RE: PistonHeads Photo Sessions for 2012

RE: PistonHeads Photo Sessions for 2012

Monday 16th January 2012

PistonHeads Photo Sessions for 2012

Bigger, better and more frequent than ever before



PistonHeads photography sessions return for a third year with more dates than ever, more opportunities to shoot your own car and a brand new session too.

As usual, we will be using our studio at Teddington Studios, Middlesex, where there is ample safe parking (as they used to say on local cinema ads), and a full selection of studio equipment. It's also the home of our pro snapper Pete Spinney (though not in a literal sense).

Pete not only manages the studios, he also has extensive knowledge in all manner of photography, ranging from motorsport to magazine covers. Best of all he is great at giving tuition in an easy-to-follow style.

If you have ever wanted to learn more about photography, join a PH session and we’ll guide you through. We offer three sessions to choose from, all of which give the opportunity to shoot your own car.

Standard Sessions - Pete teaches the methods used to capture one of your cars in the style that you would see on a magazine front cover. We'll walk you through various angles, all working together (using your own camera) to achieve the perfect shot.

After lunch (included) there will be more opportunities to bring your own cars into the studio (we can usually shoot approximately six cars during this time) to help you put the skills learned in the morning into practise. Pete will be on hand throughout the afternoon to help with advice, and also to show some basic post-production skills on the computer within the studio. The session runs from 09.00 – 17.00, can accommodate 12 guests and includes lunch.
   
Advanced Sessions - Rigs, clamps, remote work and location lighting are the stars of this session as Pete teaches skills both inside and outside of the studio. We will use rigs and clamps to teach moving car photography outside and we'll take the car into the studio to focus on interior shots.

This session will require a reasonable amount of photography knowledge as it will be more fast-paced than our other sessions, but as we aim to teach a lot in one day the group size is reduced to just eight people. This session will also run from 09.00 - 17.00 and includes lunch.

Tech Sessions – We’ll shoot in the studio during the morning and in the afternoon we’ll work on the images we have taken during the morning on the computers. Pete will talk through how to use layering techniques and the pro tools available within Photoshop. If you want to learn about post-production, this is the session for you. As with the other sessions, this runs from 09.00 – 17.00 and includes lunch, but numbers are limited to six per session.

The dates for the sessions are as follows:

  • February 25th – Standard Session - 12 people    

 

  • March 24th – Advanced Session - 8 people

 

  • April 28th – Standard Session - 12 people     

 

  • May 26th – Tech Session - 6 people                   

 

  • June 23rd – Standard Session - 12 people            

 

  • July 21st - Advanced Session - 8 people           

 

  • September 1st – Standard Session - 12 people    

 

  • September 29th – Tech Session - 6 people      

 

  • October 27th – Standard Session - 12 people        

 

  • November 24th - Advanced Session - 8 people

Session prices are as follows

  • Standard - £150
  • Advanced - £200
  • Tech - £250

Spaces are reserved on a first come – first served basis, and to reserve a space you will be required to leave us a £50 deposit with the balance payable the week prior to the session.


You will need to own your own camera equipment, but for a standard session just a DSLR body, kit lens and tripod will suffice. For those with more kit available, bring all you have as it is better to have too much than too little. We expect most of you use Canon or Nikon, but if you have another brand we will still be able to show you how to get the most from your equipment.

For more information, or to reserve a space, please email us.

Author
Discussion

KevSeymour

Original Poster:

773 posts

174 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
I was just thinking about this the other day, I'll definitely be booking up for a tech session, will probably do another standard as well.

Any progress with the circuit idea after my insurance suggestion?

MikeGTi

2,510 posts

202 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
Interested.

Will have to see how I can work it in around work and holidays.

Beanoir

1,327 posts

196 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
Are you guaranteed to get the opportunity to shoot your own car. I'm reading the wording for the Standard Session and it sounds like you could if you're lucky enough?


Garlick

40,601 posts

241 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
Beanoir said:
Are you guaranteed to get the opportunity to shoot your own car. I'm reading the wording for the Standard Session and it sounds like you could if you're lucky enough?
We can get through about 7 cars in the session, usually there are enough people with their 'normal' or work cars with them to ensure all the interesting metal gets through in the time available. In two years we have always got all the cars through that wanted to come in, I can't absolutely guarantee we'll get you in but we've always managed it so far.

ukaskew

10,642 posts

222 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
Is Micro Four Thirds kit ok? Does everything a DSLR can do, all the same settings, same tripod mount etc. I have 14mm, 20mm and 45mm lens (35mm equivalent being 28mm, 40mm and 90mm)

JayTee94

10,974 posts

158 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
I think I might sign up for one of these later in the year.

I just need to buy my first car!* hehe

This is one of the reasons why I like Pistonheads. It gives us (the reader) a chance to meet the PH Team/Other PH'ers and learn something that all of us are wanting to learn (ie: Take better photo's) from very experienced guys.

Thanks PH for giving back to the reader, not many sites do! beer

*I fully accept that if there is better metal on the day, I will not take a picture of my first car as it would be unfair on the rest of you!

smile

Mermaid

21,492 posts

172 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
ukaskew said:
Is Micro Four Thirds kit ok? Does everything a DSLR can do, all the same settings, same tripod mount etc. I have 14mm, 20mm and 45mm lens (35mm equivalent being 28mm, 40mm and 90mm)
I am sure you will be fine.. I believe they also have their own cameras you can use. Great value IMO.

famoussas

641 posts

184 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
Nice, will check my diary and sign up for a standard session tomorrow.

londonagent

635 posts

169 months

Tuesday 17th January 2012
quotequote all
I did the standard session last year, everyone who wanted to shoot their car got the opportunity to do so. It was a thoroughly good day out.

Alfa159Ti

828 posts

158 months

Tuesday 17th January 2012
quotequote all
These are such a great idea.

Definitely something I want to get involved with.

Just need to treat myself to a decent SLR first!

hiscocks

322 posts

184 months

Tuesday 17th January 2012
quotequote all
Great, I think I'll sign up for one of these. My DSLR is a bit rubbish and I doubt my digital rangefinder would be very well suited but it sounds like a great day nonetheless.

Beanoir

1,327 posts

196 months

Tuesday 17th January 2012
quotequote all
Garlick said:
ensure all the interesting metal gets through in the time available.
hmm...one mans's Ferrari Enzo is another man's Mazda MX-5...

Garlick

40,601 posts

241 months

Wednesday 18th January 2012
quotequote all
True. But what I mean is we always have chaps arrive in their company Vectra or a car they simply have no interest in shooting.

We've had all manner of cars through the studio from a 1.6 Golf to a Rolls-Royce Phantom. It's not chosen on badge, just the owners keenness to photograph it.

As an aside, if you have emailed me regarding these sessions, I aim to respond to everyone by the end of the day smile

AdamR

15 posts

201 months

Thursday 19th January 2012
quotequote all
Very interested in doing all three sessions over the year.
Just the sort of skill building I need.

KevSeymour

Original Poster:

773 posts

174 months

Monday 23rd January 2012
quotequote all
Garlick said:
As an aside, if you have emailed me regarding these sessions, I aim to respond to everyone by the end of the day smile
Did this happen, i've not heard anything?

KevSeymour

Original Poster:

773 posts

174 months

Monday 27th February 2012
quotequote all
KevSeymour said:
Garlick said:
As an aside, if you have emailed me regarding these sessions, I aim to respond to everyone by the end of the day smile
Did this happen, i've not heard anything?
  • Cough*

Gallen

2,162 posts

256 months

Thursday 8th March 2012
quotequote all
Great idea...... Will be in touch!