It’s never easy to find the perfect Christmas present, but it’s a good time to take advantage of the many special offers in the shops and upgrade your digital camera or computer or buy a new gadget or gizmo. In case you need a little inspiration here are a few ideas:-

If you’d like some help and advice on choosing a new camera, laptop or accessory or a gift certificate please feel free to contact me by email or phone.

Autumn is probably the best season for anyone keen on  photography. It’s a  wonderful time to capture landscape and nature images in vibrant colour.  Despite the rain we are all accustomed to; the occasional sunny spell with blue  skies and billowing clouds makes an ideal backdrop for the changing autumn hues of red and gold.  Autumn is the perfect time to improve your photography skills so why not sign up for a photo day out and learn how to get the most out of your  camera.

Here are a few tips to help you get started and capture the autumn colour:-
 

• Keep a close watch on the changing colours to choose the best time. 
• Be prepared to get out at short notice to take advantage of the best weather before the wind and rain destroys the seasonal splendour.
• Change your viewpoint; try shooting from a low angle to capture the autumn colour of fallen leaves as foreground interest or shoot from up high.
• Colour is sometimes limited to smaller areas so make the most of the richest colour you can find by zooming in to create impact.
• Use a polarising filter to boost vibrancy and get dark blue skies.  
• Make use of reflections in still water to double the impact of colour.  
• Use a tripod and a long exposure to achieve a soft blur and emphasise the motion of the water.
• Use the light to your best advantage by shooting from different angles and perspectives until you find the best.  
• Don’t be afraid to improve composition by removing distractions such as stray twigs or by adding extra leaves to boost impact.
• Get in really close to capture detail and water droplets by using Macro. 
• Have a great day out and get lots of image to turn into inexpensive Christmas gifts.

If you’d like to learn more about using your camera to capture landscape and nature why not sign up for an autumn workshop or a photo shoot day out this autumn and get hands on practical tuition?  

September is traditionally a time of new beginnings and with the start of a new academic year people turn their attention to hobbies and interests to occupy the longer evenings. Autumn is a great time to learn new skills or improve existing  ones so why not join a small local class and get to grips with your computer or digital camera in time for Christmas?

Whether we like it or not, computers are now a part of our increasingly busy lives helping us to stay in touch with family & friends and get the best deals when we want to splash the cash on something new.  Increasingly people are choosing the convenience of faster, light weight modern notebook PC’s that can be used round the home, stored away in a cupboard when not needed or taken with you when you are away.

Whether we like it or not, computers are now a part of our increasingly busy lives helping us to stay in touch with family & friends and get the best deals when we want to splash the cash on something new.  Increasingly people are choosing the convenience of faster, light weight modern notebook PC’s that can be used around the home, stored away in a cupboard when not needed or taken with you when you are away. 
 
Today Windows 7 makes it easier than ever to get started with computing and before you know it, with a little help and guidance, you will have your own email address and be sending and receiving emails, surfing the web and taking advantage of all the great features a modern PC has to offer like built in web cameras to help you keep in touch. Prices start from just £300, of course you can spend a lot more on a feature packed powerful Notebook, extra software, product cover and support but the chances are you won’t need or want many of the extra features you are actually paying for so beware of hidden extras.  
 
If you are thinking of buying a new PC there is a vast choice. Do you want a Windows 7 PC or are you a drawn to the style of the more expensive Apple Mac but really don’t know which to choose? Would a tablet PC or Netbook do everything you want? Are you confused by the sales jargon and features available?   Would you like free impartial advice to help you buy the right PC for your needs? If so call me at Inspirations Training. I can accompany you or buy a laptop for you if you prefer and will setup your new computer and show you how to start using it from just £40. Help and advice on getting online for the first time is also available.

