This year our masterclass will be a full day out learning all there is to know about wildlife photography at the London Wetlands Centre. Led by Iain Green, author and photographer of ‘Wild London’, this is a practical guide to achieving great images of your favourite wildlife.

Where: London Wetland Centre
Who: Beginners interested in wildlife photography
When: 10am-4pm
Price: £55 (payable via Paypal when you sign up)
Getting There: Barnes rail station or Hammersmith tube

Masterclass: Wildlife Photography

During the largely practical day, professional photographer Iain Green will cover composition & lighting, ideal approach and best equipment for wildlife photography. He will include specific wildlife photography techniques with his top ‘pro’ tips, for achieving stunning images of fauna and flora.

Tuition will be outside on the reserve as there are plenty of interesting spots where technique can be practiced including the hides and observatories to photograph from. Due to small class numbers (maximum no. is 12), individual tuition and attention will be paid to each student.

The London Wetland Centre

The 42 hectare London Wetland Centre is the best urban wildlife site in Europe. Located next to the Thames it is close to the heart of the capital but as noted by The Times, “When you enter, you leave London behind”.

Take the opportunity to encounter wildlife up close and spot wildlife such as beautiful kingfishers, the gregarious lapwing, the undeniably cute water vole and a whole host of wildflowers.

About Iain Green

Iain has worked as a professional wildlife photographer since 1997 and runs regular wildlife photography courses. He has:

• Presented wildlife feature for BBC London/Springwatch
• Published three books including Wild London
• Sold photographs to famous names & royalty
• Led wildlife photography workshops on the Isle of Skye
• Exhibited at events such as Hampton Court Flower Show

Book now at www.meetup.com/the-photo-school/calendar/14178370/

Where: Kew Gardens
When: 10:30am-1:30pm
Who: Beginners looking to enjoy garden photography
Price: £5 + £13.50 entrance (payable via Paypal)
Meeting: Victoria Gate, Kew Gardens
End point: Pavilion Restaurant for Garden POTY

This “focus on” event concentrates on garden photography and in particular, composition and framing, in relation to plant portrait photography.

Kew Gardens is absolutely beautiful and a photographer’s dream if you love taking pictures of flowers, trees, wildlife and stunning vistas. It’s very easy to get to (on the District line) and there will also be the chance to view the best images taken from gardens across the world at this year’s Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition.

The event will take place whatever the weather – please come prepared for rain, cold or blazing heat! It’s suitable for SLRs and compact cameras, costing £5 plus an entrance fee of £13.50.

Focus On: Garden Photography

Concentrating on just a small area of Kew - inside the Palm House and around the Rose Garden - I will show you how to photograph plants in various ways. We’ll discuss:

Finding a viewpoint: Kew’s glasshouse walkways will help with this!
Using macro: how to use depth of field and your macro setting/lens
Plant portraiture: using compositional skills to really capture a portrait
Shooting vistas: looking at techniques for shooting landscapes at Kew

We’ll meet up after an hour to discuss how we are getting on and a chance to ask any questions. We will then continue onto the Temperate House before finishing the session at the Pavilion Restaurant.

The meetup will officially finish at 1:30pm but there is the chance to have lunch together and view the Garden POTY exhibition before exploring the rest of Kew as we wish.

“Thanks for a very nice day. Very friendly group. Lots of tips and advice.” Nathalie, Previous Kew Event (2009)

Be Inspired
Photos from our trip to Kew in 2009
Flickr photos of Kew Gardens
My Flower Photos

Further Info
More info? Go to Kew Gardens website
Queries? Give Natalie a call on 07773 819053
Prefer email? Send it to thephotoschool@gmail.com

When I’m out taking photos, I often give little thought to the orientation I choose to take the picture. I’d like to think that I instinctively know which orientation (landscape or portrait) works best.

When I took these canal boat photos, I found the first picture boring with no subject. At least with my second attempt, there was some interest because of the reflection of the trees in the water.

Traditional Orientation

If I’m honest though, when it comes to orientation, I think I’m just following the traditional rule of a portrait orientation for tall buildings and portraits, and choosing landscape, well, for landscapes!

