Fellow Photographers,

A slightly shorter than normal newsletter this week. In last week’s “Deal of the Day” – I mentioned I was giving away a voucher worth £15 to the person who posted the most interesting photography goals for 2015. I had a few interesting responses to this via Facebook so I’m keeping this open till Sunday when I will pick the best photographic goal(s) and award the £15 voucher. To help you, read the blog post one of the key things about goal setting is about making them measurable – and I will be keeping that in mind when I pick the winner.

In the past week I have booked two models for forthcoming events. Louise (aka Silky) will be the model for our Boudoir Workshop, and KarenR will becoming to the studio to be our Friday the Thirteenth victim.

The main event I want to highlight this week is the forthcoming “Introduction to DSLR Photography Course” which starts on Sunday. I you know anyone who has had a camera for Christmas and needs to learn how to use it – please let them know details of it.

In the “From the Blog” section of the newsletter – this weeks YouTube video is my review of 2014 in 100 photographs.

Just a quick note about my POTDs (Photos of the Day) this year – every day I will be posting a photograph that was taken on that date but from a different year. Today’s photograph is from January 5th 2009… exactly six years ago today.

So for all this and more…. please read on…..

Forthcoming Events

Sunday, 11 January 2015 – Introduction to DSLR Photography Course

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Location: Ian’s Studio
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Price: £149

This course will give all the basics to go out and start creating great images. The course is 7 sessions long and will be running weekly on Sunday Evenings 7pm – 9.30pm. starting Sunday 11th January.

This is what previous attendees have said about the course:

“We’re delighted that we chose to attend the introduction to digital photography course. We’re now far more confident with the DLSR camera, and understand what we are doing. Ian’s course is wonderfully clear and structured, supported by ample notes and exercises, and delivered in a thoroughly professional, yet touchingly patient and warm way. The ‘critique’ section at the start of each workshop was especially helpful for learning and the manual provided is absolutely excellent. It’s a pleasure to learn from such a skilled and knowledgeable practitioner as Ian.” Sophie Brown & Adrian West, March 2011 “Super course ” -AB

“It was FAB – thank you very much!!” – HH

“Ian is really really good and combines a ‘simple’ powerpoint presentation with comprehensive notes and so forth for your retention and even sets practical and creative tasks and runs critiques etc. This has benefited me already ! I wish I’d been on something like that when I was at college (!)” – DG

The course content will include the following:

Composition, seeing and finding great photos.
Camera settings – understand what your camera can do
Getting the camera off auto: understanding F-Stops, shutter speeds, focal lengths and ISO
White balance – what is it and when to change it
Flash photography. Creative ways to use your flash gun to enhance your photos
Controlling the light – reflectors, difusers and filters.
RAW and JPG – what’s the difference? Why shoot RAW? How to process it
Downloading, processing and editing.
Photography in difficult conditions: at night, in the heat of the day, in the rain.
Photo critiques – learning how to assess your photos and teaching yourself to improve.

The course is aimed at beginners and those who wish to consolidate their photographic knowledge. As with any course the time spent on any given subject will be tailored to reflect the current knowledge and experience of those attending. Printed course materials (over 100 pages of notes) will be provided to all attendees. Throughout the course there will be opportunities should you wish to have your photographs assessed to help you improve.

The total cost of the course is £149. A minimum deposit of £40 is required to reserve you place on the course.

Please note: The course is designed for users of DSLR cameras. If you have a “compact” camera or a “bridge” camera please contact me to discuss its suitability for this course.

Please book via my website: http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/events/introduction-to-dslr-photography-course-6/

Saturday, 17 January 2015 – Boudoir Workshop

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Location: Ian’s Studio
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Price: £69

A boudoir is a French word referring to a woman’s private dressing room or bathing room. It would usually be adjacent to her bedroom. The room may also be used a drawing room or room in which the woman could meet with her romantic partner.

Some of these concepts have carried forward in to boudoir as a style of photography. Common themes in boudoir photography in bedrooms, dressing rooms, dressing tables and places where the where the female subject can be found relaxing or preparing herself of a romantic encounter.

In this workshop we will look at a number of different techniques for creating Boudoir style images. The workshop will look at different lighting techniques and the use of different props and a few cheats for creating a boudoir set

The model for this event will be Louise http://purpleport.com/portfolio/silkythighslou/?referrer=ianbutty – Lou will be working to topless/implied nude for this workshop.

Printed notes and lunch will be provided.

Price: £69

Please book via my website: http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/events/boudoir-workshop-3/

Friday, 13 February 2015 – Friday the Thirteenth – Part 2 – Fear Factor!

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Location: Ian’s Studio
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Price: £29

Anther in our horror movie themed shoots. This time we will be concentrating on the emotions connected with such movies. From the fear of the victims to the mad delight of perpetrators. We will be photographing screams, tears and maniacal laughter. Add to all of this the odd splattering of (fake) blood and you will have a photography night to remember.

Our model for this event will be Karen R (See: http://purpleport.com/portfolio/karenr/?referrer=ianbutty ) but there is also the chance that the studio’s very own mad axe man may make a re-appearance too… you have been warned.

Price: £29

Please book via my website: http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/events/friday-the-thirteenth-part-2-fear-factor/

From the Blog…

[Video Extra] 2014 – A review in 100 photos

Welcome to 2015! Time for a look back at 2014…. as seen in 100 photos. Images from studio, travel, theatre, and a few home snaps shots thrown in for good measure. This was 2014. I hope you have a fantastic 2015!

For the best way to view the video – please click the full screen icon and veiw in HD.

What do you think about this video? Did you find it helpful? Please comment here on my blog page; or comment on the video page on YouTube and let me know your thoughts.

Photo of the Day

POTD (6 years ago today) Sat, 5 Jan 2009: Winter sunset at Etherow Country Park.

Winter sunset at Etherow Country Park. Etherow Country Park, Stockport, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom.

Six years ago today….

I am not someone who regularly photographs in the snow. But with snow on the ground I thought I’d take a trip to Etherow country park to see what I could capture. I’m quite pleased with the results and this sunset is my POTD for 5 January 2009.

You can see some more images from the same visit to the park in this blog post: http://www.ians-studio.co.uk/2009/01/etherow-in-the-snow/

And there are a few more in my general Stockport photo gallery: http://photos.imb.biz/travel/uk/stockport

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a source of free photographs.
This photograph is (c) Ian M Butterfield. All rights are reserved. No use Is permitted (including non-commercial use) without prior permission. If you wish to use any of my photographs please ask first.

Image Reference: FB0105A-E00015

Stock Sales

For those who are interested in Stock Photography here’s some information about some of the strange and not so strange sales that I have made.

SALE 12 Aug 2014: Sign Post “To the Edge”

Sign Post “To the Edge”

NUMBER OF SALES TO DATE: 1
SOLD VIA: Alamy
LICENCE: Rights Managed

In 2006 Photographers Direct posted a request for an image of the Wizard’s Well on Alderley Edge. I went down there to get an image of it with the hope it might sell. The well is so baddly erroded that any photo I took of it was unrecognisable. I did think the day was a waste of time. However eight years later a different image – this sign post – did sell via Alamy. Not a big sale but at least it covered my petrol for that day back in 2006.

12 Aug 2014
Country: Worldwide
Usage: Non-Editorial Electronic and web uses, Use in presentations, worldwide for 5 years.
Media: Electronic presentation, single design
Start: 12 August 2014
End: 12 August 2019

Alamy link: http://www.alamy.com/image-details-popup.asp?Imageid={9E0FD98F-B768-4E4F-A1FA-A4001538A87A}

Image Reference: EY0301A-D00899