Photography in the Park

One-Day Workshop - Sunday, 30th March 2008
Thorndon Park Visitor Centre

Daniel Bridge is running another one-day workshop, at Thorndon Country Park (North), with the aim to improve your photography.  If you're often disappointed with the prints you get - either because they're too dark or blurry, or if they don't capture the scene as you intended - this could be the course for you.  Drawing on several years of photographic experience, Daniel will guide you through the pitfalls of composition, exposure and technique, with a slideshow and discussion in the morning and an afternoon of photography, putting theory into practice.

Aims of the Day

To improve your photography!  Starting by increasing your knowledge of how your camera works and 'thinks', we will then look at film choice and accessories that can transform your picture taking.  Concentrating on the Woodland/Parkland environment, we will then start to develop the way you look at the scene before you, and see how this affects your pictures, both in content and composition.  Putting all this theory into practice, we will then venture out into Thorndon Park to see what photo-opportunities we find, and how we can best make use of them.  And it's all going to be fun - it's not a science lesson!

What you need to know

You need a basic knowledge of how your camera works, i.e. how to load film, how to switch it on etc.  The more you know, the easier it will be for you, as you'll have less to think about once the photography begins, so if you can, read the instruction manual (especially true for digital camera users).

What you need to bring

A camera!  Ideally this would be a SLR, but any kind will do, from APS compacts upwards, including digital.  Daniel's taken good quality woodland photographs with a pre-war Kodak folding camera, so age is certainly no barrier either.  Whatever you use, bring it along.

A Tripod if you have one.  There will be a couple of spares if needed.

Film/Memory Cards.  We'll be trying many different techniques and it would be a shame to feel limited by the number of exposures you could take, so bring a few rolls at least, or a couple of memory cards.  A slower speed film is best (ISO 100 or even 50), Fuji or Kodak ideally.

Any lenses/accessories you may have.  You never know when you might need them.

Footwear and Clothing suitable for a walk in the park.  Including wet weather gear (hopefully not required).

Lunch.  Sandwiches and snack items are available in the visitor centre, but not included in the cost of the day.

Itinerary

The day starts at 10.00a.m. at the Visitor Centre, Thorndon Park (North).  The following times are all flexible, but as a guide, the workshop will be as follows:

The cost for the day is just £30.00 and booking is essential.  Please ring the Visitor Centre at Thorndon on 01277 232944 to secure your place.

We look forward to seeing you on what promises to be a fun and informative day, in the beautiful woodland of Thorndon Park.