A Snapshot into the World of Studio Lighting

A few months ago I did a few 1 day photography courses - Location Lighting that I have mentioned in a previous blog entry, Flashguns and Studio Lighting.

I have to say Studio Lighting was the most interesting and fun! There is so much to create and explore!

We worked together in a group of about 5 people to create images for different scenarios. Below are some of my favourite shots from the day (unfortunately the files were given in a small jpeg format so they are only small images compared to the rest of my blog).

Leeds Castle

It's been wonderful summer weather in the UK but it always seems to be during the week when I am working then will turn grey with showers over the weekends. I took a chance by going to Leeds Castle anyway on the weekend and the clouds cleared and stayed fairly consistent throughout the day which meant I could play around with my camera taking photos!

And no, Leeds Castle is not in Leeds but in Kent near Maidstone. It's such a lovely castle with a moat around it like from a children's story book.

Location Lighting

Last weekend I went to a location lighting workshop and got to play around with flashes and speed guns outside on what photographers call a 'sunny 16' day.

The tutor summed it up as 'not being rocket science' but after the group of us got many scenarios to capture you can see the potential of how images can be manipulated greatly from the use of light which requires some more practice

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Now I have a big wish list of gear that I have a feeling Santa may not bring this year :-)

Hever Castle

A couple of weeks ago I made the most of a sunny British day (which can be rare) and visited Hever Castle in Kent.

Loggia and the Lake

Loggia and the Lake

Hever Castle is the childhood home of King Henry VIII's second wife Anne Boleyn and is open to the public artifacts, rooms furnished how they may of been during the time Anne lived at Hever Castle and Tudor Portraits.

I haven't taken photos for a while so thought this would be a nice place to spend a few hours taking pictures whilst getting some fresh air.

Water fountain - Loggia

Loggia

Loggia

View of the Water Maze from Loggia

Italian Gardens

Italian Gardens/Loggia

Italian Gardens

View of Hever Castle from the Tudor Gardens

Hever Castle

Hever Castle

Hever Castle

Hever Castle & Astor Wing

Hever Castle

Astor Wing

Hever Castle & Astor Wing

Italian Gardens

Italian Gardens

Italian Gardens

Italian Gardens

Walled Rose Gardens

Walled Rose Gardens

Walled Rose Gardens

Walled Rose Gardens

I costs 15.50GBP for entrance to Hever Castle and Gardens or 13GBP just for admission to the gardens. I didn't find it too overcrowded but it's best to get there early as parking is mostly in a field and has potential to fill up quickly. Lots of people were relaxing the gardens having a picnic but there are plenty of other places in Kent just as beautiful where you can relax for free. Hever Castle is worth visiting at least once but would be an expensive day out just for a picnic with the family!