EXPLORE YOUR DIGITAL SLR PART 1

SLR photography

Learn the Basics of Good Photography in a Day

On this hands-on workshop you will have the opportunity to take various photographs, using all the key features of your camera.  There will be a maximum of 10 students per tutor. 

Ideal for Beginners or anyone stuck on Auto Mode.

SLR and Bridge CamerasWhat You Will Learn

  • how to create background blur in your portrait and close-up photographs using Aperture Priority
  • how to get your landscape shots in focus from front to back
  • how to make sure your subject is sharp by controlling Autofocus
  • how to prevent blurring due to camera-shake when handholding your camera by controlling ISO
  • what you can achieve with your lens
  • how to use Exposure Compensation to darken or lighten your images

SLR, Micro System and Large Compact (Bridge) Cameras

This workshop is designed for all makes and models of SLR, micro system and compact and bridge cameras with the facility to set Aperture Priority (see Bridge & Micro System Cameras on the right).

Dates, Venues & Prices for this Workshop

RegionDayDateVenueCost £PlacesReserve Your Place
Devon & Cornwall Sat 18 September 2010 Lanhydrock, Cornwall
70.00 >3
Devon & Cornwall Mon 20 September 2010 Knightshayes Court, Devon
60.00 2
Devon & Cornwall Sat 30 October 2010 Lanhydrock, Cornwall
Book this course together with the part 2 on Sunday 31st October at Cotehele and pay £130.00 for the two.
70.00 >3
East Anglia Sat 4 September 2010 Hylands House, Chelmsford
65.00 >3
East Anglia Sat 23 October 2010 Ickworth House, Suffolk
65.00 >3
East Midlands Sat 18 September 2010 Hardwick Hall, Derbys.
The basics of good photography in a day - for SLR & bridge cameras.
75.00 FULL
East Midlands Sat 25 September 2010 Whisby Nature Park, Lincoln
The basics of good photography in a day - for SLR & bridge cameras.
75.00 1
East Midlands Sun 3 October 2010 Clumber Park, Notts.
The basics of good photography in a day - for SLR & bridge cameras.
75.00 3
East Midlands Fri 8 October 2010 Hardwick Hall, Derbys.
The basics of good photography in a day - for SLR & bridge cameras.
75.00 >3
East Midlands Sat 6 November 2010 Hardwick Hall, Derbys.
The basics of good photography in a day - for SLR and bridge cameras.
75.00 >3
East Midlands Sun 21 November 2010 Hardwick Hall, Derbys.
The basics of good photography in a day - for SLR and bridge cameras.
75.00 >3
East Midlands Sat 27 November 2010 Whisby Nature Park, Lincoln
The basics of good photography in a day - for SLR & bridge cameras.
75.00 >3
East of England Sun 12 September 2010 Burghley House, S Lincs.
70.00 >3
East of England Sat 25 September 2010 Burghley House, S Lincs.
70.00 >3
East of England Sun 3 October 2010 The Maltings, Ely
70.00 >3
East of England Fri 8 October 2010 Peckover House, Cambs.
70.00 >3
East of England Fri 22 October 2010 Wicken Fen, Cambs.
70.00 >3
East of England Sat 23 October 2010 Anglesey Abbey, Cambs.
70.00 3
East of England Fri 29 October 2010 Burghley House, S Lincs.
70.00 >3
East of England Sat 6 November 2010 Rutland Water, Leicestershire
Take control of your digital camera
70.00 >3
East of England Sun 14 November 2010 Peckover House, Cambs.
70.00 >3
East of England Sat 11 December 2010 The Maltings, Ely
70.00 >3
East of England Sat 15 January 2011 Rutland Water, Leicestershire
Take control of your digital camera
70.00 >3
East of England Sat 26 February 2011 Rutland Water, Leicestershire
Take control of your digital camera
70.00 >3
London & South East Sat 4 September 2010 Central London
