Lifelogs

Posted on July 26, 2018July 25, 2017 by Brian Miller

NEXT DIGITAL CAMERA CLASSES

Digital Photography Classes for Beginners are held once a year and the next classes will be held in Dunedin during February – March 2018. Details of 2018 class times and locations below.

Phone 03 4761 453 or send an email to brian@brianmiller.co.nz if you would like to join one of next year’s classes.

2018 – Classes – starting dates, times & locations:

Six week course – Two hours per week – Course Cost: $195 (incl. GST)

Start Date Time Location

Mon 91 Feb 2pm – 4pm Mornington Presbyterian Church, 16 Maryhill Tce.

Mon 19 Feb 2pm – 4pm Mornington Presbyterian Church, 16 Maryhill Tce.

BOOKING

Numbers are limited to a dozen in each class. Ring 4761 453 to book or send a reply email with your name. phone and address to: brian@brianmiller.co.nz

FEES $195 (including GST) is the cost for the full course. You should also purchase a copy of the book Digital Cameras the easy way if you have not got one already. These are available at the class for $15. There will be about 30 pages of handout notes given as part of the course.

The fee is payable on the first session or before.

– Cheques should be made out to Lifelogs Ltd.

– You can pay by cash or Visa/Mastercard at the first session.

– Payment can be made by direct credit – Banking details will be given when you book.

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Brian Miller 31 Marine Parade, Macandrew Bay, Dunedin 9014

Ph 4761 453 Email: brian@brianmiller.co.nz

View of Otago Harbour early morning looking towards Broad Bay

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Posted on July 26, 2017July 25, 2017 by Brian Miller

2018 Course Dates, Locations

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BEGINNERS

2018 – Classes – starting dates, times & locations:

Six week courses – Two hours per week – Course Cost: $195 (incl. GST)

Start Date Time Location

Mon 19 February 2pm – 4pm Mornington Presbyterian Church, 16 Maryhill Terrace, Mornington, Dunedin.

Mon 19 February 7pm – 9pm Mornington Presbyterian Church, 16 Maryhill Terrace, Mornington, Dunedin.

BOOKING

Numbers are limited to a dozen in each class. Ring 4761 453 to book ahead or send a reply email with your name. phone and address to: brian@brianmiller.co.nz

FEES

$195 (including GST) is the cost for the full course. You should also purchase a copy of the book Digital Cameras the easy way if you have not got one already. These are available at the class for $15. There will be about 30 pages of handout notes given as part of the course.

The fee is payable on the first session or before.

– Cheques should be made out to Lifelogs Ltd.

– You can pay by cash or Visa/Mastercard at the first session.

– Payment can be made by direct credit – online banking details will be given when you book.

_______________________________________________________________

Brian Miller 31 Marine Parade, Macandrew Bay, Dunedin 9014

Ph 4761 453 Fax 4761 454 Email: brian@brianmiller.co.nz

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Kawarau Gorge – near Queenstown

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Posted on June 30, 2017July 25, 2017 by Brian Miller

Digital Photography for Beginners – Course Outline

Course structure:
Week 1 – Introduction to Digital Photography
Historical overview of photography – The digital revolution – How digital photography works – Sensors, pixels and resolution
– How to buy a digital camera – How to set up a digital camera – Backup systems – How to take photos – Composition
Computer software – Digital workflow – Download photos to a computer – Card readers – Stocktake your existing photographs
Week 2 – Camera controls and Portraits
Digital camera controls – buttons, modes, menus and multiselectors – Which controls are essential – ISO – JPEG & Raw
– Photographing people, portraits and using a self timer – How to take a movie
– Digital workflow – Filing and organising your images – keywords – backup – setting up an archive on CD, DVD
Week 3 – Lighting, flash and editing
The importance of light – Controlling brightness – Exposure metering modes – White Balance –
Using and controlling flash – flash menus – Red eye reduction – Backlit portraits – Photographing babies and children
– Editing software programs – Basic editing techniques – (cropping, tones, levels, contrast, saturation, burn & dodge, sharpening, resizing)
Week 4 – Improving your photographs and printing
Tips for producing stunning photos – Landscapes, Foreground – Background – Nature – Animals & Pets – Sports – Macro (closeup)
Sharing in print – How to buy a home printer – Home printer techniques – inks – paper types – Printing cards, contact sheets –
Colour printer techniques – Types of paper – Making photo-books – Archiving prints
Week 5 – Travel photography and putting photos online
How to take better travel & holiday shots – Architectural photography – Night photography – Using High ISO
– Photography and the internet – Sharing on-line (emailing photographs – using Flickr – Picasa – making blogs and websites)
Week 6 – Photographing events – troubleshooting – SLR.s – Scanning
How to photograph events and celebrations – Troubleshooting – Extending editing controls (clone – healing) – SLR cameras – Depth of field
– Buying lenses – How to scan photos and slides – Restoring old photographs – Making DVD slideshows –

