and the ability to adapt to the weather was a real bonus.
I can now appreciate even more the benefit of planning and having some alternatives mapped out.
I also know that it’s possible to put on half a stone over a weekend, I blame the flapjacks!
Portland Bill and Coast - January 2011
An excellent combination of locations
You really are an excellent tutor. I have never felt any real desire to go to anyone else simply because I don’t think they will get anywhere near your level of tuition. I enjoy the way you challenge me in my thinking (or lack thereof) both compositionally and technically. The group size is perfect in that you have enough time for everyone to get individual attention, leaving others to get on by themselves without feeling “neglected”. Your emphasis on planning and research is appropriate.
Very much enjoyed the workshop - for the first time I felt I could 'hold my own' to some degree
I found them (the locations) challenging, thought provoking and they offered a range of opportunities
I thoroughly enjoyed the day. I think one of the most important aspects was the importance of thinking ahead about tides, weather etc
Corfe and Kimmeridge - November 2010
The workshop was thoroughly enjoyable
Both locations were very good
The whole day for me was a great success, the differing locations and weather conditions offered a wide range of differing challenges
With regards what I learnt, there were many things, but I suppose the two key ones were explore your location and see what the options are and that hyper focal distance is potentially more about experience and practise rather than reading a number of a chart and having to carry a tape measure!
Superb (instruction) and many thanks for being so patient - we all seemed to have problems with "Depth of Field" and you were very helpful explaining apertures and shutter speeds.
I thoroughly enjoyed the day and the comraderie of being with other photographers. Ian, you were extremely helpful and went out of your way to ensure that we learnt the correct techniques, which many other courses don't do - thank you.
This was my first experience of a workshop and I must say I did enjoy it very much and would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your time and good advice you gave me. I did learn a lot and you have made me think a lot more before taking a photograph, the focusing and composition advice was very good and has sunk in.
I think you got the whole day timed very well and the timing was just right for me. The locations were very good, and I did like the completely different locations.
I will be back again hopefully a day again next year, so thanks again and for a great day.
Autumn Colours - New Forest
(two days) October 2010
A thoroughly enjoyable day exploring stunning locations in good company. Ian is a brilliant tutor, with a deceptively easy style and mastery of his subject. His eye for a good picture is unrivalled. This is the fourth workshop I've been to. With each one I find it really useful to have gentle re-enforcement of basic techniques, learning new ones and the opportunity to work on some really focussed picture taking in a supportive environment. I always come away with new ideas, tips and skills.
(Enjoyed it) Enormously. It was a genuine pleasure being in that group.
Having had a 5:00am start, I was knackered once we finished -- but the time seemed to fly by.
Very good (locations), it was a great way to discover new areas of the forest
The small group (4) format is really good for regular 1:1 attention -- and the personalities worked well, so there was useful discussion Q & A within the group.
I was never bored, there was always something for me to do or think about
It was a full day and I found the time about right.
A small group of people enabled you Ian to address us all as individuals which was great
Loved the locations. So grateful to have the research done for me (lazy I know) and great to be transported everywhere by you.
I had a bit of difficulty getting my head around the first location -- but that may just have been me taking time to get my eye in. The others were excellent.
Loads and loads of things to bear in mind. I'll not forget one of your mantras "check the focus". If only......
I really enjoyed the workshop and learnt a lot, both about how to use my camera, and new techniques. The day inspired me to take more pictures, and to better understand my camera to improve my pictures. Landscapes are my favourite sort of photo and it was very useful to learn about singling out a particular item of the landscape to make a more impactful picture. It was a good reminder about how to take an original picture - eg from a different view point, by varing depth of field. One thing I would say is that breakfast was highly welcome, but also a surprise to me!
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with you and the group. Although I think I have a broad idea of what I'm supposed to be doing your constant input was very much required to make me aware of all the things one must check before pressing the shutter. It is obvious to me that I must "get out and do more" if I am to improve so thank you for pointing me in the right direction.
I would do more workshops with you especially ones locally. I think you offer excellent value for money as you keep group sizes small and you work very hard to help us improve. All those little questions you drop in from time to time make one really think.
I liked the early start, to see different perspective + loved the locations
The location was important, as love and feel comfortable within the New Forest. Now look at all 'through new eyes - where did all those mushrooms come from!!!
The day was great fun as well as informative - just the right way to learn!
Really lovely. Each location was slightly different from the previous one, but we didn't waste time travelling far between each one.
There was so much for me to soak up and take away to practice, without feeling bombarded.
It was certainly not too long. I personally could have stayed longer but it was probably just right. We never felt rushed.
I liked that the day was conducted in a fun and informal way, with enough leaway to experiment. Although I feel I only have a few really good photos, this is partly because I am now looking at them with a more critical eye and can see where they could have been improved. I can learn a lot from the not so good shots and hopefully see where I have gone wrong. I have learnt that I must constantly check the settings and "tweak" them when necessary. I have a better understanding of the histogram, focal points and exposure and feel more confident to use them. I think I know where my weaknesses are (eyesight for one) and need to get to grips with manual focusing, focal length and composition. It has really spurred me on to get out with the camera more and hopefully practice will make (almost) perfect! It would love to go on to learn more and be a good photographer.