Sometimes I photograph a scene both ways because I guess subconsciously I am unhappy with my first choice, but I don’t really give much thought to why. Perhaps, like in the shots below, I know that there will be less clutter and distractions, if I photograph it the other way.

Moving Orientation Off Automatic Pilot

Although this traditional approach, combined with a bit of instinct, works well for a lot of my photos, thinking in that way seems a little boring and too much on automatic pilot for my liking.

Where is the choice? Where is the conscious decision of answering, ‘What will work best for this particular scene in front of me?’ or even, ‘What am I trying to convey in taking this photo?’. I’m sure my photos could be a lot more creative if I were to break the ‘orientation rule’ I’ve described above!

Experimenting With Orientation

Perhaps if I gave some real thought to ‘What is it I’m trying to capture - or play on - in taking this image?’ I could purposely then select the best orientation for the scene in front of me.

For example, in the photos below, I shot Canary Wharf Tower both as a traditional portrait and then again as a landscape shot.

I wanted in the portrait photo to convey a sense of height and grandeur to Canary Wharf Tower. That seemed important to me, as the Tower is currently the tallest building in London and a statement of the new financial hub, so I selected a portrait orientation.

However, since tall buildings are often shot in that way, I photographed the same scene but as a landscape. I think this image has a different feel to it, a bit more calm and a sense of order.

I don’t think one is better; just different, a different perspective.

Over To You - Choosing An Orientation

With the above experiment in mind, I invite you to try and bring more choice into your photography.

Instead of being on automatic pilot when it comes to ’selecting’ an orientation, try to either:

• Pick an orientation that is reflective of the scene in front of you and suitable for it OR
• Pick an orientation that plays on the ‘rules’ to invite the viewer to think & feel something else

I’d be interested to hear what you think about when choosing landscape or portrait.

• What goes through your mind when deciding whether to shoot a photo landscape or portrait?
• Are you aware of the choice you are making or do you think it’s more about gut feeling?
• Do you prefer to stick to the traditional rules or break them up a bit?

I’d love to hear what you think; please feel free to leave a comment.

Last year when we started the beginner photography workshops, a lovely friendly woman called Emm came on the composition workshop. She later posted a blog about the workshop to all her friends and family around the world. Now, I find the time to share with the readers here that post.

Not only does Emm give a nice summary of the area where we hold our workshops, but you can also see the photos that she took and the commentary on what she learnt by attending the workshop. She’s a great writer including wit, history and links to places of interest.

Read more over at http://missus-emm.blogspot.com/2009/08/london-city-monument-bridge.html

This month’s beginner photo practice will be London’s Naked Bike Ride!

On Saturday 12th June, the seventh London World Naked Bike Ride will return to the streets of the capital, allowing riders to see the city sights from the comfort of a bike or skates. The ride is easy and upbeat, and riders decorate their bodies and bikes with messages of protest against oil dependency and car culture.

I’m charging a suggested £2 for this event and the proceeds with go towards the charity that aims to:

• Protest against the global dependency on oil
• Curb car culture
• Obtain real rights for cyclists and demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists on city streets
• Celebrate body freedom

What Happens At A Photo Practice?

The aim of the photo practices are for them to be semi self-organising! I will provide the outline e.g. maps, meeting points (food, drinks, toilets) and research links, but I ask that you share your knowledge with others. On the day you will be asked to contribute:

1) A photography tip related to photographing the subject/area
2) Local knowledge you have researched or a historic fact that you know

Afterwards, there will be a chance for everyone to upload their photos and have comments on them from other members. It’s a great way to improve your photography and see others’ perspectives.

If you find yourself shy when taking portraits or even shying away from taking people photos, then Friday night’s exhibition on at the Tate just might help!

“Exposed offers a fascinating look at pictures made on the sly, without the explicit permission of the people depicted. With photographs from the late nineteenth century to present day, the pictures present a shocking, illuminating and witty perspective on iconic and taboo subjects.” Tate

Voyeurism, Surveillance and the Camera

Our next Friday night social will be to see the Tate Modern’s current exhibition ‘Exposed: Voyeurism, Surveillance and the Camera’. The tickets for this exhibition cost £11. This is a chance to learn from professionals about photography and share your thoughts with other hobbyists.

