The most expensive photography workshop in the world?

Ladies and Gentlemen, grab a seat (you’ll need one) whilst I give you details of a day-long photography tutorial with overnight accommodation in a swanky London hotel, that’s just dropped into my inbox. The idea is learn how to get the most out of your dSLR by shooting for a day in London with a tutor before a spot of editing, making your shots into a slideshow, and finally collapsing into a luxury bed at London’s Intercontinental Hotel on Park Lane.

You’ve a choice of four different sessions with your pro-tog tutor: old and new; a pro-studio fasion shoot; wildlife in Richmond Park (where I believe that there are deer); or plantlife in Petersham Nurseries, which are also in the Richmond area.

If you were worried that you might pass out from low blood-sugar, fear not because there’s a working lunch included to sustain you.

All this can be yours for a starting price of £939, plus VAT.

Really.

I mean, I know that it’s the Intercontinental Hotel and everything, but I checked out the prices and there are rooms available from about £200. And if lunch comes from Eat, I shall not be impressed. Also: what’s the plan for getting people to Petersham Nurseries, because it’s easiest by train and bus. You do not want to pay £939 (plus VAT) and then have to wait for the 65 outside Richmond station.

Seriously, you can buy yourself an entirely competent dSLR, a shiny 50mm lens, a small library’s-worth of books, and a long weekend at the coast for that price. If this one is all about the experience, then it needs to be revelatory.

If of course you do have money to burn and would like to check it out, head over to EYE Photographic.

Today, I'm only shooting feet

We love a bit of street photography here at Small Aperture, and we’re always looking for new ways to tempt newbies to have a go at it or give old hands some ideas for their next outing pounding the streets. When Thomas Leuthard, a photographer based in Switzerland, dropped a couple of suggestions in my inbox, I asked him if he wouldn’t mind expanding on them a bit. So, here’s one of his suggestions, and I have to say, I love it. Thomas, over to you…

Today, I’m only going to shoot feet…

When you’re shooting on the street, it’s far too easy for your eye to get distracted. Therefore, it’s a good idea to have a small concept to concentrate on whilst out with your camera. Beginner or not, it helps to have a plan; something to hold on and to follow to. I like the concept of just shooting feet. The reason for that is very simple: feet are always out there and people wear different shoes.

In addition to saying that you’ll shoot only feet, it can help to set yourself some more boundaries. Try picking a few (or even all) from this list:

• Detail only
• Camera on the floor
• From the back while standing
• Same focal length
• Same aperture (a small one)
• Landscape format
• In colour
• A series of 10 photos
• All in 60 minutes

I like time limitations as I find that I normally work better under pressure. It means that I know that I have to hurry up and can’t just hang around with my camera looking down at ladies’ legs. I have a mission and have to fulfil it in the time provided. (How very James Bond!)

If you target your focus, you’ll be astonished by how much you can accomplish. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or an old hand, try to focus on one thing. It can be a colour, body part, accessories, or whatever you fancy, really. It is all about focussing on the essential and not getting overwhelmed by the rest of the street.

Anyway: back to our feet that we’re shooting. If you want to get a good and easy shot on a pair of shoes, try a bus stop, a pedestrian crossing, or anywhere else where people have to stand still for a moment. This is your moment and you have to be quick. Set your camera to aperture priority and try f/4. If you’re shooting with your camera on the floor, flick on autofocus. You’ll look like an idiot with your head down there, peering through the viewfinder. You might need to practise, but that’s half the fun, no?

Sure, you’re going to have to be brave, but if anyone asks, tell her or him that you study photography and that today’s topic is feet. They will think you are crazy and walk away. It’s true, people often don’t understand what I do and why I do it, but I often find that showing them some photos helps to explain it. They soon realise how beautiful street photography can be.

It’s all a question of good ideas, interesting angles, and composition. A good street photo doesn’t need to show faces. Feet are perfect, and the chances are you won’t have any legal issues, publishing someone’s feet.

Now, go forth and have fun, and try not to walk into lamp posts or anything whilst you’re looking down!

This article was guest written by Thomas Leuthard, and all of the images are his. You can see more of his street photography on his website: 85mm.

Colour filters on a keyring

Colour filters: love them. The crinkled mess they always seem to end up in, no matter how carefully I store them: not so much.

If only someone would find an easy-to-store, easy-to-use solution for creased and wrinkled gels. ‘But Daniela,’ goes an email that has just dropped into my inbox, ‘we have!’

Those clever people over at Photojojo have put eight colour filters onto a keyring. So you get the entire spectrum, plus a double helping of green, in one easy-to-use place. Not only will they stay wherever you attach them, being on a keyring and all, but because they’re made from acrylic they won’t crumple either. Huzzah!

Now you can turn your whole world sky-blue-pink with a filter or eight over your lens, or just bits of your world lime-green-orange by using a handy-dandy elastic band to secure a filter over your flash. Not keen on lime-green-orange? Try imperial-purple-yellow with scarlet spots instead.

Available from Photojojo for US$15.