PHOTOGRAPHY COURSES IN THE EAST MIDLANDS

Welcome to the home page for Going Digital in the East Midlands.  The region is run by Jan Hunter, founder of Going Digital.  On this page:

 

Workshop Dates, Venues & Prices in the East Midlands >>

 

The East Midlands Team

Jan Hunter

I've been a keen photographer throughout my life,  with many years' experience as a training manager and I've been teaching digital photography since 2001.  I formed Going Digital in order to offer photography training to anyone who would like to improve their photography, but who doesn't necessarily want a qualification.  My aim is to show you how to get good value for money from your camera and how easy it can be to take good photographs - so much easier and more enjoyable than spending hours at the computer trying to improve disappointing shots. 

I particularly enjoy the combination of the artistic with the technical challenges that photography provides. 

Take a look at a gallery of my shots >>

Specialities

Having been a horse-lover throughout my life and having owned and competed on several horses, I am uniquely placed to be able to offer one-to-one training in Equestrian Photography.

 

Pandora Maund

Although my father was a keen aviation photographer I had always managed quite well with my little compact camera until a charity trip to renovate a school in South Africa prompted me to buy my first DSLR as I wanted the get some great images from the trip. Amazingly some of those images were published, despite me using ‘Auto’ mode most of the time, so I figured that it was time to learn to use my camera to it’s full potential and take control of the images rather than leaving it to chance. That’s when I signed up to do my first course with Going Digital and since then I haven’t looked back, until I got to the point in 2011 that I gave up my corporate job to become a full time photographer.

My first love is equestrian photography but I have also do weddings, wildlife, motorsport, commercial work and freelance for another company doing school photography and studio work.

I was thrilled to be asked to join the Going Digital Team as it was not so long ago I was a student, therefore I can totally empathise with the learning process and help people get the most from the courses. I am passionate and enthusiastic about photography and still can’t quite believe I get paid to do something I love.

Take a look at the album of Pandora's images.

 

Louise Mills

I've always loved taking photographs and used to have a 'point and shoot' camera, which I'd always been very happy with until I came back from a safari in South Africa. My little Olympus just didn't cut the mustard and so on my return I bought my first ever SLR. It was love at first click.

I have to admit that it remained on 'auto' for quite some time, in fact it stayed there until I came along to my first 'Going Digital' workshop where I discovered the delights of depth of field, aperture priority and composition.
Other courses followed, one of the highlights being the Wildlife day down at Hammerton Zoo where I had the chance to photograph tigers and cheetahs. I was so proud of the photos that I came away with and despite it being a couple of years ago, they're still up on my wall.

I left my job in the corporate world last year to concentrate on photography and I'm loving it! I have a particular fondness for wildlife photography and portraits, particularly of babies and children either in the studio or on location, but also do weddings, corporate work and any other photography that people request. I recently photographed four show dogs for their owner, which was an experience.

I'm absolutely delighted to be joining the Going Digital team. I love helping people learn to use and get the best from their cameras; when it all comes together and you get that amazing shot, it's the best feeling in the world.

 

Paul Hobson - Guest Tutor

Paul writes every month for Derbyshire Life and has articles and images regularly published in Outdoor Photography, Bird Watching, Amateur Photographer, Natural World, and BBC Wildlife. During 2010 & 2011 he was Amateur Photographer's Masterclass expert and will be running a number of Masterclasses with them, as well as with Going Digital. 

We're delighted that Paul has agreed to work with us again in 2013 to bring his wildlife photography expertise to some of our specialist workshops at Clumber Park and Hardwick Hall.  Read more about Paul >>

 

Venues

• Clumber Park - just off the A1 in North Nottinghamshire
• Hardwick Hall - just off the M1 in Derbyshire
• Longshaw Estate - on the edge of the Peak District
• Whisby Nature Park - near Lincoln

 

One-to-one Training

Please see East Midlands Experience and One-to-One Days  >>

 

Cameras for Loan

We have available a Canon SLR and a Panasonic Lumix G compact system camera for our workshops and one-to-one training in the East Midlands.  Please contact us to confirm availability before making your booking by sending an email to Jan Hunter at messages@goingdigital.co.uk

 

Reviews

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the workshop at Clumber Park on Saturday and that I took a huge amount from it. I thought the structure of the day was great and the support form you both excellent. I am sure you will be seeing me on your other courses in the future. Michael Thomas

Hi Jan, I hope you are very well. I was really thrilled with this image I captured at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park last week, your classes are really paying off! Looking forward to seeing you again in the new year. Kindest Regards, Heather Burns

Hi Jan, I had another fabolous day with you and Paul on Saturday and have some super images of both the mice and moths and the more creative lighting techniques on the macro shoot, I have already started to think about some projects I can work on over the dark winter months when the weather is being unkind to be out and about. I am looking forward to booking onto some more courses in the new year. Kindest Regards, Heather  Take a look at some of the images from this workshop >>