The Thames, Millennium Bridge & St Paul's Cathedral, Training Suite 202 Blackfriars Road, Southwark, SE1 8NJ.
85.00 1
London & South East Sun 5 September 2010 Capel Manor Gardens, N London
Classic & Vintage Car Show
65.00 FULL
London & South East Sat 11 September 2010 Central London
85.00 FULL
London & South East Sun 12 September 2010 Osterley Park, W London
75.00 >3
London & South East Mon 13 September 2010 Central London
75.00 >3
London & South East Sun 19 September 2010 Doddington Place Gardens, Kent
Beautiful Gardens, Birds Display and Cream Teas...
65.00 >3
London & South East Tues 21 September 2010 Witley Common, Surrey
55.00 >3
London & South East Sat 25 September 2010 Petworth House, W Sussex
65.00 FULL
London & South East Sat 25 September 2010 Central London
85.00 >3
London & South East Sat 2 October 2010 Brighton Pier & Pavilion
70.00 >3
London & South East Sun 3 October 2010 Bodiam Castle, E Sussex
70.00 >3
London & South East Sat 9 October 2010 South London
75.00 >3
London & South East Mon 11 October 2010 Central London
75.00 >3
London & South East Sat 16 October 2010 Central London
85.00 >3
London & South East Sun 17 October 2010 Doddington Place Gardens, Kent
65.00 >3
London & South East Sat 23 October 2010 Central London
85.00 >3
London & South East Sat 23 October 2010 Petworth House, W Sussex
65.00 >3
London & South East Sat 6 November 2010 Central London
85.00 >3
London & South East Sun 7 November 2010 Bodiam Castle, E Sussex
70.00 >3
London & South East Sat 13 November 2010 South London
75.00 >3
North and Mid Wales Sat 4 September 2010 Erddig, N Wales
60.00 FULL
North and Mid Wales Sat 23 October 2010 Coed y Brenin, Gwynedd
55.00 2
North East Sun 12 September 2010 Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough
Ideal for beginners or anyone stuck on Auto mode
65.00 FULL
North East Sat 18 September 2010 Beamish Museum, Co. Durham
Ideal for beginners or anyone stuck on Auto mode
70.00 2
North East Sun 10 October 2010 Gibside, Newcastle upon Tyne
Ideal for beginners or anyone stuck on Auto mode
65.00 >3
North East Sun 31 October 2010 Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough
Ideal for beginners or anyone stuck on Auto mode
65.00 >3
North East Sun 14 November 2010 Jesmond Dene House, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Ideal for beginners or anyone stuck on Auto mode
70.00 >3
North East Sun 28 November 2010 Gibside, Newcastle upon Tyne
Ideal for beginners or anyone stuck on Auto mode
65.00 >3
North Midlands Fri 24 September 2010 Calke Abbey, Derbys.
70.00 >3
North Midlands Sun 10 October 2010 Attenborough Nature Centre
70.00 >3
North Midlands Sat 16 October 2010 Etruria Industrial Museum, Stoke
65.00 >3
North Midlands Sat 20 November 2010 Cromford Mill, Matlock
70.00 >3
North Midlands Sat 4 December 2010 Etruria Industrial Museum, Stoke
65.00 >3
North West Sat 4 September 2010 Tatton Park, Cheshire
70.00 1
North West Sat 11 September 2010 Lake District Visitor Centre
70.00 >3
North West Sat 9 October 2010 Tatton Park, Cheshire
70.00 1
North West Sat 30 October 2010 Manchester YHA
70.00 >3
North West Sun 21 November 2010 Tatton Park, Cheshire
70.00 >3
North West Sat 11 December 2010 Manchester YHA
70.00 >3
South Sat 4 September 2010 Winchester City Mill
70.00 1
South Sun 5 September 2010 Dyrham Park, Glos.
70.00 3
South Sat 2 October 2010 Lacock Abbey, Wilts.
Book both part 1 & part 2 at Lacock this weekend and pay only £60.00 for part 2
70.00 3
South Sun 10 October 2010 Windsor Castle and River Thames
70.00 >3
