Goldcrest taken at Mugdock Country Park in December 2007, with a 24-70mm lens at 70mm!
So if you're lucky, (if it comes close) you can take wildlife with a normal camera.
A one-day course aimed at beginners, is on offer:
This is the second of two similar events, the first of which was held on Saturday 4 October 2008. Location - Department of Adult and Continuing Education - St Andrews Building, Eldon St, Glasgow University.
The course will consist of:
Bring:
The day will finish at 4pm.
For booking details see Glasgow University's DACE Website ("How to book your place" link at foot of page) or the DACE Courses brochure, page 53. Please note that the courses must be booked through the University, and not through this site. Numbers limited to 12. Details will be sent to participants in good time before the course.
On the previous walk in October 4th 2008, it was raining as we set out in the morning. However, with suitable clothing and protection for the cameras, this turned out to be an opportunity in disguise. Many participants came back with beautiful photographs of water off a duck's back, reflections, and really good closeup shots.
Two photoscot photography walks this year were based in Mugdock Country Park, just north of Milngavie, Glasgow. The weather on the April walk was excellent, with snow lying to start with providing some good photographic opportunities.
In October, although there was a forecast of heavy rain, it didn't turn out quite as bad as forecast, and a flexible programme ensured that everyone had a good learning experience and got lots of advice, even if they were not able to take photos in the sunshine!
The morning walk went ahead as planned. After lunch, we retreated to the Mugdock Garden Centre, where a covered area provided shelter from the rain, and there was enough light to take good photos. After the afternoon slide show, those who were keen enough stayed on for a brief discussion on the merits of Raw files, and how to develop these in Adobe Bridge and Photoshop.
People took many imaginative shots, and a lot of the day was spent discussing flash photography, and how to get the best from flash in the absence of sunshine to show up the autumn colours. Many people learned about how not to get fuzzy shots, including setting the centre focusing point, and use of semi-automatic exposure modes to give more control over the camera, instead of just using the completely automatic mode. For those who brought a Canon digital SLR (the majority), it was also possible to borrow various lenses and extension tubes for closeup shots of tiny fungi.
The following text has been left unchanged, so that you can see the idea. It is hoped that future similar events will take place in 2009.
There will be a Photography Walk aimed at Beginner Photographers on Sunday 6th April 2008. The emphasis was on encouraging beginners to become more advanced at how to use a camera.
On Sunday 19th October 2008 there will be a Photography Walk aimed at Intermediate Photographers, perhaps including people who have been on the walk in April.
Both walks are based in the Education Room (the old Discovery Room) at the park visitor centre, which has just been refurbished, and has a laptop, video projector and screen.
Tea and coffee will be provided, and are included in the price. There are toilets down the stairs just below the room.
Booking is now open. The number of people will be limited to 12, to allow a reasonable possibility of getting individual help. It is therefore essential to book a place by a phone call to Mugdock Country Park ranger service on 0141 956 6100 or by email to office@mugdock.org. You will be asked to send a fee of £15 for the full day, by credit card over the phone, or by cheque in advance (payable to David Palmar), to the park ranger service, to ensure that there is a place for you. Although you need to book with the park ranger service, I would appreciate an email to the address on the front page, to let me know that you have booked.
Even if you cancel at the last minute, please let the park rangers know in case there is someone else who is on the waiting list and can take up the place. If cancelling on the day, please phone the Visitor Centre on 0141 956 6100, then we know not to wait for you.
The address for the fee (a cheque for £15 please made out to David Palmar) is:
Photography Walk Booking
Park Ranger Sevice
Mugdock Country Park
Craigallian Road
Nr Milngavie
Glasgow G62 8EL
Phone number: 0141 956 6100
10am - Meet in the Education Room just below the main car park at the visitor centre about 10am, over tea and coffee. Introduce yourself to the other people and pick up a badge, so that we can get to know each other's names. You will also be asked to register your presence, giving your name, address, email address and telephone number, in case of emergencies, and so that you can be kept informed of future events. Your details will not be passed on to anyone else.
10.15 - 11am - Introduction to some possibilities for photography in the park. Digital side show with laptop and video projector, to explore the possibilities, and suggest some techniques.
11.15am - 12.45pm - Leisurely walk round one part of the park, stopping to photograph whatever we feel like, and finishing back at the centre for lunch.
12.45 - 1.30pm - lunch, toilet stop and ice cream opportunity!
1.30pm - 3.00pm - afternoon walk around a different area of the park, also at a leisurely pace.
3pm - Slide show of people's photographs on the digital projector. It would beneficial to all concerned if participants are willing to allow their photos to be projected to the group at the end of the walk, in order to provide helpful comments and generate discussion.
4pm - question and answer session
4.30pm - finishing time
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Goldcrest taken at Mugdock Country Park in December 2007, with a 24-70mm lens at 70mm! So if you're lucky, (if it comes close) you can take wildlife with a normal camera. |
When will I need to book? Since numbers are limited to 12, it is essential to telephone the Mugdock Country Park rangers on 0141 956 6100, and pay in advance to book your place. You can book any time now.
Can I bring a film camera? Yes. You won't get the immediate feedback available with digital, but you can still get some useful advice.
Does it matter whether I have a compact camera or an SLR? No it doesn't matter. You will be advised of suitable suggested subjects, or you may wish to find your own subjects to photograph.
