About me
What does photography mean to me?
Enjoyment and pleasure ....... so much pleasure.
I’m Bob Holman - a semi-retired coffee shop owner (two of my children now run www.thefoodgallery.co.uk), situated in the High Street in beautiful Marlborough, Wiltshire.
Photography 'happened' for me when Apple launched their iPhone 7 in 2016.
The camera in this phone was a massive leap forward in technology from previous models, and helped me to take reasonable photos. As a result, I began shooting more shots and more often.
My photos started to get a great deal better. Snaps no longer became good enough. I gave more thought to how to make my images more appealing.
And after 1,000s of shockingly poor shots, I learnt a few tricks and shortcuts.
My 'photography knowledge’ increased in leaps and bounds.
People started to ask me how I got 'that look', or how I edited the image, or why I shot from that angle.
The cameras in smartphones today are starting to match the capabilities of small compact cameras - and they are already absorbing an increasing amount of traditional camera technology.
Phone camera photographs used to be considered inferior to those taken with an SLR or DSLR. However, I believe they are now simply grouped together under just the one title - photography. Phone shots are simply taken on a small sensor, compared to DSLRs with a larger sensor.
Although I do have a 'real' camera, my iPhone is my camera of choice.
Why? Because it's always with me - allowing me to take photos whenever I see something appealing to me.
Some of my work
Marlborough in Monochrome
Marlborough Alleyways
Marlborough Rooftops
Marlborough at Night
Marlborough Surrounds
Landscapes
If you would like to purchase a professionally mounted and framed (in black, white, oak or grey frame) print of one my images, just click on the button below this paragraph to place your order. Two sizes are available, A4 (£79.00) and A3 (£119.00). I will then be in touch with you to arrange payment. Please allow up to 5 working days for you to collect your purchase at an agreed point in Marlborough. When your items are ready I shall be in touch again, to arrange collection. Postage to you is very expensive, but I'm happy to quote separately for this. This is due to the extensive packaging, to ensure that your purchase arrives in great condition.
Portraits
Black & White
Reflections
Animals
Macro on an iPhone
iPhoneography Talks
Fun and interactive
(either personally at your camera club meetings, or on Zoom).
I simply love taking photographs on my iPhone. I say iPhone as I'm totally immersed into the Apple culture. But almost everything that I teach (using my iPhone) can be replicated on every phone camera.
But why do I so enjoy using my iPhone for a great deal of my photography? It's always with me! And what's the best camera? The one that's with you! And I'm not ashamed to say that I have to go back and get it, if I've discovered I've left my phone at home, just after going out ...
Over the years, I've found that there are many really simple tricks to take outstanding photographs with my iPhone. And I share all of these with you.
But, hold on a minute! Can you take 'proper' photographs just on a mobile phone?
The answer is yes - definitely! And now, you can shoot in RAW - on your phone. How amazing is that? What is 'raw'? A raw image is one that has had no editing made to it - unlike a jpeg image in which the camera has already carried out some pre-determined editing.
One of the common phone photography misconceptions is that you can’t take serious photographs, which is an understandable statement. But while modern cameras are technically superior, and clearly have vastly larger sensors, the actual 'likeability' of a photo mostly depends on the photographer’s intent and their creative vision.
We're all guilty of getting caught up buying the latest gear. And we do it mostly thinking that it will help us take better photos, right?
However, consider this - no camera can take a good image unless the photographer has an idea of what he/she wants to shoot. And that’s because your phone, just like any other camera, is a tool. And it’s a tool that can take both poor and incredible photos. Are you telling me you've never taken a poor photograph with your SLR or DSLR?
But with the right knowledge and techniques you'll learn from me, you can use your phone to take photographs of which you'll be very proud. And those who view your images may not even know that they've been taken on 'just a phone '.
I provide fun and interactive Zoom talks, for up to 50 Camera Club members which last up to 2 hours. You will see every aspect of the iPhone's camera, live and as I demonstrate it. How? I share my iPhone screen with you. And I'll demonstrate and explain how each feature works, and how best you can use these to make compelling images. Some of my images will be shown as examples of what can be achieved. A comfort break, half way through, helps with concentration - both for your members and me!