I was more interested in the work we undertook in amongst the trees of the forest . . looking at a range of close-up and more distant subjects.
(The time was ) about right . . although I felt pretty tired at the end of it all!
Good help with learning more about composition . . and about the technical aspects relating to focus and exposure.
A nice mix of practical activity and instruction with a significant amount of one-to-one attention.
I thoroughly enjoyed the day, particularly the relaxed but informative style. Plenty of 1:1 throughout the day. I certainly came away understanding a lot more about my camera, composition and use of light.
Lake District October 2010
Having you, Ian, continually advising on camera settings and composition (using the best light and the places where sunlight was hitting) was extremely beneficial and made the course much better than those of competitors.
We are all busy people and we were away 3 very full days.The area was so good that a few more days would have been very enjoyable, but not easily fitted into one's life.
Excellent (locations) - have not stopped talking about it to friends (and anyone else who will listen)
The venue was wonderful - the Lakes in Autumn - I learnt how to take photos in very low light, how to relate Depth of Field to shutter speed - it was extremely good value for money and was just what I should have done years ago and can't wait for the next Badley experience.
Very full on!
I felt that I learned more on this workshop than any of the previous ones I have participated in, mainly due to having the extra time. It helped doing pre shoot planning.
Company TeamBuilding Day - September 2010
My objectives were primarily to see the team interact away from a working environment to help strengthen the personal relationships that exist and to observe them interacting with each other. Tick, tick, tick!
The team objectives were very clear, and I feel that all of the team demonstrated this by the photos that were bought back to the barn. Excellent team building event, it really allowed the team to see each others potentials with communication, skills to work individually and as team members, it was fantastic overall
I enjoyed the challenge of looking at everyday objects in an abstract manner. As someone who considers himself not at all ‘arty’ I impressed myself!
What is instantly evident is that some people are feeling more part of a team than they were before the event. For a sales force spread as far and wide as my lot, it was great to get together in civvies and just enjoy ourselves with phones off and ‘out of office’ messages on e-mail.
Very enjoyable day. Good fun and the day also allowed me to leave with a little more knowledge about photography.
The Barn was the perfect venue for such an event. It was totally in keeping with the feel of the day and as for the lunch .............well!!....I am still drooling over the thought of the fresh from oven homemade pork pies and the rest of the ploughmans was also very tasty. My thanks to The landlord of the Royal Oak.
All of the locations chosen were beautiful and the photographic opportunities were abundant. I was articularly impressed seeing the Sow and her myriad of piglets – a sight I had never before seen in the New Forest.
I think the day in total was perfectly timed. A large dose of fresh air and sunshine and everyone had a great complexion when we returned to the hotel....not quite as rosie as some were by the end of th evening...but then they were white on Friday!!
The format was great, very informative and of great benefit to all
The day certainly exceeded my expectations
The locations for the shots were beautiful, I am still wowed now by the new forest. What a stunning location to have on your doorstep
The barn and refreshments were beautiful. The lunch was really tasty, compliments to the chef on the pork pies, I am still talking about them now to my family members
The session was definitely instructive enough photography wise, I know that the rest of the group are still talking the lingo and will take it with us for the future. I know I am definitely inspired to learn more
The time was definitely about right, we braked at an appropriate time making us all ready for the afternoon session, it was perfect
I found learning about photography in different lighting and the rule of 3rds of most interest to myself and feel these may have been my biggest fall backs prior to the training
A day on the Solent - August 2010
Many thanks for a superb day - organisation and execution were 1st class
Overall the workshop can only be described as brilliant and something I will remember forever. The good things were the other members of the course who did not fight for position or block the view and in this respect seven photographers were just about right. Had the weather been better then the opportunity was there to go on the top deck which would have been fun but since it would only take one or two at a time this may have been a problem. Better to ban everyone since the lower level gave a very good platform to photograph from. The extras supplied by you – flapjacks and bananas plus the frequent cup of coffee brewed by the crew – were very welcome.
Thank you for another great day out. I really need to find a way to do less work and more photo shoots.
What did you find most interesting?
Being so close to the action. Racing alongside the Americas Cup yachts was great.
The activity and buzz around us. I'm used to working in much quieter surroundings like deserted beaches!
(The) tips before we started were very helpful.
(It was) more instructive than what I was expecting to be honest as it was sold as a "join me" rather than a workshop
As usual, you gave us just enough (information) to chew on but not too much so that we could concentrate on creating the shots
You were there to answer questions whenever we had them and offered some great advice during the day about what to beware of as well as pointing out great photo opps to us.
What did you think of the locations?
Great. Well researched as ever.
It was a great day - really well researched, unusual shooting location, lots of opportunity to try and get some great shots
It was a great and unusual experience that is hard to organise yourself.
