What they say about my Beachfront 'Hands-On' photo courses...Now in their 3rd year...

"i never got my head around all the settings, but Dave had me off 'Auto' in no time"    

Anna, Seafront Graduate - Spring 2010

Step-by-step advice plus 'Hands-On' practical sessions with a UK award-winning photographer

These courses are aimed at aspiring photographers who want to get the most from their digital SLR cameras and develop their creativity. My unique ‘hands-on’ practical approach,  based on-location in Brighton's vibrant Seafront and Lanes area,  enables students to be taught skills and then put them into practice right there and then with a variety of ‘live’ practical tasks  e.g Buskers, Market Traders, Air Borne seagulls, Amusements rides and more...

By the end of the course you will be a competent photographer, not afraid to go beyond the ‘AUTO’ button any more, and really inpired to take better pictures;  Plus, i can guarrantee, you'll have  some fun along the way with other like-minded students!

Equipment required  

Preferably a Digital SLR, Micro 4/3rds system or a good Super Zoom* with Aperture, Shutter and Manual modes, and a tripod of some kind ideally. If you have a point and shoot you wont get the full benefit of this course. You should also know at least the basic operations of your camera, where the different modes are – even if you don’t currently use them!  You will need to be computer and web savvy, and know how to save files to your PC. You will also need Photoshop Elements or similar if you are doing the Part 2 course.  * email the model number if in doubt.

Week 1: ‘Camera Controls

Exploring the main camera functions and when to use them – Aperture, Shutter, Focus ( AF, AF Macro, Manual) Zoom ( optical and digital), flash options, timer, image resolution settings, battery, multi-shot mode, manual overrides to control depth of field and focus. Practical’s:

· Panning vs. static shots

· Slow exposures to create blur vs. short exposures to freeze subject.

· Forced flash vs. no flash in bright conditions

· How to Control what you want to be in focus/blurred.

Week 2: ‘Shooting the breeze'

Putting skills learnt in week 1 into practice on a roving shoot along the beachfront. Practical’s:

· Depth of field control

· Focus control

· Experimenting with shutter speeds to create effects

· Use of tripod

· Use of Zoom / Wide-angle to frame a shot.

Week 3: ‘Putting it all together’

 Adding the creative element to skills learnt, with advice on developing own style, including Composition  rules and how to break them, creating silhouettes, the ‘Golden hour’ etc.  Practical’s:

· How to crop a shot to maximise effect

· Taking a subject from different POV’s.

· Creating  silhouettes

· Bracketing / covering the angles

· Basic advice on Photo Shop

Part 2: Main Course

  Week 4: ‘The Digital Darkroom’

Laptop based session with advice on how to get the most from your shot, by use of cropping and Photoshop controls, from a selection of 2-3 shots taken on the course so far. Practical sessions Include:

 · Brightness/ Contrast

· Levels

· Hue/ Saturation

· Retouching

· Cropping/ Size/ Saving formats TIFF, Jpeg etc

· Special effects  e.g. Sepia.

  Week 5: ‘Printing, Framing, & Display’

Advice on how to get the most from your shot once edited. Including:

· Uploading to on-line Labs

· Use of local Labs for large format prints

· Canvas mounting

· Framing and canvas methods and Trade savings

· Ways to have your works shown/ sold

  Week 6: ‘Getting it Covered’

Final session to tailor specific advice on how to handle an ‘event’ of your choice: Session includes:-

· Use of shoot list/ Preparing kit

· Logging shots, filing on PC

· Power back up

· Positioning to gain best view

· Grabbing moments - Getting the shot!

· Specialist Advice ( as applic) 

Main Course dates:

Spring Course 2011 Part 1 - Saturdays 2.30- 4.30pm

Week 1  - 2 APR

Week 2  - 9 APR

Week 3  - 16 APR

Spring Course 2011 Part 2 - Saturdays 2.30- 4.30pm 

Week 4 -  4 JUN

Week 5  - 11 JUN

Week 6  - 18 JUN

Summer Course 2011 Part 1 - Saturdays 2.30- 4.30pm

week 1 - 25 JUN

week 2 - 2 JUL

week 3 - 9 JUL

Costs & How to Book 

Parts 1 or 2 @ £70 each

Part 1 & 2 booked together £125 (saving £15)

Courses are bookable on-line or just email me. Main courses are limited to 10, with a minimum of 3 students for a course to take place. 

One-2-One's