David Mansell

This friendly and informal course is suitable for ambitious beginners. It's curriculum will help you explore the creative potential of your camera and to develop an understanding of how to see the world with a 'photographer's eye'. The course places digital photography within the more universal context of the medium's tradition by teaching the creative possibilities of lens and shutter control  common to all types of camera as well as the technical aspects (white balance, DNG & RAW,  files, sensor crop-factor etc.) that are particular to digital cameras.The emphasis is very much on learning by experience - You will be expected to take lots of pictures and engage in briefs that explore aperture, shutter, lighting, composition, portraiture and, above all else, creative thinking. Briefs will conclude with informal group critiques where you will be given feedback on your work.There is tuition on using Adobe's Bridge and RAW editor software as well as an introduction to some of the core editing techniques in Adobe Photoshop.This course aim's to broaden your critical thinking about photography and there will be a small research project  designed to increase your appreciation of the mediums history and how it can inform and inspire your own work. You will be required to bring your own digital camera along to the course.

David Mansell graduated with a degree in Graphic Design from St Martins School of Art, and he has taught photography to students of all ages and at all levels, whilst pursuing his career as an awarding winning freelance editorial photographer working mainly for The Observer and The Guardian newspapers.