First, it was a unique experience and very special. Second the day posed a number of challenges of which the most difficult - at least for oldies like me - was maintaining a balance long enough to execute the shot. Third, I learned more about the D3, especially the use of the six different focusing modes on an unstable platform - it was like trying to focus on a fast moving object while jumping up and down on a trampoline !!
Overall I had another excellent day out. I find your personality and manner to be good humoured, informative and entertaining (in a good way!) and you are an excellent host.
I thoroughly enjoyed the day and loved every minute of it (even getting wet!). I can honestly say the only bit I didn't like was going home.
I learnt about the importance of "peak of the action", keeping a constant eye on your setting and histograms, watch the light at all times and trying to look 365degs at all times trying to predict what will happen.
I found the day very valuable because I came with an aim for learning more how to do action shots in a fast moving situation. I realised that the D3's focusing system is amazing and, at least on the long distance shots, the auto-focus mode was better than me trying to position the focus area precisely while the boat was moving around. I also learned the benefit of patience - you had to wait for the shot to emerge, although I did finish up with a collection of 500 images of which about 200 are usable. The trip down to the Needles was fun and I'm glad we did it even though it was very bumpy. The colours in the cliffs are spectacular and I nearly sent one of my shots to you with the cliffs as background. Plus the view of the Needles from the boat is itself unusual.
It was a great day out and the opportunity to get some unique images whilst having an expert on hand to answer any questions and help out where needed
A really good day out.
In this particular session I learned the value of high shutter speed and I finally got to grips with the "AI Servo" focus mode on my camera. The tip of moving the focus point to the bottom was invaluable also.
It was really good to get some unique shots of the various boats and be in the thick of the action.
Overall, highly recommended.
'One to One' - May 10
Very enjoyable, I will be doing another one as soon as I have the time & you bring the coffee & flapjacks!
I thoroughly enjoyed my day, the tuition was good, I liked being able to ask questions & get them answered in both verbally & demonstrated how to carry them out.
Once again, thanks for every thing
New Forest in Spring - May 2010
What did you find most interesting?
The insight into composition and the different places we went to.
The photo method - actually training us to look for the image we want to take and composing the image in our mind prior to getting the camera out - this was equally as good as the more technical tips which were provided throughout the day.
And the most boring?
I cannot think of anything that I found boring.
Nothing - it was a 100% fantastic day
The time seemed to be just right, I felt exhausted at the end though. There was a lot of information to process.
We were really tired but happy at the end of the day.
I prefer this format to the classroom format. I find that I learn better this way. It was also flexible to get the most out of the day.
(The instruction was) First rate
You were able to give us group tuition and also go through things with us individually.
The locations were good, not crowded, and well thought out.
Good - knowing the new forest I liked going to locations which were not over stocked with tourists.
I really enjoyed the hands on experience of the day, with someone that could share their professional experience with us. The day was structured but at the same time it was flexible to accomodate what we wanted to do, and also to get the most out of the light and animals. The flapjacks were great. I hope that I can keep remembering the advice that you have given us to create better photos. It was a great day, and I would recommend it highly. I would also like to do this again one day.
Helen and I are quite new to photography and although we have a BASIC understanding of our cameras functions we were a milliion miles away from being able to produce the shots that we came away with after this day in the new forest. The day was fantastic in terms of weather and locations. The format of the day was driven by the very small number of attendees (3 of us) and the instruction was given to account for this. The tuition was provided in easy to understand terms and was very practical and hands on. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and one which has inspired us to continue and improve our photography
'Join Me' - Bluebells - May 2010
Most interesting? Work on composition. (And blurred verticals!!!)
Patience and clear explanations were so reassuring.
Location was Superb
Stunning. So enjoyable.
I thought it was excellent, particularly as, technically, it was a "Join Me" event. I enjoy the freedom you offer where you provide some input and then give as much time as we need to practise, either with you, or a bit further along the path.
Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Impressed by foreward planning and
organisation of the day ( obviously aware of what the location could offer -well researched/visited)
Individual help was so beneficial. I realised the importance of routine in taking a photograph, checking each shot, waiting for the
light on the subject and most important ...looking for the right composition. "Less is more" was the phrase I remember.
'Join Me' - Hengistbury Head May 2010
The evening was great
Locations? Fantastic – I’ll us it again.
Did you gain from the experience?
Yes, reminder about checking the details / distractions around the edges of compositions, better understanding of exposing to the right
A Day in Dorset with Bluebells April 2010
Fantastic
Locations (were) Stunningly beautiful and excellent for making us think about the images
Really good with plenty of interest and challenging
It was good to be able to ask daft questions without feeling foolish. You deserve a medal for patience too!
I leant about the every day routine you need to think about to get a good balanced photo. How to get the best from a frame and what aspects to take into consideration from the light to the composition.
A fantastic day with end to end learning.