South Sat 23 October 2010 Lacock Abbey, Wilts.
70.00 >3
South Sun 24 October 2010 Winchester City Mill
70.00 >3
South Sat 6 November 2010 Kingston Lacy, Dorset
70.00 >3
South Sun 7 November 2010 Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
70.00 >3
South Sun 21 November 2010 Dyrham Park, Glos.
Book this course together with the part 2 at Dyrham park on the 28th November and pay only £130.00 for the two.
70.00 >3
South Sat 27 November 2010 Winchester City Mill
70.00 >3
South Sat 4 December 2010 Windsor Castle and River Thames
Book this course together with the part 2 on Sunday 5th December and pay £130.00 for the two.
70.00 >3
South Wales & Bristol Sun 12 September 2010 Tyntesfield, Bristol
70.00 3
South Wales & Bristol Sun 10 October 2010 Towers Hotel, Swansea
70.00 >3
South Wales & Bristol Sat 6 November 2010 Tyntesfield, Bristol
70.00 >3
South Wales & Bristol Sun 7 November 2010 Margam Country Park, Port Talbot
70.00 >3
South Wales & Bristol Sat 13 November 2010 Tredegar House, Newport
70.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sun 12 September 2010 Harcourt Aboretum, Oxford
learn how to take control of your camera to shoot professional style images.
65.00 FULL
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sun 19 September 2010 Central Birmingham
Understanding the features of your camera to shoot professional style images
70.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sat 25 September 2010 Brockhampton Estate, Herefordshire
learn how to take control of your camera to shoot professional style images in this tranquil and stunning venue
65.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sat 9 October 2010 Packwood House, Solihull
Learn the techniques for shooting professional style images with your DSLR
65.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sat 16 October 2010 Snowshill Manor, Glos.
Learn the techniques of shooting professional style images with your DSLR
65.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sun 17 October 2010 Attingham Park, Shropshire
Understanding the features of your camera to shoot professional style images
65.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sat 23 October 2010 Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton
Learn the techniques of shooting professional style images
65.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sat 30 October 2010 Bewdley & Severn Valley Railway
Get off auto and learn how to take professional style images
65.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sun 7 November 2010 Central Birmingham
Get off auto and learn how to take professional style images
70.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sat 13 November 2010 Attingham Park, Shropshire
Get off auto and learn how to take professional style images
65.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sat 20 November 2010 Packwood House, Solihull
Get off auto and learn how to take professional style images
70.00 >3
Yorkshire Sun 5 September 2010 Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, N Yorks.
70.00 >3
Yorkshire Sun 12 September 2010 Robin Hood's Bay, E Yorks
70.00 >3
Yorkshire Sat 18 September 2010 Longshaw Estate, Peak District
70.00 >3
Yorkshire Sun 19 September 2010 Nostell Priory, Yorks.
70.00 FULL
Yorkshire Sun 3 October 2010 Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, N Yorks.
70.00 >3
Yorkshire Sun 7 November 2010 Nostell Priory, Yorks.
70.00 2
Yorkshire Sun 14 November 2010 Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, N Yorks.
70.00 >3


