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 Large Compact (Bridge) Cameras

This workshop is designed for all makes and models of SLR, and compact and bridge SLR and Bridge Camerascameras with the facility to set Aperture Priority (see Large Compact Cameras on the right).

What You Will Learn

  • how to control depth of field (what's in focus) in close-ups, portraits and landscape shots
  • how to make sure your subject is sharp
  • how to prevent blurring due to camera-shake when handholding your camera
  • what you can achieve with your lens
  • how to use Exposure Compensation get a correct exposure every time

Dates, Venues & Prices for this Workshop

RegionDayDateVenueCost £PlacesReserve Your Place
Devon & Cornwall Sat 13 March 2010 Lanhydrock, Cornwall
70.00 FULL
Devon & Cornwall Mon 15 March 2010 Knightshayes Court, Devon
60.00 3
Devon & Cornwall Sat 17 April 2010 Lanhydrock, Cornwall
70.00 >3
Devon & Cornwall Sun 6 June 2010 Cotehele, nr Plymouth
70.00 >3
Devon & Cornwall Mon 7 June 2010 Knightshayes Court, Devon
60.00 >3
East Anglia Sun 18 April 2010 Ickworth House, Suffolk
65.00 >3
East Anglia Sat 24 April 2010 Hylands House, Chelmsford
65.00 >3
East Anglia Sat 8 May 2010 Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
65.00 >3
East Midlands Sun 21 March 2010 Hardwick Hall, Derbys.
70.00 FULL
East Midlands Fri 26 March 2010 Clumber Park, Notts.
70.00 FULL
East Midlands Sun 11 April 2010 Belvoir Castle, Leics.
70.00 1
East Midlands Sat 17 April 2010 Whisby Nature Park, Lincoln
70.00 >3
East Midlands Fri 23 April 2010 Hardwick Hall, Derbys.
75.00 >3
East Midlands Sat 8 May 2010 Hardwick Hall, Derbys.
75.00 >3
East Midlands Fri 14 May 2010 Clumber Park, Notts.
75.00 >3
East Midlands Fri 28 May 2010 Hardwick Hall, Derbys.
75.00 >3
East Midlands Sun 6 June 2010 Hardwick Hall, Derbys.
75.00 >3
East Midlands Sun 13 June 2010 Belvoir Castle, Leics.
70.00 >3
East Midlands Sun 4 July 2010 Hardwick Hall, Derbys.
75.00 >3
East Midlands Fri 30 July 2010 Clumber Park, Notts.
75.00 >3
East of England Sat 27 March 2010 Stanwick Lakes, Northants.
70.00 >3
East of England Sat 24 April 2010 Peckover House, Cambs.
No disabled access
70.00 >3
East of England Sat 1 May 2010 Wimpole Hall, Herts.
70.00 FULL
East of England Sun 2 May 2010 Stanwick Lakes, Northants.
70.00 >3
East of England Sun 23 May 2010 Anglesey Abbey, Cambs.
70.00 >3
East of England Sun 6 June 2010 Hatfield Forest, Herts.
70.00 >3
East of England Sat 19 June 2010 Burghley House, S Lincs.
70.00 >3
East of England Sun 27 June 2010 Snibston Country Park
70.00 >3
East of England Sat 24 July 2010 Anglesey Abbey, Cambs.
70.00 >3
East of England Sat 7 August 2010 Wicken Fen, Cambs.
70.00 >3
East of England Fri 3 September 2010 Burghley House, S Lincs.
70.00 >3
London & South East Sun 14 March 2010 Osterley Park, W London
70.00 >3
London & South East Sun 14 March 2010 Central London
The Thames, Millennium Bridge & St Paul's Cathedral, Training Suite Union Street SE1
75.00 >3
London & South East Mon 15 March 2010 Aldenham Country Park, North London
65.00 >3
London & South East Sat 20 March 2010 Petworth House, W Sussex
65.00 FULL
London & South East Sat 20 March 2010 Kenwood House, London
75.00 FULL
London & South East Sat 20 March 2010 Central London
The Thames, Millennium Bridge & St Paul's Cathedral, Training Suite Union Street SE1
75.00 FULL
London & South East Sun 21 March 2010 Bodiam Castle, E Sussex
65.00 1
London & South East Tues 23 March 2010 Witley Common, Surrey
55.00 >3
London & South East Sat 27 March 2010 South London