I thought the day was a fantastic learning opportunity. I was suprised when we got to the first location and were told we wouldn't need the cameras. However, all became clear when Ian asked us to analyse the scene, to think about the best time of day for images and the composition of an image and, as i mentioned earlier, these times turned out to be the most informative for me. At the other locations we were left to our own devices for a short time and allowed to make our own "mistakes" then Ian stepped in and put over his point of view. I can't think of a single occasion over the whole day where i disagreed with Ians thoughts and opinions. The most important thing i learned was that "Less Is More" but there was so much information passed on that it would take far too long to list here!
Very informative
Enjoyed it all
This was an opportunity to compare and contrast my particular style and approach with an expert and others within the group, things I have learnt and will be taking away are to consider less is more, shoot pictures in apperture priority and to look at saving some images in raw files. Thanks again for a fantastic day which was both enjoyable and informative.
The format was great and i felt it was laid back enough to be flexible, which is why all the timings when to pot but that was a good thing.
The flapjack was amazing!!!....It was a great day out and is the best workshop i have attended. the technical information about raw files etc we talked about in the car i found broke the travelling up and we were learning at the same time. I learnt that less is more and to work out the photo before i look through the view finder.
Everything (was interesing) as digital was new to me
I enjoyed the workshop, though had forgotten how much you like us to work. I thought the content was good, & the company too - though guess you haven't much control over that. The only criticism, is as I mentioned above, by the end of the day the brain was so stuffed it had begun to stop retaining things. I picked up a couple of techniques / ideas that I hadn't thought of before, & your insights/experience are most helpful.
The group was the right size. I could have started earlier although I know that's not always possible for others. I learnt a lot about digital and I have a lot more to learn. It was a great fun day out and I will book again.
Jersey March 2010
I very much enjoyed the format, the group was very friendly and a nice number so that we were all able to have individual attention. I hope I have learnt to take a more considered approach to my photography and think carefully about composition and exposures. Lunch was good too!
Fantastic experience
What did you find most interesting?
All of it, but especially looking at composition, the importance of exposure and its effects.
Ian, many thanks for a great day, we learnt a lot and spent Sunday putting everything into practice.
I learnt a great deal especially about composure and lighting and thought you were easy to get on with and not arrogant and too boring like i thought it might be.
Many thanks Ian for a brilliant weekend you always exceed my expectations and very much look forward to coming on another one of your workshops in the mainland
You always exceed my expectations, you make me feel comfortable to ask questions, looking forward to the next one
I learnt a great deal especially about composure and lighting thought you were easy to get on with and not arrogant and too boring like I thought it might be.
Taking note of the way light falls at different times of the day was v useful.
Last year it was all new to me so it was good to go over again and to find that it all made better sense this year.
The 2:1 worked well for me as I go out shooting on a regular basis so it means we can check with each other about what we've learnt Ashamed to say that we both visited places we didn't even knew existed even though between us we have lived on a Island 7x9 miles for 104years!!
An extremely well presented workshop and lots of patience!!
All very enjoyable
The beach opened our eyes as first impressions was that here was not a lot to take. But your guidance and instrucion soon opened our eyes - even if we have a lot of photographs of stones in the middle of the frame!!!!!!!
The day was excellent - thank you. I do not need to add a lot, only ot say that we would like to attend further courses as the day was quite inspirational.
One to One session, February 2010
Did you gain from the experience?
Most definitely, I spent the weekend practising what I'd learned (as instructed!) and found myself being much more attentive to detail.
booked a 1:1 day with Ian following a very interesting workshop last October. This time I wanted to concentrate my mind on improving the composition of my photographs and really "see" the picture I wanted to get. Ian has a unique manner, he calmly and methodically took me through the thought process and practice of assessing the viability of a scene, choosing the best view point (or points) and making sure that the essential elements were captured. One of the main strengths of Ian's teaching skills is his technique of regularly questioning, to both assess knowledge and push his students that bit further with their thought process.
Another very important factor in Ian's workshops is that he doesn't carry any camera equipment of his own, (other than to illustrate a point - ed), the day is totally dedicated to the instruction of his pupils, something which I have really come to appreciate having attended other similar workshops.
Ian is a very knowledgeable photographer and thankfully for students like me, he's only too happy and willing to impart this knowledge to others.
Thank you, once again Ian for an excellent day.
Corfe and Kimmeridge - February 10
It was great to spend the time really getting used to the Camera. The composition exercise at Corfe was very worthwhile.
For me it was an enjoyable and profitable day. I learned much about the attention to detail required for a good standard of landscape work. I also learned bits about my own equipment which I ought to have known already and am determined to improve on this aspect as well.
Enjoyed them all, (locations) once we got up the hill!
'Join Me'- New Forest - January 10
Most interesting? The demonstration of how to get the blue of the coldness into the photos
Most interesting? Composition, especially taking time before the shot and checking the viewfinder for annoying items on the edge of the frame.
Most interesting? Listening to the others' take on a location. Interesting that we all see such different things.
Most interesting?The landscape photography and watching the way the light changed the scene
I liked the pond areas the best but I would being Pisces.