Reviews

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

Many thanks for your very interesting and informative workshop last Saturday. My head was buzzing when I left, but with the help of your very useful information sheets, and a lot of practice, things are beginning to make sense. The great thing is that its never boring being out practising with the camera!  Frankie Brierley

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 

Just to say a huge thankyou to you for last Sunday's course.  I really appreciated it and took my camera on a day out on Tuesday - (with Adrienne too) we banned the use of auto, and took loads of different pics, practising our new found lessons.  Fabiana Dixon 

Just a short email to thank you for an excellent course last Friday at Lacock.  I've learnt more in those 6 hours, about my camera and it's functions, than in the 18 months since I bought it.  Hope to see you in Winchester on 1 August for Part 2.

Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the level 1 course at Burghley House today, 15 May 09.  Rod ran the workshop very well and it was just what I needed to fill in knowledge gaps on the quest to improve my photography.  I look forward to the level 2 course next month and intend to continue my training over time in the hope that one day I can become a good photographer.  I think the Going Digital workshops represent excellent value for money with excellent teaching, thank you!

Ian was fantastic and the choice of venue was just lovely.  I did not know I was doing the course until the day before, my husband had booked it for me as a surprise, so I did not have a clue what to expect, but on arrival Ian made me feel very comfortable and at ease.  I enjoyed the day very much, and hope to do some more of the courses you have on offer.  Ian has helped me with some advice on a new camera and helped answer a few questions I have had since Sunday, its nice to know it didn't just end that day.

Just wanted to say a huge thank you for today, the course was excellent and exceeded my expectations. I have learnt so much and having the practical aspect with the tutor support aided my learning. The group session reviewing each others images gave us all an insight to composition. I now feel confident in never using an auto mode again! This has increased my passion and will be seeking a full spec SLR and will look forward to the level 2 course.

Thank you for a most entertaining, informative and pacey course last Friday. Although we were both on a steep learning curve, it was good to find the world beyond 'auto'!  We shall be back.

I just wanted to thank you for a brilliant day at the workshop in Portsmouth today. I learnt so much and it was great to be able to practice in such an interesting setting. I'm downloading the photos and will review all the settings and see what worked well and what didn't. Having invested in an SLR camera it's great to be able to be a little creative, rather than just taking "snapshots". I've already ordered Tamron 28-300 lens (thanks for the tip) and have booked a place on the 27th June Winchester course. By then, especially with the new lens, I should have had a chance to practice some of the things I learnt today and will be ready for the next steps!Thanks again and look forward to seeing you in June

"Dear Danielle..  I just wanted to thank you for the excellent course last Saturday. I greatly enjoyed getting to grips with my camera and sorting out the digital "fug". I do realise I have only just scraped the surface and have a long way to go but it's got me started on the right road!".

"Really fantastic.  I will never use 'automatic' setting again on my camera.  I learned so much about depth of field, aperture priority, exposure brackets etc and composition that it has rekindled my desire to become a better photographer.  I am going out with my camera and tripod this afternoon to practice my new skills".

"I just wanted to say again, how great the course was today - it was exactly what we needed to get out of auto mode.  My Husband and I have not stopped talking about what we learnt since we left Osterley!  I am very much looking forward to practising my newly learnt skills on Sunday at the farm with my Niece, who will be bottle feeding the lambs, so I think we will get some great shots.  Great teachers, great atmosphere, great time!  Thanks to all and see you on part 2!"

"I just wanted to send a quick mail in appreciation in reference to the course held at Wicken Fen on the 24th Jan which was run by Rod Corston.  Having had no experience what so ever of SLR photography and having played with the camera for a year without achieving any kind of understanding, I have to say that on the day I was a little nervous.  However Rod had soon put the group at ease and I found his way of teaching clear and helpful.  I can honestly say that for the fist time since buying the camera I can actually take some of the pictures that I have been wanting to but couldn't manage on auto, if only I had of booked sooner!"

"Thank you for the fabulous training yesterday at Clumber Park.  I very much enjoyed sharing new camera experiences with other like minded people.  Learning the manual with your instant fix sheet was marvellous and to come off the "point and press mode" was far easier than I dreamed. Roll on Part 2".

"I enjoyed the day and found that it gave me a good basis to build from.  The initial information giving session is invaluable as a starting point for exploring your own camera and how to get the best from it.  Alistair is very knowledgeable and endlessly patient......a great recipe for a good teacher".

I thoroughly enjoyed the day at Cotehele and was extremely impressed with the standard of the course.  I learned more in the morning alone than on previous courses which I had attended over a series of 8 weeks!  I found Alistair extremely easy to follow and understand and would be very interested in attending another course at some time to expand my knowledge further.  I am now much more confident and look forward to putting this knowledge into practice.  I would definitely recommend this course to others.

I just wanted to say thanks for the recent DSLR course that i attended at Heligan, I really enjoyed the course and it gave me a great deal more confidence to get the pictures I wanted to take, rather than just experimenting.  I'd also love to know if you have any more courses coming up, I'd especially like to see one on portraits.