We’ll go for drinks after looking round the exhibition, giving us a chance to get to know each other. I encourage you to bring and share your own ‘Exposed’ photos; just 1 or 2 prints will do!

Photo Exhibition Details

From the Tate website, “The UK is now the most surveyed country in the world. We have an obsession with voyeurism, privacy laws, freedom of media, and surveillance – images captured and relayed on camera phones, YouTube or reality TV.

Beginning with the idea of the ‘unseen photographer’, Exposed presents 250 works by celebrated artists and photographers including Brassaï’s erotic Secret Paris of the 1930s images; Weegee’s iconic photograph of Marilyn Monroe; and Nick Ut’s reportage image of children escaping napalm attacks in the Vietnam War.

Sex and celebrity is an important part of the exhibition, presenting photographs of Liz Taylor and Richard Burton, Paris Hilton on her way to prison and the assassination of JFK.”

Location & Meeting Point

We’ll meet inside the Tate at the top of the Turbine Hall. Please buy your ticket online and let me know via email once you have purchased it. Buy your ticket for the 6:30 entrance. If work keeps you late, you’re welcome to join us later, but please do text/phone to let me know.

Beginner Photographer Practice Event

May will be the 25th year that Southend-on-Sea has held one of Europe’s largest free airshows. Staged against the backdrop of the Thames Estuary along almost 2 miles of seafront, over 40 aircraft displays will be featured from across the ages. As a big fan of the Red Arrows and their displays, I can’t wait!

If you are interested in improving your photography, photo opportunities will include:

• Landscapes down by the beach
• Action photography capturing the Red Arrows who will be giving a terrific air display
• People photography - people sunning themselves, people eating ice-cream…
• Close up photography of the planes (all 40 of them!)

Photography Trip Details

From London Fenchurch Street trains run to Southend-on-Sea at 10 and 40 past the hour. It seems there are normally trains from Liverpool Street too, but I think they might be affected by engineering works. A return is £10. Please email me if you have any questions.

Book your free ticket here and I’ll keep you posted with further travel details.

Give that two of my passions in life are taking photos and eating food, I just had to blog about this photo cookbook “Say Cheese?”!

Launched this month as a limited edition, Say Cheese? is a fundraising student publication created to support Falmouth photography graduates fund their 2010 final year show.

In the students’ own words, “Guaranteed to become a cult item for any kitchen, Say Cheese? is a unique collection of favourite recipes from contemporary photographers. The ideal gift for photography and food lovers alike!”.

Famous Photographers’ Favourite Recipes

The book is full-colour, 100 pages long, and comprising of favourite recipes from photographers:

• Martin Parr
• Rineke Dijkstra
• Simon Roberts
• Anthony Luvera
• Toby Glanville
• Elena Brotherus
• Spencer Murphy
• Gina Glover
• and many more….

Recipes include:

• Lank Shank Tagine with quince
• Strawberry and Lavender Jam
• Chocolate Almond Cake
• Indian Style Masala Omlettes
• and many more….

I think this book it is a great entrepreneurial idea, an ideal fundraiser and can’t wait for my book to arrive. If you’d like to purchase your own photo cook book to support the students they are priced at £9.95 and can be ordered at http://l3photographyprojects.falmouth.ac.uk/

I’ve just made my first photo book with Blurb and WOW! what a great piece of software! I’m so excited to receive my book and see what my latest set of photos from Dhanakosa will be like in the flesh! You can preview my book below:

Dhanakosa Retr…

By Natalie Clarke

Book Preview

First Impressions Of Blurb Photo Books

I started making my book last night and have probably spent 3 hours in total compiling it. That doesn’t include by the way, selecting the best images and post processing; that was a whole week’s worth of time!

I found the software very intuitive to use with lost of creative control over layout of photos and design. I really liked how all the normal shortcuts such as CTRL+C and CTRL+A worked and that you weren’t tied down to just using their interface. I also like how the pre-set templates reminded me of using PowerPoint and how much fun and easy IT can be!

A couple of things I didn’t like (although I’m not totally up to speed as it was my first attempt) included having to set the font and font size anew each time, and that the zoom preference wasn’t remembered either.

Apart from that I’m very impressed and looking forward to creating more photo books.

What has your experience of Blurb been?