Bird, Nature & Wildlife Photography by Choo Tse Chien

Learn the Basics

Get the complete lowdown on Exposure, Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO, megapixels and get a rock solid foundation on how a picture is taken.

Get out from the Automatic Modes and Get Creative!

Bought the latest digital SLR camera but wondering why you’re not getting good photos, like the advertisements promised? Time to stop using the preset scene modes on your camera, and learn how to really take pictures.

Cut the technical jargon into byte-sized bits you can understand.

Cut through confusing terminology like AFS/USM, IS/VR, DX/FX, ED, IF, D, G with clear simple layman type explanations.

Learn how to maximize on what you already have...

....rather than buying more expensive cameras with the hope that it will improve your pictures.


High tech DSLRs or compact Point & Shoots, we will show you how to get the best out from your gear without spending more.

We take you out!

all looks good in theory in classes but ....in this course we actually take you out on field trips to show you how picture taking should be.


Real life practical experience that will give you more confidence to venture out further on your own later.

Learn Digital Darkroom Basics and get honest critique

learn basic functions of image editing programs and how to present & share your pictures. Valuable written critique will be offered on pictures you take so areas of improvement will be obvious later on.

Who Should Attend -

If

  1. -you often see pictures you wish were your own but have no idea on what settings or methods were used in capturing that image - this course will show you how.

  2. -just bought a camera and are still having difficulties figuring out the basic technical aspects and settings - this course will show you what all the knobs and buttons do.

  3. -you feel that your blur images outnumber your sharp ones and have no idea on how to correct it - this course will increase the number of pictures you can print out and share.


We Welcome -

All Beginners who own a camera with MANUAL controls (which means Compact / Point & Shoot camera users are welcome as well)

What Will You Learn?

White Balance - How colour adjustment controls the mood of your picture, learn about WB presets (Daylight, Incandescent, Cloudy etc), colour adjustment & custom white balance.


Colours - selecting appropriate colour styles and understanding the differences between Vivid and Neutral.


Autofocus Modes - Get the best on How, Where & When on the different C, S and M modes.


Shutter Speed - controlling it to get the effect you want & techniques in getting sharp pictures. We will also show you how to slow down shutter speeds with the use of filters in smoothing out flow of water or motion.


Aperture - understanding Depth of Field and how to use it effectively in your photography. Learn about Bokeh and how it can help isolate your subject to prominence.


ISO - Light sensitivity. Choosing correct ISO values in controlling exposure speeds & how ISO affects noise in your pictures.


Learn the various shooting modes on the camera - Get out from using the preset Scene Modes and learn what P,S,A,M modes can do for you. Freeze the action, control Depth of Field, smoothen motion, we will show you how to get the shot you want.


Exposure Metering Modes - How do you control the measurement of light to get the images you want. Learn all there is about spot, center weighed and evaluative / matrix metering.


Exposure Compensation & Bracketing - Learn how to vary by under and over exposing an image or a scene that is difficult to meter accurately. Learn how WB Bracketing can yield  different and desirable colour tones.


Understanding Light -Photography is all about Light after all. Learn to work under different natural lighting conditions and how to supplementary lighting from a flash can help. Get creative with difficult backlighting, why is sidelighting preferable and is frontlighting always desirable? How to control light and shadows by reflection and diffusion.


Working with your Flash - Learn how to get the best out from the built-in camera flash and learn what additional features you can gain from using an external flash.


Understand What Makes A Good Picture - Learn how to recognize Visual Elements of Photography and learn Basic Composition Techniques.


Basic digital post processing using simple image editing tools - how to best process your pictures to share with friends and present to the world. We will show you basic tools like sharpening, resizing, cropping to print sizes and for composition, colour adjustments, adding in a copyright statement, noise reduction, framing etc so that you can better present your images to the world.

Ladies selling different varieties of rice near Can Tho, Mekong Delta, Vietnam


Rice Is Life / Le Riz, c’est la vie

4th May 2007 to 1st January 2008


Vancouver Museum, British Columbia, Canada

Single Feature Exhibit in Large Print

and

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

25th Sept to 23rd Nov 2008

All workshops are:

1. Designed to be as easy to understand as possible. My aim is to provide you a simple but informative learning experience.

2. Structured as FOUR X 2-hour sessions (total of 8hrs) and TWO field photo outings to practice what you have learned. (this structure is flexible to 3+3 if you wish to have more field experience)

Practical field photo outings may include landscapes, nature / macros, and general street photography.

3. Very focused and individualized. Limited to maximum of only 4 persons per class.

  1. 4.Very flexible in timing - we can accommodate your schedule and are able plan classes at a time of your convenience.


Note - these courses are currently only limited by location to Penang, island and mainland, Bukit Mertajam and Kulim.


Contact Us!

If you're interested in attending this course, please call or email to arrange for suitable times.

AvianNatureScapes Photography

Choo Tse Chien

Email : tsechien@me.com

Mobile : +6012.4748354


Link to this page : http://bit.ly/cg7i8h


Download a PDF brochure here (you may have to “Right Click” and “Save As”).

(you may have to disable any Pop Up Blockers you are using on your web browser to enable the download dialog box to show)

Akha Hilltribe Woman near Mae Salong, northern Thailand


Beauty In Asia : 200 BCE to Today

3rd May to 23rd September 2007


Large Print Exhibit

Asian Civilizations Museum, Singapore

and

Changi Terminal 2 Temporary Exhibit, Singapore

About me

I have been doing photography since 1985 and have more than 10 years experience in shooting digital having switched early in 1999.

I have had many of my pictures featured in international bird reference books and monthly travel publications.

I also conduct a number of photography talks every year at public events and speaks regularly on the subject of nature photography. I have been a regular guest speaker at the annual Borneo Bird Fair in Sandakan, Sabah for the past 2 years and was also a keynote speaker in a recent series of public talks and slideshows in conjunction with the UNEP (United Nations Environmental Program) Annual International World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) in Sarawak.

My works on people portraits and travel / street photography have also been exhibited internationally in various museums. Recent exhibits have been at the Vancouver Museum and Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, British Columbia in Canada, the Asian Civilizations Museum in Singapore and the Museum Of Natural History, Potsdam in Germany

I am a member of NPS (Nikon Professional Services) Malaysia and I have also been a speaker for Sony Malaysia for their Alpha Mount DSLR camera systems.

I now operate AvianNatureScapes guided nature tours which specializes in guided instructional bird & wildlife photo safaris. I know what the expectations are for bird photographers and by today’s ever rising standards, mere record pictures are no longer adequate and photographers the world over are seeking to produce images which are artistically appealing.

Choo Tse Chien