Tog-Talk returns after a 12 month gap. This time, Kevin is joined by new co-host Kelly Perrin. Imagine a casual conversation between two passionate photographers, sharing tips, stories, and insights about the art of capturing images. That's Tog-Talk. Hosted by Kevin Ahronson from Hampshire School of Photography and his co-host Kelly Perrin, Tog-Tal…

Tog-Talk Episode 29 With this week's guest David Emery In the first Tog-Talk podcast to be shot in video (Watch it on YouTube or Vimeo), Kevin Ahronson interviews David Emery, a photographer he has known for four years. David shares his journey into photography, which began with inspiration from his grandfather who had a cine camera and a 35mm came…

What would you compare your photography journey to? Has your growth and experience behind the camera been like a rocket or has it been more like a snail? Are you completely committed to following your creative journey - or is it a bit spasmodic? Good days and bad days? In this week's Tog-Talk, I am joined by hobbyist-photographer Sandy Borrowdale w…

Having taken up photography just a few years ago on retirement, Alec completely threw himself into it and has a fascinating tale of rapid progress. Abandoning his Sony camera for an extensive Nikon system, Alec has had a roller coaster experience - culminating in mentoring under one of the world's greatest photographers. In this episode of Tog Talk…

For several years I've been exploring the subject of the journey we all embark on as photographers. It really is just like a journey with a beginning and a middle, but it has no end (it goes on forever). It has all the qualities of a great adventure with highs and lows, it has pitfalls and moments of elation. And like real journeys, some elements t…

Five of my top tips for photographing people I've been photographing people for a long time. I started doing it almost as soon as I bought my first 35mm film camera. In my home town of Brighton (on the south coast of England) I cut my teeth on capturing ordinary people going about their daily lives down on the beach and on Brighton's busy, bohemian…

Episode 10 of the 10-part series looking at Photography Basics. In this final episode I take a look at the editing options for your photography. Editing is an interesting subject and people often have strong views on its pros & cons. For most of us, editing allows us to produce images which are more eye-catching. We remove unwanted objects, we bala…

At some point in your photography, your enthusiasm will sadly decline. It's inevitable. It happens to most photographers, so don't feel guilty. It has happened to me a number of times over the years, and through those experiences, I believe I have found some of the best solutions to keep me constantly motivated. This is episode nine of a 10-part se…

Episode 8 of the 10-part Photography Basics series and we are asking the question that I am asked all the time... "Which Lens Should You Buy Next?" Having got the kit lens that came with your new camera, you're now looking to take your photography to the next level. You realise that this lens is perhaps not the best lens to help you. Kit lenses are…

Why do some photos come out dark? This is such a common question among new photographers. Surely with today's super-clever (and super-expensive) digital cameras, you'd expect the technology to guarantee that every shot is perfectly exposed, every time? And yet it isn't. The thing is, cameras can't read our minds. They don't know what we're thinking…

Some of us love to photograph beautiful landscapes, others like to shoot people... maybe in the studio or maybe capture them candidly on the street. Helen Davies does most of her photography on the kitchen table and produces stunning images. This week's Tog-Talk takes a week off from the current series on Photography Basics to look at a very talent…

Continuing the 10 part series looking at photography basics... today we focus on focus. More important than Exposure? Nailing a sharp focus is arguably more important than getting the exposure right. Take a photo either over or under-exposed, and in most cases you can correct it in post. Take a photo out of focus and there really isn't much you can…

Believe it or not, there are more ways to take a photo than by simply leaving the camera switched to AUTO. AUTO mode is great for beginners and those who just want to shoot snaps, but if you want to take control of your camera and unleash your creative potential, you need to come out of AUTO and explore some of the other shooting modes. Common Came…

So now we're looking at the third piece of the puzzle, of what is traditionally referred to as the Exposure Triangle. When you combine the three elements of the Exposure Triangle, they interact with each other in what's often referred to as the law of reciprocity. This reciprocating relationship between aperture, shutter speed and ISO allows us to …

The Aperture Continuing our ten-part mini series for new photographers (Photography Basics), this week we are looking at the Aperture. Whilst most people are familiar with the role of the aperture in terms of controlling the amount of light that enters the camera... perhaps not so many understand the relationship between aperture and the other two …