Found the whole thing very enjoyable; company was pleasant and I was pleased with the amount of time you gave us – I thought it would be more restricted. Landscape session before 9 was great, and the walk to the first lake and the pictures there also good.
Another excellent shoot with several new techniques to consider & experiment with.
Thoroughly enjoyable to look at locations with the help of a trained eye and appreciate that the camera doesn't provide the finished print. The opportunity to walk around the pond looking for pictures with the other folk was good. Coffee and flapjacks most welcome on a cold morning. There was nothing I didn't enjoy.
I really enjoyed the morning, although it was over far too quickly! Although you were there to get your own shots, you still had plenty of time to explain what you were doing, answer our questions and give us the opportunity to try the shots for ourselves. The exercise by the 2nd lake was very useful. It really made us think and assess the scene rather than just randomly start 'snapping' and it also gave an interesting insight to hear what other people saw in a scene.
Excellent, excellent morning.... And thanks to your wife for the great flapjacks - it almost worth coming on these mornings just for that!
'Join Me'- New Forest - December 09
I really enjoyed the morning. Learnt plenty, loved the location and didn't feel I couldn't ask daft questions!
I'm very impressed with your easy going, very clear, teaching style
I don't think I can fault these "Join Me" trips at all. They are exactly what I want - most importantly the right light - expert knowlege of locations, expert tuition. For my requirement - just perfect.
It did reinforce the whole thing of planning a shoot; knowing where the sun would be at what time; where it would be casting it's light etc etc. I am learning so much all of the time.
Corfe and Kimmeridge - December 09
Thanks for another stimulating and thought provoking day yesterday
I was exhausted at the end of the day but it was so worthwhile.
Did you enjoy the format? Again perfect - good group size. The structure of the sessions - theory, doing, reflection - worked well. Breaking the day into Corfe, Kimmeridge 1 and Kimmeridge 2 worked well and prevented information over load
I was able to consolidate many of the things we had covered in previous workshops and then move them on to the next level. I enjoyed thinking through the compositional aspects and listening to you talk through how you would see it - this was really helpful. The limpet pool exercise was also useful.
Overall these workshops are increasingly helping me to refine what I enjoy photographing and decide what doesn't particularly inspire me.
I really enjoyed the day - and more importantly learned a lot. Thank you again. Even the rain added a different dimension
Although I've been taught the "theory", it's so much easier to understand "in the field".
I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop, from a friendly greeting when I arrived, a hot drink, flapjack and a chance to meet my fellow students. We had reasonable weather for the time of year but I felt that perhaps this wasn't going to be the day I got "the shot of a lifetime". Ian explained that the day was primarily a tutorial, equipping us with the knowledge to be able to return to the location in more favourable conditions in our own time.
Ian's knowledge of landscape photography is very evident in his excellent teaching manner, whilst he asked me questions about how I was going about taking photographs, he was assessing the extent of my knowledge and building very carefully and constructively on that ensuring that I understood the terminology. Despite worsening weather, we were able to get a full day's photography in before heading back to the car for a warm drink (flapjack) and summary of the day's tuition. I thoroughly enjoyed my day, I am sure that I will benefit from Ian's advice each time I take my camera out into the landscape again and really look forward to my next workshop.
Portland Bill - November 09
Excellent locations
An excellent day (the best to date) which was greatly added to by the Force 8 winds at Portland Bill & the perfect lighting conditions we unexpectedly got. I gained a great deal from the advice given to me about composition of my photos.
Durdle Door - November 09
As this was my first workshop I was not sure what to expect, your approach suited my needs and the fact that you ensured that I understood what you were trying to teach me was excellent - thanks!
For me about right the amount of information you gave managed to stick in my head to a certain extent. Senior moments excepted!
The overall experience was far beyond my expectations - I had no clue as to what I was letting myself in for and was although I was a little shocked at the interrogation as soon as we left Ringwood, I can see why you do it! The day proved to be extremely informative your ability to pick up on the best way to get it into my head was well achieved. I had hoped to have put the knowledge to good use by now but circumstances and weather have not permitted this. I would like to thank you loads for the day and the information and practical help and hopefully I will repeat the experience in the not too far distant future.
Autumn Colours - New Forest October 09
For me the workshop was a complete success, very well organised with good planning and brilliantly excecuted. I came away with plenty of new ideas on composition and exposure and a few of my old concepts completely blown out of the water! The only short coming was my own fault - lackof familiarity with the camera, you think you know how it all works until you have a professional looking over your shoulder asking awkward questions. But never mind, I enjoyed the experience.
The student/instructor ratio was just right.
There was a lot of information to take in but anyone with some enthusiasm for the subject should be able to cope quite comfortably.
Beautiful (locations). We were spoilt for choice in the forest
The group size was perfect. If I had turned up at a workshop that was the size of that other group we saw, I would have been very disappointed
It was very good for information
I thought they (locations) were perfect for capturing the Autumn colours in the Forest. It did exactly what it said on the tin!
