Iceland & The Northern lights with Dublin Photography School

Iceland and The Northern lights

Dublin Photography School: Photography Holidays For All Levels From Beginners To Advanced

Dublin Photography School are happy to have teamed up again in 2015 with Travel Department who are one of Europe’s leading escorted holiday companies, to bring you many fantastic and once in a lifetime photographic holiday opportunities. Load up your photography kit bag with your DSLR camera and camera accessories, pack your warm clothing and good walking shoes and join us and other photographers on our Iceland guided location photography holidays. for details of our next trip in 2015 see here.

Heres a quick overview of the the trip to Iceland We took in October 2014.

The guys from the Iceland Tour in 2014 strutting there stuff

Earlier this year we teamed up with Travel Department to bring you the first of our photography holidays abroad. On October 23rd a group of eager photographers boarded a 7.20am flight and were Iceland bound. Iceland is known as the ‘Land and Fire and Ice’ making it a perfect destination for a photography break. Once the wheels of the plane safely touched down on the runway, this mesmerizing country with spectacular photographic opportunities was waiting to be explored. Before all the ‘hard work’ began an early morning pit stop was made at the Blue Lagoon for a rejuvenating dip.

The Gulfoss Falls is our first photography stop

Gulfoss falls from another angle

Spouting Geyser at Huakadalur Valley, Iceland, part of the golden circle of Iceland

Spouting Geyser at Huakadalur Valley, Iceland, part of the golden circle of Iceland

The next four days were filled with photographing some of the most breathtaking sights this planet has to offer. From the natural wonder of Reynisfar, the volcanic black sandy beach to photographing behind the falls and listening to the mighty roar of the Seljalandsfoss waterfall. At night we travelled away from the glow of Reykjavik city in search of the Aurora Borealis. By day we explored the Golden Circle, passed through picturesque villages and countryside and were blown away ‘literally’ in the valley of Haukadalur by the spouting geothermal geysers.

Skogafoss Waterfall, Iceland

Reynisfjar, black sandy beach in the village of Vik, Iceland

Reynisfjar beach, Iceland

All these images are taken on the actual tour. for more information about Dublin Photography School and the hands on tuition, you will receive on this holiday see here, for booking information and itinerary see Travel Department here.

Travel Photography Course Dublin

Travel photography course dublin

Travel Photography Course in Dublin.

Dublin Photography School are hoping to announce a new Travel Photography Course in the last week of September, this course will take place in Dublin and will be aimed at all users and levels.

The Travel Photography Workshop is looking like it will take place in a one day format and will be run on Saturdays throughout the year.

Although the course has not been finalized here is a sneak peak at what we are hoping to include:

The course will take place from 10am – 4pm and will be split into three sections

Section one: Trip Preparation

This section will include things like planning your trip, making shot lists, what gear to bring, what lenses to pack, air travel considerations, luggage weight etc,

Section two: How and when to shoot

This section of the travel Photography Course deals with things like shutter priority, aperture priority, P mode, and how to shoot, how to compose travel shots, what to look for, how to photograph street portraits, reportage, documentary, setting a theme, shooting landmarks, getting off the beaten track and how to really get away from cliché shots and give your images more of a travel feel than a tourist feel. This section will make up the bulk of the day and will really show you how to get so much more from your images while travelling.

Section Three: Post Trip

Now that you have just had the trip of a life time are you just going to leave your images sitting on a hard drive, we will show you some great ideas for things like photo books, coffee table books, montages, collages and really bring your images out on display

Please note that the travel photography workshop has not been finalized and will be announced in the last week in September, when it is finalized you can book the Travel Photography course in Dublin here.

Thanks for taking the time to have a read, any suggestions or comments please feel free to add them below, it’s always great to have feedback.

