Walk and Shoot

June 18th

Remembering how to use some of the buttons on my camera,
was both fun and frustrating

Part of the joy of blogging for me is the visual element.  I have always loved taking photographs since I can remember I was even part of the photography club at uni not that you would know it or indeed I can remember anything about it! and I always thought I could take a semi decent shot.  But boy since blogging have I realised my limitations and have had my eyes opened to the world of fantastic amateur photographers that I can only dream to be. 

Aiming for the blurred background

For over a year now I have toyed with joining in on an online photography course to help with my flat lay photography,  this would be particularly useful for blogging photos, not so much for family snaps and shots but the expense has held me back. 
When a few weeks ago I stumbled upon a free, yes FREE walk and shoot in a neighbouring village where two fiendishly enthusiastic amateur competition winners and chairmen of photography clubs offered their services to walk around said Oxfordshire village and help us with our photography.  How could I resist?  I immediately signed up and then asked Phil over at the Twisted if she was able to take time out and join in too?  She could and she did, yeah! See if you can spot her in one of the photos later on.







It was a great day where by we grilled the chaps about our own cameras and use of them, talked about composition, the rule of thirds, what to look for, what to avoid.  It was fun and thankfully the weather gods were kind.  Both Phil and I learnt heaps, mostly that we need to practice more and actually get to know our cameras better.  We have both since had a little play in our back gardens as a direct result.  Hopefully the fruit of our practice will begin she hopes in vain to shine through on our blogs in the coming months.  Here I show you a selection of photos taken in an Oxfordshire village beside the Thames, enjoy...

Trying to think of photography on all levels

Aiming again for a different view, might this
be a child's view from the bridge?

Trying to create light and unusual shots

Reflections

Thinking about composition

Looking for interest in all places

Close up can be more interesting

Trying to capture the moment

Instead of taking the whole house, focus on an aspect of it

Trying to catch anything  'red' we were told was good in photographs

The motley crew listening to more advice

Different angles

Diagonal lines are always interesting we were told

Me taking a picture of him taking a picture

Sharp focus

Don't always put the interest in the middle (can you spot the ladybird)

It was a beautiful village to go walk about

Through the spider's web



A touch of red for interest

One of the chaps showed us how to edit out details we are not happy with in our photos, someone piped up that it was cheating but he explained we now live in a digital world and should embrace it and that it was no longer photography per se but digital media and so altering to make the picture better was not cheating but making it the best it could be.  In one of my photos he deleted a burglar alarm from an old cottage as he said it did not suit the perfection of the composition for example.  I must admit I was in awe of this and realised how easy it must be for magazines and books to airbrush and alter images, scary yet fascinating at the same time. What are your thoughts?  All the above photos are untouched by the way...  

♥   Do you have any photography tips

or courses I should attend?   ♥