What do I need to bring?
What photographic equipment will be available?
Most people will be expecting to bring their own camera, as helping people to use their own cameras more fully is the principal aim of the day.
I will bring my own tripod and the latest Canon Speedlite 580EX II flashgun suitable for a Canon digital SLR or Powershot G6, G7 or G9. Anyone with a suitable Canon camera may use the tripod or flashgun on request at no extra charge. In addition I will bring a memory card reader, which can read Compact Flash, SD cards, XD cards, Multimedia Cards, Sony Memory Sticks and several less common formats.
Can I hire a Digital SLR or a big lens or both?
One Canon digital SLR camera (an EOS 20D) with a standard zoom lens, and a 400mm f5.6L lens (with which you could try out shooting birds) will be available to hire for the day. This will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The idea is that it would give anyone considering an SLR purchase some idea of what it is like to use one. A method will be arranged to enable you to keep the photographs you took on the day, for example if you bring a USB flash memory stick, we could copy your photos on to it.
I am willing to hire this equipment for the day for an extra £40. In exchange for a name and address and proof of identity (e.g. driving licence or credit card) and an additional £100 deposit to cover the possibility of loss or damage, returnable at the end of the day. (A well-known photographic rental company would charge you £95 to hire an equivalent camera alone for a day, without any lenses. In addition, you would have to pay VAT and collect the equipment yourself, and would have no tuition on how to use it!)
If you wish to hire any equipment, please arrange this advance by an email to me.
Will the event be cancelled if there is bad weather?
This is very unlikely. We will probably go out whatever the weather, so be prepared to cover up your camera (e.g. bring a clear poly bag) as well as yourself in case of inclement weather.
There may be a modification to the programme in the event of extremely inclement weather. We can spend more time in the shelter of trees. We can also bring certain subjects indoors and photograph them there if it's really foul!
Are there any health and safety or accessibility concerns?
Please be aware that short sections of the path are steep, or have a few steps, and may be slippery.
The event is not advertised as being suitable for wheelchairs. If any disabled persons wish to come on the walk, please discuss this with the park ranger, and we will do our best to be accommodating within the limits of the geography of the park. The Education Room and toilets are wheelchair accessible, as are many of the paths. Alternative routes avoiding steps and steep sections are usually possible.
Can children come?
The event is not advertised as being for children. However, children aged 12 upwards who are interested in photography are welcome, at the same rate as adults, provided they are supervised by a responsible adult.
Do we have to stick together or can I stop to photograph something?
It would be best if we can more or less stick together. That way, it's easier to give advice to people, make sure everyone is safe, and to make sure people see things which are suitable for photographing. However, if something interests you and you want to stop, please say so. The main thing is to make sure people know where the rest of the group is, and not to wander off too far.
This will be an evening and a day event, (you can attend either or both) aimed to give a complete photography experience for the beginner or intermediate digital photographer, perhaps those new to digital photography or wanting help with the use of computers for storage and backup of photographs. The event will start on Thursday evening in the Smillie Centre, behind Cumbrae's Card and Gift Shop, Millport, Great Cumbrae, include a Photography Walk on Friday and finish with using the computers in the Internet cafe of the Smillie Centre on Friday afternoon.
The number of people will be limited to 12. Booking essential; cost payable in advance to book a place. Contact Cumbrae's Card and Gift Shop to book - 01475 530031, or email to cumbraecards@theseaside.co.uk. Cost of course £25, including tea/coffee and biscuits, plus about £5-6 for lunch on Friday (optional). If coming from the mainland, or not wishing to participate in the introduction on Thursday evening, the cost of Friday's walk will be £15.
Thursday, 7.30pm - 9.30pm
Friday, 10am
10.30 - Break for coffee/tea (included in price) and toilet / getting on outdoor clothes.
10.45am - Photography Walk around Millport, at a leisurely pace, stopping to photograph suggested themes, but also whatever you want at the time. Advice and encouragement as needed on the walk.
12.45 - Arrive back at Smillie Centre for lunch / toilet break. You can either bring a packed lunch, or opt for the sandwich catering arrangement at an additional cost when you book (see below).
1.30 - Second part of Photography Walk
3.00pm - More tea and coffee
3.15 - Two sessions running at same time, then swapping around, to ease pressure on computers:
5.30 - Course finishes
To let you know what to expect, here is a link to pictures and a description of the first photography walk which took place on Sunday 22 October 2006 at the Falls of Clyde SWT Reserve.
Here is a link to pictures and a description of the second photography walk which took place on Sunday 22 April 2007.
It is possible to arrange walks for small groups of people, with time for personal photographic tuition, at times and places to be arranged. A worthwhile minimum would be 6 people, and a suggested maximum of 10, so that more or less personal tuition is available. If you know of a group who might be interested, feel free to email with a suggestion, or to ask for a suggested location. Anywhere within easy reach of Glasgow is simple enough to arrange. Further away might take longer to organise. Rates by negotiation, but reasonable!
I am also offering tuition in Photoshop and the use of computers to store and manage digital picture files, in one of two ways:
Another possibility for a small group session is how to make a digital slide show, using PicturesToExe, Photoshop Elements or PowerPoint and comparing the use of these three programs.