Comments from PhotoTrek

Comments from Hurst PhotoTrek, August 09

I do not remember being bored at any point during the day

(I enjoyed) the challenge, firstly of switching to Aperture priority (still much to learn there) and taking pictures of things I have never considered picture worthy before

The locations of Hurst and Keyhaven were brilliant - I shall be going back soon I am sure.

Overall experience was very positive, I learnt lots, just need to practice it now - will probably come back again later in the year.

It was a great way to spend a day. Pleasant company and great instruction.

I can't think of a time during the day that I was bored, I may have been frustrated at not being able to achieve the result in the camera that I could see with my eye. (Oh for a camera that can read minds)

Group size was excellent. Enough people to have a conversation and share experiences, but not so big that it became fragmented. The number of people and balance of experience of the attendees was a good mix and made for some good questions. In answering the questions you could include the whole group, which is an indicator that the group size was about right.

By having 2 distinct individuals involved in the day you have also solved the problem of a single delegate demanding all the attention of a single instructor. Whether this is deliberate of not is immaterial - it works, and means that everyone feels 'included'

I enjoyed the Challenges most- an excellent way for people to put into practice the knowledge they have just gained and then receive a mini critique (feedback). I'm not a natural at being taught and then achieving a result immediately, I usually need to play a bit and then review the 'knowledge' in order to be able to internalise it. So I find the challenges particularly difficult - however I'm OK with difficult and having feedback is very very useful.

Excellent format, with the right balance of technical content (cameras, DOF, exposure etc), examples / lessons of composition (leading lines, use of light, less is more etc) and ....... challenges.

Excellent balance of instruction and structured practice & also playtime. It is a field based day, and so too much instruction isn't necessary nor expected. Whilst at times it felt like we were trespassing into the areas covered by your workshops, I thought that it was a good way to give a feel for what may follow as we progress in our photography, without being too technical and losing peoples interest. Don't change it.

There were a few things I wanted answered from a technical perspective, and I had no real agenda or expectations on the day other than to gain some general 'hints and tips' from the pro's. I have in the past run many workshops, courses and events at local and national level, so I have quite a bit of experience and I have to say that the balance and delivery of information was just right. There was sufficient information being delivered at the right time and at the right level to satisfy the questions that were forming or actually being asked. With no real hint at things being left out.

Fantastic! (Locations) Lots of opportunity for varied types of photography from landscape to arty-jumble, you even arranged some high speed poportunities with the jetski's and the aircraft. I wouldn't have thought that there could be so much variety. Whilst the majority of the individual lesson concepts could be delivered quite adaquately in a much more restricted environment, using the natural-ness of the varied enviroments allowed us to gain more as we had to 'think' for ourselves, rather than just using your tripod marks.

This was my second PhotoTrek, and whilst I enjoyed the Mottisfont event last year and have been recommending PhotoTreks to friends ever since. I did think that yesterdays event was far superior. I put this down to being a much smaller group with more opportunity for varied casual conversation based around photography, rather than the more formal attitude that had to be adopted by necesssity of the Mottisfont group size. The smaller group size also meant that everyone could (and did) receive personal attention from both Ian and Barry. This is invaluable as both have different photographic styles, and ways of explaining things - doubling the beneft from the day.



I came to the day with only an expectation that I would learn something, and hopefully have an enjoyable day. I can say that the day was very enjoyable, I learned a lot about photography and my camera, and would not hesitate in continuing to recommend these PhotoTreks, and would certainly consider attending another.



Ian you are obviously very comfortable with the technical aspects of photography, however understanding and having the ability to explain are two very different things. Throughout the day you managed to guide everyone through a set of well delivered mini-lessons and exercises with a professional, natural friendly and 'complete' style. This gave us the feeling that you are comfortable with the topics that you are delivering (which was obviously never at question) and you were willing to ensure that we were comfortable with the concepts being addressed. Many people can 'do' but not everyone can also teach - Ian you struck the balance perfectly.

Having Barry as the 'fall-guy', comedian and 'tail-end charlie' works very well. Barry is very amiable, and his informal demonstrations and feedback were very welcome and a great way to reinforce the lessons. A partnership that works exceptionally well.

Keep up the good work!