Advanced Photography Course for Digital SLR-owners

Not sure what an SLR camera is? Give us a call or click here.

We take the mystery and guesswork out of photography, and show you how to master your digital SLR in any situation. Get plenty of hands-on practice with your own camera - we even read your instruction manual for you before you come, and tailor the course and materials to take advantage of the strengths of your actual camera. Our customised "cheat" cards show you how to access the key functions of your camera.

Tail-lights at sunset in the Californian Sierra

The course runs for a day including sunset, so you get a chance to practice night techniques. Please also bring along a sample of your photos for suggestions and feedback.

We show you how to shoot in a range of situations:

• Night and low-light photography.
• People photography
• Action and movement photography
• Landscape photography
• Flash photography and flash effects indoors and outdoors
• Close-up photography
  

We show you how to:

• Compose beautiful photos
• See light and colour like a camera, and how to see in black-and-white
• Choose your focus for moving and stationary subjects
• Get the most out of the "manual" modes of the camera: A, S and M (or Av, Tv and M)
• Change perspective in photos
• Use blur and movement in your photos
• Use a range of accessories, including filters, macro lenses, extension tubes, remote flashes, reflectors, and light tents.
• Shoot to make computer editing easier
  

Isabella swinging in the local park, Brisbane

Each course includes:

• Our unique wallet-sized cheat cards, customised to your exact camera model: permanent help at your fingertips.
• Lots of hands-on activities with your own camera
• A detailed course manual
• Two sets of Strobist flash filters including CTO, half-CTO, quarter CTO, eigth CTO, CTB and half PlusGreen
• Opportunities to try close-up equipment, lenses and flashes for Canon and Nikon users, and the latest Canon TTL PocketWizard (R) wireless triggering system
• After-course support - send us photos for evaluation, ideas and more

We keep classes small - up to six people per course so everyone gets personal attention, but booking is essential. Call us on 3255 8811 or click here to book. You'll need to book at least a week in advance to be sure of getting your cheat cards customised to your camera model in time for the course.

How much does it cost?

1 person - one year pass and cards for one camera - $390

2 or more people - one year pass and cards for each person's camera - $350 each

Advanced and both basic courses* package: $590 - save $88 on the individual course prices.

Gift certificates are also available, and can form part of group bookings.

* Our two basic courses are "Capturing Joy" and "Travel and Landscape Photography". They lay the foundation for this Advanced DSLR photography course. See "What do I need to know already" below to work out if you would benefit from coming on the basic courses first.

Who are the workshops for?  People with a digital SLR (the type of camera with changeable lenses) who want to learn to get the best out of the camera. Why does it need an SLR?

When and where are the workshops? This page lists the times, dates, venues, directions, parking details, and wheelchair accessibility of each workshop. Workshops last 9 hours (a fresh sandwich lunch is provided, as well as snacks, fruit and cakes), and run from late morning into the evening so that we can practice a range of effects for sunset photography.

What do I need to know already?  We recommend that you come on our basic courses "Capturing Joy" and "Travel and Landscape Photography" before joining the advanced course. The basic courses lay the foundations for getting great photos without the jargon, and we offer discounts for booking all three courses together. But if you're already confident with lenses, shutter speeds, composition and the brightness control for your camera, you won't need to have come on the basic courses first.

If you're not sure, please give us a call - that's what we're here for. Remember we also offer a money-back guarantee on our courses if you think you've booked the wrong one.

How technical does it get? We promise to explain all the necessary jargon in plain English. There is no maths, and no advanced computer knowledge necessary for this course.

What's not covered?  Basic composition and shutter speeds (these are introduced on our basic courses), editing images on your computer (although we do show you how to shoot to make editing easier).

What kind of camera do I need?  A digital SLR or one of a few advanced compact cameras including the Canon G series, Canon Pro-1, Fuji S100fs, and Panasonic LX-series. Please be aware, though, that compact cameras offer a narrower range of settings. You'll still be able to learn lots, but you'll have less scope to change how your photos will look. If your passion is landscape photography, these restrictions aren't too serious, so please come along. But if you want to learn to take great action and low-light photos, you probably need an SLR. This page explains the differences in the types of photo you can get with a compact camera and an SLR. If you're not sure, please give us a call - we're here to help.

What should I bring?  Your camera with fresh batteries and enough space on a memory card to take at least 500 photos; any accessories you use (e.g. lenses, flashes, tripod, close-up equipment, filters); a selection of up to six photos for feedback - either prints or on a memory stick; your laptop if you wish; and your camera's instruction manual (we won't leave you to hunt for answers alone, but it's a useful reference for some of the obscure custom functions on the camera).

Dean who?  Dean Holland brings 20 years' experience in photography, and 15 years' experience and a PhD in adult learning. He's an author in 3 books related to adult learning, and has run hundreds of workshops in 7 countries in 2 languages. Dean has two gorgeous daughters. You will be seeing lots of photos of them!

Phone us on (07) 3255 8811 or click here to book.