Learn the basics of what all the weird buttons knobs and dials do on your DSLR camera so you’re no longer hitting auto mode! Understand your camera so you take control of how to make beautiful images.

Once you’ve learnt the basics we move on to finding and using available light, portraiture, composition and photojournalism – how to tell a story with your images. Held on Tuesdays from 14 May - 18 June.

Get involved

Book into the workshop online:

Book here

Workshop details

Week 1

This week is an overview of Aperture, Shutter speed and ISO and how they all work together. We will then do some practical work on Aperture where you will learn about depth of field and how this affects the look at feel of your images.

Week 2

We review Aperture homework and look at and practice controlling your Shutter speed. You will learn about how shutter speed translates in your photo at slow speeds, ultra-fast & in-between and do some practical using your cameras to get these effects. We will then look at how aperture and shutter speed and ISO work together to balance your image.

Week 3

We look at how we can find, see and use light. Available light, manufactured light, any light - to help create a great pic.

Week 4

Portraiture – This week we look at different ways to take photos of humans.

Week 5

Composition and photo essay - we look at different rules of photography, ways to make photos look interesting and different using light, texture, framing and more. We then talk about how to tell a story through photo essay.

Week 6

We recap photography from all of our sessions, we then share our photo essay projects in a final session – popcorn allowed.

About the artist

NT based photographer Hels Orr has an uncanny knack of capturing the quirky and vibrant personality of people she meets. Hels portrays people as a whole, as integral parts of their environment and gives the viewer an understanding of each place through her images.
Traveling extensively Hels has photographed 'at street level' intimate images of families in Bangladesh to the life of surfers in the Maldives and has an innate sense of story-telling.

With over ten years working in the photography industry and award-winning career in photojournalism Hels is currently photographing in the varied and colourful culture of the Northern Territory. Living here for six years she loves the challenge of capturing the personality and emotion of this unique place.

This six week workshop is one of four creative workshops offered by City of Palmerston this May/June. 

Check out what is also on offer:

Mondays (13 May-17 June): Recycled art with Bev Garside 
Wednesdays (15 May-19 June): Screen printing with Dave Garnham
Thursdays (16 May-20 June): African drumming with Mbackeh