I have two talks:
- How to take better photographs with your mobile phone camera
- How to edit your photographs to make them POP, on your phone, with free software
The current charge is £70.00 for each session, via Zoom. Both last for 2 x 45 minute sessions. And I'm sorry, but I do not allow these sessions to be recorded.
Contact me, using the button below, to check availability.
Testimonials
Students
S.O. Nr. Devizes
- Great advice and tips, which are easy to remember when taking your photos, even the quick snaps
- So much to learn, 3 hours just wasn't enough
- Course full of humour, a pleasure to learn
- The follow up reminder guide was really helpful
S.J. Frome
You explained everything clearly and made me work out how to improve each photo, guiding me when I was baffled. I had a great time, wandering around Marlborough with you and my camera and learning about composition. I particularly enjoyed photographing reflections. I was glad you spent some time going through the camera with me, and finding the magic button to adapt the lighting was so useful.
O.R. Marlborough
I really enjoyed my 1-2-1 Phone Camera Workshop with Bob. I learned a lot and we had quite a few laughs, so it was a memorable 3 hours. I would recommend it highly to anyone who has started to think it would be good to move on from ‘point and shoot’ — a process I have followed faithfully for years. With just a little more thought one can improve things dramatically — leading the viewer in to a subject, framing, different angles…. The 2-hour ‘walk-around’ (part of the 3 hours) was a powerful way to help understand what these concepts really delivered in practice. It was balanced nicely and my brain was pleasantly full at the end.
L.A. Melbourne, Australia
I really enjoyed Bob’s 1-2-1 workshop, I had known a lot of my phone but I learnt so much more. Bob is a lovely guy and a great teacher, and made it a lot of fun to learn. Bob has the ability to break technical things down into easy english to understand and gave plenty of opportunities to put it all into practice. He was always on hand to encourage me through my photos I was taking and gave me the confidence to look beyond the normal in my photography journey. Thanks so much Bob for making me step outside my comfort zone.
L.K. Nr. Devizes
I felt at ease with you right away; you’re good company! You explained things well for my level and I alway felt I could say when I’d had enough. I appreciated very much the trouble you went to reset the camera, probably needed because I pressed too many buttons etc. This was essential if I’m ever going to be able to use the camera properly. What little photography I had done in the past was snapping a shot just as memory, or just for ID purposes for flowers etc. One of the main things I’m
learning to do now, thanks to the lessons, is to plan the shot much more, looking at light, shade and background etc.
E.P., Nr. Devizes
When I told people I was about to do an iPhone photography course they were a bit bemused - surely you don’t need to be taught how to point and click??? However, the 3 hours went in a flash. Bob spent the first hour understanding what style of photography I was interested in and showing me all the undiscovered menus and then we headed out. It was great to put into practise not only the settings I had discovered, but also learning more about leading lines, reflections, symmetry etc to help make my photos more stylistic. Bob was a great teacher, able to articulate without being too technical. My photography has definitely improved and I no longer make the cardinal sin of pinch zooming!
C.C., Wroughton
I really loved our session together! I had no idea just how much my phone camera could do. I really appreciated the first hour sitting down and going through functions of the camera- taking notes as we went along really helped me but thank you for the crib sheet as well- very useful! Going out and taking photos was so much fun, I really loved that you challenged me to find my own answer and interpretation as opposed to telling me what you thought, I feel like this really helped me to learn.
S.B., Wroughton
I really enjoyed my 1-2-1 photo session, and cannot recommend it highly enough to anybody who wants some tuition or guidance on photography composition. Bob’s style is fun and relaxed, with an emphasis on creative use of composition and storytelling to take unique and compelling photographs. I loved the fact that the session wasn’t heavily gear centric, but rather about developing the artistic eye. Bob took the time to listen and understand what I needed help with, and provided a bespoke session to cover it. I came away very satisfied. Thank you Bob!
