Photoion Course

I attended a 2 days course this week with Photoion Photography run by Ion Paciu.  I really wanted to get to grips with my new camera and to learn about the settings and functions.  It was a great course and one of the most important things I learnt was about the importance of light.   I can now see how much of a dramatic effect it can have on a photograph.  The first day theory was a bit mind boggling for me as I am not so good at retaining numbers and understanding how everything works in a technical way, but on the second day which was practical based it all started to make alot more sense and I now have alot of valuable knowledge to go ahead and practice with to develop my photography!


These are some of my favourite pictures from the day.  I've chosen some to explain (and remind myself) about the importance of light and how it can completely change an image.  Some of these photos have been changed to black & white afterwards and a couple have been cropped, but none of them have been edited.

Sneaky pics in the coffee shop to practice ISO and Aperture settings

Interestingly I have always been less confident about indoor photography because I worry about the light, but Ion helpded me to realise how to use the light thats there and how much light my camera can produce as he put it 'our cameras have the power of the sun!'

Trying different angles & depth of field

This exercise was to see how the image can change by the photographer moving nearer and further away without changing the settings.  These two were taken on the same settings but in the closer image the background has completely blurred away any detail behind, unlike the distance shot which is really detailed.

In these two Ion has not moved but the backgrounds look completely different, it is me moving to take from a different angle (with the same settings again).  Ion made me think about the importance of constantly moving to try different angles as the light will be completely different at every angle.

This first image (above) was made in Av where the second was using Manual.  By having complete control over all of the settings in Manual I can give the image a completely different look, it even looks like a different time of day.  I found it quite diffcult to get to grips with the exposure compensation to get a good balance.  The second photo also used Flash.

This one of Ion and Jennifer was also made on Manual, and was very tricky to balance the bright sky and clouds behind.  The flash was really important in this one.  I learnt that with my small flashgun I have to get closer to the subject to be more effective.

This lady was a passer by who Ion stopped and asked if we could photograph.  She was amazing!!

This one (above) is a crop as I preferred it to the wider shot that I had taken

Playing with light and angles

This one is overexposed but I like it in black and white as it seems to make it a bit softer and I like the angle

So I've lots to remember and put into practice.  I am now more confident with how to use light to my advantage and am looking forward to going out and experimenting with my amazing camera!

(http://www.londondigitalphotographycourses.co.uk/) 

Wisley RHS Gardens

Over the bank holiday weekend there wasn't much sunshine but on Sunday I went to Wisley with my family to look around the craft fair and it was great opportunity to take some photos while it wasn't raining!  Heres a few of the beautiful gardens and my family (being willing models).

Spring Blossom

Firstly I've had to go back to the old layout of my blog as the new one was frequently not loading properly! So as before to view my previous blogs & example of my work, choose from the archive list to the right hand side!

Secondly...I have bought a new camera, a super duper amazing camera which I have been dying to get out and play with!! This week since it arrived has been non stop miserable windy rainy weather and so this morning I decided to make the most of the sun and go down to the Coulsdon Memorial Ground to take some photos.  Whilst there I met some friendly passers by, one who belongs to a photography club, which i've now been invited to! And another lady who was enjoying the blossom and remembering her childhood days of lying on the grass looking up at the sky.  It was a beautiful morning especially after such a gloomy week.  

The Canon 5D Mark III is a whole different ball game than the Lumix G1 i've been using for the past three years, so i've got lots of testing, reading and playing to do over the coming months!

These are some photos taken today in the park of the blossom trees, I'm really pleased with how they came out :)

In my little garden after the rain...

Marching into the New Year

It’s a new year so I’ve given my site a bit of a makeover!  Just click on the photo of the blog you want to view.  All my wedding and portrait blogs have lots of examples of my work!  If you want to know about me and how to contact me then just click on my profile at the right hand side.

Somehow it is March already and time seems to be sneaking up on me since Christmas.  Last month a trip to Gibraltar enabled me to get up close to some wild Barbary apes.  Perhaps a bit too close…when one jumped on my back and started unzipping my bag I was a little unprepared! But I did get a chance to take some great pics of these mischievous apes in their natural habitat on the rock.

It could be time for an upgrade on the camera stakes.  My trusty Lumix G1 I’ve had for three years now helping me develop my skills and my confidence.  But now it feels like the right time to invest in a professional DSLR and take it up a notch!  So watch this space, as spring emerges so might my lens!