TUES 29th APRIL – Tues JUNE 3rd 6.30pm – 9.30pm
WANT TO LEARN HOW TO TAKE GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS USING FILM?
8 PLACES
Film is back!
The popularity of film continues to rise, perhaps as something of an antidote to the instant, fragile nature of digital photography. I click to create it, one click to delete it. But film is different. It requires patience, a different approach, and negatives can last for decades.
It also requires a new set of skills to learn the craft of photography. And it’s stiill important to know how to see and compose an image. Just because a picture is made on film it doesn’t mean you can forget about the content.
This fun and inspiring course will not only teach you about the personality of film, and how to use your camera to get a perfect exposure, it will also give you the foundations as to what makes a successful photograph, skills which you can use whichever device you use.
And a bit about your teacher…Although Not Quite Light is mostly photographed on a DSLR, for over 15 years I worked for national and international magazines such as Elle, GQ, Der Spiegel and the Saturday Telegraph Magazine, using film to fulfil my commissions, whether that be a celebrity portrait or a documentary photostory. My vast archive of negatives and transparencies is testament to the this experience. I had to carry a library of knowledge about which film did what, so I could choose the right roll for the job, and I got to know all the various qualities across each different brand.
WEEK ONE – We start with the basics, and explore the lighting techniques and compositions of the masters of painting and photography. This will give you an understanding of what makes a successful painting or photograph, and provide valuable insights you can use in your own work. Learn from the best! Then we will explore composition. How do we fill the frame, how do we decide what to include and exclude, and do we understand the rhythms and patterns of succesful composition?
We’ll take what we’ve learned about how we see pattern and shape, and apply it to how we see through the viewfinder of the camera.
WEEK TWO – In this lesson we’ll learn something of the craft of film photography. We’ll explore hw to make a correct exposure using aperture ( f stops ), shutter speeds and ISO. In addition we’ll examine the varying qualities of different films, and how various light sources affect the result. With this knowledge we can begin to understand the creative choices we can make.
WEEK THREE – To get used to working with our cameras and film we’ll make some portraits in and out of the studio. This will help us with understanding light and working quickly with our cameras.
WEEK FOUR & FIVE – Now we’ll take to the streets, using the skills we’ve learned, and apply them to capturing the world around us. It’s time to observe and translate what our eyes and hearts see into an exposure on a frame of film. A theme will also bbe set to encourage you to continue taking photographs in between course dates. We’ll get the film processed at a local Manchester lab.
WEEK SIX – It’s time review the work we’ve made, and to look at basic digitising techniques for sharing your pictures on social media.
Course fee includes 3X 36exp rolls of colour film & processing with medium res scans.
Prints can be ordered at students own expense.
PREVIOUS STUDENTS SAY…
Charlotte, music producer – “Simon is incredibly relaxed and approachable, with no pretension. He explained technical concepts in an accessible way and made sure every
question was answered.”
Sally G, mental health worker – “The NQL Night School has been a game-changer. Simon’s patient
guidance has helped me not only understand the fundamentals of photography but also feel empowered to make artistic choices rather than relying on happy accidents. It’s given me a sense of purpose and mindfulness during a tough time.”
Sophie H, architect – “Spending Monday evenings at the Not Quite Light studio has been an absolute delight. Simon has a wonderful way of breaking down the complexities of camera functionality and composition into concepts that are easy to understand and apply. His passion for photography made the course really engaging and the balance between theory and hands-on practice was perfect. Each session was really varied and delivered in a relaxed style of learning – a particular highlight was experimenting with long exposures and ‘painting with light’ on a photo walk. The relaxed and supportive learning environment made it a wonderful way to start the week, and I now feel more confident and purposeful in my photography.”
BOOK NOW
This course is likely to be popular, so book early.
GIFT VOUCHERS