The photography club is run by Mr Britton from 1.30pm - 2pm and is open to all students. You don't need your own camera, although you are welcome to bring one which can be locked away safely during the day, as we have some we can loan out.

We cover a range of topics and styles, including portrait, B&W, nature and wildlife and landscapes, which change each term. We try to make it a fun but informative atmosphere where students can learn and improve their photography skills. We have some very talented students who are producing amazing results.

Over the year we will cover:

• Basics: including aperture, depth of field, composition, shutter speeds and ISO.
• Nature & Wildlife: from flowers and trees to insects and animals
• Portraits: people and animals
• Black & White: contrast, shadows and texture
• Landscapes: interesting weather, shooting in low light and using filters

End of term competition

In the last term the students are allowed to choose a topic that interests them for our end of year competition. We ask them to write a short brief on what they want to do and why. They also have to write a few lines about any issues they faced or actions they took to get the final result. This is to allow us to see what they had learnt during their time in the club.
 

Workshops

Eco Animal Encounters

Previously, the photography club had a visit from Tom Charlton of Eco Animal Encounters. Tom is a herpetology expert and photographer and travels the world documenting snakes. He has worked with people such as Nigel Marven (Nigel Marven's 10 Deadliest on ITV) and his photographs have been used in many publications.

The students had the chance to photograph some animals up close and gain tips on how to get the best out of their shot. Tom brought in a scorpion, tarantula, tree frog, African bull frog and a spotted python. After creating some backgrounds for the animals to be photographed against Tom guided the students on the best way to frame the animals, get the best angle and create a natural looking picture.

The students produced some great images and we very much appreciated Tom's time and expertise. We hope to have another visit from Tom in the future.

          

 

Ian Wade

Ian Wade has joined the photography club several times over the last few years for talks on photography, including landscape and wildlife. Ian is a local photographer so it was interesting to see some photos taken around Bristol and it gave the students some insight into what could be achieved on their doorstep.

The students were full of questions throughout the talk and it was great to see them so engaged. Ian shared stories from his own personal experience (some funny ones) and showed what can be created with different equipment, including smart phones. He showed us some stunning pictures taken on his iPhone to prove you don't need expensive cameras. Ian also made the point that the most important thing in photography is to have fun!

At the end of the talks Ian spends time looking at the photographs students have taken, giving them feedback and advice. It's great to see how they have put the advice Ian gave them into practise by taking stunning pictures.

          

Camera Display

In the main reception area we also have a large display showing camera development over the last 100 years.  This includes Box Brownies, 35mm compact and SLR cameras, Polaroid and a very early digital camera.  The oldest camera on display is a Kodak No. 3a (model B-2) from 1903 and it's a stunning example.