I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and would definitely attend another one. I picked up tips on composition, learning that it is better to leave things out rather than trying to cram too much in, less is more. The group size was just right. It was nice to spend time taking photos in the Forest with like minded people, rather than dragging my partner out early in the morning when he'd much rather stay in bed! The locations were excellent. And, of course, the flap jack was delicious!
(Locations) They were great – well researched
I really appreciated the work on composing the shot, and honing in on interesting features.
I thoroughly enjoyed the day even with the somewhat damp start,it was good to see how you can be at a location and then break it down into several pieces that can offer different photographic options. The other aspect that was very useful was the idea of using different aspects of the scene as lead-ins to the picture. All in all another great day and look forward to booking another workshop in the future.
"Lake District - October 09"
Thanks again for a fantastic trip to the Lakes - exceeded all my expectations! It took my skills to a new level and I now feel in total control of my camera and the process of making great images. Also really enjoyed your company and had a good time really exploring those areas of the Lakes - Bravo! (I've made it my mission to get all my photo friends on your workshops!)
"Long Day on the Isle of Wight - September 09"
Did you enjoy the Workshop?
Yes very much indeed, the light was not brilliant but it was a great day out, I learned a lot and you and the other students were great company.
The field craft and the technical aspects of planning, location scouting was very interesting and I liked the way that you gave us little exercises.
All in all I had an excellent day out. I really like the format and one of the reasons I come on workshops is because it gives me the motivation to get up at silly-o-clock to catch the light and also the locations have been pre-scouted saving me the hassle (those two alone make it worth the fee never mind the instruction on top as well!).
I would recommend this workshop to anyone who knows their way around their camera and is interested in landscape photography. The day is friendly, motivating and informative. You have a wealth of information and experience and are great at explaining things - even at 5:00 in the morning!
I learned a lot about location scouting, the importance of light and the ideas of filling space in the image. There is one scene in particular where you were helping me on Ryde Pier. Kept all of the images where I started and then 5 images later got the composition you were coaching me for. Seeing the progression from the original to the one that "works" is great for me to see, after the event.
Looking forward to another one.
My expected period of tiredness came and went without too much difficulty, to my pleasant surprise. You are governed by the seasonal timings of dawn and dusk, so the main thing is to make sure that there is a "low-pressure" period for the batteries to recharge a bit.
"One to One"
I had a brilliant day. Ian, you were an excellent and patient teacher. I really enjoyed myself. I was so immersed in what we were doing that day-to-day life seemed a million miles away which was fantastic. The day was a good combination of teaching and practising, the locations were varied and well thought out and Ian was good company. I learnt a lot more about my camera than I'd expected to. Shot composition and seeing things differently were my favourite parts.
Heather Workshop August 2009
(What did you find boring?) I’ll get back to on this one? Still working on it? Nope still cant think of one? Ok only as its all I can think of and it wasn’t boring, it was kind of interesting to be honest, but it wasn’t me behind my camera, that was the time spent looking at how you manage your workload with lightroom
(Information provided?) You can never have to much information (unless you're from the US or a bad engineer or worse both) That said its not the amount or information its the quality and with that said you have a very good “Opinion”
What did you think of the locations? Very Good
At my level there was very little I can pick fault with. I like the way you don’t humour or patronise just because we paid you money but in the same respect you don’t overly criticise or slate just because you could. The lessons on composition were what I was after the most and I wasn’t disappointed with what I came away with. And the pearls of wisdom on images that you could easily miss when working later in the day.
Guests are asked to send in 5 images from the day:
Aha only being able to submit 5 photos ha! ha! finally found something to moan about……
Do you have any Idea how hard this is, only five out of 450 that’s just not fair…………..ok only 50 are worth a second look and probably only 10 my wife would hang on our wall but you have no idea how fussy my wife is…..I’m normally lucky to get 1 out of 50 I take that she likes..
I benefited very much from your experience not just about our kit and techniques but also about what works for you generally.
Cowes August 2009
It was a really good day out. We had great location and subjects and I learnt more about the camera (histograms), composition, timing, looking for the good shot. It was really helpful and should enable me to improve my technique.
(What did you find most boring?) I’ll get back to on this one? Still working on it? Nope still cant think of one? Ok, only as its all I can think of and it wasn’t boring, it was kind of interesting to be honest, but it wasn’t me behind my camera, this was the time spent looking at how you manage your workload with lightroom.
At my level there was very little I can pick fault with. I like the way you don’t humour or patronise just because we paid you money but in the same respect you don’t overly criticise or slate just because you could. The lessons on composition were what I was after the most and I wasn’t disappointed with what I came away with. And the pearls of wisdom on images that you could easily miss when working later in the day. Aha only being able to submit 5 photos ha! ha! finally found something to moan about……
I enjoyed the day very much & although I did not get as many good shots as I would have hoped I learnt a lot & know exactly where I was going wrong.
(I found it most interesting about) the advice given me about using a high shutter speed, exposure compensation and the review of the photos on camera on the boat back. I also found it very interesting to see your pics of the day to see what I could have done to improve my images.