The Shutter Last episode we looked at the aperture, now it's the turn of the shutter. From our perspective today, we're going to look at two different types of shutter. One is mechanical and the other is electronic. Older DSLR cameras will be mechanical, but the newer, mirrorless cameras (which have effectively taken over from DSLRs) tend to offer …

Of all the questions I regularly get asked, the one about cameras is usually the most common. “What camera should I buy” “What camera would you recommend for someone new to photography” “Which camera is best?” Understandably, most new photographers want to make a good decision about the money they're about to spend. The camera industry has just bee…

Joined again by Tracey Clarkson, we look at a forthcoming 10-week series for brand new photographers. These are planned to be shorter than normal Tog-Talks (around 10-15 mins) and are a basic introduction to photography, without getting too complicated. Starting next week the first episode will be looking at digital cameras. Make sure you click the…

Having shot weddings for the last 12 years, I've kinda lost that sense of terror when I'm asked to shoot another one. But I remember my first wedding: a combined sense of wonder and an uncontrollable rush of adrenaline. Excitement and panic, all in one. When you get asked I regularly meet students who have been asked by friends or family to photogr…

Inner Circle; the title alone suggests an exclusive group. An elite, crack-troupe of hand-picked photographers who disciple under my mentorship. The reality is far more down to earth. They are in fact a small group of amateur photographers who want something beyond what most traditional photography workshops and course can offer. They don’t want di…

Not entirely true… when I became a photographer, many of the things covered in this discussion weren’t even invented. But for today’s photographers, I know for certain these are really helpful tips because I am constantly finding myself talking to my students about them. Photography can be complex and the learning process can be very hit or miss wh…

Episode 9: Photography, it’s not all about the gear… is it? I confess, I am a bit of a gear-head. Over the years I have collected lots of cameras, lenses, filters, accessories and loads and loads of lighting gear. Prior to the COVID pandemic I would upgrade my camera every time a new model come out, convinced I needed the latest technology to take …

Having Matthew Williams on this episode of Tog Talk was a double whammy for me. Not only is he a keen wildlife photographer, but he's also the brains behind the Hampshire School of Photography (HSP) website. Matt talks to me about some of the innovative ideas behind our online photography assessment tool and the new Portfolio Suite for show-casing …

Andy Teo ( otherwise known to many as Photocillin), is a highly talented photographer specialising in fashion style photography and, more recently, has had a great deal of success working with musicians, shooting concerts, backstage and album covers. In this edition of Tog Talk, Andy talks about his experience shooting models and musicians with som…

In this week's Tog Talk I address the subject of how to take tack-sharp photos. One of the most common complaints I hear from new camera owners is that their photos just aren't sharp enough. You'd think that when someone spends hundreds of pounds (sometimes thousands) on a high quality camera, the resulting photos would at least be nice and sharp. …

Tog Talk this week meets with Trish, a young lady from India who I've been mentoring for the last six months. She has a great sense of humour and she absolutely loved watching my reaction when she brought in two really great questions. Which type of camera would I recommend to a photographer - a crop frame mirrorless or a full frame DSLR? When plan…

We sponsored an evening recently with a bunch of photographers who are currently working as professionals, semi-professionals and a few others the were thinking of going pro. In 2020 we are planning to start a one-year course for professionals who want to improve both their photography skills and also their business skills. The conversations that t…

Agi was a student who came to me for a year's private mentoring. These days she works as a professional photographer whilst at the same time being a busy mum of three young children. She recalls how she stepped out of her comfort zone to embrace her photography and now is reaping the reward shooting families, children and weddings. Agi's website Ha…

In this session I talk to Masterclass student Jeremy Auton about what choices he should make when taking his camera and lenses overseas on holiday. How much gear should we take with us? Too much and it could become a burden to carry, too little and we could miss important shots. To make it more complicated in his case, he was going on two very diff…

In this opening episode, I get to talk with one of my longest-suffering students, Steve Myers. Steve has been on just about every photography workshop I've ever run and his eagerness to learn shows no sign of diminishing. For us, this episode is an experiment with a bit of fun - enabling me in particular, to explore the process of podcast productio…