colinmunrophotography.com/blog

Digital photography for beginners

colinmunro — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:13:52 +0000

I am now running Digital Photography for Beginners classes. These are intensive, 2 hour courses designed to teach novice photographers the basics of photography and how to get the best out of your digital SLR, compact system or compact camera.
These sessions will be run in Exeter and throughout Devon. They can be run in my office in Exeter or I can come to you.

To book a session or to get more information please email me or call me: tel 07926 478199.

latin girl against a whitewashed wall

Dates and timing is flexible to suit you.
These are one-to-one training sessions, or sessions for small groups. I run these when people contact me, at dates and times mutually convenient. They can be run in my office or I can come to you.

What will you get out of this 2 hour session?
Two hours is normally enough time to cover all the basics and get you up and running, comfortable operating all the main controls on your camera and confident switching on to manual mode and taking control of the look of your pictures rather than leaving in auto and letting the camera decide what they will look like. Crucially, you’ll come away with enough understanding that, when you take a picture that doesn’t work (and we all do that) you’ll be able to look at it and work out why it didn’t work and what you need to change to correct it.

After two hours most people stop taking in new information. This is the point to stop, go away and practice. You may decide you would like an additional hour or two to learn new techniques or go over a particular area again or in more depth, but you decide when you are ready for this.

Learn faster and more effectively
With a short, intensive one-to-one course you will learn much faster than in a large group, teaching will be geared to your pace and your particular level of knowledge of cameras.

Competitively priced.
A 2 hour session with me will generally work out much cheaper than attending a formal structured course.

Who is the Class for?
I’ve designed this for people relatively new to photography and those who have maybe being taking pictures for a while but would like a better understanding of the principles of digital camera operation. Maybe you’ve recently bought, or been given a nice shiny new camera with a bewildering array of dials, buttons and menus. This class will take you back to basic principles, help you understand what controls you actually need and what they do. Alternatively you may just be thinking about buying a camera but are not quite sure what you need. If you are slightly hazy about the difference between a compact and an SLR; the relationship between focal length and DOF; or between ISO, shutter speed and aperture (or if indeed you have no idea what I’m on about) then this class is for you.

What will I cover in these two hours?
Good question! When running such classes I make no assumptions about student’s prior knowledge or understanding as I tend to find that even if someone has been taking pictures for quite a while they can be a little hazy or simply have forgotten some basic principles.

I will explain the basics of how any camera (film or digital) works, followed by a brief overview of the main types of camera you may come across.

We’ll then talk a bit about the key parts of your DSLR (or compact digital): the lens, diaphram, shutter and sensor, what each does.

We’ll cover the principles of taking a correctly exposed and focussed picture.

We’ll cover shooting in JPEG and RAW formats, advantages and disadvantages of each.

We’ll cover Depth of Field and Motion Blur, what they are, how we control them and the effects they produce.
We’ll cover getting your images off your camera and making them useable.

But I don’t have a Digital camera yet
You don’t need a camera for the class (but by all means bring yours if you wish). If you haven’t got your camera yet, or maybe not 100% sure you want one, then I will have a camera with me that you will be able to play around with.

To book a session or to get more information please email me or call me tel 07926478199.

Dahlia Anemone close up print for sale

colinmunro — Wed, 09 May 2012 23:04:50 +0000

Close up of the oral disc of a Dahlia anemone

I’m making available some of my favourite images as prints. This image, Dahlia Anemone Oral disc was taken in Heybrooke Bay, a little rocky inlet within Plymouth Sound, South Devon. It was shot on film and then scanned at very high resolution. A limited number of these will be produced; each print will be produced to order, to your individual specifications.

Prints up to 10″x15″ (25x38cm) size are produced on Fuji Crystal Archive DP Professional Paper using the latest Fuji Frontier Digital Photographic processing. This system produces rich, vibrant colours and has an archival life of up to 35 years, making ideal for producing long lasting prints. They are available in Pearl or Gloss finish.

8″x12″ (20x30cm) prints are available for only £20 per print.
10″x15″ (25x38cm) prints are available for only £30 per print.

If you are interested in purchasing one or more prints please call or email me stating the finish (pearl or gloss) and the size required. Currently I am happy to accept PayPal, bank transfer or cash on collection.
Please add £2.50 for postage and packaging to mainland UK, worldwide postage on request.