(Too much or too little information?) You can never have to much information (unless your from the US or a bad engineer or worse both) That said its not the amount or information its the quality and with that said you have a very good “Opinion”
At my level there was very little I can pick fault with. I like the way you don’t humour or patronise just because we paid you money but in the same respect you don’t overly criticise or slate just because you could. The lessons on composition were what I was after the most and I wasn’t disappointed with what I came away with. And the pearls of wisdom on images that you could easily miss when working later in the day.
(Guests are asked to submit 5 images from the day after the event..)
Aha only being able to submit 5 photos ha! ha! finally found something to moan about……
Do you have any Idea how hard this is, only five out of 450 that’s just not fair…………..ok only 50 are worth a second look and probably only 10 my wife would hang on our wall but you have no idea how fussy my wife is…..I’m normally lucky to get 1 out of 50!
I found the info just right - it enabled me to concentrate on just a couple of aspects of my photography at one go and thus I learnt a lot on the day - any info that educates me & improves my photography is ok by me. Thank you for the help you gave me.
I thought the day was excellent made all the better by the weather & perfect skies - well done that man for getting it just right!!!!!!!!!! The variety of photography during the day was very good & did not in any way lead to boredom. The locations that we were taken to were spot on and gave us all the opportunity to get the best shots we could that day providing individuals techniques were up to scratch - not always the case for me. However, the best part of the day for me was that I came away knowing how to improve a few of my techniques & thus fulfilled my aim for the day - learn something to improve my photography. The things that I learnt were how to set the camera up for fast shutter speed photos, get the correct exposure compensation settings (took a bit for me to get to grips with that but with your help I sorted it in my mind eventually) and although I did not realise at the time I learnt on the return boat trip that if I had set the ISO correctly I would have got a higher f stop for faster shutter speed & would have got a lot less out of focus pics as a result - all hopefully now stored in the brain for the next shoot. The other thing that I learnt I think is to be patient to get a few good shots & not take a lot of shots that are only going to be ditched. I always think that if I do not shoot a lot I will always miss the good shot whereas I learnt it is a question of anticipating the good shot before it happens. All in all a really great day for me that gave me very good value for my money.
Jersey June 09
I learnt a lot, hopefully with your bullet points you showed us I will remember most of it. It’s given me the confidence to play with the various buttons. Taught me a lot about what makes a good landscape, not just a record snap. Hopefully one day I will take a good landscape with that wow factor. Although I was very tired before I started the course, I really did enjoy it.
I thought the workshop was excellent; you were very enthusiastic and helpful. The people on the workshop were friendly and it was nice having the social aspect too - ie chatting and eating! I have learnt about my AV settings,what the histogram means, taking parts of the whole picture, changing light conditions and when to take pictures.
Everything was interesting - it was all completely relevant to what I needed to know
Fulfilled my expectations perfectly, a really good day out and very good value (No, not a relative! – Ian)
I am feeling a lot more confident using the camera on the manual functions. Rather than thinking that picture will never work I try and remember what I’ve been taught to make it work. I also look at the composition much more critically. I enjoyed all of it.
Very glad to have revisited info you covered last time round. Needed reminding.
Thank you for such a special day on Sunday. I learnt so much.
I’ve bulleted below my responses to your questions:
I found a number of elements interesting - the histograms and learning about the technical aspects of my camera: but in particular I was interested in the composition of shots – what to look for, the process of analysing and ‘dialling out’.
I can honestly say I found nothing boring in the whole day
The timing of the day was again perfect. I learnt a lot in the time, although any longer and I may just have been on overload!
You made it a priority to assess where I was prior to that day through our phone discussion, the pre course email and discussion at the start of the day.
As a result of this you had sharp objectives and made it clear to me exactly what we were going to do and what I should expect to be able to do by the end of the session. You also gave me a clear outline of the day in terms of timings.
The pace of the day was good – there was time to learn and practise without feeling rushed but you moved it on when appropriate. You encouraged me to be independent – to have a go - and you valued my ideas so that I didn’t feel I was useless or daunted by the amount of things I didn’t know! But you didn’t allow me to rely on your knowledge too much.
At the end of each mini task you summarised the learning and involved me in that process so that I was clear what I had achieved before moving on. I think that added to the positive feel of the day.
The tasks were all different and in different contexts which enabled me to enjoy the forest as well as enjoy the learning – of course the weather added to this!
The lunchtime pub session was good – a really lovely place to eat. The laptop session consolidated learning in a different way and I was able to apply the knowledge I’d gained in the morning to a critical evaluation of some of your photos. Understanding the physics of the camera also helped me understand some of the reasons why aperture etc were important, how it related to the timing of the shutter opening etc.
You gave lots of praise where appropriate and gave constant feedback on how I was doing so that I knew exactly what I had to work on.
At the end of the day the final ‘pine tree in the hollow’ task pulled all the learning points together. This was followed by a final summary on the laptop of all I’d learned.
