Peak District Photography Courses for Beginners

If you want to learn how to get beyond the “point and shoot” phase with your digital camera, but are confused by its complexity, join us on one of these digital photography courses for beginners in the beautiful Derbyshire Peak District.

Digital photography courses in the Derbyshire Peak District. Photo © Chris James

Over the winter months, we are running our beginners level courses at Tansley, near Matlock. Please click here for further details.

To ensure plenty of individual attention from the tutor, as well as to ensure adequate social distancing, this beginners’ course is limited to just 5 places, which cost £99.00 per person.

We will visit two different locations during the day (both of which are only a short and easy walk from where we will park our cars), and the course will continue until shortly after sunset.

This course is not just for owners of digital slrs – it is suitable for any digital camera provided it can be used in other than “all-auto” or “scene” modes – whether it is a compact, bridge, mirrorless or dslr – on this one day workshop you will learn solid, practical photographic techniques that will be relevant not only to your current camera, but also any other type of camera you may own in the future. Tripods will be available to borrow if you don’t already have one.

“I really enjoyed the course on Saturday.  I learnt a lot and it was fun!  You had such enthusiasm, both for the location and photography in general.  I was impressed that you made the teaching relevant to each of our camera models rather than more general.  I have been telling my friends all about how good it was….”

On this course, you will learn how to take control of your camera’s basic settings for exposure using shutter speeds, lens apertures and ISO, and adjust colour and focus to ensure you get more consistent and predictable results more of the time. You will also be given a printed sheet for your particular make and model of camera, telling you in plain English exactly how to adjust the most important settings that we will be learning to use on the day. 

Please contact us if you would like a booking form for this course.

The course is taking place in and around Lathkill Dale, which is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Peak District, and a National Nature Reserve

Weir in Lathkill Dale. Photo © Jacqui DixThe first part of the day will be spent in the lower part of the Dale, where there are numerous weirs for practising photographing water. If you’ve ever wondered how photographers get that lovely silky effect with moving water, this course will show you how!

We will have a break for lunch at a local pub (not included in the course price, and coronavirus restrictions permitting) or else you can bring a packed lunch if you prefer. This will also give us the opportunity to check the morning’s results on the laptop that we will be providing.

Then, we will go to a second location, which will be chosen depending on the light and weather conditions on the day, as well as the preferences of those attending the course. There are several great locations in the local area, including the “best preserved 19th century lead mine in Britain”. 

Peak District photography workshops. Photo © Chris James

This is a very photogenic subject, set high on the limestone plateau over 1000ft above sea level. It looks especially dramatic in late afternoon light, and at sunset. As the sun will set at about 7.30pm, we will be able to take full advantage of the light before, during and after sunset. The course will finish at 8.00pm.

There are only 5 places available on this course – please contact us if you would like a booking form to reserve your place.

We also run  beginners’ and intermediate level landscape photography courses in other local areas. See here for details of all our other digital photography courses near Sheffield and in the Peak District.