J.E., Swindon
I had never considered using my iPhone for any professional imagery until I saw images captured by Bob. Needless to say I was inspired and booked a 1-1 training session. Bob is very professional, organised and detailed in his approach whilst at the same time ensuring the training session is fun – he also provided me with some reflective notes. Bob adapts the session to your needs, is supportive and encourages you to tap into your own creative style. I now feel confident in my ability to use my iPhone for photography. Thank you, Bob
Mr. J.K., Nr. Marlborough - 1-2-1 workshop
In just a few hours, Bob managed to share his excellent knowledge and expertise to introduce me to the wonders of iPhone photography and ignite an interest that makes it difficult to walk down the road without composing shots! Working from the basics up to advanced techniques in an enjoyable interactive style, I’ve now got a great understanding to build on and create some interesting images using all the power available in the iPhone camera and the eye of a photographer!
Mr & Mrs M.B., Marlborough
Bob provided a comprehensive introduction to using the iPhone covering the technicalities of the menu in a logical, sequential manner. Armed with our new found knowledge we were guided to take photos with ‘our new set of photographers eyes’ before exploring the richness of editing tools. An invaluable session, that has given us a good grounding and was delivered in a flexible, personal manner, providing what we both needed. Undoubtedly the quality and style of our photos has improved immensely and we are now keenly exploring the wealth of opportunities our iPhone camera offers us.
Photography Club Talks
Pewsey U3a Local History Group - Marlborough Underground
I would like to thank you so much for the brilliant talk you gave to the u3a local history group on Thursday morning. I knew before we left that everyone had enjoyed the revelations but I have also received a number of emails from members telling me how impressed they were with your presentation.
Derby City Photographic Club
It was staggering to learn about the capabilities of the latest model and how it can rival a traditional camera in almost every way with the use of its various features. Each of the functions was described in detail, and the format of the presentation was good because the technical information was interspersed with images of different photographic genres, dispelling the idea that phone cameras are not always capable of shooting such types of photos. I am sure most members were trying things out on their own phones, and you gave plenty of tips about things they were probably not aware of. Probably most came away feeling they needed to upgrade their phones! I certainly did.
Kilkenny Photographic Society
1st Workshop
Thank you, Bob, for a very informative and enjoyable presentation on "how to take better photos with your mobile phone.” Your step-by-step demonstration of the capabilities of our phones as a medium for taking photos, together with your beautiful images was appreciated by all the members. We are looking forward to taking our images to the next level in part 2 “how to edit your photos to make them pop.”
2nd Workshop
Just wanted to say thank you for your enlightening presentation to Kilkenny Photographic Society last night. It was amazing to see the capabilities of the Snapseed app and the ease with which it can be used. There's no excuse for bad mobile photos anymore! It's time to get snapping and editing. Best wishes, Bernie
Calne Camera Club.
Last night we had an excellent presentation on “iPhone photography”. I liked the "lets start with the basics" approach as it covered everyone's ability before it moved into functions and uses that I had not seen or thought about. Up until last night I had only thought of a smartphone camera as a happy snapper but now I can see that it is a really capable camera that will let you use and push it as far as your imagination and ability can manage. If nothing else I have gained a new respect for my smartphone and intend to see what I can achieve. I will also be looking to introduce some smartphone only competitions to the club calendar. Thank you for an inspiring evening.
Midhurst Camera Club.
Bob gave a very well presented talk on iPhoneography, consist'ing in equal parts of tips on what a phone can do and of how best to do it, with examples of his own work using this camera. The result was an evening which both instructed and inspired. Many members' eyes were opened to the capabilities of the iPhone, and all were equally impressed by the quality and variety of the images Bob used to illustrate and leaven the technical advice. Bob made notably effective use of the 'Zoom' medium of delivering the talk, which engaged club members to ask questions, which he handled very well, giving clear, jargon free answers. He also demonstrated live from his study many of the technical practicalities of the device, by screen sharing the viewfinder view of items in the vicinity; of the controls as presented on the phone screen; and of the resulting pictures. Bob shared his enthusiasm for his subject, and his wonderment at the underlying technological wizardry extremely effectively, making an evening as enjoyable as it was instructive.
Image Editing Tuition
Turn your snapshots into GREAT SHOTS!
Ever wondered why other people's photos look better than yours? It may be because the subject matter is epic, or maybe the composition is bang on.
But, the biggest reason their images look better, is because they edit them. Once they've taken the shot, they know that only 50% of the job is done.