Would you like to learn how to use your computer, research the best deals or your family history online or just learn more about using all those new features?  I am hoping to run a weekly course this autumn for anyone who would like to become more confident in using their PC.   Classes will last 2 ½ hrs with a maximum of 5 people at  special offer price of £75 for 5 sessions including refreshments.  We will cover all the essential skills, and more,   including how to use email; make video calls and free phone calls using  Skype; surf the internet and keep your PC up to date and safe. I already have  few people interested so give me a call to find out more if you would like to join us.

Don’t forget September is also a good time to get out and about with your camera and this year is no exception with the welcome arrival of some long overdue sunny weather, just in time for the children to return to school! 

For those of you lucky enough to be able to take advantage of it charge your camera batteries and get out and about taking some photos. It’s the ideal time to visit all those popular locations loved by holiday makers that are usually just too busy in the summer months; quaint picturesque fishing villages; beaches; local attractions and so on. This Indian summer weather provides a good quality of light but remember the best time for photography is always the golden hours, before and  after sunrise or sunset.

August saw some much welcome sunshine and a little less rain finally making it possible for keen photographers to get out and take some photos of the things they love, be it family or friends, celebrations, holidays, wildlife, nature or just great  scenic shots.  A lucky few may even have some great Olympic shots. 

So having managed to get some great shots, that you are hopefully proud of, the next challenge is what are you going to do with your new photos? Anyone who owns a digital camera has usually worked out how to download them on to their computer, even if they are not entirely sure how this actually happens or exactly where they get stored afterwards!  

But the next step is not always as clear.   

• How do you organise your photos? Modern computers offer a range of options for organising and sorting your photos so take charge and choose a method that suits you and stick to it.
• How do you make the  most of your photos?  

Well the simple is answer is that you need to complete a digital workflow, using image editing software. This involves a few simple steps to process your images ready for printing and sharing. When we owned film cameras we were used to getting our films 'processed’ and receiving printed images back unaware of the
work that went on behind the scenes. But with advance of digital cameras we have forgotten this vitally important step and assume images will be perfect straight from the camera. Digital Camera’s are less tolerant of challenging light conditions and a little adjustment to exposure, white balance or colour can make a big improvement.  

Many new cameras have settings and  features that enable basic in-camera processing and for the casual social photographer this may be all that is required to produce acceptable images.  But  you will  always get superior results if you learn to take charge yourself.

I am often asked why printed images never look as good as the ones you pay for.  Once again this is often due to a lack of knowledge of how to set up and select  the correct printer options or simply the result of poor quality paper & ink  or the limited capabilities of an out dated printer. 

But the biggest problem facing your photos is the risk of being trapped on your computer, unused and forgotten. Remember photos should be seen. So print and share your favourite shots; turn them in to framed pictures; cards; calendars or what about a stunning photo book to be proudly displayed on your coffee table?  

If this all sounds a bit too difficult why not sign up for some local training and discover what you can do with your photos.  Learn how to organise, find and process your images. Get simple tips to print stunning  photos at home and find  out how to turn your photos  into works of art.   
 
If you love the web find out how to back up and share your photos online or for the ultimate showcase discover how to create slide shows and DVD’s with music and special effects to share with family and friends.

Following the wettest July on record everyone is hoping for some holiday sun. So whether you have chosen to travel to warmer climates or will be holidaying in the UK here are a few ideas and tips to help you take the right camera with you and have a hassle free time.  

When travelling it makes sense to pack essentials items and with reduced luggage
allowances choosing which gadgets to take with you is more important than ever.  Whether it’s a relaxing holiday or the trip of a lifetime you will want to take  photographs to remind you of the best bits.

The latest smart phones often come with excellent cameras offering a range of settings and options to rival many compact cameras.  They also allow you to take advantage of free Wi-Fi to keep in touch with friends and family whilst travelling and avoid expensive international roaming charges.

