I've got myself a V nice digital SLR and photoshop. I feel i'm not really using it to its best and would love to do a Digital photo course to show me how to get the most out it. Does anyone know any. I've looked at Norton college but i don't think they start until September and are hard to get on. ANy other ideas?? Thanks

I could give you some help, Cuey. I've been using a DSLR and Photoshop for several years now. What camera do you use?

Get yourself a copy of Understanding Exposure, read it, and go out shooting. Maybe you'll learn more than you think and save yourself a few quid on an expensive course.

I've just booked onto a course with this company - www.goingdigital.co.uk

£45 for a one day workshop - I was getting a bit frustrated with my new camera that I got for Christmas so I thought I'd give them a try.
I'm going this weekend, so I'll let you know how I get on!

There are actually loads of websites that will give you hints and tips on using your camera, that won't cost £45 (or even the cost of a book). It's all down to personal preference, really. Some people prefer class based learning. I'm happy to point people in the right direction without charging :)

I had a minolta dynax 5 so the logical upgrade was!!! A nice new Sony Alpha 100. It great and i have got some reasonable photos but its the old thing "more gadgets that skill" I did the same with the dynax set everything to auto and shoot. It seems a real waste to use it as a point and shoot when i know i can do more. The big difference seems to be night shooting and setting it up so you give yourself the best options when you touch it up but i'm a bit vague. I have some great shots from round the world on old film but i'm off to Africa again next year and really want to get more great shots.

(I have some of the Himba in Namibia and by pure chance they are awsome. Animals on the other hand never seem to live up to what you expected)

i've been looking for the same.
i went for a canon 350d , got all the crap to go with it.
pictures are ok especially with t/photo but i'd like to learn more, my proble is memory retention.

i practice exposures and f stops, take loads of snaps - have a good nights kip and forget it all.

Jessops do a weekend course as well at their head office for £50.

I've just booked onto a course with this company - www.goingdigital.co.uk

£45 for a one day workshop - I was getting a bit frustrated with my new camera that I got for Christmas so I thought I'd give them a try.
I'm going this weekend, so I'll let you know how I get on!

i'm having some of these courses.
need to get some weekday ones sorted.

i'm having some of these courses.
need to get some weekday ones sorted.


OK, let me know how you get on. I'll do a review after I've been this weekend.

I've tried reading loads of books and get a magazine every month, but I think I'm better off with classroom teaching rather than trying to teach myself - it seems to sink in better if someone else is telling me how it's done! Must be how my brain works!

If you want to see the sort of photos I take, check out my photoblog. It's linked from my profile. If you want to get in touch for hints/tips/whatever after that, let me know.
[I use a Canon EOS 30D, and used a Canon EOS 350D before that]

Thanks Papillion I may hold you to that. Its always good to be able to go to someone and say what happens if??? I went for the ALpha 100 simply because it takes all the same lenses as the Dynax 5. The lenses are worth more than the camera so it was a simple choice.

Yeah, tell me about it. I've spent way more on my lenses than I spent on the camera, but at least I'm happy with the ones I've got now.

I'm happy to point people in the right direction without charging :)

Could I take you up on that offer?
I'm also using a Sony A100, when I take my photos into photoshop and alter levels, cropping etc I notice that the dpi is set at 72, surely this is too low to print. What should the dpi be for a 6 x 4 print?

Dave..

Actually, 72dpi is fine for printing. I've printed up to A4 size with no quality issues at 72dpi.

If you want to increase dpi, however, go to Image > Image Size in Photoshop. Bear in mind it'll also increase the size (H x W) of your photo, and it's not going to make much difference at 6 x 4 size.

Cor blimey....2 A100 users in 1 thread?

Well this makes a 3rd ;)
What was the latest on the photography group btw anyone?

Thanks Papillon.
I'm ok with photography, well I was with film. :(
I'm getting to grips with dslr, :D
but photoshop is still a mystery to me. :confused:
I'm sure I'll be calling on you again :thumbsup:
Thanks again,
Dave..

just a little update for this post.

i have attended two courses over the last two weekends with http://www.goingdigital.co.uk/

jan is a professional wildlife photographer, and at each session she is "assisted" by a professional in that field, landscape,botanical etc.

these courses are easy & fun - dslr's, bridge cameras and compacts have been used by all members - with some impressive results after some tuition.

check out the site or pm me if you want to know more.

the courses are based on taking better photo's - not taking a crap shot and making it look decent.

Could I take you up on that offer?
I'm also using a Sony A100, when I take my photos into photoshop and alter levels, cropping etc I notice that the dpi is set at 72, surely this is too low to print. What should the dpi be for a 6 x 4 print?

Dave..
The smaller the print the higher the dpi.
The reson being that smaller images are viewed closer. For magazines/hand held prints 300dpi is seen as the minimum for arm length viewing. For images like film posters, 72 dpi may be fine as you look at them from several metres away. Billboard posters are more like inches per dot, the dots are so big!

What is the size of your image in pixels? It should be 3872x2592px, unless you've set camera to a lower quality setting.
This means that at 300dpi you get a 32.78x21.95cm print - slightly bigger than A4.

Actually, 72dpi is fine for printing. I've printed up to A4 size with no quality issues at 72dpi.
You are kidding right!? :o

If you want to increase dpi, however, go to Image > Image Size in Photoshop. Bear in mind it'll also increase the size (H x W) of your photo, and it's not going to make much difference at 6 x 4 size.
There is a lot of misunderstanding about dpi [and resizing].
You can alter dpi without changing print size and you can also resample to change DPI without resizing.
So in Photoshop [or other image editors] when you change image size, normally you do so without 'resampling' ticked as that will resize your image without resampling.
a 3000x2000px image at 300dpi will print at 25.4x16.93cm
a 3000x2000px image at 200dpi will print at 38.1x25.4cm
a 3000x2000px image at 72dpi will print at 105x70.56cm
And if I print at 500dpi then the image will 15.24x10.16cm[6x4 inches]
Resampling damages the image BTW and reduces quality, so do it to a copy and not the original and only if you have to.
If however, you want to place an image on line you will have to reduce it's size, so then you enable resampling. So if you have a 3000x2000px image you want to put it online you re-sample it and reduce size to something more like 300x200 [don't forget to sharpen appropriately after reducing].
DPI is of no relevence online, it is only relevent for printing. The only thing that is important for images online is the size in pixels. 72dpi, which is normally recommended, is actually of no relevence whatsoever.

Try www.squaretwophotography.com -

I am starting a couple of courses in April based at Eckington School. All the details are on my website, under courses. www.greenfoxphotography.co.uk
Good luck, Nadine