Digital Photography

Why Digital?

I've been interested in photography from childhood and have owned a succession of cameras comprising of 35mm compacts and SLRs, but it wasn't until going digital that I progressed significantly in my knowledge and ability.

For me, going digital made total sense. You get to see your images straight away and give them critical consideration as soon as you transfer them to your computer; plus all the exposure and other settings are recorded in the EXIF data with the image file, so you can easily see which settings achieve what results. Also, once you've bought your camera and its data card, you can take as many photos as you wish for free - and with the internet, you can do far more with the images in digital format too!

Of course, there are arguments in favour of the characteristics of traditional film in certain professional applications, but for most, professional or otherwise, the practical convenience and versatility of digital photography is unequivocal.

As digital photography has developed (along with computers and the internet), and better cameras have become less expensive, photography has become accessible to more people and is now more popular than ever!

Photography Tuition

I give one to one tuition in all aspects of digital photography ranging from basic point and shoot composition, transferring files to your computer and sending to your friends, through to more advanced photography and editing.

Whatever your experience, I prioritise your potential creativity and helping you to become a better photographer; I don't dwell on technicalities that won't help your photos.

Topics covered include the following:-

Photographic genres of interest to me include landscape, architecture, macro, abstract, still life, and basic portraiture. I do not cover studio work however.

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Photographer Service

I offer on-site photography, mainly but not exclusively, to supplement my web design services. I am an experienced photographer capable of creating well composed, good quality images. I use a Nikon D80 to create RAW files and then optimise the final images using Photo-Brush. Images files can be supplied as JPEG, PNG or other file formats.

If you wish to commission a series of photographs (in Greater Manchester or Cheshire) for your business, to sell a property, or for any other reason excluding weddings and events, simply contact me.

Photo Editing and Enhancement Service

If you have photos that you wish to use in advertising media, I can optimise and prepare them for your requirements.

Photo before editing

For example, you may have a photograph of your business premises that you wish to use on your website. Besides optimising colour, contrast, resizing and sharpening, such a photograph will benefit from barrel distortion and perspective correction - so your building doesn't look as though its eaten all the pies and is falling over backwards!

Photo before editing

The above/ left photo is a quite extreme example of what can happen when photographing a building from street level with the camera tilted upwards to get all the building in the frame. Often, obstructions can prevent a photographer getting a clear shot from a better angle in order to reduce the converging lines, so we have to pragmatically work with what we can get. A decade or so ago, the only way to photograph a tall building from below and negate the converging lines was to use an expensive "shift lens", but now we have the benefit of digital editing.

The edited photo on the right now has vertical buildings; better colouring, contrast and sharpness; it has also lost the ugly road signs and other distracting attributes.

If you wish to discuss my photo editing and enhancement services, or enquire about lessons in image editing, please contact me.

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Digital Photography Enthusiast

You can visit the online photography club that I co-own and run: Digital Photography Enthusiast.

DPE started as a Yahoo group founded by Dylan Howell in 2003. I joined in August 2004, and in January 2005 added the group website to extend display capability and functionality. DPE now has approximately 400 members from the UK and around the world.

Pricing/ Costs

Tuition appointments - 2 hours

My call out charge is £50 to £80 (depending on your location) and includes up to two hours of my time.

Tuition appointments - 3 hours

My call out charge is £70 to £100 (depending on your location) and includes up to two hours of my time.

Payment - appointments and on-site services

I collect payment in cash on conclusion of each appointment and forward a receipted invoice by email on my return. Other forms of payment, such as BACS, or cheque, are available by arrangement.

Remote editing services - costs and payment

If I am to edit your photo remotely having first estimated the time to complete the task, I will require full payment in advance.

No VAT to pay

Because I work from home, I have low overheads and do not need to be VAT registered.

Discuss your requirements

Feel free to contact me to discuss your requirements and arrange an appointment.

Where?

I am based in Irlam and cover most areas of Greater Manchester and Cheshire including Cadishead, Eccles, Worsley, Monton, Swinton, Pendlebury, Prestwich, Salford, Trafford, Urmston, Flixton, Carrington, Stretford, Sale, Altrincham, Wythenshaw, Cheadle, Stockport, Hale, Lymm, Culcheth, Warrington, St Helens, Wigan, Skelmersdale, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, and Oldham.

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