ZoomScape Digital Photography Experience Gift & Photography Holidays

We’ll visit stunning locations, each offering a particular type of photo opportunity.  At each venue we’ll explore a different aspect of camera craft and how the use of light and careful composition complete the creative process.

I’ll share with you key secrets for better image composition.  I’ll explain the psychology of seeing and capturing powerful images. You’ll acquire a new ‘visual literacy’.

You’re welcome to use your own camera but we also provide quality Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera equipment.  DSLRs are the best type of cameras to use when learning photography and the skills learnt are easily transferred to other camera types.  You’ll soon understand that the camera mechanics and symbols are universal.

In a small group of up to 6 people you’ll get all the photography tuition you require to pursue particular issues with a tutor that has both the theoretical understanding and extensive practical experience.

I’ll make sure you return home with some quality prints made from your best digital images and a lasting knowledge that’ll improve your photography for life!

natural beauty

The Gower peninsula is easily accessed by road from the M4 in south Wales and by public transport via nearby Swansea City.  Gower delights photographers with rolling moor and marshland populated with ponies, birds and wildlife. Its coastal views and beaches have been voted best in the UK.  Ancient ruins, woodlands, streams and lush plant-life enchant the explorer in this, Great Britain’s first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

ZoomScape experience days operate during British Summertime (BST), from the end of March to end of October.

One day ZoomScape Digital Photography Experience

This digital photography course of tuition has been designed to provide a practical experience that develops understanding and immediately improves your photography.  You will learn to use particular camera settings for specific situations and gain a valuable insight into the art of good composition.  You’ll have acquired the necessary knowledge to teach yourself more easily as you continue your learning journey.

We start with a brief look at the basics of camera craft and the essentials of holding the camera, composing subjects and releasing the shutter correctly. We’ll explore the powerful and often misunderstood Scene modes of operation, represented on the camera dials by picture icons. Audio-visual presentations are used throughout the morning period to reinforce and enlarge upon the basics.

We consider image composition alongside camera craft at each of up to 3 locations before lunch. By lunch time we will have looked at the aperture and shutter camera mechanisms, how they conspire to control photographic exposure and the unique characteristics that each brings to the creative process.

Lunch is included in the price and will be a good quality 2 course hot or cold buffet meal depending on season.

In the afternoon we visit up to 2 more locations where the emphasis switches to the use of light and the art of good composition.  Further camera settings that allow the photographer complete control are also practised.

The last 1.5 hours (approx.) is given to editing and enhancing your photographs with easy, user friendly computer software.  Finally you’ll print out some of your best images to keep.

Suitable for photographers ranging from novice to amateur enthusiast:

You might have no real knowledge of photography and no hands on camera experience.  You may own a compact consumer level camera or you might already own digital single lens reflex camera equipment.  You may lack confidence in choosing different camera settings or just require the assurance of practising camera techniques with some guidance from an experienced digital photography tutor.

Some photographers just like to come along for a day out taking photographs in good company.  It’s a small group experience (up to 6 people) so everyone has time to pursue their own line of investigation and I’m on hand to answer questions every step of the way.

Duration: Approximately 9 hours

What’s included?

• All day digital photography tuition from a Professional Photographer
  

  audiovisual help

• Comfortable air conditioned transport to all locations
• Loan of good quality digital camera equipment
• Loan of laptop computer
• 2 Course lunch and refreshments
• Audio-visual presentation learning aids
• All admission fees paid
• Print package to take home

Note: Although we always try to stay outdoors, during foul weather we’ll explore the same technical and aesthetic issues either indoors or from sheltered positions.

NEW from Spring 2010 – Weekend ZoomScape Digital Photography Experience

By popular demand we’re adding to our One day Digital Photography Experience to create a new two day event.

Saturday will be conducted to the same schedule and standards as our One day Experience (see above). 

Sunday (day two)is designed to make you a more competent photographer with the power to create photographs of a higher standard in most situations.

careful composition

By enlarging your experience you’ll make valuable associations between different photo opportunities.  You’ll reinforce your understanding and expand your knowledge base.  You’ll gain confidence in making key decisions about composition and camera technique.  From the perspective of a different situation and the stimulus of an unfamiliar subject type you’ll enhance the whole learning experience.

Morning Session – Macro and Close-up Photography:

We’ll make use of Gower’s spectacular coastline in our exploration of Macro and close-up photography.  You’ll spend the morning photographing the sea life that inhabits the beaches and rocky pools and the sea washed flotsam that the Bristol Channel tide brings ashore.

Good macro photography demands a more exacting method than most general subjects.  Issue of sharpness are exacerbated in this close-up world.  You’ll take complete control of focus, shutter speed and aperture to finely tune your technique.

You’ll learn to control the natural light and use portable flash light to enhance the subject’s shape and form.  You’ll explore texture and pattern to further develop your understanding of image composition.  You will create powerful abstract images and understand how their mysterious nature can be used to entice your viewers.

Afternoon session – Adobe Photoshop Elements

This session is designed to introduce and uncloak this popular version of the industry standard Adobe Photoshop image editing software.  Most digital photographers who take their hobby seriously will at some point turn to their computers and Photoshop.  You might want to adjust and enhance your photographs or maybe combine two or more images.

You will learn how to crop images making more balanced and powerful compositions.  You’ll make beneficial adjustments to brightness, contrast and colour in your digital photographs.  The functions of the ‘tools’ common to most versions of Photoshop will be made clear.

By mid afternoon you’ll be exploring more creative processes. You will turn colour photographs to stylish black & white images with ease. You’ll know how to make selective adjustments to particular areas of an image to portray a more dramatic atmosphere.

We’ll practice the black art of combining two or more photographs to create a single new digital image.  You’ll be amazed by what you’ve created!

Duration: Approximately 8 hours

Day two is suitable for:

• All photographers who have attended our One day Digital Photography Experience.
• More experienced amateurs and enthusiasts looking for a day of Macro photography and computer work in good company.

What’s included?

• All day digital photography and Photoshop tuition from a Professional Photographer
• Comfortable air conditioned transport to locations
• Loan of good quality digital camera equipment
• Loan of laptop computer
• 2 Course lunch and refreshments
• All admission fees paid
• Print package to take home

Prices:

Accomodation: The price does not include accommodation.  Please contact us so we can help you find local accommodation suitable to your budget.  Non participating partners (husbands, wives, etc) will find Gower has lots to offer those looking  for a relaxing break.  If you’d like us to help you find another activity or pastime, please contact us.

Note: Although we always try to stay outdoors, during foul weather we’ll explore the same technical and aesthetic issues either indoors or from sheltered positions.