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Grays of Westminster present
by Public Demand

The 15th Annual
Heather Angel Wildlife & Natural History
Nikon Photographic Workshop

With Nikon & Thinktank

Heather Angel, the internationally renowned wildlife photographer, has been the recipient of a large number of awards and prizes from all over the world for her widely acclaimed lectures, writing and workshops. In addition she is a regular contributor to the worldwide photographic press and the distinguished author of 60 books. Heather Angel is an enthusiastic tutor of wildlife and nature photography, and these world-famous workshops on Saturday 23rd July, 2011 at Saint Hill Manor have become part of the photographic calendar. They are perfect for both the newcomer and experienced photographer alike. The schedule for the day includes lectures, demonstrations and the chance to handle and use a large range of new Nikon camera equipment and the range of Think Tank camera bags. Her workshops regularly attract visitors from all over the U.K., Europe and throughout the world.

Please note that Nikon cameras and lenses will be available for you to try out during the day, but do bring your own gear – macro lens, long lens, flash and tripod – to get the best from the practical sessions

09.15 Registration with coffee and tea served on the terrace of the Manor.

10.00 – 11.15 Heather Angel Creative Digital Outdoor Photography

Using images from the natural world Heather will show how Nikon digital cameras have enabled her to get some shots, which would have been impossible with film. She will show comparative shots taken with available light and after modifying it to enhance the subject, which will be relevant to the afternoon session. Heather will also show how enhanced depth of field is possible with 3-D macro shots by using focus stacking. Multiple exposure digital images created in-camera are possible to achieve on only some Nikon cameras; however, it is also possible to produce multi-exposure images from any camera by shooting individual shots and combining them using a software program.

Copies of Heather’s books will be available this weekend.

11.15 Break for mid-morning refreshment: tea, coffee, mineral water on the Terrace.

11.45 – 12.45 Nikon Total Imaging System – John Clements

Regardless of your choice of Nikon camera, you need to know how to achieve the best from it using Nikon optics, plus Nikon Speedlights and software; so the NTIS will be fully explained. In a live shoot environment, using Speedlight illumination inside, John Clements will demonstrate how to create images to using the Creative Lighting System and in camera options to cover various genres of natural history photography, explaining every step of the way from taking the initial image to the end result. As our example images are shot, they will appear on screen. John will then talk through as he fine-tunes and improves upon them in camera. Each vital camera feature – from focusing and exposure with many other considerations – will be detailed and exact settings explained during the shoot.

Maximising the Jpeg?

Jpegs – working within a limited time frame, Jpegs allow a speedy way to go straight to print when all aspects come together.

Maximising your image quality?

NEF Raw files – using Nikon Capture NX2 and John’s broad experience of post-capture techniques to generate imagery to professional imaging standards.

During the event John will use the Nikon WT-4 Wi-Fi system, the Creative Lighting System and components of the Nikon software system.

John Clements is a professional photographer specialising in digital photography, as well as consultant and trainer for a number of photographic companies, such as Nikon UK. He has written extensively for leading photography magazines and currently writes on a monthly basis for the BJP (British Journal of Photography), Practical Photography and PC Pro.

13.00 Lunch

14.00 onwards there will be a choice of four sessions. You may attend them all or be selective. Please note that Giles’ Photoshop session will be aimed at different levels as the afternoon progresses. The sessions are outlined here with details of each below.

14.00 – 16.15 Practical Macro session with Heather Angel inside and in the garden
14.00 – 16.15 Outside Practical session with John Clements
14.00 – 16.30 Photoshop Techniques with Giles Angel
Outside Practical session with the Birds of Prey and Flying Falcons and Julian Ford – time to be announced

14.00 – 16.15 Practical Macro session with Heather Angel inside and in the garden

An opportunity to get to grips with macro photography in the field. Heather will demonstrate how to use natural light and especially how to modify it to get the best possible light by reducing the dynamic range. This is done by modifying natural light with a reflector, a diffuser (or both) or by using a portable soft box. If you have a macro lens, do bring your own. This is a great opportunity for you to gain instant feedback on composition and lighting from Heather. If the weather is wet, we will works indoors with a still life session using window light, flash, a light box, a light tent and fibre optics.

PLEASE BRING A MACRO LENS, TRIPOD AND FLASH

A few Micro Nikkor lenses will be available to borrow from the Nikon stand. Indeed, these workshops are an excellent opportunity to handle and try out Nikon equipment before making a purchase.

14.00 – 16.15 Outside Practical session with John Clements

Following on from his morning presentation, John with continue to explain how to get the best out of the Nikon Total Imaging System; this time — weather permitting — using available light outdoors.

Outside Practical session with Flying Falcons and Julian Ford – time to be announced

By popular request, the birds of prey are back – ideal subjects to achieve stunning action images – both as stills and HD video with the latest DSLR Nikon cameras!

14.00 – 16.30 Photoshop Techniques with Giles Angel

Giles is a professional photographer and digital retoucher. The start of this session will be pitched at the beginner and will move onto more advanced and specific techniques as the afternoon progresses.

• Introduction to a colour managed workflow
• Editing your images using Adobe Bridge
• Workflow in Bridge (editing, renaming, applying raw corrections)
• RAW v JPEG
• RAW conversion tips & techniques
• Simple colour correction / variations
• Introduction to adjustment layers
• Levels – adjusting colour balance
• Preparing images for print and the web
• Precise colour correction with adjustment layers
• Replace colour
• Black and white from colour
• Masking
• Solarisation / colour effects
• Content aware scaling
• Panoramic stitching and panoramic head gear. Photo Merge (to create panoramics) in CS3/ CS4
• Dodging and burning selective areas (CS4 comparison)
• Shadow and highlights tool
• Combining different raw conversion exposures using masks
• Editing masks using paint brushes and gradients to make selective exposure and tonal adjustments
• Working with mask and adjustment levels with reference to levels and curves
• Selectively correcting areas using masks
• Pseudo HDR. Working with multiple adjusted raw files (Single) image and using masks to selectively
• Introduction to HDR

16.15 Afternoon Tea and Coffee or cool drinks served on the Terrace.

16.45 Practical Session with Heather Angel

Heather will demonstrate various gadgets for aiding outdoor photography and demonstrate how she works in the rain.

17.00 Workshop closes

18.30 Dinner at the Manor. A special thank you dinner to all those attending our workshop has been organised by Grays of Westminster and the staff of Saint Hill Manor. This must be arranged in advance.

Booking details:

The ticket price includes refreshments, lunch and the evening meal, and costs £245.00 (£185.00 for Nikon Owner magazine subscribers) per person for the day. The workshops start at 9.15 a.m. and run until 5.00 p.m., followed by dinner. Book online here! or call Gillian Greenwood, Events and Training Coordinator between 2.00 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. on 020 7828 4925 or 020 7828 8971 Monday to Friday if you are not a current Nikon Owner subscriber to find out how you can receive the £60 discount.

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