Just returned from an "Explore Your Digital SLR Part 1" workshop at Chirk Castle presented by Jean Napier. I was a bit apprehensive that I might find the course too difficult, but Jean soon dispelled any fears and I found the course both relaxed and informative. If, like me, you never get out of "auto" then this is the course for you. Looking forward to practising everything taught on the course and booking another.

Just a short note to say thank you for a really great day yesterday, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole day. You have really helped me to understand some of the features of my camera that have baffled me over the last few months. I very much appreciated the simplicity of your explanations, your willingness to answer all questions and the practical help you gave. I certainly have lots to practice over the coming weeks!

I would definitely like to do the composition course and wondered whether I could reserve a place for the course you have advertised for the 7 September?

Thank you for an enjoyable and informative day at Clumber Park today.  I found it to be excellent and will help me to produce better photographs.  I will be recommending you to friends and anyone who wants to improve their photography.  Thank you again.

"I joined the nice small group at Anglesey Abbey on 15 July 08 for the "Explore Your Digital SLR Part 1" course with Rod Corston. I really enjoyed the day - it gave me a lot of confidence.  I think I now understand what mistakes I have been making and hopefully will be able to avoid them in future.  I also have learned how to find out what I was actually doing right to make some of the good images I had achieved before!  The follow-up Email information from Rod was also very useful and informative.  Thanks again.  I shall definitely be coming on some future courses".

I'd like to thank you for making the two photography courses which ran last weekend at Chirk and Erddig so enjoyable. I looked through all the pictures I'd taken when I got home and can honestly say that they included some of the best photographs I've ever taken! My enthusiasm has been rekindled, I've even put my EOS 20D up for sale and have bought a 40D (which I'd been toying with anyway).

Just letting you know how much Jenny and I enjoyed the course yesterday.  I spent the rest of yesterday evening reading my manual thoroughly and taking photos in my garden.  I'm amazed how many incorrect assumptions I had made about my camera. I now feel in control of my camera and by looking at photos on my PC as soon as I took them I was able to see the difference made by changing the settings. I will also know what to look for when I make my next camera purchase - which I'm sure I will do soon as I feel really excited about moving on to thinking about composition.

I just wanted to say a tremendous thank you for the course I recently attended at Calke Abbey,  "EXPLORE THE FEATURES OF YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA".  It was a great day and I really enjoyed meeting the group of people that were there on the day  Unfortunately, it was that good, I went out and purchased a Canon Digital SLR camera!

I thought I would just send you an email to let you know how much I enjoyed and learnt on the architecture workshop at Calke Abbey on Saturday.  I've now attend 3 of your workshops, getting to know your SLR, composition and architecture, I have found all the courses enjoyable and informative with a very friendly atmosphere.  I feel the structure of the day works well and I especially like the critique of photos at the end of the day and I always feel I've made an improvement.  I now just have to get in some practice and start looking at which workshop I want to do next.

Thanks for a great course yesterday, I really enjoyed it and the photos I took are far better than any of the others I'd managed until now. Are there any places available on the composition course at Fountains Abbey on the 7th September?

 

Photographic Equipment from Warehouse Express

About This Workshop

SLR CamerasBridge CamerasSkill Level 1
Activity Level 1Dates, Venues and Prices for this WorkshopRead Reviews

Bridge & Micro System Cameras

This workshop also covers micro system and compact and bridge cameras with an Aperture (A Digital compact camerasor AV) setting on the mode dial (see example left) as these cameras share most of the features of an SLR. 

Equipment

If you have one, please bring your tripod (full height).

Times

Most of our workshops run from 10am to 4pm, but please check your Joining Instructions for full details.

Progression

Progression from this workshop is either to our Explore Your Digital SLR Part 2 workshop or any of our other Level 2 workshops.

 

Like to Try an SLR?

You can now borrow an SLR camera, free of charge, for the day on many of our workshops or one-to-one training days.  Please contact us to check availability before making your booking.

 

Wet Weather and Winter Workshops

While we hope to get outdoors for a photography session on all these workshops, we may decide to run this workshop indoors on very wet days and during the Winter.  This does not change the content of the workshop.