The Better Way to see a City: Photography Tours in the Media Spotlight

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2GB radio - Glenn Wheller Travel Show

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by Em Lucresh (subscribe)

Freelance writer, amateur photographer and environmental project officer. I'm also a mum and a lover of all things Melbourne :)

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Published June 24th 2012

Every Saturday morning around Melbourne you may find a group of amateur shutter bugs wandering the city, viewing our iconic landmarks in new and interesting ways, and snapping away, learning the ins and outs of their cameras and how to take better photos as they go.

CAPTION: Participants hold their cameras in a laneway off Flinders Street and Flinders Lane on one of the Melbourne Photography Tours, February, 2012.. PICTURE CREDIT: Vincent Long
IMPORTANT USAGE information: This is not a Fairfax Image.
DO NOT ARCHIVE, for use only with story by Katie Cincotta, Thursday, March 1, 2012.

http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/cameras/clicking-your-heels-20120229-1u1ji.html
Clicking your heels March 1, 2012

A photography tour through Melbourne could sharpen your skills. Photo: Vincent Long

A short course can boost photographic skills, writes Katie Cincotta.

I'M ASHAMED to admit it but I've had my Canon digital SLR camera for eight years now and never really used it on manual. Embarrassing, really, because I refuse to drive an automatic car - it's lazy, it's boring, plus you can't drag boy racers in Type Rs at the traffic lights.

There's no excuse not to learn, with camera stores and photographic clubs, adult education, TAFE colleges and private photography schools all offering introductory or intensive courses.

When I signed up for one, I found that learning how to use the manual functions on my big, serious Canon EOS 300D was an absolute revelation. It was like seeing the world go from black and white to colour.

Hard to believe three hours on foot with Melbourne Photography Tours could have that effect but my subsequent photos and the reaction to them are proof enough.

Friends were in awe of the 89 shots I took and the ones I uploaded to Instagram - the iPhone photo community - scored the most likes and comments I've ever had.

The tours run every Saturday morning in Melbourne, starting from Federation Square. Mine was a group of 10, most armed with cameras similar to my own.

The hardcore amateurs were easy to spot: they were toting expensive macro lenses and trying not to grimace at the tourists with their pithy little point-and-shoots.

What's really valuable about the walking photography tour is you get hands-on instruction from working photographers on how to get off ''auto''. Surprisingly, there was just as much creative tuition, which will have you trying new elements to make your photos pop.

''We try and cover 10 technical and 10 creative points,'' tour director Alfonso Calero says. ''People make the mistake of thinking technical first, creative second, but it's the other way around.''

Perhaps the most eye-opening part of the day is when you head to the domed reading room in the State Library to master portraits and light, learning the basics of aperture, ISO and shutter speed. You take away a new perspective and a great deal more confidence, which inspires you to push the boundaries of your imagination.

It can also make you covet exciting new cameras. One woman took amazing shots with one of the new hybrid compact systems (a cross between a DSLR and a compact), the Nikon J1. It's just come out in Ferrari red, which means it goes faster - 400 frames a second on slow-mo, to be precise.

Top 11 things to do

Katie Cincotta

December 1, 2011

Photo walking tour

HAVE SLR, will travel. Learn how to use your digital camera like a pro with a photo walking tour of Melbourne. At $99, it's not a freebie but if you can get someone to buy you one of their gift vouchers, it could be.

Every Saturday, small groups of amateur photographers set off from Federation Square to shoot Melbourne landmarks. The three-hour short course covers 10 technical and 10 creative points, focusing on the manual functions of a digital camera and the creative aspects of photography. Locations include the graffiti of Hosier Lane, the State Library and the cafe strip of Degraves Street.

Melbourne Photography Tours (day or night), $99, three hours. photographytravel.net.

Australian Digital Photography Magazine - March 2011 issue

Community Radio Brisbane
Slide the podcast time to 6:30 into the radio show to hear us talk about Brisbane Photography Tours.
Locals in Brisbane suffered a lot after the floods so a little photography inspiration on community radio always helps.

atthelocal » Brisbane Photography Tours

shar.es

At the Local on 4ZzZFM- Podcasts

Oprah's Australian Adventure - Customers Joined Sydney Photography Tours
OPRAH'S WEBSITE

Australian Tourism Expo - Tokyo, Japan Sept 25-26, 2010
Skype hook up - self promo (13,000 visitors over the weekend)

Channel 7 Melbourne, Victoria - Melbourne Photography Tours
Saturday August 28th @ 5:30 pm on Coxy's Big Break Travel Show

Sydney Morning Herald January 2010 - Summer Guide section:

If you are hoping to hone your snapping skills alongside some of the wold's most
photographed locations, then here's the tour for you. Your tutor, a professional
photographer, will lead you through The Rocks to learn about focusing your
snapshot ideas and the basics of photography including techniques, styles and
accessories. Perfect for potential paparazzi. Not so perfect for obsessive
Facebook photo taggers.

SBS RADIO - An interview with the Director of Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane
Photography Tours - Alfonso Calero
click here to listen

Domain Post N.Z. July 2009
Click here to view link on newspaper article

scroll down bottom of page to look for "PHOTOS ON THE HOOF"

Trip Advisor - Past customer comments - rated #9
Click here to view link on trip advisor

NSW Tourist Commission
Click here to view link
VICTORIA Tourist Commission
Click here to view link
South Australian Tourist Commission
Click here to view link
Chinese Newspapers

Thats Why Your Single TV Show
Episode 7
Part 3 - 1:25Click here