FREE to enter International Photography Competition

Photographers of all ages, backgrounds, and experience are eligible to enter the online competition of Xposure. The panel of judges are looking to award an Overall Winner and best in class images from the 8 categories;

I'm really pleased to report on our first Help-Portrait shoot in Coventry.  Last night, 4th July 2017, my crew gave up their time, expertise and equipment to shoot 25 family portraits in a local school.

"Is it just me or ..?"

Over the last few years, I have witnessed a sad and declining, respect for the countryside/nature.  I know this post will probably only be read by those who are already on my wavelength and share my sense of respect for the "the countryside code" and appreciate the delicate balance between enjoying and destroying nature's wonderful spectre.  

Poppy 4 - Kidderminster

June's selected image was taken at Kidderminster mid-June when we had record breaking and heat zapping temperatures.

I have just been informed of a field full of poppies in Kidderminster that are looking spectacular.  So I am pleased to announce that I have changed my diary to accommodate 4 evenings next week for 2.5hr evening workshops to catch them whilst they are at their best.

Southerscales Limestone Cracks

May's selected image was taken at Southerscales, near Ingleton, Yorkshire Dales

Save 25% off any booking for any event if you book by midnight Wed 31st May.

Limited Period - 24hrs only - book before midnight 31st May 2017 to receive 25% off any course, workshop, masterclass, private tuition or other photography service.

Photography is not a technical pursuit of subjects that allow us to use equipment and practise the rule of thirds, long exposure or some other technique and method.

Photography is a creative and expressive process that allows us to make unique interpretations of how we view the world and feel about the subjects in it.

This is the new follow-on course for anyone who has attended the 5 Week Beginners Foundation Course or has a good understanding of exposure, composition and image making. 

Bluebells

April's selected image was taken in Warwickshire on one of my bluebell woodlands workshops. Conditions were lovely in the early morning light and timing the shot when the sun was shining but not too brightly was the key to making this shot.  It's a composition/shot I have made on the same location for the last 4 years.  

Spittal Rock

March's selected image was taken Spittal beach 2017.  Conditions were wet, in fact it was raining at the time and it took me a while to choose the right lens to match the perspective I wanted and deal with the complicated technical issues of depth of field do this image.

Photography for kids

I am about to start teaching a photography course to a class in a special needs school and have had to prepare a range of photographic tasks and ideas that could be enjoyed and tackled by children with a range of learning abilities.

Having sketched out a rough outline I thought who better to try it out with than my own kids

Help-Portrait is about GIVING the pictures, not taking them. These portraits aren’t for a portfolio, website, or sale. It’s about giving people who otherwise couldn’t afford photography, a chance to capture a moment, a memory…and a whole lot more.

This is your chance to give to someone in need, a portrait, a smile and your friendship.

What Lens do I need next?

Following on from my post earlier this week on Photography Show - Buying Advice - This is a follow up to that post to deal with the regular questions re "which lens should I buy?"  It's probably one of the most frequent questions I am asked.

Bluebell Woodlands Photography Workshops

Join me at the end of April for an exclusive workshop in private woodlands just outside Stratford Upon Avon.  These bluebells woods are probably the best in the country. They are managed woodlands so free of the usual woodland debris and home to roaming deer.

Looking to get a bargain

With the annual photography show at Birmingham NEC fast approaching I am getting the usual flurry of questions asking for my advice on buying....  Whilst this blog is not going to answer the specific questions on one lens Vs another and so on it will hopefully be useful to anyone who is attending the show thinking they are going to save a bag of loot and pick up a bargain.

Image of the Month - February

Limited Edition Print - Friars Cragg II

February's selected image was taken at Derwent Water (Cumbria), Friars Cragg on 6th Feb 2017.  Conditions were surprisingly mild for Feb and early morning light probably reached it's peak just as we were leaving to go back for some breakfast.  I managed to make this image moments before we departed.  

I am regularly asked for advice on what to buy and most of the time it can be found within this selection - I don't have any affinity to Amazon but they do provide a way for me to present them nicely with prices in one place so feel free to shop around

Classes

You don't need to be experienced or have loads of gear to attend a class or course,  Most are open to any level of photographer with any camera and level of experience. They are supported with hand-outs and time is taken to explain the theory and its application in different situations.

Workshops

You don't need to be experienced or have loads of gear to attend a photography workshop,  They are open to any level of photographer with any camera and level of experience as personal tuition is given according to your needs throughout the workshop.

Image of the month - January

Limited Edition Print - Hay Woods Split

January's selected image was taken at Hay Woods near Lapworth on 21st Jan 2017.  Conditions were around minus two and pretty foggy.  I loved the juxtaposition of the middle silver birch with a split trunk against the verticals of the surrounding trees.   Very little post editing was required as I wanted to ensure the delicacy and softness of the light and contrast remained intact.

I'm really excited to be able to confirm the launch of two new types of workshops for 2017.  

The first is a regular monthly workshop at Batsford Arboretum, in Gloucestershire, to support their "Calendar Competition".  It's not Countryfile or winter, spring or autumn Nature Watch, it's better because it's your photographs from Batsford Arboretum.

The second new workshop is my "Family Sharpshooters" aimed at child and parent(s) or guardians to provide a way for them to enjoy photography together and explore the outdoors.

This week...

It's been a busy first week of the new year.  Unlike most of you folks I didn't return to commuting and an office environment, instead i managed to get out a couple of times to shoot and run a private tuition session for a lovely chap rediscovering his enthusiasm for photography again with a new digital camera after being in the wilderness for years with a film camera.

2016 and the lessons

It's that time of year when millions if not billions reflect on a year past and a year ahead.   I always struggle with making new year resolutions because I don't believe in waiting for one day to think and act on the changes I want to see in my life.

Do you want to improve your photography in 2017?

I'm pretty sure there will be a unanimous yes to that question so the obvious follow up is HOW do you intend to achieve this?

Take a look at what's coming up in the next few months and book yourself onto a photography workshop or course whilst there is availability

Inspiration or Information

In my last post on composition "https://www.alanranger.com/blogs/composition-curiousness-part-1" I talked about the importance of your relationship to the subject that you are photographing.

Part 2 of this series is focused on the importance of the subject versus the technique and tools.