The venue is a perfect setting for studio photography, taking place in a National Trust-owned barn on the edge of Lacock Abbey. It used to belong to the founder of photography, William Fox-Talbot himself, and is a beautifully restored sixteenth-century barn, now fitted with electricity, a flat concrete floor and a fully working kitchen. The sessions began at 1000 every day, which gave people plenty of time to arrive from all over the country.
There were 11 people in my group - 7 male, 4 female, with a range of experience and photographic interest. Two of the group were established professionals, two were looking to turn professional in retirement, some were looking to break into it and others (like me) were enthusiastic hobbyists. Everybody was very friendly - as is my experience on these RPS courses - and the group was very cohesive and inclusive.
Chris Burfoot began by explaining fundamentals of flash and basic studio setups using only one light and a reflector, but by the end of the course we were setting up (comparatively) complicated four-light setups with high-key white backgrounds. After each setup, we took photos of the model, Laura (sadly now departed for Hong Kong!), and were allowed time to experiment and get the best out of each setup. Chris' teaching was clear, articulate and friendly. The course is sponsored by Elinchrom - who also happen to employ Chris - but without their sponsorship, this course would be at least twice the price. There is no selling on the course (Chris only imports goods into the UK), but there is a fair bit of advertising of Elinchrom products. It's not a bad thing, and Chris spends plenty of time talking about other manufacturers as well.
The village of Lacock is beautiful for those bringing down a partner or looking to meet friends. I stayed in the Old Rectory in the village with my fiancee, which was very reasonable for £85 in a big double room with a fresh home-cooked breakfast the next morning.
I had never set foot in a studio until this weekend. Now, armed with my trusty Sekonic Flashmate L308s, I'm looking to head off to the Camera Club to make use of their studio facilities. I've been bitten by the bug - and it's largely down to the enthusiasm and superb teaching of Chris Burfoot. I highly, highly recommend this course to anyone looking to explore studio work. It will give you a solid foundation and understanding of lighting setups, and by the end of it, you'll be looking at magazine photos and understanding how they made them. Inspirational stuff, and at a reasonable price.
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