What about the weather?
Whilst we can never guarantee the weather the ever changing conditions and light provide endless opportunities for photography. Luckily the weather forecasts in the Coromandel do tend to be accurate so we should never be short of places to photograph.
Do I need transport?
We travel in a modern large 4 wheel drive vehicle so your comfort and safety are paramount and it also means we can easily access some of the more remote locations with ease.
I am a beginner, will I still learn?
Absolutely. Appreciation of light, composition and location are open to everyone – having a camera simply adds to the experience and gives you the opportunity to capture your memories. It is important to understand the basics of using a camera but these can be reduced to a number of simple steps – using them practically in the field where you capture your own images is the best route
We have a maximum of 4, some classes are limited to 2. We could take more but want to make sure you get the most from your experience and have found that larger groups can inhibit that a little.
How big are the groups?
Yes, I do this frequently at no extra cost. Get in touch and I would be happy to talk through how we can meet your needs.
I want to do something specific, can I design my own course?
You will need a camera that allows you to adjust the basic settings – fully automatic cameras don’t give you the flexibility and creativity to make the most of the situation. SLRs (ie interchangeable lenses) are not necessary but are more versatile. As long as you can change the settings of the camera – things like aperture and exposure and the focal length - you will be fine.
We have spare equipment for you to use including cameras (both full frame and cropped sensor), lenses, flashes, filters, tripods and more. My clients use all types of cameras including Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Sony, Panasonic and many others. If you dont have an SLR with interchangeable lenses dont worry as I have many clients using ‘bridge’ cameras with a single lens. The main requirement is to have the ability to manually control the camera.
What sort of a camera do I need?
Other kit that will be useful will be a tripod and filters and lens cloths. We do have spare cameras and equipment available so do ask.
Drinking water is good and snacks if you get peckish can be helpful too.
Last but not least, don’t forget to dress for the weather. A fleece and light waterproof will be useful and always bring suntan lotion and sunglasses – whatever the season. Thin gloves would be useful for those early morning and evening sessions.
A head torch for early starts and late finishes is also an important add on.
What do I need to bring?
We take payments via Paypal and via bank transfer – we can send you the details.
How do I pay?
Yes and no. The camera does not see or record images like an eye does. Both film and digital photography involves processing the image to reflect the image you want and get it ready to print. If you don’t have access to a computer we can provide laptops with Photoshop and assume no prior knowledge. We teach a simple workflow that anyone can use so that you can spend more time taking pictures and less time behind a screen.
Do I really need to use photo processing software and do I need to be an expert?