Image with kind permission of student Bernie S After William Klein’s BIG Buttons
The Photographer's Playground >>
A LIVE online photography course for confident camera users who want to delve deeper into the creative potential of photography.
The Photographers Playground Starting Monday 14th September 2026 6.30pm to 8.30pm Online. [ LIVE ]
Develop your creative photography is a series of fun assignments inspired by great photographers of both 20th and 21st Centuries.
10 week course cost £140.00
A LIVE online photography course for confident camera userss and a great opportunity to re engage with photography for previous students that have attended my courses over the years. A great way to meet like minded photographers, as well as expand your photographic creativity, develop personal projects and get guidance on achieving personal goals. These online session are split into two parts. The first where the course project is introduced, and photographers who have made similar projects are researched and discussed. The second part of each session is a peer to peer review where student images are discussed and suggestions made for development of the projects.
What you will learn
The Photographer’s Garden. A look at how various photographers have interpreted the garden in different ways . We will be making the most of what autumnal colour has to offer us. AND coming off the back of the hottest summer in years make the most of the opportunity to use photography to tell a story about how climate change may be affecting us on a very local scale.
Photography and Surrealism. In this three week assignment we will explore photography’s historic relationship to surrealism, looking at examples by Man Ray, Lee Miller and Paul Nouge. Explore techniques of juxtaposition and story telling to give your photography a wildly creative boost.
Low Light Photography. Explore the approaching twilight world of winter, shorter days longer shadows and the half light world of twilight. We will explore how different photographers have made this time of year their own and what techniques you can use to make the most of twilight and night photography.
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Why attend my photography courses?
I have over 30 years experience as a photographer and over 10 years as a teacher of photography. My photography courses are designed to develop both camera skills and creative thinking. Encouraging students to develop a photographer’s way of seeing the world and trying to get the camera out of the way of the practise of photography. I firmly believe successful photography is the result of understanding the language of light, colour, composition and storytelling and has little to do with an in depth knowledge of ALL your camera settings.
Each course is written with the enrolled student requirements in mind. The assignments become tailored to student needs as the course progresses to facilitate each student getting the most out rhe course. These courses are NOT simply written and then trotted out year after year. They a bespoke to the group and constantly updated to keep up with current changes in technology and photographic pedagogical thinking.
Above all they are designed to be engaging. creative and fun. Motivating photographers to be their best creative selves and exploring the rich world of photography.
“I wanted to take this course to develop my skills and push myself more creatively. I started out as a freelancer mainly photographing families, young children and couples, but I found myself wanting to explore a more creative side to my work. The course is based online and with me living in Derbyshire, suited me perfectly. Being able to join the group online each week meant I could still be involved in the discussions around different photographers and artists, which gave us lots of inspiration for each week’s assignment.
The assignments had a one-week turnaround, but there was absolutely no pressure to complete them if you had a particularly busy week or very little time. I really appreciated how flexible and supportive the course was. I was definitely pushed creatively throughout the course, and I feel my work is much stronger as a result. The feedback was also fantastic — honest and constructive, with a clear explanation of what was working and what could be improved. It gave me a much better understanding of my own work and helped me develop my creative approach.”
– Elisha Derbyshire