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Brian Miller

Capturing Light – Roy Miller – Stained Glass Artist

St John's Anglican Church, 561 Ferguson Drive, Trentham, Upper Hutt. - 'Archangel Michael' - BSB 008, executed by Roy Miller, 1971 — St John’s Anglican Church, 561 Ferguson Drive, Trentham, Upper Hutt. – ‘Archangel Michael’ – BSB 008, executed by Roy Miller, 1971

– First book to showcase stained glass windows from
churches throughout New Zealand
– Roy Miller was New Zealand’s leading stained glass artist
from the 1950s until 1981
– Background history to the art of stained glass worldwide
– Overview of early Dunedin stained glass artists
– Database provides location to all windows
– Importance of correct techniques for conserving historic stained glass
artworks

AUTHOR
Brian Miller (BSc) is the author of several top-selling books, including ‘The Highlands of Papua New Guinea’, ‘Digital Cameras the easy way’ and co-author of ‘Otago Central Rail Trail – easy guide’.

PUBLICATION DETAILS: Available early October 2016
PRICE: $69.99
FORMAT:    270 x 210 mm Pb – French Flaps
EXTENT:      272 pp
ILLUSRATIONS: 354 Colour images and 18 Black & White photos.
ISBN:          978-0-9922457-1-9

Posted on May 5, 2016September 21, 2016 by Brian Miller

Central Otago Camera classes for beginners

A series of digital photography for beginners classes are planned for 2017 –

Let me know brian@brianmiller.co.nz if you would like information about dates etc

Posted on November 2, 2015November 2, 2015 by Brian Miller

Macandrew Bay – a history of a community on the Otago Peninsula

JUST REPRINTED – Great Christmas present for anyone who lived in Macandrew Bay.

Gordon Parry (ODT) called the book: ‘outstanding – crammed full of human interest stories and one of the best of its type I have seen.’

This history of a community on the Otago Peninsula will be of interest to anyone who has loved living “down the Bay”. Lavishly supported by photographs and illustrations, it depicts a rich history from its geological beginnings to such diverse topics as the Maori, sealers, whalers, early settlers, regattas, ferries, famous politicians, churches, schools, the pre-supermarket era of shops – not to mention the activities of a busy and close community.

Macandrew Bay a history of a community on the Otago Peninsula

$NZ30.00 inc GST, ex shipping

Posted on June 6, 2015July 25, 2017 by Brian Miller

Book now for 2018

In 2008 Brian published Digital Camera the easy way, a pocket guide that has since sold over 10 000 copies. Since then Brian has tutored over 600 people on how to use their digital camera, organise images on the computer and in basic photoshop techniques. The 2018 courses will start on 19 Feb 2018 and run for 6 weeks, with 2 hour lessons each week.

Please ring 03 4761 453 or email below if you wish to join the 2018 classes. Cost is $195 for 6 weeks

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Posted on June 1, 2015July 25, 2017 by Brian Miller

Some references from participants

Here are some recent references from participants on the course –

“Brian certainly has a way of demystifying digital photography and so perhaps I have overcome my reticence to get involved. I appreciated his emphasis on how to deal with large numbers of shots currently scattered on the hard drives of various computers about the house.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed the course, learnt a lot, and feel very excited about photography in the future.”

“Thanks for running the workshop – it was really informative only now I have to make the difficult decision of which camera to buy!! ”

“I gained much from the course and am slowly trying to digest it all. I have used the camera and had Brian’s voice ringing in my ears!”

“I learnt heaps from the workshop and will be more motivated to experiment. It was a great work shop. Many thanks.”

“I really enjoyed the course and got a lot out of it. (High praise from a teenager.)”

“I would like to express my thanks for this course. I found it extremely worth while. The tutor Brian Miller was excellent and made us all feel welcome and very patiently made sure we had all the help we needed. His teaching was not only informative but also very interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed this course and have come away from it much more knowledgeable about my camera and how to use it.”