A little about Dublin Photography School: Dublin photography school are one of Ireland’s leading photography course providers, we run photography courses and workshops all over Dublin and Ireland. Our trainers are all professional photographers and more importantly “trainers” we pride ourselves on our teaching abilities, we can cater for all levels, beginners, novice,  improver, intermediate and advanced. We are specialists in teaching Basic and introduction to DSLR photography and currently work with Travel Department in providing photography holidays in Ireland and Abroad. See more about us here.

photography courses dublin

More Travel Photography Tips

More Travel Photography Tips

See Dublin Photography School For More Information On Taking A Travel Photography Course In Dublin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Air Travel Considerations

 

 

 

 

 

 

When traveling by air, please remember that this can have massive implications on the amount of gear that you can carry, first off if your carrying your photography gear in your carry-on luggage , some airport security may ask you to power it on to prove that it’s not been tampered with or that you have taken no images of the security point, so make sure your batteries are charged. Two if you are putting your camera in your check in luggage, please be aware that most airlines will not accept any responsibility for damage during transit. Also if your cases go missing, you are only insured for a certain amount, so make sure your gear is within the limit.

 

2. Set a Theme

 

 

 

 

 

 

Setting a theme for your travels has two fantastic benefits, first is that after your done getting the safe shots you wanted to allows you to see new shots and keeps you inspired to keep shooting and the second benefit is that, it will look fantastic if you compile a photo book of your travels when you’re at home.

 

3. Shoot the signs

 

 

 

 

 

 

With all the hussle and bustle of being in a new country, with the sights, sounds and smells, it’s easy to forget where you took a particular shoot. This comes in very handy for websites like flickr and 500px when tagging your images. It will also help you if you return back to the area in future.

 

4. Bracketing

 

 

 

 

 

 

When away on holidays, make sure you get the shot you want by bracketing your shots, this means that your camera will take several exposures of the same image, turn on AEB (auto exposure bracketing) to make sure you get the shot right and that you are not disappointed later.

 

5. Get up high

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get off the tourist trail and get high to get the best possible vantage point, this can be a balcony in a church, a rooftop restaurant, top of a landmark, the options are there if you look for them.

 

6. Shoot in shutter priority mode

 

 

 

 

 

 

When going walkabout in a city, make sure your shooting in TV, S, SP mode and try set your shutter speed to about 1/640 this will insure that you will be able to freeze about 95% of your shots, and catch them sharp.

 

7. Saving your battery

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s only when we are using our cameras all day that we realise, how short the battery life can seem sometimes, so here are a few tips to help you extend your battery life, 1. Don’t review your screen to often only when you need to, turn off automatic flash, turn your focus mode to one shot when not shooting movement, don’t turn off your camera, put it into sleep mode where possible, as constantly powering on and off the camera can require a lot of energy depending on the model. Think about turning off your VR/IS/OS when not needed (marginal savings)

 

8. Hotel room window

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your hotel window is a great opportunity to do overnight timelapses and night cityscapes, just make sure the lights are off in the room so there are no reflections in the window.

 

Travel Photography Courses Dublin & Ireland

Why not check out the upcoming Travel Photography Course that will be taking place in Dublin Photography School Later this year, to help you capture and record the trips of a lifetime. For all and any photography courses in Dublin and Ireland ….have a look here.

ND grad filters explained – How to use ND grad filters

one of the most important aspects of landscape photography is keeping as many details as possible within the sky. Often in my classes , I am asked a reoccuring question by my students, “when I take a picture of a lovely sunset, my camera dosen’t seem to record the clouds, why does this happen”? Most cameras have a very limited dynamic range, this means how much detail they can record from the darkest part, to the brightest part of a scene. A normal scene can have up to 20 stops of dynamic range. Most cameras will and can only record around 8-10 stops of detail. This means that anything that does not fit into this range will be represented as a ‘blown out highlight or a clipped shadow’. To answer this dilemma and improve the range of details recorded in each image, it’s very simple.When out and about shooting, all you need is a Neutral Density G radiated Filter or an ND Grad Filter.

 

So What Is An ND Grad Filter?

 

An ND Grad Filter is used to compress the dynamic range of a scene. The top half is dark , and the bottom half is clear, with the dark half slowly blending (gradiating) into the clear area. This will darken down the sky part of your scene keeping your cloud and sky details from blowing out. The results can give you fantastic colours and depth to your image.

 

Are All ND Grad Filters The Same?

 

Not at all. They come in all shapes and sizes, as well as part of different filter kits. They can also come in a variety of different densities (how dark they are), with a range of different blends (how fast they transition from dark to clear). The quality of the filter can differ massiviely depending on the brand or system that you purchase.

 

Can You Recommend A Good Filter For A Beginner?