Hi Jan, We have been on a number of photographic courses and still find Going  Digital offers the best. The structured day, with the right balance of theory and advice combined with practical time in the field and feedback afterwards is what makes such a difference! Having just completed the Birds of Prey day at Hardwick Hall 27/10/12. We came away with renewed confidence and skills to apply to all areas of our photography. Can't wait to put this into practice next week in Botswana!! Many thanks Helen and Tony

Dear Jan, Thank you to you, Pandora and Ash for a very enjoyable day today at Hardwick. It has certainly given me some ideas to try out. I am looking forward to starting to understand more about my camera on the part 1 course in November which I have just booked. Kind regards, Helen Akil

Hi Jan Many thanks to you and Paul and Paul for a great day on Saturday. I came away feeling I had learned alot and am trying to make sure that I retain and use all the valuable tips you gave us. As part of the learning process I have attached some photos and would be grateful if you could look at them and tell me what I could do better - apart from getting all the subject in the frame!! I only had my new camera a few weeks ago but am really pleased with the results - when I scrolled through the many hundreds I took on Saturday I began to recognise some areas for more attention to detail etc. All in all it was a great day, a valuable experience and added to my ever growing knowledge. Regards Pauline

Hi Jan Thanks very much for such an enjoyable day on Saturday's Wildlife Master Class session. Once again I've picked up some really useful advice and tips on technique.  I'm attaching two pictures of the Lanner Falcon against the sky which I'm particularly pleased with...... Once again many thanks and I look forward to attending another course in the future. Iain Connell

Hi Jan, I just thought I'd drop you a note to say I had an amazing day with Pandora on the 121 portrait course yesterday! I learned so much; some technical bits, tips for arranging and posing models, the use of props and picked Pandora's brains about all sorts. Tabitha was fab too, posing with props and gamely cycling up and down time after time for us! Lastly, a huge thank you for suggesting Pandora, an incredibly talented and very lovely lady! With kind regards, Louise Mills.

Hello Jan, I just wanted to say a very big thank you for a terrific course on Sunday 15th July. I had a fantastic time and enjoyed every minute. I think your presentation was spot on - and I think the feedback that we got from yourself and Paul out in the field was excellent. I certainly came away from the day with a much improved knowledge of photographing wild birds - and I have a number of amazing photos too... My thanks again for a wonderful day. I am definitely going to book myself on to the Masterclass course later in the year - so hopefully I will see you again then. Yours very sincerely, Martin Williams.

Hi Jan, thankyou so much for the brilliant day on saturday- you were all very patient with me! have just seen the photographs on the website and am very pleased to have some of mine on there. I promise to keep practising! hope to see you again soon. Pauline (Introduction to Photographing Birds of Prey)

I was part of the group you taught yesterday ... (DSLR Part 1). I thought the course was really good - I found the advice you gave extremely helpful. The way you presented the information was very clear, and the explanations relating to our questions helped my understanding a lot. I'm sure it's going to improve my photography enormously. Rob McCluskey

Thank you so much for the workshop on Sunday.  I gained a lot from it and am confident my flash photography will see the benefits of your knowledge, advice and techniques.  The materials, explanation and practical exercises were excellent and highly valuable.  Hopefully I will be able to attend more courses in the near future and will be looking at the schedule this week.  Shaun Stevenson

Hi Jan – thanks for a great day last Saturday – I enjoyed every minute and now just have to put all the learning into practice. Appreciate your ongoing contact and support.  Vendela Peterson

.... thank you for a great day at Clumber Park on Saturday. It was really interesting to find that despite having some pretty serious DSLR and System Camera kit in evidence, no-one had really explored the video capabilities of their cameras prior to the course.  James Woodcock

Thank you so much I really enjoyed the course on Saturday. 
Pandora Maund

Thanks again for a great day on Saturday.  See you on the flash course. 
Ashley Cox

Thanks for the information. It was a great day on Sunday and I am sure that the new course will be very popular and successful. Looking forward to the Low Light Workshop on the 27th.  Mike Mirams

Thanks for the link for the FB photos. I really enjoyed yesterday and did learn a heck of a lot about lighting and technique and using macro photography for other things as well as flowers.  Heather Iveson

I do like the way you deliver your expertise and the simple self explanatory information sheets you provide to enable your students to build upon the knowledge and improve.  Jennifer Fox

Thank you for a very enjoyable and motivating day last Saturday.  I  came home full of enthusiasm ready to put into practice the knowledge gained.  Your delivery and presentation was excellent, easy to understand and follow.  The opportunity of seeing all our photographs on screen and going through the strong and weak points of each was very helpful. I bought my camera as a means to an end for before and after photograph- work related.  After Saturday I can envisage a fulfilling and time consuming hobby ahead. I will definitely be booking on future courses.  Sheila Godfrey