75.00 FULL
London & South East Sat 10 April 2010 Capel Manor Gardens, N London
A Taste of Spring
65.00 >3
London & South East Mon 12 April 2010 Central London
The Thames, Millennium Bridge & St Paul's Cathedral, Training Suite Union Street SE1
70.00 >3
London & South East Wed 14 April 2010 Tilgate Park, W Sussex
Family Photography Day - Young Photographers Under 16 yrs Course Fee only £45 (Accompanied by an Adult Only).
65.00 >3
London & South East Sat 17 April 2010 Kenwood House, London
75.00 >3
London & South East Tues 20 April 2010 Witley Common, Surrey
55.00 >3
London & South East Sat 24 April 2010 Petworth House, W Sussex
65.00 2
London & South East Sat 24 April 2010 Central London
The Thames, Millennium Bridge & St Paul's Cathedral, Training Suite Union Street SE1
85.00 >3
London & South East Sat 8 May 2010 South London
75.00 >3
London & South East Sun 9 May 2010 Osterley Park, W London
75.00 >3
London & South East Mon 10 May 2010 Central London
The Thames, Millennium Bridge & St Paul's Cathedral, Training Suite Union Street SE1
70.00 >3
London & South East Fri 21 May 2010 Eastbury Manor, E London
Friday's only!
65.00 >3
London & South East Sat 22 May 2010 Central London
The Thames, Millennium Bridge & St Paul's Cathedral, Training Suite Union Street SE1
85.00 >3
London & South East Tues 25 May 2010 Witley Common, Surrey
55.00 >3
London & South East Sat 29 May 2010 Bodiam Castle, E Sussex
65.00 >3
London & South East Sat 5 June 2010 Central London
The Thames, Millennium Bridge & St Paul's Cathedral, Training Suite Union Street SE1
85.00 >3
London & South East Sat 19 June 2010 Petworth House, W Sussex
65.00 >3
London & South East Sat 10 July 2010 South London
75.00 >3
London & South East Sat 7 August 2010 Bodiam Castle, E Sussex
WW2 Weekend with lots to photograph...
65.00 >3
London & South East Sun 5 September 2010 Capel Manor Gardens, N London
Classic & Vintage Car Show
65.00 >3
North and Mid Wales Sat 27 March 2010 Coed y Brenin, Gwynedd
55.00 >3
North and Mid Wales Sat 10 April 2010 Chirk Castle, Wrexham
60.00 FULL
North and Mid Wales Sun 16 May 2010 Chirk Castle, Wrexham
60.00 >3
North and Mid Wales Sun 6 June 2010 Coed y Brenin, Gwynedd
55.00 >3
North and Mid Wales Sat 19 June 2010 Erddig, N Wales
60.00 >3
North and Mid Wales Sun 27 June 2010 Penrhyn Castle, N Wales
60.00 >3
North and Mid Wales Sat 21 August 2010 Coed y Brenin, Gwynedd
55.00 >3
North East Sun 14 March 2010 Beamish Museum, Co. Durham
70.00 FULL
North East Sat 20 March 2010 Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough
65.00 FULL
North East Sun 11 April 2010 Gibside, Newcastle upon Tyne
65.00 1
North East Sun 18 April 2010 Beamish Museum, Co. Durham
70.00 >3
North East Sun 16 May 2010 Beamish Museum, Co. Durham
70.00 >3
North East Sun 23 May 2010 Gibside, Newcastle upon Tyne
65.00 >3
North East Sat 29 May 2010 Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough
65.00 >3
North Midlands Sat 13 March 2010 Biddulph Grange Gardens, Staffs.
70.00 >3
North Midlands Sun 28 March 2010 Chester Zoo & Oakfield Manor
70.00 FULL
North Midlands Sat 24 April 2010 Attenborough Nature Centre
70.00 >3
North Midlands Sat 22 May 2010 Calke Abbey, Derbys.
70.00 >3
North Midlands Mon 26 June 2010 Chester Zoo & Oakfield Manor
70.00 >3
North West & Scotland Sat 13 March 2010 Tatton Park, Cheshire
70.00 FULL
North West & Scotland Fri 19 March 2010 Tatton Park, Cheshire
65.00 >3
North West & Scotland Sun 11 April 2010 Ullswater, Lake District
70.00 2
North West & Scotland Sat 24 April 2010 Manchester YHA
70.00 >3
