On a beautiful day in September, Sarah Lister, career coach, adventurer and blogger, joined us for one of our very popular Let’s Go Peak District Photography Tuition Days, on this occasion led by professional photographer and tutor Guy Badham.
Here, Sarah relives the high points of her day (to be fair, she didn’t tell us about low points!) and reviews the most important lessons learned from the day…
The Let’s Go Peak District Photography Tuition Day with Guy Badham was a really enjoyable and valuable experience. It helped me to think about the stories that I want to create through my photography and to feel more confident with my camera.
It was great to be out there in the Peak District landscape while learning, so that we could put things into practice straight away and receive 1-1 tuition. Guy made the day truly special by sharing his impressive knowledge about the areas we visited, giving us supportive feedback, and answering all of our questions.
Our small group was friendly and fun which helped to make me feel relaxed and comfortable throughout the day.
Important notes
You don’t need to have a fancy camera or to call yourself a photographer to attend this event. All you need is a phone or camera to take photos, and an open mind to trying out new techniques throughout the day.
There’s not a lot of walking involved and transport is provided from the start location.
It doesn’t need to be a sunny day, the tutor can guide you to take photos in all sorts of lighting and weather conditions.
If you have any camera equipment that’s been collecting dust and cobwebs, take it with you as it will be a great chance to learn how to use it. You’re not expected to carry all of your gear around with you, you can leave it in the tutor’s vehicle when it’s not in use.
This is a day to have fun, learn and experiment, so it’s open to people at different levels.
5 Key Learnings
I learnt so much and it has really stuck with me because we practiced it on the day. Here are 5 key things that I would like to share. These are simple, but total game changers!
Holding the camera in a way that is comfortable and reduces shaking. I kept falling back into old habits, but Guy kept reminding me and I’m still practising this now.
Leaving my camera switched on while I walk – which to my surprise actually saves the battery rather than turning it off after each shot. It also means that my reaction times can be quicker when I see a kestrel or hare for example.
Using the zoom to change perspective so that my pictures look closer to what I saw through my human eyes. Guy demonstrated this through a really fun exercise where we took photos of our group standing in a line using three different zoom lengths.
Thinking about the light and composition before taking photos, which not only improved my photos but also helped me to connect with my surroundings.
Framing images with natural formations such as trees, rocks and curves so that there’s not large blank white spaces on a cloudy day for example. Guy encouraged us to look up and down, and to move ourselves and the camera to frame the picture well.
Exploring Different Locations
Ashford-in-the-Water is such a beautiful place to start the day. There is a café and public toilet available, as well as good parking facilities. We met next to the medieval Sheepwash Bridge, where Guy welcomed us and asked us what we each wanted to get from the day. He showed us a few things to try out, and then we put it into practice over at the bridge.
Guy then took us for a lovely drive over to Monsal Head, where he showed us some amazing views. One was of a lonely tree where he taught us how to change the angle of a photo taken across sloping land. Then he showed us the view over the viaduct where we tried out different compositions.
While we drove out to Baslow Edge, Guy shared his knowledge about the history of the areas we passed and pointed out some other good locations. He also told us about how he got into photography when his parents bought their first camera.
At Baslow Edge, Guy encouraged me to use my 10-20mm wide lens which had been collecting dust for quite some time. With his 1-1 tuition, I was amazed at the results! We found a lovely spot for lunch on some rocks, which we’d each packed to take with us.
Our next stop was Bretton, where we practiced a few different things. The sun was really bright so I took the opportunity to learn how to use my lens filters. Guy showed me how to attach them onto the lens and encouraged me to take some photos of the paragliders overhead. I have since used the filters for sunset photography at home.
Finally, we travelled over to Longstone Edge to take in the breathtaking views! Here we spotted a kestrel and tried out some new skills which was a very exciting end to a fantastic day. It was great to be there with a wildlife photographer guiding us through.
After the event
Following the Let’s Go Peak District Photography Tuition Day, Guy sent me a document with a summary of his photography tips and some images of me in action with my camera. I think this is a really nice touch, and I know that he would be happy to help me with any questions that I have.
It’s such a memorable day, and wonderful to share the experience with others.
Want to try for yourself?
You can find out more about our Let’s Go Peak District Photography Tuition Days here. A full day of photography tuition in the fabulous Peak District countryside, the training is carried out in very small groups led by experienced, professional photographers.
Suitable for all levels of experience and for any type of equipment, you’ll learn how to get the most out of your camera and become more proficient at capturing beautiful memories for yourself.
We have two remaining tuition days in 2021: on 21 October and 23 October. Click HERE to book. More dates will be released soon for 2022.
Our thanks to Sarah for sharing her experience with us. We’re so glad you enjoyed your day!
