End of the course

We ended this course on a fresh sunny day at S. Queensferry, adding a coast location to our small selection of different environments that we have visited and explored photographically.
Alberto's still working away at those long exposure techniques with some interesting results. I like the use of this technique in the city, as it takes a popular landscape technique and applies it in a different location. If you haven't already found him, you might like Michael Kenna
Jenna's been using the camera almost like a notebook to record her trip. (I think she likes Edinburgh.) Putting pictures on photo sharing sites is good, but I think it's a good idea also to edit down your pictures to a tight selection and then turn them into something physical like a set of prints or a book. Blurb are good for putting your own books together and also have loads of examples of other people's projects for inspiration, including a lot on travel.
I liked the fact that Ali hadn't been to Swanston before, and I like to use photography as an excuse to find and explore places that I haven't been to before. I'd suggest that you stick to one camera for a while and get to know it - it takes a bit of time. When we were at the T Wood near Swanston you noticed how taking a picture based on a sky light-reading completely changed the appearance of the scene. That's one of the really important points of photography - by changing exposure, or lens, aperture or shutter speed, or going to black-and-white, you change the visual effect. These tools are worth playing with to see how they change the picture. In particular, spend time using the zoom lens in your X10 camera. Try shooting the same scene with wide angle settings and also telephoto. It changes the 'space' within the picture.
I would recommend books in the Basics photography series - David Prakel on Composition and also Michael Freeman's books, including The Photographer's Eye.
Malcolm has a few specific technical questions to do with transforming colour into mono, and also how photographers make their aesthetic decisions. Interesting stuff.  I think the Michael Freeman and David Prakel will interest you too. It's as much about developing judgement and tastes as about technical workflow, and looking at, talking about  and doing photography as much as possible is the way to get there. (You never arrive, by the way!) In particular though, you might like to look at Rolf Horn and especially his technique pages where he demonstrates how the print is an interpretation of the film negative. Yes, it's film, but with digital we're doing the same thing really and all of our techniques and tastes come from film, even if we don't realise it!
And of course, you are all welcome to visit my own blog - http://kbrame.blogspot.co.uk/, which discusses various ways of doing photography.
It's been a pleasure working with you and good luck with the photography.


Keith