So why not use the 'Auto' button?

The Auto button works very well and produces good consistant images (providing you've focussed and composed correctly!).  So why would you want or need to learn how to use the manual controls on your camera?

Well I've been running workshops for a while now and what's great to see is the absolute delight when a creative shot is taken, it might just be blurring some action or freezing some water but the result is sheer joy!  I get an awful lot of satisfaction when I see someone's face light up and that penny drops.  It's not often though that I get to go out and 'play' with the camera however on a recent trip to France I had the pleasure of doing just that!  No, I'm not about to share my holiday snaps with you - that would be very boring!  Instead though I'd like to use one or two to demonstrate how using the manual functions on your camera can create more interest in your shots.

Ok, so these could have been taken anywhere but it was a good opportunity to get up close and personal with these giants!  The first image has frozen the action so you would think that the windmill was stationery.  The camera would have considered the bright light and therefore chosen a faster shutter speed, freezing the action.  

In this image we've told the camera what to do, slow down! You can now see the movement of the windmill..

Ok, so what else can you do?  Take a look at these images, why do the flowers jump out at you?

By taking control of the camera you can create that nice blurry background which makes the flower jump off the page.  Great for people shots too, and bubbles....!

Learning how to slow down the camera in the evening can create some real drama in your photographs.  It's likely that the Auto button would fire the flash, destroying any atmosphere.  The tree in this shot was already lit...

And for this shot I fired a bit of flash to light up the tree.

Ideally the camera should be mounted on a tripod for these shots, I didn't have one with me so it was all about finding something to balance the camera on but you get the idea!

There's so much more you can do with your camera.  Learning the basics of manual control opens up many more opportunities to get creative!

Thanks for reading..

www.sallyparkinson.co.uk

Oh Mamma Mia....Here we go again!

We had so much fun in the Summer Holidays with the variety of experiences I thought it was appropriate for us to do some more....oh yes, here we go again!

Learning the routine

 

Feedback from previous dance experiences has told us that the children just loved to party so I thought we'd kick off with a Mamma Mia Dance Experience for a day. (well it gives me an excuse to bop along to some Abba dance tracks!). 

Children (7-11yr olds) will get the chance to learn a dance routine to a terrific medley of Abba songs...I'm sure Dancing Queen will be in there somewhere along with Waterloo and a few others.  I really do think this will be a lively (and slighly cheesey) party! 

We also learned that they loved (and I mean loved!) the dressing up part of the day.  So, this time there will be clashing colours and plenty of glitter to help them get into the mood.  We know how much they loved their costumes in the Summer so this time they're included...yes, I'm sorry but they can go home in them this time and apologies to those parents who had to dissuade their children from wearing them in bed!

Then later in the week, we hope to satisfy both dancers and film buffs with a 2 day Pop Video Experience.

Sarah taking them through their steps

Limited to 10 dancers (Zombies), they will learn a Thriller style dance routine. The next morning we will be joined by professional Make Up artists for a 'Special Effects' make up workshop.  This is when they will transform themselves into their Zombie creation and learn how to make cuts, bruises and all sorts of horrible things out of make up.  That afternoon their routine will be filmed as a Pop Video and the film location will be in a public place in Colchester! They will have their photographs taken and take home a copy of their video.

Colchester town centre is in for a shock!

 

So it's not just 10 dancers we need...no, we also require 4 camera crew.

This is an amazing opportunity for just 4 people to work with film expert John Worland (Fade to Black TV).  The video will be a live mix so the 4 camera operators will need to learn and rehearse techniques ready for filming.  They will spend the two days with John and work with the dancers to ensure all the angles are covered.  John also plans to produce a 'behind the scenes' film of the experience so they'll be very busy and hands on.

So, here's what's happening, where and when:

Mamma Mia Dance Experience at Highwoods Community Centre, Colchester.

Monday 24th October, 10am - 4pm.  £35 per person

Pop Video Experience (2 days). The Tree Room, Trinity Street, Colchester.

Thursday 27th & Friday 28th October, 10am - 4pm each day. 

Dance, special effects make up workshop, perform in the video - £125 (max 10)

Camera crew 2 day workshop with John Worland - £95 (max 4)

To book call me on 07849 854308 or email sally@sallyparkinson.co.uk

www.sallyparkinson.co.uk