Larger prints, up to 62 inches (1075cm) across are available.
These can be printed on photo gloss or pearl paper, fine art rag paper or on canvas.
Block mounts and backlit
Again the prints can be supplied in block mounts or as a print for backlighting.
How to buy. If you are interested in any of the above options please email or call me, 07926 478 199, to discuss options and prices.
You can search my blog for prints for sale by typing ‘Prints for sale’ in the seach box at the top, or simply by clicking this link.
You can see more of my images for sale by going to www.colinmunrophotography.com. More of my prints can also be bought on Photoshelter and RedBubble.
I am also undertaking commissioned work. So if you have a particular scene or location you would like a dramatic image created from then give me a call.
Colin

Photoshop courses in Exeter and Devon

colinmunro — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:08:48 +0000

Enfield Bullet at Sunset

Photoshop courses in Exeter and throughout Devon
I am now running on demand one-to-one and small group training in Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements in Exeter and throughout Devon and Southwest England.
FIND OUT MORE
If you’d like more information either email me or telephone me: 07926 478 199.

Having had a growing number of requests for one-to-one training sessions (or for small groups) in photo editing and the use of Photoshop and Photoshop Elements I’ve decided to concentrate on tailored, on-demand training. This has proved a highly effective way of learning for most people. These are crash courses in Adobe Photoshop designed around your specific requirements. This is a very cost-effective way to learn, and can be worked around your availability.

A problem with formal, structured courses is that everyone has different levels of photo editing experience, digital photographic theory and general IT literacy.

Headshot, shot into the sun, creating a hazy look, straight from the camera.

Editing images in Photoshop is often more about adding ‘punch to an image, subtle changes to make the subject stand out.

Headshot, shot into the sun, after edit.

Equally, photo-editing is a very broad subject; different people are interested in learning different techniques or understanding different processes. Someone who has been taking and editing pictures for several years is not really going to want to spend money on having the differences between pixel dimensions and document size explained to them, equally the guy who has just got his first computer and simply wants to learn how to get the images off his camera and looking their best when viewed on his pc probably does want this explained to him in language that he can relate to. This is also the most cost effective method; sessions are very competatively priced as we are all having to tighten our budgets given the current economic climate and, with individually taylored instruction, you can learn as many useful skills in a couple of hours as you will in a full day on structured courses. The training can be run here in Exeter, or if you prefer I can travel to you, I can cover most places in Devon (and thoughout the Southwest), further afield by arrangement. As these tend to be short training sessions, typically over 2-4 hours, I can normally fit them in at fairly short notice to suit your avaiability. So why learn from me? Well because I have been using Photoshop (in its various versions) for over ten years and other photo-editing packages for longer. Image editing is a large part of my work, this is a tool of my trade I use on almost a daily basis. One to one or small group traing is a very cost effective way of learning as progress is normally much faster than in larger groups. Thus you are only paying for the time when you are actually learning.

FIND OUT MORE
If you’d like more information either email me or telephone me: 07926 478 199.

Head and shoulders shot of Spanish or Italian looking girl with a white rose in her hair, looking backwards over her shoulder, against a whitewashed wall.

I am also running intensive 2 hour beginners Digital Photography Courses on demand. See here for more details.

Great white shark prints for sale

colinmunro — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:04:44 +0000

Great white lunging

I’m making available some of my favourite images as prints. This image,a Great White Lunging, was taken off Guadalupe Island, a rocky outcrop about 90 miles off the Pacific coast of Mexico. It was shot on film and then scanned at very high resolution. A limited number of these will be produced; each print will be produced to order, to your individual specifications.

Prints up to 10?x15? (25x38cm) size are produced on Fuji Crystal Archive DP Professional Paper using the latest Fuji Frontier Digital Photographic processing. This system produces rich, vibrant colours and has an archival life of up to 35 years, making ideal for producing long lasting prints. They are available in Pearl or Gloss finish.

8?x12? (20x30cm) prints are available for only £20 per print.
10?x15? (25x38cm) prints are available for only £30 per print.