Finally the expectation of giving feedback and five photos provided me with a chance to reflect on my own learning.
I loved it! Thank you so much – I look forward to the next time.
Previous Workshops
The most interesting part of the day was trying to capture the image during the morning light and also photographing the ponies!
I was most impressed and really enjoyed Ian's constant, tireless advice - even in the car driving along pointing things out and prompting us to think. For me what stood out was the way Ian summed up the entire day on the way back; taking us through each scene and reminding us of the lessons learnt - that really helped reinforce the experience and knowledge gained
The information and advice got me thinking in different ways about basics which I thought I'd mastered already. It challenged me about what I'm doing, how, and importantly why - before I even approach the tripod
Learning that photography is possible in all conditions and improving my composition, using filters and exposure compensation
Tips on how to compose and frame subject matter within a shot. learning to take more time to get the shot you want instead of regretting it later. Focusing my attention on how I take photos rather than just taking them. Chatting to Ian to gain insights into the pro photographer's mind. Being next to a choppy sea at dawn was pretty amazing also.
I liked being challenged to think outside of the box, look at scenes differently and find your own point of interest.
I enjoyed having to think about composition at the lifeboat station, and also the exercise where we had to decide times of year/sunrise or sunset.
There were no moments that were boring!
It was a long day, ('A Long Day on the Isle of Wight), but it obviously needed to be to cover as much as we did. I think we were all prepared for that, so i would say it was just right for people enthusiastic to catch sun rise & sun set shots and everything in between!
Ian was instructive in a positive manner, providing guidance and constructive criticism when necessary. A very useful part was allowing the person to practice what they have been taught so as to put into practice
Your tuition is always very though and informative.
The amount of information was perfect. Ian explained photography very well indeed with good questioning to check if the person is learning!
I particularly like the way you raised questions instead of simply lecturing (this was much more interesting)
The locations were nice, especially Keyhaven.
Fantastic! Loved Portland Bill & am looking forward to going back. Durdle door was good also, but I hate hills so it lost points there!
Excellent, well researched I thought.
Great, I think the variety in locations and what they had to offer was brilliant
Perfect, the flapjacks deserve their reputation!
Satisfactory refreshments as always
It was a perfect birthday present, perfectly executed. Thanks.
Overall the workshop went very well. I learnt a lot about composition which was my weaker area. Also Ian explained very well the technical information about aperture, shutter speed and how to use them to create different effects. The most important lesson that I took away with me was to know in your mind what it is you want to photograph and to create the image mentally and then capture it using the camera
The workshop was fantastic, better than anything I had hoped for. Ian got really involved in our learning, challenging everyone to think about their photography in many new ways. You came away feeling privileged to have spent a day being taught the insiders secrets and being shown beautiful parts of the country, including Ian's own favourite locations.
I've learnt to slow down, think about what I'm doing and why - what do I want to achieve? Then using all the tools around me and on my camera to capture that in the image.
I came, uncomfortable with my level of photographic knowledge and familiarity with my new camera. I left with much more knowledge and more comfortable with my camera's settings and operation. It is only a first step and I look forward to taking more.
INSTRUCTIVE, WET AND FUN !!!!!
Both Richard (my son) and I enjoyed it despite the rain. I learnt a lot more about composition and not to rush. Many thanks again
The workshop actually exceeded my expectations by a long way. You showed a genuine interest in each shot and provided valuable critique throughout.
Taking the shot as you normally would, asking how it could be done better, and then actually re-shooting it there and then is a great way of learning. By comparing two shots its very easy to see the improvement and justify that little bit of extra effort. Practicing for a whole day really helps improve knowledge of the camera and technical ability quickly, so that it becomes almost second nature.
By offering each bit of advise as a question (rhetorical or otherwise), it provokes thought, and thinking about what you are doing more seems to be the key to improving quickly. I ended the day seeing things differently and already thinking about plans for my next shoot, which is all I could have hoped for in this kind of workshop.
The workshop was very informative and aimed at all levels. I am not one for picking up a book and learning that way, but can do that having been shown something. Having done an intensive photographic course 15 years ago and then gone digital, I had forgotten lots of thinhs learnt previously but this weekend has brought it all back, as well as the enthusiasm. I am wanting to learn more and progress my photography even further, but through the camera not on the computor.
Thanks for what I did learn, am now trying to take more time to plan my shots and work from Aperture rather than just letting the camera chose. (Sadly camera still better than me!)
Thanks for another great day yesterday, Wetherspoons was a real 'find'! Got home at about 21:30, tired and ready for a glass of wine. Hope to see you again soon and also that your trip to Spain goes well.
I leant to keep the emphasis on less is more, be more selective. Ian's tuition is great in encouraging you to find the most original way of capturing a scene and utilising what you see even if it is not at first glance an obvious choice.
I enjoyed all the exercises - the pier, lifeboat staion etc. Had to think about photos instead of snapping away. And of course the
flapjack
Ian, I had an excellent day thank you. It was well paced and interesting.