Your Choice Of Course
We offer a variety of courses to suit your preferences and abilities.
Photography
Basic Photography techniques
In this course, designed for those new to photography, we do not spend time dealing with the technical aspect of producing pictures. Instead, the emphasis is on how to make the most of the simple settings and scenic modes in your camera.
We show you how to frame your landscapes in order to create stunning images, with depth and strong composition.
Brittany has wonderful coastlines permitting experimentation with the different techniques used when photographing water and breathtaking medieval architecture in the exploration of lovely old towns.
Our topics for the week will generally include:-
Composing landscapes, capturing the essence of medieval architecture, shooting water, coastlines to create impact, and photographing an event.
We all like to visit events, fairs, shows etc and capturing the atmosphere is an important part of telling a story; hints and tips on how to shoot a series of images are given which collectively make up a picture of the day. Our event might be a simple market, a medieval festival, or a religious festival – the choice depends upon events occurring at the time of your holiday.
This course is suitable for Compact Camera and SLR users with limited experience in photography.
Intermediate Photography – developing your knowledge.
Expanding from our basic course, we keep the instruction simple and fun, but develop the principles of composition and shooting techniques.
We investigate the use of different camera settings using AV, TV and Manual modes, to enable you to take more control of your camera.
We will show you how useful filters can be for landscape photography in order to produce images with dramatic skies, reduced reflections and saturated colours.
On your water techniques day, you will learn how to create a feeling of movement and how to freeze motion. These simple techniques will create totally different atmospheres in your pictures.
When you shoot with a compact camera your images are generally adjusted in camera so you can print directly from the camera. With an SLR your images are captured in a format that is designed to be manipulated and sharpened at a later stage prior to printing. On this course you will have the opportunity to experiment with basic Photoshop techniques – cropping your pictures, simple adjustments and manipulations. We use Photoshop Elements with which you will be shown the three methods of editing your images and you will have the opportunity to use the simpler techniques and print a selection of your own images.
Advanced Techniques.
Our more adventurous students will be given the opportunity to experiment more with their photography and Photoshop techniques.
We visit a variety of locations according to season and are hoping to include a Son et Lumiere experience on our 8th – 14th August holiday. (There will be an entrance fee payable for this event)
We will experiment with shooting with the aim of producing Black and White images using macro techniques, selective colour, HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography using Photomatix pro, and more emphasis on post processing.
We will use both full Photoshop and Elements (if required) and will also spend a little time working with simple borders to display your images at their best – don’t expect quirky, tacky ideas as the object is to produce borders that enhance our pictures!
Printing facilities will also available.
Wet Weather Programme
Should the weather prove too inclement to venture out on location, we will work indoors and you will learn techniques for shooting still life using the simplest methods, tools and equipment.
This experience is a great way for you to develop your perception and camera handling techniques.
Art Holidays
Kick off in drawing and watercolours - a beginners’ course for the frightened!
Learn how to draw – using pencils, composition, light and shade, perspective
Get to grips with the basics of watercolours – brush choice, pans or tubes, colour mixing, washes and brushwork.
Individual tuition will be given in a variety of locations from rural scenes to medieval towns.
Drawing workshop awash with watercolours - an intermediate course for students wishing to be more adventurous.
You use pencils to draw - buildings, objects, landscapes, and portraits. Learn how to achieve depth, texture and intensity.
You will explore techniques in watercolours using anything from masking fluid to cling film and capture mood using monochrome. Sketching using pen and wash will also be explored.
Individual tuition will be given in a variety of locations from rural scenes to medieval towns.
Kick off with acrylics - a beginners’ course.
You will learn about the differences between watercolour and acrylics.
You will learn how to handle acrylic paints – the do’s and don’ts, how to choose and prepare grounds and mix colours.
Painting isn’t restricted to using brushes so you will learn how to handle palette knives.
Individual tuition will be given in a variety of locations from rural scenes to medieval towns.
Carried away with acrylics - for those wanting challenge.
Your aim will be to be big and be bold.
You will be using media to achieve different effects and textures.
Portraits in acrylic.
Individual tuition in a variety of locations from rural scenes to medieval towns.
Wet weather programme - applicable to all art courses.
Should the weather prove too inclement to venture out on location, we will work indoors. The subject matter may include still life, portrait work or working from photographs. In the case of photographs, you will learn how to be selective of content
