This course is an exciting opportunity for people who have invested in digital SLR photographic equipment to gain a firm foundation in both the theory and practice of digital photography. The course is designed around five classroom sessions and five practical outdoor workshops and is designed to be flexible to take account of the prevailing weather conditions and student needs. The course will help attendees realise their creative vision.

Attendees should bring their own photographic equipment (and laptops if they have them). It is expected that attendees should bring a digital camera designed for interchangeable lenses. Micro 4/3rds cameras are included. This is not a course for people with digital compact cameras.

Please note this is not a studio based course. The practical workshops will take place outdoors. Attendees should bring sturdy footwear and clothing to adapt to the vagaries of the British summer.

There will be plenty of opportunity for one to one tuition and by the end of the course each participant will be able to print their favourite photograph, colour or black and white, up to A3 size using archival printing materials provided.

Course overview Module 1 · Course Outline o Introductions and ice breaker o Students' abilities and needs o Aims o Course Modules and flexibilities · Exploding the Myths o Megapixels o RAW vs JPG · Digital photography basics o Digital sensor crop factors o Exposure and why not to use the "A” setting on your camera o The histogram and why its so important o Lenses o Auto focus vs manual o Aperture and depth of field o High sensitivities and noise · How to set up your camera for the best possible results o RAW or JPG o Sharpening o Noise reduction o Colours and Colour Space

Module 2 · Practical outdoor photography o Subject matter o Lens choice o Battery and charging o Memory cards o What and how to carry it · Camera use in the field o Hand holding vs tripod o Nailing the exposure in the field o Planning vs opportunistic · Specialisations o Wildlife o Landscape o Close up and macro o Travel o Street Module 3 · Digital post processing workflow · Storage and backup strategy · Introduction to Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw · Library & Develop modules in Lightroom Module 4 · Review and critique of students' photographs take during the course · Introduction to the Print Module in Lightroom Module 5 · Fine Art printing with Lightroom · Colour management · Printers · Inks · Papers · Producing a final print (all students will get the opportunity to print their favourite photograph taken during the course to take home).

Outdoor Workshops

Workshop 1 - Marlborough ponds and the River Kennet to Manton

Workshop 2 - Landscapes of Avebury

Workshop 3 – Cherhill

Workshop 4 - Close up and macro photography

Workshop 5 - Kennet and Avon Canal, Devizes

What Students should bring to the class · Essential o Digital SLR camera and battery charger o "Standard” or "Kit” Lens o Plenty of memory cards and / or a means of backing them up o Walking boots or stout shoes o Waterproof clothing and camera bag o Sun block / sun hat · Great if you can, but don't buy specially for the course o Additional lenses. Macro would be helpful. o Tripod o Any other bits & pieces you may have for your camera o Laptop computer with either Adobe Lightroom (preferred), or Adobe Photoshop and writable DVDs for backup purposes o Laptop charger Other Information · At least two of Nick's Apple Macintosh computers will be used during the course and available for students to use, along with an Epson 2440 inkjet printer and paper. Each student will be able to make an A3 sized print of their favourite photograph of the week. Additional prints can be made for a modest additional charge to cover paper, inks and wear and tear. · Nick's personal photographic equipment will be available for students' use where appropriate (Nikon DSLR & micro 4/3rds). · Nick's website can be found at: http://www.photosynthesis.uk.com/ · If you have any questions, email Nick at: nicktd@mac.com

About the Tutor

Nick was a professional natural history photographer, writer and film director at London Scientific Films. He lists among his credits the television programmes Horizon, Tomorrow's World, The World about Us, The Natural World and numerous David Bellamy and David Attenborough programmes.

He was the youngest person ever to lecture at the Royal Institution. His topic was natural history photography.

He won an award in the International Wildlife Photographer of the year competition and has been short listed several times. His photographs have been published as book covers and his time lapse cinemicroscopy is regularly shown on British television.