Why My Camera Will Never Be Set To Auto Again

As many of you will know, I love photography! Since I started my blog I have developed a passion for it. I have a great camera and I have messed about with the settings in the past but, as I didn’t know what I was doing, I used to set it to auto if ever I needed to take a photo.

Phone cameras have improved so much over the past few years and I don’t think there is much difference between a DSLR set to automatic and a good smart phone camera. I knew my camera was capable of so much more but, as I didn’t know how to use it and it is quite heavy, I started to leave it at home and rely on my phone to take photos when we were out and about.

When I was asked if I would like to review a photography course at the London Institute of Photography I was very excited! I thought this could be just what I needed to spark my love for my DSLR again. I could choose between a beginners or an intermediate course. The beginners was over 2 days, the intermediate was over 4. I was very worried about leaving Bow as he is only 6 months. Bob was almost 2 years old before I left her overnight. I knew he would be fine as he would be with his daddy and I knew this opportunity was too good to miss so I decided to be brave. As much as I would have loved to do the intermediate course I couldn’t face being away from my babies for more than one night so I chose to attend the beginners course.

The course took place at the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane. I booked my train journeys and decided to go early Saturday morning and come back Sunday evening so I would only be away for one night. I have friends in London as I went to university there. I stayed with one of my best friends and even managed a meet up with some of my London friends on the Saturday evening.

I arrived in Kings Cross on Saturday morning and made my way to Brick Lane. My friend planned my route for me using the City Mapper app. It has been a long time since I lived in London and when I was there we only had the tube map to plan our journeys.

When I reached the brewery I waited nervously outside. Holger Pooten (the founder of the institute) had arranged to meet me outside so that he could show me the way to the classroom. Holger immediately made me feel at ease. The other students were running late so I had a coffee in the classroom whilst he went to meet them.

The first day was mostly about learning what our cameras were capable of from inside the classroom. Holger delivered presentations explaining the best image size to shoot in, focal length and different lenses, exposure (including ISO, aperture, shutter speed and how to balance your light meter), different metering modes and white balance. He also used examples of photographers work and explained how they achieved the effects. It was very inspirational! At each stage he showed us how to set our camera and we tried out each technique.

We then went out of the classroom to practise balancing our light meter. Holger talked about where to focus to achieve different affects.

Tomorrow we would learn much more about shutter speed and aperture. Today was more about playing around and seeing what our cameras could do. We went to the park and took some photos using some of the techniques we had learnt.

I was very excited for Sunday’s session. I had already learnt so much and I knew that I would never look at my camera in the same way. Sunday was much more practical. We discussed different techniques and then went to practise them.

First we talked about panning and how shutter speed and camera movement can change results. We then went outside to see what we could achieve. I loved this technique and I managed to capture my favourite photograph of the weekend!

I have been playing around with the panning technique since I arrived home. Bob is always on the move so I have the perfect subject!

We also practised capturing water. I have attempted this before when Bob has been splashing in the bath. I dared to change my camera to the aperture setting but I would have never dreamed of trying to do this in manual mode. I am pleased that I now understand the technique and impressed that my camera never left manual for the whole weekend!

We then spoke about night photography and how shutter speed can produce amazing results! With the classroom lights off Holger used a torch to show us just how amazing this technique is. We set up our cameras and Holger moved the torch around. To our eyes it looked bizarre and I had no idea what he was doing. When the camera captured the photograph I was so shocked at the result! It was brilliant!

In the afternoon our thoughts moved to aperture and depth of field. We talked about how to achieve certain effects and then we went to the food market to practise.

I absolutely loved the course and I have learnt more than I ever thought was possible! I would definitely recommend it for anyone who wants to improve their photography!

I wish I lived closer to London as I would love to go on many of the courses that they offer. Maybe one day when my babies are older I could treat myself to a week’s course.

I can’t thank Holger enough! He has changed the way I see photography and made me even more obsessed with it than I was before. Thanks to the London Institute of Photography my camera will always be with me and it will never be set to auto again!

Disclaimer: I was given a place on the course in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.