So join me and I'll teach you how to make your photos pop. This will all be carried out working on your own images. We will go through my processes, favourite editing tricks & shortcuts for three hours. I will travel to any destination, with travelling expenses being covered. But in and around Marlborough is my general working area.
To book this fun and interactive session, please contact me to make the £130.00 payment. Once the money has been transferred to my bank I'll contact you to agree a mutually convenient date and time for us to meet at your house.
My preferred editing software programmes are:
Lightroom - the cloud based version, the laptop/desktop version or the Lightroom Mobile App.
The mobile App is free. You can download Lightroom for laptop/desktop as a free 7-day trial. The free trials come with some functions disabled on the mobile version, which then become enabled when you subscribe to an Adobe monthly subscription package. I will help you to sync all your images (and their edits) between all your devices where you have Lightroom installed.
You'll need to have downloaded one of these to your device for our session.
Snapseed - Only for your phone and tablet. A FREE and incredibly powerful App, made by Google. It's available to download from your preferred App Store.
Gift a voucher to someone
You probably know someone who would love to learn how to take pictures of which they'll feel proud?
So, why not surprise them with a personalised gift voucher. This will be emailed to you, as a PDF document, which you can then either print out and use, or you can email it to the recipient, with your own message.
Any value can be purchased. Simply click on the link below to make the arrangements and payment.
1-2-1 Photo Taking Tuition (on phone or DSLR)
Be inspired, motivated, encouraged and pleasantly challenged.
It's not the Wand, it's the Wizard!
There is nothing better than receiving quality, personalised and fun tuition. Why? Because you learn so much more! And it REALLY doesn't matter what device you choose how to capture the image!
I offer morning (9am-12pm) or afternoon (2pm-5pm) sessions in which we'll explore a local (to Marlborough) location of your choice. You may have a favourite place you would like to go to, or if you prefer I could suggest a location?
During our session together you'll:
- learn how to take better photographs on you phone or your DSLR.
- discover tips and tricks to make engaging photos
- feel comfortable in using your device menu and buttons/dials
- think and see the world like a photographer
These fun and interactive 1-2-1 photography sessions are £130.00 for 3 hours, for one person.
A partner, booked at the same time, can join you at the same session for an additional £80.00.
All bookings must be pre-paid.
Once your payment is received I will make contact with you to make all the arrangements and to agree a mutually convenient date and time.
If the weather looks potentially disruptive, I will contact you to agree an alternate date and time.
Do I use a 'proper' camera?
I get asked this question quite a lot:
"Do you have a 'real' camera?"
The answer is "Yes!".
It's a Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera.
- And it's a great camera.
- It has lots of buttons.
- It can do marvellous things.
- It's weatherproof.
- It has an enormous zoom capability.
- The lens is made by Leica.
- It's got a constant f2.8 aperture, throughout its vast 25-600mm range.
- There's a rotating LCD touch-screen.
- The sensor is a reasonable 12.1 megapixel in size.
- It can shoot 12 frames per second continuous shooting, without autofocus.
- 6 frames per second with autofocus.
- It can shoot in raw, jpeg or both
- It can get as close as 1cm to a subject in macro mode
- It has an ISO range of 100-6400
- Excellent Optical Image Stabilisation - to combat any camera shake.
- Very clear electronic viewfinder
But - I have to make a decision to leave my house with it. I have to make a conscious decision to go and take some photographs with it.
And - my iPhone is ALWAYS with me, in my pocket, waiting to be used.
So - what's the best camera? The one that's with you!
Buy my 'Zines!
A5 Black & White booklets, detailing images, all titled "Marlborough in Monochrome" - printed twice a year. These photos highlight various photography projects I've undertaken, all based in and around my home town of Marlborough.
These images - all on luxurious gloss paper, and beautifully bound, bring out the history and beauty of this marvellous market town.
You can order it and have it (or them!) sent direct to your home. Or why not surprise someone special and have it sent as a gift, with your personal message, to another address? Simply click on the link immediately below this text to make it happen...
This link will take you to another website I have, www.master-photography.co.uk where you can also book workshops and purchase other items.