HOW TO BUY. If you are interested in any of the above options please email or call me, 07926 478 199, to discuss options and prices.
You can search my blog for prints for sale by typing ‘Prints for sale’ in the seach box at the top, or simply by clicking this link.
You can see more of my images for sale by going to www.colinmunrophotography.com. More of my prints can also be bought on Photoshelter and RedBubble.
I am also undertaking commissioned work. So if you have a particular scene or location you would like a dramatic image created from then give me a call.
Colin

Old wooden wreck trapped in ice covered mudflats prints for sale

colinmunro — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:48:47 +0000

Wooden wreck in ice covered mudflats

I’m making available some of my favourite images as prints. This image,of an old wooden wreck in ice-covered mudflats was taken one bitterly cold morning on the Exe Estuary, by the Turf Lock Hotel. Ice only rarely forms on the estuarine mudflats here. The dark, brooding clouds filling the sky added to the moody atmosphere. This picture was shot on film and then scanned at very high resolution. A limited number of these will be produced; each print will be produced to order, to your individual specifications.
Prints up to 10?x15? (25x38cm) size are produced on Fuji Crystal Archive DP Professional Paper using the latest Fuji Frontier Digital Photographic processing. This system produces rich, vibrant colours and has an archival life of up to 35 years, making ideal for producing long lasting prints. They are available in Pearl or Gloss finish.

8?x12? (20x30cm) prints are available for only £20 per print.
10?x15? (25x38cm) prints are available for only £30 per print.

Yachts and dark skies prints for sale

colinmunro — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:48:53 +0000

Yachts and dark clouds, Exeter Canal, Turf Locks.

I’m making available some of my favourite images as prints. This image,Yachts and Dark Clouds was taken by me on a cold winter’s afternoon in Devon. It shows yachts moored in the Exeter Canal basin by the Turf Locks, where the canal joins the Exe Estuary. It was shot on Fuji Sensia colour slide film and then scanned at very high resolution. A limited number of prints will be produced; each print will be produced to order, to your individual specifications.
Prints up to 10?x15? (25x38cm) size are produced on Fuji Crystal Archive DP Professional Paper using the latest Fuji Frontier Digital Photographic processing. This system produces rich, vibrant colours and has an archival life of up to 35 years, making ideal for producing long lasting prints. They are available in Pearl or Gloss finish.

8″x12″ (20x30cm) prints are available for only £20 per print.
10″x15″ (25x38cm) prints are available for only £30 per print.

If you are interested in purchasing one or more prints please call or email me stating the finish (pearl or gloss) and the size required. Currently I am happy to accept PayPal, bank transfer or cash on collection.

Please add £2.50 for postage and packaging to mainland UK, worldwide postage on request.

HOW TO BUY. If you are interested in any of the above options please email or call me, 07926 478 199, to discuss options and prices.
You can search my blog for prints for sale by typing ‘Prints for sale’ in the seach box at the top, or simply by clicking this link.
You can see more of my images for sale by going to www.colinmunrophotography.com. More of my prints can also be bought on Photoshelter and RedBubble.
I am also undertaking commissioned work. So if you have a particular scene or location you would like a dramatic image created from then give me a call.
Colin

Diver in sunburst print for sale

colinmunro — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:52:32 +0000

Diver in sunburst

I’m making available some of my favourite images as prints. This image,Diver swimming through sunburst was taken by me in the Mediterranean, off the Maltese island of Gozo. It was shot on film and then scanned at very high resolution. A limited number of these will be produced; each print will be produced to order, to your individual specifications.
Prints up to 10?x15? (25x38cm) size are produced on Fuji Crystal Archive DP Professional Paper using the latest Fuji Frontier Digital Photographic processing. This system produces rich, vibrant colours and has an archival life of up to 35 years, making ideal for producing long lasting prints. They are available in Pearl or Gloss finish.

8?x12? (20x30cm) prints are available for only £20 per print.
10?x15? (25x38cm) prints are available for only £30 per print.

If you are interested in purchasing one or more prints please call or email me stating the finish (pearl or gloss) and the size required. Currently I am happy to accept PayPal, bank transfer or cash on collection.
Please add £2.50 for postage and packaging to mainland UK, worldwide postage on request.

How to buy. If you are interested in any of the above options please email or call me, 07926 478 199, to discuss options and prices.

You can search my blog for prints for sale by typing ‘Prints for sale’ in the seach box at the top, or simply by clicking this link.
You can see more of my images for sale by going to www.colinmunrophotography.com. More of my prints can also be bought on Photoshelter and RedBubble.
I am also undertaking commissioned work. So if you have a particular scene or location you would like a dramatic image created from then give me a call.
Colin

Tompot Blenny Prints for Sale

colinmunro — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:49:32 +0000

Close up of a Tompot Blenny, Parablennius gattorugine, peering out of a rock crevice.

I’m making available prints of this Tompot Blenny image. This picture was taken by me in Plymouth Sound. It was shot on film and then scanned at very high resolution. A limited number of these will be produced; each print will be produced to order, to your individual specifications.