 

If you are not using very expensive and high end lenses, for example, Canon L Series or Nikon Gold Rings, then I would recommend the ‘Cokin System’. The Cokin System comes in three parts, the ring, the holder and the filter itself. The entire set will set you back in or around €50. The set is ideal for beginners, or for casual landscape photographers. However if you are using expensive glass then you might want to consider upgrading to the Lee System. This system can cost you up to €300, depending on the option you go for.

 

Parts of ND Grad Filter

Have A Look at the image below that was part of Snapshot online magazine free from Dublin photography school, that will show you the anatomy of a ND grad filter. you can also download the entire magazine here for free:)

Have a in depth look at the anatomy of a ND Grad filter see the full article at http://www.dublin-photography-school.com/DPS_Snapshot_Magazine_-_free_online_irish_photography_magazine_.html

 

If used correctly, the ND Grad Filter is one of the most useful and versatile filters you will ever use. If you are serious about your landscape photography then they are an absolute must. Some of the most stunning and creative images are created with using these filters. Learning to use them is one of the key steps to becoming a good landscape photographer.

If you interested in learning to use these filters on a hands on trip as well as a ton more about landscape photography in Ireland then why not join us on our Kilfane glen and waterfall landscape photography excursion. here you will learn all the hands on practical techniques to get the most out of your filters and when, how, and where to use them.

 

For information on all our “photography courses dublin” then have a look here.

looking to sit a photography course in dublin or ireland then visit http://www.dublinphotographyschool.ie

 

Photography Holidays Ireland – Copper Coast Tour

Waterford’s stunning Copper Coast – A Photographers Playground!ImageJust east of Dungarvin, lies one of the most spectacular coastline in Ireland known as the Copper Coast. It comprises some 20 miles of stunning coastline, and it will give you a fantastic opportunity to photograph scenes consisting of sandy beaches and coves which are enclosed by rocky headlands. The combining of oceans, volcanoes, deserts and ice sheets has created these rocks. The coastal stretch passes through five small villages and will offer you, cliffs, panoramic views, woodlands and clear waters and copper sands. Continuing along the coast road, we will eventually reach the bustling coastal town of Tramore. We will escort you on this two night photography tour which will offer many unique

via Photography Holidays Ireland – Cooper Coast Tour.

Gift ideas for the photographers in your life this Christmas.

Gift ideas for the photographers in your life this Christmas.

As a photographer I have many friends that are photographers and many with a interest in photography, so every Xmas I get a couple of requests from my photographer friends significant others about gift ideas for Christmas.  And it’s always the same couple of questions, so here we go:

Question: They have a basic camera and are looking for something bigger what’s the next step?

Answer:  If they are using a compact or a bridge camera (see here for an explanation) I always recommend a Introduction level DSLR and depending on budget the 4 cameras i recommend are the Canon 1100D or Canon 700D, or the Nikon D3100, D5100. They are very easily to pick up around Dublin in the various camera shops, i.e. John Gunns on Wexford St, Camera Exchange or the Camera Centre on Grafton St.

Question: They have a lot of Equipment and a really good camera I’m not sure what to get them?

Answer:  I always recommend a new lens, what is the best way to find out what lens they need, simply to ask them out straight or buy them a gift voucher. But brace yourself a lot of new photographers and non photographers are shocked to learn that most lenses cost more than a DSLR. My normally recommendation for a newbie photographer is 1.8 50mm and it won’t break the bank. But photographers tend to be choosey about their equipment so a photography gift certificate is recommended.

Question: they love photography, but are learning out of a book and the going is slow?

A photography voucher from the Dublin Photography School can make an ideal Christmas or Birthday gift for the photographer in your life.

Answer:  well I always recommend a photography course gift

voucher for  *Ahem* The Dublin Photography School, they have a gift voucher for all levels of photographers in Dublin, From gift vouchers for beginner photographers to more advanced courses, and specialist photography courses.

For information on how to pick up a Dublin photography school photography course gift voucher for use in Dublin and for photographic tours around Ireland see here.

 

Join us on facebook and twitter to ask advice on gift ideas for photographers in your life.

Question: they have years of experience, great gear and all the ideas so what now?

use this graph to figure out what would be the best photography course for the photographer in your life

Answer:  have a look a booking them a great trip with traveldepartment.ie photography holiday. A holiday geared towards photographers of all levels that will bring them to great locations around Europe.