North West & Scotland Sun 2 May 2010 Tatton Park, Cheshire
70.00 >3
North West & Scotland Sun 16 May 2010 Tatton Park, Cheshire
70.00 >3
North West & Scotland Sun 28 May 2010 Manchester YHA
70.00 >3
South Mon 22 March 2010 Winchester City Mill
60.00 FULL
South Sun 28 March 2010 Bath, Avon
70.00 >3
South Sun 11 April 2010 Winchester City Mill
70.00 >3
South Sat 24 April 2010 Dyrham Park, Glos.
70.00 >3
South Mon 26 April 2010 Lacock Abbey, Wilts.
65.00 >3
South Sat 1 May 2010 Winchester City Mill
70.00 >3
South Mon 3 May 2010 Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
70.00 >3
South Sat 8 May 2010 Windsor Castle and River Thames
70.00 >3
South Sat 22 May 2010 Windsor Castle and River Thames
70.00 >3
South Sat 29 May 2010 Dyrham Park, Glos.
70.00 1
South Sun 13 June 2010 Winchester City Mill
70.00 >3
South Sat 19 June 2010 Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
70.00 >3
South Mon 21 June 2010 Winchester City Mill
60.00 >3
South Mon 5 July 2010 Lacock Abbey, Wilts.
65.00 >3
South Sat 10 July 2010 Windsor Castle and River Thames
70.00 >3
South Wales & Bristol Sat 10 April 2010 Tredegar House, Newport
70.00 >3
South Wales & Bristol Sun 11 April 2010 Tyntesfield, nr Bristol
70.00 >3
South Wales & Bristol Sun 9 May 2010 Tyntesfield, nr Bristol
70.00 >3
South Wales & Bristol Sun 13 June 2010 Margam Country Park, Port Talbot
70.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sat 13 March 2010 Snowshill Manor, Glos.
70.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sun 14 March 2010 Attingham Park, Shropshire
Special Introduction Price for great new venue
55.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sat 27 March 2010 Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton
65.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Fri 9 April 2010 Harcourt Aboretum, Oxford
65.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sat 10 April 2010 Coughton Court, Warwickshire
70.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sun 11 April 2010 Bewdley & Severn Valley Railway
65.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sat 24 April 2010 Snowshill Manor, Glos.
65.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sun 9 May 2010 Central Birmingham
70.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sat 15 May 2010 Coughton Court, Warwickshire
70.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sun 30 May 2010 Coughton Court, Warwickshire
70.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sun 6 June 2010 Brockhampton Estate, Herefordshire
Great new venue for this workshop a great day out
65.00 >3
West Midlands & Cotswolds Sat 12 June 2010 Attingham Park, Shropshire
65.00 >3
Yorkshire Sun 14 March 2010 Nostell Priory, Yorks.
70.00 FULL
Yorkshire Sun 21 March 2010 Longshaw Estate, Peak District
70.00 FULL
Yorkshire Sat 27 March 2010 Nostell Priory, Yorks.
70.00 FULL
Yorkshire Sun 11 April 2010 Nostell Priory, Yorks.
70.00 2
Yorkshire Sun 25 April 2010 Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, N Yorks.
70.00 2
Yorkshire Sun 16 May 2010 Nostell Priory, Yorks.
70.00 >3
Yorkshire Sun 4 July 2010 Nostell Priory, Yorks.
70.00 >3
Yorkshire Sun 11 July 2010 Longshaw Estate, Peak District
70.00 >3


Reviews

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

Large Compact (Bridge) Cameras

This workshop also covers 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.  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 session indoors on very wet days and during the Winter.  This does not change the basic content of the workshop.