Many thanks for a wonderful and informative day last Saturday.  I learnt a lot and thought your presentation was first class.  
Graham Parker

Thank you SO much for taking the time to critique the shots...that was excellent feedback, you have such a fantastic eye for everything! I've learnt more in your courses than in any other and am so grateful for all the help :) It was the little things you were saying and the reminders while we were busy clicking away that made a huge difference to me.  Neha Brackstone

I got so much inspiration and motivation out of the workshop at Hardwick Hall on Saturday.  Your delivery of the technical information was clear and concise and at a comprehensive level.  Thank you for your encouragement, I will be joining further workshops with Going Digital apart from the one already booked for May.  Jacky Banyard

Thanks yet again for the fantastic low light workshop yesterday - as usual it was filled with new information and continued to review  areas from earlier courses as well - I thoroughly enjoyed it - again!  I can't wait to get on the next one........  Annette Crook

Dear Jan and Richard.  Although it was a bit of a grotty day weather wise the course I found most rewarding. Thank you. Positive feedback would include clear and concise verbal and written information. You both seemed well informed about the myriad of different cameras and their peculiarities. The debrief and summary was constructive.  Might try one of your other courses soon.  Alan Barlow 

Just a short note of thanks to you and Richard for your advice on Sunday's DSLR 1 course.  I thoroughly enjoyed my day and took a huge amount from it. Having my camera set up properly is a huge boost for me. I have experimented a little yesterday and hope to get some more in at the weekend. I almost certainly will be looking to attend a DSLR2 course in a few months time and hope to have progressed further by then.  Thanks again for an absorbing and educational day.  Sean O'Neill 

I thought your one-day course was excellent on Friday August 14th: well planned and well executed with not 1 but 2 assistants helping you. The facilities were first-class and the flying machines were pretty cooperative both standing still and in flight. The day was perfectly balanced, I felt: theory for an hour, then on individual cameras to get the settings correct for 1/2 hour and then into the field. The feedback session in the middle of the day was so useful too, as it enabled us to put right all the errors we were making; the software you used to pinpoint the focus point I really liked.  Malcolm Rea

Many thanks for a very informative and enjoyable course, it has taught me how to use my camera properly as opposed to just on auto or program mode. I learnt so much in such a short time, the course was well presented in a laid back manner which put everyone at ease.  I am very pleased with some of the shots I captured, I have attached one that I have adjusted and another straight from the camera, feel free to comment.   Mark Thacker

Hi Jan - thanks so much for Tues - it was a lovely day. I've signed up for part 2 at Hardwick and also the Birds of Prey workshop at Brockhampton in Oct. I'm going on what a I hope will be a nice hol in December with lots of colourful photo opportunities ( but not red) - hopefully I will be a bit more proficient by then - I'll practice in Devon in a couple of weeks. I really like the sound of the other workshops you offer - I think you have a student for a while!  Jane Harding

This was my Third workshop with Going Digital and won't be my last. Its great to learn and talk, while actually doing photography, on location. Highly recommended workshops whatever your ability, with a small group of like minded people.  Glen Littlemore

What a fantastic day at Crich! A very informative Masterclass with solid advice delivered in a relaxed style by David under very busy conditions!  David had the whole group focussed and photographing well within minutes of hitting the streets assuring us all, even though we were all outside our comfort zone, we could do this and seeing some of the final shots I think we all came away with some cracking photographs.  

I picked up a lot of practical & technical tips from Jan & David and their enthusiasm just pushes you on to want to improve your technique & camera gear, but it was all wrapped up in such a fun day!  Well done the Going Digital team!  Ian Meek

I would like to thank you, Rod, Amanda and all the guys for a very informative and enjoyable day on Saturday last at Hardwick.  I now feel that I have more confidence in leaving the comfort zone of the automatic mode and exploring the interesting other aspects of my camera.

Enjoyed the Wildlife Photography Course at Hamerton last week so much that I have booked onto your Travel & Landscape Course at Hardwick Hall!  Here are some of my better efforts from last week - many thanks for your help & advice in achieving these - much improved from what I had ever taken previously.

Going Digital provide great courses. The Introduction to Wildlife Photography is excellent! Jan and John provide information, guidance, advice and feedback in a constructive and easily understood manner to all participants on the course in a way that you cannot find else where. When photographing the wildlife, which always perform well and seem to also enjoy the experience, help and guidance is always at hand. If you are new to digital photography or have some experience you will find these courses invaluable and very enjoyable.

I would definitely recommend the “Introduction to Wildlife Photography” course at Going Digital.  Jan & John were very helpful and only taught you what you needed to know about your camera, rather than being bogged down with the piles of information in the instruction manual!  I learnt so much about my camera in such a short time and came away with images I never thought I’d be able to take.  A word of warning though – when they say you’ll be wiping tiger breath off your lens ….. they mean it !

 

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