 

 

 

 

What Camera Should I Bring On Holidays?

1  x  Canon DSLR, 1 x 35mm Nikon F100, 1x Fuji GSW 690ii 6×9 Camera, 1x 18-200mm, 1 X 50mm, 1 X 10-20mm and a dozen films in various formats…….”YOU CAN BRING ONE CAMERA STEW” thats what i was told by my ever patient girlfriend who decided for me that i needed a suit case full of clothes rather than a suitcase full of cameras……

This happens to every avid photographer at some point or another; we are forced to ask the question, what camera do I bring on my trip? I get it every April, in my classes as people start booking and planning their trips for the summer.

So here we go; a very simple introduction to the different types of cameras and the pros and cons of bringing them on holidays.

 

This happens to every avid photographer at some point or another; we are forced to ask the question, what camera do I bring on my trip?

 

Cameras generally break down into 4 categories

Compact Cameras

Camera Phones

Bridge cameras

DSLR Cameras

Although there are a lot of cameras that don’t fit snugly into any of these ranges, most cameras are closer to one than the other. So let’s see what they have to offer:

Compact Cameras: these are your bog standard cameras, every family has one, and they come with a ton of options and can range in price from €70-€500. They are often referred to as point and click cameras and do exactly what they say on the tin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pros:

Lightweight and compact,

Can be carried in any handbag, belt holder etc

Simple to use

Price

Cons:

Limited zoom range,

Image Quality can be an issue

Poor in lowlight

May not have manual controls

 

Camera Phones:  there has been a huge amount of hype as of late about camera phones and how they are going to replace the DSLR and professional photographers as a whole, while camera phones are fantastic and have opened up a whole new genre of photography they still have some serious issues that most people are surprised to learn about. I would not recommend you ever depend on your phone as your first option as a holiday camera, or the memories of your trip of a life time may never amount to more than that.

 

I would not recommend you ever depend on your phone as your first option as a holiday camera, or the memories of your trip of a life time may never amount to more than that.

Would be my last option

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pros

Very Compact and Handy

Almost always on hand

Direct Upload to online storage (face book, Flickr, Twitter etc)

In Camera Editing,

Cons

Image Quality looks great on screen but tends to print poorly

Small screen sizes make it difficult to assess sharpness

Small sensor sizes make image quality a serious issue

Flash tends to be very weak

Very limited controls

Very limited low light sensitivity

In camera editing can be extremely destructive

Although there are a lot of specialist lens suppliers teaming up with phone makers, most camera lenses are plastic and not great for images.

 

Bridge cameras: think of your compact camera on steroids, these can include super zooms, and mirrorless systems (open to debate) they tend to be very clunky looking compact cameras and advertise themselves of having the power of a DSLR, however, the truth for most of these models is that they are closer to a compact than they are to an DSLR,  don’t  not get me wrong, some of these cameras pack a serious bang for their buck, and range in price from about €180 – €350.

think of a compact camera on steriods

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pros:

Great features

Manual Controls

Great auto options

Aimed at an intermediate amateur photography

Good zoom ranges

Good image quality

 Price

 

Cons:

Larger than a compact and can be heavy

Shutter lag still an issue (delay between pushing the shutter and image being captured)

Lot of features in a small space, can be difficult to use (poor ergonomics)

Noise can issue in lowlight

 

Digital SLR: we have all seen these in the shops and at weddings often referred to by the layman as a “professional camera” these are the pinnacle of prosumer technology and offer a range of features, accessories and attachments to allow you to photograph almost any situation. These cameras start at about €350 – €megabucks

these Prosumer cameras have everything except the kitchen sink

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pros

Multiple lenses

Can be used in almost any situation

Direct Upload to online storage (face book, Flickr, Twitter etc)

In Camera Editing,

Great in low light

Buckets of features

Long battery Life

Large Screens

Image stabilization technology on some lenses

This list is nearly endless

Cons

Large and Bulky

Lenses Can Be long and heavy

May require additional attachments to get full range of functionality

Expensive

Requires additional training to use

Can be uncomfortable to carry around

 

As always you need to consider a couple of factors when buying any camera:

What best suits your skill level?

Budget?

Types of shots needed? I.e. safari, street, landscapes.

Will I need it again after my dream holiday etc?

Will I be traveling a lot, hiking, inter-railing – back packing?