If you are taking an SLR camera on holiday make sure it fits into a compact bag, this is essential if you are flying as it will also need to fit in your hand luggage. Start by choosing the right lens, what you intend to photograph will influence your choice, but a wide angel and a decent telephoto lens between 200-300mm will cover most subjects.  An increasingly popular choice for travel photography is a super zoom, this offers the best of both worlds by combining the versatility of  a wide angle with a decent zoom capability allowing you to get in closer, a third party lens such as the Tamron AF 18-270mm is more affordable and a can be a good investment if you travel a lot.

Another option is to upgrade an older compact camera for one that offers 14 to 30 x zoom, canon and Panasonic have an excellent range of high zoom cameras.  If you don’t mind spending more why not consider the increasingly popular travellers choice – a compact system camera with inter-changeable lens.  Smaller and lighter than a traditional SLR with many of the features, but not always a view finder, for the price of an entry level SLR these are available from Panasonic, Olympus and Nikon.  
 
Whichever type of camera you choose remember to pack extra storage cards; a spare battery & the charger; a polarising filter if your camera takes one and your lens hood to help combat reflection & glare.  Remember, it is safer to use several smaller memory cards than one super capacity card. If you only take one card and it is lost or stolen you will also lose all your photos.  Change your card regularly and keep used cards in a separate location to your camera! Don’t forget to check that your camera kit is fully insured before you go and make a record of the serial numbers for your kit if you haven’t already done so.   

A Net book can be an excellent travel accessory. You can download, review and  email your photos and even phone home for free using Wi-Fi. Now relatively inexpensive at about £200, they are light weight, have lots of storage space and a proper key board making them far better value than any tablet PC with its limited use and storage.  Check out Asus, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba and HP.    
  
Finally remember cameras & gadgets are highly desirable to street thieves, so take care of your camera or someone else will get to enjoy your holiday snaps at your expense.

As the nights draw out the first signs of spring arrive.  Crisp days with clear blue skies filled with billowing white clouds, colourful sun sets and the changing scenery as the landscape is softened by the early spring flowers.  
 
Take a walk in the surrounding Yealmpton woods and you will be greeted with an abundance of snow drops this year. Primroses are beginning to bloom and before you know it the daffodils will soon be cheering us all up.   Local National Trust gardens such as Cothele and Lanhydrock will soon be over flowing with daffodils so why not pay a visit this March and take a stroll round the gardens with your camera.

Spring is the perfect time to perfect your camera skills and learn how to get the most from your camera,   whether it is a fairly new acquisition or one you have had for a while.  Learning more about how to use it will ensure you capture some stunning spring photos.

For spring colour you need to get up close and personal with the flora and fauna. Many cameras have multi-angle LCD screens making it easier than ever to get the perfect view.  Plants close to the ground look best when shot from the side, rather than from above with you standing over them. So take something to kneel on and get down to plant level to take your shot.  Check out the Macro settings on your camera to get super close-ups of snow drops and other plants.  When shooting close up a steady hand is essential so consider investing in a mini tripod or a bean bag for less than£10 to ensure you get really steady shots.

Early spring is a busy time at the bird table, so don’t forget to keep the all day buffet topped up!   You will be rewarded with an abundance of visitors to your table as they prepare for spring and the young  they hope to rear.   To get  the most from your bird table make sure it is sited close a tree or hedge so the birds feel safe and most importantly so you have a clear view from a window. With a few preparations you can then photograph the visiting birds, and squirrels, and stay warm.   

When shooting through glass always remember to clean it inside and out. A compact zoom or SLR camera with a zoom lens is the best choice but if the bird table is close enough you can still get great shots with a compact camera.  If you can shoot in Program mode and select an ISO of 200-400 as this will speed up the exposure and enable you to get clearer shots. Choose single point or small area focusing and focus on the eye or head of the bird.  To get the best shots use a tripod and leave your camera set up ready to go when you have lots of visitors.

If you would like to practice your camera skills and discover how to get better photos why not join a local spring photo shoot to capture spring colour or wildlife and get expert hands on advice on how to get shots that wow.