8″x12″ (20x30cm) prints are available for only £20 per print.
10″x15″ (25x38cm) prints are available for only £30 per print.
If you are interested in purchasing one or more prints please call or email me stating the finish (pearl or gloss) and the size required. Currently I am happy to accept PayPal, bank transfer or cash on collection.
Please add £2.50 for postage and packaging to mainland UK, worldwide postage on request.

If you are interested in any of the above options please email or call me, 07926 478 199, to discuss options and prices.

You can search my blog for prints for sale by typing Prints for sale in the seach box at the top, or simply by clicking this link.
You can see more of my images for sale by going to www.colinmunrophotography.com. More of my prints can also be bought on Photoshelter and RedBubble.
I am also undertaking commissioned work. So if you have a particular scene or location you would like a dramatic image created from then give me a call.
Colin

Royal Enfield Bullet Motorcycle Prints

colinmunro — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:05:43 +0000

Enfield Bullet 500cc at sunset.

I am making available prints of my Royal Enfield Bullet 500cc motorcycle. A limited number of these will be produced; each print will be produced to order.

Larger prints, up to 62 inches (1075cm) across are available.
These can be printed on photo gloss or pearl paper, fine art rag paper or on canvas.
Block mounts and backlit
Again the prints can be supplied in block mounts or as a print for backlighting.

If you are intersted in any of the above options please email or call me, 07926 478 199, to discuss options and prices.

I am also undertaking commissioned work. If you have a cherished bike or car and you would like a dramatic image created from your own vehicle then give me a call.
Colin

About Me

colinmunro — Sat, 05 May 2012 21:47:45 +0000

Feeling very motivated. Making coffee still in my sleeping bag, about and hour before dawn, Dartmoor, mid-winter.

I thought it about time I put a bit about me on my website, who I am, what I do, what I’ve done that’s fit to print and what motivates me…why I do it. So here goes.

My twin passions are the marine environment and photography. I’ve been a diver for a long time. I started out a thousand years or so back as an army diver in the British army, however after far too long grovelling around in freezing cold black water in the middle of the night I finally accepted that this wasn’t going to bring me the lifestyle that watching every episode of The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau had led me to expect. So at 19 I ended up in Africa, Mombasa to be precise, more by accident than design. I spent a couple of seasons there working on the wreck of the Santo Antonio de Tanna a 17th Century Portuguese shipwreck, then a short spell as a ship’s diver on an ocean going salvage tug, but what Kenya did mostly was rekindle my passion for wildlife and wild places.

I've always loved wild places. Spitzbergen, Svalbard. Wonder why I've a bad back now?

Returning to the UK and to university I eventually ended up with a masters degree – they were obviously keen to get rid of me – and so began a 20-odd year career participating in and running biological diving surveys. My photography career has grown in parallel to my marine biological work. Initially because pictures were required to illustrate reports and well…someone had to take them. My first camera was not a land camera but an underwater one, an ancient Nikonos III. Almost completely mechanical and fully manual, I spent many hours lost in concentration under an old wooden pier, gradually improving my skills through trial and error. Mostly error actually. The skills learned there did serve me well though. With no automation, no light meter and no automatic flash control you were forced to learn the fundamental laws of light and optics and the interaction with water. The turbid waters of the Clyde Estuary were not very forgiving, so one had to pay attention to these laws if you wanted to get any usable images at all out of a 36 exposure film roll.

Currently I am based in Exeter, south Devon, England, living on a rather old wooden trawler converted to sail (a ‘work in progress’). I split my time between photography, running workshops and lecturing and marine environmental survey. That is when not head down in the bilges of my boat cursing, effecting some repair, or escaping on to Dartmoor.

An old wooden boat is rather like the Forth Road Bridge. Painting and repairs never end.

Nowadays, where Photoshop is not just a software package but a verb, ‘he/she’s been Photoshopped‘, the concept that ‘the camera never lies‘ is one few of us still believe. But images are still powerful, and they still have the ability to change things. In a World now flooded with images it is unlikely a single image will ever have the same power to change the course of events as Nick Ut’s picture of Phan Thi Kim Phuc. Nevertheless we live in a image-based World and images can still change public perception and attitude to social and environmental issues in a way that dry, dusty reports never will. So for me taking pictures is, of course, about creating beautiful images, and it’s about the satisfaction of creating technically difficult or hard to get images; but the greatest satisfaction comes from creating images that inform or change peoples attitudes however slightly.
Back to my main website