“The classes have been great. I have been looking for a course since a bought my camera and Brian was great – I learnt so much! Thought I had read my manual with the camera, but I would say most of what Brian focussed on I had no idea about and Brian presented it in a such a simple straight forward way that I understood. Very greatful for the chance to attend this excellent course that I would recommend it to anyone who had a new camera.”

“I thought your classes were great, thank you. It did exactly what I hoped, which was to enable me to understand enough about my camera and photography so as to know where to start in improving my pictures. I really liked the way you taught us about the few key functions on the camera, such as ISO and aperture and told us we didn’t to worry about the rest too much – I was a bit overwhelmed before by such a large menu. It also encouraged me to go back to the manual and find the quickest way to do those things – and I’ve now found a great short cut to a lot of them. My photographs have really improved since I did the course and now I know the basics I can see the scope for getting a lot better. I’ve enjoyed looking on the internet for good examples of interesting photographs too – so thanks for that tip.”

“I had to rush off on Wed night so did not say how much I enjoyed the classes. I had been to a previous one day camera class a year ago which had left me daunted and very frustrated so it’s now good to feel much more hopeful and excited. Thank you.”

“Thank you Brian, I thorough enjoyed the classes and it certainly gave me some extra tips which I am putting to good use.”

“Loving the course. I will also pay for the little book on Wednesday”

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Dusky Sound, New Zealand

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Posted on May 7, 2015June 11, 2015 by Brian Miller

Course Outline

For Compact Cameras or Beginners with a Digital SLR

Week 1 – Introduction to Digital Photography

How digital photography works – How to buy a digital camera – Set up a digital camera – Backup systems – How to take photos – Composition – Digital workflow – Download photos to a computer – Using a photo kiosk

Week 2 – Camera controls and Portraits

Digital camera controls – buttons, modes, menus and multiselectors – Which controls are essential – Portraits – Self timer – How to take a movie – Digital workflow – Filing and organising your images – – Keywords – Backup

Week 3 – Lighting, flash and editing

The importance of light – Controlling brightness – Exposure metering modes – White Balance – Controlling flash – Red eye reduction – Backlit portraits – Photographing babies and children – Editing software programs – Basic editing techniques

Week 4 – Improving your photographs and printing

Landscapes – Nature – Animals & Pets – Sports – Macro (closeup)- Printing at home – – How to buy a home printer – Printing cards, contact sheets – Making photo-books – Archiving prints

Week 5 – Travel photography and putting photos online

How to take better travel & holiday shots – Architectural photography – Night photography – Using High ISO – Photography and the internet – Emailing photos and putting photos on Trademe – -Flickr – Picasa

Week 6 – Photographing events – troubleshooting – SLR.s – Scanning

How to photograph events and celebrations – Troubleshooting – Extending editing controls (clone – healing) – SLR cameras – How to scan photos and slides – Restoring old photographs

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Milos Island, Greece

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Brian Miller

Otago Central Rail Trail ~ easy guide

This top selling innovative pocket-guide has changed the way people ride the Rail Trail in Central Otago.

Over 10,000 people ride and enjoy the Otago Central Rail Trail each year, but too many ride each section without stopping to explore and enjoy Central Otago’s many attractions. This compact illustrated guide is packed with useful facts, cross-sections and easy-to-digest information. The suggested side trips will enhance your experience on the Trail.

Cros-section of the Rail Trail between Lauder & Auripo — Lauder Auriopo section

A book to buy before the trip and to use as you do the Trail.

The first section explains why Central Otago is so special, with an overview of natural history – geology, climate, plants and animals. Photos help bikers identify the common plants and animals. The human history is equally fascinating – the first travellers, the squatters, the discovery of gold and the building of the Otago Central Railway on which the Trail is built.

The cross-sections of each part of the Trail are combined with maps of main towns and surrounding areas to make it easy for ‘trail trippers’ to plan their movements. Tips for good lunch spots, fun quiz questions to enliven these breaks, locations of ‘loos,’ web-site links, an “Events Calendar” for those who want to link their trip to regional activities, hints for taking better photos and biking tips – these all make the Easy Guide a very useful little book.

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This pocket-sized guide is so full of useful facts and easy-to-digest information that it should find a home in the pocket of every Trail visitor.

Price $NZ15.00 inc GST + freight of $2 per book in NZ